“I am thinking about home schooling, but I am not sure what is involved?” I once asked that same question! I chose the home schooling path, and after 4 years of home schooling (2 of those years schooling two children), in no way do I regret my decision!
Contemplating home schooling can make your head spin! Well-meaning friends and family members will bombard you with opinions and advice. You'll probably even hear stories of people they knew who were backward socially and behind academically, or who graduated at age 14 and went off to college!
But thankfully, if you start researching early, and draw up a plan, you can navigate your way through the process without too much stress or anxiety!
You will need to decide why you are homeschooling; do you want flexibility in your schedule? Do you want your child to learn with a certain emphasis, and at a certain pace? Do you want to incorporate your beliefs, which are usually not included in a public school? What will you do to supplement the home schooling lesson plans when it comes to extra-curricular activities and social interaction? And most importantly, are you ready to be parent AND teacher?
In terms of flexibility, home schooling certainly has the advantages. If you, or your children, are absolute bears in the early hours of the morning, you can easily start your schooling after lunch, take a break and follow up after dinner. You can make any day a vacation day, or plan a field trip to the zoo or museum on your own time and at your own pace. You’re not subject to the school year schedule; you decide your schedule! You can school year-round, or take a month off here or there; you are not bound to the 180-day year! As far as curriculum goes, you can purchase ready-made, accredited programs or design your own from scratch.
Some parents see a gifting early on in their children and want to center their schooling around that gifting, like art for example. With enough planning and creativity, all subjects can be learned and mastered through an artistic lens, whether it is the science behind mixing colors, writing a report on a famous artist, or using geometry to design a project.
If you are interested in a faith-based education, many communities have programs which offer everything from stipends to small classes, taught by teachers or other home school parents. There are many popular curriculum and programs to choose from, even college-prep programs! There might even be secular charter schools in your area that support homeschooling and provide case workers, or teachers, who will meet with you on a monthly basis to keep you on track with your goals. Many times these programs will partner with the public schools in your city or county, so you might need to stick to a tighter schedule and have your child take tests required by your state, such as the CAT test administered in third grade, and you may be required to follow your state’s vaccination schedule as well.
If you instead decide to venture out on your own, or these programs are not available in your area, your community may still have wonderful home schooling support groups and co-ops that are easy to find on-line. Having a group of parents to bounce ideas off of, plan field trips with, and meet with for social interaction is not only necessary but fun and rewarding!
You will need to locate extra-curricular activities that are available in your community, and consider the costs involved. If you belong to a co-op, a faith-based program, or a charter school, they most likely will provide art and music classes, as well as sports programs. Try to choose one or two activities for your child outside of their regular curriculum and treat it as part of your schooling, recording their progress, both in skill and social interaction. Once you start researching your local area, you will be surprised at how many programs there are for home-schoolers and you will love the flexibility!
I have found that the Internet CAN be helpful, and often necessary, when searching for information I need, whether it is my state’s laws regarding home schooling, or academic milestones my child should be reaching (especially if the need to enroll my children into public school arises). I also enjoy looking up different curriculum and reading reviews from parents and teachers, and attending curriculum fairs. There are several fun and free programs for math, reading and skill building on The Internet to incorporate into your lesson plans.
Finally, every parent who is considering home schooling needs to decide if they are up for the challenge of shifting between the parent and teacher roles. Not only will you need to set up a schedule, a quiet place in your home, and “classroom rules”, you will also need to have a grading system and progress tracking sheets to assess your child’s achievements, areas to work on, and learning style. Be prepared to switch your curriculum or teaching style to accommodate if needed. Many home school programs will offer testing to help you get started, and even tutoring services if the need arises.
There is a lot to consider before jumping into the world of home schooling. Have your goals set in place by determining your reasons to home school, research the resources and laws in your state, locate and join co-cops or programs that fit your needs, and consider the commitment level involved. But most importantly, remember that the goal of home schooling should be to enjoy the freedom, flexibility and unique experiences it allows for your child and family!
