You want to homeschool your child... but how do you get started?  I would like to share a little of what I did when I first decided to homeschool. 

 

 ~Step One~
Read, Read, Read!

The very first thing I did was to go my local library and check out every book I could find on homeschooling.  You are fortunate in that there are now many more books on homeschooling than when I started looking in 1994/95.  Take notes as you read and write down questions you may have.  Keep a notebook for your homeschool research.  There is so much information to take in.  A notebook helps you remember things and keep your thoughts organized.  Include in your notebook a page for positives of homeschooling and a page for negatives of homeschooling.  This list will be different for each family depending on what is important to you.  To find a list of books I have found very helpful see my Books to Read page.
 

You will want to find other homeschoolers in your area.  Look for a local support group and see if you can attend a meeting.  The people you meet will be very helpful in offering advice specific to the area you live in.  Each province/state has different regulations and requirements and you will want to know them for your area.  A local support group will also provide opportunities for your children in regards to field trips, socialization and other resources.  You can find wonderful like-minded friends in a support group.  To look for support in your area try starting with these pages:  Canada or my Canada page --  United States

Many homeschool curriculum suppliers will provide a catalogue to you free of charge.  There is a lot of helpful information in these catalogues as well as wonderful resources to choose from.  Most companies also have online catalogues that you can look through.  It is wise to look over all the resources available before ordering.  You can also ask other homeschoolers for opinions on what they have found helpful.  You can find a list of curriculum suppliers here.

There is an abundance of information on homeschooling on the internet.  Each site offers a new perspective and great helps.  In addition to websites you can also find many email support groups.  Follow this link to a page of my favourite homeschool websites, especially those that are great for getting started in homeschooling.
 

By the time you have followed the first four steps you will have begun to develop a sense of how you would like to homeschool your children.  This would be a good time to write out a philosophy of education for your family.  This may change over time, as mine has, but it will help you set goals and plans for the year.  Revise your philosophy each year to match your current thoughts and desires.  This can be in the form of an educational mission statement.