Is Homeschooling Something YOU Could Do? | Homeschooling

By PhyllisWheeler
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I am guessing you aren't happy with the schooling your kids are getting, for whatever reason. You've suggested homeschooling to yourself. But you can't imagine yourself doing it because you aren't superwoman, able to juggle lessons and other mom duties.

Guess what the main qualification is: it's love for your kids. You CAN do it if you are dedicated to them. You can learn the skills you need gradually, as you need them, the same way you learned mothering skills. Jugglers start this way, first juggling just one item, then two, then later three.

Homeschooling may even be easier than not homeschooling. Instead of driving your several children to several same-age activities after school, you'll be able to concentrate on activities you can all do together.

In addition, kids in school often have plenty of homework and need help from you in the evening. If you homeschool, you get all that out of the way in the morning, and your evenings are free.

Here's one option for larger families: study topics, such as ancient Egypt, that their kids can share, working with the fact that their ages are different. For example, you could all read the book Mara, Daughter of the Nile together. Then each child could write about it. You could study some math related to pyramids. You can do art projects that look Egyptian. This unit might last a month or so, and then you would move on to another. This structure is called a unit study. You don't have to invent them, either--plenty of moms who have invented one have published it.

Other options include using workbooks and curriculum so that each child has something to work on that is appropriate for his age. These all come with an answer key--you don't need to be a college graduate to make sure your kid is getting the right answer. In fact, many homeschoolers do almost no direct teaching--their kids learn from the book or workbook. (This is a great study skill for college!)

Correspondence schools will teach your child, too. These can take the form of videos, workbooks, or online.

You probably wonder what homeschoolers typically do during the course of a day. Many do the studying in the morning, and spend the afternoon playing or doing projects. Sometimes they sign up for daytime classes for homeschoolers, which are becoming more popular these days. You can even send your kids to organized sports with the local school teams in the late afternoon. But be careful about signing up for too much. It could lead to burnout.

But you do want your children to be "socialized." Here's a question homeschoolers get all the time: "Aren't you worried about socialization for your child?" Here's the answer: you have the ability to choose whom your child socializes with, unlike parents of schooled children. You do have to go out of your way to set it up. And you can count socialization with adults--that's the best kind, after all. Adults are generally well-mannered and kind. Unsupervised schoolkids often are not. Homeschooled kids are usually quite comfortable talking to adults! Don't you want your kids to be like that?

A homeschool co-op will help you get your kids out and about. You can meet other homeschoolers for classes once a week, or for field trips. Social interactions are well-supervised, so kids learn to act appropriately with one another. Finding a co-op is as simple as asking around. To find other homeschoolers, the local homeschool convention may help you. Network with other homeschoolers till you find the co-op that's right for you, or start it.

You will need support as well. Homeschooling provides unique challenges, and it helps so much to have others to talk to who are doing it too. You can find plenty of homeschool moms online, in discussion forums and email groups. You should try several!

Here's the answer to the homeschooling question: You can do it!

About the Author

Phyllis Wheeler writes fun computer science curriculums for self-study. Take a look at her free lesson on Internet information searching, the Internet Scavenger Hunt! And take a look at a sampling of articles on homeschooling she has for you.

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