How to Get Started With Homeschooling

In the US and Canada, each state or province regulates homeschooling in its own way. Some states are more homeschool-friendly than others. When thinking about homeschooling, it’s important for you to know the laws and regulations of your state. Do you need to contact your local school system? Do your children have to take standardized tests? What kind of end-of-year records do you need to submit?

A simple way to find out this information is to visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website. This is an organization that has been advocating for homeschoolers for the past four decades. HSLDA has compiled the laws for every state and you can find summaries and details of those laws on their website.. Once you know the regulations you need to follow, making the decision to homeschool may seem more achievable.

Check your state’s homeschool laws but be assured that homeschool parents are not required to possess a teaching license or formal training in education. Some states do require a homeschooling parent to have earned a high school diploma, but in most states, the only qualifications needed are a desire to home educate and an interest in learning. If you wish to homeschool, don’t let a lack of training intimidate you. It’s your hard work and dedication to seeing your children reach their potential that will produce strong academic results, not a fancy degree.

If you make the decision to homeschool a child who is already attending public school, you don’t need to wait for the school year’s end to begin your homeschooling program.

• You will want to start by officially withdrawing your child from their school. State requirements vary regarding the withdrawal process. It’s important to familiarize yourself with your state’s regulations and make sure you comply with them.

• When you withdraw your child from an educational setting especially after the school year has started, it’s important to give you and your child a chance to “de-school,” and take the time to work together to establish new routines and reconnect with your child’s interests and passions, maybe even take a break from formal academics. Plan field trips, read-alouds, unstructured free play, or time in nature. Use this season to observe your child, get to know their strengths and challenges, so you can identify strategies for helping them learn in a way that’s meaningful and that will help them thrive in their new environment.

• Homeschooling is not a permanent choice. Families can make the decision to homeschool or go to a traditional school on a yearly basis. Homeschooling might be the answer to your family’s circumstances right now. You can change your mind.

All parents have the legal right to home educate their children, including children with learning disabilities and challenges. In fact, homeschooling can give children of varying abilities an advantage because they are taught by those who are personally familiar with their strengths and weaknesses and who can quickly integrate new learning strategies and techniques. As a homeschool parent, you have a unique opportunity to provide your child with a learning environment where they are truly loved and accepted. Despite these advantages, teaching a child with special needs at home is extremely demanding. It will require an extra measure of patience, creativity, and dedication, especially if there are other children in the home whose needs must be balanced. There are some steps you can take to ensure that you are well-resourced for this endeavor:

• Gather a strong support system for yourself whether through family, friends, therapists, church community, or a local homeschool support group (preferably all the above!). You will need others to lean on as you navigate the 24/7 demands of both teacher and parent.

• Look for support groups, either local or online, that are dedicated to your child’s specific learning disability.

• Develop daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal rhythms that give you time and space to recharge. This is critical for all homeschoolers, but especially for those who are raising a child with special needs. While some school authorities are supportive and even accommodating of your student, sometimes homeschool students with special needs may draw extra scrutiny from school officials. Joining the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is an important source of support if you are teaching a child with special needs.

• Christianbook has a large selection of products for children with kinesthetic and sensory needs and with learning differences. Visit our Sensory & Kinesthetic Learning Resources page and Learning Differences page.

You can homeschool your children, even when they are at different ages and skill levels. It’s a matter of finding the method that each child responds to and a way to stay organized that works best for you. Your best plan could be one of these or a combination of them.

• Independent learning is the end-goal of homeschooling, and older children can take ownership of their education. In fact, at the higher grade levels a lot of homeschooling curricula are written to the student. Parents still monitor assignments and grade quizzes, tests, and daily seatwork, but the student manages their schedule and workload and is responsible for reading (or watching) and completing their lessons on a daily basis.

• Shared subjects: History, Science, and Bible are subjects that all ages can study together. When your children learn the same material, it encourages shared discussion, experiences, and insights. Older children can “reteach” concepts and topics, which helps them to solidify content and confirm their understanding. In addition, there are best-selling homeschool programs that are written with different reading assignments and activities for different age levels.

• Unit Studies allow you to organize your lessons and subjects around a central theme and allow your children to dive deep into topics that they feel passionate about. Some examples of themes are topical (like space, insects, or baseball) and seasonal (like learning about maple syrup in early spring, or snow during winter). Literature-based unit studies centered around a particular book (like Little House on the Prairie) can immerse your children in a period of history as you blend its themes into all their subjects. Homeschoolers who use unit studies incorporate their theme or topic into language arts, math, science, and history lessons, whether it’s using sentences about baseball to label parts of speech, or geometry problems that involve honeybees and their hexagonal hives. The limit is your or your child’s imagination.

• Reading together: even if each child is doing their own thing (or you’re doing it with them), bring your family together to share a book, by reading aloud. It can be a classic piece of literature (check off reading for language arts); a historical picture book or chapter book (check off reading and history); a biography (check off reading, science, and history). Little ones might ask a question and your older child will answer and start a discussion (check off reading comprehension and literary analysis). Children who share stories can connect with each other and they’ll remember the experience when they’re older.

