All 50 states have legislation allowing parents to school their own children at home, but the laws vary widely. In some states, you must register your home as a private school. In others, all you have to do is notify your local school district that this is the educational course you've chosen for your child. Some states require periodic testing of your child to make sure he is keeping up. Speak to an attorney who is current in education law to find out what requirements you must meet to home-school your child.
You do not have to possess a teaching degree to home-school your child, but you need a structured curriculum, textbooks and supplies. There are programs available for purchase through the Internet and at school supply stores. Some include video instruction using actual teachers so you do not have to have a full grasp of high school trigonometry to teach it to your child. The approach you choose depends on the age of your child and your own level of education and teaching ability.
One of the greatest advantages to home-schooling your child is tailoring her curriculum to her learning style and abilities. Once she masters a problem, there is no need for her to wait to move on until the other 20 children in her classroom have mastered it also. And if she is having trouble grasping something, she won't be hustled along to keep up with the rest of the class. You can take your time with her until she has the subject down pat. Home-schooled children are often more socially well-adjusted and more confident than those who attend public and private schools because they learn at their own pace.
Home-schooling your child is a full-time job. You will have to give up your regular job -- and the income it brings in -- or you will be working virtually around the clock. At the end of each day, you have the responsibility of grading your child's assignments and formulating a lesson plan for the next day. Structuring your time -- and your child's -- is paramount, or you might find the day getting away from you without all lessons accomplished. If you've chosen home-schooling because your child was having disciplinary problems in the classroom or has other special needs, they won't magically disappear when you bring him home. You'll still have to deal with those problems yourself in addition to taking charge of his education. With some children, regular schooling combined with counseling is a more appropriate solution.