If you’re like the thousands of families who have made the decision to educate their children at home, then you are most likely wondering how to start homeschooling. Although each state, providence, and country has their own unique laws for homeschooling, there are many aspects that are the same. This article will walk you through many of the most commonly asked questions and give you practical answers to help you easily get started. Enjoy this ultimate quick-start guide to how to t start homeschooling!
What is Homeschooling?
Although there are many methods and styles in homeschooling, they are all rooted in the choice to educate children within the home setting. This also doesn’t mean that schooling takes place in the home only. There are a wide variety of ways to educate children beyond the home. As you’ll read later on, parents often choose to outsource their children’s education to provide a holistic educational journey.
Is Homeschooling for you?
One of the most commonly asked questions parents ask themselves even before making the choice to homeschool is if it’s for them. Of course you’ll have to be the final judge, but there are several things to take into consideration and questions to ask yourself:
- Why do you want to homeschool?
- What kind of education do you want your children to have?
- How much are you willing to invest in homeschooling (in terms of time and energy)?
- Do your children want to be homeschooled?
- Do you have support from other family members (such as your spouse)?
The answers to these questions can help you determine if homeschooling is right for you, your child, and your overall family. Some families only homeschool one or two children, while the others are still enrolled in a public or private school. Other times, they choose to homeschool for a short amount of time. Regardless of what you end up choosing, make sure it’s the right choice for your family.
Reasons to Homeschool
Part of deciding if homeschooling is right for you is also understanding your reason behind homeschooling. Some of the most recent reasons people are choosing to home educate their children are due to virtual learning not working, their child’s inability to thrive, and the stress of trying to keep up with the new educational norm.
Other reasons parents choose to homeschool are:
- Taking back the freedom to educate their children.
- Having control over what their children are learning.
- The ability to provide their children with better education opportunities.
- Wanting to meet their child’s true developmental and education needs.
This list could go on and on, but the foundation to these reasons (and many others) are the same – parents want to be their children’s dominant authority and influence.
Difference Between Homeschool and Public School
In light of recent changes, the line between homeschooling and public schooling is becoming a bit fuzzy, and rightfully so. When public and private schoolers were sent home to finish out their school year, parents instantly thought that must be what homeschooling is actually like. The issue is it was not even close.
The primary differences between homeschooling and public schooling are choice and structure. While some parents have to choose public schooling because of their familial situations, homeschooling is often a choice that most do not make. In addition to the choice difference, there is also a structural difference that often becomes a major concern for parents who do choose to homeschool.
In a public school day, the schedule is already concretely made and carried out by teachers. However, for homeschooling parents, they are the creators of the schedule and must have the discipline and consistency to carry it out. That may seem intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple once you find a routine (and schedule) that accommodates your unique family dynamic.
If you’ve made the choice to homeschool, keep reading to learn how to get started today!
How to Start Homeschooling Today
Using the most frequently asked questions about homeschooling, here are some step by step practical steps on how to get started homeschooling no matter the time of year, age or grade of your child, or if you have no clue what to do.
FAQs About Homeschooling
How much time does homeschooling take?
One of the biggest misconceptions, thanks to public schooling, is that homeschooling is an all day effort. Parents go into homeschooling thinking it has to start at 8:00AM sharp and go until 3:00 in the afternoon. The truth of the matter is you can actually get all the important subjects taught in just a few hours every single day.
Most homeschoolers have adopted schedules that allow them to teach important subjects on certain days and only spend a minimum amount of time according to their child’s age and grade. For example, subjects such as History, Geography, Science, and Social Studies do not have to be taught every single day. Instead, homeschoolers schedule these to be taught two to three times per week. More common subjects such as English, Language Arts, and Math are usually taught on a daily basis.
How long homeschooling lasts on a daily basis also depends on how many children you are teaching. Families that have two or more children typically benefit from combining subjects into what’s known as unit studies. They are able to teach all of their children, regardless of grade, together using one topic of study. This helps decrease the amount of time spent teaching.
How much does it cost to homeschool?
The cost of homeschooling varies depending on you and your child’s needs. You can homeschool for free using resources handed down, found online, or by utilizing your public library. There are also inexpensive options to expensive ones. The more expensive side of homeschooling usually comes from being enrolled in an online academy (with a monthly or yearly tuition) or purchasing curriculum that has a lot of textbooks and/or workbooks.
