I have been asked more in the last few weeks about homeschooling than any other time since I started ten years ago. I didn't realize how obvious it would be to Arizonians that we are "different" than most of the other families here. Everywhere we go on a week day, between the hours of 9am and 3pm, we get asked at least once why the kids are not in school! The difference must be that in Utah, public schools are on a year round rotation, with certain kids always "off-track." People are used to seeing school-aged kids tagging along with their parents during the day. Here... not so much. But nice old ladies at the grocery store are not the only ones asking about homeschooling. I've had a few people call, email, or just ask me about why we choose to educate this way, how we do it, and do I think they could pull it off. So I will answer the last question first by saying, yes, I believe ANYONE can homeschool, and be successful at it!
Why did I decide to homeschool? What drove me to give up precious, quiet hours that we all earn after raising babies to toddlers, and toddlers to pre-schoolers? The answer is both simple and complex at the same time. I was going to try to list all of these reasons from top to bottom, but in the end, none of the complex reasons matter because the simple reason for why I chose to homeschool, and stuck with it, is that it felt right. That doesn't mean it wasn't scary at first, or that it wasn't hard. It doesn't mean I didn't doubt myself on a regular basis either. But once I made the choice to do it, I gave it my all. I read stacks of books. I ordered curricula. I talked to other homeschoolers and got involved in a few activities and groups. It WAS scary, but I was determined to make it work. When I think back to the early years I have to laugh at myself. I wasted a lot of energy worrying about making Brit's homeschool experience as close to a public/private school experience as possible. My methods now are so different. That is the way it works though, you learn as you go.
So... how is it done? In Utah you can homeschool any way you like. The school district will not have much to say about how you teach your kids, or what you teach them, so long as they are being educated in some way or another for the required number of hours each year. If you are considering pulling your kids out of public or private school, the first thing you should do is to contact the school district where you live, inform them you will be homeschooling, and that you have sent your letter of exemption in. In Utah there is a state-wide organization for homeschoolers to help inform, protect, and educate parents called Utah Home Educators Association. I suggest visiting their website if you are considering homeschool. My guess is that each state has a similar organization that could be found thru a google search. Once you've pulled your kids out, my second bit of advice is to join a "group" of homeschoolers in your area. These groups are pretty easy to find nowadays by searching for them online. I personally subscribe to at least four Yahoogroups in my area, and participate actively with two of those groups. It helps to get involved with other homeschooling families. You can also join co-ops where actual classes are taught. And then, sit back and just let things happen for a while. Ease into it, find a flow, don't try to make your homeschool days feel like public/private school days. Some kids need to "decompress" after being in such a rigid kind of environment. It could take up to a year before everyone readjusts to the changes. Something important to remember is that when your kids are with you, they ARE learning. Even if you are outside weeding flower beds, or inside cleaning the kitchen, they are learning something from you. Everything we do is considered homeschool. Once you have a chance to catch your breath, start reading! Find whatever information you can on homeschooling. If you hate to read reference type stuff, use the internet, or talk to as many other homeschoolers as you can. Soon you will start to see your own brand of homeschooling emerge and you can build on that.
What does a typical day look like for us? K, I'm going to let you all in on a little tidbit about me... I am not a big schedule follower! I kinda despise rigidity and love flexibility. On the flip side, I like to feel in control and organized. Yes, I am my own worst enemy! The compromise is that we try to get all our academics done in the morning before lunch so that we can be more flexible in the afternoons. And the biggest thing I try to avoid is over-scheduling. Before we left for Arizona we would get up in the mornings, do our chores, take our showers, eat our breakfast, and then get going on the lessons we had for the day. This year I signed the kids up for classes offered in our area that they said they were interested in such as art, debate, and fitness. Kaylee belongs to a book group that meets once a month, and Brit belongs to a teen group that meets twice a month and then sometimes on weekends for activities. Kaylee has taken piano and violin for music, and Brit is learning to play the guitar. In Arizona we have not had the classes like we did at home, but the rest is similar.
FAQs. There are some predictable and frequently asked questions about homeschooling. What about socialization? What about friends? What about Prom? Aren't they missing out on so much? What about college? First, I think the fact that there are over a million registered homeschoolers in the U.S., and the numbers keep growing, says something about the perceived obstacles. I'm going to go out on a limb here and just say it like I see it... what kids are getting at school is NOT socialization! *Edited to say* Socialization (IMHO) is so much more than a few hours a day in a classroom or on a playground, it's about all the things and experiences we help provide for our kids, and the diversity of those experiences. I agree that if a family decides to homeschool mainly to keep their kids away from "regular" kids, there will be obvious differences. Our personal decision to homeschool was not to isolate our kids from society, but more to help them be a part of society, with fewer of the negative distractions that are inevitable in a crowded classroom. And friends? This issue has become more important as my kids get older, and has been something we do have to work on constantly. But, that is not always, or even usually the case for most if you live in an area where there are kids o' plenty and where you may have them involved in church and sports activities. Kids are starting to have to rely more on these types of friendships anyway as more people choose charter or private schools and neighborhoods are divided up this way. What about all of the rites of passage that your kids would miss out on? Prom and other school dances, high school graduation, sporting events or playing on teams. There are many ways to handle these issues and you have to handle them differently with each child. In Utah, at the high school level, kids can enroll part-time for only classes they are interested in, or they can enroll in a couple of classes to be eligible to play on the football, baseball, etc. team. Beyond that, there are so many leagues to get your kids involved with if sports are their calling in life. In Utah, we have two separate proms at the end of each school year, but again, there are ways to work around this issue. Each college or university has it's own requirements for admission. As far as I know, no one has ever been turned down admission to college or university because they were homeschooled, including Ivy Leaguers such as Stanford, Harvard, Yale, etc. The plan for getting into the college of your choice is to plan ahead! No matter how you've been educated, you must find out far enough in advance what that college or university will require of you, learn and study to the level that will be required, and do the pre-requisites that they will want from you. Most often, homeschoolers will simply need to show that they are/have been homeschooled, have taken a college entrance exam (ACT, SAT, etc.) and be able to pass the essay or admissions interview. Most homeschoolers who plan to continue on with their higher education actually get an early start by taking college courses online.
Wow! I'm getting tired! How 'bout you? Hopefully some of this info will help, especially the people who were asking in the first place. I could write a novel length post about it all, there's so much information to cover. I think this is good for now. The choice to homeschool is a very personal one. If it's what you FEEL is right for you and your family, the whys and hows will fall into place. However, it is much easier to take it on with help from others who have been there. I'm always willing to talk about what I've learned along the way. Just ask.
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