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Home Schooling

Home schooling and challenges you will be facing

by Wayne Wargo (PenWay.org)

The road ahead for home schooling may not always be easy at times, but you know if it is worth the journey. You, the parent, have to decide upon educating the children.

First, ask you children what they think about home schooling and if it may be right for them. If so, consider the time and effort on your part and others that may live with you also. Do you have the space and what about any type of recreation during the day? These are just a few on the things to think about and resolve.

If you have decided that home schooling is the way to educate your child, be aware that starting out will not be as easy as you may think, but the rewards more than make up for it. Producing a well-adjusted and well-rounded child is no simple achievement.

Check out your state laws on home schooling. Some states need an affidavit filed with the state's education department. There are basically 3 categories for home schooling laws. These are: private school laws, home education laws and equivalency laws. Find your state laws. You may also need to maintain a portfolio that records the child's educational progress. It is important to look into the legal requirements before you start home schooling. Some states also stipulate a minimum educational qualification for the parent or teacher.

Next, look for a support group. If you live in a friendly or curious neighborhood, well-meaning friends will try to dissuade you. At the very least, they may put a lot of uneasy questions in your mind. A support group that consists of like-minded people will insulate you from the criticism, pressures and questions of regular school-goers. Many groups organize fun events like visits to the zoo, museum, tours to the ice cream shops etc. And if your children hit it off with other home schoolers, they will be able to build lasting relationships that do not fade when their friends change schools. These groups provide an important avenue for socialization.

The next important thing to do is to select a curriculum. Depending upon the method of home schooling, you may choose various tools that aid you in this process. The Internet is also a rich resource for home schooling. Do some research and look into the material that is available. Set certain ground rules. Home schooling requires a lot of self-discipline and hard work. Here is a comprehensive list of the things you will need: 1) Eagerness to learn 2) Hard work and effort 3) Discipline 4) Time and patience 5) Flexibility 6) Enthusiasm

Establish a curriculum that best suits your child. Record keeping is a very important part of home schooling. There are various methods of record keeping. Set up a schedule to suit everyone's needs. Your child does not have to learn 6-7 hours a day. Allow him or her to dictate the time. Flexibility and fun are the cornerstones of home schooling. Do not put include too many subjects in a single year's curriculum. Prepare a skill list. Encourage the child to concentrate on learning the skills appropriate for his age group.

Children turn out to be surprisingly well balanced and well informed when they are taught at home and have a quiet and relaxing environment. Gentle parenting is the secret to successful home schooling. Children make great advances in learning and show more enthusiasm in the home environment.

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Home schooling and challenges you will be facing