*This article is a 5 minute read
There are many reasons parents decide to homeschool their child. We chose homeschooling because distance learning wasn't working out. I thought about homeschooling for years, but I always backtracked fearing that it lacked socialization.
Well nothing could have been further from the truth. Pre-covid, homeschooling would include going to Enrichment Centers for various subjects a few days a week. Homeschool Cooperatives consist of a small group of students that learn together and take field trips to museums and parks. If your child is enrolled in an Independent Study Program, they meet with other students and teachers a few days a week in addition to learning at home.
Another plus is that the state of California provides $2,600 per student for classes and materials for children enrolled in independent study programs. If your child loves oceanography, music, dance, art, karate you name it, state funds can be used to pay for their private lessons. They can specialize in their interests.
Establishing Your Own School/Independent Homeschooling
If you want to teach your child yourself with your own curriculum you will need to fill out a Private School Affidavit Online For Info Click Here!
Recently, we started homeschooling independently. Immediately I noticed that my child was devoting more time to learning. Instead of doing all of his schoolwork on a computer, he is writing in his notebooks, reading from books rather than online. He's more focused and proud of his work. Perhaps because his classwork is tangible. It's empowering for him to see his progress. He actually cares. Seeing classwork on paper makes it real. His handwriting has improved. He pays attention in class, and has even corrected me when I had a few slips.
It's an intense 5+ hours a day. He reads, writes, does math, art, science and language daily. I can track his progress, help fill in the gaps until he masters a subject, and I personalize his lessons so that he's engaged in what he's learning. When all of his classwork is complete, he gets to watch a documentary on one of the subjects we just covered. I find this enhances his learning tremendously.
Follow These 10 Steps To Homeschool Success!
Research your homeschool options.
Learn California state requirements.
Join online homeschool groups on Facebook for support and tips.
Decide on a homeschool curriculum.
Join an in person homeschool group not just for your child, but for parental support.
Establish a homeschool space.
Set homeschool goals.
Make a homeschool schedule.
Keep a record of your child's attendance and grades.
Make sure to make quarterly transcripts of their grades.
Toughest Part Is Getting Started
Day one was hard. I remember my son wouldn't sit still, or hold a pencil. He wanted to use Google Docs for writing an essay like he did when he was in school. He kept asking, "Why do I have to do this?" I made sure the first day was light and fun. I held back any criticism, and looked at his work as an assessment. We went over cursive, carrying and borrowing numbers, reading stories aloud, and answering questions about them. He kept mispronouncing words on purpose attempting to be humorous, but I remember looking at him and saying, "No one is here to laugh at your jokes, please read or we'll sit here all night." He knew the joke was over, and he got to work.
Now or Never
What better time to take on homeschooling than in a pandemic? I personally designed a Waldorf inspired curriculum that works well with my son who is a visual learner/artist. While I started out doubting that this would work, I am now confident after seeing its benefits. I don't miss fighting with my child to stay online during distance learning, or the hours of homework that he had to do on top of distance learning.
Food For Thought Famous Homeschool Grads
What do Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Presidents Woodrow Wilson and FDR, Claude Monet, Agatha Christie, and Taylor Swift all have in common? They all attended homeschool.
In the 19th and early 20th century in America most students were educated in one room schoolhouses. Compare that to thirty students in a classroom today! Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." There is something to be said for learning one on one or in small groups.
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