Are you considering homeschooling during this pandemic but don’t know where to start? Read on!
The 2020-21 school year is already stressing me out.
I don’t know about you, but with all of the current restrictions and (I hate this word right now) uncertainty about what’s to come, I am reevaluating all kinds of things. Are you?
I have seen several hypothetical situations for the coming public school year. Full-time online school from home, splitting the classes in half and teaching each on opposite days or morning vs. evening, later start dates, earlier start dates, shorter or longer breaks, and even no school until 2021. And on top of that, the social distancing guidelines that might further impede effective learning will likely be in place. I often wonder how well any of this will help kids learn, or if this might just be the year that everyone backslides.
Have you been considering homeschooling during this pandemic?
I know many parents who have entertained the idea of homeschooling, but then decided that they couldn’t do it. I’m here to tell you that you absolutely can, even with no experience and even if you aren’t a stay at home mom. To learn why we started to homeschool, read our post about homeschooling high school.
We have 2 teenagers at home and have been homeschooling for 2 years. It is hard, but it’s also not as hard as you think. Let me tell you why.
- You get to be with your kids a lot. This is an amazing gift, and a tremendous challenge. (Teenagers…. That’s all I need to say.) But being the main influence in your child’s life gives you the opportunity to shape their character more than anyone else, and to enjoy them as people. You get to see what they are interested in, spend time talking about all kinds of important things and unimportant things, and watch them have learning moments.
- You are in charge of what they are learning. The options for curriculum are endless. They can enroll fully in an online school or you can teach every subject. You can give them choices or they can decide for themselves what they want to learn. Or you can count things they are already doing as classes. For example, my youngest daughter’s dance class is also her PE class for the year. It is really liberating for the whole family when the kids are able to enjoy what they are doing.
- You can enroll your high schooler in college classes if they are ready for that. These count as their high school class as well! The downside is that you may have to pay for them, BUT it will be cheaper in most cases for them to take a class at your local community college now rather than at a university in a couple of years.
- It takes way less time than public school. Way less. So much less. Which leaves time for sports, hobbies, and sleeping in.
- They learn at their pace.TMaybe they are finished with Algebra by February. Maybe it takes all year for them to master a few concepts. Both are acceptable. Homeschooling is also a great choice for a child with a learning disability or attention deficit.
- They can follow their interests. Have a child who loves to cook? Make it a class and put it on their transcript.
- Your schedule becomes more flexible. If it’s a beautiful day and you want to go to the zoo instead of sit inside and work on school, you can. You can take a family vacation in the middle of the year and not miss school.
There are so many benefits to homeschooling and so many ways to make homeschooling work for you, with or without a pandemic.
And there is no one right way to do it. You are the expert in your kids, and you know how and what they need. Here are some helpful links to get you started. You can do this! Leave us your questions in the comments.
https://homeschooliowa.org/start-homeschooling/know-the-law-rules/
https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/high-school-beyond/homeschooling-high-school/
https://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-homeschooling-high-school/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMbnCzutmnA
