Homeschooling 101

by Jan Udlock

Your 4-year-old is beginning to show interest in reading...so what about school? What public or private school are you going to send him to? What about homeschooling? You may think “those homeschooling parents” are too controlling, and those kids are too overly sheltered to live in today’s world.

These are common concerns when parents first investigate homeschooling as an alternative for their child’s education. However, after some research many parents find homeschooling a viable option.

Why Homeschool?

Parents homeschool their children for a variety of reasons. Carren Joye explains that she and her husband never considered homeschooling until one day he came home from work and raved about a co-worker’s articulate and well-behaved children. Upon further investigation, he found out that the children were homeschooled. After a lot of research, Carren “tried” homeschooling their K4 daughter, and 16 years later, she has never looked back. “We loved it, and it fit our lifestyle perfectly,” says Joye, mom of four and author of Homeschooling More Than One Child: A Practical Guide for Families.

Homeschooling provides parents with alternatives to education. Deanna Frantz explains she assumed her children would go to school. However, the more she read about homeschooling and the writings of John Holt, a supporter of school reform, she knew homeschooling would be a great fit for her family. “It made sense to continue to encourage my son’s natural curiosity and enable him to follow his own interests,” says Frantz, mom of two.

Ask Questions

When you begin to research the idea of homeschooling, it’s natural to be curious, skeptical and even overwhelmed. Talk to friends or relatives who homeschool and ask about their own personal journey. There are different methods of homeschooling as well as hundreds of different types of curriculum.

Ask moms what curriculum they use for different subjects and why? What type of curriculum worked for their family and what didn’t work. As you know, every child is different and one curriculum may work with one child and won’t work with another child.

“When I started homeschooling I thought it would fit in a perfect little box. I have tweaked curriculums, researched and talked with other homeschooling moms. This is our sixth year and I feel like this is the first year that I’m totally at peace with the curriculum and what our children are learning,” says Wendy McCollum, mom of two.

What about Socialization?

The socialization question is probably one of the most often asked question when it comes to homeschooling. However, homeschooling children have many opportunities to spend time with other children. Homeschooling co-ops give children lots of experience with other kids. Children’s clubs such as scouts, team sports, church clubs and other activities provide children with a wealth of socialization. Typically, these children are used to interacting with a variety of ages compared to public school children who are age-segregated.

Accountability

Accountability can be a problem in homeschooling because life “happens” such as kids get sick, the refrigerator quits, or out-of-town guests come to visit. Consequently, it’s easy for mom to put off correcting all of the Math worksheets for the day or teaching the daily history lesson. Therefore, moms need to find ways to stay accountable.

What to Do With Wee Ones?

How do you teach school when you have younger children? Most younger children will want to try “school” when they see their older sibling working on schoolwork. Moms can spend intensive one-on-one time with an older child while the baby or toddler naps. Younger children can always sit in during a read-aloud time. Some families have special school boxes for their toddlers that have a variety of fun hands-on activities the toddler is only allowed to play with during school hours.

What Are the Benefits?

One of the benefits of homeschooling is the close relationship you build with your children There are bound to be frustrating times when your child is struggling with a Math problem or has an attitude. However, the relationship you build with him will be invaluable as they grow older.

Another benefit is that siblings have a stronger relationship with each other because they are not separated seven hours a day, five days a week. Your child is around you and are less likely to be negatively influenced than she would be in a normal school setting.

Homeschooling provides families with flexibility in their schedules. If a family has an out-of-town guest come visit, certain school subjects can be finished at a later date. If a child wants to study a subject or person further in depth or longer than the allotted one hour school period, he can. Traveling as a family during the school year is also possible with a flexible schedule.

Additionally, you learn how your children learn. “One of the advantages of homeschooling is the one-on-one instruction that allows you to know immediately if your child understands the work,” says Joye.

A child can also further develop her interest in any subject because you can do a unit study related to their interests. If your child loves animals, do a study on a different animal each week. Learn how to spell their name, where the animal lives and what kind of food it eats.

Homeschooling is far from perfect and can be challenging. However, the benefits are varied and numerous.“I worry about how fast children are growing up these days and it brings me great joy to know that our boys are still able to be kids and not have the pressures that others are facing in the school system,” says McCollum.