Considering Homeschooling?
You Need to Read This.
3 Common Myths Dispelled.
You Need to Read This.
3 Common Myths Dispelled.
My wife and I have been homeschooling our kids, Son:5 Daughter:7, for several years now.
It was scary at first.
Our daughter was in public school for a very short time.
It was scary at first.
Our daughter was in public school for a very short time.
I then got asked to work in Toronto for 6 months & so we went on a family adventure.
That’s when we started homeschooling.
With homeschool rates rising in the UK & US I thought I’d share some info to provide comfort to those considering this means of education for their kids.
That’s when we started homeschooling.
With homeschool rates rising in the UK & US I thought I’d share some info to provide comfort to those considering this means of education for their kids.
1.Socialisation
This is the ultimate myth.
The biggest ignorance that plagues the homeschooling community.
That homeschooled kids can’t possibly have good social skills. That public schools provide a kid with the highest quality of socialisation.
This is the ultimate myth.
The biggest ignorance that plagues the homeschooling community.
That homeschooled kids can’t possibly have good social skills. That public schools provide a kid with the highest quality of socialisation.
Not so coincidentally, this is also the myth that makes me want to bash my head against the wall the most.
If you hadn’t guessed it, those claims are totally wrong.
I often struggle to keep up with my kids social lives!
If you hadn’t guessed it, those claims are totally wrong.
I often struggle to keep up with my kids social lives!
Homeschooled kids, in my experience, often have greater social skills that their public school-going peers.
Why?
Because:
-They spend time with kids of all ages.
-They spend more time communicating in a more meaningful manner with a wider range of adults (not just a teacher).
Why?
Because:
-They spend time with kids of all ages.
-They spend more time communicating in a more meaningful manner with a wider range of adults (not just a teacher).
If we consider these points in relation to school kids, they:
-Are forced to spend their week with the same kids in the same room/building.
-Are forced to “socialise” based on their age and geographical proximity.
-Often perceive all adults as purely authoritarian.
-Are forced to spend their week with the same kids in the same room/building.
-Are forced to “socialise” based on their age and geographical proximity.
-Often perceive all adults as purely authoritarian.
The argument boils down to:
Homeschooled kids can’t socialise because they aren’t crammed in the same room with the same kids day-in day-out, based on their shared ages and location.
Think about it though, how many friends do you currently have that aren’t the same age as you?
Homeschooled kids can’t socialise because they aren’t crammed in the same room with the same kids day-in day-out, based on their shared ages and location.
Think about it though, how many friends do you currently have that aren’t the same age as you?
In fact, I’ll never forget the infamous line from my school days, spouted by each and every teacher:
“You don’t come to school to socialise, you come here to learn”.
“You don’t come to school to socialise, you come here to learn”.
A school setting can also hamper social development by:
-bullying
-overwhelming need to “fit in”
-authoritarian teachers instilling fear.
-having to ask permission to use the bathroom (and even be denied that right), does very little for developing their self-worth.
-bullying
-overwhelming need to “fit in”
-authoritarian teachers instilling fear.
-having to ask permission to use the bathroom (and even be denied that right), does very little for developing their self-worth.
If you are concerned about your own children when making the plunge, remember that their socialisation is YOUR responsibility.
A brilliant point made by @KingDavidTKA here ⬇️
A brilliant point made by @KingDavidTKA here ⬇️
https://twitter.com/KingDavidTKA/status/1433082069761019904
2.Not Enough Time
Another worry is that parent’s think “How can I fit an entire school day in?”
Have no fear!
You only need about half that in terms of actual teaching time.
Another worry is that parent’s think “How can I fit an entire school day in?”
Have no fear!
You only need about half that in terms of actual teaching time.
A lot of the school day is taken up by admin tasks:
-registers
-handing out 30+ books/crafts/sheets
-collecting 30+ books/crafts/sheets
-making sure 30+ kids have all finished the work before moving on
You get the picture.
-registers
-handing out 30+ books/crafts/sheets
-collecting 30+ books/crafts/sheets
-making sure 30+ kids have all finished the work before moving on
You get the picture.
Cut all that out and you realise that not a great deal of the day is spent teaching/learning.
However, you will need time in the evenings to do some planning and organising for the day/week ahead.
However, you will need time in the evenings to do some planning and organising for the day/week ahead.
This is the reality of it.
You’re personally investing in your kid’s education, and that does require work, time and commitment.
But, it is 100% worth it.
You’re personally investing in your kid’s education, and that does require work, time and commitment.
But, it is 100% worth it.
3.I’m not smart enough
My wife and I have been here.
It can be terrifying.
How can you teach your kid if you don’t know what they need to be taught?
How can you teach your kid if you can’t remember anything from school?
We’re all in that boat.
My wife and I have been here.
It can be terrifying.
How can you teach your kid if you don’t know what they need to be taught?
How can you teach your kid if you can’t remember anything from school?
We’re all in that boat.
Nobody remembers everything.
You’d also be surprised by how much you can recall from the deep recesses of your mind when you sit down and go over the subject.
The beauty of homeschooling is that you learn alongside your child.
You’d also be surprised by how much you can recall from the deep recesses of your mind when you sit down and go over the subject.
The beauty of homeschooling is that you learn alongside your child.
My wife and I don’t know everything, and when we come across something we have no idea about, we just research it ourselves. We use the curriculum guide and the internet to learn what we need to learn, because you really don’t have to learn all that much when they are little.
Maybe you think you’ll be fine with young kids, but what about the teenage years?
Well, one of the main aims of homeschooling is to get them to a point where they embody self-directed learning.
As they get older you become their guide, they educate themselves.
Well, one of the main aims of homeschooling is to get them to a point where they embody self-directed learning.
As they get older you become their guide, they educate themselves.
There is also a wealth of info out there; curriculums, YouTube, learning tools/software, blogs & other homeschoolers!
Besides, if you don’t feel like you are smart enough to teach your kids, is putting them into the same system that left you feeling like that really the best?
Besides, if you don’t feel like you are smart enough to teach your kids, is putting them into the same system that left you feeling like that really the best?
Homeschooling isn’t for everyone. It involves a lot of sacrifice. Sometimes families can’t afford that sacrifice, or the fit isn't right.
Just wanted to dispel some myths around a subject that is near and dear to me.
Just wanted to dispel some myths around a subject that is near and dear to me.
Never forget,
that to live is to learn!
Hope this manages to help someone!
Thanks for reading.
that to live is to learn!
Hope this manages to help someone!
Thanks for reading.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
