Why Homeschooling Works.
68Even before I had children I knew I wanted to homeschool them. Interestingly, I didn't have an idea what homeschooling really was about. However, as my baby was growing into a curious toddler and then into an "ask a thousand question" preschooler I realized I was on my way to becoming a homeschooling mama. It somehow never crossed my mind to ignore a curiosity driven little one but I kept on answering her questions and explaining the facts of life. There were times I spent hours sitting with my daughter nestled comfortably next to me and we explored children's encyclopedias and reading her favorite books. So when the time arrived for us to send her to kindergarten it was obvious I was going to continue the way we were already doing.
There are various ways to homeschool depending on state you live in. It is good to check the laws pertaining to homeschooling to know you are on a right track: http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp. Some states require more paperwork than other and some are more relaxed about the amount of documentation you need to provide.
Learn more about different homeschooling methods:
- Unschooling - how we do it in our family
People nowadays are familiar with homeschooling and what that may entail but when it comes to unschooling they may not know exactly what it is. The term unschooling was originally coined by John Holt in 1970s.... - What is Unschooling? Home Schooling
It is a form of home schooling except the child learns what they are interested in the most.The child has the freedom to learn what they love, many people still incorporate standard book work with...
Find out what is your child's learning style
Regardless of approach you choose to tackle homeschooling make sure you follow your child's interests and draw on that. Some children love hands on approach and plenty of cool experiments while other will prefer books and quiet time to immerse themselves in their activity. Each child is different and trying to compare yours to other homeschoolers will not usually work because everyone has a different learning style: http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm and each family has different needs. Focus on what is interesting to your child and let him lead you. If this is allowed to happen you will discover that she will shine in certain areas of study. Children who are homeschooled are usually very vocal about what they want to know and they have that natural innate curiosity that drives them. They have never been intimidated by the system, squashed and silenced into submission. They are individuals with strong preferences and open minds. Thus they are perfectly able to explore and dive into a new project, execute it and later on move on. There are no set limits on how much or little they have to do, no set timelines by a teacher. You are their teacher but you need to know that the older they get the more in charge they are. They eventually discover what they want to be in the future and if that requires studying calculus or a foreign language, they will do it.
You are your child's first teacher.
Now, I have to say that there are days in our homeschooling life that are not that perfect. However, looking globally at the choice we have made, I have no doubt about all the good that came out of that.
If you consider homeschooling and are wondering whether you could do it, think about yourself as of your child's first ever teacher. You taught your son the language he speaks now fluently and answered millions of questions in meantime. You know your child the best. Do you think any institution could have a better grasp on your child and potentially a better influence on his education? Probably not.
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munirahmadmughal,
Thanks for your kind response. That is exactly the thing that motivates me, my children will be the ones making decisions in future. If I can change the world, I am starting with them, giving them a solid foundation for life, foundation of knowledge, love and self-esteem. Monika
good article, I home school my son as well and haven't regret it.
Most of the Presidents of America was home schooled, so why not our kids!
Stay bless!
Sharon, thank you. I am glad you like it.
There are some parents who are cut out to homeschool their kids while others simply do not have the patience...and perhaps the skill. I loved how you shared the advantages of homeschooling, this will surely help those parents who are thinking about it but still unsure.
Congratulations on your Hubnuggets nomination! Follow this link please so you could read and vote!http://hubpages.com/_hubnuggets6/hub/A-Judge-Bee-M
Thanks ripplemaker for your comment. Yes, I agree that some are not cut out for this, homeschooling is a big commitment.
I have tried homeschooling once. It wasn't my child and I hadn't had enough time around the child to learn her interests. I heard she did OK in public school in later years. Her mother was supposed to be her teacher but never found the time.
I have always know that children do better when they know two languages and believe they should be taught the second language from the minute they say their first word.
From what I have seen children home-schooled 4 days a week and have one day with other children but with their parents still there do the best. Its a model they use in Pennsylvania.
I have also been responsible for teaching children and know keeping the interest of a group is not an easy thing to do.
In my home now the children all go out to school, when they are home, homework is their responsibility. They often come to the adults for help when they don't know something and love reading time no matter which of the adults do it.
I do work with them in two languages but I read the second language better than I can speak it. I can't seem to find books written in the other language, and my Indian is so rusty I don't even speak it now.
Game time however is interesting, we don't play cowboys and Indians, we play Indian. When they are older they will be taught everything I can teach them from a wheelchair about our shared heritage. Congratulations on your nomination. Voted up
wheelinallover, thanks for your comment. It certainly is easier to homeschool your own child because you know her best. We are a bilingual family and the first language my daughters heard from me was my mother tongue, then they learnt English. We tend to talk in my native language and read in English simply because there are more books in that language available to us.
Education is a basic need and a basic right. Sadly we are not all blessed with it. If we decide to homeschool we are holding that basic need very close - the challange is always to challenge and create opportunities for shared learning. I have home schooled my 4 children for 7 years and I have no regrets...
