I’m New to Homeschooling
Not sure how to start homeschooling? You can do this!
And we'll show you how.
Start here, with the 5 questions to ask yourself before homeschooling ⬇
Already in the thick of homeschooling? Check out our tips for veteran homeschoolers here.
So you're thinking that maybe, possibly, you're not sure, but perhaps, you might be considering homeschooling your kids.
(Maybe.)
And let me guess, you've got a billion thoughts running through your mind:
"There's no way I could homeschool. I'm not smart enough/patient enough/qualified enough."
"What if I pick the wrong curriculum?"
"What about socialization?"
Take a deep breath, mama. Say a prayer. If you are overwhelmed at all the choices and terrified of not knowing what you don't know, you're in the right place.
Hi, I'm Jenny, homeschooling mom of four for 16+ years and founder of Heart of a Mother.
I remember being a first-time homeschooling mom going waaaaay too deep on the research and completely overwhelming myself before I even started.
I had all of those same questions, and now that two of my four kids have graduated from my homeschool, I can tell you:
➡ Your kids will be fine.
➡ Even "unqualified," disorganized, working-on-the-whole-patience-thing moms can be incredible homeschoolers.
➡ There is no one right way to homeschool. There is only the way that works for your family. (And that way may change every year, and that's okay.)
➡ I wouldn't be where I am without the help of other homeschool moms guiding me. And that's exactly what I intend to do for you!
Before you go any further, there's something you should know: ⬇
If God has called you to homeschooling, He will give you the graces to do it well.
That doesn't mean it's going to be easy. I would argue that homeschooling is probably going to be one of the hardest things you'll ever do (but I can help a lot with making it easier!).
But I need you to know that truth because without it, you will never succeed in homeschooling. So before you keep scrolling, repeat that to yourself until you believe it.
Ready to get started?
At Heart of a Mother, we believe that starting to homeschool really can be as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4.
DECIDE IF GOD IS CALLING YOU TO START HOMESCHOOLING.
Start with our 5 questions to ask yourself first to figure that out.
PLAN AND RESEARCH.
Teachings styles, and laws, and goals, oh my! Don't get lost in the research rabbit hole just yet: Follow these 5 steps to get started homeschooling without losing your sanity.
PICK CURRICULUM.
Save the hours of research and go straight to our Mega Catholic Homeschool Curriculum List!
TRY IT AND BE WILLING TO ADJUST!
You won't get it all perfect year 1, and that's okay. The best way to get advice is from other homeschool moms who have experienced it. If you need help picking curriculum, setting up a schedule, or managing behavior, our Catholic homeschool consultants can help!
Don't know what you don't know?
We exist to help you homeschool well.
Heart of a Mother provides Catholic homeschooling support so you can have a homeschool you enjoy, where your children learn in a deeply rich and individualized way, and you all grow closer to Christ together.
We primarily do this through 1:1 consulting and our group membership, but you'll also find us hanging out in our free Facebook community or developing our growing library of DIY workshops and courses.
So feel free to roam around our site and explore our resources (but if you get overwhelmed easily, start with our 5 Questions and I'll email you what you'll need next!).
Our Homeschooling Philosophy
When you dive into homeschooling a bit more, you'll find a lot of talk about a "homeschool philosophy" (and morning baskets and co-ops and IHIPs, but we'll get there), so here's ours:
➡ You don't need to have certain qualifications to be a great homeschool mom! Whether you're a former teacher trying to adjust your skills or have no formal education training, God has given you everything you need to do this well — and we can help!
➡ Homeschooling should be enjoyable, but it won't be every day. There are hard days and seasons, and we've been there and aren't judging you!
➡ There is no one right way to homeschool. There's only the way that's right for your family. And we happily obsess over helping you figure out what that way is!
And as a resource for Catholic homeschooling families, our #1 goal is to help you create the educational environment that best leads your family to Christ.
Heart of a Mother is served by three consultants with 35+ years experience homeschooling 15 children between us — and we're all still current homeschool moms!
Want Regular Homeschooling Help?
Heart of a Mother is here to help you from Day 1 of homeschooling until your last graduates your homeschool!
The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.
- St. Therese of Lisieux
Our Most Popular Resources for First-Time Homeschoolers
Just starting out in homeschooling and feeling overwhelmed? Here are some of our first-time homeschool moms' favorite resources to get you started:
HOMESCHOOLING WITH HEART
Three of our popular planning bootcamps in one to get you started picking curriculum and planning your days
DIY RETREAT GUIDES
Need a reset? Take a day and reflect on this new season of your life with our popular Behold the New DIY retreat guide for homeschool moms.
DISCERNING CURRICULUM
The #1 question we get from first-time homeschoolers — how do I know what curriculum to pick?! — now answered in an on-demand course you can return to each year
The best way to prepare for homeschooling?
Getting advice from a fellow homeschool mom.
From picking curriculum to coming up with a schedule to making sure you're doing it "right," our Catholic homeschool consultants will guide you in creating a homeschool that your family loves from the start.