…that is the question.
This September officially marks the beginning of our homeschooling careers. Our twin boys started Kindergarten a few weeks ago and we made the huge decision to teach them at home. Although this is a “huge” decision, it was an easy one for us. After spending almost two years weighing both the pros and cons, the pros easily won out in the end. And so we begin our journey into curriculum fairs, chalk boards, pencil shavings and the world of Classical Education and Charlotte Mason.
Recently both my husband Jeron and I have had people ask us how and why we homeschool. What books do we use? How young are they when we start teaching them? Please let me go out of my way here to state that we are beginners. This time in our lives is just starting for us and there is a world of homeschooling knowledge that we know nothing about. But, that is part of the beauty of homeschooling. We can learn along with our children. If you are struggling with this question yourself, then please allow me to encourage you to look for the tell-tale signs and symptoms of a future homeschool parent.
Homeschooling may be apart of your future if …
You have seriously considered it or even half heartedly bounced the idea around in your head. If the thought is there then maybe there is a reason and it is one worth pursuing.
You do not have full and complete confidence in the local public/private school your child would otherwise be attending. Our country is blessed to have free schooling for all classes, races, faiths, etc… but the reality is that not every public/private school in all areas are going to equip your child with the best education. Some public and private schools are better than others.
Your spouse has expressed an interest in homeschooling. We are not encouraging you to feel forced into homeschooling, but if this is something your husband/wife has suggested to you then maybe it would be worth a discussion. The same goes the other way. Women if you are feeling as though you are pushing your husband into this decision then stop. Allow him time to think about it and if it is truly the desire of your heart than pray that the God will change his heart.
Your child’s learning style does not mesh well with the typical classroom setting. Everyone is unique and different. There is no way for us all to learn the same way. It is easily possible for a child to be comfortable reading at one grade level and performing math skills on another and vice versa. At home we can allow a child to thrive in the learning environment that is best suited for their needs.
Your local school like many others across the country, may have cut school funding. At home we have the ability to make sure our children are learning art, music, foreign language, physical education and so forth everyday. Lack of government funding does not affect the quality of education that my child is receiving.
You want to be the biggest influence in your child’s life. We prefer to have our children, who are still so very young and impressionable, around things and people who will build them up spiritually. Not, tear them down or expose them to unnecessary negative influences. If they are at home with us then we have the opportunity to savor more fleeting moments of their quickly passing childhood.
You want to choose your own curriculum. There are many learning styles and methods to choose from. You have the ability to decide the type of education your child is going to receive. Gone are the days of a public Classical Education. It is your decision if you want to teach them latin, greek and history through art and literature or underwater basket weaving for that matter. My boys are learning cursive in Kindergarten. At home the abnormal can become normal and be better for it.
You are overloaded with homework. The reality is most of the time in your child’s seven hour school day is not spent doing book work and very little of it is spent outside where they can release their energy and create a healthy lifestyle. In a typical school environment, homework is a necessity. If you are feeling like this is creating more work for you and leaving you picking up the pieces then maybe homeschooling is right for you.
You fear for your child’s safety at school. Tragically in the last ten years, schools have become a battleground. Hundreds of families across our country can bare witness to that fact. Even our local metro schools here are subject to yearly stabbings and shootings. If you do feel your child is in danger at his/her school, then please act on that feeling and remove them from the situation.
Hopefully, this list has been helpful in making this decision easier for you. If you do feel like you are coming down with these “not so abnormal” symptoms then we encourage you to pray, learn, and talk about it together. On my next blog I will cover our chosen Kindergarten curriculum and other free learning sources you can take advantage of. If you have any questions or valuable information you would like to share then please feel free to leave a comment. We love to learn from you.
During nap time mommy time I painted this tree. I mixed my brown and black paint to get the varying shades of brown. If you have an older child, appoint this task to them. You could even claim it as a nature study, send them outside and have them paint a real tree.
Danielle Kyle
