You did it. Whether you planned this for years or decided last week, your child is home and you're the teacher now.
Take a breath. You've already done the hardest part, which was making the decision. Everything else is solvable.
Week 1: Decompress
Don't start "school" immediately. Seriously. If your child was in traditional school, they need time to decompress. Depending on their experience, this might take a few days or a few weeks.
During decompression: read for fun, go outside, cook together, play board games, visit the library, sleep in. Your child needs to remember that learning can be enjoyable. Traditional school may have beaten that out of them. Give it time to come back.
This is not wasted time. This is the foundation.
Week 2: Observe and Assess
Watch your child. What are they naturally curious about? How do they learn best (reading, doing, listening, watching)? What subjects light them up? What subjects shut them down? Where are their academic strengths and gaps?
You can use AI to generate an informal assessment:
Week 3-4: Start Simple
Start with two subjects: math and reading. That's it. 90 minutes a day total. Use Khan Academy for math (free, adaptive, does half the work for you). Read together for 30 minutes. Everything else can wait.
You'll add more subjects over the coming weeks. But right now, the goal is building a routine that feels doable for both of you. Two subjects, 90 minutes, done before lunch.
Month 2: Find Your Rhythm
Add science and history. Join a Facebook group for homeschool families in your area. Visit the library and check out books about homeschooling approaches (Charlotte Mason, classical, eclectic). Start using AI for lesson planning. Consider joining a co-op.
You don't need to have everything figured out. You just need to keep showing up, keep learning alongside your child, and keep adjusting. That's what homeschooling is. Every family figures it out their own way. Yours will too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start homeschooling?
Check your state's homeschool laws, file any required paperwork, choose your approach (structured curriculum, interest-led, or somewhere in between), and start with the basics: reading, writing, and math.
Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool?
No state requires a teaching degree to homeschool. Some states require a high school diploma or GED, but most have no educational requirements for homeschool parents at all.
How do I withdraw my child from public school?
Requirements vary by state but generally involve writing a letter of intent to homeschool and submitting it to your local school district or state department of education. Some states require no notification at all.