How To Start Homeschooling

Whether you are homeschooling a kindergarten student or a high school student, there are a few steps you need to take to begin.  First, research the appropriate homeschool laws in your state.  HSLDA is an organization that provides a lot of information and relevant links for homeschool laws in each state.

In Tennessee, we have 2 options for homeschool.  The first option is to choose to file an Intent to Homeschool form with our local education board.  They will require you to show proof of your eligibility to homeschool (in Tennessee you have to provide a minimum of your high school diploma), your children's names, birthdates, and anticipated grade level, and your education plan laying out the curriculum you intend to use.  If you are a homeschooler under your local education board, you are subject to their testing requirements and any audit they would like to conduct of your homeschool.  The second option is to choose to enroll in an umbrella school.  Research umbrella schools to find what you need.  Here is an example of what our umbrella school offers.  We use HomeLife Academy as our umbrella.  I did not need to notify our local school board about our decision, nor did I even need to notify the school my child was enrolled in (though I did).  HomeLife contacted everyone necessary and requested her records.  With HomeLife, you still have to submit an education plan with your curriculum choices.  However, you are not subject to the local school board requirements.  There will be no local audits of your homeschool, and you are not required to submit to testing.  HomeLife allows you to enter attendance and grades in an online system, and they provide proof of enrollment and a teacher identification card for you.  They will also provide transcripts for your child.  

As you can see, the one thing you need to spend time researching is curriculum.  There are a lot of options, and it's worth spending a solid week researching to find what will meet a couple of requirements. First, you want a curriculum that will fit your child's learning style.  But equally important is a curriculum that you are comfortable teaching.  High school has requirements to obtain credit.  HomeLife Academy has advisers available to help you ensure that you choose appropriate curriculum to receive high school credit.  To help get you started, here is a list of frequently used curriculum providers:

The Good and the Beautiful

Torchlight

Blossom and Root

Teaching Textbooks

Christian Light Education

Abeka

Time4Learning

Easy Peasy

Calvert

Oak Meadow

Bob Jones

Saxon

Right Start

Math Mammoth

Math U See

SonLight

My Father's World

BookShark

Ambleside Online

Each of these curriculum options are available to research and see samples online.  Personally, we are currently using The Good and the Beautiful, Torchlight, Teaching Textbooks, Time4Learning, and a small amount of Ambleside Online.  I cannot say enough good things about The Good and the Beautiful.  It truly is unlike any other curriculum I have ever used or seen, and it provides a very thorough education.

That Homeschool Life

Hi!  I'm Julie.  I'm a homeschool mom to 3 girls, and we have homeschooled for 8 years now.  I have recently been asked about homeschooling by a lot of people, undoubtedly because of the pandemic.  I want to say a very warm welcome to anyone who is considering taking on homeschooling, whether just for a year or for the remainder of your children's school careers.  

Seven years ago, we were like most families today.  We planned on sending our oldest daughter to a traditional school, as we had attended before, and our parents before us.  For the first semester of kindergarten, she went to school.  At that point, we decided it was time to make the leap to homeschooling.  We were off and running, and we never looked back. 

When we first started homeschooling, we were very overwhelmed with all of the decisions that had to be made.  I was desperate for a kind of homeschool bootcamp when I first started.  I never found one, and we had to find our way through on our own. Now on the other side, where I feel like we have finally hit a good stride with everything, I want to help you navigate these new waters where you find yourself.  

I'm hoping to share pictures and videos of everything homeschool related, including the benefits of homeschooling, what a day in the life looks like, how to manage multiple children and grade levels, extracurriculars, curriculum options, different teaching styles, testing, umbrella schools, co-ops, and much more.  I would love to know if you have any additional ideas you would like for me to cover.  There are no small questions in homeschooling.  

I also plan to create a Facebook group to use as a community for any new or seasoned homeschoolers to share ideas and anything that works or doesn't work for your family.  I will also upload any videos to YouTube so you will be able to access them easily.  I will post those links on this blog when they are active.

I do want you to know something from the start.  It doesn't matter if you feel equipped to homeschool.  YOU CAN!  Read that again.  I'm here to help you.  Welcome to an amazing journey!