What do you think of when you hear about homeschool? Lack of socialization, isolation, inferior education? I learned of homeschooling 30 years ago & considered it in place of traditional education for my children. The school district we lived in had limited supplemental programs. One needed more advanced programs, while another required early intervention. After much research, we decided it was better to move to another school district. Our new district offered programs at both ends of the educational spectrum. Based on our personal circumstances traditional school was a better fit for our family. Resources for homeschooling were limited. The internet was in its infancy, a way to send messages to friends. Moving to a larger, better-equipped school district was a difficult and expensive choice. Like most parents, getting our children the best education possible was our priority. The district you lived in mattered. It even determined the value of neighborhoods & homes. Value was equated to statistics. Students test scores, teacher-to-student ratio, and the number of graduates attending college.
When my daughter and son-in-law announced they were expecting their first child, they also had decided to ‘homeschool’ their child. My daughter was a public school teacher so their decision was based on her teaching experience. We would hear regularly about the trials and tribulations of required testing, paperwork & limited time for hands on learning. These tasks kept teachers & administrators busy with little value to students. An entire staff doing lots of busy work with limited or no time for creativity & hands on experiences.
Creativity is the cornerstone of learning. The more exciting & interactive education is, the better outcomes. Kids who are engaged & excited about what they are doing naturally do better. I soon found that homeschooling offers these things. It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to explore, create & succeed. Resources needed to shape a curriculum for success are readily available. https://www.homeschool.com/resources/ School districts offer the milestones. Parents craft a program that works for their children & family. Nowadays, there is a growing community of homeschoolers available for collaboration, no need to do it alone. Homeschooling kids aren’t bound by the 9-3 M-F schedule of traditional schools. Every day & every activity is a potential lesson. Baking, cooking, planting or even cleaning can be turned into invaluable lessons. Hands on learning doing everyday things. Homeschooling gives families the freedom to learn on their own schedules. School does not need to be bound to a ten month predetermined schedule. Kids can focus more on topics that interest them. It offers families an opportunity to collaborate as both kids and parents are invested in the process.
Homeschooling has finally become mainstream. Parents are tired of the failings of schools. They are also concerned about declining literacy. There is so much to cover about this topic & this blog barely scratches the surface. As we dig deeper into the resurgence of homeschool education we invite others to share their education stories as well. Parents are taking control of their children’s education. They want to make sure their children are learning, actually getting an education & not an indoctrination.
Do you homeschool your children?
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