| As a former homeschooler of nine years, I take | | | | may have. You must provide your child with an |
| pleasure in reflecting upon the times spent as my | | | | excellent education. This setting is not to be used |
| son's teacher. The responsibility was gigantic but | | | | to further some agenda of yours. |
| the benefits were fantastic. I am thankful that I | | | | While you are working closely every day with |
| had the spunk to take on teaching my son since | | | | your child, you will find out where they excel. |
| he and I soon found out that his father had no | | | | There are countless ways you can build on that |
| desire to work a "normal" job and would uproot | | | | fact to make school more fun. You can also |
| us quickly to leave town to chase another | | | | accelerate the teaching you do in that subject. |
| rainbow or to avoid some negative circumstance | | | | Give your child something to be proud of and use |
| he had created. | | | | it to build their self esteem. This will make more |
| So if I had not taught my son, who would have? | | | | difficult subjects come easier. Your child knows |
| Besides, I had been his 'teacher' up to that point | | | | how well they are doing in another subject so |
| so it just naturally transitioned into homeschooling | | | | they know they can do better in more difficult |
| for his formal education. We moved around a lot | | | | subjects. |
| but with little interruption to his schooling because | | | | Likewise you will find out where your child needs |
| we could continue lessons no matter where we | | | | more attention. This can be handled in such a way |
| were. But I preferred the times when we stayed | | | | that self esteem is not bruised as is the case in |
| in one place for a while because it is much better | | | | some public school settings. This is an excellent |
| to keep a "normal" routine in a classroom setting. | | | | opportunity for you to help your child overcome |
| The following are a few benefits of | | | | obstacles which is an important life lesson. They |
| homeschooling: | | | | must learn to tackle problems. You can teach |
| Being with your child builds a strong relationship. It | | | | them how. Furthermore, you can set an objective |
| is possible now to farm out your child(ren) from | | | | to handle this situation. You can set aside more |
| infancy to their late teens with very little | | | | time in the day to work on the "problem" subject. |
| interaction with them as parents. Is it any wonder | | | | Filling up the traditional school's 8:00 to 3:00 hours |
| that so much friction comes about between | | | | in a one on one situation is difficult anyway, so |
| teenagers and their parents since neither knows | | | | use the extra time you have as part of your |
| the other? Being with your child in a homeschool | | | | regular school day to benefit your child's needs. |
| setting provides not only the chance to teach | | | | Go to the library together or go online together |
| your child but to listen (very important) to their | | | | to find ways to help your child conquer the |
| ideas, pains, fears, joys and other feelings they | | | | subject. Listening to your child is so important. If |
| are experiencing. | | | | you listen to what they are telling you, you will |
| Also, getting to know your child better now in | | | | learn why this subject gives them problems. |
| their formative years helps determine the | | | | In conclusion, you have more freedom and |
| curriculum chosen. You do not have to teach your | | | | flexibility in the curriculum you choose; the school |
| child across the board in a particular grade level. If | | | | hours you will keep; the vast array of field trips |
| need be, a subject may be "repeated/built upon" | | | | you can take; and there is the ability to travel if |
| without any embarrassment to your child which is | | | | necessary in case there is a death in the family or |
| often prevalent in a public school setting. Since | | | | if your family is moving without a major disruption |
| there has been "intellectual" warfare for many | | | | in your school year. Also, it is very beneficial to |
| years arguing over curriculum issues, it is now | | | | listen to other homeschoolers' problems/joys. |
| blessedly up to you to control what your child is | | | | Setting up a book cooperative to save on |
| taught or not taught. You decide if it is to be Bible | | | | textbooks is a wonderful idea and builds |
| based teaching or will follow any other beliefs you | | | | relationships in the homeschooling community. |