How To Start Homeschooling 101: (When you have no idea what you’re doing)

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You’ve probably had that tug to start homeschooling for a while now, and now it is time to make the decision a reality. Homeschooling can feel like an uncharted territory especially if it has not been part of your life previously. There is so much information out there, and it is easy to feel like you have to have it all figured out day 1 or you are failing. This How To Start Homeschooling 101 Guide is here to take that pressure off and make you feel a bit more confident in your homeschool journey.

This post is all about taking simple, practical, guided steps. We will talk about :

  • Laws
  • Your Why
  • Different Homeschool Styles
  • Learning Styles
  • Choosing Your Curriculum
  • Practical Tips To Set Up Your Space
  • Daily Rhythm versus Schedule
  • and more!

Choosing to start homeschooling is a big, scary step, but with small, simple steps, in this how to start homeschooling 101 post guide I hope you will feel confident and ready!

1. Learn Local laws and Requirements

The first step is to understand the laws and requirements where you live — including any possible funding options. This will help you determine whether homeschooling is feasible for your family and give you peace of mind knowing you’re doing everything correctly. After all, the last thing you want is unnecessary trouble.

Some states and provinces require things like attendance records, a school year outline, standardized testing, or oversight from a facilitator. Knowing these expectations ahead of time will guide you in choosing a curriculum that fits your ability to comply.

For example, if your schedule is tight, you might opt for a program that includes a detailed plan, built-in tests, and automated record-keeping. On the other hand, if you have more time and prefer flexibility, you might enjoy creating your own curriculum and school year outline by pulling together different resources.

To help fellow canadians to start homeschooling I have simplified and created an outline of requirements for each province in Canada ⬇️

Homeschool Laws & Requirements Canada_20250804_080040_0000Download

I also found these pages helpful

For Fellow Americans who want to start homeschooling here is an outline of laws & regulations, funding, pros and cons ⬇️

Homeschool laws by state_20250809_191332_0000Download

I also found these pages helpful

2. Know Your Why

Every family’s reason for homeschooling is unique. Step 2 in Homeschooling 101 is to take time to look inward and clearly define your “why.” Knowing the reason behind your decision will give you confidence and help you persevere through the challenging seasons that every homeschooler eventually faces.

You don’t need to frame it on the wall, but you do need to have a clear vision of the outcome you hope to achieve through homeschooling. Writing it down in your planner, tucking it into your Bible, or keeping it somewhere you’ll see often can serve as a reminder of your purpose.

Your “why” will often reflect your family’s values, priorities, and—if applicable—faith. Identifying it early will guide your decisions, especially when it comes time to choose curriculum and shape your homeschool experience.

Here are some simple but thought-provoking prompts to help you define your homeschooling “why”:

  • List your top 3 reasons you’re considering homeschooling. (Example: faith-based education, flexible schedule, tailored learning pace.)
  • Think about your child’s needs—academic, social, emotional—and how homeschooling might meet them better.
  • Picture your ideal homeschool day—what does it look and feel like?
  • Reflect on your family’s values—what principles or beliefs do you want your children’s education to reflect?
  • Consider past educational experiences—what do you want to keep, and what do you want to change?

3. Connect & Be Inspired

This actually crucial when you start homeschooling, and one that is often skipped. Homeschooling can feel less overwhelming and far more exciting when you surround yourself with people who are on the same journey.

Join local homeschool groups, follow bloggers and social media accounts, or attend events where you can see homeschooling in action. Listening to the stories, successes, and challenges of others will spark fresh ideas for your own family and remind you that there’s no single “right” way to homeschool.

Homeschool blogger accounts to subscribe to;

Instagram account you should follow

Canadian Facebook groups

Books to read

4. Understand the Different Homeschool Approaches

Before you start searching for homeschool curriculum, take time to understand your child’s learning style and the various homeschool methods available. This insight will help you narrow your options and avoid falling into the endless “curriculum rabbit hole,” saving you time, money, and frustration.

While learning styles can be complex, we’ll keep it simple by focusing on three common types: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

Visual: Seeing (Demonstration)

Auditory: Hearing (verbal instruction)

Kinetic: Moving/Doing. (Think sensory and arts & crafts )

Now it’s time to explore some of the most common and popular homeschool methods. As you read through them, think about which one feels most natural for your family and aligns with your preferred teaching style. You might find yourself drawn to one approach — or inspired to blend a few together to create your own unique path.

