Twelve Reasons To Start Homeschooling This Fall MaryAnn Gaver
H
ave you ever wondered what
Homeschool? Way To Go!
learned along the way.
it would be like to teach at
#1 - You can definitely homeschool!
Having homeschooled for eleven years,
home? Are you new to the
You’re a natural teacher - you’re a mom.
I can assure you that although it takes
whole idea of homeschool-
You have your own style, your own
a big commitment on the part of the
ing? Maybe you’re in the information-
approach. Plus, you’ve already been
parents, it’s 100% worth it! For an inter-
gathering stage, or perhaps you’re
teaching at home! Moms and dads are
esting perspective, see Fact #1 About
already planning to begin homeschool-
perfectly suited to teach their own kids.
Homeschooling. Now, I’d like to share a
ing after summer.
That’s exactly what I talk about in the
few reasons we chose to homeschool.
Maybe you and your husband are ready
blog, You’re A Natural Teacher.
• Family Unity - You can cultivate a spirit
to start teaching your kindergartner,
Each homeschooling family has its own
of cooperation, appreciation, and team-
or maybe you’re just curious about the
unique story and reasons they decided to
work as you spend time learning, laugh-
whole idea. Perhaps you’re taking your
teach at home. I love hearing why, when,
ing, and growing together. Bad attitudes
kids out of the public school system. If so
and how parents became interested in
and habits can be dealt with right away.
-- fantastic! You won’t regret it.
homeschooling. If you have the opportu-
Your children learn how to serve, love
Well, whatever your particular scenario,
nity, I encourage you to ask people what
and help one another.
or wherever you’re at -- I’d love to offer
they like about home teaching. Ask them
• Spiritual Growth - It’s absolutely
some encouragement. When you have a
to share their overall impressions -- chal-
wonderful to be able to talk about the
chance, check out the blog, Decided To
lenges they’ve faced or lessons they’ve
Scriptures -- to teach what’s in the Bible.
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lessons at a time that suit your family’s
Exercise of Choice For Busy Moms.
schedule and rhythm.
It’s easier to teach good eating habits
• Individual instruction - Public schools
when you’re there to reinforce, encourage
and large private schools simply can’t
and guide your kids about good choices.
offer the one-on-one training that’s so
Healthy, Wholesome Homeschooling, Pt.
unique and beneficial in the home set-
1 talks about family nutrition.
ting. You can speed up when necessary,
• Grammar & Conversation -
or -- if your child struggles with a con-
Homeschoolers regularly and consis-
cept, you can slow down and wait until
tently read to their children which helps
he or she is ready to move on.
instill proper grammar and speech.
• Music - You can expose your children
Homeschoolers eat meals together,
to beautiful music and teach the great
which means we talk to our kids a lot!
hymns of the faith. If possible, your child
The result is that they learn how to
can study an instrument. This is an excel-
speak clearly, hold a good conversation,
lent opportunity! 1,976 Empty Seats, Life
and interact with others. I talk about this
Lessons Learned From Telemann, and
in Conversational Competence and Good
An Early Christmas Gift are three blogs
Communication. (Note: I’m not suggest-
where I share experiences of my own life
ing that non-homeschoolers don’t read
as a music mom.
to their kids, eat meals together or hold
• Physical Fitness and Nutrition -
conversations around the table! I’m just
Whether it’s hiking, visiting the park, or
saying that homeschooling provides
enjoying a game of badminton with the
excellent and frequent opportunities for
family after dinner, there are plenty of
growth in all of these areas.)
opportunities for homeschool kids to
• Work - When you spend so much of the
be active and to increase coordination,
day together, it provides a great opportu-
strength and agility. When (and if) the
nity to teach the kids how to contribute
time is right, you might consider an orga-
to a well-functioning household -- how
nized sport. As for our health, see The
to do chores. We can teach them to work
It’s a joy to impart our faith and live out our faith day-to-day in front of our children. See the blog, All For Prayer. • Academic Excellence - Whether it’s emphasizing the 3 R’s, making sure the kids learn true History, or taking advantage of the ability to do fun science experiments -- you can delve deeper, interact more, and aim high when you oversee your child’s academic progress. After all -- who wants a child to succeed more than his or her parents? • Flexibility - Spend more time with subjects your kids love -- the sky’s the limit! Example: Your eight year old is absolutely enthralled with the globe, so you spend extra time on that. Dentist appointments tomorrow? Catch up on
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