The following comes from a PDF document written by the people at Creation.com:

1. Discuss With Your Spouse: Educating your child at home is a huge decision and should be one that is made with your spouse. Do not begin unless you are in agreement about this decision. You will need the support of your spouse not only at the beginning, but also throughout the year.
2. Research the Homeschool Laws Applicable in your Area: Be fully aware of the legal requirements before you begin and especially before you take a child out of public school. For the U.S., each state’s legal requirements can be found on the www.HomeschoolLegal.com website. Internationally, refer to www.HSLDA.org.
3. Research Styles of Home Education: There is no single right way to educate your child at home; however, there are many differing philosophies you may want to consider.

• Charlotte Mason: Based on a method introduced by nineteenth-century educator Charlotte Mason, this approach includes nature studies/journaling, narration, and living books.
• Classical: Based on Dorothy Sayers’ The Lost Tools of Learning, in which child development is broken up into three “stages” of learning commonly called “the Trivium.”
• Delight Directed: This puts the learning in the hands of the child, based on his or her interests. Parents help facilitate this type of learning with appropriate instructional materials.
• Eclectic: A mix of philosophies and curricula to accommodate each child’s abilities and interests. Parents choose from any method or style only those components that fit their specific needs.
• The Principle Approach: An approach based on the principles of our Founding Fathers and an emphasis on God’s Word as the basis for every subject.
• Traditional Textbook: Normally uses a full-range, packaged, textbook-type curriculum that also may include a scope and sequence, testing, and recordkeeping.
• Unit Studies: All or most core subjects are covered while studying any one topic or unit of study, using a variety of resources and supplemental activities.
• Unschooling: A relaxed setting where learning is directed by the child. Parts of this philosophy are based on research by John Taylor Gatto and John Holt.

4. Find Support: After finding your style of choice (or a mix of more than one choice), you may want to choose a support group that reflects that specific style or just a general homeschool support group in your area. Meeting with other home educators offers encouragement as well as knowledge and assistance with your homeschool questions. Often, organized classes or activities for your children are offered through support groups as well. For information about homeschool support groups in your area, check these listings:

• U.S.
  • www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com/Homeschool_Nations/State_Listings.php
  • www.HomeschoolLegal.com
• UK:
  • http://www.home-service.org/
  • http://www.heas.org.uk/
• New Zealand:
  • http://www.che.org.nz/
  • http://hef.org.nz/
  • http://www.ahe.org.nz/
  • http://www.homeschoolers.wellington.net.nz/
  • http://community.library.org.nz/cgi-bin/display.pl?id=296
• Guam:
  • www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/guam
  • http://www.tumon.com/ghsa
• Australia:
  • http://www.hea.asn.au/hea/
• Canada:
  • www.shbe.info
  • www.machs.mb.ca
  • www.aheaonline.com
  • http://nshea.webcentre.ca/
  • http://www.eho.org/support/canada.asp

5. Gather Resources: Some families start with a complete curriculum package, while others start with a notebook and a library card. Choosing your resources depends on your style or method of education and your own interests. If you are financially burdened, there are free homeschooling resources on the web, as well as discounted, used books in abundance.  You Can Do This! Parents around the world are taking back their God-given responsibility to educate their children, and you can too. We have developed two downloads to help you get started:

• Homeschool With Confidence
• Simple Recipes for Successful Homeschooling