For your first year
The first year, mapped out.
School at home doesn’t have to look like school. Here’s what the first year usually looks like, month by month, and what to do at each stop.
The first year, month by month
- AugCheck your state’s rulesNotice, subjects, records. Then buy the books.
- SepStart with reading and mathShort, steady, every day. Add the rest later.
- OctPut the rest on rotationScience twice a week. History when there’s room.
- NovThe first wobbleAlmost everyone has one. It means the plan needs editing.
- JanRethink the scheduleKeep what worked. Sell what didn’t.
- MarFind your peopleCo-ops, classes, libraries, sports.
- MayGather the recordsPortfolio, assessments or logs, if your state asks.
- JunLook back, plan year twoYou know your house now. Plan for it.
Latest guides
All articlesPlanning Your Second Year: What to Keep, Drop and Change
How to evaluate your first year of homeschooling and plan a better second year, covering what to keep, what to drop, and how to adjust your schedule, curriculum, and expectations.
Homeschooling on a Budget: Free and Low-Cost Resources That Work
A guide to homeschooling without spending hundreds on curriculum, covering free programs, library resources, used curriculum markets, and low-cost approaches that cover the required subjects.
Homeschooling a Child with Learning Differences
How to homeschool a child with dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum differences, or other learning disabilities, covering evaluation, curriculum choices, accommodations, and when to seek professional help.
Deschooling: Why Your Child Might Need a Slow Start
What deschooling is, why children coming out of conventional school often benefit from a slower start to homeschooling, and how to handle the transition period without falling behind.
What Records to Keep and How to Keep Them Simple
A practical guide to homeschool record-keeping, covering what your state may require, what is useful even when it is not required, and how to set up a system that takes minutes, not hours.
Homeschool Socialization: The Logistics, Not the Verdict
A practical guide to building social opportunities for homeschooled children, covering co-ops, classes, sports, community activities, and what the research actually says about homeschool socialization.
Check your state’s rules first
Homeschool law varies by state and can change. Every guide points you to your state education department’s own guidance. General information, not legal advice.