| Homeschool families love what they do. They love | | | | test. Taking the time to prepare for these tests |
| the freedoms that are afforded to them. They | | | | appropriately, and earning high scores while |
| love the fact that they can suit their homeschool | | | | enjoying the flexibilities of homeschooling, will open |
| program to fit their values and objectives, and | | | | many more doors to a homeschool student than |
| they love the flexibility to do so on their schedule. | | | | not doing so. |
| However, there are some common traps that | | | | 4 - And finally, homeschool families often fall into |
| homeschool families need to be on the lookout | | | | the trap of thinking that they do not need to be |
| for in order to ensure that they meet their goals | | | | accountable to anyone when they plan and |
| with integrity, value, and purpose and that their | | | | implement their homeschool program. While each |
| students have an easy access to post-high school | | | | family should have the freedom to design their |
| options. Several of these common traps can | | | | program to fit their unique goals and objectives, |
| easily be avoided with a little attention to | | | | assuming that they are meeting the state |
| scheduling and accountability. | | | | standards, it is still always a good idea to have an |
| 1 - Often, homeschool families try too hard to | | | | accountability partner for your students. This can |
| make themselves look like the local public school. | | | | take several forms, some of which might be an |
| They tend to run themselves from activity to | | | | outside adult who works with your student in a |
| activity and co-op class to co-op class in an | | | | particular subject area and provides an objective |
| attempt to fit the model that other schools have. | | | | assessment of their skills, or a homeschool coach |
| Another similar symptom of this is in thinking that | | | | who you check in with on a regular basis. Get |
| every subject must be taught from a text book | | | | feedback from others on how your homeschool |
| with worksheets and posters to create. The trap | | | | program is doing and on any areas that need |
| of trying to look like a public school at home | | | | strengthening for your student's sake. |
| prevents many homeschoolers from utilizing | | | | As a homeschool parent, it is easy to get lost in |
| fantastic resources and options that are available | | | | the freedoms that you have in doing school in this |
| to them in on-line courses, block schedules, and | | | | way. However, with freedom comes responsibility. |
| modified daily routines. In the long run, trying to | | | | Responsibility to your program, your children, and |
| look like the local public school will dilute the | | | | to the community around you in which |
| freedoms that homeschoolers have just by virtue | | | | homeschooling is still scrutinized. It is important to |
| of choosing to homeschool. | | | | be a homeschool family with purpose, |
| 2 - One of the biggest mistakes that | | | | accountability, and planning. These core values will |
| homeschoolers make is to spend too much time | | | | allow you to equip students with solid academic |
| on non-core subject activities with the hopes that | | | | skills, and therefore train future leaders. No one |
| their students will be noticed by competitive | | | | intends to "water down" the academic foundation |
| college recruiters for such teams and | | | | when they begin to homeschool, and statistics will |
| organizations as Debate, Football, Drama, or Choir | | | | show that most do not, but on occasion, it is |
| and Band. When this happens, homeschool | | | | good to review your homeschool program to |
| students are left with core academic deficiencies. | | | | ensure that you are not falling into any of these |
| Students become compromised in their academic | | | | traps. |
| foundations and find themselves unprepared for | | | | A successful homeschooling program is not just |
| college work. Be sure that these activities are not | | | | about the options for college that your student |
| the foundation of your homeschool program. | | | | will have, but avoiding the pitfalls that drag your |
| Academics must take priority! | | | | student's prospects down. You can give your |
| 3 - Not taking standardized tests seriously is | | | | student many more choices when it comes time |
| another mistake that homeschool families make in | | | | to leave for college if you provide a thriving |
| their homeschool programs. While some colleges | | | | environment for your homeschool. With improved |
| will accept simple portfolios as proof of the work | | | | choices come increased opportunities for their |
| that a student does while in a homeschool setting, | | | | future, something that should be a part of a |
| nothing speaks louder to the college admissions | | | | successful homeschool program. |
| officers than a high score on an SAT or ACT | | | | |