Homeschool Materials
There are also supply costs to consider, which is usually the majority of where the money is spent. Depending on where you buy and when, you can typically find great deals and discounts of supplies. Here is a non-exhaustive list of supplies to consider adding to your get-list:
- Paper
- Construction paper
- Spiral notebooks
- Folders
- 3-ring binders
- Pencils
- Crayons
- Coloring pencils
- Markers
- Highlighters
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tape
- Laminator
- Laminating sheets
- Clear sheet protectors
- Hole puncher
- Planners
- Labels
In addition to these items, you may have more subject specific resources you’d like to invest in such as math manipulatives (blocks, cubes, play money, calculator, etc.) or reading enhancers (flashcards, letter tiles, etc.). The amount you buy will be up to you; however, it is a great idea to have a homeschooling budget so you do not overspend.
How do I teach multiple age levels?
Homeschooling families who are teaching multiple age levels typically gravitate toward a schedule and routine that allows them to teach many subjects simultaneously. You’ll see (and hear) terms like together time or morning basket which basically indicates these are times in which certain subjects are taught together. Bible, Reading, History, and special subjects (physical education, art, music, etc.) are the easiest to teach together because they are mostly reading (or being read to) and discussion based.
When it comes to the work completed for the subjects taught together, resources such as lapbooks, notebooking, and project-based assignments are the go-to as they allow children to complete work at their specific age and grade level. The same question can be posed, yet depending on the child’s academic ability, they can show the answer differently.
Some parents use a lot of dictation with younger children, meaning they will ask their children questions and write down their answers for them. One of the most important things to keep in mind is your child’s learning style. If your child learns best with hands-on opportunities, then provide them with assignments and resources that accommodate that attribute. Children who like to read or be read to would benefit more from assignments that give them the opportunity to read.
Teaching multiple age levels isn’t always easy but it is always doable.
How do I teach multiple children?
With teaching multiple age levels in mind, there is always the embedded concern of teaching multiple children (regardless of age level). Teaching multiple children can be done with taking a few simple steps:
- Lay down some foundational ground rules. For example, establish a few rules that tell your children what you expect.
- Clearly communicate your expectations. Children typically do not have the mind capacity to deduce or assume meanings; therefore, be clear about your expectations.
- Create a homeschool routine. This routine should naturally mesh with your family’s overall lifestyle.
- Establish a homeschool schedule. Similar to a routine except it focuses more on what you will teach each day.
In addition to these steps, always keep your children’s developmental levels and educational needs in mind. You may have to adjust accordingly, and that’s okay!
How do I homeschool if I work?
Working and homeschooling isn’t as new of a concept as some people think. A lot of homeschooling families have one parent working outside the home while the other works from home. Regardless if you are working inside or outside the home, you can still homeschool. Using multiple outsources can help you guarantee that your child is still getting the kind of education you want them to have.
You may have to be more intricate or strict with your schedule and/or routine, but you can still do it. Some working parents hire a tutor to come into the home, while others opt in for homeschooling in the evenings. There are also a lot of online options that provide free (or paid) courses.
The key to working while homeschooling is to have a plan (and a backup) and still with it.
Homeschool Requirements by State
Legally speaking, each state has their own laws around what grade homeschooling must begin by. For example, in most states, children must be enrolled in a public/private school or be homeschooling by 1st grade. Some states also give an age range in which children must be receiving a formal education.
Although these are established, some parents still choose to begin homeschooling much earlier, typically around preschool age. If you are looking for a great website to find out your homeschooling requirements by state, check out the HSLDA website.
How do I start homeschooling mid year?
Homeschooling mid-year can begin once you have followed the steps mandated by your local board of education. Usually there is a particular process for unenrolling your child (or children) from their current school and then filling out the proper paperwork for officially registering them as a homeschooler.
If your decision is last minute, it will be understandable that you may not have preparations made to transition into homeschooling. However, even with everything in place, it may still be a good idea to consider deschooling. This is the process of helping you and your child adjust from the school system classroom to homeschooling.
Research suggests that deschooling should last one month for every year your child was in a public or private school institution. During this time, parents can have important conversations about what homeschooling will look like, in addition to preparing materials, resources, and curriculum. There may also be a period of unschooling or unlearning many concepts that were taught and re-establishing what learning and education can (or will) look like for your child.
