So You Want to Homeschool…Now What?

If you’ve decided you want to homeschool, you may be asking yourself, “How does it actually work?” or “Where do I even start?” Use these 5 steps to keep you grounded as you jump into the homeschool world.

1. Learn the Laws of Your State
Each state has different requirements and regulations for homeschoolers, so check with your local homeschool organization to make sure you are compliant. Depending on your state, you may have to follow requirements for the following:

- Compulsory school age
- Required hours/days of instruction
- Required subjects
- Annual academic testing or evaluations
- Annual statements of intent to homeschool
- Teacher qualifications
- Attendance records and portfolios
- Evidence of immunization

Learn more about your state’s homeschooling laws.

2. Research Your Options
Figure out what approach you want to take by learning about your options! Read homeschooling blogs, shadow a homeschooling family, and/or attend a homeschool convention. If you have a homeschooling question and you don’t know where to find the answer, you can always reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram, or our website for general homeschool help.

3. Decide on Your Curriculum
There is so much information out there about homeschooling that at some point, you need to stop doing research and simply choose a curriculum! Pray about it and ask for wisdom in choosing the direction. Then, make the leap and trust that God has all things in his control.

To see why so many children and parents love learning with AOP, check out our free trial of Monarch online curriculum and sample pages of our print curriculum.

4. Get Connected
It’s easy for new homeschoolers to think they have to do everything on their own, but homeschooling is a team sport. Find your local homeschool group, get connected to a support community online, and find activities for our kids in your community.

5. Stay Organized
Pick a schooling schedule that works for your family and stick to it. At the same time, don’t be afraid adjust when needed. From the very beginning, keep good records! No matter what your state requires, record grades, attendance, details of the curriculum you use, and any involvement in extracurriculars are important to track.