13 Best ‘Homeschool Aha Moments’ Homeschoolers Should Know

Have you ever have these days wherein you are going through your normal homeschool routine and suddenly a big ‘homeschool aha moment’ came into the picture? Your jaw drops and start saying, “Wait a minute, I …” Few minutes later, you realized that you just have your ‘aha moment’. Well, on this article we have laid out 13 Best ‘Homeschool Aha Moments’ that we have put together for every homeschoolers.

Taking your children out of traditional school is an exciting and scary decision. However, we believe this will probably be one of the best decision you will make as a parent. If you are scared, nervous or overwhelmed at this time, know that it is okay. Going to some uncharted territory can be exciting at times and can also be scary in most times.

Yes, with all the information available (including this perhaps), it can be overwhelming, too. Good news is, you are not alone. There are several homeschoolers around willing to help you sort things out. So take a deep breath and say, “I can do this. Yes, I can homeschool my kids.”

With your positive mindset as your weapon, be very excited, and turn your negative thoughts into positive actions. Turn overwhelm to several “homeschool aha moments” to make homeschooling easier.  

According to the Oxford Dictionary, “Aha moments” are a “moment of sudden insights and discoveries.” 

We went through several discussion groups and gathered several “homeschool aha moments” and the best ones are selected for you. 

So let’s go ahead and go through these “homeschool aha moments” you should know about homeschooling. If you are already homeschooling, it is still worth going through that list as you might discover an “aha moment” you have not encountered before. 

Homeschool Aha Moments #1:
“Wait a Minute, My Homeschool is not a School?”

“Wait what?” you asked.  

“I thought I’m homeschooling. How can I homeschool if my home is not school?” You asked again.

We hear you and yes, we have an answer for you. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines school as an institution for educating children. In turn, institution is defined as organization. An organization has set of rules, and based on experience, most rules are restrictive into our flow of thoughts and creativity. Thus, blocking our natural curiosity to learn.  

Most of our current traditional schooling as based on Industrial Age learning, where people are taught in order to operate machines and work in factories. While manufacturing still exists, most of it is already automated. It is run by a software that has been almost perfected that human intervention is rare. 

Switching from traditional school to home schooling, requires a different mindset. With learning in mind, you are no longer required to follow traditional school or anyone’s rule. The learning can happen anytime, any day, any month, any year. 

With homeschool, you’re concentrating more on your child’s learning, and not following rules set by an organization like school.

This means, your homeschool becomes a family owned advocacy. 

It is a calling, a ministry or a purpose.

It is your home, it is own learning place, it is your own schedule, it is your own choice of curriculum, it is yours!

Having said that, you have the freedom to decide on what goes into your learning space and what goes out.

Homeschool Aha Moments #2:
“Wait a Minute, I am Behind What?”

Yes, “Being Behind” does not exist in homeschool. 

Yes, “Being Behind” does not exist in homeschool.

Repeat that again and again until it sinks in. 

It was such a huge relief when homeschoolers realized this truth. Every child has its own pace. Some can finish a grade in six months, and some might take more than that. You don’t really have to worry about getting behind. 

The opposite goes the same way. 

Yes, you don’t have to worry about getting ahead, either. I went to college when I was fifteen years old, and I thrived. So that I really didn’t mind when I was accelerated. 

Want to know an open secret? In regular school, all students do not really finish everything that they need to finish for the school year. For as long as they have completed the standard test, they are all set. So why bother beating that. Sit back and relax because your homeschool has no competition. No comparison allowed. 

Homeschool Aha Moments #3:
“Wait a Minute, I Do Not Need to Plan the Entire Year?”

Yes, Ma’am! Yes, Sir! 

Planning for the entire year simply do not work because aside from the regular routine of learning, life also happens. Kids getting sick, you getting sick, mom-in-law needs help moving, dog needs check up, pipes broke, your job sends you to an out-of-state assignment, and so on. So that we have to leave room for these unexpected life moments. 

