New homeschoolers are bombarded with information from which curriculum to use (see #11) to how to train their children (see #3). Homeschoolers are a wonderful group for crowd-sourcing information, but not all of the information available online or from other homeschoolers is helpful, useful, or productive.
New homeschoolers are wise to beware the following:
- Beware people who tell you exactly how you should homeschool. Find homeschooling friends and mentors who have experience, suggestions, and resource ideas, but who encourage you to find what works for your family.
- Beware homeschooling organizations and homeschooling leaders who not only tell you how to homeschool, but how to live, what your religious beliefs should be, what your position on non-homeschooling issues should be, and how you should vote. Double beware if they want you to pay them to tell you what to think.
- Beware books or resources which emphasize the importance of controlling children above all other aspects of homeschooling or child-rearing. Absolutely beware those which advocate physical punishments for or absolute control of babies.
- Beware books, resources, or people who tell you that children need to be left to their own devices as the only way to learn, that their freedom to make all decisions about all things should always be completely unlimited, and that any guidance or input by parents interferes with children's "natural" growth.
- Beware people and resources which lead you to believe that homeschooling will guarantee a desired outcome for your children—be that educational, spiritual, economic, or vocational. There is no homeschool guarantee.
- Beware promises by curriculum companies and virtual education establishments. The truth is, real learning will take place if your child engages with the materials, and less or no learning will take place as a result of the curriculum if your child doesn't engage with the materials. (See "no homeschool guarantee" above.)
- Beware homeschooling groups, organizations, or activities that suck all the life out of you with little return. Find the activities that work well for you and your family, and volunteer your time in ways that make you feel fulfilled and/or benefit your children. On the other hand, don't be one of those people who is plenty willing to take what other homeschoolers are offering, but never bothers to offer an activity or service of your own.
- Beware thinking "other people will do it." Yes—this one seems opposite of the one above—but it's worth mentioning that, for example, homeschooling freedoms can be at risk if everyone thinks "other homeschoolers" will volunteer to lobby the legislature, call a representative, or answer a reporter's questions. If you have those skills and it turns you on to use them, please don't think other people will do it. Homeschooling organizations across the country have vital positions unfilled because people think "other people will do it."
- Beware reality shows and sensational media "opportunities." If you put yourself in a position to represent homeschooling on an outrageous television, radio, or internet show, homeschooling will surely be depicted as outrageous. Further, if you're part of the audience for such reality shows on homeschooling, beware that what they are showing is not reality. Contact your statewide homeschool organization for information about how to best represent homeschooling in media interviews.
- Beware believing or repeating the "good test scores" stereotype about homeschooled children. Frankly, many of the studies are flawed due to their biased samples or because they are not adjusted for other variables that contribute to student success. Real academic researchers have known this for years.And there are two other things: One is—as homeschooling becomes more popular and represents the general population more, we can expect test scores to become more representative of the general population as well.The second thing is—do we really want the general public focused on high test scores as an indicator of why people should homeschool? Don't kids with average and low test scores also deserve homeschooling, and perhaps stand to benefit more?And if you need a third reason—the testing thing is out of hand in schools, driving many people to homeschool in search of a more holistic approach to education. Let's not go down any further down the "testing is everything" road in homeschooling.
- Beware spending a ton of money on curriculum before you've figured out your approach to homeschooling. Seasoned homeschoolers keep saying this; new homeschoolers frequently keep ignoring it, only to come back preaching it to new homeschoolers in a couple of years. Really, I know it seems like the right curriculum is the most important thing. But really, it isn't.
- Beware the homeschool insider's joke that socialization "is not a problem—we've got too much of it." In general, it's really true that elementary-age homeschoolers in or near large towns and cities have more than enough social opportunities. But homeschoolers in rural areas, homeschooling families with an only child, homeschoolers of high school age in smaller communities, homeschoolers with children who have special needs, and homeschoolers who don't fit their local profile of the dominant "type" of homeschooler, all may have challenges in finding friends and community for their families.
- Beware getting your homeschooling information from your local school authorities. In general, they are experts on education at public school, and even when they intend to be helpful, they are often not well-versed in homeschool laws, homeschool resources, or higher education opportunities for homeschool grads. Join a statewide homeschool organization, research homeschooling questions online, and network with local homeschoolers in order to get accurate information.
- Beware assuming that free online "homeschool" program offered through public school divisions is homeschooling as defined by law in your state. In most states, it's not homeschooling; it's "virtual public school," and your kids will be required to meet public school requirements including testing, completion of assignments, attendance, and seat time. While this might be a great option for your family, it does not offer the flexibility or freedom of independent homeschooling.
Homeschooling is truly a great step to embark on with your children, but there are a few caveats that may keep you out of unexpectedly deep water. "Beware" is not meant to create fear, but only to encourage you to "take heed" about where the shoals are. Why hit the rocks when we have the opportunity to learn from those who are a few years ahead of us?
A popular speaker at homeschooling conferences, business groups, and parents’ groups, Jeanne Potts Faulconer homeschooled her three sons in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Virginia for twenty years. Holding her Master of Arts degree in Communication, Jeanne conducted portfolio evaluations for Virginia homeschoolers for evidence of progress for many years. Jeanne is a former college faculty member, former editor for several publications, news correspondent for WCVE, and former director of Brave Learner Home. She is the contributing editor for TheHomeSchoolMom newsletter and writes the popular Ask Jeanne column addressing homeschool parents' questions here at TheHomeSchoolMom.
