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What Is Homeschooling and How Do I Know If It';s Right For My Family
What is Homeschooling And How Do I Know If It's Right For My Family'
Do you know what these famous people have in common'
The Scarlet CordFrom Genesis 1:1 all the way through the Bible to the last verse of Revelation, there is a plan by which man can receive salvation and ..... Alexander Graham Bell
George Patton
Albert Einstein
Benjamin Franklin
Winston Churchill
Agatha Christie
George Bernard Shaw
Will Rogers
If you guessed that they were all homeschoolers, you'd be correct. This is a very short list of famous and successful people who were educated at home. If you would like to expand this list, do a search on the Internet for 'famous homeschoolers.' There are many websites that list these people and some provide detailed biographies. There is even a book called, aptly, 'Famous Homeschoolers,' by Nancy and Malcolm Plant. (http://www.fun-books.com/specials.htm)
Jesus In WalesThe next few days were as hectic and exciting as any days Jesus could remember. The never-ending stream of people who wanted to meet him .....
The point here is to get into the mindset that people can be educated and become successful adults without attending public school. And because I can almost 'hear' what you are thinking, no, it is not necessary to have a high school diploma to go to college.
So what is homeschooling' In the broadest sense, homeschooling is educating your children at home. You, as parent, become teacher. Parents homeschool for more reasons than you can imagine. Some want to avoid having their children exposed to violence and peer pressure. Some homeschool so that they can make sure their children's education adheres to their religious beliefs. Some live a different lifestyle'perhaps they travel a lot'and want their children's schooling to be flexible enough to fit around that life style. And some, like me, simply enjoy being with their children. They don't want the public school to interrupt and weaken the parent/child bond that they have been working hard to create for the first five years of their child's life.
Just as there are many reasons to homeschool, there are many methods of homeschooling. All the way from 'un-schooling' (learning by doing, learning from life, not using textbook type materials) to 'school at home' (using textbooks at desks set up in a schoolroom at home) and everything in between. It's very easy to find hundreds of homeschool Websites by using a search engine, but just to get you started, try:
Jon's Homeschool Resource Page http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs/
When I decided to write this article, I thought hard about what I could offer that wasn't being displayed on thousands of Websites on the Internet. I realized that the only thing I have to offer anyone interested in homeschooling is'my experience. So everything in the article below comes from my fifteen years of experience homeschooling my four youngest children. I hope it is of some use to you.
Deciding to homeschool your child may be one of the most important decisions you ever make as a parent, and it will take a lot of thought and soul searching. To the newcomer, it may seem impossible, overwhelming and very, very lonely. But like most huge obstacles, once it's broken down into smaller pieces, it becomes manageable. We'll take it one step at a time, in small enough chunks to get a hold of. So, if you're game, roll up your sleeves and let's get to work figuring out if homeschooling is for you and your child.
First things first. Organization is the key. Get a three-ring binder (homeschooling parent's LOVE three-ring binders) and put a label on the front. (If you've made the transition to digital record keeping, you can just start a folder on the computer. But it's not as much fun.) Label it something serious, like ' My Homeschooling Plans' or 'Homeschooling Thoughts.' Put some paper in the binder, find a really comfortable ink pen, and sit down somewhere quiet.
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Ready' Good. Now, let's get started.
What are your reasons for considering homeschooling' Even if you haven't actually made the decision to homeschool, the fact that you are here reading this article says you are curious. Perhaps you honestly don't know the answer yet'and that's ok. The remainder of this article is going to try to help you start to find those answers.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but each state has it's own set of laws that must be followed. Compulsory (how I hate that word) education here in Washington State starts at the age of 8. Even though I had been homeschooling him from birth, to stay legal once my son reached 8-years old, I was required to become 'certified.' That meant I either had to have two years of college education, or take a 'certification class.' I met this requirement by taking an independent correspondence class, during which I was asked to put on paper my goals, philosophies and reasons for wanting to homeschool. I'd like to help you do the same right now.
Start a page--either the 'tree' kind or a file on the computer'and title it 'My Educational Beliefs.' List what personal beliefs you have about education'especially the education of your own children. Get as detailed as you can here--the value is in the thinking process behind the list. Take your time, I'm in no hurry.
As an example to get you started, I'm going to share with you what I wrote on my list nine years ago.
My Educational Beliefs
1. I believe my child's attitude about learning should be:
One of continual curiosity and seeking of knowledge.
2. I believe my child's learning should lead towards a lifestyle that is:
Rural, physically active, creative.
3. I believe these basic values should be part of my child's learning:
Respect for others
Loyalty to family and friends
Honesty
Generosity
4. I believe children learn best:
Through hands-on learning experience, reading, workbooks.
5. I believe a teacher should:
Provide side-by-side assistance and direction.
Interact with the child.
Provide the structure within which the child may explore, experiment, study and achieve.
Provide ......
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