Why Homeschoolers Should Seek Help from Other Homeschoolers—Not the Government
So you have chosen to homeschool? There might be only one reason or several reasons. A few common reasons I hear are:
—to escape bullying in the public school
—to escape indoctrination in the public school
—to receive a customized education (including challenges for gifted and special needs students)
—to have more family time and flexibility in scheduling
—to build a worldview in your child that aligns with your worldview (versus someone else’s worldview)
There are many more!
We know homeschooling is growing by leaps and bounds in popularity. Some parents will stick with it. Some will give up. Some will think it’s the best thing that has happened to them. Others will say “it wasn’t a good fit.”
When you are seeking help to homeschool, consider the reasons that you are homeschooling.
The top reasons I’ve listed do not lend themselves to needing the government, the department of education, the state, or the local school system. If they couldn’t handle the bullying situation when your child was in school, why do you need their help now? If you felt your child was indoctrinated there or had a teacher who overstepped their boundary, why would you seek help from the schools to homeschool? If you are wanting to choose your own curriculum or a schedule and build your child’s values to align with your worldview, the schools aren’t going to help you there either. It’s not what they “do.”
You are purposefully choosing to NOT participate in the public school system
by homeschooling. Therefore, the government schools should not be your
source of advice, information, or financial help in your homeschool experience.
When you seek help or money from the government to homeschool, you are bringing it’s influence
into your homeschool—which takes away your freedom of customizing your instruction.
The schools know how to make a child’s education experience like that of public school,
and that is the very thing you are seeking to avoid.
Like so many things in life, it’s helpful to ask the advice of someone who has experience. Can you find someone who has graduated their child through homeschooling? Even better, can you find more than one person? What “post-school” life did their child go on to live after graduation? Are they making a living? Are they a successful citizen with a healthy life mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially? Talk to the experts, in other words. A school system will not have much advice on homeschooling. It’s not their world. They aren’t even familiar with homeschool curriculum.
It is often said that homeschooling should not be trying to imitate a school day at home. There is a reason for that. You have only your children (not a classroom full of other people’s children). It’s just different, and you need to rest in the fact that your child can still learn. You know your child better than anyone else—the whole child (not only the side a teacher might see at school).
So where do you get homeschool help?
Experienced homeschool parents that you respect
If you’re asking someone that has no more experience than you do, you need to add more people to your circle. It is likely you both will make some of the same mistakes. No one is perfect. But, to avoid some rookie mistakes, it’s helpful to talk to someone who has the experience to say, “I’m glad I did it this way,” or, “I wish I had done this part differently.”
You might meet someone locally at a church, library, or park. You might meet someone online.
Take the advice of a homeschool parent you meet in person, and don’t be shy to have coffee with an experienced homeschool parent to “pick their brain.”
In fact, I’d recommend that you ask MORE THAN ONE HOMESCHOOL PARENT. We have different styles. Our children have different personalities. The more you talk with different experienced homeschool parents, the more you are likely to see a trend of some things that hold true—no matter who is advising.
Most homeschool parents love to help other parents navigate the new world of homeschooling. They will share with you where you can save money on curriculum and should assure you that you don’t need thousands of dollars every year to spend on homeschool materials. (Companies who sell products might lead a new homeschool parent to believe otherwise.)
I have a free guide for new homeschoolers that just might help guide you in some of those early conversations. You don’t know what to ask sometimes, and it can give you a starting point.
Click here for my Survival Guide for the New Homeschooling Family.
Blogs, Vlogs, and Podcasts
So many homeschool parents are sharing their journey of homeschooling digitally. Shop around for one that fits with your philosophy. Chances are, you will see some families whose experience is overwhelming and too over planned in your opinion. For others, you may see some families whose experience is a little too chaotic and wild. Remember, families are different and go through different phases of life.
Are you understanding now how it would be impossible to get advice from the government on how to homeschool? It’s so customized, it’s difficult for anyone to give you a standardized approach that is good for everyone.
As you follow the topic of homeschooling online, you will see some conferences advertised. Some are held online, but I would recommend attending a conference in person. Again, you can get that experience of meeting others in your area (and meeting their children too, which is important).
Do you have recommendations for a blog/vlog/podcast?
Leave them in the comments below and TELL WHY.
Books
As you meet other homeschooling families and follow blogs on homeschooling, you will start seeing book recommendations. You may choose to purchase, borrow, or check them out from a library. When someone recommends a book to you, they are giving you a resource of everything they would like to say to you, but don’t have time to say.
If you’re like me, you will have so many recommendations that you won’t have time to read them all. In that case, ask for the top 3 recommendations that would suit someone in your situation (whether you are starting with a kindergartner or pulling an older child out of school).
Keep a list of books you’d like to read (or listen as an audiobook) and provide some time in your day or weekend or summer to “knock some off the list.”
Do you have a suggestion for a book to read? Leave it in the comments below and TELL WHY.
So, let’s hear from YOU!
—Are you new to homeschooling or curious about it? Leave your questions below. There’s no limit to the amount of questions you can ask! Keep asking and seeking.
—Are you a teacher who is concerned about homeschooling or children leaving the school system? Share your thoughts and concerns.
—Are you an experienced homeschooler with tons of Dos and Don’ts of advice to share? Leave a comment below.
—Are you a concerned citizen with questions about homeschooling or the public school system? Leave your comments below as well.
Remember, YOU are your child’s most influential teacher.