5 Steps to start your Homeschool
“The goal of homeschooling isn’t to get education right, but getting it right for your child.”
If you have read a little about me, you might be surprised to learn I was afraid when I started homeschooling. You do not need to be afraid. You will find your community. You will find your way.
Step 1: Withdraw from Public, Private, or Charter School
If you’re not in Texas: Homeschool Legal Defense Association Homeschool Laws by State
If you are in Texas, the Texas Homeschool Coalition is the place to go for information. I’ve listed relevant links for school withdrawal below:
How to withdraw from school, with template email - All the legally required information to withdraw your child from school is included in this email template which you can copy and paste.
Sending an Assurance Email - If a school requests more information (in Texas, they should not) this is a template of how to respond, in a copy/paste email.
FAQs for THSC - Requirements to Homeschool in Texas - If you have unique questions regarding your child’s school withdrawal, this is a great place to seek answers.
Step 2: Don’t Copy the Public School Format
It’s hard to not want to immediately apply the same schedule your child was used to before. That doesn’t really serve you or your child, because the system of a school has it’s own rhythm. We don’t have bell schedules and set hours at home. If your child needs extra time for math, or you choose to take a day outdoors with a homeschool group as opposed to doing table work, that is actually part of your school week.
Homeschooling may as well be called life schooling because all the normal responsibilities of your day when your kids were in school are still there, but now your kids are learning how to be part of that. And in turn, they are learning how to live, learn, work, and rest right alongside you.
Step 3: Find your Family’s Rhythm & routines
What works for one homeschool family does not always work for another family, even if they use all the same curriculum and tools to teach. We are all different. Spouse work schedules, children’s interests, family goals, social activities, religious activities — these all make a huge difference to how each family will homeschool.
The best suggestion I can make is find a rhythm and have routines that are not set in stone. I would say a rhythm are the daily touchstones of how your day proceeds, while routines are the activities that are repetitive day to day in your home.
Step 4: Get Connected
National: Homeschool Legal Defense Association
State: Texas Homeschool Coalition or HSLDA state organizations list here
Local: Find local homeschool associations, ministries, groups, co-ops, and approach them with an open mind. Nothing is ever a perfect fit, but you may find a place where you and your child can start out and have support as you pursue homeschooling. Homeschool conferences can really put a lift in your spirits too, they always have a fantastic community feel.
Step 5: Planning & Curriculum Selection
In my world, curriculum is the most fun there is. I love looking at curriculum, and thinking about what I want to use the coming year for my kids. But ultimately, it’s not the most important thing. I would love it if you consider my guides as a starting point to seeking curriculum, which is really what I would share at conference or over coffee in my living room. You will always find many homeschool parents who love talking curriculum, educational philosophies, and more. There won’t be a shortage of help.
My website designer and friend, Lindsay at Dwell In Hope Design, made this gorgeous curriculum chart for our local homeschool association. I highly recommend this great resource as a place to start learning about the many curriculum companies available to homeschoolers.
Curriculum can be overwhelming, I won’t deny that. I’m here to help. Email me at hello@mytexashomeschool.com if you have any specific curriculum related questions, and join me in planning your year out with my free homeschool planning guide.