Questions new homeschoolers often ask

Why do parents choose homeschooling?

• The reasons are as individual as each family.
• Education is more than academic development.
• We enjoy spending time with our children, and seeing the light bulb in their head go on when they discover something new.
• Conviction that as parents we are responsible for our child(ren)'s upbringing and education. What better way to know what is going on than to do it ourselves?
• One on one teaching / learning enables children to achieve their full potential, and allows the parent to tailor the activities to each child's ability and interest and even the time of day that they learn best. Best of all, if something is not working we can change it and make sure that our children are happy. We are able to make the most of teachable moments.
• Working with the special needs of our children is easier in home than in a classroom setting.
• The family unit is strengthened. Instead of peers and teachers having the greatest influence in our child(ren)'s lives we, the parents, of these children will have the most contact with them.
• It is important to be with our children when they have questions about all kinds of things. We can give them answers that are consistent with our moral and spiritual convictions.
• We are able to spend time with our children. Our children play well with one another, our families are close, and the role of peer relationships is more developmentally appropriate.
• SHiNE's professional development activities as well as other group activities allow for opportunities to talk with a wide variety of home schooling parents and children about their reasons for home schooling and to further explore your own reasons.

Is homeschooling legal?

• Yes.
• Obtain a copy of the provincial law pertaining to home education (on-line at Alberta Education)
• It is not difficult to follow the regulations. You must inform a school board of your intent to homeschool, (there are many and SHiNE has a list of them here) and your facilitator will help you do the rest.

How much time each day is required?

• 24 hours a day! Learning happens all day, every day, and, as parents, we've already made this commitment to our kids.
• The "sit down" academic instruction will vary according to your homeschooling philosophy, your child, and your unique approach to home education. For the younger grades (K-3) it can vary from no structured time at all, to 2-3 hours a day. So much depends on your family, your goals, your child, and your choices.

How does one teach several children at once?

• Creatively!
• Some parents combine similar lessons at different levels on the same topic. For example, younger children listen to readings and discussions on history and science, or do hands on projects when older children write reports.
• Some parents find it easier to try and give older children their lessons first, and then send them to work on their own as the younger children need more one on one time and encouragement.
• Some parents have fairly fixed schedules so that they can ensure that each child gets some one on one time, and some time to read or work on their own. Whatever works best for your family!

Socialization?

• Well, do you mean "socializing" (being with friends and family, and enjoying time with those who share your interests) or do you mean "socialization" (being "trained" to the norms of the society, and learning how to work within society)? They really are two different things! One researcher (Knowles, researcher, University of Michigan School of Education) describes the difference between social development and socialization. He defines socialization as "the process of fitting young members of society into the mould cast for them by the adults of that society". Social development, on the other hand, is defined as "having psychological and emotional dimensions which indicate the healthy growth of children".
• Socializing:
  • within our own families and extended families (grandparents).
  • within church families.
  • support groups, field trips, swimming lessons, sports teams.
  • neighbourhood friends.
• Socialization: no school can "socialize" a child to society's norms better than a family can. By being out in the community and dealing with many different people outside of an institutional setting a child learns about true social norms, and not artificially created ones.

What about High School? University? Preparing for a career?

• Many, many children are home educated through high school successfully. Many young adults participate in home education through high school and go on to pursue a wide variety of careers and/or post secondary learning.
• Most of the post secondary institutions will accept home-educated students, and many even recruit home-educated grads because of their study habits, independent thought, and desire to learn.
• In addition to traditional high school programs that homeschoolers can access (correspondence courses, virtual on-line programs, or challenging exams) there are also options that involve taking college courses during high school and transferring into university without a high school diploma.
• Homeschooling through high school also gives students time to take in mentorship programs, and volunteer and paid work which is valuable for skill development and enhanced career choice.

What materials are available?

• There is a wealth of homeschooling material available. It is more likely that you will be overwhelmed by the choices rather than left looking for something you feel is essential.
• Use whatever books, curriculum, manipulatives that you deem will aid in educating your children.
• You may use exactly what children in the school system are using, but you do not have to! You will discover the type of books, activities and materials that excite and encourage your children.
• Use your own and your children's interests as a spring board to learning. Take an interest and build a unit around it.

What about children with special needs?

• For children with special needs the parents still know best how to tend to each child.
• There are programs, curricula, and support from fellow homeschoolers in this area.
• If you look at what schools are "aiming" to achieve -- this can usually be readily achieved in the home school environment.
• Schools develop an IEP in consultation with the parents. A homeschooling parent can develop an individualized program plan for their child based on their intimate understanding of the child's strengths, weaknesses, abilities and interest (in consultation with their teacher/facilitator if desired).
• Parents identify short and long term goals for the special needs student within the context of their family values and their in-depth understanding of their child's challenges.
• A parent is able to utilize a wide variety and unique combination of educational strategies and materials that are chosen specifically to meet the needs of their child (examples... learning styles, OT strategies, programs like SI and brain gym, etc).
• Click here for more information on homeschooling children with special needs.

How does one get started?

Research

• Research home education by reading as many home education books that you can, and talk to people who are home educating their children. Ask them about the advantages as well as the struggles.
• Begin a list of reasons for wanting to homeschool and consider your ideas about what education is and the various ways learning can happen.
• The SHiNE library, as well as the Edmonton Public Library provide a multitude of books to help you with this stage of research.

School Boards

• When you've come to a decision that this is what you wish to do for your family, notify a board with which you wish to register your child(ren) by September 30 in order to receive funding.
• You may begin homeschooling your child mid-year, but funding may not be available until the following year.
• Review a list of all the school boards with which you may choose to register.
• Check out their websites, attend their open houses, get their handbooks, phone and talk to them. School Board Interview and Questionnaire.
• Interview the person who will be your facilitator before making your final decision.

Program Development

• Make a list of long-term goals for your kids so that you get a big picture of where you are headed. (When my kids are 25 I want them to "be", "do" and "know"?)
• Look at lots of different curriculum before choosing one. You may find that the first few years you change curriculum a lot until you find the one that suits you... and then you start all over again with the next child who learns differently from your first!
• Talk with people you admire, trust and with which you are similar in philosophy. Look at what they are doing, what they are using, and how it works for them. Glean a bit from all the different sources and you will soon create your own individual home education environment.
• Continue to research philosophies and approaches -- this may take many years.
• If you are taking your child out of a school setting you may need to give him/her time to "deschool" and get excited about learning -- sometimes up to a year or more.
• Become involved with local and provincial support groups.
• Make sure your home is "in order." To begin homeschooling when the basics in your life are upside down will be more difficult (although it is sometimes necessary). There are many books and web resources on home organization (check out books by Don Aslett, or www.flylady.net)

September, 2003