What does it mean to Homeschool?

Homeschooling is an increasingly popular educational alternative in which children learn outside of conventional schools under the general supervision of their parents.

Homeschooling means different things to different people. For some families, homeschooling means duplicating school at home, complete with textbooks, report cards and regularly scheduled field trips. For others, homeschooling is simply the way they live their lives - children and adults living and learning together in a seamlessness that would challenge an observer to determine which was 'home' and which was 'school'.

If you think of a kind of homeschooling continuum, with 'school at home' at one end, and 'learning and living completely integrated' on the other - you would find homeschoolers scattered along that line with every possible variation of what homeschooling could mean.

What are some of the benefits of homeschooling?

A wise man once said, "We can teach our children to have courage, faith and endurance; they can teach us to laugh, to sing, to love." For many, the deepest and most abiding benefit of homeschooling is the claiming (or reclaiming) of the their family.

Homeschooling families spend an incredible amount of time together living, learning and playing. They have the opportunity to develop a depth of understanding and a commitment to the family that is difficult to attain when family members spend their days going in separate directions.

Many families like the flexibility homeschooling provides both parents and children. Children can learn about things they are interested in and at a time in their lives when they are ready to learn. No preconceived schedule forces them ahead or holds them back.

Holidays and outing can be planned for times when the family is ready - and often when the crowds are smaller or the costs lower. Children can learn about the 'real world' by being part of it - no artificial settings to 'provide exposure".

Children can receive a superior education attuned specifically to their own needs, learning styles, personalities, and interests - at far less cost than that of a private or public school.

Why do families choose homeschooling?

Families choose homeschooling for a wide variety of reasons. Some parents enjoy being with their children and watching them explore the world. The learning process which begins at birth simply continues naturally with the parents as teachers. There is no need to dissolve this parent-child partnership because a child reaches a certain age.

Some parents are wary of public school curricula, and choose to teach their children at home so that they may better supervise the content of their children's education.

Some parents find their children's learning differences are not dealt with effectively at school and decide that homeschooling may be more suitable for their children's' needs and learning style.

Some parents consider their local public schools unsafe.

Whatever their reasons for originally choosing to homeschool, families which continue homeschooling discover that their educational approach works for their children and for the family as a whole. Learning in a nurturing environment, together with positive socialization, produces bright, interested, and emotionally healthy kids. What better reason to Homeschool?

What about socialization?

Most homeschooling families consider socialization to be one of homeschooling's great advantages. Instead of spending the better part of their days in close contact with others of their own age, homeschooled students have the time and freedom and energy to get to know people of many ages and backgrounds. With more say in the direction of their education, they become more self-reliant and self confident and less dependent upon peer approval than most school children.

Few, if any, homeschoolers are isolated to the point where they don't interact with other people. Most are heavily involved in their communities. They belong to Scouts and church groups, taking swimming and dance lessons, play on soccer and softballs teams etc. Many even do volunteer work in hospitals and libraries.

Homeschoolers get together in support groups, to take field trips, hold park days, and for other group activities. They build deep and meaningful friendships, with more time and space to talk and learn from each other than it would be possible at school.

Are parents really qualified to teach their own children?

Parents do not lightly make the decision to homeschool their children. They realize that it is a big undertaking and responsibility. But for homeschooling parents, the task of helping their children learn is seldom a burden.

Children who are given the opportunity to follow their own interests, to dig deeply into topics that interest them, to have some say in how they learn, become eager and effective learners.

Just as they help their children to learn to walk and talk by providing models ands guidance, parents of homeschooled children help their older children by proving tools and resources.

The best teachers for all children are people who love and care about them and who respect their particular way of learning - people who have the time and the patience to provide one-on-one attention.

Homeschooling parents do what teachers wish they could do in the classroom but cannot for lack of time and help and an excess of students. Any teacher can tell you that the children who do well in school are the ones whose parents are involved in their education. Homeschooling is total involvement.

How does homeschooling work?

What do families do all day? As most families will tell you, there is no typical day. Homeschooling children learn through reading, through conversation, through play, through outside classes, through volunteer work and apprenticeships.

Typically children will have some time on their own at home (to read, play, build, draw, write, do a science experiment, work on math), and some time with their parents, to get help with any of the above, to talk, to do some kind of focused project together, and some time with others outside the home (In music class, in Scouts, in a homeschoolers' group, in a volunteer job).

Some families set aside a part of the day for focused academic work; others do not. Often this varies for each child and the family often adapts its schedule as the children grow and their needs change.

How can I be sure of teaching all that needs to be taught?

Here are some things to think about; who defines what must be taught? Why? By what criteria? Who could teach everything? Are schools doing this - certainly not

A good place to start is with your philosophy of education? Read a few good books on education and homeschooling. Spend some time in an educational supply shop and with a catalogue or two from curriculum publishers.

Do you already cover some of these things naturally? Could you use the local Library? Does a particular math method strike you and your child as right?

How can parents teach subjects with which they are not familiar?

They don't have to. Homeschooling doesn't mean that the parents are the only people from whom the child learns. The parents are facilitators, helping their children seek out information and hook up with other people.

Homeschooling children may be interested in a subject or involved in an activity that their parents don't know much about and that's fine - there's a world of resources available.

I love the idea of homeschooling, but my spouse/parents/other relatives/ friends are skeptical about the idea. What can I do?

This can be one of the biggest challenges a homeschooling family faces. Remember that many concerns about homeschooling are based on ignorance or misinformation. For example a friend may worry that your child is being deprived of access to group experience, not realizing that homeschoolers can participate in Scouts, community groups, homeschooling groups etc.

A skeptical relative may fear that this is simply your outrageous idea, not knowing about the thousands of successful homeschoolers that have gone before you. Many skeptics are reassured when they learn that homeschoolers do have friends, do get into university, do have a wide range of learning opportunities.

When you have done some reading about homeschooling you will better able to select the passages that best address your critic's concerns. Some people are also reassured by meeting other homeschoolers or listening to talks, workshops, radio interviews. Remember, too, that it can take time to feel comfortable with homeschooling, and sometimes you may simply have to live with a friend or relative's uncertainty for a while.

Can I work at a job and still homeschool?

Homeschooling families have often been portrayed as "Dad going to work, Mum staying at home with the kids". The reality for many families is much different: single parents homeschool, working parents homeschool, dads at home homeschool, parents with ongoing illnesses homeschool. Some families homeschool some of their children but not others. Grandparents homeschool grandchildren. Many of these perceived barriers can be overcome with a little creative juggling and some thoughtful problem solving.

a quick note – as stated this will look different for everyone... for us it involves sharing home schooling responsibilities. This reality is possible for us because of our home based organic business through ONE Group and Miessence, so now we both take turns to work from home. The current idea is that one of us wil work 3 days the other 2 days and then have two days together as a family... but the point of our business and plans is that we are being very flexible about it... anne & arun

Does homeschooling work for teenagers? Can homeschoolers get into university?

Yes and yes. More and more teenagers are leaving school and becoming homeschoolers. There are also increasing numbers of teenagers in Victoria that have been homeschooled their entire lives.

These young people are studying subjects in depth, learning from apprenticeships, work and travel. They enjoy the independence of homeschooling and the time to discover what they really love to do.

They now attend many of the TAFE colleges and universities, and others are pursuing work or apprenticeships.

You can read more about our homeschooling and unschooling life at our The Parenting Pit