Homeschooling…Is It For Me??
Now that Katelyn is the ripe, old age of almost five we are having to start thinking about schooling for her. As much as I want to hide my head in the sand and pretend she’s not getting old enough for school already, I can’t. This year she will go to “Kindergarten” at the private school she went to Pre-K for last year. But technically she isn’t old enough to go to Kindergarten so if we put her in public school next year, she’ll have to do Kindergarten again. We are considering homeschooling next year. It’s a big decision and one we aren’t taking lightly. In fact, I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision just yet!
We were homeschooled until Junior High and ended up skipping grades because we were ahead. Our situation was a little different since we were missionaries to Brazil and came back to the USA every couple of years on furlough. During that time we’d travel all over the country visiting churches. Homeschooling gave my parents the flexibility they needed to continue our education while traveling all over. They also wanted us to have an American, Christian education and felt this was the best option all around at the time while living in Brazil.
Many of my cousins were homeschooled and did just as well. I’ll have to admit to dreaming about going to school once I started getting older. It seemed like such an awesome thing! Well, once I did start going to an American, Christian school it didn’t end up being all that I had dreamed that’s for sure.
Anyway, I survived and feel like I have a unique view on both sides of the homeschooling versus public schooling debate.
I’ve noticed that homeschooling has become a lot more popular these days. Even non Christians are doing it. It used to be a “Fundametalist Christian” thing and now everybody is doing it for different reasons. However, depending on where you live it can be popular or not so popular.
If I were to homeschool I’d be the only person in my area that I know that’s doing it. No one in my church homeschools (as far as I know) and none of my friends do here in Massachusetts. I wouldn’t have much family support here for it either as my husband’s family don’t seem to be supportive of the idea or like it much. My family thinks it’s great but they’re all the way in Texas!
I know there’s a certain stigma that goes with homeschooling: socially awkward children, education depending on the quality of the parent’s teaching skills , narrow minded, fundamentalist, and children unable to function in society. Comments like ” Ooh, they’re homeschooled. Thaaat’s why.”
However, there are so many options that homeschooling families have today to cover all the social and education bases that things that once seemed like huge obstacle, aren’t anymore. Things like extra curricular activities, sports, clubs and lots of social interaction at church. ( If you’re a church going family, that is).
So, needless to say this is something I’m praying my heart out about right now. My husband is kind of letting me take the lead on this since I’d be the one doing most, if not all, of the educating.
My Top Ten today deals with questions/ fears I have about homeschooling and the reasons why I want to do it.
1.What if I can’t explain a concept very well to her and she is not getting it?
2. What if I find homeschooling a certain someone very frustrating and don’t have the patience for it?
I have worked with her on preschool and pre-k concepts and we can really butt heads!
3.What if she hates it and begs to go to school like all of her friends?
4. Will people stop and ask us why my kids aren’t in school like they did us?
Whenever my mom used to take us out to the store or to run an errand during school hours when we were back on furlough some nosy person would inevitably ask why we weren’t in school at the moment. So my mom had to launch into the homeschooling explanation and then the missionary explanation. I used to die of embarrassment.It got to the point where many times we just stayed home until school was out just to avoid the nosy questions. I preferred it that way! I know that’s not a big deal now and most people probably wouldn’t ask.
5. What curriculum is the best and most simple to teach?
6. What if I feel a continual lack of support in doing this? Like we’re the odd ones out?
I can’t stand nosy, contrary people and I don’t want or feel the necessity to constantly explain myself all the time about our choice. I know for some people homeschooling is a hot topic and they are almost offended by the idea. I’ve seen many parents act as if I’m saying they aren’t good parents because they put their kids in public school.
7. Will my girls feel like they “stuck out” like I did because we were homeschooled?
Reasons why I’m considering homeschooling:
8. My children would get a Christian based education here at home. We would teach them the values we believe in and Creation based science concepts.
9. I like the simpler, slower. flexible pace of homeschooling. There would be no rushing to school in the morning and then rushing out to pick my kids up. There would be no trekking through the snow every morning with all of our gear. In and out. In and out. I feel like the time spent learning would be more efficient.
10. There is lots of one on one attention in homeschooling. Smaller class size for sure!
Do you homeschool? Are you planning on homeschooling?
On the flip side: Do you hate homeschooling and think it’s a terrible idea?
I’d love hear from all of you!
For more Top Ten Tuesday check out Oh Amanda!
