Should I homeschool?
Are you considering an alternative form of schooling, like home education? Maybe you’ve heard homeschooling referenced in conversation, and in your mind you’ve conjured up images of unsocialized kids, who never leave home, and probably can’t relate to the “real world”. If that’s the case, I’d like to share some thoughts on the subject.
My Home Education Experience
I started homeschooling in 2006. At that time, there were many resources available, but way less than the seemingly infinite resources today, and that was 17 years ago! We attended a co-op that grew to well over a hundred students. It offered various science classes, as well as english, piano, art, theatre, fencing, writing, etc. Retired individuals and career parents who were school teachers, nurses, engineers, etc. taught many of the classes.
Valuable Advice
Looking back, the most valuable piece of advice that I received, was from a veteran homeschooling mom who had homeschooled 20 years before me. She was homeschooling when it wasn’t even popular, and when her skeptical neighbors would watch out the window to see if her children were spending too much time outside playing during the day. She wisely advised me that really all I needed to get started homeschooling in those early years, was a library card with access to lots of good quality books that would stimulate a love for reading, a math curriculum, activities to develop fine motor skills, and exposure to experiences that stimulated a love for learning. Those places included museums, hiking trails, farms, parks, etc. It didn’t need to be complicated. Her 4 boys grew up to attend college, had productive careers, and a couple went on to graduate school. They had families of their own, by that time, and some were choosing to homeschool their own children.
Local Co-op
By the time my kids were middle school aged, I enrolled them in a local co-op that was set up as an academic center. Those teaching the classes were called “tutors,” since legally parents are considered the teachers because they oversee their child’s education. The co-op was for kids grades 6-12, offering classes in everything from pre-algebra, geometry, and calculus, to public speaking, writing, government, and literature. They also offered anatomy and physiology, physics, biology and chemistry.
My kids attended this co-op 2 days per week. They had textbooks, assignments, due dates, tests (mostly proctored at home) and grades. I liked that we still had flexbility in our schedules to explore what they enjoyed and pursue their interests. I came to some conclusions, that not every homeschooling parent would agree on, but found that some things are best experienced in groups. Science labs, public speaking, debate, and many classes for middle and high schoolers benefit from discussion among students.
Dual Enrollment
By 11th grade, we dual-enrolled our kids in college courses with our local community college. They took a class or two per semester. We focused on areas that they seemed passionate about. Both are now thriving at a large university, tackling challenging majors. Yes, they have friends, and lots of friends. They are extremely socialized, and can converse with any age. They work and volunteer in the community. I think they are very “future” and “goal” minded as a result of behind homeschooled. It has been important to my husband and I to have a consistent focus on their passions and developing their interests.
Online Enrollment for High School
While there are many online options for students, I want to mention three that are on my radar. The first is iLumenEd Academy. My daughter took classes via IllumenEd for two years while she was dual enrolled with our community college. The classes are thorough, live with the teachers and students, and the content is challenging. Students have homework, tests, and receive grades. The quality of the education is excellent, while the tuition is not expensive.
The other online option that I’ve heard excellent comments about, is IEW or Institute for Excellence in Writing’s online writing classes. Both of my kids, who are in college, write really well and without difficulty. They attribute this to the IEW classes that were taught at their high school co-op.
My 4th grader is currently in the afternoon writing class at Classical Conversations, were IEW is taught. I’ve become a believer in this great curriculum because of what she understands about writing in just the 4th grade.
HSLDA Online Academy is another option worth considering. HSLDA offers 40 live, interactive courses for grades 7-12. We’ve been members with HSLDA for years for the legal benefits. I am certain their course quality is strong.
Elementary Years Again
Fastforward to today, and my youngest is in the throes of elementary school. She’s very close to her two older siblings, but there is a significant age gap. Therefore, my husband I think it’s necessary that she be involved in a community with kids her age. We joined Classical Conversations five years ago, and during that time she has learned so much. This year is her first year of their afternoon writing program. For a fourth grader, I’m shocked at how well she’s learning to write and organize her thoughts.
More Reasons to Choose Home Education
When you calculate the amount of time kids spend standing in line, waiting on their teachers to help struggling students, or waiting because of a high student to teacher ratio, you realize that home education is valuable and beneficial. It allows for catering educational needs to each individual student. Additonally, it allows academic areas, that have been mastered, to be accelerated. More focus can be devoted to academics that have not been so easily achieved.
There’s so much more to home education than a student learning everything primarily at home. Home education and homeschooling may include local co-ops, academic centers, virtual enrollment, or dual enrollment at local colleges. It’s going outside and exploring nature for the science lover; taking hikes and reading maps for the kid who loves adventures; and exploring the outdoors with your art lover, who enjoys drawing amazing detailed illustrations. It also includes sports, hobbies, and mastering trades as well as skills.
Home Education – Interest and Passion Focus
Animals
When they were young, my children liked animals. We even had horses and goats for awhile, before settling on cows and chickens. Those animals helped instill a strong work ethic in them. Having a farm or farm animals isn’t necessary to homeschool. It’s just something we pursued because we had the space and our kids had an interest. In fact, they had many interests that they pursued.
