How to Start Polls: Who are you? Homeschooling Your Your homeschool status Your children’s ages Gifted Child Just interested 0-4 Thinking about starting 5-10 Suki Wessling soon 10-13 Recently started 14-up Veteran homeschooler (1+ years)
Who am I? What is Homeschooling?
World’s Most Reluctant Homeschooler* This is not your grandmother’s homeschool! Homeschooled one child K-5 From… To… Other child 6th-present (16 years old) Professional writer, teacher Amateur singer, cook, gardener…
*former title, now passed on to someone else
1 What is Homeschooling? What is homeschooling?
Homeschooling is a flexible alternative Most schools are more alike than different education option Each homeschool is as unique as each child Entrepreneurship
Mentoring
Cooperative Distance education learning Service work Tutoring Community classes Independent study
What is Homeschooling? Advantages
Homeschooling legalities vary widely from Great for asynchronous learners state to state HSing environment tailored to child’s needs Students follow their passions Consult your state homeschooling Flexible lifestyle association (note flavor of homeschooling) Create positive social atmosphere Possibly consult state/local department of Private school education at low(er) cost education
2 Disadvantages Polls
Are you moving from Are you afraid you will fail Steep learning curve for parents school to homeschool? as a homeschooler? One spouse may have to quit/cut down work Yes Yes, quite afraid Parents may not feel qualified to teach No A bit concerned Social opportunities have to be sought out Not concerned
Disapproval from family, friends, neighbors HSing can be done cheaply, but probably costs more than public school
How to start: Just start! How to start: Deschool
School will always be there Be aware that you and your child may need You can’t predict what HSing will be like some adjustment time Don’t stick too long with a bad situation “Deschooling” is the process of changing from a school-based mindset to a homeschool-based mindset You both may need to deschool and it may take a while!
3 How to start: Leaving school How to start: The first day
Include your child in decision-making process School is separate from everyday life; You don’t owe anything to the school homeschool is integrated into everyday life Best not to burn bridges if possible “How do homeschoolers get their laundry done?” Be open and honest with teachers if Relax! possible Have fun!* Think of it as a step Don’t buy anything!** toward success, not * Research shows that fun learning a step away from is the most effective! failure ** Except a museum membership!
How to start: Typical concerns How to start: Socialization
Should I use a homeschooling method? Be aware that homeschoolers generally What curriculum should I use? laugh when someone asks this question! What should our schedule be? You may have to work at creating a new community that works for your child How can I make sure that we are Some children benefit from having less “keeping up”? socialization, or rather, more appropriate socialization What about socialization? Your child’s social needs will change constantly
4 Homeschool wisdom Homeschool wisdom
Focus on child-led learning You may feel like you are not doing enough— Make lifelong learning your goal this is OK You may wonder whether school would be better—this is OK You may take a long time to adjust (deschool)—this is OK You will experience joy and wonder at what your child can do— this is wonderful!
More information and support Favorite resources
Gifted Homeschooling
A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Creative Homeschooling Children A to Z Homeschooling: Living with Intensity a2zhomeschooling.com The Explosive Child Hoagies’ Homeschooling: Hoagies’ Gifted: hoagiesgifted.org hoagiesgifted.org/home_school.htm SENG: sengifted.org Sandra Dodd’s “Deschooling for Parents”: Gifted support on TAGMAX, Yahoo Groups, Google Groups sandradodd.com/deschooling
My gifted info page: sukiwessling.com /gifted-links/
Parent Support Group @ Athena’s www.AthenasAcademy.com
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