• Computer-based or video-based courses can provide a more traditional, grade-level coverage of subjects. Scheduling can either be a consistent daily routine or your child can complete their lessons when it’s best for them (after all, some kids are not morning people!).

Homeschooling is an investment, but there are homeschool programs and curricula available here at Christianbook to fit every family’s budget. With the growth of homeschooling over the past few years, there are also a lot of online resources. Often books and other educational materials can be used for siblings as they reach each grade level. Usually teacher resources (like teacher manuals and answer keys) are reusable, while student materials (like activity books and work-texts) are “consumable” and “non-reproducible,” which means they need to be replaced for the next student. Most families are buying student materials and teacher resources for at least four different subjects (math, language arts, science, and history/social studies) for an entire school year (approximately 180 days) for each child. Ideas to keep homeschooling affordable include:

• There are curricula programs that can be purchased by the semester or by the quarter. So, while the cost will be the same or a little higher (factoring in shipping), the dent in the budget will be smaller at the time of each purchase.

• Buy curricula that can be reused. Most of the time, this will pertain to the teacher materials. There are some homeschool publishers who allow for photocopies of student materials to be made for use within the immediate family.

• Use your local library for books, audiobooks, educational videos, museum passes, online educational subscriptions.

• Make your own teaching supplements, like phonics or math facts flashcards; math manipulatives like beans or popsicle sticks for counters.

• Find free online downloads and printables covering almost every subject. Homeschool Compass (sponsored by Christianbook) has a page dedicated to carefully designed printables for your children!

As a parent with outside employment or as a single parent, or as a single parent with outside employment, your homeschool is going to look different than other families that you might see on social media or in a homeschool support group. And that’s okay. You are investing in your child’s education and in your relationship with them.

• Your homeschool might be mobile: bags packed, pencils sharpened, your kids might bring their work as they go with you to appointments, meetings, etc.

• Your homeschool might be at different times of day: scheduling may mean that connecting with your children will be in the afternoon or evening, rather than traditional school day hours.

• Your homeschool will be organized. You’ll find a system and routine for planning lessons and checking assignments and assessments that will work best for you and your kids.

• Your homeschool might include more helpers, not just you and your kids. Between co-ops, classes, support groups, other parents as teachers, and maybe even relatives for childcare, you’ll develop a community that supports you and your children. And that counts as socialization!

The “socialization” question isn’t as prominent as it used to be, but it will probably never go away. As homeschoolers, your children have more opportunities to connect with the real world than students who are in school for six to eight hours a day and only associating with kids their own age.

In the workplace, in our neighborhoods, at church, and in our hobbies and clubs, not everyone is our age. Grocery shopping during the day when the store employees are adults, visits to community homes, spending the day with older and younger siblings, play-dates with other homeschool families, and volunteer opportunities are just a few ways that homeschooled students learn to develop multi-generational relationships, which is what we do as adults.

As parents, you are your child’s most important model for social behavior and when you intentionally seek out occasions for your kids to connect with the community, you give them the chance to practice compassion, conflict resolution, and communication skills.

Homeschooling can be a lonely endeavor for both you and your children. Finding families and friends who homeschool can be challenging but it is an integral part of your support system. Also consider that not everyone in your support system needs to be a homeschooler. So take the time to find a community to become involved in and other parents and families that encourage each other and share interests. Here are a few ways to make connections.

• Visit your state’s homeschool organization page. These are private organizations run by veteran and current homeschoolers. Often you’ll find information on activities (like conventions, graduation events, field trips), co-ops, classes, and more. Advice from parents who’ve navigated the laws of your state is invaluable. Click HERE for a link to the current state organizations.

• Check out a homeschool convention in your area. Usually homeschool conventions happen once or twice a year, usually between March and June. At conventions you’ll find speakers on almost every homeschool topic, from how to teach different subjects to balancing instruction for multiple children. Conventions also often have a Vendor Hall, where you can look at curriculum from top homeschool and education publishers. Click HERE for a link to current homeschool conventions.

• Visit the library or playground when traditional schools are in session. If you meet school-aged children and parents there, they are probably a homeschool family.

• Check with museums, state parks, theaters, nature organizations for special homeschool programs. These can be great places to meet other homeschool families.

• Search social media for local homeschool events, field trips, and activities.

• Call churches in your area and ask if they have a support group for moms or parents or if any members are homeschoolers.

• Leadership and vocational organizations like 4H and National FFA Organization, Scouts, and others give homeschool children opportunities to connect with other young people with similar interests.

• The Homeschool Compass website offers support for your homeschool journey with how-to articles, encouragement, printables, booklists and reading lists, curricula suggestions and more.

If you homeschool for any length of time, you will experience a challenging situation of some sort. However, you don’t have to give up homeschooling, but you will need to get creative. When it happens, be prepared for your homeschool life to change and function differently than it did before. Give yourself and your family time to adjust to the new normal, as you re-evaluate your expectations on how much you and your kids can accomplish and prioritize the subjects and activities that most directly contribute to your long-term goals. You can’t really plan ahead for a crisis, but making connections with your homeschool community now will give you resources and support when you need it.

