How To Start Homeschooling – Simple Steps To Take

When you’re trying to figure out how to start homeschooling, it can sometimes feel a little bit daunting! You want to know all the right information on how to homeschool your child so you won’t ”mess up” their education.

Homeschool curriculum, lesson plans, provincial/state laws, and which homeschool method you will choose, are all things you need to know – but some moreso than others. I’m going to help you to NOT over complicate getting started, so you can learn how to start homeschooling, the simple way!

Here are some simple steps to take to get you started on your homeschooling journey.

1. Talk to some veteran homeschoolers in your area

This step is SO important, which is why I made it number one! When you are trying to figure out how to start homeschooling, seeking some advice from “those who have gone before you” – so to say – is not only going to educate you, but it will also calm your fears.

I remember feeling so unqualified to teach my children. I was worried that I would do everything wrong, skip over something they needed to know, and therefore send their education/life down a never ending path of doom and unemployment! Then….I found a homeschool mom near me, talked with her on the phone for an hour, and when I hung up, I knew I could do this. 

Talking to veteran homeschoolers is important because they understand your fears, and they have learned so much simply by ‘doing’. They will give you the realistic version (not the fear based version), of the daily rhythms and routines of homeschooling. They will point you in the direction you need to go and help you to see that you ARE capable and you do NOT have to have a degree in education to successfully homeschool your children. Essentially, veteran homeschoolers are, and will continue to be, your absolute BEST resource when it comes to information, advice, and encouragement.

If you don’t personally know any homeschoolers in your area, find a local homeschooling facebook group and ask if someone there would be willing to hop on the phone with you. I know from experience that homeschoolers are extremely open and love to share what they’ve learned with others. Its such an amazing way of life, and most are happy to help out someone who is just getting started. 

2. Know your provincial/state laws

You may wonder why I didn’t list this one first, since it sounds pretty important. Well, it IS important – very important. However, doing this BEFORE you have that life altering discussion with a veteran homeschooler may only increase your anxiety. So, talk first…then find out what the specific requirements are from your province or state. 

Depending on where you live, there may be a lot of requirements such as testing, reporting, or tracking your hours; while other areas have very little requirements and really leave it up to the homeschooling parent. Whatever you must do to meet your provincial or state laws, you need to do. But beyond that – it’s all up to you! And usually, even the stricter requirements are still able to be personalized to suit the needs of your family. 

When learning how to start homeschooling, know what’s legally required, and then move on. Be sure to provide whatever reports or documents necessary, and then don’t stress! It often feels more intimidating wondering what’s required of you, than it actually is when you KNOW what’s required of you. Where I live, all my government requires from me each year is:

• to register my children at the beginning of each year as “homeschooled” and provide their grade
• fill out a form at the beginning of the year with a rough outline of what we will be covering during the year
• fill out a form at the end of the year stating what we actually ended up covering

That’s it. Easy! Not worth stressing over! So, after you talk to some veteran homeschoolers and have your fears extinguished, read up on what is required of you from your local government. Know it, do it, and begin your family’s homeschool journey with confidence. 

3. Register your child

This is simple, but can’t be forgotten. If your child is currently receiving a public education, the first thing you need to do is contact their school and let them know you are withdrawing them as of whatever date, and then register them as “homeschooled” with your government. Literally that simple. 

And yes, you can withdraw your child from the public school system AND register them for homeschooling all in the same day! Just make sure you don’t neglect actually doing either of these things. 

​4. Deschool 

When learning how to start homeschooling, this can sometimes be overlooked. But, if you were raised in public or private school, and if your children have attended either of those in their lifetimes, then a period of deschooling is necessary. I discuss this further in my article on the things I wish I knew before I started homeschooling, which you can find here. 

But in a nutshell, this is a time where you don’t do any formal education and give yourself and your child time to break away from the public school mindset. Homeschooling is very different than public school, and it SHOULD be. But so often, we homeschool moms try to recreate the public education system within our homes because that’s all we know school to be!

