So you've decided to homeschool your children. Congratulations!

You have chosen to become part of a special lifestyle. Don't be afraid-hundreds of thousands of families across America have found that there's "no place like home" for providing a nurturing, effective way to teach their children. The more you learn about homeschooling and the more you talk with other homeschooling parents, the more comfortable and confident you will become.

There is not just one right way. One of the great advantages of home education is its extreme flexibility. Each family is free to choose from among many excellent options the educational philosophies, methods, materials, and schedules that best suit its needs. A rudimentary understanding of these and other issues basic to home education will empower parents to make choices that will lead to their success.

Consideration can be given to preferences in teaching and learning styles; students' developmental levels, strengths, and weaknesses; the teacher's knowledge, experience, and confidence; the family's resources of time and money; and the number of children.

There truly is not just one right way to home school or one best curriculum for everyone. Whatever your individual situation, there are multiple solutions that can make home schooling a blessing to your family.

Let's look a few basics to get you started:

1. Read, Read, and Read some more!
Explore homeschooling by reading. Reading should be the most essential part of your homesschool.

2. Get Connected!
Homeschool support groups are in hundreds of cities across every state. Parents exchange ideas, share curriculum, go on field trips together, have skating parties, fellowship, offer educational co-ops, etc.

3. Find out the Law in Your Area.
First, investigate your state's home-schooling laws. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, France, and probably elsewhere as well. Local homeschooling groups are usually the best source of precise information about how to fulfill the requirements of the law in your state. Click here to see the Law in Texas.

4. Choose a Teaching Method.
You can purchase everything from day-by-day lessons to designing your own curriculum by checking out books from of the public library. We suggest spend time reading through the Teaching Philosophies before committing to any one approach.

5. Get a cup of tea, relax, and learn to enjoy your children.

Click here to read articles about getting started homeschooling.