The Homeschooling Starter Guide: How to Create and Adapt the Best Education Action Plan for Your Needs

by Gina M. Riley

Get started with homeschooling for grade levels K-12

Homeschooling can help kids of all ages immerse themselves in learning that builds on their unique strengths, interests, and preferences. It gives them the chance to thrive with one-on-one attention and customized lesson plans that fit their learning style—and their family’s needs. This starter guide to homeschooling is the ultimate resource for turning any home into an ideal school environment and helping any child succeed.

Learn how to homeschool:

Schooling styles—Compare the most popular education philosophies and homeschool models, and choose the best combination for every homeschool situation.

Stay on track—Find checklists, calendars, tables, and step-by-step instructions to help set and track homeschooling goals.

Standards and requirements—Get a general breakdown of U.S. homeschooling requirements, along with easy and affordable ways to develop custom curriculum.

Inclusive action plans—Learn to create a homeschooling structure that accommodates each child’s culture, language, religion, special needs, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, School

168 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Cynthia]

This made me feel so much more confident and ready to start my homeschooling journey. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars was because some spots felt redundant. Otherwise, a very comprehensive and helpful tool!

[Wendy Thornell]

I’ve been homeschooling for six years, but I like to be able to point new homeschoolers to resources that will help them get started. I checked this book out from the library and skimmed through it in an afternoon. The information is accurate and concise, but I don’t know that it would have given me a complete understanding when I was starting out. Homeschooling is one of those things you learn as you go, both in the actual teaching and in talking with other families and learning what works for them, what they use, etc. This book provides the same info you can get through a quick Google search, lesson planning templates or sample schedules. It does provide some resources like websites for further research on a specific method or philosophy. However, I don’t think you need to know your method/philosophy in order to get started. Those things change over time. Better than a “getting started” book, homeschool families need to connect with other families. School instructors need other instructors to talk with, whether that happens in a co-op setting, book club, or even a Facebook group (of which there are MANY). But I will say this book was really easy to read and get through, and not super clinical while still being informative. If someone doesn’t know anyone else who homeschools, it could be a good jumping off point towards more research.

[Crystal Reed]

4.7/5 🌟

This book was a wealth of knowledge and chalk packed with information and I found it at a 5 and below!

I do wish that there were more examples for things to get a better idea but regardless this book is a God sent.

[Patrick Conner]

The Homeschooling Starter Guide offers a practical and approachable introduction to homeschooling for families considering or beginning home education. Gina Riley focuses on helping parents create an educational structure that can respond to a child’s strengths, interests, learning preferences, and individual family circumstances.

One of the book’s strongest features is its emphasis on choice. Rather than presenting one single model of homeschooling, it introduces different educational philosophies and approaches, giving families room to consider what combination may work best for their situation. The attention to customized learning makes the guide feel flexible and accessible.

The practical tools also add considerable value. Checklists, calendars, tables, step by step instructions, and guidance for developing affordable curriculum can help turn the idea of homeschooling into a more organized plan. The discussion of U.S. homeschooling requirements is also useful for parents who may not know where to begin.

I especially appreciate the attention given to inclusive action plans. The guide recognizes that homeschooling families can have different cultural, language, religious, financial, and educational needs, and it encourages parents to adapt their approach accordingly. That flexibility makes the book relevant to a wide range of families.

Overall, The Homeschooling Starter Guide is a concise resource for parents looking for direction, structure, and practical ideas as they begin homeschooling. Its combination of educational approaches, planning tools, curriculum guidance, and adaptable strategies makes it a useful starting point for building a home learning plan.

[Gabby]

I found this book to be very informative and a quick read. There is a lot of info here and it’s short enough to function as a quick reference after completing the book. There were a few schooling terms I wasn’t aware of. I also appreciate the online programs and other outlets she took advantage of for those who are on a budget.

If you can find this book at Five and below, it’s worth the time and taking up a sliver of your shelf space.

[Desa Rae]

A super quick read which goes over some of the different philosophies and methods of homeschooling. It gives parents tools to really hone in what they want their homeschooling journey to look and feel like. It gives specific examples of how to create different actions and lesson plans. Not all sections were relevant to my family so some of it was skippable. I could see this being most helpful to a new-to-homeschooling family living in a state with strict regulations.

[Alissa]

I have highlighted and tabbed so many areas of this book; I feel it's a must for someone like myself who is getting ready to dive into homeschooling after their child has been in public schools. Honestly, this book is a great jumping point for anyone about to start. I found resources I had no clue about that would work within our budget and learning styles.

[Rick]

For anyone who has decided to homeschool their children this is a terrific resource to get you started. Filled with actionable information and tools to get you started on the right foot. And on top of that it's a quick read as well.

[Jenna Hanna]

Simple and practical info to get you started! I appreciate that Gina explains various approaches in a neutral way and empowers parents to give it a try by encouraging them with her own experience, homeschooling as a single, lower income parent.

[Shianne DeMoss]

This one is extremely informative, but I'm glad I now have some of these extra resources that I didn't know about before.

[feux d'artifice]

This is very much a primer book, organized and informative, very US-centric

[Eden Starkey]

This book gave me some good beginner information on homeschooling.

[Sierra Suniga]

3.5 but I rated it down because I felt most of it can be searched on google. but I do like the format she has to make plans to stay on top of your curriculum when homeschooling.