newbies
If you are new to homeschooling (or pod-schooling) you likely have many questions and concerns. That's ok, we are here to help. Our advice is to take things one step at a time.
FIRST
Take a deep breath. Life is learning. You and your kids are learning ALL THE TIME. Yes the world has changed and how you do school has changed but there is no panic. Focus on family happiness and wellbeing, let your kids play and entertain themselves. It is ok to press pause on curriculum delivery and lessons while you do a little learning of your own on the journey to becoming a knowledgeable, confident homeschooler.
SECOND
Click here for the information, ideas, research, and examples that will turn you into that knowledgeable, confident homescooling parent that you want to be.
THIRD
Once you have explored the 'ideas for new homschoolers', please return to this page and join in the conversation below--how to have your cake and eat it to; homeschooling AND using some of the resources of your local school.
And don't forget, we are here to help!
FIRST
Take a deep breath. Life is learning. You and your kids are learning ALL THE TIME. Yes the world has changed and how you do school has changed but there is no panic. Focus on family happiness and wellbeing, let your kids play and entertain themselves. It is ok to press pause on curriculum delivery and lessons while you do a little learning of your own on the journey to becoming a knowledgeable, confident homeschooler.
SECOND
Click here for the information, ideas, research, and examples that will turn you into that knowledgeable, confident homescooling parent that you want to be.
THIRD
Once you have explored the 'ideas for new homschoolers', please return to this page and join in the conversation below--how to have your cake and eat it to; homeschooling AND using some of the resources of your local school.
And don't forget, we are here to help!
- Contact us. Experience at your fingertips: 229 cumulative years in education in 45 cities and 11 countries. We got this.
- Join the Tuesday at noon (EST) zoom.
old pros
We know you've got homeschooling down pat, but maybe there are ways to access more resources and facilities to enhance what you are already doing at home.
Lets start with a quick Q & A.
Q:
Do home/un-schoolers have the right to use the services, resources, and equipment public schools have to offer, including in person or online classes?
A:
YES!
Q:
Why do homeschoolers have the right to homeschool and use public school resources?
A:
Q:
Is the current mess of COVID the best time to be insisting on the right to use public school resources?
A.
YES! Because:
Could having homeschoolers within schools, ONLY using the programs, classes, equipment that they want, have an impact on how public schools operate.
A:
Yes. And wouldn't that be amazing!?! Just think of all your friends and relatives who can't homeschool and how the idea of student-choice will transform the entire system into something that works FOR kids. We call kids who can pick and choose what they do at school, Free Learners.
Q:
Will this ruffle the feathers of some educators?
A:
It might. But it also might make others very happy. Most teachers become teachers because they love kids. Many of them know that the current rigid structures and carrot/stick tactics are not serving their students, and they feel stuck. The system has rules and many parents continue to push for the wrong things, like higher standards and more testing, despite the evidence that these things cause stress and stress impairs learning. There are many enlightened educators who would love to have parents push for more experiential, open, self-directed learning. Let's find them. Let's help them help us.
Q:
Should homeschoolers band together and work as a team with their local school (or board) to help streamline the process and make this a known option for all?
A:
What a great idea!!
Check here for ideas on gathering allies.
Contact us for help and ideas on getting started. And join the group zoom discussion at noon (EST) on Tuesdays.
And now, just to keep you at the top of your game, take the Crash Course, a video tour that will remind you of the power that is self-directed education.
Q:
Do home/un-schoolers have the right to use the services, resources, and equipment public schools have to offer, including in person or online classes?
A:
YES!
Q:
Why do homeschoolers have the right to homeschool and use public school resources?
A:
- Because public schools are a public resource.
- Because they exist to serve the entire community, hence the word, public.
- Because taxes pay for schools which makes them belong to everyone including homeschoolers.
- Because schools are a part of the public service. Services are options which can be selected or not. All children have the right to select the services that are of benefit to them (and opt-out of those that are not).
Q:
Is the current mess of COVID the best time to be insisting on the right to use public school resources?
A.
YES! Because:
- Schools are currently loosing thousands of families to homeschooling. Loss of students equals loss of money.
- Allowing homeschoolers to participate in selected online classes creates little to zero additional workload or inconvenience for schools, but it does increase their funding.
- Making this 'the norm' now will make it easier to continue after covid. When we return to gathering without restriction, homeschoolers can be educated at home AND, when desired, at a public school by selecting to use the facilities and programs that interest them.
Could having homeschoolers within schools, ONLY using the programs, classes, equipment that they want, have an impact on how public schools operate.
A:
Yes. And wouldn't that be amazing!?! Just think of all your friends and relatives who can't homeschool and how the idea of student-choice will transform the entire system into something that works FOR kids. We call kids who can pick and choose what they do at school, Free Learners.
Q:
Will this ruffle the feathers of some educators?
A:
It might. But it also might make others very happy. Most teachers become teachers because they love kids. Many of them know that the current rigid structures and carrot/stick tactics are not serving their students, and they feel stuck. The system has rules and many parents continue to push for the wrong things, like higher standards and more testing, despite the evidence that these things cause stress and stress impairs learning. There are many enlightened educators who would love to have parents push for more experiential, open, self-directed learning. Let's find them. Let's help them help us.
Q:
Should homeschoolers band together and work as a team with their local school (or board) to help streamline the process and make this a known option for all?
A:
What a great idea!!
Check here for ideas on gathering allies.
Contact us for help and ideas on getting started. And join the group zoom discussion at noon (EST) on Tuesdays.
And now, just to keep you at the top of your game, take the Crash Course, a video tour that will remind you of the power that is self-directed education.
