Getting Started

Many people wanting to homeschool ask the question “How do I get started?” You can’t do anything without taking the first step, right? So, what’s the first step to homeschooling? After you take that first step, what comes next? Exactly how does one get started on the wonderful journey that is homeschooling?

Well, the first step is to find out the homeschooling laws in your area. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 U.S. states. However, each state has its own laws for homeschooling. Each state has different requirements that you have to meet in order to legally homeschool there.  So, step #1 is finding out your laws. Know exactly what you need to do: what kind of records you need to keep, what form of assessment is required & how often, which subjects are required, how many hours you need to school, what registration paperwork is required & when does it need to be turned in, etc. You’ll want to print your state laws, so you have them handy at all times. You should check the laws each year, so you’re aware of any changes. Now that you know your state laws, it’s time for step #2.

Step #2 is to figure out your child’s preferred learning style. There are different ways to learn, and knowing which way works best for your child will be a huge help. Do an online search for ‘learning styles’ and you’re sure to find some free tests to find your child’s learning style. You can also check your library for some books on learning styles. In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. is a good one.

Step #3 is to decide on a homeschool method. Read about the different methods of homeschooling. Eliminate the ones you know won’t work for your family. Then, make a list of the ones you think might work for you. Search for sites dedicated to those methods to get more information on each one. Decide which one you want to try first. Keep in mind that you may change methods during your journey. So, choose the one that will work best for you right now. You might even decide to use different methods for each of your children. Their learning styles, strengths & weaknesses, abilities, interests, any disabilities, and your educational philosophy are all things you may want to take into consideration when choosing a method. There are many different methods of homeschooling. For descriptions of the different methods, visit my Homeschool Methods page.

Step #4 is choosing curriculum. Many people make the mistake of thinking that ‘Curriculum’ refers only to packaged, complete curriculum. However, technically, curriculum is whatever materials you use to educate your children. This means that if you choose a bunch of supplemental materials, hands-on activities, educational computer games, and some educational videos, that is your curriculum. So, when I say ‘Curriculum’, I am not referring specifically to prepackaged, all-in-one curriculum, I am referring to any & all materials that you choose to use for your child’s education.

The reason I say to choose curriculum after figuring out learning styles & method, is because learning style & method will impact your choice of curriculum. If you choose to go with the School-at-Home method, you’ll probably go with pre-packaged, all-in-one curriculum providers. You may use one provider for all subjects or you may use different providers for different subjects, but you’ll probably stick with the prepackaged, all-in-one providers for most, if not all, subjects. If you choose the Charlotte Mason method, you would probably stay away from the prepackaged, all-in-one providers, because they wouldn’t really fit with the method. Your child’s preferred learning style will help determine how many hands-on projects, videos, games, workbooks, and textbooks you use. A child who is more hands-on will not do their best work if workbooks make up a majority of your curriculum. So, waiting until you’ve figured out their learning styles & picked a method will help you reduce the curriculum options to a more manageable number, and help eliminate curriculum options that you know won’t work for you & your child.

There is one more thing for you to consider before you start the search for curriculum. You need to decide whether you want to use Secular or Religious curriculum. Some people who are not Christian, will use curriculum from Christian publishers, just leaving out the Christian elements. Some don’t want to have to tweak the material in that way & prefer to use strictly Secular materials. Some Christians prefer to use Secular materials, and keep religion separate from the regular academics. Other Christians like to have their religion involved in all the academic subjects, and, therefore, prefer Religious curriculum over Secular.

Choice of curriculum is a very personal thing. You need to decide what works for you & your family. Just because something is popular, that doesn’t mean it will work for you, so don’t just go for the most popular choices.

Step #5 is to remember to be flexible. Many people don’t stick with their first curriculum choices. They buy them & try them out, only to find that they just aren’t a good fit. So, don’t feel bad if you have to try out multiple curricula or methods before finding the one(s) that works best for your family. Also, remember that your children will change as they get older. This means that the curriculum or methods you use when they are younger won’t necessarily work for them when they are older. Be flexible. Don’t stick with a method, curriculum, or schedule that doesn’t work. One of the beautiful things about homeschooling is the freedom; freedom to use the materials, methods, and schedule that work best for each child & your family as a whole. Remember, no two homeschools look exactly alike. If starting school after dinner works better than starting after breakfast, do it that way. If one child works best with a School-at-Home approach & another works best with the Waldorf method, that’s fine. You don’t have to use the same materials, method, or even schedule for all your kids. Use what works best for them. Don’t worry that your homeschool looks different than your friend’s homeschool. Each family has different needs to be met, so do what works for your family. It’s okay if it’s not the same thing others are doing.

You now know what you’re required, by law, to do. You’ve figured out your children’s learning styles. You’ve picked a method or a few methods to start with. You’ve chosen your curriculum, and are prepared to be flexible, making changes when needed. You are now ready to start the wonderful journey of homeschooling.