Common Questions About Homeschooling

When should I start homeschooling?

Actually there is no "starting point" for homeschooling. As a parent, teaching your child is part of God's plan for you. As your baby begins growing, teaching should be just a natural part of your day. This includes introducing your child to books, teaching them to roll over and walking, introducing letters in their name, talking about Jesus, etc.

As far as when you should start really planning out a structured day, I believe that should start around age 3. I have started a 15 min. structured day with my 3 year old. We spend this time in a variety of ways. I will write a more detailed post about how I have started my homeschooling process.

However, you may be thinking is my child really ready? S/he really is. It's just all about starting where they are at. Remember that learning is not just things we deem as academics...it is everyday life all around you. If your child has a hard time staying still, like most toddlers, including mine, then get him/her doing things that get them up and moving! Schooling does not mean sitting at a desk doing a worksheet! Yikes! How boring! If your chid is visual, make posters. If your child is auditory, make songs. If your child loves to move, make games.

How do I know if I can handle homeschooling?

Obviously there are 4 choices for schooling. There is public school, private school, homeschooling and online public schooling. So how can you determine what is right for you. This is a BIG question for many families. First, I want to say that I have learned to stop saying "I will never do ___" or any other kinds of final statements. God always has a sense of humor in showing me that I should be going to Him for all of my decisions. So let me start there...you need to seek God's direction. I also suggest seeking Him in it EVERY YEAR! What was maybe a good fit this year, might need to change next year.

How can I know if homeschooling is NOT for my family?

Obviously we also need to know what you as the parent can handle and what is best for your child's abilities. These questions may help you figure out if homeschooling is right for you:

>Do you have a hard time with time management and/or organization? This is key to surviving the homeschooling day. There is no one holding you accountable to getting to all of your teaching material. You need to have some handle on time management. A good way to check on this is to look at your current housework. Can you keep up pretty well or are you completely overwhelmed. If you are overwhelmed, homeschooling maybe too difficult for you or your family. Don't feel like you have to be perfect though. Too much structure can inhibit learning too.

>Are you phyiscally able to handle the busyness of transporting to/from school or homeschooling from home? Maybe online public school is a better fit. Homeschooling requires some committment to be a part of other social activities.

>Do you enjoy teaching your children? Do you like learning new things? If you don't have any heart for teaching your children or learning new things, homeschooling is not right for you. If you're only desire to homeschool comes from being able to keep your children home, I really suggest doing the online public schooling for your state. You often can get free books and computers for your kids.

>Do you want to save money for your family? This is a common misconception. Curriculum is very expensive. Even shopping eBay or Amazon can still be difficult to find good, cheap curriculum. You can spend upwards of $300-500 per student for curriculum & supplies, not to mention paying for any social or sport activities that they may be involved in. Of course you will be able to reuse some of your curriculum for any younger kids and often times you can resell your materials on eBay or used book stores.  If you plan on joining a homeschooling group there may be small fees associated with that as well. Obviously if you are used to paying for private schooling, it will be cheaper to homeschool. Actually the cheapest option is online public schooling. However, if finances is a major concern, I really suggest praying about your situation. God ultimately will take care of all of your needs.

>Does my child need the socialization of school? Does my child need a different teacher besides myself? Some children are meant for the socialization of a school setting. I once had a Kindergartener that was caught staying up really late in her bed the night before coming back from Christmas break. When her mom asked her why she was still awake, she said that she was too excited to see her teacher and all of her friends. Maybe you and your child just don't click well. Maybe another authority figure such as a school teacher would be better suited to teach your child.

What are some of the benefits of homeschooling?

>It's cheaper than private or Christian schooling.
>You can tailor your curriculum to fit your child's needs.
>You can remove distractions associated with the classroom.
>You can teach them not only academics, but also fun areas like Biblical truth, sewing, sports, sign language, art, cooking, etc.
>You eliminate time wasters that come along with school like recess, teaching fillers, study halls, etc.
>You don't have to rely on teachers to communicate with you about your child's progress.
>You have the freedom to schedule your teaching time whenever you want. You can start later in the morning. You can take time off for family vacations or reunions. You can even have school on Saturdays or Sundays.
>The whole family can get involved. Dad can help teach things areas that he does well in. Older siblings can help teach younger sibilings.
>Safety is another great benefit. If the schools around you are violent or have other safety concerns, homeschooling is a great option.
>You can homeschool if you live in a different country where English is not their main language.
>Your child will not be exposed to as many colds or diseases as in a school setting. One of my first graders struggled with asthma and sometimes our school building affected her health.
>You can oversee your child's daily meals. Maybe your child has severe food allergies. Maybe your child has diabetes. At home you would be able to monitor this better.
>If your family moves, your child will be staying with the same curriculum and fellow students.
>There are several homeschooling groups that allow your child to socialize and have some creative learning opportunities.
>Your family may have high biblical standards. Homeschooling could give your family the ability to set goals for teaching your child/ren those important truths.