By allowing yourself to simply spend time with your child and watch how they learn in every day life, you will gradually begin to let go of that mentality and be able to fully embrace the freedom and beauty of homeschooling. 

This may be something the entire family needs to do together, so that everyone is on the same page. I promise you, your child will be OKAY if there’s no worksheets for a while. Do not let this period of time stress you out thinking there’s going to be a gap in their education. There won’t be. Trust me.

5. Find some local homeschool groups

Having a homeschool community you can lean on for support is so incredibly valuable! Being part of a homeschool community does not mean you have to attend every single event or outing. You can pick and choose those things. What it means, is that you have people who are close by that you can talk to and share life with. You can bounce questions or ideas off of each other, encourage friendships between your children, and more. 

I have found that one of the biggest benefits of homeschooling has been the relationships that have been built through the various local homeschool groups we are part of. The easiest and quickest way to find these groups is online. But if you do happen to have a friend who is currently homeschooling, just ask them. It won’t be long before you are surrounded by people ready to encourage you and be there for you when you need them. 

6.  Look at homeschool curriculum/your child’s learning style

Curriculum is often the first thing people start researching when trying to learn how to start homeschooling. And yes, finding a homeschool curriculum that both you and your child enjoy is very important – IF you plan on using curriculum. Many homeschooling families do not use curriculum, while many do. It really boils down to a few things:

• what your family’s needs are
• your homeschooling style
• ​how you want your homeschool day to look
• the grade level of your child

Before you start looking at homeschool curriculum, take some time and think about those things I’ve listed. Be honest with yourself and don’t just do things because you think you should. And if your child is still really young, you most likely don’t even need any formal curriculum yet. 

Decide what you want your homeschool to look like, and work towards that. You know your children better than anybody, and you will know what’s working and what’s not. Take some time to think about these things first. You’ll be glad you did. 

And when it comes to your child’s learning style, the best way to figure this out is to read up on what the different learning styles are and then just observe your child. You don’t need any fancy tests to reveal this, just spend time with your child and watch how they do things. Ask them questions about a recent experience and see what they remember and what they don’t. Find out what drives their interests and how they engage in those things. All of this will steer you in the right path and you will quickly start to discover how your child learns best, which will help you make decisions on how you will homeschool that child. 

7. Find where to go if you need help

The final step I will discuss is figuring out where to go if you need help along the way. And here’s the good news – finding this help is EASY! There are so many homeschool resources available now, online and even at your local library. But chances are, your top resource for detailed information when you need it, will be your homeschool community. 

When (not if) you need help, don’t be ashamed or scared to reach out to other homeschool moms. We have ALL needed help and will continue to at various times. Being a homeschool parent is a learning experience all on it’s own. And sometimes, we simply do not have all the answers. 

If you can’t find what you’re looking for online, I’m sure that one of your local homeschool families will be able to provide you with what you need. Sometimes, its something physical like a specific book, some school supplies, or some suggestions on field trips.  Other times, you may need help with special needs within your family, or just sifting through the various different methods of homeschooling available to you. 

Whatever you need help with, finding where to get that help is crucial. Besides your local community, there are tons of online resources and support groups you can take advantage of that may be a good fit for you. 

The best time to discover these resources is when you’re NOT in crisis mode and needing help immediately. Take a few minutes proactively, and just do a quick online search to see what’s around you and join whatever online communities resonate with you. This way, you’ll know exactly where to go when something comes up and you need a little help.

A word of encouragement from me

When wanting to know how to start homeschooling, all new homeschoolers tend to overthink pretty much everything. I know I sure did! But just remember this – you ARE enough for your child. You are more invested in your child’s life and success than anyone, and that fact alone means you will make sure to do whatever you can to see them succeed. 

Home education is not public education, so don’t let yourself feel inferior if you aren’t doing everything that the public schools are doing. The most important thing you can do for your child is love them, encourage them, and help them explore and discover their passions. 

Don’t be afraid. You CAN homeschool your children. You’ve got this. 

Blessings!

~Maryann