Why do people choose to homeschool, and how in the world do they make homeschooling work for their families? Have you ever asked yourself these questions? As a homeschooling mom myself I’ve had the opportunity to get to know many other homeschoolers over the years. One thing I’ve learned is that there are many different reasons why families homeschool. And just as each family is different, the way they make homeschooling work for them is unique to their needs and skill sets.
Where there’s a will there’s a way! Making homeschooling work for your family starts with your “Why?”
Why do people choose to homeschool?
- They want to pass specific religious beliefs on to their children.
- Many families move a lot or travel a lot due to job or life circumstances and need the flexibility. For example, we were able to turn a cross country move into a two week long field trip visiting many beautiful landmarks along the way.
- Some families homeschool due to health reasons. Perhaps their child has some condition which prevents them from regularly attending school.
- Some homeschool so that their children can explore their interests (interest based learning) in greater depth.
- Parents of children with learning differences may feel they can best support their child’s unique learning styles through one-on-one or small group instruction.
The list above is by no means exhaustive. Alternatively, it should be noted, that many of these needs can also be met within a traditional classroom model as well with the right curriculum and the right teacher. So if you absolutely hate the thought of homeschooling, then please don’t! Indeed, there is more than one way to provide your child with the education that works best for them!
However, if you are curious about homeschooling, please know that there are many others just like you who have made homeschooling work for their families. Please read on to find out more about how homeschooling can work for you.
How do families make homeschooling work?
Video and Online Classes
Yes, there are online video classes for preschoolers all the way up through high school where students are in a virtual classroom with other students. This is a great way to cautiously break into the homeschooling lifestyle while still maintaining a structured environment and feeling less “alone” in the journey. This structured, organized approach works well for families where both parents have jobs and/or other responsibilities. Here are some great programs.
Eclectic Homeschooling
Eclectic homeschoolers choose curriculum and activities from different sources. Through trial and error they are able to identify what works best for their particular child. They understand that each of their children may learn differently, and what works for one may not work for another. Tailoring the curriculum to fit their children makes homeschooling work for these families. In my opinion, the website Cathy Duffy Reviews is hands down the best go-to site for up-to-date and non-biased curriculum reviews. It’s an invaluable tool for sifting through the mountain of homeschooling materials out there!
Hybrid Model
Some families incorporate a mixture of school at home as well as participating in specific classes or internship programs. One of our friends was able to take some excellent business courses at her local vocational school while technically home schooling the basic subjects for her sophomore and junior year.
Many are part of weekly homeschool groups that meet for special classes weekly or monthly such as art/music/science labs/field trips, etc. Classical Conversations is an excellent example of a homeschool group that offers valuable support to families. Conveniently, these groups are all over the country, and there’s probably one near you. Check it out here.
Many times highschoolers can take college courses and earn credits toward their college education. Having a flexible schedule gives them the freedom to spend more time on these classes. In addition, they can have a part time job with more flexible hours and earn money for college.
The hybrid model is a great option for highschoolers who can greatly benefit from the flexibility of being able to design their own schedule. There are some schools with programs that teach 2-3 days a week and send the kids home with work to do the other 2-3 days. (sort of a hybrid model of homeschooling.)
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are as many ways to homeschool as there are reasons for doing it. The beauty of homeschooling lies in it’s flexibility. If it’s something you are really wanting to do, there’s probably a way to make homeschooling work for your family in whatever situation you find yourself! If you’re interested in how to make homeschooling work for your family the hslda website is a good place to start! You can also google homeschooling laws in my state for lots of good info!
If you need some inspiration check out this article Six Simple Steps for Teaching Your Homeschooler to Read.