Over the last few years I've noticed something about homeschoolers. Some are scared of getting in "trouble" with the powers to be. They want to make sure that all the lines are filled in and that they are doing it "right." They feel the need to justify what they are doing.
What if I were to share that back when homeschooling was first being legalized (which means there were some families who were educating their children at home and breaking the law) in the state of Maine, it was required that you go before the local school board and present how you would be educating your children at home? (True story.) And what if I shared that this didn't bother most families at all. What if I shared that the way the law read before the "Letter of Intent" was implemented in the early 2000s, that you had to provide an eight page application to the state for every child you wanted to educate at home detailing your day, your curriculum, and what homeschool group you planned to participate in, just to name a couple things? (Again, true story.).
Oftentimes I think there has been a severe disservice done to those who opt to educate their children in a different way. Families often feel they have to teach their children at home just like they do in a classroom. They take a room in their house and put in desks, install a whiteboard, and add maps to the walls. They stand in front of their kids and "teach" them. They give tests to check progress. Essentially, they end up recreating a school environment at home.
Now, if this works for you, more power to you! If it works for your kids too, even better. That's not what I'm opposing today.
However, homeschooling is about freedom. It's about being able to teach your children in the best what that they learn. Not all parents have teaching degrees, but all parents love their kids and want the best for them. If you've decided that homeschooling is for you and your family, then don't think there is only way one to educate your child. Don't fall into the "boxed curriculum trap."
{Boxed curriculum = purchasing all of your curriculum from one single place in all subjects.}
You may actually find that the science from one publishers is exactly what you need, plus you'll be using Khan Academy to do math online, and for Language Arts? You'll spend time reading out loud to the children, books that are above their reading level, and then discuss what they enjoyed. You'll use this time to increase their vocabulary and encourage them to write stories about what they just read.
We can hinder the learning process, in my opinion, if we stick our kids in a box. Public school is great at this. Every five year old must enter Kindergarten and learn to sit still. They must learn to read and write. They must...But what if they don't sit still? What if they aren't quite ready to learn to read or write? What if they learn best by being outside in nature and observing life around them? What if they still need a nap?
So today I am granting your permission. Experiment with how your child learns best. Look at what works best for your family and your schedule. Perhaps it's what you've been needing to hear from someone. If you are a family who all enjoy staying up late, then perhaps you learn best starting mid-afternoon and going into the night. Is the opposite true? Then set up your schedule to best maximize it. Do you have a dad who works shift work? Set up your schedule to match it. Want to enjoy a three day weekend every single week? Then school four days.
One of the best benefits of homeschooling is customization. Don't limit yourself. Use every available opportunity you can find to educate your children in the way that works best for you and for them.
Enjoy your freedom to the fullest!
What if I were to share that back when homeschooling was first being legalized (which means there were some families who were educating their children at home and breaking the law) in the state of Maine, it was required that you go before the local school board and present how you would be educating your children at home? (True story.) And what if I shared that this didn't bother most families at all. What if I shared that the way the law read before the "Letter of Intent" was implemented in the early 2000s, that you had to provide an eight page application to the state for every child you wanted to educate at home detailing your day, your curriculum, and what homeschool group you planned to participate in, just to name a couple things? (Again, true story.).
Oftentimes I think there has been a severe disservice done to those who opt to educate their children in a different way. Families often feel they have to teach their children at home just like they do in a classroom. They take a room in their house and put in desks, install a whiteboard, and add maps to the walls. They stand in front of their kids and "teach" them. They give tests to check progress. Essentially, they end up recreating a school environment at home.
Now, if this works for you, more power to you! If it works for your kids too, even better. That's not what I'm opposing today.
However, homeschooling is about freedom. It's about being able to teach your children in the best what that they learn. Not all parents have teaching degrees, but all parents love their kids and want the best for them. If you've decided that homeschooling is for you and your family, then don't think there is only way one to educate your child. Don't fall into the "boxed curriculum trap."
{Boxed curriculum = purchasing all of your curriculum from one single place in all subjects.}
You may actually find that the science from one publishers is exactly what you need, plus you'll be using Khan Academy to do math online, and for Language Arts? You'll spend time reading out loud to the children, books that are above their reading level, and then discuss what they enjoyed. You'll use this time to increase their vocabulary and encourage them to write stories about what they just read.
We can hinder the learning process, in my opinion, if we stick our kids in a box. Public school is great at this. Every five year old must enter Kindergarten and learn to sit still. They must learn to read and write. They must...But what if they don't sit still? What if they aren't quite ready to learn to read or write? What if they learn best by being outside in nature and observing life around them? What if they still need a nap?
So today I am granting your permission. Experiment with how your child learns best. Look at what works best for your family and your schedule. Perhaps it's what you've been needing to hear from someone. If you are a family who all enjoy staying up late, then perhaps you learn best starting mid-afternoon and going into the night. Is the opposite true? Then set up your schedule to best maximize it. Do you have a dad who works shift work? Set up your schedule to match it. Want to enjoy a three day weekend every single week? Then school four days.
One of the best benefits of homeschooling is customization. Don't limit yourself. Use every available opportunity you can find to educate your children in the way that works best for you and for them.
Enjoy your freedom to the fullest!
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