Getting Started in Homeschooling: Resources & Ideas for the Novice

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

You've decided to home school, you've bought the curriculum and it sets in: for approximately 180 days in between September and June this year, you have to teach your child everything that he needs to know. If you're not sure what you're doing, and a little overwhelmed but completely convinced that homeschooling is the right choice for you; keep reading! Here is a list of books to check out, resources to look up and a few ideas from moms who have been there and done that!

The first thing to do is to get familiar with your state's home schooling laws. I have used HSLDA as well as a few other resources, to blog on every state. (As of the date of this blog I am not finished but working steadily.)

A great and comprehensive resources is A to Z's Homeschooling Website. If it's related to homeschooling, it's somewhere on this site.

Go to your library and spend some time reading some books about home schooling. What you'll find will surprise you. Here are a few that are worth checking out:

Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Homeschooling by Mary Pride The Homeschooling Manual What your ___ grader should know! The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child: Getting Off to a Right Start 100 Top Picks for Homeschooling Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum and Approach for Your Child's Learning Style

Think about what you want to achieve. I always tell new homeschoolers who call me, that the best place to start is to think about why they are home schooling to begin with and what you want the "end product" to look like. Are you trying to educate future Harvard students? Maybe your child has special needs and needs more support. Maybe you began with homeschooling, never sending your child to public school. How you go about homeschooling will largely depend on why you're doing it and what you want to achieve.

Finally, slow down. . .you do not need to come up with all the answers. In fact you will likely find that you cannot use the same approach for each child, as they will all learn differently. Take one day at a time, make mental notes of what works and what doesn't and keep plugging away.

Resources on the Web:

HSLDA A to Z Homeschooling Homeschool World Homeschooling Today Home Education Magazine Jon's Homeschool Resources Family Education

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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