Your First Year of Homeschool
The first year is not about becoming a master teacher. It is about becoming a consistent one — showing up most days with a plan your child can predict and you can repeat without reinventing everything nightly.
This guide walks through the first 90 days in order. Skip what you have already done. Do not skip filing or records.
Before day one: legal checklist
| Task | Done? |
|---|---|
| File Letter of Intent with county | ☐ |
| Withdraw from public school if applicable (district process) | ☐ |
| Create portfolio folder (physical or cloud) | ☐ |
| Mark annual evaluation month on calendar | ☐ |
| Download first-year checklist | ☐ |
Florida details: requirements guide · complete first-year Florida blog
Days 1–14: launch soft
Goal: rhythm, not rigor.
- Pick a start time (same window daily ±30 min)
- Teach short lessons — 15–20 min per subject max at first
- Use one curriculum or structured free samples — not random printables
- End on a win; do not cram
Try Homeschool Complete free lessons before buying a full year. Faith-based and secular options; Ocala-based curriculum company (not a school).
Tell your child what is changing: “We are learning at home now. School happens after breakfast.”
Weeks 3–6: full curriculum live
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 3 | Add science + social studies to weekly rotation |
| 4 | First portfolio samples — photo or scan dated work |
| 5 | Adjust timing (morning vs afternoon) based on energy |
| 6 | One field trip or project day — log it in portfolio |
Roadmap: K–5 curriculum hub · choosing curriculum
When lessons fight you: change time of day before changing curriculum. Hungry, tired kids look like curriculum failures.
Weeks 7–12: your normal
- Add one enrichment (library, co-op, sport) — not five
- Join free community; ask one specific question
- Review portfolio — do you have 2+ samples per subject?
- Read evaluation requirements — book evaluator early if needed
Sample first-year daily schedule (2nd grade)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30–9:00 | Reading / phonics lesson |
| 9:00–9:30 | Math |
| 9:30–9:45 | Break |
| 9:45–10:15 | Spelling / handwriting |
| 10:15–10:45 | Science OR social studies (alternate days) |
| Friday PM | Review games + library |
Working parents: see working moms guide for split-day version.
Curriculum recommendation
Homeschool Complete — open-and-go K–5, daily lesson plans, unit studies, faith-based or secular.
About partner · Florida curriculum page
When to ask for help
| Signal | Action |
|---|---|
| Child cries daily at one subject | Placement issue — try lower level samples |
| You dread every morning | Simplify to core four only for two weeks |
| Isolation | Community login |
| Legal confusion | Florida parents hub |