If you’ve chosen to homeschool (or are still considering it), here are some steps to get started:
1. Know your state laws.
While homeschooling is legal in all US states, the laws and regulations may vary. Therefore, it’s important to understand the requirements for your specific district and state.
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) is a great resource for understanding and navigating these regulations. Use their “Homeschool Laws by State” site to get started. Click here for their website.
I also recommend connecting with other homeschooling parents in your local community. They may be able to help support you as you navigate the specific rules and regulations of your area.
2. Know your “why”
Understanding *why* you’re homeschooling will help guide the decisions you’ll need to make regarding curriculum, schedule, resources, and more.
Think and pray through why you’re choosing to homeschool, what you value in education, and what you want your homeschool to look like. You’ll also want to consider your children and how you can best meet their needs.
3. Know your philosophy
The absolute best advice I can give is to take time to craft your educational philosophy.
We must consider:
-What is man?
-What is education?
-How then do we learn?
“Education at every level reflects our primary assumptions about the nature of man, and for this reason, no education is innocent of an attitude toward man and his purpose.” -David Hicks
There are many homeschool approaches such as traditional, neoclassical, Charlotte Mason, classical, Montessori, unit studies, delight-directed, eclectic and many, many more. Research and consider which ideas and principles align with your values and views on education. Crafting your educational philosophy is an essential foundation.
It's tempting to jump into choosing a curriculum or selecting books and resources, or creating a schedule. While all of these things are important and worthy of our time, energy, and attention, we need to work from a solid foundation.
Crafting and understanding your educational philosophy is the foundation for your home and homeschool. This will affect other decisions, including what resources you use, how you manage your schedule, and how you meet the needs of your children.
4. Create or Choose your curriculum
Understanding your educational philosophy will guide your curriculum and resource choices. You can choose a curriculum that’s already created, put together your own, or use a variety of different books and resources.
5. Create your schedule
From here you can begin to plan your year and dive in!
-Create a yearly overview, including breaks and holidays
-Create a weekly schedule
-Create a daily timetable, general rhythm, or loop schedule
