How to Start Homeschooling

You want to start homeschooling, but how do you know what to do first? What do you need to know before you start teaching your children? The first step is to educate yourself. This takes time, effort, thought and prayer. Nobody can give you a magic formula that will guarantee a successful homeschool journey when you start. Each family is different, each child is different, and the little daily decisions is what will make your homeschool successful.

Have you weighed the pros and cons of homeschooling? Do you think you have an idea of what homeschooling will be like? If you are to the point that you are seriously considering the homeschool option and want to know what it takes to start, here are 10 steps for how to homeschool.

1. Homeschooling Laws

Check with HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) to become familiar with homeschooling laws in your state.

2. Values

What are my family values? Why do I want to start homeschooling? What kind of character do I want to build in my child? What academic goals (long and short term) do I have for my child? What social and/or athletic qualities to I want to encourage? When you have answered these questions write a one or two sentence statement as the foundation for your school and use it in your decision making process. Your curriculum and method may change, but your vision will be the consistent foundation.

3. Have Confidence in Your Decision

Once you make the decision to homeschool it will seem as though you are bombared with questions (from yourself and others) about your choice. Can you answer homeschool questions with confidence? Some common questions are:

4. Discover You Child's Learning Style

Is your child primarily a visual learner? An auditory learner? Or a kinesthetic learner? It’s useful to know before you start your homeschool, but sometimes just getting started with any curriculum will help your child's learning style become more obvious as you work through different activities.

5. What Method Will Work?

A method (also called an approach) is the WAY you teach your child. A method will give you a framework for planning as you start homeschooling. It could be classical education, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, unschooling, or you can use several and call it "eclectic homeschooling."

6. Find Support

Support is crucial when you start your homeschool. Some parents need alot of outside support and some are content to have the support of their spouse or immediate family. Your support network of family, friends and other homeschoolers serves as a sounding board for your ideas and can provide you with new perspectives. The more supported you feel, the more confident you will feel about starting your homeschool.

What do support groups have to offer?
Find a local homechool support group.

7. Prepare Your Children

Going to school is so “expected” in our society that it doesn’t matter what age your children are, they are going to need to “prepare” for the homeschool journey too.

8. Choose Curriculum or Make Your Own

Choosing homeschool curriculum can be overwhelming. There's A LOT out there. If you have done the research and planning for the steps I've outlined above, you'll have an easier time.

Click here for more on how to research curriculum.

9. What about Record Keeping?

Now that you have all your new curriculum, you are anxious to start homeschooling. But first, set up a record keeping system based on your state's requirements. Are you required to keep attendance records? Test scores? Shot records? Work samples? Get a file folder or notebook organized now to make record keeping a breeze.

Tips on homeschool record keeping.
Setting up daily, weekly and yearly homeschool schedules.
Avoid overcommitment when setting up your homeschool schedule.

Have fun!

A friend of mine was in tears because her youngest child was graduating high school at the end of the year. She told me, "I can't believe it's ending! I've had the time of my life!" I hope, at the end of our journey, we can say the same thing.

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