2nd June 2010

Being a Home Schooling Parent: An Insider’s Look

posted in the courage to teach |

Home schooling is sweeping the United States and abroad. According to the National Center for Education Statistics for 2004, 2 million children are being home schooled in the United States alone! You are maybe asking yourself what is home schooling? Or more importantly what does it take to be a home school parent?
Home schooling is simply educating your child or children at home with you, the parent, as the educator. You do not receive federal funds and your child or children are not enrolled in a public or private school.
A home school parent by definition is a parent that has taken on the task of educating their child or children at home and I want to discuss the three most important things any parent should know and the ten things any parent should consider before taking on the task of home schooling their children.
I have been a home school parent for four years and with each year our home school has had its ups and downs and I have learned a lot about myself and my children.
The most important thing that I have learned is to trust God in this awesome task of educating and raising my children to be all that God wants them to be!
The second most important thing for a home school parent to learn is that God created our children to be a one of a kind creation, with distinct personalities and traits. I am so thankful that everyone is different with different interests. What a boring world this would be if everyone was the same! Your children are no different, learn to appreciate their uniqueness. What works for one does not always work for another, be flexible. The sooner you learn that the easier your home schooling experience will be.
The third most important thing I have learned is to teach my children to respect and appreciate their siblings and other people’s interests and talents. For example, my middle daughter loves to write and has many wonderful stories she loves to tell and write about, but my oldest daughter, who has a passion for math and science, does not even like to write much less think of a topic or a story to write about, so she will ask her 6 ½ year old sister for some ideas to get her started and likewise if my middle daughter has a problem with her math she will ask my oldest daughter for help, so they are learning to appreciate each other. Believe me, when you and your children learn this important principle your home school experience will go smoother.
I hope that these three important principles have not scared you from trying home schooling with your own children. It is truly a wonderful experience in being a parent. If you are considering home schooling here are some things for you to consider:
1. It takes time to teach, prepare lessons, field trips, park days, soccer league, etc.

2.Every home school parent needs to take time out. If you don’t you will be with your child 24/7 and that will lead to burnout.

3.You can home school rather inexpensively, but some curriculums or extra curricular activities can add up.

4.You, the parent, are responsible for seeing that your child socializes with friends at different events that your local home school support group set up or finding different socialization opportunities in your community.

5.The regular cleaning and laundry still have to be done and you might find yourself rearranging your cleaning schedule around school time.

6.Home schooling works better if both parents are in agreement.

7. Do your children respect you? Only you can answer that. If they don’t respect you they will not listen to you.

8. Home school for one year at a time. Don’t look to far ahead, you will get overwhelmed.

9.Are you intimidated about teaching?-Many curriculums offer teacher’s guides and DVD’s to assist you and you will find that other parents will help you if they have been through the subject before.

10.Make sure you get involved in a local home school support group. Some areas have more than one. It is encouraging to know that you are not alone and your support group will help and encourage you when you are experiencing a hard time.

Making the decision to home school can be a very difficult one and should not be taken lightly. It is a personal decision and no one can make it for you, but I hope that you will take into consideration some of the things that I have mentioned.

Home schooling takes courage and it can be a long journey but there is joy in the journey! Happy Home schooling!!!

Hope Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/being-a-home-schooling-parent-an-insiders-look-57360.html

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  1. 1 On June 2nd, 2010, lalaland2405 said:

    Dark poem but very truthful : Give your input?
    Insiders view I normally don’t show…
    Current mood: blank
    Category: Writing and Poetry

    I normally don’t show people things I write. Mostly cause it’s dark and painful, but I wanted to post this. Give somewhat of an insider’s view of what drugs do to a family and maybe persuade a couple of you, maybe those with kids, to think twice. Sorry for the solemn nature, but this is a taste of the thoughts of me and my sister, our inner pain, we never asked for it, it was given to us, chosen for us, and we can never really deal with it and probably never will.
    Repost it if you feel others may benefit from reading it:

    The Loneliest Girl in the Whole Wide World

    Twenty-one years ago, April 29th

    God gave you a healthy little girl and you gave her your life.

    Her tears would be like daggers, piercing your heart

    So you’d fight night and day to keep all her pains far.

    Memories of her first day of school, trips to the shore,

    running for the team, and homecoming court,

    a twinkle in anyone’s eye in her years gone by.

    But somewhere the devil got the best of your hearts,

    in a moment the family you had built all fell apart.

    The first time you chose to put that stuff in your nose

    over your daughter at home all alone.