HOMESCHOOL METHODS

  • School at home (traditional) : In other words replicating a typical classroom and school day in your home. This would include textbooks, notebooks, sitting at a desk, and usually involves a dedicated homeschool room.
  • Classical; think of this as the way people had learned long ago. Dividing into 3 sections Starting with the basics in the early years, letters, words spelling, stories, early math, nature, repetition. Then building off of that in the middle years “Asking why” , “making sense of things” , “discovering the reason behind answers” creating connections, having discussions, and cover harder math & science materials. In the high school years the focus is sharing what you know, helping them share their ideas effectively, think clearly and logically. Alot of the Classical focuses on literature and history.
  • Charlotte Mason; focuses on giving children a rich and interesting education through good books, nature studies, and developing good habits. Alot is based on reading good books, retelling, narrating, and copy writing, short learning times frames and lots of outdoor time with hands on learning.
  • Unschooling (child-led learning); focuses on learning by interest instead of set curriculum. It is about trusting children will learn what they need to know as they explore the world without the “school work” parents are more like supporters and provide resources when a child shows interest in something focusing on real life learning. This often includes reading books, watching documentaries, visit museums/factories/workshops, and hands-on according to the subject.
  • Unit studies; focus on one subject at a time, instead of having separate lessons for each subject it connects other core subjects such as science, history, math, language arts, etc It is usually thematic and interest driven (like unschooling)
  • Online or video schooling; Simply put all instruction is on video and may include physical paperwork & activities or paperless. This allows parents hands off teaching anday be beneficial dor those who are not profficient in their local language or not very good at teaching.
  • Montessori; focuses on child-led learning currating an environment based on their interest, giving them space & time to explore and learn. Focusing on long periods of hands-on learning and using senses. Children usually are in groups of 3 years (3-6) (7-10) etc the goal is to teach independent thinking & learning. Parents/Teachers are more like guides.
  • Waldorf; Kind of like montessori focusing on the child as a whole thinking, feeling, and doing. Teachers usually stay with the same group for years and teach using folk tales, myths, nature. Art is the key focus where drawing, music, and movement are weaved into lessons. Formal education is started much later than in traditional schools
  • Eclectic is choosing the best ideas and materials from different homeschooling methods that best fit your child. Think of it as mixing and matching.

5. Choose Your Curriculum

This is the step where excitement and overwhelm often meet! By now, you’ve clarified your family values, identified your child’s learning style, and explored different homeschool methods. All of that will help you narrow your search and choose resources that truly fit your family.

Where to start homeschool search:

  • Use targeted searches like “Butterfly Unit Studies for Kindergarten” or “Montessori curriculum” to find resources aligned with your preferred method.
  • Visit curriculum websites to review their teaching philosophy, sample lessons, and costs.
  • Watch YouTube reviews or read homeschool blogger posts for real-life experiences. (This is where step 3 is important!)
  • Attend homeschool conferences to get ideas, advice, and the chance to flip through books and materials in person.
  • Browse homeschool thrift stores — you might find hidden gems at a fraction of the cost.

Things to consider when choosing a homeschool curriculum

  • Your teaching method – Does it match your preferred style?
  • Your child’s learning style – Will it work for how your child learns best?
  • Flexibility – Can you adapt or skip parts if needed?
  • Time commitment – How much prep and teaching time is required?
  • Cost – Is it within your budget?
  • Included resources – Are tests, lesson plans, and record-keeping built in?
  • Reviews – What do other homeschool families say about it?

NOTE

Many homeschool families blend methods or even mix different curriculums within the same approach. For example, I use video lessons most of the time, switching to off-screen learning when my schedule allows. We homeschool year-round — focusing on core subjects during the school year, then switching to relaxed science and nature studies in summer to prevent learning loss.

I recommend to start homeschooling with one curriculum and then try adding other things in.

Here are a few of my favorite faith-based curriculums

  1. Abeka (there is a free trial): A video based curriculum, recreating the school-day. I use this for core curriculum throughtout the typical school year, I do no recreate the typical school environment and do not follow their plan to the dot.
  2. The Good and The Beautiful; (Very affordable with lots of freebies) Christian viewpoint (allows for many denominations to use) with an open & go approach with supportive video instruction. It is one of the more affordable curriculums I have seen. I use their science units to create study units over the summer. Sonlight; a bit of charlotte mass on style offering a prepackaged, literature focused, and Christian perspective curriculum.
  3. My father’s world; Christian centered, literature-rich curriculum that provides a family styled approach allowing children of different age groups to study many subjects together.
  4. Schoolhouse Treehouse: Shares Charlotte Mason approach with literature based unit studies.
  5. Sonlit– A literature based curriculum, known for its open and go lesson plans and Christian worldview.

6. Create a Plan

Once you’ve chosen your start homeschooling date, picture what you’d like your homeschool day to look like—and balance that with what’s realistic for your family. Remember the saying, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” Even a simple plan helps set you up for success, giving your days structure and direction while still allowing room for flexibility.

