Quick Start Guide for Homeschooling

Have you decided to homeschool this upcoming school year? You have plenty of time to get ready. If you are seeing this post literally days before school starts--don't panic. You can do this. Are you pulling your kids out mid-year to homeschool? I got you.

If you have always known you would homeschool, and your kids are approaching school age, it may be different for you. You will gradually ease into it through the preschool years, and it will be a more organic start for you. However, some of this information might be helpful as well.

STEP ONE

Check your state laws. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but each state has its own guidelines to follow. We have to do this right. If you are not in America, check the laws where you live. We want to start out on the right foot. Here is information on making sure you are following the laws where you live.

STEP TWO

Figure out what grades and subjects you will be teaching. Here is some information on grade levels. (Don't worry, it's not hard.) Here is what you need to know about subjects.

STEP THREE

Decide on what curricula you will use. Researching curricula is a rabbit hole you could fall down and never climb back out. Let me give you some tips. Please don't purchase a curriculum because you saw someone on Instagram/TikTok/Pinterest/Facebook using it. Please research to be sure it will be a good fit for your family. You probably won't choose 100% correctly the first year, but if you research first, you will end up with stuff that is absolutely useable. You can change course next year if needed. Do you know any homeschoolers in real life? Ask them. I can't tell you the number of YouTube videos I've seen of someone praising a certain curriculum and then a year later a follow-up video about why they will not be using that thing again. Advice from someone in real life, who has years of homeschool experience is greater than any YouTuber's advice.

Don't know any homeschoolers? Use the CONTACT form at the top of my website, and I will help you for free! Here is how to choose curricula.

STEP FOUR

Start buying what you need. If money is not a problem, just purchase it all, and you are done! If you have a tighter budget, you may need to look at some other options. Here is some information on how to afford everything.

STEP FIVE

Carve out a space in your home to do this all in! Again, don't let Pinterest/Instagram, etc. get you down. Real homeschool spaces don't look like that. Comparison is the thief of joy. I have prayed many years for the Lord to help me figure out one more configuration that will meet our needs in this house and He always comes through! Here is information on making a homeschool space.

STEP SIX

Figure out a school calendar and a schedule for your days. Find more information on calendars here. Help with your schedule can be found here.

STEP SEVEN

Contact me with questions, and I will be happy to help!

You can do this!

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