IT’S NOT LIKE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL
It may sound like an enormous, time-consuming undertaking to provide your child with an education at home. That conclusion would be true if you approach home school like traditional school. One subject at school usually consumes an hour a day five days a week. Add six more class periods to that and everybody can have a full time job. We don’t have to do that at home. If, however, you choose a complete homeschool curriculum like Abeka, you may be getting yourself into an all-day teaching experience. See my post Is an Eight-Hour School Day Necessary at Home?
THE SCHOOL DAY CAN BE SHORTER
At home the elementary and middle school courses take about 20 – 30 minutes a day per subject. That amounts to about 1 1/2 – 2 hours a day for the core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Older kids can read on their own. Elementary students really only need the three core subjects. Extra subjects can be chopped. At home a parent only needs to spend about 2 hours a day working their student. That’s a win for parent and student. See my post Short School Days Work.
SELF-TEACHING BOOKS
Most homeschooling books are written for the students to learn on their own as well as for parents to comprehend the lessons without much effort. If a student is reading the material on her own, then a parent does not have to become as involved. Parents do not have to learn the material and deliver a lecture. See my post Teaching Experience Not Required.
SELF-TEACHING IS POSSIBLE
Self-teaching is a skill and an expectation. When a student gets used to the routine of self-teaching, she can improve at that skill. Parents can promote learning by teaching study and memorization skills. As kids become more proficient and self-sufficient, they will require less and less of a parent’s time. I am aware, within my own family, that not all kids are able to rise to the level of self-sufficiency at the same age. Some are sooner than others. And some may never seem to get there.
OUTSIDE INSTRUCTORS
Homeschoolers often utilize the help of outside teachers and tutors. There are private teachers and teaching co-ops. An over-burdened parent can join a co-op which charges for teaching services rather than expects parent involvement. There are various types of co-op arrangements.
TIME-SAVING STRATEGIES
Choose curricula that do not require parent preparation and participation but place more responsibility on the student. Parents can put more time in initially to help their child learn how to become more self-sufficient. Teaching study and memorization techniques can do that. Find outside teachers for older students and declare your independence. Outside teachers are great for students who are unable to self-teach. If you choose the right curricula and understand how your child learns, you can get more time back.
Musing: a period of reflection or thought. As such this post reflects my thoughts, opinions, and experiences on the topic. The choice to home school and the methods you choose are yours to determine.