Deciding to Homeschool Takes Thought, Research
Weighing Family, Academic Needs Critical to Home Learning Choice
Nov 25, 2008
A lot of factors lead families into homeschooling. Sometimes it’s a forced choice. A formerly happy-go-lucky middle schooler seems to have lost his or her joy; an elementary school student doesn’t seem to be learning; a child is being bullied; public school choices in a particular area aren’t very attractive, and private school choices are priced out of range.
Sometimes homeschooling seems a natural choice, fitting natively into a family lifestyle because of special interests or talents in sports, or the arts; providing a comfortable extension of existing philosophies or theologies, or simply a firm conviction that a family can offer the best academic, social and moral education for a child.
Whatever may lead a family to consider homeschooling, there are a few planning steps families can take to make sure the choice is right for them, and that the effort is embarked upon intelligently and efficiently.
Make Sure Everyone is On Board
The most effective homeschooling families are on the same page with respect to everything from the decision to homeschool to academic goals. So first:
- Figure out why you want to homeschool in the first place. Are school problems administrative, or student caused? If there are disciplinary problems at school, coming home may or may not be the answer. Knowing why, helps you with how and with getting everyone else on board.
- Make sure your spouse or significant other is in agreement. Homeschooling can be challenging, depending on many factors. But nothing makes it more challenging than homeschooling in a family split on the idea.
- Make sure children understand the reasons for the decision to homeschool. For very young children, this isn’t as big of an issue. But for older children, who may value school friendships, this is more important. Some may love the idea. Others not so much.
- Set family goals on how long to try homeschooling. At least a year, to get the hang of things, is a good rule of thumb. Reassure everyone that nothing’s carved in stone, but the only way to see if it works is to give it an honest try.
Understand Your Choice
- Research! Be sure you understand what’s involved legally, academically and emotionally, and that you’re prepared to deliver on the necessary time and substance. You can find homeschool laws for your state at your state Department of Education website, or contact a state or national homeschool support group for assistance and information.
- Commit to Being Involved - Whether or not you need to have a particular curriculum (it varies by state), you will always need to be engaged and interested in your children, and available for often spontaneous intellectual explorations.
- Determine the extent of educational and moral support available to you in the way of homeschool support groups, and assistance from family and friends. You can find lists of local support groups online, and simply by asking around.
Know Where to Find Resources
Don’t overlook obvious educational resources, like
- libraries
- museums
- science centers
- tutors
- friendly teachers and
- experts in various fields.
And cost effective learning resources available right in your own home, like movies, and backyard science .The world’s your classroom when you’re homeschooling.
Connect with others for social and learning opportunities. Many homeschool groups are completely free to join, and offer a great way to stay informed about all aspects of homeschooling in your area.
Embrace the Experience
Have fun. Don’t stress over how much is being learned on a day to day basis, especially when first starting out. The best homeschool experience is cumulative – an aggregate of knowledge that builds over a period of time as children begin to make connections of information and real time experiences.
The more you enjoy the process, the more your children will, too. Show curiosity and interest in the world around you, and your kids will, as well. Love life, and so will they. Model being the curious lifelong learner you want them to be, and not only will they benefit, but you’re quite likely to find that you’ve become one, too.
Homeschooling is something of a misnomer. Lifeschooling is more like it, and you’ll never have a greater opportunity to enrich your relationship with your children and your family, or to reconnect with your own love of learning, than homeschooling offers. So embrace that opportunity and make the most of your time together.
Whether you choose to homeschool out of necessity or natural fit, understanding the reasons for making this academic choice for your family, being well informed about homeschooling and embracing the experience, will help make learning at home a successful and edifying experience for you and your children.
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