So You Want to Homeschool Your Speller...
Where to Begin When Just Starting Your Homeschool Journey?
So, you've decided to homeschool. WELCOME to the wild, wonderful, and sometimes overwhelming world of home education! Whether you're here by choice, necessity, or sheer curiosity, take a deep breath—I've got you. Homeschooling isn’t about doing everything at once; it’s about taking intentional steps forward. Let’s dive in!
1. Set Your Goals—What’s Most Important to YOU?
Before you even think about what books to buy or what schedule to set, take a step back. Ask yourself: What do I want my child to get out of homeschooling? Maybe it’s structure, flexibility, or simply a more personalized approach. For me, one of my biggest goals right now is ensuring my son had intentional movement every single day. That’s right—wiggles and all, we made it a priority. Your goal might be different, and that’s the beauty of it. You get to shape your homeschool experience based on what your child truly needs.
2. Input vs. Output—Understanding How Kids Learn
As a fellow spellers parent, i'm sure you know the frustration of wondering: Do they actually understand this? Here’s the thing—just because they can’t show it in a traditional way doesn’t mean they aren’t absorbing it. Many spellers struggle with verbal communication, pointing, writing, or selecting answers in the way we expect. So, what’s the solution? Focus on quality input! Audiobooks, videos, read-alouds, and immersive experiences matter WAY more than forcing output. Let spelling lessons be their practice ground for expression, but when it comes to absorbing knowledge? Feed them the good stuff!
3. Don’t Stress Over the Gaps—Trust the Process
“What about the gaps?” If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this, I’d be sipping a fancy latte while writing this post. The truth? Gaps don’t matter as much as you think. When we began spelling, I jumped from kindergarten-level work to fifth-grade content overnight. And guess what? He soaked it up. Kids are absorbing way more than we realize. Instead of stressing, place your child in their age-appropriate grade level and move forward. Got an 11-year-old? Start in sixth grade! Subjects like history, science, and literature can begin at their level without missing a beat. Math? That’s a trickier beast (stay tuned for my next post on that one!).
4. Choosing Curriculum—To Use or Not to Use?
Here’s where things get personal. Some families thrive with a structured curriculum, while others prefer a more relaxed, DIY approach. Personally, I love using a curriculum because it gives me a daily roadmap and ensures we’re covering all the bases. (The irony? I’m literally writing my own curriculum, but hey, I like structure!). If you’re looking for a solid framework, consider a speller-friendly history, science, language arts, and math program. Add a daily spelling lesson, and boom! You’ve got yourself a well-rounded homeschool plan.
5. Establish a Daily Routine (Without Losing Your Sanity)
Routines bring peace to the chaos, but they don’t have to be rigid. Think about what you want to accomplish every day, then structure your homeschool accordingly. Here’s what a typical day looks like for my son, Zeke:
- Typing practice (because keyboarding is life)
- Movement time (Ring Fit, yoga, or outdoor play)
- Listening to an audiobook (aka effortless learning)
- History & Science (watching or listening, with Mom reading aloud if needed)
- Spelling lesson (daily practice with me)
- Math with Mom
- Art or hands-on activity
6. Baby Steps, Baby!
You don’t have to dive into the deep end on day one. Start small! Choose two things to focus on for the first week. Add another the next week. Or, if that still feels like too much, try an A/B day approach—half of your subjects on A days, the other half on B days. This way, you’re alternating tasks without overwhelming anyone (yourself included!).
Final Thoughts
Homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint. You will have rough days. You will doubt yourself. But you will also witness some of the most beautiful, lightbulb-moment learning experiences with your child. And, you'll have more time to devote to spelling than ever before. Take it step by step, find what works for your family, and most importantly—enjoy the journey!
