Think you understand the homeschool mom in your life – your wife, sister, aunt, mother, daughter, friend, or whomever? If you’re a homeschool mom yourself, you probably understand pretty well. If not, though, this article is for you! A little late for Mother’s Day & Teacher Appreciation Day, but really, the article speaks volumes about us homeschool moms throughout the year (and you can keep the gift ideas in mind for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or “just because!”).

Contributed by Trishy

Reason 3

You will see and enjoy how real learning takes place in your own home.

These two words are tied together – “enjoyment” and “learning.” Does that mean that kids who complain about school because there is nothing to enjoy are not learning? Well, they may be memorizing or “mastering” facts and procedures. That is not the same as real learning.

In the education institution system (remember, my phrase for “school”) opportunities are very few for children to explore and delve deeply into what they truly love. Instead, subjects are chopped up into about six or seven short segments of the day and presented in a boring, uniform fashion. Don’t believe me?

Do you remember when you were in school? Good, now tell me the title of your favorite textbook that you and everyone else in your grade were required to have for that particular class. No, do not tell me your favorite subject in school. Name your favorite textbook. I have asked this question dozens and dozens of times and no one can ever give me a complete answer. That is o.k. I can’t give any titles to textbooks either. I’m convinced that textbooks by themselves do not unlock the door to real learning. They are only one type of tool.

By educating your children at home, they get to explore different topics and subjects when you both feel ready and in a way that they enjoy. Your children, when given the opportunity to explore at their own pace, will also dive deeper and longer into what they desire to learn.

Let me just sum up this point by asking you to consider the following scenario: Pretend you have never seen a marigold. I give you a chapter from a book that I’ve had copied. I give a thirty-minute lecture on what we will be doing in the class regarding marigolds. This chapter has questions at the end of it. I assign you and twenty other acquaintances your age the task of reading that chapter over the next two days from 10:00 a.m. to 10:54 a.m. That’s just what you are supposed to learn at your age, so, no arguments. On the third day, there will be a test over the chapter you’ve read at approximately 10:00 a.m. You pass the test and now your new task is to grow marigolds for others. Aren’t you excited? You’ve “mastered” the subject by reading the chapter and passing the test.

Did you get to read other books about marigolds? Did you get to see marigolds grown from seed? Did you get the opportunity to try to grow marigolds? Were you given choices of other subjects such as oil painting, violin lessons, or house framing instead of reading about growing marigolds? Were you not ready to read about growing marigolds and just needed to wait?

I know this seems like an extreme situation. Yet, everyday in institutional education systems across America, students walk into classrooms expected to master subjects at a certain age they may not be ready for developmentally, nor have developed an interest.

Current proponents of state and national “learning” standards spend much time and money training schools to make parents and students alike feel that “mastering,” “memorizing,” and “learning” are equivalent. Once you’ve completed the assignment and passed the standardized exam, you were finished learning the material. Yet, great American thinkers like Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and Madison felt that true learning took place over a lifetime.

Contributed by Trishy

Reason 2

You have the opportunity to provide learning truly tailor made to your child.

Do we all wear the same styles of clothes, have the same tastes in music, eat the same favorite foods, or drive the same cars? Of course not! When our children were infants, did they learn to smile on the same day; walk in the same way within the same week; or say the same first word at the same time? Why do we believe that education means mastering and memorizing facts learned in a specific style and on a certain time-table at an unwavering age in life?

Both public and private schools must provide structured learning for the class as a whole to meet standardized criteria. Most of their time is spent in classroom control. They cannot provide individualized learning using techniques and styles that cater your child’s specific set of interest and skills.

Did you know your child has a learning style unique to him or her? Did you know you have a unique learning style and it may be different from your child’s style?

What is a learning style? When you watch your child, do they love to pull things apart to find out how they work? Do they have to touch things to learn about them? Do they bounce around in their seat and have finger and foot movements going on when they are trying to concentrate? This is a learning style most commonly referred to as “kinesthetic.” Other styles include visual and auditory and combinations of all three.

Visual learners have to “see it to get it.” They usually love to look at art and are book people. They may exhibit interest in patterns and spacial organization.

Auditory learners will read aloud or sing while doing other things. When they hear music, they may not be able to focus on tasks that require concentration. The music takes over. They learn by hearing.

There are scores of books on learning styles and tests you can give to find out which one (or combination) your child has. In addition, there are wonderful educational materials and curriculum programs that compliment certain learning styles and behaviors. This is your opportunity to explore an area that involuntary learning institutions (my phrase for “school systems”) cannot. Then, you can cater to their learning style by using materials and ideas they will actually enjoy instead of dread.

Contributed by Trishy

Reason 1

You have the highest stake in your child’s learning. Most parents have the deepest attachment for their child’s well-being.  You would not be reading this report if you did not care passionately about your child’s well-being.  It is popular to believe that the government cares more about your child’s education than you do.  We hear endless speeches about how the government needs to do more and be more to provide education for your child.  It is a very hot political topic.  Both sides in an election will always use the mantra “more funding for education” in their political rhetoric.  They would seem uncaring and pompous to use a political slogan for education that said, “Hey, maybe the federal education system doesn’t need more money.  Maybe you parents can do a better job of it at home.”

You simply will not hear those words.  Yet, who better to offer your child the chance to love to learn than you, the parent?  I taught in private schools for 5 years.  Trust me.  No amount of sincerity from a person whom your child will spend only 9 months with can compare with the passion a parent has for his or her own child.

Six years inside the classroom gave me insight when I questioned whether home schooling was valid for our family.  Did I love some of my students?  Of course, but not all!  Did I go the extra mile for my students?  Sometimes, but not often.  You see, I also had my own young family to care for after school hours.  It may seem when you read those things that other teachers aren’t like that and care more and invest themselves on a larger level.  Perhaps, this is true, but when I look back as a parent with two young children in the school system, I can honestly say, I believe it is the norm.

You will want to know if you are qualified to teach your child at home.  This issue of “qualified to teach” doesn’t end once you bring your child home – others will be asking you the same question.  Yet, if you can remember back to when you first held your dear child in your arms, you immediately became his or her first teacher.  Your child knows you are qualified and here is how they know:  Did your child learn to drink from a cup, crawl, walk and talk if he or she was physically capable?  Great!  You’re qualified.