The Homeschooling Handbook_ From Preschool to High School - Mary Griffith [11]
Academics
Strangely enough, academics are often the least worrisome aspect of homeschooling, and even homeschooling skeptics won’t much argue the point. When you spend time with your children, as homeschoolers do, you quickly get a feel for how well they learn. In many cases, their learning seems an almost spontaneous process, occurring independently of, or even despite, whatever formal instruction you provide. You may find that some materials won’t be right for your kids or that they’ll want a different teaching style from the one you want to use, and you’ll need to devote some trial and error to finding the right mix for all of you. You may also find that your perfect set of materials, which was so wonderful for your first child, is vehemently rejected by the next and viewed with complete indifference by the third.
You’ll find, though, that you don’t need to be an expert in every subject your children learn, nor will you need special training to help them learn. What you’ll need is patience, a willingness to answer questions, and the energy to show them how to learn for themselves. It’s rather like the old “Teach a man to fish …” line. Show your children how to learn what they need to know, and you’ll not be able to stop them. Give them the tools and resources with which to learn, and with practice and a bit of concentration, they can handle the rest.
The “S” Word
Homeschooling skeptics will often concede that academics are seldom a problem for homeschoolers, but they’ll always come through with “But what about socialization?” This question is so common that many experienced homeschoolers can hardly restrain themselves from spluttering or giggling whenever they hear someone start to ask it, and they’ll often finish the question and be halfway through a detailed response before the questioner can take a breath.
The homeschool setting is ideal for socialization. In classroom settings, children are locked away for eight hours a day with thirty or so of their peers and, as a result, are deprived of the chance to interact with those outside their own age group. The homeschooling setting, on the other hand, provides the child with opportunities to interact with people of all ages, occupations, and interests, which tends to result in well-rounded, sociable, confident individuals.
—Tammy, Texas
Shauna has a number of adult friends, based on shared interests. Rosie has several groups of girls that she is the ringleader of, at church, dance, and singing group. They are comfortable and polite in most situations and can hold up their end of conversations.— Carol, California
Socialization is, really and truly, a complete nonissue. People worry about it and they shouldn’t. Not even a little bit. Unless you lock your children in the basement, they will get “socialized.”There are so many opportunities that I cannot even fathom considering school as one of them: Scouts, church groups, 4-H, various classes, neighborhood kids—the list is endless. And, as I always say, “Oh, socialization? Yes, we’re very concerned about that—that’s why our kids won’t go to school!”—Pam, California
We’re very well socialized, thank you. I think kids, generally speaking, are bad for other kids. They may like each other, but they like chocolate, and I wouldn’t let them eat all they wanted. Between swimming, neighbors, dance, Sunday school—well, they’ve got enough of what the world calls socialization.—Shari, Alabama
I have to put the answering machine on during the weekend so Ethan can play in peace with whichever friend is over visiting! I do wish he had more homeschooling friends he really enjoyed, though—most of his favorite friends go to school.—Lillian, California
I am strongly opposed to peer segregation. My kids are known for their ability to talk with adults, all except for the four-year-old, who’s the strong, silent