You may feel unsure in this area as you think about homeschooling and your child’s future, but the truth is many homeschool families have navigated this territory before you. In fact, homeschoolers are accepted and even sought out by some of the country’s finest universities because of the unique strengths they’ve gained through homeschooling. Employers appreciate the independence and emotional maturity that often characterize young adults who have been homeschooled. A strong academic foundation, creative problem solving, and independent thinking skills are just a few of the assets college admissions officers and employers frequently ascribe to homeschoolers.

If you’re thinking about homeschooling and your kids are in elementary or middle school, you don’t have to have this all figured out yet. Just be assured that there are lots of resources to support parents and high schoolers, there are lots of ways to earn the credits required to graduate, and there are lots of opportunities for young adults to become involved that will look great on a transcript, application, and resume.

If you do have a high schooler that you want to homeschool and you’d like more information on how to prepare your young adult for college or career after graduation, just click HERE.

At Christianbook, we carry best-selling homeschooling curricula and brands along with a huge selection of support materials and supplements, like math manipulatives, workbooks, sensory resources, and more. We also have Homeschool Curriculum Advisors on staff and to answer your questions about any of the homeschool products we carry. We go the extra mile to help, whether it’s looking at the product in our warehouse or contacting the publisher to get an answer. Homeschool Curriculum Advisors are available any time our phones are open, as well as by email. If you email, be sure to include the subject and grade level that you’re shopping for.

Our website is the most exhaustive source of the homeschool product we sell. But if you prefer to flip actual pages, our Homeschool Catalog is jam-packed with best-selling curricula and resources to make any homeschooler happy.

Contact Information for Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisors and Homeschool Catalog:

• Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisor phone number: 1-800-788-1221

• Click HERE to send an email to Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisors.

• Click HERE to request that a Christianbook Homeschool Catalog be mailed to you.

• Click HERE to view an online version of the Christianbook Homeschool Catalog.

Christianbook is currently an approved ClassWallet vendor for the following states: Arizona, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Utah.

What is ClassWallet?
ClassWallet is a company that uses digital wallet technology to streamline the purchase and reimbursement process for individuals and schools who have been approved for special funding through their State Education Department. Homeschoolers, families with special needs children, teachers and schools may be eligible for these funds.

There are two ways you may start the order process:

You may email us to request a quote. (customer.service@christianbook.com) Please include the quantity and stock numbers or titles/authors of the items you’d like to purchase from our site along with your full name, email address, phone number and shipping address. We’ll email you a quote that you may upload directly to your ClassWallet account for approval.

Or, you may add items directly to your Christianbook online shopping cart. Go through the check out process but stop at the Order Summary page. Upload an image of the Order Summary page to your ClassWallet account. Please make sure any applicable sales tax and shipping costs are included in your submission to ClassWallet. Once the order is approved, we’ll begin processing your order and email you order and shipping confirmations. Don’t submit your web order to us as that would duplicate the purchase. You may clear your cart once you’ve received your shipping confirmation email, so you’ll be ready for your next purchase.

How do I return a ClassWallet purchase?
Follow our return instructions on the back of your packing slip or click HERE to view them. Once your return is processed, we’ll inform ClassWallet that funds need to be returned to your account.

As you research and shop for curricula and and think about your school-year schedule, make sure that your decisions and choices are in compliance with the homeschooling laws and regulations for your state.

• In the US and Canada, each state or province regulates homeschooling in its own way. Some states are more homeschool-friendly than others. When thinking about homeschooling, it’s important for you to know the laws and regulations of your state. Do you need to contact your local school system? Do your children have to take standardized tests? What kind of end-of-year records do you need to submit?

• A simple way to find out this information is to visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website. This is an organization that has been advocating for homeschoolers for the past four decades. HSLDA has compiled the laws for every state and you can find summaries and details of those laws on their website. Once you know the regulations you need to follow, making the decision to homeschool may seem more achievable.

• Accredited books and curricula: homeschool curricula cannot be accredited but can be used by an accredited organization or program.

If you make the decision to homeschool a child who is already attending public school, you don’t need to wait for the school year’s end to begin your homeschooling program.

• You will want to start by officially withdrawing your child from their school. State requirements vary regarding the withdrawal process. It’s important to familiarize yourself with your state’s regulations and make sure you comply with them.

• When you withdraw your child from an educational setting especially after the school year has started, it’s important to give you and your child a chance to “de-school,” and take the time to work together to establish new routines and reconnect with your child’s interests and passions, maybe even take a break from formal academics. Plan field trips, read-alouds, unstructured free play, or time in nature. Use this season to observe your child, get to know their strengths and challenges, so you can identify strategies for helping them learn in a way that’s meaningful and that will help them thrive in their new environment.

• Homeschooling is not a permanent choice. Families can make the decision to homeschool or go to a traditional school on a yearly basis. Homeschooling might be the answer to your family’s circumstances right now. You can change your mind.

Homeschooling can be a lonely endeavor for both you and your children. Finding families and friends who homeschool can be challenging but it is an integral part of your support system. Also consider that not everyone in your support system needs to be a homeschooler. So take the time to find a community to become involved in and other parents and families that encourage each other and share interests. Here are a few ways to make connections.

• Visit your state’s homeschool organization page. These are private organizations run by veteran and current homeschoolers. Often you’ll find information on activities (like conventions, graduation events, field trips), co-ops, classes, and more. Advice from parents who’ve navigated the laws of your state is invaluable. Click HERE for a link to the current state organizations.

