How to Start Homeschooling Mid-Year

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On: December 15, 2020

Are you jumping into homeschooling mid-year and not sure how or where to start? Or are you switching from a different curriculum to The Good and the Beautiful mid-year? It definitely can feel overwhelming to leave what’s familiar and start something new in the middle of a school year. So, where do you begin? This short video will show you!

Can I Start Homeschooling Mid-Year?

Yes! Homeschooling is a natural way of teaching and learning and can fit into any family's lifestyle. It is very easy to begin homeschooling at any time of year. We created a step-by-step page to help each family choose courses that best fit their needs.

Keep reading this blog for more information about getting started mid-year and then visit our Get Started Homeschooling page for guidance in choosing courses.

Know Your State's Homeschool Requirements

Before you get started, take a moment to look into your state's specific homeschool requirements. Laws vary from state to state and dictate things like testing, recordkeeping, and how many days of instruction are required each year. Don't let this step intimidate you, for most families find it much more manageable than expected. Your local homeschool community is a wonderful place to start if you have additional questions, and you can browse the HSDLA website to find up-to-date information.

Give Your Child Time to Transition

If you have a child that has spent a while in mainstream public school, it can be helpful to allow them a short adjustment period. Many families call this "deschooling," which just means having a brief time to decompress, reconnect, and find your home-learning rhythm before the structured school day begins.

Wondering how long this should be? A helpful guideline is roughly one month of gentle transition time for every year your child spent in traditional school. Spend this time together doing something you love: reading aloud, exploring nature, baking, or simply following wherever your child's curiosity leads. This isn't lost time. It's laying a foundation of trust and love for learning before the more structured curriculum begins.

You know better than anyone that all kids are different, and not every child needs a long transition. But if yours seems a little anxious or unsure at first, give them grace. A gentle start almost always makes everything that follows feel lighter and more joyful.

Language Arts & Math

To start homeschooling mid-year, you’ll need to decide your children’s levels for math and language arts. Math and language arts are the only core subjects taught at your child’s individual levels with The Good and the Beautiful curriculum. The other core subjects, science and history, are taught family style.

To find your children’s levels for language arts and math, just visit this page where you will find simple placement tests for both our language arts and math courses, as well as reading levels.

Where Do I Start Mid-Year?

So, if you start mid-year, how do you finish a whole math or language arts course book by the end of the year? Do you start from Lesson 1, or start partway through the book? Here are two suggestions:

Start on Lesson 1 and just go through the book at a regular pace if it appears the child does not have the material mastered. It is okay not to finish a full course book by the end of the school year. It is better to leave no holes in the foundation of your child’s education.
Another option is to start on Lesson 1 and complete more than one lesson a day. This is a good option if the child seems to have some of the material mastered but not all of it. In this scenario, do the parts of each lesson you feel your child needs and skip the others. This can allow you to do two lessons per day.

History & Science

Our history and science family-style lessons are ideal for starting homeschool mid-year.

Science

For science, choose any science unit study and complete just two lessons a week with your third-grade through eighth-grade children.

After the 40- to 45-minute lesson, packed with fun activities and varied learning, your children in grades seven and eight will complete a 15-minute extension lesson that digs into the topic further.

Most unit studies last one to two months, so you might want to grab two or more science units to finish out the school year.

For younger children in grades preschool through second grade, have fun exploring science concepts and activities with Science for Little Hearts and Hands.

High schoolers explore the beauty and wonder of the living world with High School Biology.

History

For history, simply purchase the History 1 course set and go through a family-style lesson twice each week. Again, there are lesson extensions for older children.

You don’t have to finish the whole history course by the end of the school year—just pick up where you ended the following school year.

Common Concerns of Homeschooling

Finding the time to homeschool can appear daunting, but don't worry. We've compiled a simple video titled How to Organize a Homeschool Day to walk you through helpful tips and finding an approach to fit your unique family.

Homeschool Schedule
As a general rule, know that homeschooling can fit around your schedule, even for those who are working parents! Some families homeschool year-round and take larger breaks at various times. Others stick to the traditional September through May or June schedule because it’s what works best for them. Weekends or evenings can also be used for schoolwork. It’s up to you!
We’ve developed sample schedules and a video dedicated specifically to this topic.

