What Is Home Schooling?
The term 'home schooling' basically refers to the process in which one or more children of not more than 2 families are instructed by parents or legal guardians, or a member of either household. The laws that define home schooling vary from State to State. The legal requirements for establishing a home school also vary with the State.
For most children, the actual process of learning begins much before school. Many children already know their alphabets, the names of animals, colors and other more complicated stuff before they reach school. This is mostly due to the hard work of a member of the family who has taken the time to teach the child. Home schooling is just a natural progression from here. Instead of sending their children to a public school, parents make their own curriculum and teach their children in ways that best suit the child. This is home schooling, in its most simplistic form.
Before you decide to go in for home schooling, there are certain important matters for consideration. First off, meet with parents of other home schooled students. Find out the pros and cons of home schooling. Then ask yourself why you would want to adopt this method. This is a very important aspect, as the success of the program depends on the clarity and sincerity of your purpose.
Next, it is time to consider the expenses of home schooling. It may cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand every year. More importantly, you are also effectively shutting out any job opportunity for one of the parents. It is only obvious that one parent will have to stay at home full time to manage the home school. A home- based business however is a great alternative.
Are you qualified to take on home schooling for your children? Teaching is a continuation of your own learning process. With the advent of the Internet, information is aplenty. There are various books and resources for those interested in home schooling. Go through the various methods of home schooling and choose one that is most suited to you. It helps if you know what kind of learning style your child has. Also, find out what your child feels about home schooling before you start.
Every state has its own laws regarding home schooling. For instance, in North Carolina, you must first file a 'Notice of Intent' to start a home school. In this you have to mention if the school is a 'Private church' school or a 'qualified non-public school'. The persons providing the education are required to have at least a high school diploma. You have to maintain an annual record of the child's attendance and disease immunization. Every year, the child is required to undergo a standardized test. Each student attending the eleventh grade has to take a nationally standardized test. These are the requirements in North Carolina, but it is enough to give you a good idea of what home schooling entails.
Home schooling may seem like a lot of fun and freedom from the outside. However, things are seldom as simple as they seem. Home schooling is a lot of added responsibility and hard work. But, if successful, it will forge a strong bond of love and respect between parent and child and family, while providing your child with the best form of education he needs.
