New to Homeschooling

Resources, Ideas and Links for the Newcomer to Homeschooling in Arizona

Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family?

Try some of the following ideas to find your answer:

  1. Check out homeschool books from the local library or read articles about homeschooling online. Two good web pages to start with are:
  1. Attend our Park Day and talk with other homeschool families. How do they homeschool? What materials do they use? What problems do they encounter?

  2. Read or join homeschool email message boards. There are a lot of these and they provide different types of support and information. Try choosing one from the following websites:
  1. Call or email the County and request a homeschool packet. Visit the county website for contact information.

  2. Call local schools (public, private, charter) and ask to visit during class. Speak with a teacher or the principle to find out more about the school.

  3. Try homeschooling for the summer.

You've decided to homeschool.

Now what?

  1. Notify the county that you have decided to homeschool by sending in a signed, notarized affidavit along with a copy of your child’s birth certificate. You will receive an affidavit if you request a homeschool packet from the county. You can also download a printable affidavit here. To view Arizona homeschooling laws, visit http://www.afhe.org/az_law.htm

  2. Decide on a homeschooling method. There are different styles or methods of homeschooling. Decide which one best fits your family and individual children. Remember, your methods may change as you become more experienced and discover what actually works for your family. To learn more about the different homeschooling methods, try the following:
  • Check out books at the local library or read articles online. One good place to start: Methods and Styles Directory

  • Talk to other homeschooling families about how they homeschool. Attend a Park Day. Join or read message boards as mentioned in step 3 above. There are even specific message boards for different methods.
  1. Choose and acquire the materials you will use. Depending on your method of homeschooling, you may want to purchase a complete packaged curriculum, mix different types of curriculum and other resources, or just use the library and resources you find around your home and online. To find out more about teaching/learning materials, try the following:
  • Check out books at the bookstore or library. If they don’t have a particular book at your local library, you can request books from other libraries in the county. If a book is not available in Cochise County, you can request that your local branch acquire the book from a library outside the county.

  • Browse web pages for curriculum recommendations or free online lessons, reference materials, etc. Here's one place to start: Curriculum Shopping

  • Attend the Arizona Home Education Convention and Curriculum Fair in Phoenix. Click here for more information.

  • Browse through curriculum and teaching supply catalogs. Most are free and can be requested by phone or website. Click here to start.