• Check out a homeschool convention in your area. Usually homeschool conventions happen once or twice a year, usually between March and June. At conventions you’ll find speakers on almost every homeschool topic, from how to teach different subjects to balancing instruction for multiple children. Conventions also often have a Vendor Hall, where you can look at curriculum from top homeschool and education publishers. Click HERE for a link to current homeschool conventions.

• Visit the library or playground when traditional schools are in session. If you meet school-aged children and parents there, they are probably a homeschool family.

• Check with museums, state parks, theaters, nature organizations for special homeschool programs. These can be great places to meet other homeschool families.

• Search social media for local homeschool events, field trips, and activities. Call churches in your area and ask if they have a support group for moms or parents or if any members are homeschoolers.

• Leadership and vocational organizations like 4H and National FFA Organization, Scouts, and others give homeschool children opportunities to connect with other young people with similar interests.

• The Homeschool Compass website offers support for your homeschool journey with how-to articles, encouragement, printables, booklists and reading lists, curricula suggestions and more.

There are many ways to educate your child, from unschooling to Classical, from Charlotte Mason to a traditional school format. You don’t need to choose a specific homeschool style in order to homeschool effectively, but knowing which style you gravitate toward will help you narrow down which resources and curricula will be a good fit for your family and what types of co-ops, activities, and support groups to consider. Also, remember that what works when your kids are in elementary school may not work when they are in middle school or high school. Allow yourself to be flexible. Lots of homeschoolers are eclectic, drawing from a few different styles, maybe even changing depending on the subject (math = traditional, science = Charlotte Mason), or the age of their child.

• Research different ways to homeschool. There are many resources online written by proponents of every style that explain how each style works. Christianbook carries titles written by experienced homeschoolers that can help you with this decision. Click HERE to see some of those titles.

• Create a comfortable learning environment for your kids. For some families, this is a reason to declutter and simplify their space. For other families, it means everyone gets a desk. And for others, maybe it’s floor pillows and bean bag chairs!

Auditory. Kinesthetic. Visual. Interpersonal. Logical. You’ve heard the terms that label children with specific learning styles. Now that you’re homeschooling, you can find the method that works best for your child, rather than settling for one-size-fits-some educational methodology.

• Observe your child and how they experience “lightbulb” moments, when understanding clicks and facts start to stick. How that happens could be clues into how your child learns best.

• Research different learning styles and the educational strategies and techniques that support it. Christianbook’s Homeschool Helps page has a number of books on Learning Styles.

A typical school year includes 180 days of instruction or a certain number of hours but be sure to check your state’s homeschool regulations for this information. You can break up these days however you wish. Some homeschoolers use a traditional school-year calendar, while other homeschoolers school year-round on a more relaxed schedule. Think about what works best for your family that keeps you in compliance with your state’s regulations. Also consider any special events that your family is expecting to happen, that you may want to schedule around.

You can find so much information about homeschool curricula and programs online that it can be overwhelming. If you visit Christianbook’s Homeschool webpage, you’ll find a lot of the same titles that you’ll be reading about during your research. We also have Homeschool Curriculum Advisors on staff and to answer your questions about any of the homeschool products we carry. We go the extra mile to help, whether it’s looking at the product in our warehouse or contacting the publisher to get an answer. Homeschool Curriculum Advisors are available any time our phones are open, as well as by email and Live Chat. If you email or use Live Chat, be sure to include the subject and grade level that you need and the names of any specific products if you’ve got some in mind. Our website is the most exhaustive source of the homeschool product we carry. But if you prefer to flip actual pages, our Homeschool Catalog is jam-packed with all the best-selling curricula and resources to make any homeschooler happy. Questions to ask yourself as you shop for curricula:

• Does this curriculum fit with my family’s values? Will it help us reach our long-term goals? What worldview is it written from? Does this program mesh with my overall homeschool philosophy?

• Is it parent-teacher friendly? Does the layout appeal to me as an instructor? Will it fit the learning style, personality, or special needs of my student?

• Does this program fit our budget? Will I be able to use this for more than one child? Do I need to buy extra books or materials?

• How much time will this curriculum take? Will this be a good fit for my family’s schedule?

• How much prep work will it require of me as the parent? Will this curriculum work well for the season of life we are in?

Contact Information for Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisors and Homeschool Catalog:

• Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisor phone number: 1-800-788-1221

• Click HERE to send an email to Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisors.

• Click HERE to request that a Christianbook Homeschool Catalog be mailed to you.

• Click HERE to view an online version of the Christianbook Homeschool Catalog.

As with anything important, it’s essential to stay organized and keep detailed records of what you do. There are many educational planners available that help you keep track of subjects; assignment, quiz, and test grades; field trips; and more. Click HERE if you’d like to check out the selection at Christianbook. These records are especially helpful if you live in a state that requires end-of-year reports. In high school, transcripts are critical for college applications or for resume-building if your student plans to enter the workforce after high school.

• Christianbook’s free Homeschool Planner is a printable resource with a calendar, weekly scheduling grids, report cards, reading logs, and other forms that help you keep track of essential information. It’s a great way to start your record-keeping system, especially if you’re not sure of what type of planner would best suit your needs.

