Homeschooling Hurdles
Homebodies
By Cheryl Gochnauer
Cheryl@homebodies.org
Because of the amount of time involved, homeschooling parents are usually also stay-at-home parents. There are lots of reasons families decide to go this route. But once it is chosen, home schooling, like any other endeavor, has its ups and downs.
#147;My main concern about home schooling isn#146;t the lack of socialization,#148; says Carol, who is debating whether to send her child to private school in Mississippi or teach him herself. Instead, she is worried that he#146;ll be too sheltered. #147;He will miss the classroom and playground situations that help teach children how to deal with life and people. I am very concerned that my son will be too naiuml;ve, and my husband says school will help toughen him up.#148;
Kass encourages Carol to take a different view. #147;For my son, I'd rather be the one teaching him how to handle arguments, differences of opinion, bullies and such than to have him learn it on his own or from his peers. I am very glad that I'm nearby to guide him with learning the appropriate responses and behaviors in dealing with complicated and even everyday situations.#148;
Another roadblock some home schooling parents run into is lack of family support. #147;I thought that my relatives would come around,#148; says Pam, who is teaching her 6-year-old son at home. #147;But all except my mom have either disapproved or said nothing and then let something slip to show their true feelings (#145;Won't you be glad when your mommy lets you go to real school and play with the other kids?#146;).
#147;In talking with other home schoolers, I've found that there will always be family members who think you've lost your mind,#148; she acknowledges. #147;I guess you just have to deal with each person and incident as they arise. I've decided that I'm not arguing the point or trying to convince anyone anymore. If they change their attitudes, that's great. But I don't feel that the Lord called me to convert the world to home schooling. I know my kids better than anyone else. I#146;ll do what God has led me to do. The safest and best place in the world is in the center of His will.#148;
Home schooling is legal throughout America, but regulatory laws vary, so it is critical to know your specific state guidelines. Getting involved in a local home schooling support group will help you keep tabs on changing regulations and provide a network of friends who have made the same educational choices.
#147;I think every single home schooling family I#146;ve ever met has been more than happy to share what they know with others,#148; says Tori, an Ohio home schooler. She tries to ease worries of new home schoolers who may feel overwhelmed with all the perceived rules and regulations. #147;You do not have to have little desks, a dedicated schoolroom and lesson plans for 5-6 hours a day!#148;
Instead, many teaching experiences are woven into everyday activities, like going to the grocery store (math and economics), hiking in the woods (science and nature), and seeing a movie (literature and theatre). Some parents do set aside a special schooling area, but kids can work just as easily at the kitchen table. And though the state requires a set number of schooling hours per year, each family uses their discretion in establishing a schedule. (For instance, starting school at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m., or teaching every other day instead of five days straight.)
What about choosing curriculum? #147;There are tons of home schooling materials available, and to be a wise steward of your money, you need to come to some decisions about things,#148; Tori advises.#147;Deciding what to buy depends on why you#146;re home schooling, your personal teaching style, and the way your kids learn.
#147;My biggest reason for home schooling was to have control over what they learned and how they learned it. I wanted them to be taught subjects within a Biblical context and framework. That obviously affected the materials I choose.
#147;Some folks home school because they have kids that don#146;t fit the norm and have trouble in school #150; either they are brighter and need more information faster, or they are a tad slower in a couple of areas and need more one-on-one. Or perhaps they have a special needs child. Therefore,#148; Tori says, #147;my advice is to articulate WHY, then go on from there. Your decision will eliminate a fair amount of the available curriculum.#148;
#147;Homeschooling Hurdles#148; is an excerpt from Cheryl#146;s book,
#147;Stay-at-Home Handbook: Advice on Parenting, Finances, Career, Surviving Each Day Much More.#148;
To purchase a copy, visit
http://www.gospelcom.net/homebodies/bookstore/orderSAHH.php
or your favorite bookstore.Comments? Contact Cheryl by writing
Cheryl@homebodies.org
. Also stop by
www.homebodies.org
, where you can interact with other parents on a variety of lively message boards. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com.
