Homeschooling Grade School
When to Start, What to Teach, and How to Keep It Simple
Like many of you, I’m a member of several online homeschooling groups and forums. The way we connect has certainly changed over the past 30 years. However, one constant has been that homeschooling moms are unsure about when to begin homeschooling, what they should teach their littles, and how to teach it effectively. It can be overwhelming to be sure.
As homeschooling parents, we know that the approach to education isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. What works for a teenager preparing for college isn’t going to work for an energetic six-year-old mastering the basics of reading and writing. Just as children grow in size and skill, so too must the methods we use to teach them evolve. In this article, we’ll examine some strategies for educating grade school children and how grade school education differs from educating older children.
When to Begin Homeschooling Grade School?
Many questions about homeschooling grade school center on when is the best time to start. There is no one right answer, as the decision to dive into formal education has a lot to do with your particular child’s cognitive development and readiness. In general, however, there is a tendency for people to press for starting formal education earlier and earlier. Parents often worry about starting elementary education “too late” and potentially disadvantaging their child.
While there’s no single correct answer for when you choose to begin formal education, I always encourage parents to take their time. Pushing a child into formal education too early can backfire if they are not ready. Usually, a formal preschool isn’t necessary; all the skills a child needs for the preschool years can be developed through play and read-alouds outside of a formal class structure. (For more on this, see “Homeschooling and the Benefits of Delayed Formal Education.“)
Similarly, all of the benefits of kindergarten can be obtained within the homeschool family structure simply by using your child’s early years to build a foundation of discovery, joy, and the love of learning. (For more on the kindergarten years, see “Homeschooling Kindergarten.”) You are still educating your child in fundamentals (for example, introducing them to letters and counting), but outside of any formalized “class” structure.
The best homeschooling advice I’ve ever gotten was from my friend Becky: “Skip kindergarten!” For most children, beginning formal education around 1st grade will be more than sufficient. Obviously, factors like learning disabilities may affect this, but 1st grade is generally a good starting point for breaking out the books and getting into classes—and even then, I recommend easing into it slowly. Just an hour a day, at most two, will suffice.
Focus of Grade School
What is the focus of grade school? Grade school is all about building foundations. It lays the building blocks of education that can be built up throughout the rest of school. Throughout the rest of life, really. It’s a time for focusing on core competencies in reading and arithmetic, while also helping them develop basic social, emotional, and critical thinking skills. The academics of grade school are pretty straightforward, and with the abundance of resources available today, most parents can homeschool grade school without difficulty.
The real importance of grade school isn’t mere academics. It’s about creating a supportive environment that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and confidence. This lays the groundwork for a lifelong love of learning. Unlike middle and high school, which shift toward subject-specific content and abstract thinking, grade school homeschooling should focus on holistic development, ensuring your children acquire the essential tools for future academic and personal growth.
So, as you prepare your grade school kids for homeschooling, think big picture. During grade school, especially the early years, the most important thing is not how much material you cover; it’s that your children develop the intellectual curiosity and habits of learning that will continue to serve them throughout their education and beyond.
Methods of Grade School Instruction
When educating grade school children, it is essential to keep in mind that children younger than 11 typically do not have a highly developed sense of abstract reasoning. This means that content needs to be very concrete, grounded in real-world people, places, and things, especially at the earlier stages.
As your child moves towards the higher end of grade school, you can start transitioning into abstract reasoning. Keeping education concrete will look different in various subjects. Here are some examples:
- In literature, this includes character-centered stories with strong protagonists and straightforward plots that center on learning essential lessons. Books like Charlotte’s Web or The Tale of Despereaux are solid choices. They engage young readers with relatable characters and clear narratives that teach moral values. Also, keep in mind that young children love memorization, so have them memorize poetry such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses.
- In math, arithmetical concepts are fleshed out with manipulatives or visual aids to help children develop their quantitative reasoning. For example, using counting blocks, beads, or even household items like buttons to teach addition and subtraction makes numbers tangible. Tools like Cuisenaire rods or online interactive math games can make abstract concepts more concrete.
- In history, historical fiction with strong protagonists is ideal for helping children build historical awareness of different eras and their characteristics. My own children enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie series, historical fiction from Bethlehem Books, and Joan Stromberg’s Glory of America series. Look for books that can bring historical periods to life, helping children connect with the past through relatable characters and stories.
- For science instruction, keep things focused on real-world experiments. Look for applications that vividly demonstrate scientific principles in action in everyday life. Simple experiments, such as mixing baking soda and vinegar to explore chemical reactions or observing plants grow in a home garden, can make science exciting and relevant. (See Homeschooling and Everyday Science.)
Field trips can reinforce all of these lessons, providing a bonus of family fun. Be sure to get out of the house and visit museums, nature centers, libraries, and other educational destinations. (See 23 Homeschool Field Trips: The Ultimate Guide.)
Transitioning to Abstract Thinking
As children approach the upper elementary grades, typically around 4th or 5th grade, you can begin introducing more abstract concepts to prepare them for middle school. This transition should be gradual to avoid overwhelm. Taking our same four subjects from above as examples, this period of upper-grade school might look like this:
- In math, start introducing basic algebraic concepts. For example, solve for unknowns using simple equations, while still grounding them in straightforward, real-world scenarios. (“If you have three apples and need five for a recipe, how many more do you need?”)
- In literature, a move toward stories with more complex themes or moral dilemmas, such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This novel introduces deeper ethical questions while retaining the compelling narrative structure for which C.S. Lewis is so well known.
- In history, start discussing cause-and-effect relationships, such as how historical events shaped societies, using timelines or visual aids to make connections clear. (For more on history through the ages, see Phillip Campbell’s book The Catholic Educator’s Guide to Teaching History, which covers this in great detail.)
- In science, begin exploring basic scientific theories (like gravity or the water cycle) using hands-on experiments to bridge concrete observations with abstract ideas.
You Can Homeschool Grade School!
Education is essential, and the education of young children is even more so. It is during the grade school years that children learn the educational habits that will serve them throughout their entire upbringing and beyond. Even so, we should not give ourselves anxiety by becoming overwrought about every small detail of grade school education.
- “What books should I be using for kindergarten?”
- “Are they spending enough time on math?”
- “What if they aren’t making progress in reading by age 5?”
- “How many hours a day should we be working?”
Instead of stressing over these questions, take a breath and step back. Reorient your perspective to see the big picture. Grade school education doesn’t need to be as regimented and content-based as you likely think it does. Think of grade school education more holistically. Slow down and focus on cultivating a love of learning, and you will find that many of these ancillary problems will solve themselves in time.
Grade School Support
At Homeschool Connections, we’re here to walk alongside you during these vital early years of homeschooling.
Our blog and podcast offer practical tips and trusted guidance on the questions that matter most to us homeschooling parents.
When you’re ready to add more structure to your child’s education, we offer online courses starting in third grade. They are designed specifically with young learners in mind. Classes are interactive, age-appropriate, and often include hands-on activities. Best of all, parents are encouraged to be involved every step of the way.
For grades K–2, we recommend keeping things simple and joyful as outlined above. But when the time is right, we’re here to support your family with flexible course options:
- Live, interactive classes with real-time feedback and peer engagement.
- Recorded, self-paced courses available 24/7, on your schedule.
Both formats cover core subjects and more, with a growing catalog to meet your family’s needs. Ready to get started? Explore our grade school courses and take the next step in your homeschooling journey.
Want to connect with other homeschoolers? Join us in the Homeschool Connections Facebook Group or in the HSC Community. I’d love to continue this conversation with you there.
