Homeschooling. What does that mean to you? Perhaps you know someone who homeschools. Or perhaps you have simply heard the term. Or perhaps you are interested in homeschooling or are already doing so. What does it look like? How do you “do” homeschooling? The fundamental basis for science is observation....
Category: Starting Up
Starting up homeschooling? Let’s help you out.
Socialization and Homeschooling
One of the most common questions people against homeschooling might ask you is, “What about socialization?” Well, what about it? Firstly, what is socialization? My go-to quick-reference online dictionary is https://www.dictionary.com/. Their definition of socialization is “a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms,...
Commitment
Before my wife and I married, I was committed to homeschooling. By contrast my wife, who came from a background and country (South Africa) where homeschooling was unheard of, had many misgivings. Yet, as with many things where I stood apart from my wife’s experience and training, she yielded, choosing...
Setting the Tone
I love learning. It is a wonder to me, but I never liked school even though I was good at it. Even the classes that I was most excited to take never satisfied, but quickly became a bore. In all my years of study the only class I ever took...
Why we chose to homeschool
Everyone has their own reasons. Here's why we made the decision to homeschool. People often want to know why we chose to homeschool, especially those who aren’t homeschooling themselves. I was born and raised in South Africa in a time that homeschooling hadn’t yet taken off and I didn’t know...
Sponges
If you've spent time with young children, you've spent time with sponges! Children are like sponges. Not in the commonly-thought-of meanings of being a mooch, parasite or freeloader, but in the sense of drinking in, soaking up, and saturating themselves with information regarding the world they live in. Children are...
Popular vs Right for your family
Homeschool peer pressure: What's popular isn't necessarily what's right for your family. The choice of going with what is popular vs right for your family may be something you have already run into. If you’re homeschooling, you’re, in most circles, already choosing what you think is right for your family...
The 4 Rs
You've heard about the 3 Rs. So what is the fourth R? Everyone has heard of the 3 Rs, but the 4 Rs are what the education of my children is based on. Considering that they’re the foundation of learning, has anyone else noticed that of the 3 Rs, writing...
Newsflash
Newsflash! Newsflash! Newsflash! I know you need this newsflash like I did, so here it is. You are not omnipotent! You do not have the ability or time or knowledge to absolutely accomplish every aspect of your child’s education completely on your own without any assistance from anyone else. If...
Laziness
Signs of laziness versus responsibility. I was asked to write a post on laziness. Where do I start with a subject like this? How about identifying some tell-tale signs that show laziness on your part. Sloppy preparation Winging it, instead of any planning Waiting for the last minute to...
Mining for Nuggets
Nuggets are incredibly valuable and can transform your homeschool. How do you go about mining for nuggets, and where do you find the things that change your homeschool? I am reminded of Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the words of which I have changed slightly. “How do I find...
In the beginning… Getting started
In the beginning ... Getting started with homeschooling. Here’s a little secret about our homeschool journey. It was very hard getting started. Even though my hubby had passed on to me what he saw our home education accomplishing and I could see the end goal, the first step to take...
Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed in your Homeschool
Avoid feeling overwhelmed - set yourself to do it. Avoiding feeling overwhelmed is something to set yourself to do. That sense of the weight of the responsibility of your child’s education can lead to insomnia, fear and high blood pressure. That is plainly completely unprofitable. Yet it may be where...
The #1 Homeschool Mistake
In my years, I have found this to be The Number One Homeschool Mistake Of all the possible ways to err in homeschooling, the number one homeschool mistake stands out head and shoulders over all the rest. Many people don’t realize how deep-set this one major hinderance to effective and...
Five Ws and an H
The five Ws and an H of Homeschooling. Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. What are the five Ws and an H? Who can homeschool? YOU can! Even if your child is in public or private school, every parent IS a homeschooler, as it is their responsibility to oversee...
Two Things You Need To Know Before You Homeschool
Homeschooling Startup There are two things you need to know before you homeschool. Both are simple. Are you ready? The first, most important thing you need to know when you start homeschooling, is what your particular state requires regarding homeschooling. Each state has different things they require of you as...