Homeschooling- What Is It?

By Peter Johnson

The term 'homeschooling' essentially refers to the process in which children of not more than 2 families are educated by parents or legal guardians, or a member of either household. The laws that define homeschooling vary from State to State and Country to Country. The legal requirements for establishing a home school also vary with the State.

The reality for most children, is that the actual process of learning begins much before school does. Many children already know their alphabets, the names of animals, colors and other more complicated stuff before

they reach school. Obviously child-care can play a significant role in this pre-education and is becoming an ever increasing part of a child’s potential. This can also be due to the hard work of a member of the family who has taken the time to teach and develop the child. Homeschooling is just a natural progression from here, and its no wonder children have such difficulty when they first attempt to adjust being in the public school environment. Instead of sending their children to a public school, parents can make their own curriculum and teach their children in ways that best suit the child’s interests and needs. This is homeschooling, in its most simplistic format.

Before you decide to go in for homeschooling, there are some important decisions you must consider. Firstly, it is advised to meet with parents of other home schoolers. Find out the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling. Then ask yourself why you would want to adopt this

method, and whether it will work in light of your child’s interest and needs. This is a very important aspect, as the success of the

program depends almost entirely on the sincerity and clarity of your purpose.

Now, it is time to consider the expenses of homeschooling- how are you going to finance this? The Costs may be between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand every year. You must also take into account, that you are also effectively shutting out any job opportunity for one of the parents. It is only obvious that one parent will have to stay at home full time to manage the

home school. A home-based business however is a great alternative, for those not wealthy enough to survive of one household wage.

The next question is: Are you qualified to take on homeschooling for your children? Teaching is a continuation of your own learning process. With the advent of the internet, information is aplenty, and there is no excuse for lack of experimentation in teaching methods and materials. There are various books and resources for those interested in homeschooling. You should go through the various methods of homeschooling and decide on the one that is most suited to your lifestyle and your family needs. It will help to know what kind of learning style your child has and indeed responds better to. Also, find out what your child feels about homeschooling before you start. For example if your child is heavily reliant on social communication, then perhaps homeschooling will not benefit the child as much it would another.

Every state has its own laws regarding homeschooling. For example, in North Carolina, you must first file a 'Notice of Intent' to set up a home school. In this you have to mention if the school is a 'Private church' school or a 'qualified non-public school'. The persons providing the education are required to have at least a high school diploma- minimum. You have to maintain an annual record of the child's attendance and disease immunization. Every year, the child is required to undergo a standardized test. Each student attending the eleventh grade has to take a nationally standardized test. These are the requirements in North Carolina, but it is enough to give you a good idea of what homeschooling

involves. It should be emphasized that these requirements are extremely basic, and are simple to adhere to once you have the relevant documentation.

Homeschooling may initially come across as a fun and exiting way to educate your child, and satisfy yourself. However, things are rarely as simple as they seem. Homeschooling is a lot of added responsibility and hard work. But, if successful, it will forge a strong bond of love and respect between parent and child, while providing your child with the best form of education he/she needs. When performed correctly there is little doubt that the child will receive a better a relevant education from homeschooling.