Will Homeschooling Help Or Hinder My Child?

Hey you, the parent homeschooling their child. Stop, drop, and breathe! Seriously stop what you are doing, sit down, and BREATHE.

This homeschooling stuff is hard, believe me, I understand. You see I’m from the other side of the table. I’m a former homeschool student and now a homeschooling advocate.

Let me tell you what it’s like from the student’s perspective. I’m here to convince you you’re doing a great job, even though you think otherwise.

I have witnessed a plethora of homeschooling families place an immense amount of pressure on planning curriculum and completing a certain number of goals for the year. While it is good to have a plan, you must understand your plan is the BEST case scenario.

Life happens, obstacles are encountered, and tears of frustration from overworked students can drown out any chance of your plan’s completion.

So let’s break this down.

First, your entire curriculum does not have to be in the same grade. This is one of the most amazing benefits of homeschooling that is often overlooked. If your child just doesn’t understand something, you do not have to drag them along kicking and screaming (though sometimes this is necessary). If they struggle in math and fail a class you don’t have to hold them back a grade to learn it.

Here’s what I mean. Let’s say your student is in the fifth grade and loves science. You don’t have to hold them back a year just to learn math. Move them down to a fourth-grade level math class but keep all their other subjects in fifth grade. They won’t miss out on their other subjects and when they understand math better they can always skip ahead.

The same rule applies to your student who excels in multiple subjects. You don’t have to keep them in a fifth-grade science class if they are at a sixth-grade or even seventh-grade knowledge level. Embrace their enthusiasm and let them learn as much as they want.

Now for the completionist parents, remember students in public school rarely finish the entire lesson course. They also skip around and spend more time in one area than another.

Likewise, we don’t have to have all our ducks in a row up front or equal across the board. Learning is meant to be chaotic.

Now don’t let me lose you here! There should always be structure to your student’s learning plan, but it can not be so tight it feels like a noose around their neck.

Each child learns differently and at a different pace. If they struggle with paying attention to their history book switch it up. There is an amazing (and slightly cheesy) series of history documentaries called Drive Through History that teaches biblical and American history. This slight change in media can unlock your student’s excitement and engage them to learn.

Does your student prefer seeing history up close, in person, and interacting with it? Take the day and go on a field trip to a historical sight or museum. It doesn’t have to be far away or expensive. Many historical sights are free to view or request only a small donation.

Your main goal is to find a way to captivate your child and also let them be a part of their education journey.

Now as for your curriculum plan, you need to check your state’s graduation requirements. Such as, do they need three years of math or four? Is biology required? Many classes can be chosen by your child or geared toward their personal interests.

Personally, I loved reading and writing reports. I engaged in more literature classes than my siblings who were interested in home economics or science. My parents fed into that interest and it helped me blossom as a writer. 

Speaking of home economics, you can include cleaning as part of your curriculum. (I’m only sort of kidding here). Cooking and baking are some of the fields of study your child could be interested in and this will benefit them in many ways in life.  It may help them get that first job as a cook or it can teach them ways to save money on a budget.

Okay now get out your pencils,  it’s time for a review!

One, relax. It may seem like your failing but you’re not. You just may need a different approach to learning. Find out which media engages your child the most. Is it books, computer classes, video courses, or one on one learning?

Two, include your child in their education journey and let them have the opportunity to have a say in what they learn.

Three, remember you can include odds and ends as part of their education like field trips, chores, and their own artistic passions. Does your child want to learn an instrument or a trade? Include it! Those are life skills they will need later.

Now let me see your notes….

Yes, good, everything looks in order.  Now for your next project, I want you to make yourself a cup of coffee (or a glass of tea or whatever your guilty pleasure is) sit down, and say a prayer. Go for a walk and mull over what you think will engage your child. Sit down and have an informal conversation about their interests, even if they seem winey, please listen to them. If you show interest in what they want to learn they will be more patient when you teach them the required curriculum. Because they know you care about what they want and are helping them achieve that.

One more thing, for extra credit, you do not need to have school for eight hours a day. Your child is not going from class to class or having long recesses like in public school, so please don’t add extra work just to fill the time. Do the required classes, add in some fun, and be okay with letting your child learn at their own pace.

Class dismissed!