7 Steps To Start Homeschooling
Wondering how to start homeschooling? We've got you covered!
Whether you are homeschooling from the beginning or bringing your children home from public school, these seven steps will guide you through the homeschooling process.
1. Be legal
Homeschooling is regulated by the state rather than the federal government, so you need to look at your state's legal requirements to find out what, if anything, you have to do to be legally homeschooling.
Some states consider homeschools to be private schools and regulate them as such, some states have specific homeschool statutes, and some have no homeschool regulations at all.
Legalities may sound confusing, but they are typically not hard to comply with. Local and state homeschool groups can give you guidance in understanding homeschooling laws, but be sure to seek out the actual state code (which is usually online at your state’s official website) for the most up to date and accurate legal information with regard to homeschooling.
2. Let go of school ways
One of the best things about homeschooling is that you don’t have to recreate school at home; in fact, in most cases, you shouldn’t recreate school at home.
You have the freedom to allow your children to learn in ways that aren’t possible in an institutional setting, so learn more about what might work best for your family. Consider your child's learning style and look into various homeschooling styles.
Home is not school and does not need the same structure. It is a good idea to take the opportunity to go through a period of deschooling before you jump into homeschooling, especially if your child was previously in public school. There is an adjustment period that a child (and often the parent) goes through when leaving school and beginning homeschooling.
To fully benefit from homeschooling, a child has to let go of the school culture as the norm. This is deschooling, and it is a crucial part of beginning homeschooling after a period of time spent in a classroom. This period is a great time to explore the homeschooling methods and learning styles if you haven’t already done so.
3. Locate local activities and nearby homeschoolers
One of the most important things you can do to successfully homeschool is to get hooked into a community of homeschoolers. Your homeschool community may be online, where you can find encouragement and support in a virtual environment. In-person groups allow you to participate in field trips, co-ops, classes, and outings.
Either way, avoiding isolation is key to homeschool success. Because local homeschoolers are often a helpful resource for understanding homeschool regulations, getting connected early can help reduce anxiety for new homeschoolers.
Our local homeschool database has listings for thousands of homeschool groups, co-ops, classes, and field trips near you.
4. Find your learning resources
Notice that we didn't say, "Buy your curriculum." Often, buying a homeschool curriculum is done too early in the process, resulting in buyer’s remorse. By taking advantage of deschooling, you can see how your child learns best. This will help you find the best resources (which may be curriculum or not) for your situation and children.
Research how to choose homeschool curriculum (be sure to request our curriculum choice workbook at that link). You may find that you are more comfortable with a lifestyle of learning than a set curriculum. If so, you are not alone. Many families have found this to be the best way to learn.
Part of choosing resources is considering how you use the resources with your family's schedule. You can read more about how families with different lifestyles use different homeschool schedules.
When/if you are ready to buy, read homeschool curriculum reviews from homeschoolers who have used the resources.
5. Attend homeschool conventions and events
Attending a homeschool convention can be great exposure to both speakers and resources. Conventions and conferences can encourage and inspire you, and there is no substitute for getting a first-hand look at homeschooling resources.
Don't overlook online conferences! Webinars and online conferences are full of the same encouragement, tips, and inspiration as in-person events.
Top tip: It’s important to look into the sponsoring organization's philosophy to ensure it fits with your family and homeschooling perspective. You can expect both the speakers and resources to be representative of the organization’s outlook, so you'll want to be sure it's a good fit.
6. Incorporate your support network
Involving the important people in your life will give you as the homeschool parent a better chance of success and will also introduce valuable opportunities for your family.
Involving the grandparents can be particularly beneficial once they understand the benefits of homeschooling. Our Grandparents’ Guide to Homeschooling can help your parents understand how to support your decision to homeschool.
This support network isn't limited to grandparents, however. The people in your network can offer opportunities for sharing strengths when you incorporate them into your homeschooling journey.
You might find that your sibling who majored in math is willing to tutor algebra or insider friends willing to set up a tour of their workplace. Although it's important to be respectful of boundaries in your relationships, you may find people in your network who are willing and able to enrich your children's learning activities.
7. Consider special circumstances
High school considerations
If your child is in high school or will be taking courses for high school credit, you need to know that public schools are not required to give credit for work done while homeschooling (nor are they required to give credit for work done at an accredited homeschool program).
We often see parents incorrectly assume that a public high school's promise to enroll a previously homeschooled student is a promise to give credit for work done.
Since schools do not have to give high school credit for homeschooling (even with accredited programs), plan to either
- homeschool throughout high school and issue your own homeschool high school transcripts and high school diploma
OR
- enroll the student in public school before starting work for high school credit.
Online school considerations
Many new homeschoolers look to online programs as a "plug and play" solution. To work well, these options still require a present and active parent coach. Online schooling works best with regular monitoring, coaching, and enrichment by parents.
