Getting Started Homeschooling

If you’re thinking of getting started homeschooling, or you’ve already made the decision and you’re about to get started, you might be wondering what your first steps should be.

I’m glad you asked!

Here are some resources to help you get started!

1. HSLDA

• Check out HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) to learn all about the homeschool laws in your state.
• They are a homeschool advocacy organization that helps families learn all they need to get started homeschooling.
• You can also sign up for a membership where you will have legal protection to help protect your right to homeschool, trained consultants who offer guidance for every stage of homeschooling, and a community of homeschool families
• Here are their recommended resources for homeschooling students with special needs
• Learn about the different homeschool styles and take a quiz to figure out your personal homeschool style
  

2. Homeschool Resource Spreadsheet

Homeschooling can seem overwhelming when you think you have to know it all and figure it all out on your own, but the good news is that you don’t!

There are SO MANY amazing homeschool resources out there to help families with their homeschooling journeys!

Because there are so many that it can be hard to keep track of them all and find what you need when you need it, I created a Homeschool Resource Spreadsheet with TONS of resources organized by category!

Categories include Math, Science, History & Geography, Language Arts/Reading, All-in-one curricula, educational apps, free resources, coding, foreign language, nature, high school, testing, and many more!

I recommend book marking it so you can come back to it when you’re looking for new resources for new needs that come up. Plus, I add to it ALL the time as I learn about new resources!

3. Homeschool Resource Demo Videos

Because there are so many amazing homeschool resources out there, it can be tricky to tell which ones are right for your family and your students. And who has time to try them all out to see what they’re like?!

Once again, I wanted to make that choice easier for you too!

I started a YouTube series of Homeschool Resource Demo videos to show you demonstrations of different homeschool resources so you can see what they’re like from the parent side and the student side, and see if they are what you’re looking for before you try them out yourself.

And I have a LONG list of resources I’m planning on making demo videos for, so subscribe to my YouTube channel to see all future resource videos!

4. Compare Homeschool Math Curricula

If you choose to follow pre-made curricula to teach your homeschool lessons, check out my Comparing Homeschool Math Curricula Spreadsheet to compare all of the different math curricula options side by side so you can choose the right one for you and your students.

There are lots of options available, all with different features to meet different family’s needs, and this spreadsheet will help you find the one that fits all of your needs.

And if math is the area you’re most nervous about and you feel like you would like some support from a math teacher to help teach it, check out my live online homeschool math classes for grades 3-8!

5. Join homeschool groups

One of the best things you can do when you’re homeschooling is connect with other homeschool families. And luckily there are so many homeschool groups that you can join to meet others! You can find local meet up groups through Facebook to find fun socialization opportunities for your students and get support from other homeschool parents. You can also join online homeschool forums and Facebook groups where parents can ask questions, give tips and advice, and support each other in their homeschool journeys! It can be very helpful to talk to others who are in the same boat as you, or have been doing it for a while and can share their experiences.

I hope this helps you with your first steps to get started homeschooling! If you have any other questions, please leave a comment below and I will get your questions answered!

Follow me on Instagram @mindfullmentor for daily homeschool resources, tips, and advice, and join my mailing list to get weekly emails highlighting helpful homeschool resources!