Choosing to homeschool your children is an enormous decision fraught with many questions. However, before you opt to join the more than two million families currently homeschooling in the United States, here are three questions you should be able to answer clearly. If you can answer three straightforward questions honestly and directly, you’re ready to homeschool. If you can confidently say that you and your partner are both on board with homeschooling your children, you’re ready to homeschool. Doubts are normal. The inability to provide a coherent answer to the below questions is a signal that you might need to do more research and/or thinking.
1. WHY Are You Thinking Of Homeschooling Your Children?
It seems obvious, but before you dive into the homeschool pool, it’s important that you can answer this question in a fairly specific way – even if you’re only answering yourself. If you are thinking about homeschooling because you feel pressure from family, friends or your place of worship, step back. There are many reasons to homeschool. Being pressured is NOT a good reason. Try not to allow yourself to feel rushed into making this enormous step. Homeschooling is not simply about educating your kids, it’s an entire change in your lifestyle. Be certain. Be prepared.
2. HOW Interested Are You In Learning Alongside Your Children?
As a homeschooler, you will most definitely have to relearn many things. Are you truly interested? If you have subjects you doubt you can teach, what is your plan? Are you ready to do some studying? Are you willing and able to find outside assistance, and peruse through thousands of available Homeschool Resources? If you are not truly interested in spending your days learning alongside your children or finding an outside resource to help you, homeschooling might not be for you.
3. WHAT Is Your Ultimate Goal In Homeschooling?
There is not a right or wrong answer to this question. But, before you start homeschooling, you should have a clear picture of what you ultimately want for you children. For some, the goal is to raise thinking, responsible adults. For others, the goal is to raise children who are comfortable following their own bliss. And, still others, the goal is simply to ensure their child can attend an ivy league school. If you know your goal before you start, you are far more likely to succeed.
With the exception of having to pull your child from school as a safety or mental health issue, take your time as you decide whether homeschooling is right for your family. It’s a great choice for many families. It’s a fantastic choice if you have your priorities and objectives in order before you start.
Never be afraid to take advantage of the plethora of homeschool resources available online. For children with special needs, Special Education Resources and plentiful and many homeschool families choose Special Education Tutoring as a way of supplementing at home studies.
