Thinking Homeschool? Start Here! | Quick Start Homeschool Guide

Welcome to Making Everyday Magic—I’m so glad you’re here. If you’re thinking homeschool, start here, because I’ve got a quick, honest, and encouraging guide just for you. Whether you’re brand new to homeschooling, still considering, or simply curious what it looks like from someone who’s eight years in—this one’s for you.

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So You’re Thinking About Homeschooling?

Let me just say: welcome. More and more families are choosing homeschool as a way of life, and it’s easy to see why. Whether you’re here because of flexibility, personalized learning, or a growing concern about the public school environment, I’m thrilled you’re exploring this path.

We’re a homeschool family of four currently in our eighth year. My seventh grader has been homeschooled since kindergarten, and my third grader has never known anything else. We didn’t start because of the pandemic, but I will say this: every single shift, hiccup, and change that’s happened in the world since we began has only confirmed that this was the right choice for our family.

If you’re in that place of thinking homeschool, start here—with real talk, realistic expectations, and a warm welcome.

Why We Chose Homeschooling

We started homeschooling because we wanted more for our daughter—more challenge, more freedom, more joy in learning. And it’s been everything we hoped and more. Flexibility, quality family time, the freedom to travel, and the ability to tailor every subject to our kids? Incredible.

Today, families are joining the homeschool movement for all kinds of reasons:

Academic customization
Lifestyle flexibility
Political or philosophical beliefs
Concerns over curriculum, classroom culture, or school safety
A desire for secular or faith-neutral learning

Whatever brought you here—you’re in the right place.

The Truth About Homeschooling

Let’s clear up some common homeschool myths:

❌ You don’t need to be a certified teacher.

In most states, especially places like Texas, you simply need to follow the homeschool laws. (More on that below.)

❌ Homeschoolers are socialized.

Forced interaction with 25 kids your own age in a classroom isn’t the same as real-world socialization. Homeschool kids engage with people of all ages and backgrounds in everyday life—parks, museums, classes, co-ops, libraries, field trips, and more.

❌ Homeschooling isn’t always expensive.

It can be as budget-friendly or premium as you want. There are free resources, DIY curriculum, YouTube courses, and incredible low-cost options out there. We personally use a yearly budget based on what we used to pay for preschool. Sometimes we splurge, but we never break the bank.

❌ Your child doesn’t have to learn everything at home.

There are co-ops, hybrid schools, museum classes, enrichment days, online courses, and more. “Homeschool” doesn’t mean staying home all day. Honestly, we’re rarely home.

Thinking Homeschool? Start Here With These First Steps:

If you’re still reading—yay! That probably means you’re seriously considering this journey. So, let’s break it down.

1. Know Your Why

Figure out your motivation. What brought you here? What matters most to you in your child’s education?

2. Know Your State Laws

Homeschool is legal in all 50 states, but every state has different requirements. Some require attendance records, portfolios, or standardized testing; others—like Texas—require very little oversight. A great resource is HSLDA.org for a quick legal overview by state.

3. De-School and Reset

If you’re coming from public school, don’t feel like you have to recreate a traditional school day at home. It’s okay—no, it’s good—to pause and reconnect with learning in a fun, organic way. This is called de-schooling. It’s not no school, it’s rethinking school.

4. Know Your Learning Styles

How does your child learn best? Are they visual? Hands-on? Do they love to read, play games, explore, talk it out? Understanding their learning style (and yours!) makes curriculum choices so much easier.

5. Explore Homeschool Styles

From Charlotte Mason to unschooling to classical to eclectic (hi, that’s me!), knowing what kind of homeschooler you might be can help you filter out what won’t work, and lean into what might.

Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

This might be the biggest question of all: What should I use?

The truth? There is no one-size-fits-all homeschool curriculum. What works for my kids might not work for yours. Start by thinking about:

Your homeschool style
Your child’s learning preferences
Your budget
How much structure or flexibility you need

Pro tip: There’s no harm in mixing and matching. You don’t have to buy an all-in-one box set unless that works for you. You can always pivot.

