Common thought virus’ š¦ in the homeschool arena
Everyone is a couch critic. Itās inevitable that you get a variety of opinions about your choice to homeschool. The teller in the bank, your mother, and even the secretary at the school you just withdrew the kids from!
Sometimes our experience attending school ourselves, what we see on TV and in movies, or the things those well-meaning friends and family say, infect us with a virus of sorts, and these viruses can impact our homeschools.
As you know, my job has shifted from homeschool mom, to homeschool coach. That doesnāt mean I donāt remember those things that made my jaws clamp shut.
Here are three things that drove me straight to the crazy train station when homeschooling and some easy responses you can choose when in similar circumstances.
It must be nice to just do whatever you want with your kids all day.
The thought virus that homeschoolers just operate as a free for all is mind boggling. I mean we are running a SCHOOL for our children! Yes, that gives us a certain amount of freedom – like to choose the curriculum, schedule, and places to go on field trips. But in light of the fact we are running a school, there are policies, procedures, and routines in place to guide each day.
How you can respond: Homeschooling affords us many freedoms, but we run a school the same as the one your kids attend.
Are you qualified to homeschool?
The thought virus that spreads surrounds the idea of being qualified for a job, any job. In this case, you are performing duties that are thought to require certification of some sort. I totally get it. In some places you need a license to fishā¦ So can just anybody homeschool their kids?
YES! Absolutely. The fact you WANT to homeschool is all the requirement you need. They are after all YOUR children and you have been TEACHING them since birth. You also do not have to be 100% responsible for every aspect of your childās education. There are coaches for their teams, music, dance, underwaterbasketweaving classesā¦You can even hire a tutor if needed to help with those subjects you donāt feel confident in.
When people question my qualifications, my response is a polite: Thank you for being concerned about my children, I have been teaching them since birth, and homeschooling is actually the oldest form of education in the world, since we were hunter-gatherers.
do your kids have to take tests?
This common thought virus is because most of us attended government schools that require tests as proof of learning. We’ve been so exposed to this line of thinking it’s hard to remember tests are simply one form of assessing understanding.
Here’s how I respond:
There are many ways to know if your child is learning.
- Tests
- Assignments
- Projects
- Portfolios
- Narrations
- Observation
- Self-Assessment
- Peer-Assessment
I could never be with my kids all day, they drive me crazy.
Statements such as this are usually from a parent who canāt imagine not having the length of the school day to do as THEY please. I have NEVER worked with a client whoās kids did not drive her crazy, LOL!
Homeschool Moms have regular kids.
I can assure you it does not take the patience of a saint to homeschool. My kids didnāt clean their rooms, left dishes unwashed and even bullied each other!
The chance to interact with my children for āregularā things helped me know how to guide them as a parent. When they misbehave I can correct them according to our core values. When they meet goals and master their to-do list, I can provide well crafted words of encouragement. I choose to help my children develop into people instead of trusting others.
What to say: I know homeschooling isnāt for everyone. I support all forms of education, and I hope you can too!
It may be hard to stay positive in the moment, trust me I get it. But even if your response is less than perfect, donāt let negative encounters and the opinions of others infect your homeschool.
Content on Happy Hive Homeschooling is shared for educational and inspirational purposes. Thereās no wrong way to homeschool. Please use your own judgment and provide appropriate supervision when adapting ideas for your family or classroom.
