If you are a parent who is considering homeschooling, it is imperative that you have as much information as possible. This is a decision which will impact the lifestyle of your entire family. In this article I will talk about some of the reasons for and against homeschooling.
Your first consideration should be whether or not you have the knowledge and teaching skills to teach your children everything they would be taught in a traditional school setting. Many parents feel comfortable homeschooling their younger children but when it comes to chemistry or calculus - yikes! Some parents are very knowledgeable about advanced mathematics or science but are completely clueless as to how to teach these concepts to children. It is important to honestly evaluate your own strengths and abilities.
Next you must take into account the time commitment. Lesson planning, gathering materials, and correcting your child's lessons take lots of time in addition to the actual classroom time. Are you financially able to leave your job? Do you really want to spend all day every day with your child? Don't feel like a bad parent if you don"t! Everyone has their own tolerance for togetherness!
Finally, you need to consider the change in the social life of your family. If you decide to leave your job, you will no longer have professional colleagues to interact with. If your children have been attending a traditional school, they will not be able to see their buddies on a daily basis. Some of your friends may even look at you and your kids as weird!
Had of enough of the negatives? Let's move on to some positive aspects of homeschooling.
Choosing to homeschool your children does not have to isolate your family. You can find thousands of co-ops, support groups, and websites for homeschooling families. You can get together with local groups of homeschool parents to discuss ideas and questions, and to plan events, field trips, etc. You children will meet new friends with whom to play and study.
There are also loads of homeschooling curriculums that take the burden of planning off of you. Some are yearly program bundles and some are delivered to you weekly or monthly. The beauty of using these programs is that you can move through them at your own pace, depending on the needs of your child. Be sure to choose a program that includes a guide that gives you teaching instructions and an answer key.
Finally, parents who homeschool their children say that their relationship with their children are much closer than before and that it was the best decision they have ever made!
Your first consideration should be whether or not you have the knowledge and teaching skills to teach your children everything they would be taught in a traditional school setting. Many parents feel comfortable homeschooling their younger children but when it comes to chemistry or calculus - yikes! Some parents are very knowledgeable about advanced mathematics or science but are completely clueless as to how to teach these concepts to children. It is important to honestly evaluate your own strengths and abilities.
Next you must take into account the time commitment. Lesson planning, gathering materials, and correcting your child's lessons take lots of time in addition to the actual classroom time. Are you financially able to leave your job? Do you really want to spend all day every day with your child? Don't feel like a bad parent if you don"t! Everyone has their own tolerance for togetherness!
Finally, you need to consider the change in the social life of your family. If you decide to leave your job, you will no longer have professional colleagues to interact with. If your children have been attending a traditional school, they will not be able to see their buddies on a daily basis. Some of your friends may even look at you and your kids as weird!
Had of enough of the negatives? Let's move on to some positive aspects of homeschooling.
Choosing to homeschool your children does not have to isolate your family. You can find thousands of co-ops, support groups, and websites for homeschooling families. You can get together with local groups of homeschool parents to discuss ideas and questions, and to plan events, field trips, etc. You children will meet new friends with whom to play and study.
There are also loads of homeschooling curriculums that take the burden of planning off of you. Some are yearly program bundles and some are delivered to you weekly or monthly. The beauty of using these programs is that you can move through them at your own pace, depending on the needs of your child. Be sure to choose a program that includes a guide that gives you teaching instructions and an answer key.
Finally, parents who homeschool their children say that their relationship with their children are much closer than before and that it was the best decision they have ever made!
About the Author:
Want to find out more about homeschooling, then visit Debra Baethge's site on how to choose the best homeschool curriculum for your needs.
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