When You Shouldn’t Start

Let’s be honest—there are a few bad reasons to start homeschooling. If you’re coming in hot from a moment of rage, frustration, or panic, maybe just take a beat. That doesn’t mean don’t do it. It just means don’t do it from a place of desperation. Instead, pause and ask yourself: “If I could start over in two weeks or in two months, what would I do differently?”

If you can see a light at the end of the tunnel, if you can pinpoint where to pivot instead of quit, that’s a great sign you’re on the right track. Homeschooling isn’t just a choice—it’s a journey. And one that works best when you walk into it with your eyes open and your goals in mind.

Structuring Your Homeschool Days

This one always trips people up—especially if you’re coming from a traditional school mindset. A homeschool day is not 8 to 3. We can often be completely done in about two solid hours, and it’s an incredible education. Seriously.

People often forget how much time in traditional schools gets eaten up by non-instructional stuff—lining up, moving classrooms, waiting for everyone to get out their books, extended lunch breaks, restroom passes… it adds up. In homeschool, we get straight to it.

And don’t overlook all those real-life skills your kids are gaining—cooking, shopping, cleaning, baking, fixing things. That’s education, too. Life lessons are incredibly valuable and far too often underappreciated.

How Our Days Flow

For me personally, I keep a structured schedule for my day (think: wake-up to bedtime), but not for our homeschool. In our homeschool, we follow a flow: first, then, next, last. No timers. No strict time slots. It works for us.

We homeschool four days a week. That gives us space for life, flexibility, and recovery—because life happens. And all the “extras” like clubs, co-ops, and extracurriculars? Those count. They’re part of the education experience and contribute just as much as any textbook.

Homeschooling Multiple Kids

I often get asked how to homeschool more than one child. My kids are four grade levels apart, so here’s what I do: I combine wherever possible.

Read-alouds? We all do them. Science and history? We study together but tailor the expectations for each kid’s level. Combining subjects can seriously save your sanity.

Also? Encourage independence. My youngest, who’s four years younger than my oldest, can go get her handwriting sheet and get to work without needing me hovering. That independence is golden—and builds real confidence.

Don’t feel like you have to give 150% to each child, every moment. If you’re burning yourself out, it’s time to regroup. Maybe you group your kids by age. Maybe some subjects are self-paced. You have options. Use them.

When It’s Hard (Because It Will Be)

Homeschooling is not all sunshine and field trips. Some days are tough. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll question your curriculum. You’ll wonder if you’re doing enough.

That’s normal.

I’ve never regretted homeschooling—but I have questioned myself a lot. The key is to set benchmarks. I know how long our quarters are. At the end of each one, I check in: How are we doing? What needs to shift? What’s working?

That has helped me so much—especially in a year full of curveballs like moving, big commitments, and more. Keeping those benchmarks in view helped me pivot before things got too far off track.

Handling Criticism

People will ask questions. A lot of questions. At the grocery store. In your family. At the park. Some are curious. Some are judgy. You don’t have to answer every single one.

For the ones you do want to answer, have a few canned responses ready. “This is working for us right now,” or “It’s what’s best for her at this time.” Simple, confident answers go a long way. And if it’s a stranger at the grocery store? You can just smile and move on. Protect your energy.

The Cliff Notes

You do not have to figure it all out at once.
Know your state laws.
Check for any possible funding or reimbursements.
Search for local groups—even if just for field trip discounts!
You are allowed to evolve. You are meant to evolve.
Give yourself and your kids grace to grow.

I’m not the same homeschooler I was eight years ago. I’m not even the same homeschooler I was last semester. My learner is constantly growing and changing, and so am I. That’s the beauty of this life—it flexes with you.

So whether you’re just starting out or just wondering if you should start out, know this: You’re welcome here. You’ve got a place. Ask questions in the comments. Join us on Instagram at @makingeverydaymagic. Come be part of this beautiful, supportive, evolving community.

We’re glad you’re here.

You don’t have to do this alone.