Giving homeschool a thought? Make sure you read this list of 10 things to consider before homeschooling to make the best choice for your family!
Homeschooling isn’t always as easy as people make it out to be. It can also look very scary and overwhelming to some parents. However, the tool is to think about a few things and decide if homeschooling is right for you and your family. Mulling over these factors makes it easier for you to reach the right decision.
If you’re new to homeschooling, these post might be helpful as well – Dos and Don’ts Your First Year Homeschooling, Tips & Advice for New Homeschool Moms, Tips for Choosing the Right Homeschool Curriculum, A Quick Guide to Homeschool Methods.
10 Things to Consider Before Homeschooling
If you are thinking about homeschooling your kids, here are 10 things to consider first!
1. Homeschool parents aren’t expert teachers, but resourceful teachers
Even the best teachers can’t answer every question their students ask them, and to be a homeschool parent, you don’t have to be an expert teacher. The key to being a great teacher is being able to be resourceful and use great resources to supplement your homeschool classroom.
2. You can still have bad days in a homeschool classroom
There have been days when I want to pull my hair out! My kids won’t listen to me or do their work, and it’s downright frustrating. Even in a homeschool environment, you will have bad days and how you handle them is what will make you a better teacher.
3. Homeschooling doesn’t always mean staying at home
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be school done at home. Take your lesson plans outside and enjoy some of the flexibility you have over where your lesson plans can take place.
4. There are teacher discounts out there, even for homeschoolers
You don’t have to completely fund your classroom out of pocket! While you may have to cover most of the expenses yourself, take advantage of those discounts for teachers that many stores offer.
5. Your kids will still make friends
As a mom, you may worry that your kids won’t make any friends. However, your kids will still make friends! They will play sports and play with the neighborhood kids and will learn to make friends through other places besides school.
6. You will need the flexibility homeschooling offers
Sometimes, you will completely throw away your lesson plan. It’s okay to do this some days and take advantage of the nice weather, or other learning opportunities.
7. It will be a struggle, but you can teach kids at different levels
This is going to require more work and planning on your part, but trust me, it can be done! You may have to plan activities for different ages or have more independent work assignments to make it work.
8. Your library is a goldmine of resources
Libraries have everything from books to read in the classroom to textbooks and other materials you can use to supplement your classroom.
9. You don’t need to teach every subject every single day
Unlike a traditional classroom where you may need to cover all the different subjects in a day, it’s okay to do one subject per day or even a combination of a few of them.
10. Parents who don’t homeschool their kids won’t understand
Parents who don’t homeschool their kids may judge you for not sending your kids to public school. Some may even be a little mean about it too. Stick with your decision and don’t let other parents influence your decision.
Homeschooling can sometimes be a struggle, but at the same time, it’s a labor of love! I wouldn’t trade my homeschool classroom for the world, but sometimes I’ve thought about trading it for a nap. There are going to be many ups and downs in your homeschool journey, and I hope these little lessons have given you some great food for thought on whether or not homeschooling is right for you.
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