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Homeschool basics
Homeschool Basics

How to Homeschool: Homeschool Basics


Are you thinking about homeschooling but don’t know where to start? We are here to answer your questions and help you along on this exciting journey! You are going to be amazed at what God can teach everyone in your family through this blessing of homeschooling. It’s wonderful, life-changing, and probably a little scary, right?

On this page, you will find a collection of resources and tools to encourage and motivate you as you seek to discover more about your educational options and how homeschooling can benefit your family and give you freedom!

Table of Contents

  • WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD BE LEARNING?
  • HOW MANY HOURS A DAY SHOULD WE HOMESCHOOL?
  • WHAT CURRICULUM SHOULD I USE?
  • NEED MORE HELP PLANNING?
  • RESOURCES TO HELP YOU START HOMESCHOOLING

WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD BE LEARNING?

teaching responsibility morning checklist

There are many differing views on what should be taught and when it should be taught. I’m sharing what has worked well for our homeschool after combining my experience in the classroom with teaching at home. Remember, that’s your job too. Seek out what works best for your family and don’t worry about what everyone else says!

From early elementary, your child can start taking on responsibility. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend that you make responsibility your focus in younger grade levels because later the focus needs to be the academic content.

By the end of elementary, they should be able to take an assignment and complete it on their own. Most of the time, they’ve gained enough reading skills to do so. They can often “teach” themselves several subjects, such as math and science. If you don’t know where to start, this post will give you 5 easy steps to teaching responsibility.

HOW MANY HOURS A DAY SHOULD WE HOMESCHOOL?

I know you are wondering about this because everyone does. It typically takes from 1-2 hours for elementary grades, to 4-5 hours for high school level homeschool curriculum. Isn’t that wonderful? In the classroom setting, kids are expected to focus and pay attention for much of the day, but at home, you don’t have to do that. There’s no need to stand in line, sharpen 28 pencils, or participate in that fire drill one more time.

Of course, this doesn’t mean your child is finished learning in a few hours a day and will waste the rest of the day vegging in the land of no knowledge. If you encourage enriching activities (and limit screen time), your child will literally NEVER stop learning. The rest of the day is filled with activities to help them create, gain wisdom, and explore in-depth their own specific interests.

Daily homeschool schedule square

WHAT CURRICULUM SHOULD I USE?

Choosing a Christian homeschool curriculum you can trust isn’t an easy job. Trust me, I get it. You want curriculum that your kids will love, curriculum that meets their needs, and, most importantly, curriculum that helps them GROW in Christ!

After more than 16 years homeschooling, I can safely say one thing: There are a lot of choices! Whether you are just starting out or still looking for a perfect fit, I don’t want you to get stuck in the weeds!

Using my expertise as a certified educator and 15+ years of homeschooling, we’ve created a comprehensive list of the BEST Christian homeschool curriculum for each grade level. You’ll find each of them linked below.

Christian homeschool curriculum

How to Choose the Best Homeschool Curriculum

Best Preschool curriculum

How to Choose the Best Preschool Homeschool Curriculum

kindergarten homeschool curriculum

Everything You Need to Know About Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

first grade curriculum

Everything You Need to Know About 1st Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Our Top Picks for the Best 2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum

3rd grade homeschool curriculum

Our Top Picks for the Best 3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum

4th grade homeschool curriculum

Our Top Picks for the Best 4th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Fifth grade curriculum

Our Top Picks for the Best 5th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

6th Grade Homeschool

Our Top Picks for the Best 6th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

7th Grade homeschool curriculum

Our Top Picks for the Best 7th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

8th Grade Homeschool square

Our Top Picks for the Best 8th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

high school homeschool curriculum books

Everything You Need to Know About High School Homeschool Curriculum

NEED MORE HELP PLANNING?

Homeschool Planning Boot Camp

The idea of homeschool planning can be overwhelming!

There are so many pieces to put together: scheduling, curriculum, grading, independent work, etc. Oh, and did I mention … children? 😄  Trust me, you are not the first homeschooler to feel lost in the details.

Whether you’re brand new or you’ve been homeschooling for a decade, we all have one thing in common: WE NEED A HOMESCHOOL PLAN!

Often, the idea of planning for your homeschool year can be overwhelming. There are so many pieces to put together: scheduling, curriculum, grading, independent work. BUT! Using our FREE homeschool planning boot camp, in 5 days we will plan your whole year step-by-step!

This course will answer many of the questions above, including scheduling, curriculum choices, organizing your students and space, and much more!

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU START HOMESCHOOLING

smart enough to homeschool square

Am I Smart Enough to Homeschool?

Am I smart enough to homeschool? Is there some level that you should achieve? A certain SAT score? Do you need a teaching certificate? Find answers here.
4 simple steps to start homeschooling square

4 Simple Steps to Get Started Homeschooling

Are you new to homeschooling? It’s one of the most exciting journeys, but it comes with no road map. How do you start homeschooling? Let these 4 steps help!
Learning Lifestyle square

How to Cultivate a Learning Lifestyle in Your Homeschool

In this post, we will explore practical ways to cultivate a learning lifestyle and kick the boredom of “school” to the curb for good!
homeschool schedule square

Simple Homeschool Schedule for Working Moms

Looking for a realistic homeschool schedule for working moms? Consider this method for creating and managing a homeschool schedule with these tips and ideas.

Finding the Courage to Homeschool Out of the Box

I want to empower you with the courage to know you can homeschool out of the box. You are the one who can make the best curriculum choices for your…
love learning

How to Get Your Child to Love Learning

Do you wonder how to inspire a love of learning in your child? Do you doubt it matters? I’d love to share with you WHY it matters and how to…
eclectic homeschool

Eclectic Homeschool – How to Create Your Own Curriculum

Homeschooling isn’t a one-size-fits-all gig. Every child is different and every family unique. An eclectic homeschool is a great fit for when one homeschool method isn’t working. See why in…
advice for homeschoolers square

What Chick-fil-A Has Taught Me…Advice For New Homeschoolers

Are you a new homeschooler needing a little direction? Chick-fil-a has taught me 10 important pieces of advice for new homeschoolers. Click now to read.
How to get the most out of homeschool convention

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Homeschool Conference

A homeschool conference is the BEST way to encourage and equip your homeschool. We will give you tips to help you get the most from your trip. Plus— a FREE…
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I wanted to write to encourage you and say, "THANK YOU!" I've been following your blog for years, and you have made such a lasting impression on my entire family. We've purchased many of your Bible Studies and a few other wonderful homeschooling resources, all of which we absolutely love!!! Still, I believe the greatest compliment I can give you is that because of your Bible Studies that my children and I have completed together, my oldest daughter has been so inspired, she's started creating her own daily devotionals, modeled after the ones you've made. They are absolutely precious (in her own little 12-year old way), and she prints one off each morning for our entire family to complete during our quiet time. When she finishes her first "study" (which is on the Fruits of the Spirit by the way), she plans to print a set to hand out to her small group at church. To see my daughter take ownership of her faith in this way and to bless others with a deeper study of God's Word is a precious gift to me, and I can't thank you enough for your inspiration and positive influence!

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