• Grades: keep track of your child’s grades on assignments, quizzes, and tests throughout the year. It’s easier to find that midterm and final average if you record it right away, rather than trying to hunt down all the quizzes and tests months later to get average grades. Keep a record of the assignments that have been completed and the books that have been read.

• Transcripts: a high school transcript is a certified one-page document that records a student’s high school academic work. Colleges require transcripts during the application process, but even if your child is not going to college, it is a good idea to complete a high school transcript, in the event it’s needed for other purposes, like job applications, job promotions, or enlisting in a branch of the military. There are many resources and templates for high school transcripts. If this feels overwhelming, there are 3rd-party transcript services available, and HSLDA also offers transcript preparation.

• “After school” activities, hobbies, volunteer work, internships, employment, presentations, awards, athletics, involvement in art and music: it’s amazing how easy it is to forget the different day-to-day activities that your children participate in and the achievements that they earn. Keep a family diary of these details. You might be surprised to see how many accomplishments can become points on a transcript or application that reflect leadership, teamwork, skills, competencies, and evidence of reliability.

You and your high schooler will need to look for high school homeschool curricula that explain how to earn high school credits using the course and the number of credits that may be earned. Graduation requirements often include world language and lab-science courses, so keep those in mind when considering course workload.

A high school transcript will be essential to maintain all four years, so that your teenager has an official document showing the courses taken, and grades and credits earned. There are many resources and templates for high school transcripts, and there are 3rd-party transcript services available, such as HSLDA, which offers transcript preparation.

Collecting a comprehensive portfolio of work ((essays, lab reports, presentations, involvement in art and music, awards) as well as keeping track of “after school” activities, such as hobbies, volunteer work, internships, employment, and athletics is also a practical idea. You might be surprised to see how many accomplishments can become points on a transcript or application that reflect leadership, teamwork, skills, competencies, and evidence of reliability.

If your homeschooled teenager is college-bound, help them prepare for the college application and acceptance process and the rigors of college and university academics:

You may feel insecure in this area as you start down the homeschooling road, but the truth is many homeschool families have navigated this territory before you. In fact, homeschoolers are accepted and even sought out by some of the country’s finest universities because of the unique strengths they’ve gained through homeschooling. A strong academic foundation, creative problem solving, independent thinking skills, and emotional maturity are just a few of the assets college admissions officers frequently ascribe to homeschoolers.

An important step is to sign up for PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests during your student’s sophomore, junior, and senior years.

If your homeschooled teenager is career-bound, help them prepare for the workforce so they can begin a vocation after high school:

Employers can appreciate that most homeschooled students know how to develop inter-generational relationships, which is what we do as adults. In the workplace, in our neighborhoods, at church, and in our hobbies and clubs, not everyone is our age. As a homeschooler, your teenager has more opportunities to connect with the real world than students who are in school for six to eight hours a day, only associating with kids their own age. Grocery shopping during the day when the store employees are adults, visits to community homes, spending the day with older and younger siblings, social time with other homeschool families, and volunteer opportunities are just a few of the ways that homeschool kids can practice compassion, conflict resolution, and communication skills. Add creative problem solving, independent thinking skills, and emotional maturity and your child becomes an employee that a business will value.

Encourage your teenager to seek out internship opportunities in the field they are interested in. Months of day-to-day experiences in a job, especially at entry-level, will give your teen the real deal of what working in a particular career really means. This also provides the opportunity for networking with professionals, which may even lead to employment after high school.

For more details on preparing your homeschooled teenager for college and career, click HERE.

Christianbook is currently an approved ClassWallet vendor for the following states: Arizona, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Utah.

What is ClassWallet?
ClassWallet is a company that uses digital wallet technology to streamline the purchase and reimbursement process for individuals and schools who have been approved for special funding through their State Education Department. Homeschoolers, families with special needs children, teachers and schools may be eligible for these funds.

There are two ways you may start the order process:

You may email us to request a quote. (customer.service@christianbook.com) Please include the quantity and stock numbers or titles/authors of the items you’d like to purchase from our site along with your full name, email address, phone number and shipping address. We’ll email you a quote that you may upload directly to your ClassWallet account for approval.

Or, you may add items directly to your Christianbook online shopping cart. Go through the check out process but stop at the Order Summary page. Upload an image of the Order Summary page to your ClassWallet account. Please make sure any applicable sales tax and shipping costs are included in your submission to ClassWallet. Once the order is approved, we’ll begin processing your order and email you order and shipping confirmations. Don’t submit your web order to us as that would duplicate the purchase. You may clear your cart once you’ve received your shipping confirmation email, so you’ll be ready for your next purchase.

How do I return a ClassWallet purchase?
Follow our return instructions on the back of your packing slip or click HERE to view them. Once your return is processed, we’ll inform ClassWallet that funds need to be returned to your account.

