How to Start Homeschooling
Welcome! I am excited to assist you as you embark on this journey to homeschooling. I know the decision can be overwhelming but my goal is to provide you with several resources that will hopefully make the process a little less scary and help you to find the perfect fit for your family.
I created this page as a free resource to help guide you as you get started. If you’d like more help and a clear, step-by-step process, check out the course just below.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosures.
WANT MORE HELP GETTING STARTED?
Go from overwhelmed to confident in 90 days
Homeschool S.T.A.R.T. walks you through it step by step: 24 short video lessons, an 80+ page workbook, and your own personalized 90-Day Plan. I’m one of the teachers, along with seven other Christian homeschool parents from the Made2Homeschool community.
✔ Set your foundation
✔ Tailor your approach to your kids
✔ Assess what’s working
✔ Resource wisely, without curriculum overwhelm
✔ Thrive in community
Step 1: Find Your Local Homeschool Laws
Look up your state’s laws
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) has a guide to every state’s homeschool laws. Click below, pick your state, and you’ll see what your state requires.
I also recommend joining HSLDA. Membership gives you legal protection plus a lot of support and benefits, and there are monthly, yearly and lifetime options to fit your budget.
Laws change, so always confirm the current requirements for your state. This is what we’ve learned, not legal advice.
Keep good records
Some states require you to keep records, so find out what yours requires. Even if your state doesn’t (Kansas doesn’t), it’s still a good idea to keep them for the future. Here’s how we keep ours, though there are many ways to do it.
HSLDA recommends keeping records no matter what your state’s laws say. If anyone ever asks to see them, contact HSLDA before handing them over. They can help you decide if and when that’s wise.
Homeschooling in Kansas?
To learn the laws in Kansas and how to get started here, watch the video above.
Here’s a printable FAQ cheat sheet on homeschooling in Kansas:
Also be sure to Check out the Kansas Home Educators (formerly known as TPA) to find other local resources and to keep up to date on things happening in the local homeschool community.
Step 2: Finding Your Curriculum
Top 5 curriculum mistakes I made (so you don’t have to)
The best curriculum is the one you’ll actually use
Don’t get caught up in all the what-ifs, or the glitz and glamour of a beautiful catalog. Think about your family and what your kids are really like (not what you wish they were like). Pick something, then learn to adapt as you go. You’ll learn the most by trying and observing.
Want more guidance on how to do that? The Homeschool S.T.A.R.T. course walks you through all of it.
Not sure where to start?
Take the free Homeschool Style Quiz to discover your teaching style in about 5 minutes. Then add your kids for the new Family Learning Map. It puts each child’s learning type next to your style, with ideas to try for each child and a poster and coloring page for every kid. It’s all free.
All-in-one curriculum
If you want everything planned for you, these are the boxed curricula I recommend, and who each one fits best.
Christian Light Education
Best if you like workbooks and a straightforward, academically rigorous curriculum. A great fit if you don’t want a lot of manipulatives and your kids are motivated by the frequent wins of finishing small workbooks.
Sonlight
Great if you have kids close in age and love a literature-heavy curriculum. Your kids learn through excellent books and get lots of practice with narration. All you have to add is math.
Master Books
For the mom who wants open-and-go: no separate teacher’s book and student materials, with short, light lessons. Keep in mind it isn’t academically rigorous.
See our favorite curriculum
Curious what we actually use? See all of our current favorites, from reading and math to science, history and writing, with a quick note on who each one is best for.
Free curriculum
Khan Academy
Free online lessons and practice, especially strong for math.
All-in-One Homeschool
A free, complete online curriculum for every grade.
AmblesideOnline
A free Charlotte Mason curriculum built around living books.
Find what’s right for you
Here you will find a list of quizzes and handouts that can help you discover your teaching style, your child’s learning style, and other fun facts that can help you pick the right curriculum for your family. Simply click on the item to explore that resource.
Step 3: Get Connected
Getting connected in the homeschool community is very important to the success of your school. There are a lot of different ways you can get connected to other homeschoolers in your area and here are just a few ideas to get you started.
- Join the Made2Homeschool online community for 24/7 connection
- Get plugged into a homeschool co-op
- Join FB support groups
- Volunteer at your local homeschool association
- Attend your local homeschool convention
- Take online classes
- Join the HSLDA
Connection any time of day
Co-ops and local groups are wonderful, but they don’t always meet when you need encouragement. Inside the Made2Homeschool community you can connect with other homeschool moms 24/7, join live workshops, and find help for every stage. I’m the Community Director there, and I’d love to see you inside. There’s even a free plan to get started.
Step 4: Continue to Learn
Creating a Routine
As homeschoolers we have a lot of flexibility in when and how we do school. You can take breaks when you need to and work the times and days that fit your family. For us, that looks like “formal book work” Monday through Thursday, with Friday saved for “fun school” like science experiments, field trips and game schooling.
In this video I walk you through ABC Scheduling, the system that changed our homeschool routine.
How to Plan Your Year
Staying organized and planning out your year can be very helpful, but please know it looks different for everyone. In this video I share how to plan your homeschool year without getting overwhelmed.
Know Your Why
Find your WHY! Knowing why you are homeschooling and WRITING it down will help on the hard days and it will help you as you move forward with schooling decisions in the future.
Podcasts to Listen to
Resources for Special Needs Kids
Still feeling overwhelmed?
Homeschool S.T.A.R.T. turns everything on this page into a step-by-step plan you can actually follow, with 24 video lessons, an 80+ page workbook, and your personalized 90-Day Plan.
**FTC disclaimer: I may receive some products in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own and are not influenced by brand, person, or company. Please note that some links may be affiliate links, and I earn a commission from your purchase. These links share products at no extra cost to you.