Homeschooling for BEEginners

5 Easy Steps to Start Homeschooling

Step 1: Transfer Enrollment
Send a letter of intent to the school your child is currently enrolled in.
Register your homeschool as an unaccredited private school.
Step 2: Know the Laws
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.
Step 3: Schedule and Plan
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.
Step 4: Choose Your Resources
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
Step 5: Find Community
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)
Most Useful Websites for Homeschoolers
HSLDA
Midwest Parent Educators
https://www.midwesthomeschoolers.org/
Cathy Duffy Reviews
https://cathyduffyreviews.com/
Homeschool Terminology
https://wellplannedgal.com/homeschool-terminology/
Helpful and Encouraging Blog Posts and Videos for New Homeschoolers
It's Okay to Suck at Homeschooling Your First Year
https://doingsomethingbeautiful.com/its-okay-to-suck-at-homeschooling-your-first-year/
Our Year-Round Homeschool Schedule
https://doingsomethingbeautiful.com/our-year-round-homeschool-schedule/
Problems Withdrawing From School? 5 Important Facts to Know.
https://www.midwesthomeschoolers.org/problems-withdraw-school/
New to Homeschooling?
https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/new-to-homeschooling
10 Things I Would Tell a New Homeschool Mom
https://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com/archives/10-things-i-would-tell-a-new-homeschool-mom
7 Tips for New Homeschoolers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ-IOtzra9A
TRANSITIONING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL TO HOMESCHOOL|MY TOP 10 TIPS AND ADVICE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z2MVcwENCA
How to Start Homeschooling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhoDVYOCdMw
New to Homeschooling? Practical Tips for Schooling from Home During a Pandemic (or Anytime).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-NhDOe9M5c
Homeschool Planning | 3 Ways to Eliminate Decision Fatigue in Your Homeschool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RguMhScJyk
Homeschool Schedule Types and Patterns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs4tb55aWC0
Plan Your Entire Homeschool Year in 3 Simple Steps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRmg8665Yag
How I Plan & Schedule Our Year | Year-Round Homeschooling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEGsgxQlsj0
Easy Homeschool Plan: Spiral Notebook Homeschool Scheduling SIMPLIFIED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxzlgg0DGoA
Homeschool Planner Options
My Well Ordered Life Planner
https://doingsomethingbeautiful.com/product/my-well-ordered-life-planner/
7 Step Curriculum Planner
http://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/free-printables/7-step-curriculum-planner/
Well Planned Day
https://shop.wellplannedgal.com/index.php/shop/planners.html
A Simple Plan
https://www.mardel.com/asimpleplan
The Ultimate Homeschool Planner
https://www.apologia.com/product-category/planners/
Homeschool Plum Paper Planner
https://www.plumpaper.com/shop/category/homeschool
Homeschool Discounts
Homeschool Buyers Co-op
https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/
Educator Discounts for Homeschoolers
https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschool-help/educator-discounts-for-homeschoolers/
Explore KC on a Budget (for homeschoolers)
https://www.midwesthomeschoolers.org/explore-kc-homeschoolers/
Barnes and Noble
https://help.barnesandnoble.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4382/~/about-the-educator-discount-program
Michaels
https://www.michaels.com/teachers
Staples
http://rewards.staples.com/SRC/AboutTeacherProgram.do
Apple Education Store
https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop
Books-A-Million
http://www.booksamillion.com/educators
Container Store
https://www.containerstore.com/teachers/index.htm
Dell
http://www.dell.com/en-us/member/shop
Jo-Ann's
http://www.joann.com/teacherrewards/
Homeschool Methods & Styles
Online Homeschool Styles Quiz
https://www.homeschool.com/articles/homeschool-styles-quiz/#/questions/1780552
The Homeschool Philosophies Quiz
https://hslda.org/post/quiz-whats-your-homeschooling-philosophy
Homeschool Style Quiz
https://homeschoolon.com/the-homeschool-style-quiz/
The Learning Style Quiz
https://homeschoolon.com/the-learning-style-quiz/
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschool Methods
https://pambarnhill.com/guide-to-homeschool-methods/
Curriculum Helps

Cathy Duffy Reviews
https://cathyduffyreviews.com/
How to Choose the Best Curriculum for Your Family's Needs
https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschooling-101/choose-best-homeschool-curriculum/
7 Simple Steps to Choosing Your Homeschool Curriculum
https://autisticmama.com/how-to-choose-the-right-homeschool-curriculum/
Top 14 Homeschool Language Arts Comparison Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grG2UdwOxf8
The Top 10 Homeschool Math Comparison Review