Whether you’ve been homeschooling for years or just starting out, there will be seasons when you feel like you’re on your own. Overwhelmed with lesson planning or keeping up with checking your child’s work. Feeling like a failure because it appears your child isn’t making progress. Struggling to maintain positive relationships with your kids as their teacher and their parent. Most homeschooling parents have gone through these stages of insecurity and anxiety because of the high stakes of educating their children. Finding families and friends who homeschool can be challenging but it is an integral part of your support system. Also consider that not everyone in your support system needs to be a homeschooler. So take the time to find a community to become involved in and other parents and families that encourage each other and share interests. Here are a few ways to make connections.

• Search social media for local homeschool events, field trips, and activities.

• Visit the library or playground when traditional schools are in session. If you meet school-aged children and parents there, they are probably a homeschool family.

• Check with museums, state parks, theaters, nature organizations for special homeschool programs. These can be great places to meet other homeschool families.

• Call churches in your area and ask if they have a support group for moms or parents or if any members are homeschoolers.

• Visit your state’s homeschool organization page. These are private organizations run by veteran and current homeschoolers. Often, you’ll find information on activities (like conventions, graduation events, field trips), co-ops, classes, and more. Advice from parents who’ve navigated the laws of your state is invaluable. Click HERE for a link to the current state organizations.

• Check out a homeschool convention in your area. Usually homeschool conventions happen once or twice a year, usually between March and June. At conventions you’ll find speakers on almost every homeschool topic, from how to teach different subjects to balancing instruction for multiple children. Conventions also often have a Vendor Hall, where you can look at curriculum from top homeschool and education publishers. Click HERE for a link to current homeschool conventions.

• Leadership and vocational organizations like 4H and National FFA Organization, Scouts, and others give homeschool children opportunities to connect with other young people with similar interests.

• The Homeschool Compass website and blog offers support and encouragement for your homeschool journey with articles, printables, booklists and reading lists, curricula suggestions and more. Sign up for the HC weekly email newsletter and download the HC podcast with interviews from homeschool veterans and best-selling authors.

Stay on-track and organized throughout the year so your year-end reporting requirements are easy to put together and submit to the local or state authorities. There are many educational planners available that help you keep track of subjects; assignment, quiz, and test grades; field trips; and more. Click HERE if you’d like to check out the selection at Christianbook. In high school, transcripts are critical for college applications or resume-building if your student plans to enter the workforce after high school.

• Grades: keep track of your child’s grades on assignments, quizzes, and tests throughout the year. It’s easier to find that midterm and final average if you record it right away, rather than trying to hunt down all the quizzes and tests months later to get average grades. Keep a record of the assignments that have been completed and the books that have been read. Christianbook’s free Homeschool Planner is a printable resource with a calendar, weekly scheduling grids, report cards, reading logs, and other forms that help you keep track of essential information. It’s a great way to start your record-keeping system, especially if you’re not sure of what type of planner would best suit your needs.

• Transcripts: a high school transcript is a certified one-page document that records a student’s high school academic work. Colleges require transcripts during the application process, but even if your child is not going to college, it is a good idea to complete a high school transcript, in the event it’s needed for other purposes, like job applications, job promotions, or enlisting in a branch of the military. There are many resources and templates for high school transcripts. Transcripts have a common format that includes information about your homeschool, the courses your student completed, credits earned (including information on dual enrollment), and their GPA. It may be possible to also include additional pages with advanced reading lists, extra-curriculars, curricula, course, or co-op information, especially if the teachers have important degrees/qualifications. If this feels overwhelming, there are 3rd-party transcript services available, and HSLDA also offers transcript preparation.

• “After school” activities, hobbies, volunteer work, internships, employment, presentations, awards, athletics, involvement in art and music: it’s amazing how easy it is to forget the different day-to-day activities that your children participate in and the achievements that they earn. Keep a family diary of these details. You might be surprised to see how many accomplishments can become points on a transcript or application that reflect leadership, teamwork, skills, competencies, and evidence of reliability.

Is it February and the curriculum that you were so enthusiastic about is now draining, boring, or too much work? Does the curriculum seem to be moving too quickly or too slowly for your child? Have your family’s circumstances changed and now the teacher prep time is overwhelming? Before throwing it all out and starting something new, ask a few questions and try to evaluate what’s really going on.

• Do you need to replace all your curricula or is there just one program in one subject that needs to change? Assess your and your child’s comfort level with each curriculum that you’re using to determine where the trouble lies.

• Are you tired? Do you and your child need to take a break and de-school for a little while? Try replacing seatwork and assignments with videos, field trips, read-alouds, and hands-on projects that are topical. This may be enough to refresh your spirits so you can finish the year strong without replacing anything.

• Is the curriculum moving too quickly or too slowly? Try supplementing with workbooks, games, lapbooks, unit studies, or online resources such as video lessons, printables, and online quiz apps. This takes a little more teacher prep time to hunt down these resources, but it may save you time and money. Christianbook has a wide selection of sensory resources, educational games, and workbooks. If the lessons move too quickly, you may just need to add more days to each chapter or unit and take the time to help your student with the lesson content. It’s more important that they understand what they’re learning, than that they finish the book. Remember, in traditional school, teachers often do not finish the textbook.

