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Why Homeschool? Guest Post (Alicia)

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Today I have a great “Why Homeschool?” guest post for you from Alicia who blogs at Public School Teacher Gone Homeschooling Mama.  I love the name of her blog- that’s what I am, too!  I love her thoughts & her approach to homeschooling her kids. Enjoy!!
 
 
Last year was my first year to homeschool and after much thought, prayer and many discussions with my spouse, we chose to try a hand at homeschool.  We currently feel it was the best choice we made and will continue to homeschool until we are lead to do something else.  The year before I homeschooled  I was a reading specialist and worked with teachers, digging into the curriculum, providing staff developments and working closely with children that had reading difficulties.  I enjoyed my job and even though I felt called to homeschool, I found it very hard to leave and to explain to fellow co-workers my reason for leaving. 

Let’s face it, every education system has its own flaws.  There will be children that are hurt, be in emotional or physical, children that are not challenged and children that quite honestly get “left behind.”  That doesn’t mean homeschooling is the answer.  There are pros and cons with homeschooling as well.  For one, the time commitment and planning that comes with it, and the fact that you have to make sure your children respect you as their parent AND teacher is another!  Homeschooling is hard and it isn’t meant for every family.  Choosing to homeschool was not something we took lightly.  I had it placed on my heart to do so well before my husband and when I brought it up the first time, he looked at me like I was crazy!  However, we just kept talking about it and I kept sharing with him my reasons for doing so and eventually his heart changed.  We also kept hearing about this hybrid homeschool approach, so we went to a parent meeting to find out more information.  After that it was a done deal- we signed up our daughter that night! 

Many people ask me what a hybrid homeschool is like.   Basically, our oldest will be going into first grade and will go to a school two days a week.  I will homeschool her three days a week.  The school is a university based model school which instills Christian principals and provides many extra-curricular activities.   For us, it helps fill in the missing gaps.  This model is good for those that have never taught or want that extra support.  Since it was my first year to homeschool it worked great, so we are now sticking with it!  We are praying for guidance and will take each year as it comes and go where we are lead to go regarding our children’s education.
My youngest daughter will be going to a Mother’s Day Out program since she is in Pre-Kindergarten and will still be home on the days I homeschool my first grader.  In other words, she is still getting homeschooled three days a week as well. 

Homeschooling was all new to me last year and even though I was in the field of education, it is totally different when it comes to “home” school.  The curriculum is different for one, and I had to get used to teaching “my own.”   We have good days and bad days, times when we get a lot done and times when we have to take A LOT of breaks- me included!  Some days I wonder if I am doing the right thing and other days I know in my heart that I am, so needless to say homeschool can be emotional as well, at least for me.  However, the time you get to spend with your kids and family will never be something you regret and as hard as it is not to take these precious times for granted (especially on the not so good days) you will one day look back and miss it- or so I have to believe! 

I started a homeschool blog last year, when I started on this adventure to homeschool.  It provides more details as to why I chose to homeschool and more information on the hybrid school approach as well as lessons we do and bits of inspiration and hope for all homeschooling parents out there!  I also have some of my favorite websites and resources on my blog.  Blessing to all of you who homeschool and may you have a great homeschool year.  Just remember to breath and take everything in stride because one day we will look up and they will be grown up! 

Visit me at Public School Teacher Gone Homeschooling Mama. My family includes my amazing husband and two girls.  Savannah is six and almost in first grade and Audrey is four and in Pre-K.

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2 Comments

  1. We have homeschooled from the beginning, but are considering the hybrid model for our two daughters next year for high school. It offers more options for classes than I am able to teach. Still praying about it.

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