Should I Homeschool My Child? How To Know If Homeschooling Is Right For You...

Should I Homeschool My Child? How To Know If Homeschooling Is Right For You...

Homeschooling, which is currently legal in all 50 states, is the choice of many parents who seek an alternative to traditional schools for their children for various reasons.

But let's face it. Many people right now feel they are being "forced" to homeschool because of what is happening in the public school systems across the country as well as the "situation" with the world in general.

For instance, in New York State in 2019, religious exemptions for school vaccinations were banned, forcing thousands of parents to pull their children and homeschool with little notice.

In 2020, thousands more chose to homeschool to avoid the mask mandates brought on by the "pandemic".

And even now, there's so much more to worry about from the schools teaching Critical Race Theory, extremely liberal sex education and mandating the experimental [email protected]'s - in one word - terrifying.

But no matter you're reason for exploring the homeschool option, know that most of the stereotypes you have heard about are really just stemming from lack of knowledge and experience from those doing the stereotyping. We "homeschoolers" are legit "cool". (Even if we still do use '90s lingo!)

And if you're anything like me, then you will find yourself with a million questions like "what is homeschooling?", and "where do I start?".

Deciding to homeschool is an important decision. Before committing, I suggest exploring the following to be better informed when assessing if homeschooling is right for your family:

Why Should You Homeschool?

It's important to first ask yourself WHY you're considering homeschooling. It's also important to note if your perceived difficulty of homeschooling outweighs the overall reason for trying in the first place. And before we start, remember that if "homeschooling" doesn't work out, you're never "stuck" doing it.

For our "WHY", there was no way my children were going to be wearing masks in school. Nor were they going to continue being fed the left-leaning educational material I spotted coming home with them during virtual learning. Nope. I knew that even though I was running 2 businesses at home alone, I was going to make sure my 4 kids got a quality education at home, despite the challenges we were going to face.

Was I going to have to make sacrifices? Yup.

Was I going to be frustrated? Yup.

Did I fear what others would think? Yup.

Did I feel my children's future was worth it? You bet ya!

In the end, my WHY was stronger than my fears. And that's how I made it "work". (And I still own & run 2 businesses and homeschool myself to this day!)

So, take a quick moment to figure out you're "WHY" & then, let's dive into what homeschooling really means!

What Homeschooling Really Means

Homeschooling is the process in which one or more children of not more than 2 families are instructed by parents, legal guardians, and/or a member of either household. The laws that define homeschooling vary from state to state as do the requirements for establishing a home school - some states require registration while others don't.

While homeschooling may sound intimidating, the actual process of education begins long before a child enters school. Many children entering kindergarten already know their alphabet, the names of animals and their colors and shapes by heart- all thanks to the hard work from family members who have taken time to teach them these things and more!

So, homeschooling is just a natural progression from here. Instead of sending your child to a public school, parents choose or create their own curriculum and teach the child in ways that best suit their needs.

This effective (and often superior) approach to education has been around for many years because it provides each student with an environment tailored specifically to his or her talents and learning styles as opposed to the "one-size-fits-all" approach of public schools.

Now let's talk about what homeschooling is and what homeschooling is NOT...

Homeschooling VS Public School (Distance Learning)

Homeschooling and distance learning are often confused for one another. While they both share similar practices, there are some key differences between the two:

Homeschooling is a child's instruction (with parents as teachers) in his or her own surroundings, usually within the home. The child's curriculum is usually selected by the parents and not dictated by the school.

While some homeschooling families like to use curriculum similar to a public school system, most homeschooling families enjoy the freedom of being able to teach their children subjects according to their interests rather than to specific state guidelines. (For instance, my son was interested in home improvement in 5th grade, so instead of regular "art" class, he learned how to install laminate flooring, refinish cabinetry and do some landscaping...and YES, this counts as practical arts!)

Yes, you'll have to make sure you follow your state's subject requirements, but for the most part, the curriculum for those subjects are not usually set in stone.

(You can search for your state's requirements here: https://hslda.org/legal)

Distance learning, sometimes referred to as virtual learning or remote learning, is when a child's public school instruction (with teachers as instructors) is broadcast online so that the child can learn the decided material without having to be physically present in the place it's being taught. (This is what most students experienced in 2020 when most schools shut down.)  In this instance, the child's curriculum is usually dictated by the school.

There are even public schools that now offer full-time virtual programs so children can learn without ever leaving home. It SOUNDS like "homeschool" would be an appropriate term for this learning, but it's actually just doing your typical school day at home. There's definitely not as much freedom in your day, but can work for those who aren't interested in an alternative education and are only choosing school at home for reasons directly related to being around others in a school setting.

What homeschooling is really like

When you are deciding on homeschooling your child, I highly recommend discussing the option of homeschool with existing homeschooling families - whether in person or online - and find out what they like & dislike about it.

