Homeschooling

Homeschooling is more than just an educational choice affecting the children within a family. Choosing to educate at home means selecting a whole lifestyle which affects every family member. Deciding to homeschool your child is a big decision for any parent to make. You may be uncertain of all that homeschooling entails or wonder how you will balance all the aspects of your life. Learning the ins and outs about homeschooling can help you decide if homeschooling is right for your family.

Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

Many parents who initially consider homeschooling are plagued with the weight of the responsibility. Many would-be homeschoolers ask themselves if they can really educate their child, really compete with a school and certified teachers or really provide all of the opportunities that going to school provides. Are there benefits to homeschooling? Are there any negatives to homeschooling? The answer to both questions is yes.

Benefits of Homeschooling

There are many benefits to homeschooling your kids. While some advantages of homeschooling are proclaimed by mothers everywhere, organizations like the National Home Education Research Institute document research on the benefits of homeschooling.

Family Bonding - Families who engage in a learning lifestyle enjoy lots of discussion, opportunities and learning with each other. Conseuently sibling relationships, as well as relationships with parents, tend to be tightly knit.
Learning Compatibility - Many children do not function well in a traditional classroom. Homeschooling allows parents to teach to that child's learning style, allowing them to master material in a way that makes sense or meets special needs.
Stronger Academics - Studies have shown that homeschoolers tend to outperform their publicly-schooled peers on nationally standardized tests.
Choice in Subject Matter - Families can choose the subject matter they are going to study. More importantly, families can omit objectionable material from the curriculum.
Educational Opportunities - Homeschoolers are often able to take advantage of a more flexible schedule that enables them to take advantage of some fairly incredible opportunities. Think Christopher Paolini, writer of Eragorn (written at the ripe age of 15), Kristen Stewart who filmed some of Twilight while still in high school, and the Jonas Brothers, musicians who finished their schooling on the road. Even if your child is not destined to be famous, many homeschoolers take advantage of college classes, volunteer opportunities and internships that really help set them apart.

Cons of Homeschooling

The prudent parent recognizes that no system is perfect and even in the best of situations, there can be a negative side to homeschooling. Some negatives that any parent considering homeschooling should be aware of include:

High school Sports - There are school districts that have open policies that allow homeschoolers to play on a high school team, however, there are many who don't. Your teen may need to give up sports to finish high school at home.
College Entrance - Many colleges, including the Ivy leagues, actively recruit homeschoolers. However, there are some colleges, particularly larger state universities that either don't admit homeschoolers from high school, or have stricter entrance requirements for homeschoolers. However, careful planning can help avoid any issues later on.
Loss of Income - Homeschooling doesn't have to mean that you have to start spending your days washing out baggies for reuse; however, to homeschool successfully, it might mean that your family has to make some choices regarding who works and how much.
Lack of Support - Many homeschoolers feel the pinch when their friends and sometimes even family start to question or comment on homeschooling. As with many situations in life, you just need to develop a thick skin.

Getting Started

Read and Research

The first steps to start homeschooling your children are to read and research as much information as possible. You will want to check out different curriculums and learn about the laws in your state that regulate homeschooling. Some excellent resources to get started are:

Network with Others

It's essential for the success of your educational experience that you reach out, share, and interact with like-minded families. A support system is an invaluable tool to the homeschooling family. Your local homeschool support group can offer support in a variety of ways including:

Offering classes for enrichment and even academics
Helping you comply with your state's laws
Giving you a supportive shoulder to lean on
Connecting you to veteran homeschoolers to see how they have tackled tough issues

Choose Curriculum

In the world of homeschooling, there are many roads that lead to Rome, meaning that there are a variety of paths that will help you teach your student and lead him to succeed in school. Most parents will switch curriculum several times before deciding on what works. Some parents will find a good fit, but find that it only fits for awhile. Other parents are committed to a particular philosophy and use a curriculum that touts this philosophy. Regardless of what you're considering, keep these tips in mind before you make your final purchase:

Your child has a learning style - a way in which he learns best - but you also have a teaching style. Look for a curriculum that marries your philosophy of education with your child's learning style so you'll both be happy.
Avoid purchasing something because all of your friends have it. Just because it's good for them, doesn't mean it's good for you.
Think of your ultimate goal and choose curriculum that will help you meet that goal.

The Homeschooling Lifestyle

Homeschooling families live a lifestyle that requires participation from every family member. Make the decision to homeschool together and embrace the good and the bad together. Years from now, you may be able to look back and be glad for the time you invested in your family.