Instead of planning the entire year, start to plan for the next two weeks, and adjust accordingly. Planning for shorter period of time gives you opportunity to retrospect frequently. It allows you time to think what worked and did not work then adjust your plan. 

This is a game changer. Most successful companies have adopted this kind of methodology – commonly called Agile. All tasks are planned in a set of twelve weeks. Once that period is completed, another planning session occur for the next twelve weeks and so on.

The best parts about Agile methodologies, you get to break down big tasks into small tasks, and you also have a chance to retrospect. This allows you to sit back and see which are working and which ones are not.

You can either use post its to keep track of tasks or use free tools like Trello or Monday.

Once you get the hang of planning using this methodology, your homeschool will become more productive and more peaceful. It is rare to find homeschool, productive and peaceful in one sentence but it can be done.

Homeschool Aha Moments #4:
“Wait a Minute, We are in the Twenty-First Century!”

Certainly, homeschool is not primitive. You do not have to create your own materials, keep cardboards for future use, print worksheets, stock on all kinds of paper, or know all the subjects to survive homeschool. There are tons of materials available for you in the internet and mostly free! You just need to use a tool called “Google”. It’s free, try it!  We have also listed here some free resources available in the internet.

Technology is one your best partner in your homeschool, embrace it, but do not be controlled by it. Use it to your advantage. While it is important to learn basic subjects, you also need to be reminded that there are softwares that can correct spelling and grammar, online dictionaries with pronunciation, and calculate arithmetic problems. 

I guess you have realized by now to probably let go of the worksheets, and teach critical thinking instead. It’s becoming increasingly evident that traditional methods of education, such as excessive reliance on worksheets, may not effectively nurture the skills needed for the modern world.

There is a growing consensus among educators and researchers that fostering critical thinking abilities is essential for students to thrive in the 21st century. By encouraging students to think critically, analyze information, and solve complex problems, educators can better prepare them for the challenges they will encounter in their academic and professional lives.

Embracing this shift towards prioritizing critical thinking over memorization is crucial in equipping students with the skills necessary to navigate an ever-changing global landscape.

One example, when learning about percentages, give your child real problems that uses percentages like sale discounts, commissions, etc. Through this real problem, your child learns to apply concepts in real world, and compute the answer without using a paper. 

Homeschool Aha Moments #5:
“Wait a Minute, I can use Several Curriculum or None at All”

Yes, off course! One of the common mistakes by first time homeschoolers is that they think one curriculum will work for all their children. So they order in just one curriculum provider only to realize two weeks later that the curriculum doesn’t work for one of their children.

It has been told several time that knowing your child is an important step before buying any curriculum. Knowing will child will be you advantage of being able to shop for curriculum that your child will prosper on. 

So, how will you know what curriculum is available in the market? Most US States have Homeschool Conventions. In here, you will find all curriculum providers available in your area. You just need to find the next convention near you and attend. Most come with fees but it is worth it, and sometimes it is free for first time homeschoolers. Purchase several days of entrance to the convention so that you don’t have to cram all in one day.  

Other providers also have free downloads and free trials. Take advantage of those freebies and definitely don’t need to rush. 

Other curriculum providers have online sessions with specific topic. Attend those as much as you can. 

Remember that not all curriculum are not created equal.  Each has its own learning strategy. Some are hard-core academic. Some have critical thinking. Some are hands-on. Some are for those that learns differently. So this means, you will need to keep your mind open as to which curriculum best fit each of your child. This is why setting a goal for each child is important even before you would start looking for a curriculum. Without the goal, looking for a curriculum would be overwhelming. 

Homeschool Aha Moments #6:
“Wait a Minute, I can have my Own Way of Homeschooling” 

Not only that you can have your own way of homeschooling, it is also the best way to homeschool. Pick up pieces from existing ways of homeschooling, add your own personal touches, and viola, you have your own way. Adjust when needed. Earlier in this article, I’ve mentioned about planning every two weeks. This gives you time to shape your homeschool way. 

