The choice to homeschool should not be made lightly. Homeschooling is legal in every state, but you need to research and discuss in order to make a wise decision. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you want to know if homeschooling is right for your family, and to see if it is a option for your family.
Am I comfortable spending all of my time with my children? One of the main reasons that people homeschool is because they love their children and want what's best for them. They also genuinely like spending time with their children, which is good since you'll be spending all of your time with them. If your children frustrate you easily, homeschooling might not be a good match for you.
Will questions about homeschooling bother me? Homeschoolers are asked a lot of questions. These questions could be anything from what curriculum they're using or about what socialization skills they are using. When homeschooling, it would help if you do not mind being asked the same questions more than once.
How can I find out about homeschooling? Check out books from your public library. There is more than likely a large selection of books that will tell you everything you need to know. The librarian might even be able to tell you if there are any homeschoolers in the area, since most homeschoolers rely heavily upon the library for source materials.
Doing an online research for "homeschool groups (your city)" or "homeschool groups (your state)," finding local homeschoolers, or reading some books will help in the process of finding an available support system. On many occasions there are opportunities for families to get together and have some fun, and homeschooling co-ops are available in many places.
After you have found some families that already homeschool, ask them about the pros and cons of homeschooling if you still have questions. Most families will be more than willing to share information, be honest about their reasons, and will be more than happy to help you make an honest decision. Some other questions you may ask; Should you be concerned about socialization for your children? Should you be worried about curriculum? What types of hardships they had to deal with when starting to homeschool. Do they have any suggestions about what to use or not to use?
When choosing a curriculum, you need to know that curriculum choices are astronomical - in the price, and often in the variety available. While it is possible to homeschool without using a set curriculum, it is also possible to have "school at home" by choosing books very similar to those offered in public schools. The library books you check out earlier should have given you an idea of what your child should learn in each grade, and should have explained about the different methods.
Am I comfortable spending all of my time with my children? One of the main reasons that people homeschool is because they love their children and want what's best for them. They also genuinely like spending time with their children, which is good since you'll be spending all of your time with them. If your children frustrate you easily, homeschooling might not be a good match for you.
Will questions about homeschooling bother me? Homeschoolers are asked a lot of questions. These questions could be anything from what curriculum they're using or about what socialization skills they are using. When homeschooling, it would help if you do not mind being asked the same questions more than once.
How can I find out about homeschooling? Check out books from your public library. There is more than likely a large selection of books that will tell you everything you need to know. The librarian might even be able to tell you if there are any homeschoolers in the area, since most homeschoolers rely heavily upon the library for source materials.
Doing an online research for "homeschool groups (your city)" or "homeschool groups (your state)," finding local homeschoolers, or reading some books will help in the process of finding an available support system. On many occasions there are opportunities for families to get together and have some fun, and homeschooling co-ops are available in many places.
After you have found some families that already homeschool, ask them about the pros and cons of homeschooling if you still have questions. Most families will be more than willing to share information, be honest about their reasons, and will be more than happy to help you make an honest decision. Some other questions you may ask; Should you be concerned about socialization for your children? Should you be worried about curriculum? What types of hardships they had to deal with when starting to homeschool. Do they have any suggestions about what to use or not to use?
When choosing a curriculum, you need to know that curriculum choices are astronomical - in the price, and often in the variety available. While it is possible to homeschool without using a set curriculum, it is also possible to have "school at home" by choosing books very similar to those offered in public schools. The library books you check out earlier should have given you an idea of what your child should learn in each grade, and should have explained about the different methods.
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