How to Start Homeschooling

Tips from a Homeschooling Mom of 4 Years

You see articles with this title all over the Internet: "How to Start Homeschooling". In fact, when I enter "How to Start Homeschooling" into my Google browser, I get 1,500,000 results. As someone who is passionate about homeschooling, and people who homeschool, I often become distressed about the glut of misinformation online and otherwise. Some of this misinformation comes from writers who have "researched" homeschooling, and perhaps spoken to a homeschooler or two and decided to write about it. Other information comes from people who have an axe to grind against homeschoolers.

Don't get me wrong. There is still a lot of good information to be found about homeschooling. You will even find good information on homeschooling here, on Associated Content. However, before you believe or follow a single bit of advice, you need to know how the writer gathered his or her "expertise" on homeschooling. Since I am about to give you my own advice on how to start homeschooling, I will also inform you that I have homeschooled my kids for four years. They are now in the 5^th and 7^th grades. One was considered ADHD when she started homeschooling, and not qualifies for gifted programs. The other is well above his years in maturity and academic level. I know what I am talking about. In addition to knowing how to homeschool, I also give advice in person and on the families.com homeschool blog.

So, how do you start homeschooling?

Make the decision: Homeschooling is not a decision to be made lightly or for to be used as a temporary band-aid. If you decide to homeschool you will want to do it for at least three or more years to get the optimal benefit. The most important part about the decision to homeschool is that both parents and even the child are on board. When homeschooling becomes a point of distention, there is more in danger than education.

Get State information: Homeschooling is governed on a state level. Therefore, you need to learn your state's rules and regulation for homeschooling.