The homeschooling journey is a unique and beautiful experience that requires patience, creativity, and an open mind. Remember, there is no pressure here. Give yourself a lot of grace. It’s important to involve your kids as much as possible. They, too, have ideas, so do not discount their input. Embrace every milestone and learn from every mistake, then gracefully move forward. Perfectionism doesn’t have a place in your homeschool. Even the best and most expensive products in the market have their own flaws, so it’s essential to focus on progress and growth rather than striving for unattainable perfection. 

Homeschool Aha Moments #7: 
“Wait a Minute, I can Create a Learning System.” 

As I homeschool my children year by year, I figured that adopting different learning style for each child works. My aha moment was when I realized that I was slowly creating a learning system of my own. Of course, the traditional school system have been there in the centuries and it is almost the only educational system known to majority. We are naturally attracted to it and we begin to replicate it like there is no other choice.

Learning system is a group of tools and entities working together that a student can use in order to learn. A traditional school is one system of its own. It has a principal, vice-principal, security guards, teachers, and students. It has its own rules and regulations to run the system smoothly.

Just like a learning system as big as our traditional school system, you can also create one that fits for your family. Good news, is that this learning system is unique to you, and can be adjusted along the way as you go with your homeschooling journey. It doesn’t have to very restrictive. It should be able to flow smoothly as new tools for learning come in.

Each of your children can have a learning system of its own. Like my oldest daughter learns better with real books, wherein she can make a mark, highlights, and notes along the pages. This means, we have to get her own textbooks so that she can make those markings. This also means the video and audio learning seldom works for her because she needs to visualize what she is learning.

Be very excited to create a learning system of. your own, and have a ‘homeschooling aha moments’ of your own.

Homeschool Aha Moments #8:
“Wait a Minute, Socialization from Home is the Best.”

What a joy it was when I realized that socialization from home is the best.

We once live across a public school, so that I decided to put my daughter to the public school for two years. I thought it would be a good way for her to socialize. Along with that we also go to other activities like church, golf, and tennis. I noticed, however, that most of her closed friends are not in school. She’s more engaged with her friends in church, in golf and in tennis. She has developed deeper relationship with them. Why? Simply because they have a common ground. Unlike traditional school where students are diverse.

At home there is a lot of common ground. The best way to learn about their faith, their character, their mission, their vision, their purpose and many others. It is where all emanates. They are grounded to something called “home” and develop roots and branches from there. As parents, it is our responsibility to pass on good values to our children.

There is a saying that goes, “If you don’t teach your child the right way, the world does.”

If “home” is not the most ideal place to be grounded, or you don’t trust the “home” you have grown up with, find another place that is closer to your definition of “home”. It can be church. It can be a distant family. It can be a group of friends that you have common grounds with. Plant yourself somewhere called “home” and grow from there.

Homeschool Aha Moments #9:
“Wait a Minute, my Country or State has a standard I Have to Follow.” 

Sadly, yes. Each country or state you live in has set standards for homeschooling. If your state or country doesn’t have one, you are in luck. It is, however, wise to check the country or state standard that you live in. This is to give you a peace of mind that you’re not breaking any law. The site http://hslda.org gives information about this.

This set of laws also requires creativity. Most state requires homeschool to have at least 180 school days. You do not have to limit your school to 180 days,  because your goal is 365 days of learning. In all those days, it does not mean, you are teaching and they are listening. It also means all of you are learning with your child.

Allow your family trips become field trips or learning trips.

Homeschool Aha Moments #10:
“Wait a Minute, I need to Set Goals for each of my Child” 

Every child is different. This translates to “each child learns differently.” Having one goal that applies to everyone might encourage a coup d’eta in your home. Remember that this is not a school, and we wanted to create an atmosphere of learning. Recognizing each of child’s unique abilities allow you to see learning in their eyes, and watch those glow. 

Before dipping yourself to the whole sleuth of curriculum available in the market, set goals for each of your child. What would you like your child to learn? How would you like your child to learn?  How would you like your home learning to look like? Bear in mind that you need to have a separate goal for each child. Use brainstorming activities to squeeze out idea naturally, and not looking like a spy. With this planning, you might be able to give you a clear idea on which subjects can you combine. 

