How To Start Homeschooling
There’s no better time to get started with homeschooling than the present, right?! The world is absolutely crazy right now, especially in our schools. The best way to protect your children and give them a childhood is by homeschooling. The question I get asked often is, “where do I start?”.
I’ve got you covered!
Make the decision as a family
The most important thing to do when you’re getting started with homeschooling is to make sure it is a family decision. You and your significant other BOTH need to be on board with it. Why? Because whichever one of you is homeschooling will need the others support. Homeschooling is a huge sacrifice and you both need to be a willing participant in it.
What about the kids? Sure, it’s important for them to have a say in it too. But at the end of the day, remember YOU are the parent. God gave you those children and it’s up to you to make the best decisions you can for them.
If you are taking your child(ren) out of public or private school, there may be some pushback. Include them in the decision and allow them to choose activities, sports, etc. that they would like to participate in that will allow them to stay connected with their school friends. It will be an adjustment at the beginning.
Figure out your states homeschool laws
The next step when you’re getting started with homeschooling would be to research your state’s homeschool laws. Every state has their own laws and require different things. You will want to know what you are required to do legally before getting started.
You can find homeschool laws by state at HSLDA.ORG.
If your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, you will need to know what is required to unenroll them and how much time you have to establish your homeschool. Typically you will need to file your letter of intent before unenrolling or within 30 days to avoid truancy.
You will also want to know what documentation and records you are required to keep. This might include a portfolio, copies of work, test scores, etc.
Prepare your heart & Home for homeschooling
After you’ve made the decision as a family and know your state laws, begin to prepare your heart and home for the transition. In my opinion, preparing your heart is more important than your home. Why? Because you are about to be with your children 24/7. You were already responsible for their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. And now you’re responsible for their academics too!
It’s a lot of weight on your shoulders. I won’t sugarcoat it. There are days you’re going to feel that weight immensely. It’s on those days that you will need the support of your partner.
So how do you prepare your heart?
Do whatever it is you do to get yourself in a good place mentally. For me, it’s prayer. Before starting our homeschool journey, I spent months praying over all aspects of our lives. For my children’s heart, my heart, our home, my peace and patience, and our transition.
Preparing your home is the easy part.
A homeschool room isn’t necessary, but you will want to have a designated area for your supplies. How much and the types of supplies will depend on your homeschool style. I recommend starting out with just the basics – craft supplies, notebooks, a computer with internet access, and a good printer. If you’re teaching elementary, I would also include number/letter manipulatives and counters of some type (pom-poms, buttons).
Keep it simple when your getting started with homeschooling
This is our homeschool setup. We homeschool in an RV and don’t have a ton of space for extra stuff. So I care more about quality than quantity when it comes to homeschool resources.
When you’re preparing your homeschool space, keep that in mind! Focus on items that you will use frequently.
If you want to know my 4 most used items and how I used them, you can download my FREE resources guide.
Take time to deschool
After you unenroll, you’ll want to take the time to deschool. What is deschooling? It’s the adjustment period between exiting school and getting started with homeschooling. Essentially, it’s a break from school.
No matter how long, or little, your child has been in school, they have been trained to learn in a classroom. Your homeschool should NOT be the same as school. They need time to adjust to the difference. Spend time resting, playing, exploring, and just enjoying time together. Allow them to unwind and remove the stress of school before starting your homeschool routine.
You can read more about deschooling in this article.
Download mY guide
What about the other stuff? Like writing a homeschool mission statement, choosing curriculum, and creating a schedule? I teach you about all of that in my homeschool guide for beginners.
The guide includes our family’s mission as an example, must have resources to get you started, tips for helping your struggling child, and so much more.
Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. I’m here to answer questions and guide you. I’m just an email or DM away!
If you are looking for way to turn your workbooks into hands-on lesson, head over to Instagram for video tutorials in reels.