Since the Corona Virus and we were sort of accidentally homeschooling. The realization that my kids aren't learning but just taking the info or lesson pass the test and they don't actually learn anything. The first week I got online to make a schedule for them with all the CA requirements act to what they should know but customized to what their interest are. This was fun we were using current events to learn thru the news, internet, our community it was fun. Then we received this school curriculum with these stories the kids hate, math became a drag and they are back to complaining that they don't know how to do things.
The first two weeks my daughter loves horses so we chose a book we picked out 20 vocabulary words. I took some sentences from her book to do ELA for preposition phrases.For my son we studied skateboarding. We wrote an opinion essay on the Corona Virus from an article. We made a video on how they feel about it and how they could help. We brain stormed together. We came up with Twins keeping kids connected they will raise money and buy educational games for homeless kids thru the crisis to keep them motivated. In math we learned our measurements and capacity and conversions thru cooking and measuring the thing that needed to be fixed around the house.
Now they are unmotivated they tell me the teacher said on zoom we don't have to do it until the end of the week. Why? I'll tell you why, how boring to learn about things you have zero interest in and don't you dare not follow directions because that is not how my teacher does it. What I'm trying to get at is that our children are unique and who better to know that than us as parents. Teachers are following school regulations even those great ones that voice to my daughter that they have extra recess because she feels school needs to have more play! KUDOS TO YOU! She's 100 percent right. So, I take something negative (corona virus) and turned into an AHA! Moment my kids are not being educated. They are being left behind and lead to believe because no student is left behind that every grade they get smarter WHICH IS CRAZY! but knowledge is not learned its experienced it's driven, IT'S FACILITATED NOT TAUGHT. I at least as scary as it sounded to homeschool. Now find it more frightening to leave my kids education to one teacher with 30 kids trying to balance it all. There is not just one answer to homeschooling but if anyone experienced what I did you'd 100 percent know homeschooling is the only answer to raise mindful, kind, and resilient children that learn all day not just in school buildings from 8 to 2.
Excellent advice! Especially the "be careful of advice from school" part. While our local schools were no problem, I've talked with people who's school's gave them bad misinformation and told them they had to go through a lot of hoops they didn't have to.
You are right about the social opportunities for special needs children especially in a rural setting. Our only option is a christian homeschool group who don't want their children exposed to the others who have had evolution driven into their brains as facts.My son spent seven years in the public school system and I am one of those who was forced into homeschooling.I am teaching him from a christian,creationism point of view but because I say that I was pushed into this not that I was called to it, then most of these people do not want to be around me and my child.I am used to being looked down on and bullied by the public school people because I have a child with a invisible disease but to encounter it in people who call their selves christian was very shocking.I am thinking seriously about starting a homeschool group in our area just for disabled children and their families who have previously been in public school.Families like ours need help and answers desperately since we are dealing with things that someone beginning homeschooling with a child who has never been in public school won't have to deal with.
Sorry got off. Anyway he went to great public school until 5th grade now......Gonna go back to Connections for 6th grade...this year for middleschool.
As a new homeschooler, thank you! The socialization thing is what concerns me right now as we live in a very rural community. But with the public school my daughter couldn't really socialize either...In kindergarten any time she talked when she wasn't supposed to she lost 5 minutes of recess, to the point she stopped trying to talk to other kids.
As a homeschool mom, but also as an enrollment rep for an online charter school, I want to thank you for the positive shout-out to online schools. I appreciate your statement "it can be a great option..." I can tell you that most of the calls I get to the enrollment hotline are from families who have never intended to homeschool before. They have been in the public schools, but have found them severely lacking in one way or another. I would classify them as "reluctant homeschoolers" because they feel they are being driven to home-education by default and desperation, and not because they have a burning desire to teach their children at home. The basic attitude is "We're out of options. Can you help us?." Home education in the form of online charter schools fills a need for these folks. They're not interested in researching the dozen or so styles of homeschooling, let alone the endless curriculum choices. For them, online schooling satisfies the need to educate their children at home, while still giving them the structure and support of a public education. Again, as you said, it really "can be a great option."
I know this is an old thread from way before Covid but can you give me more information about this? We are not wanting to homeschool either but am planning to if school doesn't reopen as usual in the fall. I am not going to subject my children to masks and glass partitions up in the classroom as this completely negates the "social benefit" of public school in the first place. I'm actually heartbroken because we love our elementary school and are sad to leave but its absolutely necessary if this is what classrooms look like. Thanks.
Hi LB - Sorry for the late reply; I just saw your comment. I think you might find our recent post Should You Homeschool This Fall? helpful. You are not alone in your concerns!
Hello there,
I enrolled my son in Connections Academy for 2nd grade and we loved it! Because he's an only child in a small town, I got concerned about socialization. We had moved had moved after buying a house to where they had
Christine, I'm so glad you've found an approach to education that works for your son. That's the important thing!
Jeanne
yes ,this. i do not feel prepare or able to adequately educate my children, myself, so we have enrolled in an online school, but I am excited to supplement with as much as I can. I'm slightly terrified, and very excited
Don't put yourself down as far as your knowledge goes. There are tutors, dvd learning material, books and teacher keys that can help you with subjects if you get stuck. Don't give up. Do your research and good luck to you and your family.
Amen. I think you covered it!
True and very helpful. Thanks for this Jeanne, I'll be sharing!