What Makes Successful Homeschooling Programs?
Great Results...
Successful homeschooling programs may have a defined goal as one which leads your child on the educational path towards higher education. There are numerous ways to reach this goal, so let’s look at other important factors to consider in choosing your homeschooling program.
You should write down your own personal reasons for wanting to homeschool your child. Some of the reasons may be purely practical. For instance, your family may move around quite a bit and homeschooling would provide your child with more stability. I attended nine different schools before graduating from high school… this is an experience that I did not want for my children. Your child may have special needs that require more constant attention or supervision than a regular public or private school could provide.
Then there are the more personal reasons that you may have in mind as major considerations. Maybe you don’t like the moral environment that your child would face as a part of the traditional education systems. You may have strong religious beliefs that you want to teach your child and the public schools may be at odds with those belief systems or simply fail to include them as alternative teachings. Finally, you may simply not want to miss being with your child as much as possible during his or her early informative years. This was the major reason why my sister became a homeschooler.
Now take a look again at your written list of attributes that you consider most important in your ideal homeschooling program. There are state requirements for your homeschooled child’s education, but that does not prevent you from incorporating your ideals into the program. If you chose a teaching system, be it manual or via computer software, look for systems that contain the attributes you desire. You may chose homeschooling software which is more generic, but you can then independently add in the important teachings of your choosing.
There are enough homeschooling programs available that you should be able to find one that fits your requirements. If the system doesn’t include everything you may want, take the time to customize or accessorize it and make it your own. Lesson plans and teacher guides are not etched in stone, they are there as flexible tools that you can use to help you reach your ultimate goals.
–Sarah
Online Home Schooling Resources
- The hard way…
Once you have made the commitment to your self and your child to start the home schooling process, one of the first things you can do is to begin looking for online home schooling resources that will make your job easier.
While it is true that your local library and even your local church may have some of the resources that you can incorporate into your home schooling curriculum, the most comprehensive resource will most certainly be the Internet.
The Internet will provide you with concrete ideas on how to choose a main curriculum and the types of lesson plans that are associated with them. You can also look for ideas for additional resources and outside activities that you will want to incorporate into your child’s education. The tools and supplies that you will need for your home classroom will also be within easy reach online.
One of the easiest ways to find a great list of resources will be if you decide to make a purchase of a home school software program. These programs will often list a vast array of complimentary resources that you can access to help you get adjusted as you put on your “new hat” in the role of educator.
Reading blogs such as this one will certainly be a good use of your time in the beginning when you are first searching for new ideas. Blogs are often great for sharing ideas with fellow home school educators like yourself. Their may be many occasions in the future where the support of someone who is “walking in your shoes” may provide a great sounding board and help to reassure you as you progress with your child.
Home schooling networks are also available as an online home schooling resource. Here you will find feedback and support. Don’t be shy about sharing your personal situation and challenges, as these groups are a valuable resource and they may often have more experience than you in home schooling.
As great as online sources may be, be careful to not to spend too much of your time online. At some point as you gain confidence in your teaching abilities, the majority of your time is best spent in actual teaching rather than in online learning.
Home schooling is an endeavor that puts you in the role of student and teacher. One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching your child is in the knowledge that you are both learning together!
–Sarah
