Education Solution

Starting to Homeschool Without Curriculum

Kristina’s initial homeschool experience was in 4th grade, following incidents with a peer who was treating her badly. Kristina’s mother removed her from school and told her to read college books. Kristina says “the first time we tried homeschooling, my mom went to a local university bookstore at SIU to buy me books. I can clearly remember her telling me at that age that I should just read through these intro college algebra, biology, and literature-related books and not worry too much if I didn’t understand everything. So I did, and there was plenty I didn’t quite grasp. But even the material I didn’t understand, I remembered. Eventually, the missing pieces settled into place.”

This style of teaching and learning is in direct opposition to current educational practices that break everything down into baby-step lessons that progress through the years. Kristina states that “This type of studying worked really well for me, though I can certainly see it not being optimum in all situations.” However, the practice of starting at the top, rather than at the bottom has a reputation for success among the unschooling community, where formal academics aren’t even addressed until the college years, if at all.

Homeschooling in Middle School

Kristina’s family has moved a lot. In her young life, she’s called nine U.S. states home, plus Malaysia and Norway. Having inherited an outspoken personality from her mother, Kristina engaged in a “heated argument” with a 7th grade teacher who accused her of cheating in Algebra because she wasn’t showing her math. Instead of confronting student & parent, the teacher just gave Kristina half credit. When confronted, the teacher admitted that she needed to see the steps because she didn’t personally understand the answers.

Why let Tim and Lisa learn at home than send them to school? Well, first of all, you don’t have to wake them up at 7 every morning and bundle them off to school with umpteen numbers of instructions, and wait with an anxious heart till they return. Homeschooling gives you more control over the influences that affect your child. The growth and development of your child is removed from the realm of the unknown. You, and you alone can decide what your child needs to do or learn. Tailoring the curriculum to suit the needs and interests of the child is one of the most obvious benefits of homeschooling.

Individual attention is another salient benefit of homeschooling. For instance, if Lisa needs more time to learn Math, then she can reduce the time for her English lessons. There are no fixed hours of learning per subject. This means that a child has the advantage of assigning more number of hours to the subject that seems tough WITHOUT any additional pressure. The amount of time needed to learn each subject will depend on the abilities and interests of the child.

The schooling of the child becomes an extended family activity. Parents get involved in every step of the learning procedure. Field trips and experiments become family activities. Thus, the child receives more quality time with his parents. The entire family shares games, chores and projects. Family closeness becomes the focus here. The child is also free of any negative peer pressure while making choices and decisions.

Competition is limited when it comes to homeschooling. The child does not need to prove his ability with regards to other children. His confidence remains intact. Since parents have a deep understanding of their child, they can plan the learning program to pique the child’s interest. It is also possible to intersperse difficult tasks with fun activities. A tough hour with Algebra can be followed by a trip to the nearest museum. Learning becomes fun. Parents can also tailor the curriculum to suit the learning style of the child. Some children learn through reading, while others need to write, and still others need to see objects in action.

Homeschooling allows parents to take control over the moral and religious learning of the child. Parents have the flexibility to incorporate their beliefs and ideologies into the child’s curriculum. There is no confusion in the child’s mind either because there is no variation between what is being taught and what is being practiced.

Lastly, more and more parents are getting disillusioned with the public school system. They believe that their children are being pushed too hard or too little. Other worrying issues pertaining to discipline and ethics also make the school system less welcome. Many repudiate the educational philosophy of grouping children solely on the basis of their age. Some parents themselves have unhappy memories of their own public school experience that motivates them to opt for homeschooling when it comes to their own children.

Homeschooling is the best way to teach a child if you have the time, the ability and the interest to follow through with his education. After all, nobody can understand or appreciate your child more than yourself.