


A Look At Homeschooling
Demetria Zinga
For many people, homeschooling is either the best option or the
only option for teaching their children. This is due to various
factors: conditions of the school systems, temperaments of children,
vast learning abilities or disabilities of children, and a wide
spectrum of other factors such as school-family incompatibility,
multiple intelligences in which certain children learn best under
circumstances and environments that are not offered in either public
or private schools, as well as religious convictions and beliefs that
are not tolerated in the public school system (specifically,
Christian beliefs such as creationism). These are all valid and
unquestioningly solid reasons to homeschool your child. With the wide
selection of homeschooling programs, curriculum, and both
state-supported and/or Christian endorsed programs available, the
opportunities are endless for a parent who wants to homeschool. The
very best thing to do is to check out your resources with your local
community in mind.
Homeschooling support groups should be
available in your area. Do a search online or get a community events
and organizations calendar from your local library. Ask neighbors and
friends. Most of all, ask around to different churches. There are so
many churches today that are offering a "covering" program
in which homeschooling parents may fall underneath their program
"umbrella". The church will help you with record-keeping
such as test scores, your daily homeschooling journal, and
vacinnation records for the state.
Secondly, discover what it is
you want to accomplish through homeschooling. Does your child
absolutely NEED to be homeschooled for specific reasons or is it a
choice that you and your family feel strongly convicted of as a
necessity for your child? Either way you look at it, you are
justified in your choice. However, be sure that your child will
BENEFIT from being schooled at home. As a homeschooling parent, you
have now become teacher. Organization and discipline are important
disciplines you will need in order to be a successful teacher and to
have your child be a successful student. If you need additional help
and need to hire a private tutor, for instance, never feel ashamed by
any means. Doing what's best for your child is the only thing that
matters.
A third factor to consider is the TYPE of curriculum you
will want to use. What will be your teaching philosophy? There are a
number of internet and print resources that can help you learn more
about the different homeschooling pholosophies that exist, such as:
Montessori method, Charlotte Mason method, Eclectic method, Classical
Education method, Distance Learning, Waldorf Education method, and
Unschooling. Do a search online and find out as much as possible
about each method and perhaps find a fit that suits the needs of your
family the best.
Overall, homeschooling is a wonderful way to
teach our children in a culture that may not be as supportive with
our children's education as we would like. Homeschooling is not for
everyone, but by the same token, neither is public education. Doing
what's best for our children and their start on a lifelong education
is most important.
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About the Author
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
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