Have a homeschooling question?
Join our free support group

Home educate the easy way... simplify and save time...
Learn from experienced homeschoolers how to write your own curriculum.

Back in print for a limited time only! Beverley's manual on how to write your own homeschool curriculum! $25

Getting Started with
Home Schooling:
Practical Considerations

© Beverley Paine, Dec 07

"We want to homeschool our three boys but they are so against it that I wonder if we should even try. I'm worried we will have them working against us from the start. So my question is - is this a normal response? We have plans to be socially active."

It's not a typical reaction, but then again that's probably because most of the families that withdraw children from school to homeschool do because one or more of their children are encountering problems with schooling. These range from not being educationally challenged through to horrendous cases of bullying.

You don't say when you intended to start homeschooling but I assume that because it is late in the year you will be looking at next year. Are you withdrawing them from public or private school? I'm not sure about private schools, as the arrangements for paying fees may mean that you would incur a financial penalty unless you organise withdrawing them this side of Christmas.

However, if your boys are in a public school there is no reason why you can't arrange the withdrawal at the beginning of the next term, contacting your principal and the education authorities that oversee home education in your state on the first day back at school. Or the week before... I wouldn't be surprised if they would welcome this, as the last few weeks of the school year are exceptionally busy and no one really likes extra work to do then, whereas they all expect it at the start of a new year. :

So, given you have plenty of time to make the necessary arrangements to withdraw your children, I would spend the next 6 to 7 weeks getting that alternative social program for your children happening.

One of the most important aspects from their point of view is establishing regular out of school contact with their existing friends. I don't know how you feel about sleep-overs, but if you host a few of these throughout the holidays, maybe even take their best friends on a short holiday (camping trip perhaps at a national park, as this is the cheapest way to holiday). Demonstrate in real practical terms that home ed will mean plenty of access to these friends.

If your boys aren't involved in after-school activities, now is the time to think about it. You could arrange for each of them to join an activity with a friend from school - think of scouts, taekwondo, sport, youth club, whatever. You may need to do all the running around, picking up and dropping off your boys' friends to encourage or persuade their parents that their kids really need this in their life. Alternatively, if your guys are keen on something like bmx or skateboarding you could cooridinate one night a week at the local track or park where you supervise a session for your sons and their friends.

At the same time you need to become involved with the local or nearest homeschool group if there is one - you can begin to do this now, if you haven't already made contact. If there isn't a group near you find out where the nearest one is and make the effort to get along to one or two or more of the scheduled activities. Put a notice in the local library indicating that you are willing to meet other home educating families in your area. Start a local group that meets at a playground or other suitable place each fortnight.

You have a couple of months to persuade your boys that no much will change in their social life once you begin to homeschool. Sure, they won't see their friends at lunch time, but that's only five hours a week and you're going to well and truly make that time up.

If, at the begining of February, homeschooling still looks like such a dreadful proposition to them, then you there is a good chance will need to consider your question to me again. With luck you will have organised the issue out of existance!

Home | Catalogue

SEARCH this site:

If you like what you
read here, you can
order Beverley's books!

	Getting Started - how to write your own learning programs
	Beverley's E-books
	Learning Without School - how 30 families homeschool
	The Homeschooling Trail - Christian unschooling life
	Learning in the Absence of Education - how we did it
	Practical Homeschooling Booklet Series - your questions answered!
	Educational Games Booklet Series - make learning fun!
	Practical Homeschooling Language Development Series
	Natural Learning Series
	Homeschool Diaries
	Ready to use Portfolios / Report Cards
	Fridge Magnets - handy reminders!
	Sample Learning Programs
	Stock Clearance

Home Education Association
2010 Resource Directory

please select one

HEA Members $5.95 HEA Non-Members $7.95

please record member number

Please note:
The information on this
website is of a general
nature only and is not
intended as personal
or professional advice.

Annual National
Home Education CampFest
Conference and Festival
22 to 27 March 2011
www.rainbowdivas.com