As the pandemic wears on, many people are looking forward to ‘getting back to normal’, but as of Spring 2021, more than a year after it started, we are still not quite ‘there’ yet.
One of the biggest issues has been if and when it is safe for children to go back into the classroom. Nervous parents are naturally concerned, In addition, many have tried to start homeschooling their children to supplement what they are studying online, or in smaller classrooms with shorter school hours.
It’s led some parents to wonder if homeschooling might be a viable long-term solution for their children, especially the ones who are thriving academically during lockdown.
It’s a bit decision, but with school disruptions likely to continue until at least the summer, it’s a logical question to ask. Here are some of the issues to consider.
Have you thought about home schooling your child? Some people are not sure if their child, lifestyle, or situation would be conducive to home schooling. Here are some tips on determining whether or not your child is a good candidate for home schooling.
1. Ask yourself why you want to home school. Be very honest and really consider this question carefully. Is it because you want your child to have a religious education rather than a secular one? Do you want to home school because you don’t like governmental regulations and so forth? Did you have negative experiences in public school and want to avoid those for your child? Maybe the public schools in your area are sub-standard.
These are all legitimate reasons, and you may have some others of your own. As long as you have a purpose and a reason (or several purposes and reasons) for home schooling, that is what matters.
2. Can you take the criticism and misunderstanding that will come your way if you home school? If you choose to educate your children at home, you are likely to hear all kinds of lectures about “socialization” and so forth. Some people will suggest public school any time your child is less than perfect in his or her academic performance. Are you prepared to defend your choice to home school, and/or let such criticism roll off?
3. Consider how much time you have. Home schooling is not necessarily an all day, every day kind of thing, but it does take some time. You will have to factor in the time it takes to plan lessons as well as actual teaching time.
4. Consider how much money you have. Home schooling does not have to be expensive, but it nearly always involves some kind of expenditure. School supplies and the curriculum itself will cost money – anywhere from $100 to $1000 per year. You don’t have to spend a lot – the internet and your local library can do a great job of providing literature, worksheets, hands-on science experiments, and so forth. Just determine your budget and plan your curriculum accordingly.
5. Are there other groups and events in your community in which your home schooled child will participate? In some areas, public schools may offer or even be the only group activity available. If your community has activities like Little League, Boy and Girl Scouts, a home school co-op, and so forth, then you may feel more confident in home schooling knowing that your child will have opportunities to make friends.
6. Is your child unusually advanced or behind academically? These are understandable reasons to want to home school. In the case of the advanced student, you may not want your child to be held back in a traditional school setting because he is so far ahead of everyone. Or if your student is behind (by public school standards) and you want to give him individualized attention, then home schooling may be right for you.
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