| The Decision to Homeschool |
By: Debra Dragon, Homeschool Columnist
On 10/23/05
If you’ve been considering whether or not setting up a homeschool is a viable option for your family, you already know what an overwhelming decision it is to make. Education is one of the most important things we provide for our children, and it’s difficult to know whether or not we can be effective as both parents and teachers, or...
| "Set up a homeschooling area in your home, gather the materials and items you need for your curriculum, keep accurate records of your progress..." |
if we should rely on the traditional school systems to educate our children. However, if you’ve even considered homeschooling, then you must have doubts or concerns about traditional schooling, and so a decision must be made.
How do we know we’re making the right choice?
There is really no real “right” or “wrong” choice when it comes to homeschooling. Many parents who are already involved with homeschooling their children will tell you there are advantages and disadvantages to the homeschool environment, and that there really is no “one size fits all” answer when it comes to making the decision to homeschool.
Parents typically have very similar concerns when making the decision to homeschool. Will my child miss out on socialization they would receive in school? Will I be able to teach every subject well enough for my child to understand? Some parents even falsely believe that because they did not attend college or have never taught before that they would not make good teachers.
You should never base your decision to homeschool based on your own limitations. If your child wants to play an instrument, do you need to first learn how to play that instrument before your child can learn to play it? Of course not, you would sign your child up for music lessons.
Homeschooling does not limit you and your child to just the education you can provide at the kitchen table. As a homeschooling parent, you are deciding the type of education and directing how the child receives the education. Your child can take classes at the local community college, or sign up for courses that are delivered over the Internet. The main thing to remember is you do not necessarily have to teach each and every subject in order to provide an excellent homeschooling education for your child.
Every child learns differently, and as a parent, you’re most able to determine your child’s personality and learning style and therefore, provide a personalized and effective education for your child better than someone who has years of formal training. There are personality tests and activities that you and your child can do together to help you determine the way your child learns, and then adjust your teaching style to match the needs of your child for the best results. Visit www.keirsey.com to try the free Personality Sorter that is a highly recognized psychological test used to determine a personality type.
If your primary reason for considering the homeschool option is for religious reasons, you can feel confident that there are a number of pre-designed curriculum programs available to you based on your religious preference. Dr. Lili Pintea-Reed, Ph.D, has put together a web site of resources geared for homeschoolers, and features an entire list of curriculum providers and helpful information for homeschooling that involves religion, all divided by religious affiliation, located at Home School Resources. The site is a wonderful place to start your research while still in the decision making process.
What’s the most important aspect to remember about your decision to homeschool? You absolutely are not locked into your decision!
If you feel that homeschooling may be the best solution to providing a comprehensive education for your children, then give yourself a year to try it out. That gives you a way to measure the level of success you obtain throughout that year.
Set up a homeschooling area in your home, gather the materials and items you need for your curriculum, keep accurate records of your progress and decide whether or not it’s working for your family. If at the end of the year you and your children are pleased with the success of the program, it will be easier to decide that you want to continue to homeschool.
You can actually make the decision to continue or not to continue homeschooling each and every year since there is no time commitment that you are required to keep when you decide to homeschool. If after you try homeschooling for a year you find you are not happy with the program or you think your homeschool is lacking something your children can gain by attending a traditional classroom, you can simply enroll the children in school the following year and know without a doubt you have made the right decision, whichever that decision turns out to be for your family.
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