Most children already have an idea of the basic things they’ll be expecting once they start formal schooling. Basically, it starts with one patient member of the family taking the initiative to prepare the child for formal school. Homeschooling is then a natural part of a child’s educational progression. So it’s not surprising why more and more parents settle for this alternative platform. They opt to teach their children, prepare their curriculum and let their kids enjoy a more personalized approach to learning.
Homeschooling, however, isn’t as simple as it sounds. It entails a lot of preparation. It’ll be helpful to meet with more experienced parents of homeschoolers to get a gist of the advantages and disadvantages. After having an idea of what to expect, you can begin to ask yourself if this is really what you want for your children and if this is something you’re prepared to commit to.
Budget is also something to consider. It may cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand every year. It may not be a huge amount off the family budget but opting to be your child’s teacher also entails that one of the parents has to stop working. A home-based work or business, if possible, will be a good alternative to bridge the budget gap.
Aside from emotionally and financially preparing yourself, always remember that it’s in this kind of set-up where your child’s academic future will depend on you the most. Are you qualified to be their teacher? Have you gotten your knowledge bank filled with information you’ll need to give them quality learning? Nowadays, information sources are overflowing and within reach especially with the advent of the internet. Try researching about various homeschooling methods and the pros and cons of each. In the long run, you can even create your own style by customizing existing methods based on your child’s needs. Most importantly, try to get your child’s feelings and opinions about starting on homeschooling.
In different states, there are also differences in homeschooling regulations. For example, in North Carolina, a ‘Notice of Intent’ for homeschooling must be filed first before starting one. It should be clear whether you are starting a ‘private church school’ or a ‘qualified non-public school’. There is also a minimum educational requirement for the person conducting the homeschooling. The home teacher has to be at least a highschool graduate. There should be a formal record of the child’s attendance and disease immunization. To keep track of the child’s development, an annual standardized test is required and each student going unto 11th grade has to take the national qualifying exam just like students going to normal public schools. These are just some requirements in North Carolina but hopefully, they can give you a pretty good idea of how homeschooling is.
From the outside, it is quite easy for some parents to expect homeschooling to be an effective way of flexing the family budget. As for some children, they might be thrilled by the wrong idea that homeschooling is as simple as doing their assignments in front of their favourite TV show. However, homeschooling is a lot of added work and responsibility. It requires long-term commitment from both parents and children. But if done successfully, it’s like shooting two birds with one stone. Children and even parents can grow together in learning and in love for each other.
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