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Homeschooling 101: A Guide to Getting Started.
So you've decided to homeschool but don't know where to start? Don't worry, Homeschooling 101 offers you a step by step practical guide that will help you get started and continue on in your homeschooling journey. Erica will walk you through all of the aspects of getting started, choosing and gathering curriculum, creating effective lesson plans, scheduling your day, organizing your home, staying the course and more! This book is a must read for new homeschoolers who need tangible advice for getting started! It also includes helpful homeschool forms, and instructions to download a FREE planner! Erica is a Christian, wife, and a homeschooler. She is author of the top homschooling website: www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com
259 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 5, 2019
Very helpful book I've had to guide me on my homeschooling journey. I'm not as organized (I'm more laid back but need things accomplished by the end of the day) as Erica but I took what I could get for myself out of her guidance. She had great suggestions and broke many things down. She included curriculums and websites. Very good book for anyone starting homeschooling. I'm on my 5th year with my eldest and starting with second kid with a very different personality. God give me patience....
March 27, 2017
I readily admit. I read this book in about a couple of hours. However, it was engaging. My goodness. There are so many great resources and advice available in this book. I regularly take a gander at Erica's website "Confessions of a Homeschooler" and drool. Simply drool. This woman is the gold standard of homeschooling. I love it! I have clicked on her meal plans, panted over her homeschool room, and just dreamed and dreamed of those delightful little things she calls "workboxes".
I totally love women like this. They make it look easy but they are never boastful about it. They walk you through gently, step by step, and show you how they do it. Now granted you may never reach the level of hardcore homeschooling Erica reaches, but that's okay! You don't have to! If you only have a kitchen table and quality time that is good enough.
Erica thoughtfully included ALL of her worksheets and templates in the back of her book (well at least access to it, since she provides the information for that). I am excited to do it. I may never be as organized as her but I will certainly be on the right track.
Schedules, calendars, workboxes, ooooooh yeahhhhhhhhhh.
I totally love women like this. They make it look easy but they are never boastful about it. They walk you through gently, step by step, and show you how they do it. Now granted you may never reach the level of hardcore homeschooling Erica reaches, but that's okay! You don't have to! If you only have a kitchen table and quality time that is good enough.
Erica thoughtfully included ALL of her worksheets and templates in the back of her book (well at least access to it, since she provides the information for that). I am excited to do it. I may never be as organized as her but I will certainly be on the right track.
Schedules, calendars, workboxes, ooooooh yeahhhhhhhhhh.
September 7, 2018
This book was pretty much useless-any advice or tips were so common sense based that I kept flipping pages wondering, "Is this seriously a book?" (I got the paperback from the library). It was written on about a 4th grade reading level, and it is only going to appeal to uber-Christian homeschoolers because there's a LOT of Bible beating included. Just say no to this one. There has to be better guides out there. I will find them. Blech.
September 11, 2018
2.5 Nice overview of basics for a potential homeschooler. Very religiously based philosophy.
February 7, 2017
I appreciated many of the insights from this veteran homeschooler and found some of her organizational stuff to be particularly helpful. However, as a former English teacher, I was frequently frustrated by the grammatical errors nearly every time she used the word "however," not to mention complete lack of editing regarding her comma usage.
October 27, 2017
Very practical how-to guide... but also VERY very basic. Helpful, but just check it out from the library. Not worth owning ;) Just a super light and easy simple starter.
March 10, 2025
I feel conflicted in giving 2 stars. The information itself in this book should prove helpful to those who are considering/just beginning homeschooling. However, I do not feel comfortable recommending this book as the best resource.
First, the number of errors in this book sent my writing brain reeling. Commas in incorrect places, sentence structure, and other errors left the reading experience to be desired. On the one hand, one could argue that this book is more like a glorified blog post (which is exactly how it read) and is therefore more of an informal approach. I can understand that. But on the other hand, if I am going to be consulting a resource on education, my standards are going to be set a bit higher.
(One more example of grammar and spelling that irked me. She discussed having toddlers “in toe” instead of “in tow.” Ugh!!)