There are two main ways to organize your homeschool day:

  1. Timed schedule This approach uses specific time blocks for each subject, offering structure and predictability for both kids and parents. Example:
    • 8:30 wake up & morning routine
    • 9:00 breakfast
    • 9:30 Bible lesson
    • 10:00-10:45 phonics / language arts and so on.
  2. Daily rhythm A more flexible “flow of the day” approach that focuses on order of activities rather than the clock. Example:
    • Wake up
    • morning routine
    • Breakfast
    • Bible lesson
    • Phonics / language arts.
    • Lunch
    • Outdoor time / Afternoon routine
    • etc.

Wake-up might be at 7 a.m. one day and 10 a.m. another—the sequence stays the same, but the timing shifts. (This is the approach I use.)

Pro Tip: Whichever method you choose, keep a lesson planner. Batch plan one day a week; so you have about a week planned at a time. This way you can:

  • Adjust if a concept clicks quickly (or needs more review)
  • Stay on track during busy seasons
  • Have lessons ready to go for vacations or days away from home
  • I’ve created a Summer Learning Planner you can adapt for your school year, plus a freechecklist resource to get you started.

7. Set The Environment

It might seem like every other homeschooling family has a beautifully decorated, dedicated homeschool room—but in reality, most homeschoolers do lessons right in their living spaces, at the kitchen table, living room, or outdoors. The key isn’t where you homeschool, but how organized you are. Keeping all school materials in one place—sorted for each child—will save you time, reduce stress, and make it easier to start the day.

Homeschool Space Setup Checklist

  • Designate a central storage spot (cabinet, cart, bins, or bookshelf)
  • Sort supplies by child (color-coded bins, folders, or cubbies)
  • Keep frequently used materials handy (pencils, notebooks, current books)
  • Store extra/seasonal curriculum separately so daily space stays clutter-free
  • Create a “grab-and-go” tote for learning outdoors or at co-op
  • Make a supplies caddy or rolling cart (scissors, glue, rulers, crayons, etc.)
  • Add visual aids (maps, charts, whiteboard) if space allows
  • Make it inviting—natural light, cozy seating, maybe a plant or two
  • Have a cleanup routine so materials get returned to their spot daily

8. Evaluate

Once your homeschool is up and running, the real key to long-term success is ongoing evaluation. Homeschooling is never “set it and forget it”—your children’s needs, interests, and developmental stages will shift, and your approach should adapt along with them.

No two homeschool years look alike, and often, no two days look alike! As I mention in Homeschooling with Babies and Toddlers, flexibility is essential.

Consider running a short trial period before you start homeschooling with a simple study unit (summer break is a great time). This gives you a low-pressure way to test:

  1. Whether the curriculum is a good fit.
  2. Which rhythm or schedule works best.
  3. How to organize your homeschool space to serve you.

Things to Note When Evaluating

  • Curriculum Fit – Is your child engaged? Are they retaining information?
  • Pacing – Is the workload manageable, or is it too slow/fast?
  • Routine/Schedule – Is the timing realistic? Does it match your family’s energy flow?
  • Learning Environment – Is your space comfortable, organized, and distraction-free
  • Resources & Tools – Are you using the right supplies, books, and tech?
  • Parent Readiness – Are you feeling confident, or overwhelmed?
  • Child’s Emotional Well-being – Is your child enjoying learning, or showing signs of frustration?
  • Family Lifestyle Fit – Does homeschooling blend well with your other commitments

Hopefully, this How to Start Homeschooling 101 guide has given you the clarity and confidence you need to begin—even if you had no idea where to start. Remember, homeschooling is a journey you grow into, not something you have to perfect on day one. Give yourself grace, celebrate small wins, and keep your focus on building a love of learning in your home. You’ve got this—and your homeschool adventure is just beginning.

Lets help each other out!

If you have a favorite book, blog, vlog, Instagram page that you love to follow, please leave in the comments!

*laws and requirements are subject to change, if you notice a discrepancy please let me know so I can make the change and keep everything up to date!

Other Blog Posts To Check Out

12 Homeschool Myths That I Do Not Subscribe To

10 Tips For Homeschooling With Babies and Toddlers

The Last Day Of Homeschool: 10 Ways To Celebrate

The Summer Learning Slide: How To Keep Young Minds Learning All Summer Long

Boost Learning & Focus Through Exercise: A Homeschool Guide

Space Themed Homeschool Science: 70+ Engaging Activities

Little Wings Big Learning! A Preschool-Kindergarten Butterfly Study Unit

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