How To Start Homeschooling Today
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure and privacy policy for more information. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Whether there is an emergency situation at your child’s school, a medical emergency, or even a global pandemic, you may find yourself suddenly thrust into the world of homeschooling. It can seem a bit scary and you may feel you are going into uncharted waters, but rest assured, there have been many mamas who have gone down this path before you. These tips and tricks for how to start homeschooling today will make sure you’re in great shape!
How To Start Homeschooling Now
First things first, let’s talk about what you need to do to start homeschooling right now.
Get Legal
Learn your state’s laws. Each state has a different set of laws for homeschooling. Some require more paperwork from you than others. When researching homeschool laws, I highly recommend using hslda.org. They are the most up-to-date organization. Once you have a good grasp of what may be expected of you, review your state’s department of education website to verify the information you have learned.
Connect with Other Homeschoolers
Most of the time I would recommend connecting with local homeschoolers. Look online for local homeschool organizations and become part of the wider homeschool community. There are a lot of us out there, and many of us have formed groups that meet up for classes, park dates, and all kinds of things.
Do you know your child’s learning style?
Take this quiz to figure out what your child’s learning style is and begin researching curriculum choices. This can be hard because there is so much available. You don’t have to choose a specific curriculum right now. If you’re looking to begin homeschooling right now, I would take a pretty laid-back approach and make a book list, pick a subject to study with your kids, do a little unit study, and continue researching curriculum until you’re satisfied with your choice before purchasing.
Do you need to choose a homeschool style?
If you’ve been researching homeschooling for sometime, you’ll find there are a variety of homeschool styles out there. In short, no you don’t need to immediately choose a style to begin homeschooling. Many of us find that we are actually eclectic and borrow parts from several homeschool styles in our homeschool. Take your time, do your research.
Deschooling
Your home won’t run like a classroom. It just can’t. Many parents who pull their children from school will need to go through a period of deschooling. During this time you will find a new rhythm for your life at home. This is a great time to just read, do simple arts and crafts projects, and connect with your child while you spend time researching curriculum options.
Choose Curriculum
Once you are confident in a curriculum choice, make your purchase and get to work. As a new homeschooler, I really appreciated a boxed curriculum like My Father’s World, and an open and go curriculum like The Good and the Beautiful. Check out how to choose the best family style curriculum in our curriculum comparison guide.
How Long Does It Take to Start Homeschooling?
You can start homeschooling right away. You’ve always been your child’s first teacher, so it doesn’t take long to become a homeschooler. It may take a few weeks to develop a homeschool routine, but it will come to you and your family. Do take your time selecting curriculum and researching reviews. Curriculum is often a big expense, so you need to choose something you are comfortable with.
Is It Hard to Homeschool?
Ah, a loaded question! To me, it’s not hard to homeschool most of the time because it’s all I’ve known as a parent. I love that our days start off slowly rather than with a crazy morning rush. It isn’t always easy, though. We are a lot of different personalities and learning styles in one house. My kids do fight with each other, at least once a day. I get tired and need a break. So, yeah, it’s not something I would say is easy, but it’s our lifestyle and I love it.
Resources to Start Homeschooling
Let’s talk resources! I’m going to share what I personally use and also some other great resources to get you started.
For Moms of Preschoolers and Kindergartners
How To Make Preschool (and kindergarten) Lesson Plans + Free eCourse
My Homeschool Preschool Planner – 30% off with code HOME2020
Must-Have School Supplies for Preschool and Kindergarten
Preschool and Kindergarten Lesson Plans Based on Books -30% off with code HOME2020
Preschool and Kindergarten Book Lists
For Moms of Multiple-Age Children
Morning Time – Bring your children of all ages together for morning basket!
The Homeschool Garden Morning Time Plans – Perfect for moms wanting pre-made morning time plans for kids of multiple ages.
My Father’s World Curriculum – Use code SLM2020 for free ocean cookie cutters! We use this curriculum for all of our kids for bible, history, and more! Read all of my posts on My Father’s World Curriculum.
The Good and the Beautiful – Open and go, easy to implement with multiple children. Read all of my posts on The Good and the Beautiful.
How to Homeschool Multiple Ages
For Moms Looking for Online Learning
Teaching Textbooks – Online or textbook style learning. My children use the online program for their math courses.
Easy Peasy All in One Homeschool – A FREE online curriculum resource. This is a Christian homeschool curriculum program offering courses in all subjects across all grade levels.
Unit Study.com – Find a large variety of digital unit studies for all school age children.
Free Educational Websites
Oceans Initiative Virtual Marine Biology Camp
Virtual Field Trips
Animal Cameras:
U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL
Italian Museums:
- The Vatican Museums
- The Uffizi Gallery
- The Capitoline Museums
- Pinocoteca di Brera
- Trajan’s Market
- Ara Pacis
My kids were homeschooled last school year. I have gone through the things that were mentioned in this article. Currently, they are enrolled in an international school in the Philippines https://georgia.edu.ph/blogs/2021/10/28/Is-Your-Preschooler-Ready-For-The-Big-School.