• Is the teacher prep and lesson planning more than you expected or is it too much right now? It may be time to slow down, and only focus on two or three activities per lesson instead of including every point in every lesson. Perhaps periodically replace a few lessons with a subject-specific workbook or supplement. Or, is it possible for your spouse to help with planning or teaching lessons? This may become an opportunity to make homeschooling a family endeavor. Another option is to check for pre-made lesson plans for the curriculum you have. There are 3rd party lesson resources for some popular curricula.

If you’ve decided that it’s time to change to a new curriculum, click on the next FAQ, "Changing It Up, Part 2."

If you’ve decided that it’s time to change to a new curriculum, here are some questions to consider as you choose replacement materials. Researching your curricula options online, you’ll be able to find product descriptions, reviews, sample pages, and more. Christianbook’s Homeschool Curriculum Advisors are also available to help answer your product questions.

• If your old curriculum was moving too quickly or too slowly, make sure that your replacement will meet your student at their level. Try to determine grade level, as that would be the easiest way to determine the resources to buy. Your child may be at different grade levels, depending on the subject, so now’s your chance to fine-tune your child’s learning materials to exactly what they need.

• Remember that the curriculum that worked for your child one year, may not work another year. As a child matures and develops, the way they learn may also change. If your old curriculum was causing your child to be anxious and overwhelmed or bored and inattentive, their learning style may have changed. This is your opportunity to switch to a program that can engage your child in the way they learn best. If you’ve identified learning challenges that your child has, now’s the time to switch to a program that has the right techniques and learning strategies to help them grow.

• Be sure to make sure that the new curriculum fits with your family’s values and worldview and helps you reach the long-term goals you have for your child.

• If you’re changing curriculum to reduce teacher prep and lesson planning, look for a new program that has a comprehensive teacher manual or guide and that those resources have a layout and structure that appeal to you as an instructor.

• "Deschooling" before starting a new program may help you and your child reset and restore curiosity, imagination, and energy. A deschooling day can include field trips, nature walks, craft or building projects, creative time for you and your child to garden together or spend time cooking or baking. Your child may enjoy reading through a huge stack of picture books with historical or scientific themes, beautiful literature, or beginning readers of classic literature. This can be a time to encourage drawing, sketching, painting on paper tablet or a computer tablet. An online class that your child is interested in or an internship/mentorship for your teen are other opportunities to use this time wisely.

• Consider that homeschool co-op classes, dual enrollment college classes, internships, long-running hands-on projects, and online courses or academies may fulfill the educational requirement for a subject. You may be able to sign up for classes at your local high school. As a tax-payer you are still contributing to the school even if your child does not attend. Lab facilities, wood or automotive shops, chorus and band classes, and robotics classes are several examples of how the local high school can provide your child with experiences that will help them prepare for either college or career once they graduate high school.

If you homeschool for any length of time, you will experience situations that challenge and disrupt your homeschool routine and schedule. You don’t have to give up homeschooling, but you will need to get creative. When it happens, be prepared for your homeschool life to change and function differently than it did before.

• Give yourself and your family time to adjust to the new normal. Do not feel anxious about missed lessons or assignments. It may be time to unschool temporarily (if that’s not your usual style). Find resources that can be implemented easily at the grade level or on the topics that your children are working on, such as high quality workbooks, lapbook kits, and living books.

• Re-evaluate your expectations as to how much you can accomplish. Zero in on what is truly essential, keeping your long-range goals in mind. Prioritize the subjects and activities that most directly contribute to that vision.

• Do tiny, bite-sized lessons every day over a long period of time. If you work in each subject area for just 15 minutes a day, you can make significant progress over the course of several months.

• Change locations. Homeschool doesn’t have to happen at the kitchen table or at a desk. Trapped for long hours in the car while driving to medical appointments? Listen to audio books, educational podcasts, or even classical music on the radio. Stuck on bed rest for the rest of your pregnancy? Put materials in a basket nearby, and let your children climb into bed with you so you can read to them or go over lessons.

• Ask for help. If you are in crisis, this is an opportunity to learn to receive help graciously. Begin voicing specific needs to trusted friends and family members. You probably have loved ones who would like to help but aren’t sure how. Be honest with the safe people in your life. No matter how unusual your circumstance, you are not alone.

Homeschooled teenagers are accepted by some of the country’s finest universities because of the unique strengths they’ve gained through homeschooling. A strong academic foundation, creative problem solving, independent thinking skills, and emotional maturity are just a few of the assets college admissions officers frequently ascribe to homeschoolers. Homeschool students often place higher on ACT and SAT tests than their private and public school peers. Here are some tips for preparing your college-bound high school student.

• Look for high school homeschool curricula that explain how to earn high school credits using the course and the number of credits that may be earned.

• Familiarize yourself and your teen with the typical high school course requirements for college and for the major/course of study that your teen wants to pursue. A science and engineering-bound student will benefit from different high school courses and electives than a student interested in journalism, English, or History. Consider classes at the local community college for either high school or dual enrollment credits.

• A high school homeschool student is usually an independent learner. A lot of high school homeschooling curricula are written to the student. While parents still monitor assignments and grade quizzes, and tests, the student manages their schedule and workload and is responsible for reading (or watching) and completing their lessons on a daily basis. This prepares high schoolers for college, where professors expect students to be accountable for completing readings, assignments, papers, labs, etc. on time.