Common Homeschool Misconceptions
As with anything that is new or not well known, there can be many misconceptions that often cause people to see things from one perspective. Homeschooling is certainly one of those things, but once parents start their own journey, they quickly realize where a lot of misconceptions are just that – misconceptions!
Homeschoolers aren’t socialized.
At the top of the misconception list is the concern that homeschoolers are not socialized. On the contrary, homeschoolers are often more socialized than public schooled students as they have more liberty to talk, be around children of different ages, and have more opportunities to experience life outside the four walls of a classroom. From co-op groups to field trips, homeschoolers are far from being unsocialized.
Homeschoolers are always at home (no field trips).
Don’t let the word “home” in homeschool fool you. That is just an indicator that the child is not doing the majority of their learning in a school system. While some learning is done at home, homeschoolers have the unique opportunity to make outside their classroom. This includes going on field trips, traveling (also called roadschooling), or having class in their backyard.
Homeschoolers do not get a well-rounded education.
This couldn’t be furthest from the truth. There are a number of homeschoolers who actually begin college much earlier than public schooled students. Homeschoolers are also commended on their level of maturity when partaking in dual learning. In fact, homeschooled students are able to have a more focused education tailored to their desires of life after high school. Whether they have college or a certain job in mind, homeschool gives children the ability to pursue it early.
It is hard for homeschoolers to get into college.
You may be surprised to learn that many colleges are actually seeking out students that were homeschooled. Why? These students are more equipped, score higher on tests, and go against the grain. Homeschoolers are shown to be better prepared for college due to reasons such as the aforementioned – their education is tailored to their interests. Therefore, when they enter college, they are already well versed in a particular area.
Where to Find Curriculum for Free
Thanks to homeschooling becoming popular and normalized, there are a number of free places to find free curriculum. Below is a short list of places to check out:
- Easy Peasy All-In-One Homeschool
- Brightly Beaming Resources
- Teach With Me
- Plain and Not So Plain
- K12
- Old Fashioned Education
- Ambleside Online
You can also find a variety of individual free resources like printables and worksheets from lots of homeschool bloggers (like myself!).
Where to Find Curriculum for Cheap
Finding an inexpensive homeschool curriculum isn’t hard either. Here are the top five places I recommend searching for curriculum that won’t break the bank:
You can also find lots of inexpensive curriculum that has been gently used (or brand new) on Facebook Marketplace or in Buy/Sell Homeschool Curriculum groups.
Where to Find Homeschool Groups and Support
In the last decade alone, homeschooling has seen an incredible spike, which is good news when it comes to finding groups and support. Most major towns have established homeschooling groups that give parents the opportunity to have their child participate in co-ops, extended learning, field trips, social events, and extracurricular activities.
There is also an abundance of online support through Facebook groups, Instagram pages, YouTube, and the like. These groups can provide solid advice, help with finding a reliable curriculum, or give practical tips for everyday homeschooling concerns.
Outsourcing
Outsourcing has become one of the top ways homeschooling parents minimize stress and overwhelm. If there is a subject that a parent struggles with teaching, they can outsource it using options like Outschool or Khan Academy. Outsourcing also involves using different supplements for curriculum. In some cases, you may want to purchase a certain piece of curriculum, but use a different resource to supplement.
Tips for Homeschool Success
In a nutshell, homeschooling success is defined by you. This is also where establishing your homeschool mission statement, goals, and plan come into play. Be careful to not homeschool according to anyone else’s journey because you have your own unique one. Your children are unique and so will their homeschooling journey be.
Homeschooling success is also best seen from your goals because suppose you only want to homeschool until middle or high school. When you reach that level, then homeschooling has been a success! Homeschooling success also comes in the small steps of navigating the journey each and every day.
Don’t get sidetracked by any setbacks, but instead, take it one day at a time and don’t hesitate to make changes when necessary.
Helpful Resources
When you’re the homeschooling parent, you need resources for yourself. From homeschool mom books to amazing planners, here are some helpful resources to consider adding to your homeschooling arsenal:
- Homeschool Bravely
- The Brave Learner
- The Unhurried Homeschooler
- The Call of the Wild + Free
- Chaos Coordinator Homeschool Lesson Planner
Conclusion
As you begin to gather info on how to start homeschooling, remember that it will be just as unique as your precious family. Take your time and don’t get discouraged as your find your homeschool groove, and don’t hesitate to go where your child’s needs lead!
Tiffany
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