By Marisa Pullan Two words: homeschool philosophies. More specifically, YOUR homeschool philosophies. People that are new to homeschooling often want to jump in and just GO! There is nothing wrong with that, and if the passion is there, more power to you! At the same time, so many people focus on finding the right curriculum and picking the right lessons because, admittedly, taking your child's education into your own hands is daunting, and you really don't want to screw them up! Before you think about the lessons and finding what is going to work, think about the WHY and the WHAT of your homeschool considerations, especially if you are coming from the public school system. Use this time as a de-schooling break to help you really get your feet under you as you start down this new path. With that said, let's explore the idea...so why do you want to homeschool? WHY do you want to homeschool? Is it the standardized testing in schools? Is it testing period? Is it religious beliefs? Is it the lack of choice in education? Why do you think homeschooling is best for your child? Does your child have special needs? Do you feel that the school can't meet your child's needs? Do you simply want more for your child? How do you want more? Why does homeschooling seem like a viable alternative? Is it something you are passionate to do or is it something that is more reactive to a given situation (i.e. bullying at school, large class size, not enough individual attention)? WHAT does homeschooling mean for you and your kids? What does education really mean to you? What does it mean for an individual to be educated in your eyes? Is it being well-read? Being well-rounded? What does education mean to your child? What are the goals that you each have? Why is your view of education defined in such a way? From your perspective, what is the relationship you want to have with your child? What kind of relationship does your child want to have with you? What are you willing to do and what are you willing not to do? Do you want to do all of the projects or are you unwilling to do the projects? Is your child okay not doing the projects or does your child want the experience? Each set of answers that you provide to yourself can help you decide on where to move forward and how to select lessons that best fit the goals and your kids' personalities. There is a lot of soul-searching on behalf of homeschooling parents and children as we all move further along on the journey. The other thing we need to remember is, as parents, our philosophies and approaches will change from year to year as our children grow older. What was important at five years old is not necessarily the same when that child is fifteen years old. Hopefully, with today's topic, you'll get started on thinking about what you're doing and why you're doing it. Once you have that figured out (or at least partially figured out because almost none of us ever have it completely figured out!), it will help you get on your way as you embark on the latest chapter of your life. Until next time, friends, happy homeschooling!
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