Are you suddenly homeschooling? Are you wondering what to do? Did you pull a child out of public school due to health, safety, or educational reasons once school began? I’m seeing an increasing number of posts in my local Facebook groups from parents in this very situation. If you’re one of these parents, first of all take a deep breath. You’ve got this!

In this post I’m going to answer the frequently asked questions people have when they are suddenly homeschooling.

Do I Need to Buy Curriculum Right Away?

No, you don’t need to buy any curriculum right away. It’s also not necessary to rush into formal studies when you’ve pulled a kid out of school unexpectedly. They need some time to decompress from the stress they were under at school. They need to deschool for a bit.

You also need some time to figure out what meets your budget and your preferences. Most people already have a variety of books, materials, and supplies on hand that can be used in homeschooling. You probably have at least one computer, a television, Internet service, streaming services, and a library card; all of which can be used to educate your children.

The most important thing to do when you bring your child home from school is to find out your state’s homeschooling rules and regulations and follow them.

No-Cost/Low-Cost Homeschooling

If you are suddenly homeschooling, you may not have had time or funds to purchase curriculum. Fortunately there are many no-cost or low-cost resources for all ages and grade levels.

Khan Academy has courses for students from kindergarten to high school They’re a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.

Crash Course has forty-five video courses in a variety of subject areas for learners in junior high and high school. They believe that high quality educational videos should be available to everyone for free.

Crash Course Kids is a bi-weekly show on YouTube from the producers of Crash Course that offers free grade school science.

Starfall Education is a subscription site that offers language arts and mathematics for Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.

Prodigy Math offers free online math for 1st through 8th grade.

Outschool is an educational platform that offers a variety of engaging, small-group classes online for kindergarten through high school at a variety of price points. You can find anything from traditional school subjects to social clubs to special education, and more.

Utilizing these types of resources to teach your child will give you time to learn how your child learns best, research various curricula, decide on a teaching approach, and get your bearings.

Do I Need a Schoolroom?

You don’t need a special room set up for homeschooling. Most homeschooling is done in the living room, at the dining room table, or in the child’s room. Since homeschooling is a learning lifestyle, your schoolroom is anywhere you and your children are. If you have a room in your home that you want to use as a schoolroom it’s helpful, but not at all necessary to be a successful homeschooler.

Do I Need to Join a Co-op?

Homeschool co-ops are wonderful resources for helping families teach a variety of subjects and for socialization. We belonged to co-op for several years and really enjoyed it. However, incorporating homeschooling into your lifestyle takes time. It’s not necessary to join a co-op and I don’t recommend joining a co-op for new homeschoolers. High-commitment activities such as co-ops can add a lot of stress to your life when you’re just getting used to homeschooling. I do, however, highly recommend getting plugged in with local homeschoolers by going to park days or other social events. I’ve had very good success finding these groups through Facebook.

Can I Work and Homeschool?

Many parents want to homeschool but are concerned that they won’t be able to because they have to work. I’ve worked and homeschooled for most of the 32 years that I have home educated my children. I’ve worked outside the home and from home, so it’s doable regardless of your work situation. The great thing about homeschooling is, unlike public school, in most states you aren’t required to homeschool on a public school schedule. We’ve homeschooled in the evening, on weekends, or on a 4-day school week depending on my work schedule. I’ve become a time management expert over the years as a working, homeschooling mom.

What if My Child Has Special Needs or Learning Disabilities?

The good news is that homeschooling can be very helpful for kids with special needs. It’s much easier to accommodate one student in the home setting than it is for a classroom teacher to do in a classroom.

The Happy Homeschooler Podcast has episodes on homeschooling kids with dyslexia, kids with learning challenges, kids with ADHD, and more. If you suspect that your child has an undiagnosed learning disability, Everything You Need to Know About Learning Disability Testing is another very helpful Happy Homeschooler Podcast episode.

The Takeaway

You can homeschool successfully even when you find yourself suddenly homeschooling. You don’t have to delay in bringing your child home just because you don’t have all of your ducks in a row. There’s a lot you can do to teach your child before you spend one penny on homeschool curriculum. As Nike advises, “Just do it!” I’m rooting for you and wishing you all the best! Happy Homeschooling!