Secular Homeschool Info

Posts Tagged ‘education’

More and more parents are turning to homeschooling as an alternative for their children’s education. There are a lot of factors that weigh into their decision.

Many do it for religious reasons, but in this blog we are going to concentrate more on the needs of the secular homeschooler, although most of the information will apply to both.

There are many and diverse reasons to home school your child. Perhaps you feel the public schools are just not providing for his individual needs.

Maybe you see him slipping through the cracks; or it may be you just want to give your child the opportunity to progress at his own pace or with emphasis on subjects uniquely meaningful to him.

Some turn to homeschooling because they are concerned about bullies or other negative influences in the classroom, or because of the violence prevalent in schools.

Others just want to enjoy the additional opportunity it affords them to bond with their children.

Whatever the reason, before you start “assigning homework” to your children, you’ll want to do your own homework.

You need to understand from the very start that homeschooling is a big responsibility.

You are to be commended for seeking to learn as much as you can on the subject before making your final decision.

If you are one of those people whose hair stands on end at the very idea of “commitment,” homeschooling is not for you. That being said, along with the commitment comes a great deal of satisfaction and joy.

The extra time homeschooling allows for you to spend with your child is time you will never regret. And with a little imagination and planning, homeschooling your child can be great fun.

Are You Qualified to Teach Your Children?

Think about it. You are teaching your children every single day. From you they learn how to tie their shoes, make their bed, say “please” and “thank-you.”

You teach them life lessons: To always tell the truth, not to speak to strangers, to respect their elders.

You do not need a teaching degree to home school. What you do need is the ability to read and write, and a willingness to learn new things (or to refresh your memory as to things once learned and long since forgotten).

Having a creative imagination and a sense of humor are also a plus.

Remember, what you don’t know can always be researched or obtained through alternative means (e.g., a tutor, trading subjects with another homeschooler, or even taking a subject or two at the public school if that is allowed in your district)

To help you in your decision, you might want to review the questions listed below::

• Am I willing to be totally involved in my child’s education?
• Can I make the necessary time available to assist my home schooled child?
• Do I love learning?
• Am I willing and able to research things I do not fully understand?
• Can I make learning fun for my child?
• Am I willing to keep accurate, up-to-date records? (Each state has different requirements for home schooling, some more stringent than others. To learn the requirements in your own state go to: http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp)

I hope this helps you in making your decision. We all know that parenting is a full-time commitment. Don’t be afraid to take it to the next level if you feel that homeschooling is a viable alternative for your family.

Many resources are available for the parent new to homeschooling.

Publications will help you not only get the proper understanding of the subjects you are teaching your children, but the most effective way to teach so that your children will enjoy learning and will comprehend.

An example of just a few of the resources available are:

Teaching Tips & Techniques for Homeschools

Teaching the Basics at Home (8 Audio Tapes)

Homeschoolers Guides to History,

Homeschoolers Maximum Math,

Movies as Literature

Homeschool Information on Comprehensive Composition

You can find an entire assortment of available resources at:

Design a study Homeschool Curriculum

And remember, others are there to help you.  Some parents share problems on homeschooling forums and homeschooling message boards

You can find additional homeschool information on line. Some include free “how do I start a homeschool videos”.

You can also find information on socialization and homeschooling, which is something many parents worry about.

So have heart! If you want to homeschool your children, there are massive amounts of resources available — and people who want to help!

My next discussion will be about “Getting Started.”