Considering the Downside of HomeschoolingWeighing the downside of homeschooling against the benefits will help you to make a well-rounded decision for your family. Homeschooling is a LIFESTYLE...not merely a means to an academic education. It is far more than just "school at home"...it is A WAY OF LIFE!
SELF SACRIFICELet's just get to the BIG STUFF right off the bat, shall we? In choosing to homeschool your children, you are automatically agreeing to give up much of your personal free time! This single aspect of the downsides of homeschooling is what keeps MANY prospective parents from choosing this form of education and way of life for their families. We women have grown accustomed, in modern society, to the: "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" school-of-thought! We have even convinced ourselves that in order to be the best wife and mother we can be...we must take care of our own needs and desires first! This way of thinking can do more to BREAK DOWN A FAMILY than help it thrive. Every homeschooling mother has made the decision to TRULY PUT HER FAMILY FIRST...to set aside her own needs-and-wants-of-the- moment and offer her full attention to the teaching, nurturing, and care of her children...ALL day, EVERY day...(for the most part...even MOMS get a day-off sometimes!) And guess what? IT'S WORTH IT Don't let this one downside of homeschooling keep you from choosing this way of life. IT IS DOABLE...and you will find that your days are so full, and adventurous, and CHALLENGING that you need not seek that edification outside the home! Is it tough at times to give up much of your personal freedom to come and go...to schedule personal activities, and to let go of many outside things to which you were once attached? YES! It can indeed be tough...but the BLESSING of BEING WITH YOUR CHILDREN...of TEACHING THEM...of LEARNING WITH THEM...of GROWING IN HOLINESS WITH THEM...and of being a part of their day-to-day learning milestones and epiphanies FAR OUTWEIGHS the things that you had to sacrifice in order to do it.
Not Knowing What to TeachKnowing what to teach can seem like an insurmountable obstacle when you are JUST GETTING STARTED IN HOMESCHOOLING This could definitely be seen as a downside to entering this new venture.
Many homeschooling parents are teachers by degree themselves. (Interesting isn't it? Many Homeschooling parents are TEACHERS in outside schools who either quit their job to come home and teach their own children, or continue to teach AND educate at home as well!) For this group of parents, "knowing what to teach" is not a downside. However, even for parents who are not certified teachers, or for that matter, parents who have no more than a high school diploma, there is a PLETHORA of help and information out there to help you discern the best route to take in deciding "what to teach". Following is a list of some very informative books on the topic of scope and sequence (what needs to be taught to provide a well-rounded education) and designing/choosing learning topics in the homeschool environment:
2) What Every____Grader Needs to Know, by E.D. Jr. Hirsch (The above is an entire series of books per grade level) 3) Teaching Children, by Diane Lopez 4) The Well-Trained Mind, by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer
INABILITY TO TEACH A SUBJECTMany parents, (especially those without a college degree) quickly become worried (when discerning whether or not to choose the homeschooling lifestyle) that they will NOT BE ABLE TO TEACH a certain subject/s due to their OWN inability. While this IS a valid concern...do not let this downside of homeschooling keep you from enjoying the benefits that await your family! Things to do when you need help teaching a subject: 1) Enroll in one of the many available accredited curriculum programs that OFFER BY-PHONE and ONLINE HELP to the student AND parents! Some parents choose a "teacher-directed" style of program, where your children are connected to a third party teacher via regular telephone calls or email communications. This is the fastest and easiest way to get help if you find yourself unable to teach a certain subject. There will most likely be a fee to these services but it will STILL BE FAR LESS EXPENSIVE than the costs that would burden you in a private school or outside education.
The point is, don't let your lack of knowledge in a certain subject keep you from teaching at home.
Uncooperative Students and Lack of PatienceI've combined these two possible downsides of homeschooling into one topic, for I believe that they often go hand-in-hand. It helps to understand that: A) Just because you enter the homeschooling lifestyle DOES NOT MEAN that you will suddenly become PERFECT! And, if you have been under the impression that homeschoolers are some type of uber-family, with all of their little duckies in a row, quietly going about every day with completely obedient and compliant children...then that's a facade! Homeschooling families are REAL families with REAL problems just like everyone else...they have good days and bad days, days when students co-operate, and days when they don't...it isn't the fact that these problems EXIST that matters...it's how you REACT to them that does. Understand from the get-go that you will have bumps in the road (doesn't EVERY student and teacher in EVERY classroom?), but you will also have God's GRACE and unlimited support, resources, friendships, and help available to get through the rough times! B) Obedience and patience come through much prayer and practice.Up, down, rise up, fall back, two steps ahead, one step back...IT IS A JOURNEY...the Lord has promised that HIS STRENGTH is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) and that HE will make up where we are lacking. As a homeschooling parent (OR ANY PARENT FOR THAT MATTER) you must TRUST in these words...and rely on them to carry you through the trials and tribulations you will ultimately face at some point. EDUCATING THE WHOLE PERSON; body, mind, and soul HELPS with this downside. Families who choose homeschooling must set their priorities straight. God first, family second, school third. When time is spent nurturing and growing in your faith (whatever that faith might be), and time is spent BEING a family, loving, working, playing, and serving one another for LOVE OF GOD, then the co-operation and patience needed on the part of the parent/teacher and child/student will come more naturally...and...in time...more often than not...WILL THRIVE!
Unable to Provide Certain Equipments, Technologies and Experiences that Would be Available in an Outside SettingCatalogs like these are READILY available so that the average homeschooling family can participate in the up-to-date labs, experiments, and activities available in most outside schools.YOU CAN EVEN DISSECT ANIMAL SPECIMENS AT HOME! Home Science Tools Catalog Apologia Chemistry Kits and Science Tools Wood Shop for Homeschoolers Lack of Special ExperiencesOften seen as one of the biggest downsides of homeschooling, is a perceived thought that students taught at home are "missing out" on common experiences such as: athletic programs, drama clubs, proms, etc... This "downside" is actually a myth...almost everything I can think of that is available to kid in outside schools is also available to children who are homeschooled. (And, if the exact activity can not be found, then it's almost always possible to find a close alternative!) My children have enjoyed being on sports teams, taking equestrian lessons, performing in a theater troupe, participating in a 4-H club,entered art shows, and MORE! This goes back to being able to CHOOSE what activities are best for your family...and that is a BLESSING! There are even PROMS for homeschoolers now, and that would be a personal decision as to whether you wanted you children to attend. There are science fairs, dance clubs, sports clubs,etc... It simply isn't true that children educated from home are "missing out".
Loss of IncomeDepending on your personal family situation, deciding to homeschool may mean that you will be losing a second income in your household. If this is a needed income, then this could definitely be one of the downsides of homeschooling to you. HOWEVER, YOU CAN WORK AT HOME while homeschooling your children! I DO! With a personal computer, you can start and build a successful HOME BUSINESS WEB SITE. And there are several easy ways to get started. You do NOT have to lose your needed second income...and what's more...you can go from working for someone else to WORKING FOR YOURSELF and BUILDING A LEGACY FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE!
let's turn our attention to the benefits!
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