Learn how to start homeschooling kindergarten by exploring the most frequently asked questions and concerns, practical ways to get started, and turning your homeschool vision into a reality.
Welcome to the world of homeschool! Kindergarten generally marks the beginning of your child’s education journey. You may have been contemplating whether or not you should send your child to school, or take on the adventure of homeschooling your child at home. No matter if you are still on the fence, or have always had a strong desire to homeschool, we will be diving into how to get started, and everything you need to know in order to start homeschooling kindergarten.
Before You Begin
Before we dive into making your homeschool vision a reality, there are a few things to explore before beginning. The following list contains three key factors that must be looked at before you can begin to plan how or if you will homeschool.
Look at Your State Laws
- State laws – Click the link to check what the homeschooling laws are in your state. You may need to register your child(ren) or home, or notify your state that they will not be enrolled in public or private school. State laws may also require you to submit testing, immunizations, or mandate subjects that have to be taught. Depending on the state you live in, the regulations may be low or high. Please note, many states may not view kindergarten as required schooling, therefore, regulations may not apply until age 6 or 7+.
Find Your Reason(s)
- Reasons for homeschooling – Before you make a decision about your child’s education, write down (yes I said write down) the biggest reason(s) you have for wanting to homeschool. These reasons can and will influence the direction you choose in homeschooling.
- For example, if it is for religious reasons, this will influence the curriculum you choose, or may give you insight on whether or not a private school would be better.
- Many reasons may just be questions or concerns that would be better answered by talking with the school itself. Remember, NOT ALL states, districts, and schools are equal. Check with the school itself for facts on curriculum, standards and government doctrine taught, best practices for specific subjects (how they are taught), and interventions and resources available (how they deal with behavior, what services are offered for Special Education (areas such as children with disabilities, speech, etc.)
Encouragement For You
- Encouraging Word – The thought of homeschooling can be very overwhelming and frightening, know you are not alone. God has blessed and entrusted us with the child(ren) we have been given. He calls us to teach them, therefore, He will give us what we need to do it. You don’t have to know every subject and method of teaching in order to homeschool. Use the talents and gifts God has given you, and most importantly the relationship you have with your child(ren). He is the Word of encouragement that will help give you everything you need in order to fulfill His plan. Remember, He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.
- “You shall keep these things that I command you today in your heart. Teach them to your children. You shall talk of them when you are sitting in your home, and when you are walking along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” -Deuteronomy 6:6-7
What Do I Need?
Despite what you see on social media, you do not need a designated homeschool room and fancy materials in order to teach your child(ren). Homeschooling can be as extravagant or as minimal as you want….key word being want. To answer the question of need, here is a list of materials that you will need (in my opinion).
Books / curriculum: You will need designated curriculum / books (can be from the library) to teach your children. Although the library is a fantastic resource that should be utilized, it may have a limited selection in helping you teach certain concepts and subjets, such as math.
Coloring / crafting supplies: You can find these supplies fairly affordable. I recommend crayons, colored pencils, markers, glue (liquid and stick), scissors, and paint. Additional supplies to add would be play-dough, stickers, glitter, clay, beads, pompoms, pipe cleaners, googly eyes and popsicle sticks.
Manipulatives: Using manipulatives for subjects, such as math and science, is a great way to help your child(ren) understand concepts in a physical manner. You can purchase manipulatives, wooden manipulatives, or use any tools or nature items found in and around your house (ex: sticks, rocks, leaves, paperclips pencils, dice, etc.) Many of the manipulatives I use are little wooden craft pieces found at Hobby Lobby.
What Do I Teach? What Subjects Would They Be Learning in School?
Look below to see what is taught in my preschool & kindergarten curriculum, “Foundations in Education” as a reference.
State Standard Reference
Although frowned upon in a majority of homeschooling families, state standards can be a great resource in helping you determine topics and objectives that should or can be taught under each subject. Majority of states use the “Common Core Standards”, which are very broad, and not as helpful. State standards to use as examples could be: Nebraska State Standards, Texas State Standards, Alaska State Standards, or Virginia State Standards. This will also show you everything your child would learn if they went to public school.
Recommended Subjects to Teach
- Social and Emotional Development (understanding feelings and emotions, and how to regulate those emotions to make good decisions)
- Language Arts (grammar, composition, spelling)
- Reading (comprehension and reading skills and strategies)
- Phonics (understanding letters and letter sounds, learning to read)
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Science
How to Start Homeschooling Kindergarten
Homeschool Methods
Choosing a homeschool teaching method will impact your decision for the type of curriculum you choose. If you are not familiar with homeschooling methods, Amanda Beaty from “The Homeschool Mom”, has a great article explaining the different methods. Below is a list and short explanation discussing the most popular methods.
- Traditional: use a full curriculum (teaches every subject), online courses, accredited curriculum, more like school at home
- Unschooling: child or interest led education, curriculum and subjects aren’t used traditionally
- Montessori: Montessori trained teacher and principles, multiple age groups, real-world activities and tools (real kitchen tools rather than fake), kid sized, sensory learning
- Waldorf: practical, artistic, and conceptual elements of education, focused on imagination and creativity
- Charolette Mason: “living books” over textbooks, short lessons, understanding the world and nature
- Unit Studies: multiple subjects covered focused on one topic at a time, theme changes often usually monthly (oceans, economics, farming, inventions, etc.)