Socialization

Socialization is a concern for many new homeschool families, especially if starting homeschooling mid-year! There are many opportunities for children to spend time with their peers and those of all ages.

Look into homeschool co-ops, community sports and music groups, art classes, and so on. Do a search online for a group or activities near you. There are tons of ways to connect with other homeschoolers in your area, and with the rapid growth of homeschooling, choices and opportunities are increasing every day!

For more socializing ideas, check out these Good and Beautiful blog posts!

Homeschool Room

Lastly, let’s talk about space. One of the biggest pitfalls new families can stumble into is thinking they need to replicate a public school classroom at home. You don’t need a dedicated homeschool room to be successful!

Our founder, Jenny Phillips, does not have a homeschool room. She homeschools her children around the kitchen table, on the couch, on the lawn, or even at the park. For some families, a separate room may work, and for others, the kitchen table is the perfect place for lessons! Many of our customers utilize a roll-away cart, small closet, or bookshelf to hold their supplies.

Homeschool Help

We will help you every step of the way on your brave new journey to start homeschooling or begin using a new curriculum! We have many resources on this blog and our website, including hundreds of FAQs! The Good and the Beautiful customer support team is always happy to help as well. They can be reached at support@goodandbeautiful.com.

We are excited for you to join The Good and the Beautiful homeschooling family and can’t wait for you and your family to dive into good and beautiful learning!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Starting Homeschooling Mid-Year

Can you start homeschooling midway through the year?

Yes! You can start at any point in the year. In the US homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. You do not need to wait for a new school year or semester to begin.

Do I need to follow the traditional school calendar?

Not at all. One of the wonderful freedoms of homeschooling is that you set the calendar. The Good and the Beautiful curriculum is built around a 30-week schedule, which means you can start at any time and still complete a full year of learning.

What if my child falls behind by starting mid-year?

This is one of the most common worries, but it shouldn’t be. Because homeschooling is tailored to each child individually, most families find their children actually do better once they begin. Meet your child where they are and start where they are comfortable, and then you can build from there at exactly the right pace for them.

How do I withdraw my child from their current school?

The process varies by state. In most cases, you'll need to submit a written withdrawal notice to your child's school and, depending on your state, file a Notice of Intent to homeschool with your local school district. See our "Know Your State's Requirements" section above and visit the HSLDA website for state-specific guidance.

16 comments

Astrid Tufte

Need some help

My daughter is 4 and a half years old and I would like to start homeschooling her myself. IDK What to follow or how to know she know what she needs to know at her age!

please help
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The Good and the Beautiful replied:
Hello! We’re so happy you found us! Each state has different rules and regulations for what is required for homeschooling. We would highly suggest looking into the requirements for your state. You can learn more about how to get started and what is available on our website, here: https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/pages/switch-to-homeschool

Luisa Silva

My baby is 18 months old. I would like to start doing some teaching at home. Is this program appropriate for his age?
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The Good and the Beautiful replied:
Hi Luisa! We’re so happy you found us! We have many resources for the youngest learners! When you and your child are ready, we offer our Preschool Language Arts Course Set where your child will be introduced to letters, sounds, numbers, counting, fine motor skills, and much more. Interactive activities and games included in every open-and-go lesson provide a strong learning foundation for children ages 3 and older. Learn more at our website, here: https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/pages/choose-littles

Sarah

What age do you start homeschooling?
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The Good and the Beautiful replied:
Thank you for your interest, Sarah! Children as young as 3 years old have had success with our Preschool course. We hope you love it!

https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/pages/choose-littles

Christina Brodie

Considering homeschooling for the winter months
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The Good and the Beautiful replied:
Hi Christina! We are glad you found us and happy to help you get started with all we have to offer! Have you already found our interactive guide? It is available on our website at the link below. This will help you navigate what products are needed and what is typically used for each age group.

https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/get-started/

Corine

I am the mother of a 5 year old girl originally was in prek . But we moved and her school is full so I would like to start with homeschool.