Homeschooling Remains

My table is no longer a mishmash of homeschool actvities, but the boys' curiosity remains.

We started our homeschool journey seven years ago, when we pulled our oldest son out of school mid-way through first grade. And while we told people at the time that we’d re-evaluate our decision on a yearly basis, after a few months of homeschooling, I was pretty sure we’d found our path. My boys were learning and enthusiastic and I couldn’t see any reason to send them to an institutional school.

Then came the divorce. Without going into details, let’s just say it was a messy, far-from-amicable affair that directly and indirectly challenged homeschooling. After months of wrangling, the boys’ Dad and I finally compromised: the boys would continue to homeschool, but would also take two core classes apiece at our local public school.

That worked, for awhile – if by “worked” you mean that I cared for and educated my kids during the day and spent my evenings writing to earn income to support my family of five. Sleep? A scarce resource. Relaxation? Virtually non-existent. Stress? In great supply.

Something, I eventually realized, would have to give. So this fall, after much reflection and prayer, I officially enrolled three of my four boys in school, full-time. Boy #1 still homeschools; he studies math and business and politics and history and life at home, while taking Science and Language at school.

Sending your kids to school is not an easy decision for a homeschool mother. It’s a scary leap into the unknown. Add to that the ever-present fear that your child won’t know “enough,” mix with some anxiety about the social scene and fold in a touch of paranoia, and you have a recipe for parental angst.

But I’m here to tell you that my kids are fine. They may be in school at the moment, but I most definitely consider them homeschool successes. Here’s why:

• They get it! You know the homeschooling maxim, common among unschoolers, which says that people learn things when they need to know them? It’s true. Two of my boys tested well below grade level in reading, writing and spelling when they entered school. A mere semester later, both are at or above grade level.
• They make connections. Each of my sons’ teachers has commented on the fact that my boys have a broad range of knowledge about the world. That knowledge helps my boys as they try to read unfamiliar texts (because they know what to expect based on the context) and enlivens classroom discussions when my boys share insights about science, social studies and the world in general.
• They know how to learn. My boys grew up hearing, “I don’t know. We can Google it” to all kinds of inquiries. They know that our local library is an incredible resource and they know that nothing matches the expertise of, well, a real-life expert. Now, when my boys want to know something, they head for the computer and/or the library; they’re pretty good at seeking out real-life assistance as well.
• They know how to ask questions. True learning isn’t about parroting facts; it’s about gathering information, analyzing it and combining it with your existing knowledge. My boys can critically analyze an argument (or TV commercial) and have no problem asking questions to learn more.
• They know how to treat others. Contrary to popular public opinion, most homeschoolers are not social recluses. We spent as much time, if not more, on general character development as we did on academics during our years of full-time homeschooling, and it’s paid off. For the most part, my boys treat others with respect. In fact, a number of their teachers have commented on how well our boys have seemed to adapt to the classroom, given the fact that most of them had never been to school.

Three of my four boys may now be in school, but I am more convinced than ever before of the value of homeschooling. When you homeschool your children, you’re laying a valuable foundation – for life and for learning – that can never be shaken. Whatever the future brings, homeschooling remains.

Jennifer L.W. Fink lives and works in southeastern Wisconsin. Her four boys are now 13, 10, 8 and 5. Jennifer blogs about boys, education and parenting at Blogging ‘Bout Boys. Her writing can also be found in Home Education Magazine, Scholastic Instructor, Parents and other national publications.

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Tagged as: balancing act, family, Written by Jennifer