by Lorinda K. F. Newton
In my last post on COVID schooling, I pointed out that the pandemic has disrupted all children’s education, regardless of their schooling method. I wanted to make it clear that what public students are currently experiencing may provide a poor example of what an authentic home-based education experience is like.
On the other hand, some families, despite the memes to the contrary, have actually enjoyed teaching their children at home and plan to continue. A recent national poll shows that 40 percent of families will more likely homeschool or use a virtual school after the lockdown ends.
Are you one of those parents who plan to withdraw your children from public school? If you are, here’s a road map to follow on your homeschool journey.
1. Discuss the Idea of a Homeschool Education
Discuss your thoughts about homeschool with your spouse. Agreement is key. Husbands and wives need to support one another in this endeavor. Overseeing your child’s education can be challenging and exhausting.
If you’re single, discuss your plan with someone close to you who can also support you emotionally. If you have older children, bring them into the conversation as well. Start with these questions.
- Are you prepared to change your family’s lifestyle?
Home-based education isn’t just an educational method. It is a lifestyle of learning. - Why are you considering homeschool? What do you want for your child?
List your reasons on paper or electronically. They will guide you in setting goals for your child and in your research on teaching methods and curricula. Think about the pros and cons of this choice for your family. If you make this decision, this list will come in handy on frustrating days when you will want to put your kids on the yellow bus (You will have days like that.). This written record will remind you why you made the choice and hopefully help you to stay on course. Memorizing a short version of your reasons will come in handy when people ask you why you decided to home educate. - Is this a short-term or long-term commitment?
Whether you just want to try it for a year or plan to educate your children through high school, your answer will shape your goals.
2. Learn about Homeschool
There are as many ways to educate your child at home as there are families. Use the references below to get you heading down your research path.
Websites
- Homeschooling 101: Your Homeschool FAQs Answered
- Homeschool Legal Defense Association’s Planning Checklist.
- Numerous home-based education websites and blogs exist. Search for ones that appeal to you. You can find more of my blog posts here at Academy Northwest.
Books
- Things We Wished We’d Known, compiled and edited by Bill and Diana Waring, is a collection of essays by veteran home-based educators.
- Cathy Duffy’s booklist. She has reviewed homeschool curricula and resources since 1984.
- Home School Legal Defense Association booklist—extensive
- Exodus Mandate booklist
Magazines
Network
- Talk to experienced home-based educators.
Do you have friends, family, coworkers, or fellow church members who educate their children at home? - Connect with home-based education support organizations. Below I’ve listed ones in Washington State.
- Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington:
a conservative, state-wide organization that sponsors a large annual conference each spring and smaller events throughout the year.
- Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO):
a state-wide organization that caters to the complete spectrum of home-based educators.- Their Intro to Homeschooling Packet provides a helpful starting point.
- See their regional support group list to find a group near you. For those who live on the Eastside (of Lake Washington), I recommend Home Oriented Meaningful Education (H.O.M.E.) and Reach East.
- Christian Homeschool Network of Washington (CHN):
a lobbyist group for Washington State home-based educators. They monitor legislation, testify at hearings on bills related to education and parenting, and alert the home-based education community to contact their legislators when needed.
- Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA):
a national legal organization founded to preserve parents’ constitutional rights to direct their children’s education. Part of the website is open to the public, but you must have a membership to see all of the resources. I highly recommend joining. Many local support groups offer an HSLDA membership discount.
- Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington:
3. Can I Homeschool My Special Needs Child?
Yes, many parents teach their special needs children at home. My own son, now in trade school, has mild learning disabilities.
Websites and Educators
- 10 Reasons to Homeschool Your Child with Special Needs
- Academy Northwest partners with learning specialists Ashley Nichols, Christina South, and Maggie Dail.
- HSLDA has several special needs consultants that members can contact to get help.
- Memoria Press has a special needs classical curriculum.
Books
- Homeschooling Your Struggling Learner by Kathy Kuhl
- Teenagers with ADD: A Parents’ Guide by Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, M.S.
- The Loving Push: How parents and professionals can help spectrum kids become successful adults by Temple Grandin, Ph. D. and Debra Moore, Ph. D. Though not a book about education, I found it helpful for teaching life skills.
Next month, I’ll cover finding your home-based education path, including legal requirements, setting goals, discovering learning styles and teaching philosophies. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or someone at Academy Northwest.
Lorinda K. F. Newton began homeschooling her children in 2004, and her family joined Academy Northwest in 2014. Her family lives on beautiful Whidbey Island north of Seattle, Washington. She writes about faith, culture, and governing from a biblical worldview at Lorinda’s Ponderings and Lorinda’s Ponderings on Facebook. ©2020 by Lorinda K. F. Newton.
