A Practical Walk

I’m not a die-hard homeschooler. I think there’s times public or privte school work better depending on the scenario. However I do see benefits of schooling at home, and I’m thankful to be a citizen of a country with such open schooling laws. Here’s a few of the things I appreciate about being able to homeschool, some big, some small:

The flexibility in a school year – Throughout our years of homeschooling, we’ve traveled mid-school year or taken breaks while family visited. I prefer shorter breaks to long ones, so if we don’t have as long of a summer break because we’re making up time from previous excursions, that’s fine by me.

Homeschooling allowed us take a family camping trip in September.

In Italy visiting my brother, sis-in-law, and nieces.

Not having rushed mornings – This is probably one of the shallowest, but I really do love it. I don’t have to get the kids or myself ready and rushed out the door by a certain time.

I like slow mornings of sipping my coffee.

Time with my kids – Guys, I have a senior, a senior!!! How has this time flown by so fast? I’m thankful that her senior year, I’m actually getting to spend lots of time with her.

Just the other day my kids were lil’ tater tots, now my son reaches high things for me and my daughter helps me with phone issues.

Knowing what they’re learning – I don’t know everything they’re learning, as some of their courses they do with little help from me. Or even out-sourcing classes (ie: Taekwondo and college dual credits), but for the most part, I know what’s going on. And going along with that, I know how they’re doing in their subjects. No need to wait on a report card or parent teacher meeting to get an update.

Getting to do a little teaching – There’s certain subjects I’ve found I enjoy teaching. It took me by surprise how excited I got when they’d ask for help in grammar. As I learn different learning methods, I enjoy passing those ideas on to them.

Keeps my mind young as I’m re-learning things with them – It’s gotta be good for my brain when I have to re-learn algebraic equations, right?

Our school book shelf in West Africa.

Variety in school subjects – In some ways a public school could offer more subject options than homeschooling. For example, it’d be hard for me to set up a whole lab and do advanced science, but on the other hand, homeschooling has endless options if you’re willing to outsource or purchase the curriculum. You’re not just limited to what that school offers.

NARHS logbooks.

Variety in curriculums and styles – I can outsource (like Taekwondo classes for PE) or I can do my own thing, like we’re doing for Texas History this year. Personally, I tend to go for more traditional style courses for core subjects, like math, but am willing to do more flexible, self-designed classes for other subjects, like Texas History.

Some of the field trips with our homeschool group have counted towards Texas History.

Getting to count a kayak excursion towards PE.

Cheaper – Homeschooling can vary on cost, depending on how you spend your money. If you’re going for cheapness alone, public school is probably your best bet. But homeschooling tends to be significantly cheaper than private schooling.

Controlling my kid’s time – As I type that last one, it sure makes me sound like a helicopter mom! What I mean is that, if I don’t like them sitting for hours, I can choose to have them work on less book work and allow more time to do other things. Right now this means, my kids have time to work with their dad. They earn a little money and they’re learning new skills.

Pine floors my kids helped refinish.

Okay fellow homeschoolers, what’re your favorite perks of schooling at home?