Homeschooling for BEEginners

5 Easy Steps to Start Homeschooling

Read over the Kansas laws for unaccredited private schools.
https://hslda.org/legal/kansas?fbclid=IwAR3zIuHV3x20g7aI4eDtomwnikMRnmi6__RVc2uvu7rEKg5TgmxMV6xbVlU
High School
Kansas Credit Necessary:
English LA (4)
Math (3)
Science (Biology/Physics/Chemistry) (3)
History (2)
Economics (1/2)
Government (1/2)
Health & PE (1)
Fine Arts (1)
Electives (6)
Accredited schools are not required to accept credits from a non-accredited private school. If homeschooling is not a long-term decision for you, you may consider an accredited option, so you can ensure all credits will transfer if your child returns to public school.
To earn 1 credit, the student must complete 135-150 hours of coursework (or comparable coursework in less time). A 45-minute class over 180 days would meet the required 135-150 hours of coursework.
If your child is college bound, it is wise to check with the colleges your child is interested in attending to find out their requirements and plan classes and credits according to those standards.
Homeschool transcripts are preferable to a GED. GED’s are not necessary for homeschool students to gain acceptance to a college.
You may consider CLEP tests or dual enrollment to make the most of your child’s homeschool high school years.

Kansas requires unaccredited private schools to hold classes for an equivalent amount of time to public schools. Public schools are required to be in session for at least 186 days of not less than 6 hours per day, or 1116 hours per year for grades 1-11. This does not account for the many disruptions and waiting that happens in a public-school setting. You will find that you can complete to same amount of academic work in much less time. Your options are endless and as unique as your family concerning how you will plan out your academic calendar.
Once you’ve completed your academic calendar, your next step is to choose your learning path. The options are endless here as well. I recommend having your child take a few placement tests to determine where they really are. Once you know where your child is, you can decide what skills and subjects need to be taught that year.
Make a list of goals for your child.
Make a list of subjects you want your child to learn.
You will also need to have a plan for keeping records. If your unaccredited private school ever comes under question, you will need to provide proof of learning progress and work completed. Tests and projects are a great option for this. You might also consider creating a portfolio. You might also consider keeping grades or progress reports.
I highly recommend purchasing a homeschool planner to help you schedule, plan, and keep records.

With a plan in place, you are now ready to start choosing your resources. Some things to consider when choosing your resources are:
Does this resource meet a goal or cover a subject that I want my child to work on this year?
What method does this resource fall under? What method does my teaching style most align with?
Charlotte Mason
Classical
Traditional
Unschooling
Unit Studies or Project Based
Relaxed
Eclectic
Other factors to consider when choosing your resources are:
Teacher intensive / self-taught / video based or online
Christian or secular
Open-and-go or Open ended
Rigorous or Relaxed
Cost and budget
At home or outsourced
Accredited or non-accredited

Join a Homeschool Co-op or group. You will need support on this journey. It’s so important to link arms with other homeschoolers.
Miami County Homeschool Co-op: Join a vibrant and active group of homeschooling mommas! We are a Christian Co-op with a Charlotte Mason vibe whose primary focus is creating community. We meet for enrichment and fellowship. We are inclusive to anyone who lives in driving distance of Miami County, is currently homeschooling, and has a desire to take part in an active homeschooling community. (Christina Wilson & Chelsi Slater)
Classical Conversations: Classical Conversations is both curriculum and community. (April Watson & Kati Meyers)
Thrive: Thrive is a Christian Co-op whose primary focus is academics. (Crystal Clayton & Jessica Hall)
Wild & Free: Wild & Free is an offshoot of the Wild & Free lifestyle and its primary focus is on nature and being outdoors. (Tabitha Telken & Kimberly Johnson)
HH2: HH2 is in Johnson County and is a large Christian homeschool community whose focus is exclusively social. They organize many opportunities for all age ranges and interests. (Jennifer Deluca)