There is more goal available than just surviving a grade or getting straight As or Bs. It is also worthwhile to think non-academic goals and skills like music, arts, financial literacy, business interest, foreign languages, sports, cooking, and all other things to learn.

Homeschool Aha Moments #11: 
“Wait a minute, My Kids can Learn 24 x 7”

How would you would like your home to be a haven for learning twenty-four hours in a day, seven days a week, and twelve months a year? Learning will become part of your family’s muscle memory and DNA. You don’t have to force learning in your home when learning is a natural occurrence.

When your kids are ages ten and above, this is when you have more choices. Instead of looking for curriculums, look for short term courses available. Sites like Creative Live and Masterclass give you several class options to choose from.   

Configure your house so that there can be learning available anytime without turning on the TV. Don’t forget the outside as it also becomes a good opportunity to learn more, plus it is healthy. 

Homeschool Aha Moments #12:
“Wait a minute,  Each Child can Have His Own Schedule”

Yes, this is another way from breaking away from school system wherein everyone needs to go and stay in school from 7am to 3pm. Each child can have his own schedule. For your early birds allow them to start early. Give them list to do and they can be on their own. 

I have a child who wakes up very early at 5:00AM. When she was eight years old, I just gave her list of to do, and learning videos to watch. By the time I wake up at around 7:00AM, she is done with her academic learning for the day. So that gives her the entire day to pursue other things. We enrolled her in sports activities like basketball, taekwondo, and tennis.

Now, at thirteen years old she is a budding junior tennis player, and already ahead of her grade level, taking 8th and 9th grade course of study. Yes, she still wakes up at 5:00AM. She loves to draw so she started creating a comics like journal to relax her during her free time.

Her established learning system benefited her a lot. She is able to pursue other interest and still be ahead of her grade level in her academics.

For the night owls, they can learn at night, too. I, myself, prefers working at night. It is my most creative time. So that I schedule my technical to dos during the day and reserve the creative activities at night.

Examples are: no television allowed, limiting the sites they can visit if they have computers, mobile devices are locked from 9pm to 9am.  It depends on what you have in your house and how old the kids are but guardrails that you define with them is a great way to encourage learning but discourage “idleness”. 

Homeschool Aha Moments #13: “Wait a Minute, Technology is my Best Partner in Learning”

I definitely saved this for last. Most homeschoolers are still skeptical about using technology into their homeschool. We have to face the reality so that we get our children future ready. Whether we like it or not, technology is here and is here to stay. So embrace it, make use of it but do not be controlled by it. You’re still the human being that controls the input into the technology tools that you have.

We used to buy an entire curriculum and work through worksheets, quizzes and test papers everyday. I also used to keep track of all our schedules using paper. But then planning paper and test papers get lost and that adds more complexity to your already complex schedule.

To name a few of these technology partners in learning:

1. Free learning websites are great alternative to curriculums and worksheets.
2. Keep track of your tasks, schedule and plan using Trello or Monday.
3. Enroll in short-term courses to enhance learning using Creative Live.
4. Use apps Picture This to identify plants, Rock Identifier to identify rocks and crystals, Picture Insect to identify bugs and more.
5. Laptop. I personally prefer Apple Mac laptops because it already comes with applications that your child can use to edit photos, or create videos. Plus, it comes very handy, too.
6. Tablet with writing pencil. The Huion Canvas allows your child to create digital images. You also have options to scan the test papers and have them answer through the tablet and pencil.
7. Cloud Drive to keep your files in one place and is easily accessible. It has all your records, scanned copy of test papers, scanned copy of report card that you can access in any of your devices anytime.
8. Messaging System so that you can message your kids and collaborate if you need to be away or your kids need to learn somewhere.

Once I started viewing technology as a learning partner, most of our daily routine started running smoothly even when I’m away. I can message them and still learn together even when I’m on one of my business trips.