Here are some more reasons why we have chosen to homeschool!

Even though I wrote a post about this, I have to include it here too because it is the number one reason why we have chosen to homeschool. We believe it is our responsibility to raise our children in the Lord, and for our family, homeschooling seems like the best way to accomplish this. Like I said before, I was not homeschooled through elementary school (I was homeschooled from 6th-9th grade when at 10th grade I went to private school where I attended until high school graduation) and my parents brought me up in the Lord and were extremely present in my life. When we look at all of our education options for our two girls, homeschooling provides us with the most time to interact with, train, teach and mold the hearts of our children while they are young. And so, for now, and until the Lord leads elsewhere, we will homeschool!

Homeschooling will not socialize the love of learning out of my children. We all know it’s not “cool” to love learning and school when you reach middle and high school. There is a label for that and it is called a nerd. That is a huge disservice to our children! Homeschooling allows learning to be fun and integrated into every aspect of life, so the twinkle in their eyes when they learn how to add is still there when they learn all about Biology in high school.

Homeschooling will allow me to cater to each of my daughters’ specific learning styles and needs. I think this is probably my number two reason for homeschooling. I know if I were to put Little Bug in a typical school learning environment, I’d be getting notes home daily about “bad conduct” because she “won’t sit still in her desk”. I was a teacher in the public schools. I had those students in my class and I tried my best to accommodate their wiggles! I had my students up and moving as much as possible but with 20+ students in one classroom, ultimately, my hands were tied behind my back on this one because of the nature of public education.

Homeschooling is going to allow ME to choose what curriculum I feel is best for each of my girls (and it may not be the same for both – probably won’t be, actually) and I can teach Little Bug the way SHE needs to be taught to learn anything because she will be one of my two students.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that I do not have to use textbooks to teach my children like I had to use in public schools. Some of the reason that children lose their love of learning might possibly be because textbooks are…….boring!!! I will use real literature to teach my girls. I won’t be tied down to a reading textbook full of boring stories that the state has chosen is best for children to learn from. Some kids may learn well that way, but many do not learn well that way. It is detrimental to education that children are all expected to learn from the same textbook or reader. Children are not cookie cutter products of society. Each child is uniquely different and has their own interests.

I know public school teachers are taught to teach and meet the individual needs of each student in their class, but let’s face it. It is nearly impossible to expect one teacher to be able to plan and prep lessons that will cater to each of her 25+ students individual learning needs per lesson in the day.

I considered myself a very good, effective teacher, but there were not enough hours in the day to produce that kind of teaching for my 20-25 students. Out of necessity, public school teachers have to teach to the average student sitting out in their classrooms and go from there. That is mediocre education; I want more for my daughters and homeschooling will give me the opportunities to give them more!

I can and WILL cater to my two daughters’ every learning need! We will learn about topics that interest them and they will be taught through real books (instead of just textbooks) in ways that they learn best.

And I won’t ever get a note sent home in Little Bug’s backpack that says, “Little Bug will not sit and stay in her desk!!”.

These reasons are in no way exhaustive of the reasons behind why we have chosen to homeschool. But I am going to stop here, for now. I am sure as time goes on and I actually start to homeschool, I will realize more and more reasons for why homeschooling is the best option for our family.

I am absolutely thrilled that we are embarking on this journey as a family!

Before I go into the specifics on what I am planning academically for Little Bug (and Sweet Pea!) this year, I want to write a post about some of the homeschool myths out there.

- Elaine