First Responder
Our son displayed an interest in emergency medicine at 15 years old. A local volunteer rescue squad allowed him to volunteer as a “junior volunteer” for a year, before they paid for him to get his EMT certification. About a year after that, they paid for him to become and Advanced EMT. They also provided the funds for him to go through the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) training. Nearly six years later, as a college student, he still volunteers with the rescue squad, and works as a technician in our local hospital’s ER Department.
Photographer
Around that same age, our son developed a love for photography. We enrolled him in many photography classes, that helped improve and refine his skills. He took classes on a professional level, and by 17 was offering photoshoots as a part-time income. Six years later, his photography skills are great and he has regular photoshoots.
All Things Greenhouse & Horticulture
Our oldest daughter was about the same age when she discovered a love for plants and botany. She started working part-time for a local greenhouse at age 15. She is still there part-time as a college student, and just celebrated her three year anniversary. Her experiences working there have helped steer her towards a B.S. in Environmental Science.
Entrepreneurship and College
Helping them discover and pursue their passions really paid off in the long run. Both have started part-time businesses while in college. Our son will graduate next year with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrating in Entrepreneurship. Our daughter is a Sophmore, pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Biology. Looking back, they had interests in these areas from the early years.
Are there specific passions that you’re already seeing in your child, that you wonder if they indicate what may be a future interest or career path? If so, you can focus on those interests with classes that fulfill elective requirements on their graduation transcripts.
Home Education Resources Available
Today, there are infinite resouces to help a person evaluate whether homeschooling is an option. There are countless curriculums, educational programs, homeschool co-ops, and academic centers available for any learning style.
Sports
Our county has a lot of homeschooled students and our state is very home education friendly. As a result, there are plenty of extracurriculars available.
For those who enjoy sports of all kinds, many homeschool teams and leagues play competitively against private schools. There are teams and leagues for most any sport.
Theater
Our town also has two large homeschool theatre groups that are highly sought after and pretty competitive. They offer high quality productions twice a year, as well as summer camps.
Proms, Dances, and Formal Occasions
Proms and formal occasions are also offered for homeschooled students, whether in local communities or as regional events, so students are not “missing” out on the experiences they would otherwise have in a traditonal school.
Home Education Support Organizations
Home Educators Association of Virginia, HEAV, offers a tremendous amount of information to those considering home education, as well as resources for those who are currently homeschooling. Check your state to see if there is a similar organization that offers guidance about home education laws and resources in your area.
Nationally, the Home School Legal Defense Association, HSLDA, is a wonderful resource for those who choose home education for their students. This link not only takes you to HSLDA’s About Page, but there is a link on that page to find out about homeschool groups in your area.
Most states offer annual homeschool conventions with speakers, classes, curriculum halls, and even graduation ceremonies!
Community
Getting plugged into a local homeschool community will provide you with support, tips, and resources. It will also help mitigate the potential to feel isolated and overwhelmed. Search for homeschool co-ops in your area as well as groups on Facebook.
For some parents, the goal is the academic support that these co-ops offer. However, another reason for local co-op enrollment is to meet the extracurricullar needs their student has. And yet another reason may be for gym time with other students, as shown below.
As I mentioned, my youngest daughter and I have partipated in a local Classical Conversations community for the past 5 years. I can’t say enough good things about it. What I really appreciate about it is their focus on public speaking, and helping the student progress in their skills in a supportive environment. If you’d like to learn more about the Classical Conversations community, click here.
Like traditional school, homeschooling isn’t for everyone. However, it’s probably more of an option than most realize. You may be considering a variation of homeschooling or alternatives.
Quality Friendships
Another huge benefit to homeschooling is the relationship experience. As a mother, I developed closer friendships with other homeschooling mothers, than most friendships throughout my life. I attribute this to the fact that the mothers I engaged with were likeminded, driven, dedicated, and our faith was also common ground. Our children formed friendships with children whose parents we knew well.
Over the years, we’ve been able to maintain a close friendship with a good friend of mine and her family. They have homeschooled as long as we have. Our kids have grown up together, and homeschooling allowed us a little more time to invest in hikes and experience the great outdoors during hiking season. Our husbands developed a strong friendship over the years as well.
An Alternative for Working Parents
Whatever situation has led you to read this far, may have you asking, “How do I homeschool as a working parent?” There are other working parents with the same dedication to their children’s education, who have to continue working. There are also parents who pay a “tutor” to teach their children while they are at work. Look into the legal details pertaining to this in your area.
Some parents have the option of working out an alternative work schedule with a spouse where one parent is available throughout the week to oversee their child’s education. They may share the responsibilities together.
There’s also the possibility for 4 or 5 parents “sharing” in the tutor responsbiliity with each taking a day of certain subjects to teach. They may rotate through teachers, even taking a day like Fridays off.
Internships are an option for high school students, who may focus on academics part of the day, or week, and work the remainder of a day or week learning a trade or skill. This is particularly benefical for students who are leaning heavily towards a certain career field, or trade. They may benefit from real life direct experience in that particular career field, while still in high school.
Learn more…
Maybe you’re just embarking on the home education journey, or you’re longing for a change of lifestyle, we’d love to share what has worked for us. Check us out at About Life in the Country USA. More to come!