Homeschooling Starter Kit

Getting started:

Homeschooling can serve as an important step on the path towards independent meaningful learning, embodying a shift in the way we think about learning environments for our young people. When families make the decision to homeschool, they begin to embrace the flexibility to take cues from their young person and center their young person’s interests in a way that matches their learning styles. This personalized approach lays the foundation for a young person’s intrinsic motivation and curiosity, fostering a love for learning that extends beyond traditional boundaries.

Homeschooling is often the first step that many families take to self-directed education—a philosophy that empowers learners to lead their own learning journeys. By nurturing self-directed exploration and encouraging a passion-driven pursuit of knowledge, homeschooling sets the stage for a dynamic, lifelong learning experience that transcends the constraints of conventional schooling. 

Here you’ll find some helpful insights and observations to begin your journey.

Figure Out the Law

Each state’s law’s are unique: John Hopkins School of Education has a great Homeschool Hub that summarizes and links to the law in each state. As other resources emerge, we will include them. Parents and families with specific questions or issues can contact Daniel Suhr at the Center for American Rights (dsuhr@americanrights.org) for a free, confidential legal consultation. Here is a rough outline by country for those living outside the U.S. 

Follow up by joining one (or a few) homeschool Facebook groups specific to your state or country. Find the actual law and read it for yourself. And consider the following things: Do you need to sign and submit forms and when? Are there specific subjects that need to be covered? Do you need to submit an education plan? Do you need a portfolio or reports? Do you need testing?

Pause Before Planning or Wherever You Are Now

Remember that an open and curious mindset is the best way to undertake anything new. Figure out your child’s temperament, personality style, love language, neurotype(s) (disclaimer: identifications can be limiting, but can also expand your bag of tricks to try out). And really consider doing the same for yourself. 

Figure out your availability, as well as physical, mental, and emotional capacity without immediately matching these to your preconceived notions of homeschooling options. And do the same for your young learner. Whether your child(ren) is leaving school or is reaching school age at home or elsewhere, what has and hasn’t worked so far? 

Figure out why you’re homeschooling and write it down somewhere. It’s likely to shift over time! Decide what success means to you (and your child if applicable) and write it down somewhere. It’s likely to shift over time! Figure out your low bar requirements for your child outside of the law. Are math and reading the only subjects absolutely necessary? Are you only concerned with socialization or happiness? Are you trying to recreate school at home? Are you most concerned with college admission? 

Figure how much you value the consent of your child and your extended family.

Consider the Learning Environment(s)

And if applicable, also take into account your financial situation when thinking through the following questions: Can you manage life and learning at home? Do you mostly need to find playgroups? Do you absolutely need to buy a curriculum? Should you join a self-directed learning center? Should you find or make a learning pod of like-minded parents? Should you look for a co-op? What about a micro-school? 

Again, how will the choices you make fulfill legal requirements while supporting your child best within the limits of your financial situation? This does not mean spending more is better, and new homeschooling parents often find that initial purchases (especially without the input of their young learner) are misguided.

My final two cents:

And if it is at all possible, put your wallet away until you have really observed and listened to your child as well as all aspects of their environment including yourself!

Always question the level of academics you deem necessary. Even if the law requires specific subjects, are there ways to cover them through other interdisciplinary activities that are meaningful to the learner?

Use the law as a bare-minimum guide, learn about the loopholes that exist, and use this knowledge to your advantage to personalize your child’s education.

Recognize that experiential, meaningful, interest-led learning will likely have the best learning outcomes and will minimize frustrations and maximize family harmony.

Recognize the need for play at all ages and that play can look different at different ages.

Recognize that more often than not, play is experiential, meaningful, interest-led learning and will likely have the best learning outcomes, will minimize frustrations, and maximize family harmony 😉 

Consider your role: Are you a teacher? If so, do you want to continue to be a teacher in that sense? If not, do you need to be one? Can you instead be a facilitator of learning and parent? Can you be the one to gather resources and possible experiences and strew library books on their interests? Can you learn together? Can you be a friend?

Make agreements with your child and anyone that will care for them.