Me? Homeschool my kids!?
Has the experience of Virtual School during the last year caused you to consider homeschooling but visions of chaos and stress are making you second guess your ability to teach your children at home, and stay sane? I also started out not sure how I would manage it all, but day by day I built my confidence and skills as I learnt alongside my children. Homeschooling turned out to be one of our best parenting decisions. I want to share with you a few reality checks and words of encouragement from my 18 years of homeschooling.
Firstly, homeschooling is not school at home.
You can create a mini school at home if you want to, but there are so many more wonderful ways for your children to learn and grow outside of a school environment. Our Gage Academy for Life was an eclectic mixture of educational styles including Classical Education, Charlotte Mason, Montessori and Delight Directed topic based learning. Don’t know what those are? That’s OK. Neither did I. Our goal was for our children to have a holistic education that would help them thrive not only academically but also in their character, relationships and community life and so we sought out a way to do it.
Secondly, some of the best educational resources are free or almost free.
Your local library, community and the people around you are a rich resource. You do not have to buy lots of expensive curriculum to get started. A library card is your best beginner’s resource to help you work out what kinds of resources will work best for each of your children. Family and friends can have experience and skills you don’t and be a great way to connect and learn new things. And you will be surprised at how many amazing educational experiences and resources there are in your community or further afield depending on how much you want to travel.
Thirdly, a good education does not mean teaching your children for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Elementary aged children can make great progress doing 1-3 hours of focussed academic work a day. You can balance the rest of the day with creative play, outside physical or nature activities, field trips, intentional conversations, family chores, skills and exploring their own interests. Home education is a lifestyle that integrates learning in both formal and informal settings, and values both.
And fourth, parents are a child’s first teacher.
Your children have already learned to walk and talk, brush their own teeth, ride a bike and many other skills under your watchful eyes and encouragement. In the last generation or two, we have relied more and more on experts to teach our children, but don’t underestimate the power of a loving parent who seeks the best for their children and wants to help them learn about themselves and the wonderful world around them.
Sometimes you just need a helping hand to get you started, sift through all the options and think through some of the practicalities for your family situation. That’s where a homeschool mentor can be invaluable.
Contact me to have a conversation about your situation and make a plan.