Four - Homeschooling Series: Basics to Consider
The nuts and bolts of what you need to do to homeschool, no matter what your situation is, will be similar to what I had to do, and it is all common sense stuff.
Basics To Consider
Increasing numbers of families in the United States have made the decision to educate their children at home and especially now as they have come to realize just what the government run schools are all about.
Crowded schools, unsafe schools, poor academics, social justice and intimidation efforts by activist teachers, sexualization of kindergarten and elementary school students, peer pressure can discourage any student but especially, the gifted student, from academic achievement.
You may encounter people that will claim in homeschooling your student he won’t get the “proper” education and socialization traditionally schooled children get.
Once you start homeschooling you begin to realize that parents who choose homeschooling do so because of the value they place on education and healthy socialization.
I get many questions about how I homeschooled my student. Especially once one finds out he’s an Aerospace engineer working in his field since graduation.
My student was what experts call “highly gifted”, which presented its own unique degrees of difficulty with homeschooling. There’s always an aura of mystery portrayed when the subject of giftedness comes up, and that was as much of a stumbling block as it was a “gift”.
I pulled my kid out of school then because I felt the school system would do harm to who he was. I imagine the idea that the school system will do harm is present in decisions being made about homeschooling in the current education environment.
The nuts and bolts of what you need to do to homeschool, no matter what your situation is, will be similar to what I had to do, and it is all common sense stuff.
Homeschooling is not just curriculum. It is a myriad of decisions about a lifestyle you’re choosing for your family.
This is the fourth edition in my homeschooling series. This edition will cover at a high level things you need to think about if you’re about to begin homeschooling.
This series, which is periodically presented on Thursdays, will deliver common sense ideas for those who want to homeschool or who are already homeschooling and need some new ideas. Links to the previous editions are below.
Academics
Homeschooling can offer increased flexibility and academic challenge. Flexibility is particularly important since many gifted students are widely varied in their abilities.
Some children excel in all areas and require academic challenges and constant research by the educator to keep them engaged and motivated. Most homeschoolers enjoy opportunities to develop in multifaceted ways and pursue interests without time and curriculum constraints.
It is important to remember to include your student in your academic planning. You may find that your student knows more than you think he/she does!
What About Curriculum?
In a school building, curriculum describes the course of study. It defines an order of how information will be dispensed. It’s the way the schools manage to teach everybody the same thing at the same time.
I look at curriculum a little bit differently. Curriculum will be what the student is interested in and it will be flavored with how he assimilates new information. It will be the plan of attack on your student’s ultimate goal – whatever that may be. It will be custom tailored for your student, ideally by your student.
There are two paths you can take with curriculum. You can buy a curriculum and follow it or you can invent your own homeschooler curriculum based on your homeschool method.
One time we bought a packaged “complete” curriculum and it was a disaster, after that we invented our own. (This will be covered in future editions.)
Financial Issues
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard in my lifetime, homeschooling is for the well off. Or, I can’t afford to homeschool.
I once read recently the average amount spent educating American students is $12,000 per student. My local school district spends in excess of $13,000. Some districts spend more than that to educate each student. If you are a homeowner a large portion of your property taxes fund the public school system. If you are a renter, I imagine a portion of your rent goes towards funding the schools as well so we all have some skin in the game. That’s all fine and dandy for a civilized society, but it’s insane in my opinion.
As a homeschooler, you’ll never spend that much, unless you want to.
And since you are looking at information about homeschooling you might have already figured the financial part out.
Maybe the pandemic thrust that on you.
Maybe the quality of the schools has thrust it on you.
Here’s a secret, you can get by on one paycheck if you live within your means.
But here’s another secret, you can quit a job, homeschool your kids and homeschool yourself towards a better career. You can work part time and participate (in my day they were called resource centers), in a homeschool “pod”. Today, while the resource centers still exist, you can also join or form a homeschool “pod”, a private homeschool group. Both of these entities are groups of parents who are pooling time and resources so there are small group settings where some parents are “on” and some are off to do what they need to do.
Research it. You’ll find a financial solution to your situation.
Legal Issues
Homeschooling is legal in all fifty of the United States. Some states require that parents notify the local school district of their intent to homeschool; others require parents to register with the state department of education. Some permit a homeschool to register as a private school. Many states require yearly proof of student progress. Some states have additional requirements, such as the submission of a curriculum plan or education requirements for parents.
Most states in the United States have laws regulating the attendance of school aged children at the public schools. Typically, the laws that dictate the rules for homeschooling are found nearby or around these rules in your state codified laws.
The other place to check is in the “Administrative Rules” for your state. Typically, codified law is written by state agencies. Statements written by state agencies, which have the same effect as law, are called administrative rules. By their very nature, administrative rules have a direct effect on your life and homeschool.
A third place to read about how government officials may view your homeschooling activities is at the Department of Children and Family Services for your area.
When reviewing any law, remember that amendments can be made and wording can be altered to affect the homeschooling community. As a homeschooling family it is essential that you remain vigilant and knowledgeable about the regional laws that affect homeschooling in your area.
Since states vary in their specific requirements, you can take a look at a map maintained by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Once upon a time members of the homeschool community were opposed to this organization for a number of philisophical reasons, but they always had accurate information about the laws in each state: Homeschool Laws by State.
The map is pretty accurate, I checked it with the states where I homeschooled. If you are still unsure what the laws entail, you’ll have to pour over your state’s regulations. Most states in the United States have laws regulating the attendance of school aged children at the public schools. Search on “[your state name] regulations” and go to the .gov website. Typically the laws that dictate the rules for homeschooling are found nearby or around these rules in your state codified laws.
If you are homeschooling a gifted student, pay particular attention to laws that are specific to “Special Needs” students, since some states see gifted students as “Special Needs” students.
Local homeschool support groups are good sources of information for the typical and accepted method for complying with the local laws and regulations.
Doing more than what the laws prescribe can endanger your rights and others people’s rights to homeschool. Sometimes school administrators and/or the people you have to deal with in order to homeschool will ask you for more than what the law sets out.
Don’t do it.
Quote the regulations back to them and deliver only what the laws prescribe.
Discuss the laws and regulations with other homeschoolers who live in your state. Your best resource is those already homeschooling, they will be knowledgeable about homeschooling in your community.
Time Commitment
Homeschooling requires an enormous time commitment by at least one parent.
It involves preparation time, usually your summer, it requires daily time to get things rolling, it requires travel time if you take your homeschool on the road.
If you are a planner, plan on investing a lot of time.
Parents who choose to homeschool recognize that homeschooling is a way to tailor their children’s education to specific needs and interests at the appropriate academic level. Homeschooling is a way to create an advanced educational environment that includes a wide range of activities.
Talk together as a family to decide if this is the appropriate choice for you. Remember, homeschooling is not a lifelong decision; it ends at high school graduation.
Single Parent Homeschooling
Homeschooling requires an enormous time commitment by at least one parent. If you are a single parent, consume a lot of caffeine, make a lot of lists, get up early and go the bed late.
Remember to take time for yourself.
As a single parent, homeschooling is a daunting task but you can get it all done.
I know because I did it.
Homeschooling a gifted student is especially tiring because your student will demand the same things they demand from themselves, perfectionism, accuracy, and a long attention span for topics they are interested in. Even if you don’t have those elements as part of your personality or lifestyle, this is the unspoken expectation a gifted student most likely will have.
Remember that humor is important and that time for yourself and your interests is essential.
Sounds like solid info for anyone considering home schooling!