Second (and I alluded to this in the first point), the blog-style writing was a bit of a turn-off for me. Thoughts were not well organized or supported within the chapters themselves in a way that was easy to mentally take in. Furthermore, if I am going to read a more informal style, I would have perhaps enjoyed it more if the author included more personal stories/anecdotes. There was a lot of “you” targeted information with a glaring lack of examples. I would have loved to have read more personal stories as illustrations to warm up the book. I gleaned no personal information about the author herself or her family (or even the number of kids that she herself homeschooled) until several chapters in, and at that it was only a brief mention.
Third, and this is just a vibe, I felt like this book as a whole just pointed to her website. Felt a bit gimmicky. I could be convinced otherwise perhaps at some point.
I would instead recommend The Well Trained Mind by Wise/Bauer, even if you are not considering a classical education. Those who would still desire an eclectic or traditional approach would greatly benefit from the ideas in that book.
First, the number of errors in this book sent my writing brain reeling. Commas in incorrect places, sentence structure, and other errors left the reading experience to be desired. On the one hand, one could argue that this book is more like a glorified blog post (which is exactly how it read) and is therefore more of an informal approach. I can understand that. But on the other hand, if I am going to be consulting a resource on education, my standards are going to be set a bit higher.
(One more example of grammar and spelling that irked me. She discussed having toddlers “in toe” instead of “in tow.” Ugh!!)
Second (and I alluded to this in the first point), the blog-style writing was a bit of a turn-off for me. Thoughts were not well organized or supported within the chapters themselves in a way that was easy to mentally take in. Furthermore, if I am going to read a more informal style, I would have perhaps enjoyed it more if the author included more personal stories/anecdotes. There was a lot of “you” targeted information with a glaring lack of examples. I would have loved to have read more personal stories as illustrations to warm up the book. I gleaned no personal information about the author herself or her family (or even the number of kids that she herself homeschooled) until several chapters in, and at that it was only a brief mention.
Third, and this is just a vibe, I felt like this book as a whole just pointed to her website. Felt a bit gimmicky. I could be convinced otherwise perhaps at some point.
I would instead recommend The Well Trained Mind by Wise/Bauer, even if you are not considering a classical education. Those who would still desire an eclectic or traditional approach would greatly benefit from the ideas in that book.
January 2, 2019
This is one of the first DNFs I've had in a long time. This book seemed so promising, and I suppose if you were totally, 100% new to homeschooling (never considered it or thought about it at all) this would be helpful. As others have stated though, everything in this book seems like common sense and information people should already know. It seems like a waste of space. At this point in the planning process (I'm doing kindergarten with my daughter) we need something much "meatier."
One thing that bothered me like crazy was the incorrect use of quotation mark punctuation. (For example, some quotes that had a comma or period after them would have the comma or period after the end quotation mark, "like this".) It would be correct if published in Great Britain, but isn't correct for the United States. Sorry if that seems petty, but it's an important guideline in the US.
Also (not the author's fault) my copy is used, and the previous owner aggressively scribbled over any mention of God or faith, like they were so offended at the religious aspect of the book that they felt compelled to deface it. Ridiculous!
Overall, a huge disappointment, and I would not recommend.
One thing that bothered me like crazy was the incorrect use of quotation mark punctuation. (For example, some quotes that had a comma or period after them would have the comma or period after the end quotation mark, "like this".) It would be correct if published in Great Britain, but isn't correct for the United States. Sorry if that seems petty, but it's an important guideline in the US.
Also (not the author's fault) my copy is used, and the previous owner aggressively scribbled over any mention of God or faith, like they were so offended at the religious aspect of the book that they felt compelled to deface it. Ridiculous!
Overall, a huge disappointment, and I would not recommend.
June 10, 2019
A very basic intro to what it may take to take the plunge and begin to homeschool. I can see some of the step-by-step ideas to be helpful to some. VERY heavy on Christianity as the reason to and answer for choosing this way of life (one of the suggestions on how to afford to drop to a 1 income home was to pray). I lean toward unschooling, so all the curriculum researching and organizing and storing that the author finds essential feels... not as essential to me?
June 13, 2020
I picked up the book because my youngest child of three asked about homeschooling. I needed to figure out if it was possible while I provided in-home therapeutic foster care. For me, this book was a good starting place. It referred to a variety of online resources, such as cooking websites that I looked at and sign up for. The book is a quick and easy read, but I took a slower pace. I like hearing about others experiences, which this author shared.