I admire anyone who has the patience to homeschool. We didn't have that back in the day. Now I take every opportunity to have educational experiences with my grandchildren. We like to read, play educational games and go to museums. Great hub.
Thank you for sharing your experiences! I've tried homeschooling and sometimes I love it, other times I hate it. I'm not sure we'll keep doing it, but at least I gave it a shot. I admire those parents who do it well. Good luck!
elayne001, thank you. Yes, it takes a lot of patience and trust that your children will turn out well ;)
Bethany, it is not an easy path. There are days when everything goes smoothly and days when I am doubting my choice. It is an overall experience and seeing how my daughters are thriving that moves me forward. Thanks!
Great hub, Montisajda!
You are so right about discovering your child's unique learning style. That's what I did when I decided to homeschool my daughter for a couple of years back in the early 90s. Once I knew that she was primarily a "kinesthetic" learner who loves learning by doing, I had to adjust her curriculum to include more "hands-on" activities.
A funny story. I bought one of those stunt kites for her and we went out on the Mall in Washington DC one windy March day to fly it. I'm a "linguistic" learner primarily, so of course I had to find the perfect book on how to fly these kites and read the instructions before attempting to fly it. But as I sat down to read, my daughter became more and more restless until she finally said, "Mom, let's just DO it!" I had to step out of my comfort zone and fly the kite with her without knowing in advance how to do it. Everything worked out fine, however, especially when another kite flyer came over to help us.
Congrats on your nomination, and welcome to Hubpages!
Thanks PWalker281. I am a visual learner so for me to learn anything is simply enough to see it once, especially if it is a graph. For my older daughter it is the audio method. I was getting frustrated sometimes because I was reading to her and tried to coerce her to come over to look at the illustration but she preferred to make cartwheels in meantime. Haven't I known this I would just get angry with her...
Now that my child is grown up, I still wish I could of home school him, I think his education would of brought him more education then what he has received in the regular school. I do believe he needs to learn a lot more but he is 30 and has his own mind.
Congratulaions on this Hubnugget winner! Great topic. Home Schooling is a great idea. Children get customized teaching - how cool is that. Vote Up and Useful!
patlesaux, thank you for commenting. I think that at his age now, he is perfectly capable of thinking for himself. Good luck to him!
Treasuresofheaven, thank you for voting up and your warm comment. It sure does mean a lot to a newbie!
Congratulations on your win for this excellent, well-written article. I believe if the parent is able that homeschooling is always a good option. I love the way you explain the potential for your child to not just do the bare minimum, but explorer areas that are very interesting to him or her. Voted/rated up.
Pamela, thank you for your kind comment!
Awesome, encouraging hub, which deserves the Hubnuggets nomination! Congratulations!
I home-schooled my daughter when she turned 5 years old (really started sooner given all the things that my husband and I did with her in her first 5 years). Took a "break" this year to send her to Kindergarten, but will resume home-schooling in the fall for her first-grade year. Have been working with her around Kindergarten, and applauding her moments of self-directed learning/basic skills practice (reading, writing, art, science...) throughout the year.
At school, she is often frustrated with the fact that she is rushed through the busy work provided and is often not able to work at her own pace. If she takes too long to transition from one activity to another, she receives a form of "demerit" (in Kindergarten?!) I believe that her teachers do their best given the typical classroom situation and the atmosphere in the typical school (I actually like her school community, so I'm a little torn), but I believe that I would love to keep aflame her love of learning, and give her the freedom to do so at her own pace. I co-taught Kindergarten and taught 2nd grade...and I think I will be a better at home-schooling my daughter than I was as a classroom teacher. I also think that if she were to continue to attend public school, she would have less chances to run outside and get the exercise she needs as the grades progress. I also don't like the whole standardized test scene...which is another reason I am eager to home-school her.
Blessed be!
Seafarer Mama,thanks for your comment. That's true, parents practically homeschool their children from the moment they are born. We just seem to discredit it because it is not "real" schooling as we think of it. School is a setting for many children and teachers, even the ones with the best intentions, have to make sure kids follow certain time frames and are teaching for the tests.
Nice article, homeschooling is tough, but worth it!
munirahmadmughal 16 months ago
"Why Homeschooling Works"
The hub is based on personal experience. And any thing based on personal experience is always better than a thing without such experience.
Parents and specially the mother are blessed with natural love for their children and no one can better judge what their child wants to knoe or to have.
Home schooling makes the sound foundation, and sdevelops in the child courage and fortitude to meet any challange which he or she when enters the normal schools may have to face in any form.
Where parents despite having time and skill do not provide this facility to their children they are ignoring their duty towards the child.
Todays child is tomorrows master and we have to do for him or her all that we can do to the best of our ability and capacity.
The hub is really excellent.
May God bless all and the children of the world and their parents and may they live long and be successful in their respective carriers. (Amen).