• Throughout high school, collect a comprehensive portfolio of work (essays, lab reports, presentations, involvement in art and music, awards) and personal letters of recommendation from tutors, coaches, or co-op instructors. Include “after school” activities, such as hobbies, volunteer work, internships, employment, and athletics. You might be surprised to see how many accomplishments can become points on an application that reflect leadership, teamwork, skills, competencies, and evidence of reliability.

• Sign up for PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests during your student’s sophomore, junior, and senior years. You should be able to find a testing facility (usually the local high school) close to your area. Note that some colleges are moving toward “test optional” applications processes.

• Most graduation requirements include 2 years of a lab-science, which means that the science course has a large hands-on component. This could mean the course includes traditional labs and lab reports or it could mean that your student completes a long-running hands-on project that shows their comprehension of the material.

• World languages (usually two years) and electives are also important parts of the high school experience. Your student may want to use the typical text/workbook method for a year or find an immersive experience. Be sure to check the homeschool high school regulations for your state to make sure you’re in compliance.

• Be sure to maintain a high school transcript. This is a certified one-page document that records a student’s high school academic work. Colleges require transcripts during the application process. There are many resources and templates for high school transcripts. If this feels overwhelming, there are 3rd-party transcript services available, and HSLDA also offers transcript preparation.

• Look for homeschool co-op classes, dual enrollment college classes, long-running hands-on projects, and classes at your local high school that fall into the interest-area or career that your student is considering. Lab facilities, wood or automotive shops, chorus and band classes, and robotics classes are examples of how the local high school can provide your child with experiences that will help them prepare for college.

Employers can appreciate that most homeschooled students know how to develop inter-generational relationships, which is what we do as adults. In the workplace, in our neighborhoods, at church, and in our hobbies and clubs, not everyone is our age. As a homeschooler, your teenager has more opportunities to connect with the real world than students who are in school for six to eight hours a day, only associating with kids their own age. Grocery shopping during the day, visits to community homes, spending the day with older and younger siblings, social time with other homeschool families, and volunteer opportunities are just a few of the ways that homeschool kids can practice compassion, conflict resolution, and communication skills. Add creative problem solving, independent thinking skills, and emotional maturity and your child becomes an employee that a business will value.

• Look for high school homeschool curricula that explain how to earn high school credits using the course and the number of credits that may be earned.

• A high school homeschool student is usually an independent learner. A lot of high school homeschooling curricula are written to the student. That means that while parents still monitor assignments and grade quizzes, and tests, the student manages their schedule and workload and is responsible for reading (or watching) and completing their daily lessons.

• Encourage your teenager to seek out internship opportunities in the field they are interested in. Months of day-to-day experiences in a job, especially at entry-level, will give your teen an idea of what working in a particular career really means. There may also be opportunities for networking with professionals, which may even lead to employment after high school.

• Prepare a high school transcript for your teenager. A high school transcript is a certified one-page document that records a student’s high school academic work. Your young adult will need it for job applications, job promotions, or enlisting in a branch of the military. There are many resources and templates for high school transcripts. If this feels overwhelming, there are 3rd-party transcript services available, and HSLDA also offers transcript preparation.

• Throughout the four years of high school, collect a comprehensive portfolio of work (essays, lab reports, presentations, involvement in art and music, awards) and personal letters of recommendation from tutors, coaches, or co-op instructors. Include “after school” activities, such as hobbies, volunteer work, internships, employment, and athletics. You might be surprised to see how many accomplishments can become points on a transcript or application that reflect leadership, teamwork, skills, competencies, and evidence of reliability.

• Most graduation requirements include 2 years of a lab-science, which means that the science course has a large hands-on component. This could mean the course includes traditional labs and lab reports or it could mean that your student completes a long-running hands-on project that shows their comprehension of the material.

• World languages (usually two years) and electives are also important parts of the high school experience. Your student may want to use the typical text/workbook method for a year or find an immersive experience. Be sure to check the homeschool high school regulations for your state to make sure you’re in compliance.

• Look for homeschool co-op classes, dual enrollment college classes, long-running hands-on projects, and classes at your local high school that fall into the interest-area or career that your student is considering. Lab facilities, wood or automotive shops, chorus and band classes, and robotics classes are examples of how the local high school can provide your child with experiences that will help them prepare for a career after high school.

We have Homeschool Curriculum Advisors on staff and to answer your questions about any of the homeschool products we carry. We go the extra mile to help, whether it’s looking at the product in our warehouse or contacting the publisher to get an answer. Homeschool Curriculum Advisors are available any time our phones are open, as well as by email and Live Chat. If you email or chat, be sure to include the subject and grade level that you’re shopping for.

Our website is the most exhaustive source of the homeschool product we sell. But if you prefer to flip actual pages, our Homeschool Catalog is jam-packed with best-selling curricula and resources to make any homeschooler happy.

Contact Information for Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisors and Homeschool Catalog:

• Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisor phone number: 1-800-788-1221

• Click HERE to send an email to Christianbook's Homeschool Curriculum Advisors.

• Look for the "Live Chat Available" box on the Christianbook website.

• Click HERE to request that a Christianbook Homeschool Catalog be mailed to you.

• Click HERE to view an online version of the Christianbook Homeschool Catalog.