| Homeschooling is an incredible method of delivering | | | | in your area, but it should go beyond just meeting |
| quality education. There are very few educational | | | | basic skills. Good curricula should teach students |
| methods that allow for the same degree of | | | | how to learn, how to plan out their work, how to |
| one-one-one, individualized attention to a student's | | | | study and write. All of these seem obvious, but |
| learning. As many a homeschooling family will tell | | | | many curricula omit these skills and only focus on |
| you, there are an abundance of rewards that | | | | workbooks and charted tasks. Be sure that the |
| come from shaping and forming their children - | | | | curriculum you choose is one that promotes solid |
| both academically and personally - through | | | | academic behaviors, not just assignments. |
| homeschooling. However, it is not without its | | | | Consistency, your next need for an effective |
| challenges and should therefore, never be entered | | | | homeschool program, will be the biggest challenge. |
| into rashly. Looking at the "why" or "why not" | | | | This is true for parenting, it is true for dieting, it is |
| issue of homeschooling, there are several things | | | | true for exercising, it is true for yard work, and |
| that you will want to have in your personal skill | | | | the list goes on. Homeschooling is no different. |
| set in order to begin homeschooling. Six, in fact. If | | | | You will need to be consistent in sticking to your |
| you spend time to build a solid foundation with | | | | values, carrying out the work, striving for |
| these six "C's," your homeschool program will be | | | | excellence, and doing those things all over again |
| off to the right start and everyone in your home | | | | when the weather is warm and pretty and the |
| will be better off because of them. | | | | butterflies fly by. You will have to keep up the |
| The first thing that you will need is to have | | | | good work at home when your children want to |
| identifiable core values for your home and | | | | go see a movie. School done at home can allow |
| homeschool. Some things will be foundational to | | | | for flexibility in your hours, your schedule, or your |
| your needs and desires. You must start here. | | | | days of work, but, school must be done - |
| Create a personal vision statement for your | | | | consistently - in order for students to thrive and |
| homeschool. Identify the skills, traits, and | | | | grow academically. |
| knowledge base that will be the expected results | | | | A counselor or coach will also be an invaluable tool |
| for your children, and then be sure to include the | | | | for you. This would be a person to whom you |
| training that they will need along the way. Aim | | | | are accountable as an educator at home. This |
| high, but do not waiver on your core values. | | | | could be a spouse, a mentor, or a paid |
| Commitment, the next requirement, will also be | | | | homeschool coach. Having someone serve as an |
| called for. Once you know what your values are | | | | accountability partner will help keep your focus on |
| and where you are going with your child, then you | | | | your values and goals, keeping them in the |
| will need to make the decisions and choices | | | | forefront of your schedules and decisions. Your |
| necessary to fully commit to your homeschool | | | | homeschool program will be far more effective |
| program. This may mean adjusting an income, | | | | when you know someone will be asking how your |
| reducing expenses, juggling careers, or other | | | | progress is going, than it will be if you are on your |
| unique adaptations to fit your program, but the | | | | own. |
| adult members of your family will need to be | | | | On-going conversation is the final need for |
| "sold-out" and dedicated to the goals of your | | | | effective homeschooling. You must be willing to |
| homeschool program. It is also extremely helpful | | | | engage in a continuing dialog with your spouse, |
| to have the commitment and support of | | | | children, and coach so that adjustments to your |
| extended family as well. | | | | vision and goals can be made as necessary |
| After you have identified your core values and | | | | without hindering overall progress. Homeschooling |
| are sure that the commitment issues are | | | | is a "living" school, and retooling your program |
| resolved, you will be ready to select your | | | | may be necessary from time to time. |
| curricula. The homeschool market is flooded with | | | | Consider the "C's" - and take the time necessary |
| many, many options for this, so you will want to | | | | to build this foundation into your homeschool |
| spend some time researching what is out there. | | | | program. |
| Curricula should meet all of the state requirements | | | | |