    What were you thinking the first time that you tried?

    Were you not thinking clearly?

    Didn’t I flash through your mind?

    Did you push it all down?

    Make excuses for why?

    I hate that first moment when you loved it more than me…

    and my parent’s souls died.

    So she went to work fighting – pulling the pieces together –

    of a shattered family, all broken and weathered.

    She’s got some deep bruises, though hidden to bare eyes,

    but with a look in her soul, you’ll see the scars deep inside.

    And she might have succeeded in making them whole,

    if the pieces hadn’t scattered after placing them together moments before.

    And she tried to forgive them and for some time she might have,

    until she realized two strangers replaced her mom and her dad.

    What were you thinking the first time that you tried?

    Were you not thinking clearly?

    Didn’t I flash through your mind?

    Did you push it all down?

    Make excuses for why?

    I hate that first moment when you loved it more than me…

    and my parent’s souls died.

    I think that her heart at twenty-one was too tired of the battles, the pain, and the war

    and was already so broken, so tattered, and worn

    and to protect the rest of herself she left. Is she the one to blame? When she runs from the people who had promised to keep her far from pain?

    How can a daughter love a parent who causes such tears?

    When they’ve caused the battle scars she has left after all of these years?

    Now she mourns her parents in a way most don’t understand,

    looking though old pictures of Christmas, parties by the pool, and attempted snowmen.

    Wondering why in her home love didn’t conquer all.

    Were they lacking somewhere? Did she do something wrong?

    What happened with, ‘If I could help you I would’? but you are the one in control.

    You’ve got the dagger and you keep snorting it right up your nose.

    And she’s finally given up, a thing she never thought she’d do. She’s leaving the broken family she tried so hard to redo.

    And she’d love to forgive them for all they’ve done wrong,

    but there are only two strangers where she used to find her dad and her mom.

    What were you thinking the first time that you tried?

    Were you not thinking clearly?

    Didn’t I flash through your mind?

    Did you push it all down?

    Make excuses for why?

    I hate that first moment when you loved it more than me…

    and my parent’s souls died.

    I can’t help but wonder that if I had a say,

    in the manner of how they loved me, how much, and in what way

    or if I had been better, or smarter, or nice

    things would have ended differently on that damn fucking night.

    If when at that moment in choosing between,

    they said, ‘No, thanks’ and instead chosen me…

    came home… to my room… kissed my head… tucked me in… said goodnight and we went on with our lives… happily ever after.

  2. 2 On June 2nd, 2010, The Dark Prince said:

    Drugs are vile and kill you slowly by taking your soul. I have lived a life of tem and have been clean for years now, but I still remember the destruction that poison caused. Don’t be afraid to let out your emotions. It is good to let go of that poison inside you. Best of luck and my prayers are with you.

    Steve
    References :

  3. 3 On June 2nd, 2010, The Joyful Girl said:

    Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry! I’ve been in a familiar place. I will wish and hope that your family will come back together and be saved in time! I was a fool not to do the same in my family, and now I no longer have a father or brother.
    Keep hope in your heart and pray, and maybe someday it will all work out!
    I will be praying for you!
    References :
    Life, pain, and loss

  4. 4 On June 2nd, 2010, Snape_Slayer said:

    wow…i’m so sorry….great poem btw…the only thing I didn’t like is the switch between "her" and "me"
    References :

  5. 5 On June 2nd, 2010, Rachie said:

    Inside the loeliness in my heart and soul I have wanted to turn to drugs to ease the pain and the burden, and in those times I probably would not have thought twice. I have two gorgeous little girls, one is 5 and the other almost two. I know that I have not done a perfect job, and I know that a couple of times I gave in to the temptation and smoked weed with my sister. I felt so guilty and it felt so wrong while my little girl was sleeping safely in her room, while we filled the house with pot. I only did it a couple of times but my wake-up call was on my birthday a few years ago when my sister was so stoned she staggered all over the house with her newborn son in her arms, and as I tried to convince her to let me look after him till she had some sleep I realised that is not the way I want to live my life. I don’t even drink alcohol now. But I have to say one thing, your poem will definitely make people with young children think twice, it gave me new strength this morning. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart. I am sorry that you had to feel that way about ur family it’s awful when you feel you are never good enough no matter what you do, and the hurts run deeper than anything else. Good luck in the future and I hope you can find a way to heal, even if it is just by helping others say ‘no’ to drugs.
    References :

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    wow. that’s amazing. it makes me want to cry but it is amazing.
    References :

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