How to Homeschool – The Ultimate Guide For Beginners

So you want to start homeschooling, but you’re overwhelmed trying to figure out how to homeschool.

If you’re new to home education and you’re asking how do I start homeschooling, this can seem like a great big world.

And it is. But also, it’s not.

Once you’re a part of the homeschool community, you’re in for a wonderful network. Homeschooling parents are some of the nicest people I have ever met.

So You Want To Learn How To Homeschool

No matter where you go, whether you are a new homeschooler or a seasoned homeschooler, you are sure to find a wonderful support group of knowledgeable homeschooling parents, each with their own specialized wealth of information.

Each of the homeschooling parents in a community bring their own strengths to the table, and everybody is always more than happy to answer any of your questions related to homeschooling: from how to homeschool my special needs child, all the way up to how navigating a high school home education. (Plus everything in between.)

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But you’re not here to hear how nice other homeschooling families are. Well, maybe you are….but we’ll get to that another time. What you really want is the answer to your question – “How do I start homeschooling?”

I will do my best to answer you.

When You Want To Start Homeschooling

Keep in mind, homeschooling is a process. You don’t just hit up one or two popular homeschool blogs and websites or read a few books about homeschooling and BAM you suddenly know everything there is to know about homeschooling.

Becoming a homeschool parent doesn’t work like that. When you decide to homeschool your kids, you are deciding not only to teach them but to learn along with them.

And honestly, I think that’s one of the greatest perks.

How Do I Start Homeschooling?

So now that we’ve got that covered, let’s move onto the most important question you should be asking yourself when you decide to start homeschooling, and that is, is homeschooling legal?

I can’t speak for the rest of the world, although I do know it is legal to homeschool in many, many areas. But here in the United States of America, yes, it is legal to homeschool.

Is It Legal To Homeschool In My State?

I will say it again – it is legal to homeschool in all 50 states. Don’t let anybody tell you differently. And, believe me, a lot of naysayers and protesters will, including your local school district teachers and administration. Different states have different laws and requirements, but it is definitely (as of 2021) legal to homeschool all over the United States of America.

That being said, each state has different requirements. I would highly recommend new homeschoolers (or recently relocated homeschoolers) go to HSLDA and look up your state’s homeschooling laws.

Some states only require you to notify your local school district of your intent to homeschool, and then that’s it. Some states require nothing at all, as long as you begin whatever you’re going to be doing by a certain age (usually 6 or 7).

But there are some states that have more strict home education requirements such as minimum days or hours ‘in school’ or certain subjects to be covered. Some states expect you to keep a detailed paper trail consisting of attendance records, past school work, and so on. Some states even require regular testing for certain grade levels to measure your child’s test scores and home education progress, all the way through high school.

Don’t let these requirements scare you. Homeschooling is not as scary as you may think it is. Even in states with more stringent homeschooling laws, providing your kids with a good home education can be as easy or as difficult as you make it out to be. Even unschooling families have homeschool success in states with strict home education laws. The homeschool parents just need to get a little more creative with their paper trails.

Whatever state you live in, it’s super important that you read up on your local laws to make sure you are compliant. HSLDA can help you with that. Just follow the link and click on your state. Easy peasy.

I’m not going to go through and list every state’s requirements here because HSLDA has already done it so thoroughly. And additionally, HSLDA offers legal advice and protection to homeschoolers that I am not qualified to give.

I’ve Read Up On My State’s Laws – What’s Next?

What’s Next On My Quest To Start Homeschooling?

After you’ve determined what it takes to be in compliance with your local state laws, I would recommend reading up on the different homeschooling styles and methods to set yourself up for homeschool success. Decide which one most closely fits your family.

There are SO MANY different homeschool methods, styles, homeschool curriculums, lesson plans, etc. The homeschooling world literally goes on forever – and no two families homeschool in exactly the same way. But having an idea of the homeschooling style your family naturally gravitates towards will help you as you continue your journey.

Knowing what fits your family makes it easier to know which homeschooling blogs to follow and which tips and tricks on Pinterest to pin. Knowing what homeschooling style your family naturally gravitates towards will also make it easier for you to research and decide upon a homeschool curriculum (or a combination of curriculums) that will help your children thrive!

If you can’t decide what style is best for you, don’t worry too much. Many homeschool families swap to a new method every single year.

I personally have shifted styles 4 times since I started homeschooling my now 11-year-old. It’s okay to change. It’s okay to be flexible. That’s the beauty of homeschooling: there are no hard-core requirements. But having a rough idea of what you’re looking for will make Google and Pinterest searches easier.

Just a few of the most popular homeschooling styles are:

• Montessori Style Homeschooling
• Lifeschooling (one of my personal favorites)
• Unit Studies
• Charlotte Mason Homeschooling
• Thomas Jefferson Education (TJEd)
• Project-Based Learning
• Unschooling
• Relaxed Homeschooling
• The Hess UnAcademy Method

No one of these methods of homeschooling is better than the others. It all depends on what is best for your family and your child’s learning style. And this isn’t even a complete list of the available homeschooling styles. For example, I have not listed attempting traditional school at home, worldschooling, gameschooling, or Waldorf and methods (although I probably will in the future). And a lot of homeschool families take a combination of these methods and create their very own.

Unsure which style of homeschooling best fits your family? Take this fast and free homeschooling styles quiz now!

