Everything is bigger in Texas…right? You can often catch me saying everything is better in Texas too.
But that is usually when I am talking about homeschooling! It‘s just so simple -even if you are just getting started.
Learning how to homeschool in Texas can seem like a very broad spectrum because Texas views our homeschool as a private entity.
Simply put this means the state does not regulate private schools and so it will not regulate your homeschool.
This can save you a lot of time and headaches.
Although it is very easy, it is in our nature to question things and make sure we know all the fine details. So let’s break it down.
Step #1- Withdraw Your Student
If your child has never been in school then simply keep them home and start their homeschool education.
And you are ready for step 2.
If your child is currently in school this step is all about you withdrawing them from school.
This process is not meant to be complicated. All you need to do is sign the “Intent to Homeschool” documentation and fill out the information needed.
It may have some type of questions about what type of curriculum you will be using but FYI-you do NOT have to answer that question.
Even if you choose to you do not have to go listing every single book or program you will be using.
You can easily note your teaching style or say you will be using a multitude of different resources to achieve your goal.
Since Texas homeschools are not regulated by the state you do not have to share your curriculum plans.
Simply Be Polite, Sign the Forms, and Get A Copy.
Maintain a copy of this form for your records. You always want to be prepared even though you are not required to submit any type of formal documentation.
Make sure your child does not owe any money for any school programs and that all borrowed materials are returned before officially withdrawing them.
For any additional issues with the school/school board, a great resource to have is the Texas Homeschool Coalition. They offer free legal assistance covering almost every homeschool legal issues you may come across.
From there it is time to homeschool!
Step #2- Know What Subjects to Teach
You will hear me say it over and over again but it is so EASY to homeschool in Texas!
Knowing what to teach is very to the point and goes over basic learning skills all children need. You are only ‘required’ to teach reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.
While it does not include any type of history or sciences you should still think to include these things to create a well-rounded education for your child.
Especially if you want your student to have any success with post-secondary education.
Another option to consider is adding any language courses, music, and art whether based on your child’s interest or small introductions to each.
Subject matter can be blended into any topic by simply adding little components on a daily basis.
You can add singing or some form of arts/crafts into a unit study on apples and teach colors, its life cycle, and so much more.
The Big Texas Bonus…
Having this freedom means you can teach these subjects freely without having to feel forced into teaching every subject on a daily basis to meet “standards/metrics”.
I suggest just keeping documentation of what you are teaching and some samples of your student’s work from the required subjects just in case there is ever an inquiry to your child’s education/homeschool compliance.
Step #3- Find/ Create Your Citizenship Curriculum
The state of Texas believes that instilling a love for country and knowledge on your role/impact in the government at an early age will make for better citizens all around. That does mean a little more than teaching history or government.
The expectation is that you will foster an attitude in your student that they have a direct relation with how successful our government is starting with our own community first.
Some of the ways to achieve that are easy enough to think of like how to vote/why voting matters, who are good figures of citizenship, and learning songs that are patriotic.
Other things you may want to teach are what it means to fight for justice and equality or about being truthful and transparent.
You can incorporate this into early education through songs and stories. As your child gets older they can help with a campaign, big or small.
This is another time where the Texas Homeschool Coalition is a valuable resource to have. If you are a part of their paid membership they provide citizenship curriculum for your family.
There are also other sites you can use to find different types of citizenship curriculum.
But a lot of the topics are basic things you already know such as:
- What is the Texas Flag? What is the American Flag? Why are they important?
- Knowing the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge
- Knowing why certain historic figures in government are important.
- Explaining how certain celebrations, practices and behavior show America’s belief in freedom.
There is no preset citizenship curriculum. You just want to make sure you are raising your student to be a well-informed, responsible citizen.
Step #4- Set Your Homeschool Schedule
You will hear me say it over and over, but I do that only to make sure you remember that these are things I suggest you do to make your life easier, not because they are required.
If you have tried the traditional school schedule and it has worked for your family then by all means continue to do what works for you.
However, breaking down subjects into 6 or 7 blocks of only 45minutes to maybe an hour does not work for most children.
Usually by the time you are immersed in a subject and can apply some practical exercise to show how it works it was time to move to the next subject. This type of schedule can work to an extent in a Montessori homeschool.
It is slightly different because the child will switch at their own pace rather than being forced to move at a certain time.
Determining what type of scheduling you want to set is really up to you because in Texas there is no required amount of hours or days on when you need to teach.
You can do a Monday/Wednesday set subjects and Tuesday/Thursday set subjects. You can include open choice days based on what your child is most interested in. Or focus on 2-3 subjects two days in a row and the next subjects the following days.
Those are just a few suggestions but you want to remember that it all depends on how many days a week you are teaching and how many hours you are trying to average.
Again even though it is NOT required to be on any type of schedule you may want to keep some form of a calendar that shows when you had classes or your attendance chart.
I have a free homeschool schedule template that you can grab today to get you started just click here…
Step 5- Stay Organized (Keep Documents and Student Records)
Yes, your homeschool in Texas is considered a private school entity.
It is not regulated by the state at all.
So, no you DO NOT have to submit several papers every year proving you are teaching your children.
While, that is refreshing you should remember to still stay organized.
Good recordkeeping is important to any homeschooler in case your homeschools legality ever comes into question.
Keep one to two years of records from your student’s work, any test or worksheets they complete, and any type of attendance or scores in a special folder/binder.
Even if you have just started homeschooling your child and they are in kindergarten you can keep track of tracing pages they have worked on or any other activities they have completed.
Also, maintain records of the days you have class with the calendar/attendance sheet.
If you choose to give tests or assessments be sure to keep those as well for at least two years.
The simplest way to keep organized without hassle is by using a homeschool binder kit.
It is editable, undated, and has 3 different styles for you to choose from. While including the calendars and attendance sheet you also get access to subject dividers, to-do list, planning sheets, and schedulers (both monthly and weekly).
It even has detailed descriptions on how to use each page in the kit to maximize your results.
So what are you waiting for…click here.
Nice and Simple…
Homeschooling in Texas is so simple that you can start as soon as your child is withdrawn from school.
All you need to do is teach reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.
Other than keeping good records to make sure your homeschool is in order you have the freedom to teach your child how you see fit.
If you are feeling overwhelmed still…like so many other homeschool mamas…the perfect remedy is for you to read my free version of The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling for Beginners and it pairs perfectly with the homeschool binder kit. Just add your email and name to the box below.