As Back to School sales begin in earnest in the stores, some parents struggle with the decision of whether to send their child to public schools. Private schools are an option for those who are open to them. Homeschooling is another option, but it is often difficult to make the decision to homeschool when faced with little understanding or support from your family and friends.
Even worse, it is hard to consider doing something when you are filled with self-doubt about whether or not you could actually be successful at it.
Let’s face it, every homeschool parent has felt this way at one time or another. I did. And, I have taught both public and private high school classes. And, I worried about teaching my sons at home. Honestly, there are parts that went really well and parts that, in retrospect, I would do differently if I could do them over. But, I am satisfied that for my children, I did as well or better than the schools in our area could have done.
In an effort of full disclosure, I have one gifted student and one special needs (but smart as a whip) child and we didn’t seriously homeschool until the oldest was starting high school and the youngest was in middle school. We had done one year of homeschooling in the elementary years.
My boys both began in a public charter school when I was teaching public school. After a year of homeschooling and being home with them, I was offered a high school teaching position in a local Christian school that was k-12. My kids were right down the hall from me and I could keep track of how they were. For several years, that worked really well for us.
When it didn’t, we began to homeschool again, eventually leading to my running a co-op for a year and teaching high school Science and Literature courses for various homeschoolers.
So, you can see that I have tried all of the alternatives that were local to us and they all have strengths and weaknesses. However, homeschooling is where my children have blossomed.
There are myriad reasons to consider homeschooling in the first place. The following articles are from a series that I wrote outlining the most common reasons that I know of that people choose to homeschool. I hope that they can help you to learn if homeschooling may be of benefit to your family.
Why Homeschool? Academic Excellence
Why Homeschool? Appropriate Socialization
Why Homeschool? Child Led Learning
Why Homeschool? Learning Styles & Multiple Intelligences
Why Homeschool? Life Long Learners
Do you homeschool? Are you considering it?
Till next time,
Another Hatchett Job.... 
We will be homeschooling next year. I would love any advise on how to start research what program/ programs to use. I am not a teacher, and I know that I don’t want JUST to be reading book, need like a teacher to help lead her / teach her. But do not know how to research this information there is so much out there it is a bit overwhelming. Thank you for any advise. I have just discovered you blog, and am enjoying following your sewing, canning and homeschooling. Colleen
Colleen, thanks for stopping by! I am trying to get my thoughts together for an article on getting started homeschooling. I hope to publish it soon and that it answers your questions.