Last updated on November 20th, 2023 at 07:07 pm
Every school year, many parents contemplate whether they are going to send their child to school or homeschool them. There are several reasons that motivate parents to consider homeschooling. Some parents homeschool their children under the belief that a home education may better for achieving academic success. Before making this decision, there are several things parents should know before homeschooling their children.
1. Homeschooling Laws
The laws regarding homeschooling varies by state. Some states require the homeschool teacher to have at least a high school diploma. The law also dictates the minimum amount of instructional days. All jurisdictions require school–aged kids to attend school. While it is a parent’s right to homeschool their children, not informing the proper channels of this decision may have legal implications.
2. The Financial Consequences
If the family is a two-income family, homeschooling can pose some financial challenges. One parent may need to quit their job to teach their children. Think about whether the family can be sustained on one income. If one parent plans to homeschool and continue working, the decision could mean rearranging work hours.
Homeschooling costs money. It can range from being relatively inexpensive to extremely expensive. It depends on the curriculum and the resources parents use. Buying expensive books or purchasing homeschool programs can increase the cost. However, there are a variety of free online resources. Purchasing used books and borrowing programs from others can help minimize the costs.
3. The Parent as Teacher
This is not a shocking revelation as it is one of the most fundamental aspects of homeschooling. As the teacher, parents control all of the educational activities and the curriculum. This will require having some knowledge about the subject matter taught. This does not mean that parents that homeschool their kids need to be certified teachers. However, it will require having some knowledge about the subjects taught. There are resources available to help parents teach a subject they may be unfamiliar with.
4. Discipline
Traditional schools operate on a schedule; homeschools should do the same. It is not necessary to have the same hours as regular schools. It just means creating a daily schedule and sticking to it. Scheduling should not only include academic time. Parents should set some time aside to develop lessons plans that will give their children the best educational experience.
5. Designate a Space
Try to find an area in the house that can be designated for homeschooling. It does not have to be a large, just enough to fit a desk, book and educational materials. If the space is large enough, it can house other types of educational tools. A separate space will help eliminate any distractions. It also helps to get both the student and parent in an educational mindset.
Deciding to homeschool is an important decision. It can be a rewarding decision for both parent and child. Before jumping into it, figure out if this is the best decision for your family. Understanding the aspects of a home-based education before embarking on this journey will help parents make the best decision.
Loren Stacks’ greatest loves are books and music. On any given day he’s either engrossed in some hot-off-the-press bestseller or chained to his iPod mouthing words to an 80s ballad. Outside of this he works as a freelance writer for companies like SecureYourTrademark.Com.
Written By: Loren Stacks
