Q.  What exactly is homeschooling?

A.  For some people homeschooling is basically doing school at home, using textbooks, report cards etc.  For others, homeschooling is much, much more.  It is a way of life in which children and parents embrace learning at every opportunity.  Where the lines between school and home are so blurred that one could not determine where one began and the other ended.  Most homeschoolers however, are scattered somewhere in the middle, using traditional schooling methods on some subjects and learning other subjects in a more relaxed manner. 

Q.  Why do people homeschool?

A.  A while back I wrote an article about the reasons people homeschool.  One of the sections of the article was entitled, "Homeschooling by Default."  I think a lot of families begin homeschooling by default.  In other words, their child was having problems in school, or there was a problem with the teacher, a problem with other students, or a problem with the school in general.  There are also the die-hard homeschool families who set out from the beginning to homeschool their children because of religious reasons or other personal reasons.  No matter the reason for homeschooling, I think that all would agree that one of the chief benefits of homeschooling is that children get that one on one attention from a teacher (mom or dad) who loves and and cares for him and wants him to succeed.  In homeschooling, there is also great flexibility in learning.  The child can learn when he/she is ready, rather than being forced to learn something at a specified time with their peers.  In other words, homeschooling allows the child to receive a tailor-made education that in most cases is superior to any that a public or private school could offer.

Q.  Is homeschooling legal?

A.  Yes, homeschooling is legal in all fifty states.  Each state, however, has different laws and requirements regarding homeschoolers.  For information on the laws in your state, visit www.hslda.org (Homeschool Legal Defense Association). 

Q.  Is homeschool expensive?

A.  Usually not.  It depends on the curriculum and resources you use to homeschool your child.  If you use a canned curriculum that encompasses every subject, (ie., Bob Jones, Abeka, Alpha Omega) be willing to shell out a bit more money.  But if you make use of your local library and the internet for resources, homeschooling can be very inexpensive.  Typically, I spend a little extra money on the three R's and use the library or internet for everything else.

Q.  Where can I get Materials and resources?

A.  The web is loaded with homeschool resources.  Just Google the word "homeschool" and thousands of websites will come up that sell homeschool books and resources.  The local library also has a broadening homeschool section that will give you information on where to find and buy homeschool books and resources.  Also, check with your local homeschool support group.  They have tons of resources to help you find curriculum.  And of course, The Teacher's Orchard is a full service curriculum provider.

Q.  How do I know which curriculum to use?

A.  It is always best to start out with a canned curriculum.  By canned, I mean, a curriculum that has the student book, the teacher's book, tests, and lesson plans already made out for you.  Abeka Book is always a good place to start.  Bob Jones has a nice prepackaged curriculum for each grade level.  Alpha Omega has an Academy that will do all of the administrative tasks including grading and issuing report cards.  Keep in mind, however, that it is expensive to go the canned curriculum route.  And remember, whichever curriculum you use, make sure that it serves you and not the other way around.  Later on, when you get the hang of homeschooling, you can tailor your homestudy program to your child's individual needs. 

Q.  How do I know if my child is really learning?

A.  Children are natural-born learners.  It is almost impossible to keep a child from learning.  Some people measure learning by standardized tests.  Standardized tests, however, do not measure real learning.  Real learning usually occurs spontaneously.  The rigidness of a traditional school sometimes stamps out that spontaneity and actually deters real learning.  One of my favorite quotes by author and educator, Dorothy Sayers says this:  "When a child is truly learning, he actively and consistently embraces an area of interest that will lead him in a process that reflects his individual expressions and character development."  Your job as a teacher is not to sit at a desk and grade papers or stand at a chalk board and lecture, it is to ignite the fire of learning in your child.  And when you do that, you will know beyond any measure that your child is really learning.

Q.  What about socialization?

A.  This is by far the most asked question about homeschooling and the most irritating one in my opinion.  The problem with socialization in the homeschool community is not whether homeschoolers get enough socialization, but that they get too much (at least in our family).  My children are involved in all kinds of activities in which they interact with both their peers and adults.  My children usually go wherever I go, speaking and having conversations with the same people I do.  They also play with the neighborhood children and take classes with other children their age.  One of the benefits, however, of the homeschooled child is that he/she is not in a constant survival-of-the-fittest type atmosphere that often occurs in a traditional school setting.  They do not have the same peer pressures that traditional school children have, which is why homeschooling is so appealing to many families.