This is the million-dollar question that I hear from families over and over again. Should we homeschool our children? Do you think we have what it takes to homeschool? As families are finishing up the school year, many are trying to decide what they will do for next year — stay in their school, change to a private school, or homeschool. Each decision is individualized. I try not to give a blanket statement for every household, but for our family, we have chosen to homeschool. (CLICK HERE to see our homeschool story.) Since I cannot make the decision for you, there are several questions to ask yourself as you are making this decision:
1. Why are you considering homeschooling?
I have met some mothers who have jumped on the homeschooling bandwagon without really thinking about why they chose to homeschool. I can tell you from 15+ years in the trenches that you must know your why. On days that it is really hard and the pressures and expectations are mounting, you need to remember why you decided to homeschool. The frustrations of life, children’s attitudes, teaching subjects, etc., bog us down and overwhelm us. The majority of days do not look like Pinterest or Instagram. You WILL BE tempted to give up and send them back to school. BUT, when you remember why, it gives you and your spouse the courage to persevere.
Did your son struggle with bullying at school? Did the school teach some ideas that you do not agree with biblically? Do you desire to spend the best parts of the day with your children? Is the Holy Spirit calling you to the privilege of homeschool? Do you feel the need to make a change in the curriculum or methods your child needs in learning? Take some time and write out your Why and discuss it with your spouse.
2. Who will your people be?
While it may not take a whole village to raise your children, it is certainly really helpful to have a homeschool community around you. As you begin this process, learning from other homeschool families will save you from some of the headache and heartache of trying to figure it out on your own. Find your people. Explore homeschool groups in your church, community, and online circles. Ask your friends and family about the people that they surround themselves with. Come with your questions and be open to hear their answers. Homeschool moms love to share what they have done and what they are doing. Surround yourself with a good community who will encourage you as a mom and teacher and will support your children and even help teach them in a co-op.
If you are struggling to find your people, I have listed some great books that will help you shape your homeschool experience and give you some wisdom. While I don’t suggest homeschooling without a community (big or small in size), these are wonderful resources to help you think through some of the questions that beginner homeschooling families will have.
- Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie
- Becoming Homeschoolers by Monica Swanson
- Family Diven Faith by Voddie Baucham
- Homeschooling: You are Doing it Right Just by Doing It by Ginny Yurich
- Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erickson
- Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom
3. How will you homeschool?
Did you know there are more than 15 types of homeschooling? Classical, Charlotte Mason, traditional, hybrid, online, unschooling, project based, literature based, dual-enrollment, road-schooling, and more! Which models are you familiar with? Which kind interests you? As you consider homeschooling, think about what you would it to look like. Also, research these types of homeschooling and pick the one that seems to fit best with your family rhythm and personality. But beware! As you get into homeschooling, you will make changes either drastically or gradually to fit the kind of schooling that works best for you family. You may even consider combining the best parts of two of the styles.
For example, I loved the idea of classical education. I thought it would be great for my children to learn Latin, read Classical books, debate ideas, and meet philosophers. But I soon came to realize that our family loved being active outside. We enjoyed our Bible time, memorizing Scripture, exploring in the woods, reading through book series, competing on sports teams, serving at church and overseas, and more. Because we didn’t love the idea of being strapped to our desks for hours as we learned, we arranged our homeschool to fit that style. Flexibility with consistency have been two pillars in our homeschool. Once we figured out some of these things, homeschooling has been more fulfilling, dynamic, and profitable. While everyone doesn’t love every part of school, each of our kids has time to pursue their interests and passions during the school day, and they have thrived as we have given them time and space to chase dreams and learn. Combining a few of the styles from above has helped us find our own unique style so we can thrive!
4. What tools and resources do you need to homeschool?
Be realistic about what things you might need for homeschooling. While we didn’t start off with shelves full of books, professional watercolor supplies, pattern blocks, and a color printer, we have now added all of those things little by little to our schooling resources. The list of what you NEED might be quite small depending on the kind school you prefer. Make the list and start collecting those things. Better yet? Try borrowing things from friends and using the local library to source some of the books, charts, and programs you may want to explore. Starting to homeschool does not have to be expensive, but it can be. Buy only the things that you need initially and see that grow over time.
5. Do you have the ability to homeschool?
Recently, I was talking to a single mom who really wanted to homeschool her children. She had a full-time job and full-time custody of her children. When she was looking at her work responsibilities, she had to be honest with herself. She just didn’t have the time with her young children to homeschool them well. She needed to work 40 hours per week and couldn’t work from home. The kids would be home for large portions of the day without someone to facilitate the school subjects.
Do you have the time, resources, and emotional and spiritual energy to homeschool? You do not need to be wealthy — there are many free resources and curriculum, but you do need to have the margins in your life to make it happen. Some people think they need to have a special degree or certification to be able to homeschool. That isn’t the case. With a plethora of materials and online classes, there isn’t a lack of help in any subject at any time or in any place. When we were homeschooling in Africa, we were able to video chat with my brother who is a Junior High Math Teacher to get answers in Algebra II. We were able to find videos about how to dissect specimens before we tried it in Biology. The internet has opened up may possibilities for homeschool families.
My Advice as you Consider Homeschooling
Overall, I believe that Homeschooling is a great choice for many families. I have had a rewarding experience being home with our children, even though it has been hard to homeschool all six of our kids. We have loved all of the experiences that we have been able to have together, and it has united us in ways that were not possible apart from homeschooling. I was a teacher before we had children, but that is not necessary for homeschooling because homeschooling is more than just schooling at home.
But the major reason we have homeschooled – our Why – is because we have been convinced that this is the best way for us to obey God’s command to be the spiritual mentors in our children’s lives. God has called us to disciple our children, which we believe can’t happen just in the hour before school and the few hours after school. Through our Bible time, teaching other subjects, and disciplining them throughout the day, we are intentionally pouring into our children. This teaches them what it is like to be a Christian in every aspect of their day while giving us practical ways to build their character. For our family, we have decided to homeschool and will continue to because we feel it is obedience to God.
Do you feel the same way? What advice would you give to families who are new to homeschooling? Write your answers in the comments below.
Find more homeschool content by clicking on the pictures below:
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