February 27, 2020
As a hopeful future homeschool mom, this book was amazingly practical and helpful! It gave me so many great tips and ideas! The only thing, for me specifically, was I wish the chapter on homeschooling special needs was longer but also thankful for the resources and links that were included! I feel like I got this!
June 1, 2017
A good quick read. It's very thorough, though much of it seems intuitive. I appreciate some of the lists like her curriculum ideas and website sources. I looked up her website and will refer to it for future ideas.
May 19, 2025
This book is BY FAR the best homeschooling book I've come across in my reading. So many helpful hints, websites to share, worksheets, etc. Loved it! I'll be visiting the accompanying website and Facebook page ASAP!
March 11, 2018
Definitely worth reading if you are planning to homeschool. She definitely very organized and plans out really well.
October 21, 2020
This is a great starter for anyone researching how to begin homeschooling. It leads to many great Christian based resources as well. Highly recommended!
June 15, 2016
As a homeschool graduate during the "dark ages" of homeschooling, I am no stranger to the value of educating at home, or the most commonly asked question, "What about socialization?" - but what I am unsure of 17 years after graduation is how to switch from homeschool alumni to the parent who is in charge of homeschooling. And that's where Erica's book comes into play.
When my mother was researching homeschooling, her go to was Mary Pride. Over 30 years later, it's Erica Arndt - practical, encouraging, organized, and real. I read Homeschooling 101 with a highlighter in my hand and a notebook & pen on my lap and came away with a starting point (as the teacher) and a plan.
If you are considering homeschooling and don't know where to begin - start here. And on a personal note: If you're wondering if you will forever screw up your child - as a K-12 homeschool veteran (and a college graduate with a B.S. degree), I'm here to tell you that I cannot ever fully express my gratitude to my parents for their choice to go against the flow and keep me at home. It's NOT for everyone, but if you can make it work, it's amazing.
As for socialization: when else in your life do you find yourself only working with people in your age and grade? That's not realistic! In my experience, those who ask about socialization either don't know any homeschool students, or (as in my case) don't realize that they are speaking to one. ;-)
When my mother was researching homeschooling, her go to was Mary Pride. Over 30 years later, it's Erica Arndt - practical, encouraging, organized, and real. I read Homeschooling 101 with a highlighter in my hand and a notebook & pen on my lap and came away with a starting point (as the teacher) and a plan.
If you are considering homeschooling and don't know where to begin - start here. And on a personal note: If you're wondering if you will forever screw up your child - as a K-12 homeschool veteran (and a college graduate with a B.S. degree), I'm here to tell you that I cannot ever fully express my gratitude to my parents for their choice to go against the flow and keep me at home. It's NOT for everyone, but if you can make it work, it's amazing.
As for socialization: when else in your life do you find yourself only working with people in your age and grade? That's not realistic! In my experience, those who ask about socialization either don't know any homeschool students, or (as in my case) don't realize that they are speaking to one. ;-)
April 22, 2016
Quick, easy read packed with information and resources. I wish I had read this last year before I started homeschooling, but I think it will help to improve the experience for us next year.
The writer quotes the Bible heavily and talks a lot about god if that sort if thing bothers you. I skipped over those bits without detracting at all from the practical advice.
The author has a YouTube channel and a blog with a ton of resources as well. Recommended.
The writer quotes the Bible heavily and talks a lot about god if that sort if thing bothers you. I skipped over those bits without detracting at all from the practical advice.
The author has a YouTube channel and a blog with a ton of resources as well. Recommended.
October 18, 2016
I wish I would've read this before I started homeschooling! I would have felt more confident, but early in my second year I can appreciate tips on curriculum selection, organization, and time management. Often people ask me when to get started and I'll just recommend this book in the future!
February 20, 2016
Book recommendations that don't make this atheist homeschooler feel like a mythical creature plz
March 9, 2020
Good first steps and packed full of advice and resources. I'm still scared to death to do this.
September 23, 2020
Still pretty new to homeschooling and found this book to have a lot of helpful and more up to date information then many others I have read or glanced through.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews