If you’re reading this at 11 p.m. with fifteen browser tabs open, Googling, “how to start homeschooling,” feeling equal parts excited and completely overwhelmed, welcome. Every homeschool parent has been exactly where you are right now. The good news is that getting started is a lot simpler than the internet makes it look. You don’t need to have it all figured out on day one. You just need to know the actual next steps, in order.
Here’s exactly how to start homeschooling, broken down so it doesn’t feel like a mountain.
Click here to browse my list of a few Homeschool Must-Haves from Amazon!
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Step 1: Check Your State’s Homeschool Requirements
In order to know how to start homeschooling, you need to find out what your state actually requires for homeschooling. Requirements vary widely! Some states ask for almost nothing, others require notifying your school district, keeping attendance records, or standardized testing. A quick search for “[your state] homeschool requirements” or a look at HSLDA’s state-by-state guide will tell you exactly what boxes you need to check. Handle this first so it’s off your mind while you plan everything else.
Step 2: Understand There’s No One “Right” Way to Homeschool
New homeschool parents often assume they need to recreate a traditional classroom at home. You don’t. There are several common approaches:
- Traditional/textbook — structured, workbook-based, closest to a classic school-at-home feel
- Charlotte Mason — living books, nature study, short focused lessons
- Unit studies — one topic explored across all subjects at once
- Unschooling — child-led, interest-based learning
- Eclectic — a mix of the above (this is where most families end up after their first year)
You don’t have to pick a permanent identity right now. Most families experiment and adjust.
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Step 3: Pick Curriculum Without Overthinking It
This is where most beginners get stuck scrolling forever and why many stay stuck Googling, “how to start homeschooling” instead of just ACUTALLY GOING FOR IT. A simpler way to choose:
- Set a rough budget first: curriculum ranges from free to several hundred dollars per subject.
- Think about your teaching bandwidth: do you want open-and-go scripted lessons, or are you comfortable planning more loosely?
- Start with math and reading/language arts: these are the two subjects most parents want strong, structured programs for. Everything else can be lighter or more exploratory in year one.
- Give yourself permission to switch: no curriculum choice is permanent. It’s normal to try something for a semester and change course.
Step 4: Gather Basic Supplies
You do not need a full classroom setup. I’ve put together a list of Amazon Homeschool Must-Haves you can browse for some ideas of workbooks and manipulatives you may want for reading and math. Here is a realistic starter list:
- A dedicated shelf or bin for materials
- A simple planner or wall calendar
- Basic supplies: pencils, notebooks, a whiteboard
- Whatever manipulatives your chosen math curriculum specifically calls for
- A few open-and-go activity books for STEM and other hands-on activities
Resist the urge to buy everything you see on Pinterest before your first week. You can add supplies as you discover you actually need them. We started with some essentials from Amazon, in addition to our curriculum, and have added more over time as we’ve gotten into more of a routine.
Step 5: Build a Loose Daily Rhythm
You don’t need to replicate a 6-hour school day. Most home-based learning takes significantly less time than a traditional classroom because there’s no waiting for 25 other kids to transition between activities. A simple beginner rhythm might look like:
- Morning: math + reading/language arts (the “must-do” subjects)
- Midday: break, lunch, outside time
- Afternoon: science, history, or unit study (can rotate by day)
Keep it loose for the first few weeks. You’ll adjust once you see how your child actually works.
Step 6: Know the Common First-Year Mistakes (So You Can Skip Them)
- Overbuying curriculum before you know what you’ll actually use
- Over-scheduling every hour like a school bell schedule
- Comparing your homeschool to a classroom instead of letting it look different
- Ignoring your own burnout: plan in breaks and lighter weeks from the start
Step 7: Give Yourself a 30-Day Starting Point, Not a Perfect Plan
You don’t need a finished plan for the whole year. You need a plan for the next 30 days:
- Confirm your state’s requirements through the HSLDA website I shared above.
- Choose a general approach/style but know that this will change over time and you have to be ready to adapt and find what works for you.
- Pick core curriculum for math and reading and be open to trying new resources for the other subjects as you find what suits your style and your kids’ learning needs.
- Set up a basic learning space but don’t be afraid to venture from it (learn outside, at the park, on field trips, etc).
- Plan your first week, loosely, and provide opportunities for grace as you and your kids will both be learning something new.
- Find a homeschool group or co-op nearby for support, or just a few community friends who also homeschool that you can lean on when you have questions.
That’s genuinely enough to begin. Everything else gets figured out as you go. And as someone who is very type A, this was hard for me at first but now I understand. Some things can only be figured out through trial and error and no amount of planning will force something to work if it’s not right for your kids or family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool? No. Most states have no education requirement for the parent beyond a high school diploma, though this varies so check your state’s specific rules.
How many hours a day should we homeschool? Most beginners find 2–4 focused hours of core instruction covers what a full school day accomplishes, especially in the younger grades, since there’s far less transition time and no waiting on a group.
What if I start and realize it isn’t working? That’s completely normal and doesn’t mean you failed. Most families adjust their approach, curriculum, or schedule multiple times in the first year. Flexibility is one of homeschooling’s biggest advantages!
Where can I find support as a new homeschooler? Local co-ops, homeschool Facebook groups for your state or city, and homeschool conventions are all good starting points for community and curriculum recommendations.
I hope you found this post helpful! I plan to do more detailed posts and review various curriculums, share some daily schedules and rhythms you can try, and some other common homeschool questions and needs. Let me know if you have any questions!
Blessings,
Megan
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