When I first started homeschooling, I was filled with a mixture of excitement and fear. I had Pinterest boards filled with curriculum ideas, stacks of books, and a vision for peaceful mornings filled with curiosity and connection. But as real life set in—reluctant readers, and math meltdowns—I quickly realized that homeschooling is a journey of growth for both parent and child.

Now, after learning from some experience and gleaning wisdom from seasoned homeschool moms, I’m sharing 10 things that have shaped how I homeschool today.

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1. Figure Out What Type of Learner Each Child Is

Every child learns differently. Some need to move, some need to draw, and others thrive with structure. In a previous post I talked about my discovery of Fun-Schooling journals and how I’m using them in our homeschool. The creator of these Fun-Schooling journals, Sarah Janisse Brown, made a Youtube video titled How To Homeschool: The 5 Learning Languages. Finding this video was a game changer for me. After watching this video I was quickly able to see which learning language each child had. This year I will be keeping these learning languages in mind.

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2. When You Find a Homeschooling Style, Just Begin

Whether it’s Charlotte Mason, Classical, Montessori, or Unschooling, once you find something that resonates—start! You don’t need everything to be perfectly aligned before you begin. Learning happens in the doing. The question you may be asking is, “But what if it’s not working?” This leads to my next tip…

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3. Don’t Be Afraid to Switch It Up

That dreamy curriculum might not work in real life—and that’s okay. One of the best parts of homeschooling is flexibility. Don’t be afraid to pivot if something isn’t working. You’re not failing—you’re customizing. With that being said, I do suggest sticking with the method and/or curriculum for at least a year. Once the school year is over, you can reevaluate what worked and what didn’t work. But ultimately it’s up to you when to switch. It’s your family and children. You know best. Your next question might be, “But what if my child gets behind in that year because it’s not working?” Let’s keep going.

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4. Children Don’t Get “Behind”

One of the most freeing things I’ve learned is that “behind” is a public school term that doesn’t apply in the same way at home. Children grow and learn at their own pace. As long as they are progressing, they are right on time. Plus, who gets to decide whether your child is “behind” or not? The public schools that are run by the government?

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5. Everyone Has Gaps in Their Education

Even with the most well-planned curriculum, your child will still have gaps—and that’s totally normal. None of us know everything. If you were in public school, did you graduate knowing everything? I know I didn’t. What matters is giving our kids the tools to fill in those gaps when they want to or need to.

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6. Let Your Child Help Choose What They Learn

When kids are part of the planning, they feel more ownership of their education. Let them choose a unit study topic, pick books at the library, or explore a passion project. Interest-led learning builds motivation and independence. Our children are “born persons”, as Charlotte Mason says. They have passions and interests. They have a purpose. For my children, the most important thing for me is helping guide them into the purpose for their lives. Figuring out how to make money is fine and good, but when someone is living in their God-given purpose, there is more fulfillment. So, let them pursue what God has placed in them.

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7. There’s Nothing Wrong With Taking Breaks

Sometimes the best thing for your homeschool is a reset. Take a nature walk, read aloud under a blanket, or have a week off to just rest. Learning doesn’t stop when you take a break—it often deepens. Earlier this year we moved. Trying to homeschool while packing and moving was very stressful. I decided we needed to take a break for a few months. I was concerned my boys would forget everything. Actually, I found that some things they learned were actually solidified during this break. Mind blowing!

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8. If All Else Fails, Just Read

Reading aloud, independent reading, audiobooks—books are the backbone of our homeschool. On the hard days, we put away the math books and grab a favorite story. Reading cultivates imagination, comprehension, and connection. If you choose living books, your child will be filled with good, living ideas that help develop character.

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9. Foster a Love of Learning Above All

It’s easy to get caught up in checklists and benchmarks, but my biggest goal is that my boys want to learn. When we focus on curiosity, exploration, and joy, the learning lasts far longer than a test score ever will.

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10. Teach Your Children to Take Ownership of Their Education

Ultimately, I want to raise independent learners who know how to seek out information, ask questions, and pursue knowledge on their own. Little by little, I’m teaching them how to plan, research, and lead their own educational journey. I have learned this is one of the most important things you can teach a child. Like I said earlier, there’s no way you can teach a kid everything. But if you can teach them how to learn, they will be set for life. Anything they want to know, they will have the ability to know how to seek that knowledge.

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11. Bonus Tip – Keep Lessons Short

It’s so tempting to cram information into our children out of fear they will get “behind”. Charlotte Mason believed keeping lessons short was important to creating the habit of attention, and it gives the children an opportunity to really chew on what they learn. I have seen the benefits of this in my own children (especially since they are boys). Also, in researching I have found that studies show the benefits of learning things in small chunks, rather than forcing so much information into our brains at once. For younger children no more than 10 to 20 minutes, older children no more than 30 minutes, and middle school through high school up to 45 minutes.

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling has stretched me, humbled me, and grown me in ways I never expected. It’s not always easy—but it’s rich, rewarding, and deeply meaningful. Whether you’re brand new or years in, I hope these lessons encourage you to keep going, stay flexible, and embrace the beautiful mess of learning at home.