There are nearly as many homeschooling styles as there are homeschooling families. Remember – there is no wrong way to homeschool. As long as you are following your local state laws, you are good to go.

Deciding On The Best Homeschool Schedule

Your decision on the best homeschool schedule for your family will be heavily influenced by the homeschooling style you settle on, along with your local state laws.

Plenty of homeschooling families maintain a schedule of three or four days a week, while others are more strict about five regular school days, and still others are more sporadic. Some families follow the local public school district schedule as far as days they are ‘in school’ and others school year-round.

Regardless, creating an effective schedule and routine is key to successful homeschooling. Make sure to factor in not only your children’s lessons, but also time for snacks and breaks, outdoor playtime, extra curricular activities, and family projects.

Consider setting up a consistent wake-up time as well as daily start and end times for school. Once you have a routine in place, stick to it as much as possible to avoid confusion or disruptions.

At the end of the day, the scheduling choice is yours. Decide what works for your family.

Deciding On The Best Homeschool Curriculum Options

Again, the homeschool curriculum you choose will be heavily influenced by the style of homeschooling you choose to follow. And keep in mind, whatever homeschool curriculum you choose might change year by year (or month by month) until you settle on the one that works best for you – and even then, nothing is permanent!

Your home education method and resources need to grow and develop at the same rate as your children. Which means your homeschool curriculum will likely change.

There is no way on earth I could list all the available homeschool curriculum options on this site, but a few of the curriculums we have tried and enjoyed include Reading Eggs, The Family School (religious) and CTCMath. Teaching Textbooks, Sonlight, BookShark, The Good and The Beautiful, Beautiful Feet, and Apologia are also popular choices.

Another new online option for little ones through grade 2 is Homeschool+ (review here) by the makers of ABCMouse.

Then if you’re looking for STEM curriculums, we’ve created STEM Made Easy.

Many families (including our own) have had great success with piece-mealing together resources to create a DIY homeschool curriculum.

When it comes to choosing a homeschool curriculum, it is best to start by determining your end goal. What do you want your children to be able to accomplish by the time they graduate from your homeschool? Are they going to college or a trade school? Are they going to be entrepreneurs? Do they have something else in mind?

The answer to this question will guide you on your quest to choose the best homeschool curriculum for your family.

Need more help with homeschool curriculum options? Check out some of these resources from our blog:

• 53+ Free Homeschool Curriculum and Resources | Homeschool For Free
• Homeschool Curriculum Tips, Resources, and Storage Ideas
• Homeschool Curriculum for Math: The Ultimate Comparison Chart
• Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum Comparison Guide
• Homeschool Science Curriculum: The Ultimate Comparison
• Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum Comparison Guide
• Family Style Homeschool Curriculum Comparison Guide
• Homeschool P.E. Curriculum And Courses
• Why Invest in a Good STEM Homeschool Curriculum

Set up a workspace or classroom area at home

Once you decide you’re moving forward with homeschooling, it’s important to set up a designated workspace or classroom area in your home. This will help create structure for both you and your children when it comes to setting boundaries about school time versus playtime.

For younger kids, have them pick out supplies like colored pencils, markers, paper and other materials that they can use during their studies. Having these items within reach will help foster creativity and a fun learning experience.

How To Find Support On Your Homeschool Journey

There are many ways to go about finding support on your homeschool journey.

Many people (such as myself) find great support in local support groups on Facebook. There are also homeschooling groups on Facebook that are not based on region but instead on style or curriculum. If you’re not a fan of Facebook, find a homeschool support group forum, such as Homeschool Speak.

Finding (or creating) a local co-op is another great option. A homeschool co-op is a group of homeschool parents who work together to create a ‘village’ so to speak of homeschool moms and dads. Each parent in a co-op takes turns teaching all the children in the co-op.

Homeschool parents can rely on each other’s strengths to overcome their own weaknesses. If one parent is awesome at math or science but horrible at writing, they can teach all the kids what they are good at and allow other parents to teach what they are not good at. Everybody benefits from a good co-op situation, including the children’s social skills. In fact, joining a co-op is a surefire way to avoid any concerns about homeschool socialization.

Co-ops are also great for extracurricular activities such as music lessons or field trips. A child’s education should not be limited by the parent’s own talents. Don’t be afraid to outsource different parts of your child’s education! Remember, you are not in this alone.

And while we are on the topic of homeschool support, you might consider attending a homeschool convention (either online or local and in-person). A homeschool convention is a great way to absorb many many tips, tricks, and tidbits of advice from seasoned homeschool moms.

And finally, know that there are tutoring options for homeschoolers as well. Check out our guide on homeschool tutoring here.

Homeschooling works. But homeschooling also takes hard work and dedication. This journey you have chosen is not an easy one, but I can promise you, it is definitely worth it. Homeschooled children tend to be some of the kindest, most polite, most well-rounded kids I have ever met, and all of my best friends have been homeschool moms.

Feel free to browse around this site for more homeschooling tips. I have plenty of tips, ideas, and resources (paid and free) for you to enjoy and benefit from. And if you see something you like, feel free to subscribe. I take my email community very seriously and always strive to provide the highest value for my homeschool community.

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I wish you the very best of luck on your homeschool journey.

Happy learning! And here’s to homeschool success!

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How to Homeschool – The Ultimate Guide For New Homeschoolers