You can also assess how their homeschool experience relates to your own goals for your child's education. This will give you a better overall "feel" for what homeschooling is really like, rather than just taking my word for it. (Although I DO absolutely love it!)

We have an amazing Facebook Group called "Busy Moms Building A Business" and it's made up of exactly these types of people - many of us homeschool! And we keep God top priority...that's our specialty! We'd LOVE for you to join us there!

Click here to join our uplifting moms group now: http://www.facebook.com/groups/faithworkhomeschool

How much does homeschooling cost?

When you're considering homeschooling your child, be aware that you may have some OPTIONAL associated costs, depending on what associations you join and the type of curriculum you choose. This could be anywhere from ZERO dollars (like using the "Easy Peasy" curriculum or the "Khan Academy" app online) up to perhaps a few thousand dollars every year, depending on your curriculum choices.

For my family of 4 kids, we spent under $1500 total on curriculum our first year - and we wasted a LOT of money on stuff we never used, so there's that, lol! I went nuts at the dollar stores and Ollie's grabbing workbook after workbook thinking I'd be awful at creating my own style of teaching.

Boy, was I wrong.

BUT, because I grew up in public school and knew no other way of teaching at the time, it DID help with the transition to homeschooling. So don't worry if you feel like you are swimming with options - you ARE and that's okay - you'll learn as you go!

Unless your state requires a specific curriculum, there is no set "cost" to homeschool. My family, friends and members of our online community frequently use free or cheap online learning programs, find used homeschool curriculum inside homeschool Facebook groups or on Ebay and other online shops, and make up their own as they go! You'd be surprised how many activities in your area can be educational AND free!

(Hint: Our family loves nature walks & hiking for science, swimming in the lake for gym class, visiting museums for history and grocery shopping for math!)

Do you have to know everything about each subject you teach?

Whelp, if you did, I guarantee you that there'd only be like 7 people in the world qualified to do so, lol! (And I'm NOT one of them!)

You do NOT need to be an expert to homeschool.

Let me repeat...

You do NOT need to be an expert to homeschool.

Nor do you have to know ANYTHING about the subjects if your child is old enough (and mature enough) to complete student-led curriculum.

If your child is quite young, then I guarantee you already do some type of "homeschooling" at home. Ever teach your child their colors? Their numbers? How to write their name? See, you're almost there already!

True teaching is all about inspiring learning, and this process continues over time for everyone. And if you feel your skills are just "meh" in some subjects, there are plenty of resources to help you in your teaching journey: books, online information, homeschool co-ops, tutors --you have many options available!

When you're deciding if you should homeschool, take some time to explore the different methods of teaching that suit you best. And also, know what style of learning your child prefers. This will help you narrow down your curriculum choices when you're further into the process.

We'll talk more about that later, but for now, just know that there's no particular cost you MUST incur as a homeschooling family.

Are homeschoolers socially awkward?

You know what? When it comes to homeschooling vs public school, I really don't think there is much of a difference in social skills at all. In fact, my kids have far more opportunities for socialization each day than they ever had as students in public school. (I just happen to be writing this when 2 kids are at soccer, one is at guitar and the other is taking her live sign language class online!)

As homeschoolers, my kids are getting together with friends at co-ops all over the city and the state and do at least 5 social activities each week between 3 groups of children. (Church school, youth group, American Heritage Girls, Trail Life USA and our homeschool co-op...not to mention getting together with their friends just for fun!)

In fact, I've even become much more social since school hours no longer dictate my personal schedule. I block out my hours for work and then am able to fit anything in anywhere I want to! Granted, there are days where I spend more time in the car than on my feet, but hey, I'll take it!

(And I'm really grateful to hang out with other like-minded moms that love their faith, freedom and family!)

Don't forget to join our busy moms business community here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/faithworkhomeschool

Homeschool Freedom Is Priceless!

Lastly, I want to mention that homeschooling offers so many benefits that may not be available in the public school setting.

The freedom to:

• choose an educational plan best suited for my children
• set my own schedule
• and to expand my kids' circle of friends

...are just a few examples of why I will ALWAYS homeschool.

We are also a family who loves to travel - and the homeschool lifestyle is AMAZING for allowing as many road trips as you could possibly want!

We took several road trips along the east coast back in 2020-21 and the kids got to experience more culture and history during those travels than they ever learned in public school.

From Gettysburg to the Frontier Cultural Museum, from Charleston to Davy Crockett's birthplace, from Boldt Castle to Disney World, life was an educational (and fun!) adventure.

And to be honest, the small challenges we may face as a homeschooling family are worth it because I see my children grow academically and even more so in character.

(When the "Bible" can be a subject, I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty priceless!)

---> Considering homeschooling?  Already Decided To?

If you're a stressed-out, time-deprived, newly working-and-homeschooling mom that carries the worry of "failing your child" while balancing both, we've got just what you need!

Click to download our FREE Guide: 

How To Avoiding Homeschool Failure - As A Busy Working Mom!