After last year's abnormal year of schooling, I've had many parents ask me about homeschooling in the coming fall. Some are considering it because they really enjoyed having their kids at home, and some just want to try something different from what the schools are offering right now.
Whatever your reason, if you are on the fence about homeschooling, or you're ready to jump in but don't know where to start, this post can help. Read on!
SOME GREAT REASONS TO HOMESCHOOL (just three of many)
1) You pick the content.
The biggest plus of homeschooling is that you can pick what you want to focus on and include in your lessons. If your child is enthralled with astronomy, make that your science lesson. If your child is not a strong reader but loves to draw, do drawing book reports instead of written book reports. If you are looking for science or history books with a Christian base, there are many out there to get you started.
2) You pick the methods.
The biggest complaint I heard from parents last year was how much time their kids were spending on the computer. Homeschooling parents can choose whether they want their child to learn through a book or an online program. You can get really creative and do math through cooking, sewing, or woodworking, and science through bird watching and gardening! Homeschooling does NOT have to look like classroom schooling. In fact, it shouldn't look like classroom schooling at all, so don't try to copy what teachers do in a classroom! When you're not teaching to 30+ kids at a time, there are so many things you can do differently!
3) You pick the pacing.
You know those standardizes tests that they give students every year? You don't have to do those as homeschoolers (at least in California.) I love it that when my daughter was a slow in learning to read, there was no report card saying "Needs improvement" or pressure to make her "catch up." We can spend more time on subjects that we need more time for, and less on subjects that come easily.
4) You pick the schedule.
Is your child slow to warm up in the morning? Start school at 10am. Do you have little ones in the mix? Tackle the harder subjects during their naps.
DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING STARTED IN HOMESCHOOLING (it's an adjustment!)
1) Finding your groove.
There is a LOT of curriculum out there–it can be overwhelming. Start with something you know (I look at workbooks at the drugstores, bookstores, even Costco.) Go to the library and check out books to read. It takes a professional teacher three years to find his/her rhythm, so give yourself time too. You might not like the workbook you bought. A lesson you thought would be great might be just 'blah'. But don't give up. Keep trying.
2) Putting in the time.
Homeschooling will definitely take up your time. You'll need to look at lessons ahead of time and prepare. You'll need to sit with your child to teach them and help them. At first, you may feel like you have no free time.
3) Juggling different ages.
If you have children of different ages and levels, it will take you longer to find your groove. (And if you have toddlers and infants, it can take you longer just to get through a school day!) I combine subjects as much as possible (science, history, art, music) and have individual workbooks for math and language arts.
4) Feeling the pressure.
Homeschooling parents are always fighting against that feeling of "Am I doing enough? Will I fail my kids?" Remind yourself constantly that you cannot fail your kids by giving them more time with you at home. What is the goal, after all? That your child can read and think, love learning, love people, and love God. So it's okay if your child isn't taking AP Chemistry or Honors English. Success is marked differently in homeschooling–your child is thriving, feeling confident, feeling loved. And homeschooling doesn't have to be for forever... if it doesn't work out, you can enroll your child in school the next year.
SOME BENEFITS OF HOMESCHOOLING
1) When you're done, you're done.
There is no homework. No extra hour after school. When your child finishes for the day, he/she is truly finished. When you feel like your child has mastered a skill, you can move on!
2) Your child will have more time for other things.
Homeschooling is not like a typical school day, which can go from 8am-3pm. We start at 9am and my younger kids are finished by lunch. Because there is no time used for attendance taking, crowd management, passing out papers, etc., the work is done a lot quicker. (And if your child is a fast worker, there is no waiting for the rest of the class to finish.) Then your child has time to pursue other interests, visit the library, or go play at the park with friends.
3) Your child will eat better.
Every morning, my kids eat a good breakfast with the family. Lunch is healthy, balanced, and warm. There is no need to buy box juice or packaged snacks, or make sandwiches in the morning when you homeschool. (You're still welcome to do so, but you don't have to.)
4) There is time to work on heart issues.
If a child has a bad attitude about math at school, the teacher will do what he/she can do, then maybe contact you about it so you can deal with it later (or you find out about it weeks later at a meeting). If a child has a bad attitude about math at home, you can stop the lesson right there and talk to your child about it. Sibling disputes, talking back, all those issues that can pop up throughout the day can be dealt with right there and then. It becomes the more important lesson at that moment.
5) Less pressure.
I know my teenagers need to learn about grades and deadlines, but my younger kids don't need the pressure of passing spelling tests and turning in projects on time. We move at a slower pace, and if unexpected situations come up (because you know they do!), we can change our deadlines.
6) Time to be together.
My family is tight knit. We enjoy each other and have fun together. My kids are best friends and work together well. In a few years, my children will start leaving the nest, so we want to make the most of this time we have together!
HOW TO LEGALLY HOMESCHOOL
If you live in a state besides California, you must look up your state requirements, because every state is different.
For Californians, it is simple to become a homeschooling family. California does NOT require yearly testing. That is entirely up to you.
1) If your child was in a public or private school, talk to the administrators about making the switch. Ask them if there is any paper work you need to fill out or anything you need to do.
2) In October, file a Private School Affidavit online with the California Board of Education. Here is the link: Private School Affidavit. You can pick a "name" for your "school". My husband signs as the principal, and I sign as the administrator.
3) Keep a record of your child's attendance in school (minimum number of days is 175, recommended number of days is 180.)
4) Keep samples of your child's work in all subjects.
5) If you have younger children, keeping a record of grades is up to you. For high schoolers, record grades and start a transcript. (more of this here: High School Transcript Templates)
If you have questions, please ask!
