Where to Start for Homeschooling?

www.hslda.org (click on "You can homeschool" to get started and learn requirements in your state and where to get legal support)
http://homeschoolcentral.com/support/texas_homeschool.htm (resource for laws in state, legal support, lobby support and to find a support group and co-op in your area)
http://www.balancingthesword.com/homeschool/conventions/c... (huge curriculum fair and workshops on getting started in TX)
http://www.balancingthesword.com/homeschool/conventions/c... (more ways to find curriculum, attend getting started workshops, finding a support group and co-op in TX)
http://homeschooltravel.net/HomeschoolConventions.html (listing of conventions nationwide)
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/HomeschoolConventions.php
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/ (resources on what you need to teach
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/
http://books.coreknowledge.org/home.php?cat=298 (preschool/elementary curriculum and guidelines)
http://coreknowledge.org/

Check with your local school district. They probably have something on their website about where to get materials, testing requirements, etc. Also check with your state's website for requirements.

I have a friend who homeschools, there are also online schools which you could use to help structure your curriculum.

Start with HSLDA's website (Homeschool Legal Defense Association). They're nationwide and the site can tell you what your state laws are regarding homeschooling. That's the first thing you need to know since you need to be armed with the information before you turn to the school district. It will also give you ideas about where to begin academically. Every state is different, but in Virginia, you don't even have to have a curriculum, you can just submit the state SOL's as proof that you are aware of the level your child should be performing at. At the end of the year, you just have to submit proof of progress like the CAT or something similar. At any rate, understanding the legal limits and boundaries you're working with in your state is the absolute first step.

As for a typical day...that question would make every homeschooler I know laugh out loud (definitely not trying to be rude :) It's just that there is no such thing as a TYPICAL homeschooler. Most of us are in this because it allows us to highly customize our children's educations, thus, there is no norm. Do what works for you. Personally, we spend about an hour a day each on math and writing, which we use separate curricula for. We fit in science when we come across it (which is quite often if you know what to look for) with no set curriculum yet since he's only in 4th grade. I don't fiddle with reading because my son is already 3 grade levels ahead in that, so I just require that he have a book in progress at any given time. We go on tons of fun field trips with other homeschooling families to agument everything else. We've got a telescope and are learning about astronomy when we have time and the weather is good enough. We belong to a great homeschooling group so we do some exterior classes like civil engineering and electronic game design etc... in essence, the way we homeschool is a bit of a mish-mash, but it meets his needs in accordance with each individual subject since he's at different levels in all of them. If you're nervous about where to start though, you may want to have your children evaluated and placed and their learning styles analyzed. It'll give you some idea of what they will need from you.

Best of luck.

Go to a homeschooling board... and you'll find 300 answers of a typical day... NONE of them the same. ((One of the great benefits is being able to arrange your schedule as is best for you and your family)). I can say that most do 2-4 hours of school max per day. Unless you're special needs homeschooling, it takes very little time to stay "caught up" with the local public/private schools gradelevel wise.

Where to START?
- Philosophy (montessori, charlotte mason, well trained mind, unschooling, school-at-home, classical, unit studies, waldorf, enki, cyber, eclectic...etc.) http://www.homeschooldiner.com/guide/intro/main.html

- Learning Style (audial, visual, spatial, etc.) Here's one of many available resources

- Teaching Style

- Local Laws (Ha. You're in Tx. AKA the state every other HS'er is jealous of. LOVE. The Governor of Texas says: "In Texas, we view home schooling as something to be respected and protected - respected for the energy and commitment of parents; protected from the interference of government. Texas does not index or monitor home school programs.")

There're some really phenom homeschool groups on http://groups.yahoo.com/

I started by researching homeschooling through our libraries inter-library loan network. First, I looked for the high-rated homeschooling books on Amazon, then I went onto my libraries website and placed requests for as many books as I could find. I found some books more informative than others, but it definitely educated me on different approaches to homeschooling and different techniques to use as well as ideas for educational materials, etc.

Of course, I first interviewed the few folks I knew who home-schooled, but surprisingly, the method that I chose is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the methods they use - mostly, because I wanted to choose a method that I felt would be enjoyable. I want home-schooling to be fun - for me and my child.

I just asked this last week if you want to look at my question. I got a lot of good info. Good luck!!!