So You Want To Be a Homeschooler?...The Basics You Need to Know

Have you been considering homeschooling but don’t where to start? Have you made the decision to homeschool and are now wondering what crazy thing you’ve done? A few years ago, I wrote a series of posts about Getting Started Homeschooling. Since then, those posts have been collected into an ebook- So You Want To Be a Homeschooler? You can get the full book for FREE here. But in this post,  I am going to hit some of the highlights and give you the crash course- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Or More) About Homeschooling.


Are you already homeschooling but just need some help, a change, some encouragement and inspiration? Check out the end of the post for help.

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Why should you homeschool?

The short answer to this is- because you feel like it is God’s will for the education of your children. If you feel the pull on your heart, don’t make excuses. I’ve heard many of them. “If you knew my children, you would understand why I can’t homeschool.” “You must just have easy kids.” “I can’t homeschool multiple children.” “What would I do about algebra?!” The truth is, if God calls you to homeschool, He will equip you. So listen to Him.

What should I do first?

The first thing you need to do is to find out the legal requirements for homeschooling in your state. Thankfully homeschooling is currently legal in all of the United States. But different states have different laws. Check the HSLDA website to find out what your state requires.

How can I find other homeschoolers?

Many people still believe the incredible myth that homeschoolers hide out all day under rocks and are totally not social. They worry that if they begin this grand venture, their children will be isolated and friendless. There is so much wrong with that thought that I can’t begin to address it. But I can tell you that you will be relieved to find out that there are MANY more homeschoolers than you ever thought. If you look in the right places, you can find many groups for learning, for field trips, or just for social hanging out. This website has a great list of support groups by state.

What do I teach?

There are certainly a host of options when it come to what curriculum to use or what philosophy to adopt when it comes to teaching you children. One of the best places to go for ideas is a homeschool convention. I didn’t go to my first convention until several years into our homeschooling, but we now go every year. A convention offers workshops to teach about homeschooling and offers the vendor hall- a wonderful, one-stop place for viewing and purchasing curriculum. One of my favorite is Teach Them Diligently. You can find out about it here. This is a good question to ask your new friends in your support groups- “Have you been to a homeschooling convention that you really liked?”

The most important thing I could share with you if you are thinking about homeschooling is- don’t let yourself be psyched out by fears. If God has called you, He will prepare you. You can teach your child. You know your child better than anyone else. Pray, seek out fellow homeschoolers, and plunge in to the adventure of a lifetime!

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Are you already homeschooling, but you feel as if you need a change, some encouragement, some inspiration, a new focus, a new path? Sometimes it seems really overwhelming to make changes. You know you need a change. You know things are rough and you’re frustrated, but you just don’t know where to start. Believe me. I’ve been there in my homeschooling!

Homeschool Overhaul is a free resource that will guide you step-by-step through four areas that will help you to make needed changes in your homeschool. It’s great because it really is step-by-step. I love that it breaks things down really simply. You’re told exactly what you’re working on for the week and even guided through day-by-day how to work on that area. This was great for me because sometimes if I only see the big picture, I can get overwhelmed.

You can pick up Homeschool Overhaul for free here.