- Westman Academy: (my own method) everything is faith based (relating all we do and have to God’s creations and the Bible), starting “school” aka learning young (minimum of age 3), child focused (curriculum focused on the child emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally) and works along side parent / teacher (minimal direct teaching)
Choosing Curriculum
Choosing a curriculum can be very difficult, as there are many options out there. Once you have chosen a homeschooling method that you believe would work best for your family, you can find a curriculum that aligns. Simply search “_____ method curriculum” and you will be able to find many options.
Finding books at the library is also a great way to teach your child. This “method” gives you more creativity and freedom to choose what to teach and how. If you are someone who would like lessons planned out, or doesn’t have much time to create their own lessons, this method may not be for you.
Setting Goals
Creating and setting goals is a great way to help keep yourself on track and accountable. It does take discipline to be able to homeschool, but having goals helps give you direction and consistency. Before beginning, create a daily goal, weekly goal, monthly goal, and yearly goal. Below are examples of goals I have set for myself and my children.
- DAILY GOAL: Teach our Bible lesson as a minimum of schooling. (Must teach at least the Bible lesson from our curriculum or a created lesson, even if we don’t complete any other schooling for the day.)
- WEEKLY GOAL: Complete 4 full lessons from the curriculum. (Complete schooling 4 of the 5 weekdays.)
- MONTHLY GOAL: Teach a minimum of 4 life skill lessons (baking, cooking, sewing, feeding animals, etc.)
- YEARLY GOAL: Complete the curriculum fully. Track progress with “testing” or benchmarks every three months, and make adjustments.
Creating a Schedule / Routine
Check out my Homeschool Routine for Preschoolers for an option of a “relaxed” routine. I do not time out every activity, but rather complete certain activities in the morning and afternoon. I also share my Winter Homeschool Routine for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners. Download my FREE Calendar and Weekly Planner
Creating a schedule or routine is a great and effective way to not only keep your child on track and consistent, but you as well! Lately, I have moved from a more relaxed routine, into a time based schedule. I plan to create another post discussing my schedule and timed schooling soon.
Not only does creating a schedule help your child(ren) know what to expect, but it keeps you accountable to all of the tasks you want to accomplish. I won’t go as much into depth on this, as I plan to write an additional blog post about it. Below, I have listed key benefits to having a schedule or routine.
- Consistency and Accomplishment (if you follow it, you will get done all (or majority) of what you wanted to accomplish)
- Easier Expectations (your child(ren) knows what to expect, and will become accustomed to the routine)
- Easier Transitions (your child(ren) will be able to move from task to task easier, since they will slowly catch on to what activities are after one another)
- Avoids Procrastination
- Avoids Teaching Delays (keeps busy moms from putting off schooling)
- Utilizes Your Hours (from homemaking to homeschooling, your time will be better spent)
- Minimizes Behaviors (helps avoid tantrums from uncertainty)
Using Westman Academy Homeschool Curriculum
What Age Should My Child(ren) Start?
I recommend beginning with “Foundations in Education Book 1” at age 3. Take the year to cover books 1-3. Depending on how well it goes, either repeat books 1-3 (super doable if you purchase the digital version) then move on to Books 4-7, or begin Book 4 the following year. Even if your child(ren) are starting at age 4 or 5, I still recommend starting at Book 1, as it will provide education necessary for mastery of certain concepts before beginning Book 4. This will all depend on if they completed preschool previously, and their academic abilities. Download the FREE week long samples of Book 1 and Book 4 to see where your child aligns better.
What Popular Homeschool Method Does This Curriculum Fall Under?
Although this is not a “black and white” answer, the curriculum would fall more towards traditional homeschooling. The curriculum does include all subjects in one, so you do NOT need separate subject books. However, it is very flexible if you wish to skip lesson activities, and does not need to be completed in a certain time frame.
Is This Curriculum Strictly Bookwork?
Absolutely not! There are 7 books, which may make it appear it is only bookwork, you must remember all subjects are included in every lesson. All activities are hands-on in some aspect. How hands-on you go is up to you. I provide activity ideas for baking, cooking, sensory bins, crafts, manipulatives, and nature studies. You are the parent / teacher have the ability to utilize these activities or not.
How Much Prep Work is Involved?
Before each lesson, there will be a Lesson Overview and Checklist. Any activity that requires prep work (mainly being cut out or buying necessary supplies) will be highlighted in yellow. This provides and easy and convenient way for you to know if you have to prepare anything beforehand.
Should I Purchase the Hard Copy or Digital Version?
In my opinion, you should decide this based on your printer. If you have a regular printer (not an Eco printer), I highly recommend purchasing the hard copy. Although it may seem less expensive to purchase the digital copy, you will be printing MANY pages. If you do not have a printer that is ink efficient, you will end up spending more due to ink. You also have to factor in the cost for paper and binding as well. However, if you have multiple children you are planning on teaching, digital may end up being more cost efficient. With digital, you can print as many copies as you wish, and use it for future children.
*I did not up-charge my hard copy version much more than the cost for me to make the books. I want my curriculum to be as affordable as it can be.
FOUNDATIONS IN EDUCATION BOOK 1 SAMPLE
FOUNDATIONS IN EDUCATION BOOK 4 SAMPLE
Final Note and Prayer
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this has helped give you a better idea on how to start homeschool kindergarten. God has created you for your children, and your children for you. With Him, you can create the homeschool education you have always dreamed of for your children.
Dear Lord, I pray that you would bless this homeschool family on their education journey. Help them to seek You, Your plan, and Your will. Lord, speak Your desire to them, and bring peace in their decision making. Help to encourage and comfort this family, as they continue to teach their children. Bless them, and equip the parent(s) with the ability to teach as You have taught, to love as You love us, and to fill them with Your words, goodness, and grace. Amen.
-Kelsey
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