It's Time For School! (Part III)

We are now coming to the end of my "Which School?" rant and I can honestly say I've never been happier. Looking into all of this information is quite rigorous and stressful, especially as I'm preparing for my finals, but I do it for the sake of my readers. Hopefully I have covered all of the basics in the first two posts, but if not feel free to ask questions and give me suggestions for future topics. The final post in this school time trilogy is going to be about home schools. Most folks actually forget that homeschooling your child is an option but don't worry, that's what I'm here for. To provide you with a little more information so you can make the best possible choice for your child.

Home Schools

In today's society many parents are going against the norm and choosing to teach their kids at home rather than sending them to any sort of public or private institution. About 1.5 million children in 2007 were educated at home by parents or private tutors, or through online programs. Thankfully homeschooling is legal in every state however, each state does have different laws governing homeschooling. In every case states regulate home schools and set requirements just like other schools. Although oversight does vary widely, some states do not require notification that a child is being educated at home, while others require homeschooled students to have their progress evaluated in some way. In a few states, homeschooling parents must use curricula approved by the state, obtain teaching credentials, or undergo home visits by state officials. In most states families can create their own curriculum or buy educational materials developed for homeschoolers.

 

Why Parents Home School

There is never one reason for why parents decide to homeschool their children. Some of the top reasons parents gave for homeschooling are:

• Concern about the public/private schools' environment
• Dissatisfaction with academic instruction
• Religious or moral reasons
• Child has a physical or mental health problem
• Child has other special needs
• To develop character/morality

Three Important Questions

Before one decides they are going to home school their child they should think about three key questions to ask themselves:

• How will I teach my child? 
• You can either use set activities and specific school hours, or you can take the laid-back approach known as "unschooling." Unschooling consists of the child deciding school hours, subject, learning methods, and content material. This method is based on the notion that children learn best when they're ready to learn.
• What will I teach my child?

• Some parents create and teach their own curriculum, while others buy a commercial program. Curriculum programs specifically engineered for homeschooling include lesson plans, texts, activities and tests. Additionally, local public or charter schools that support homeschooling may offer helpful resources.
• Who will teach my child?
• It is true that many parents take on the task of teaching their children themselves, but there are others that recognize they can't do it all. These parents supplement their teaching by hiring tutors, calling on friends, or enrolling their children in select classes at museums, libraries, junior colleges, 4-H clubs and even the public schools.