Mom Is Teaching

I have a guest poster writing this for me.  Remember all the whining over TMJ and sinus’s and the like, people felt sorry for me.  Now, before you read this guest post from Luke Holzmann, let me tell you a few things. 

1.  I’m cross-posting this all over the place because I think it is ‘that’ important.

2.  He hasn’t yet convinced me that it is best for me and my family, but you may very well be at the point where this is exactly what this post does for you, and if it empowers you, then that’s exactly what we are looking for.

3.  He must be stalking me just a little because my husband and I both have personalized tags.  Our last name is “Reason”, therefore, my tag says, “4REASNS” and his says, “REASNS4″…which makes me wonder if Luke will want to go back and re-write this post so that it includes a fourth reason, just so it will fit in with my family…lol.

Enjoy!

Three Reasons to Homeschool

Jerri Ann has given me the opportunity to write a post here about homeschooling. My goal for this post is to convince her to start homeschooling.

Just putting that out there up front: I want this post to be the impetus that encourages you to at least give homeschooling a try. My position is admittedly biased because I am a blogger for a major curriculum provider and a product of that system which my mom started with a friend way back in the day.

I am biased, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Here are the three major reasons to homeschool (NB: None of them are stereotypical):

1. Homeschooling gives you options.

The stereotype is that homeschoolers are forced to be secluded and miss out on all the great things that a public school offers. In actuality, the opposite is true. Public school severely limits your options. It limits what your children can learn, how they can learn it, when they can learn it, where they can learn it, what opportunities they can utilize, and attending school cuts into the time you have to work with your children on their personal development.

Homeschooling also allows you to control their environment, something that is not possible if you send them to school. Things like problematic teachers, inane assignments, ridiculous restrictions and educational approaches that are wholly inappropriate for your student no longer exist. You are your child’s teacher. You know how they learn and operate best, and with them at home, you have the ability to tailor their education to suit their needs.

2. Homeschooling brings you joy.

I realize that homeschooling is not for everyone.

I know of families where the parents are abusive and nasty. The problem there is not with homeschooling. The problem is with the parents, and sending the kids to school would not fix the problem. Bad parents need to shape up in general.

I know of children who thrive in the public school environment–I have a sister who was a star academically and a brother who was a socialite. But when they were homeschooled, they thrived. My sister gained a sweeter disposition and was no longer a terror at home, and my brother found friends with whom he could play for longer hours of the day. My family has run the gambit of options: private, public, and homeschooling. Homeschooling is the best.

And I know parents who feel like they just couldn’t handle being around their kids that much, or are afraid they wouldn’t be able to handle their child’s issues. Nancy was such a mother. Her husband is a high school teacher (I took two of his classes in high school), and one of her four kids is an obstinate and rather aggressive young man. She was terrified of homeschooling. Over several weeks I kept encouraging her to give homeschooling a try. Two weeks after switching to homeschooling she came up to me and said, “Luke, I am amazed at how much better homeschooling is! I have more time now. More time! I no longer have to run the kids all over the place for school. And my kids are doing so much better.”

She has discovered, first hand, how wonderful homeschooling is. My mom often expresses how much joy homeschooling has brought her. I have heard over and over from homeschooling moms everywhere: I love spending time with my kids! They are such a joy to be around.

The opposite sentiment is often shared by parents who do not have a chance to spend time discovering the joy of their children at home.

3. Homeschooling offers tools.

“I could never do that,” people often say about homeschooling.

Well, sure, with an attitude like that, it’s true. You can’t. But once you allow yourself to consider the possibility of homeschooling, you will quickly learn that you can. What’s more, there are many resources available to help you along the way. I’m going to shamelessly plug one such option: S

onlight Curriculum offers a complete, one-stop-shop resource for your homeschool. Sonlight is literature-rich (meaning it’s a joy to teach as well as participate in) and contains the best of the best. In fact, if you look at the other options that have sprung up since Sonlight, they include many of Sonlight’s titles. Sonlight also has a huge support base where you can find the help and encouragement you need, whether it’s from other users on the Forums, or veteran Sonlight moms via the SCAs, or simply the fantastic customer support.

Sonlight also offers an 18 week, risk-free guarantee. No one else does that. The bottom line for you: You can try homeschooling for half a year and if it’s not for you, return it and you get all your money back.

Try it.

Sonlight has a good article on the pros and cons of homeschooling that you can read as well, and a list of 27 Reasons Not to Buy Sonlight that you may find informative. You can also listen to several audio presentations on the subject of switching to homeschooling which you can find on the “Making the Move” page on Sonlight.com.

One last little thing: If you decide to take me up on this challenge and give homeschooling a shot, or you just want more information, my blog is always open. Come visit me over on my Sonlight blog and share your tears, fears, frustrations and victories with me. Have a question? Just ask. Need help? Let me know. I will personally be there to assist you as you take these first steps on this incredible journey. And if I can’t answer your question, I will connect you with someone who can.

~Luke Holzmann Sonlightblog.com