| Home Schooling Look Before You Leap | | | | of home schooling. These disadvantages vary |
| | | | in intensity based on individual |
| Are you considering home schooling your | | | | circumstances, but can be overcome through |
| children? While you may have focused on the | | | | local support groups and educational |
| advantages of this form of education, take a | | | | resources. |
| moment to think about possible disadvantages | | | | |
| of home schooling. Consider the demands of | | | | Expertise in each subject area and the art of |
| home schooling before you take the plunge. | | | | teaching are among the biggest disadvantages |
| | | | in home schooling. Certified public school |
| Answer the following questions with yes or no | | | | teachers take several courses on teaching |
| to see where you stand on readiness to home | | | | methods, strategies, and learning |
| school your children. | | | | disabilities. Heavy content area specific |
| | | | classes are taken as well. |
| 1.) I am available to stay home and commit | | | | |
| many hours to not only instructing my child, | | | | In addition they must pass the Praxis |
| but researching subject material, | | | | examination and adhere to state standards |
| curriculums, and assessments. | | | | before they can teach in the public school |
| | | | system. As a home school parent, you are not |
| 2.) I have effective teaching skills and know | | | | required to go through these rigorous courses |
| how to guide my child through the learning | | | | and examinations. Therefore, you must be |
| process. | | | | honest with your self and accurately assess |
| | | | your abilities. |
| 3.) I convey accurate subject material. | | | | |
| | | | Time is another factor. Although home |
| 4.) I understand the academic needs and | | | | schooling schedules are flexible, the |
| abilities of my child. | | | | academic work must be accomplished one way or |
| | | | another. It is up to you as the parent to |
| 5.) I can provide activities for my child to | | | | keep the learning train running and |
| participate in that work on their | | | | productive. |
| socialization skills. | | | | |
| | | | Lastly, you will need to deal with people |
| 6.) I fully believe in home schooling and | | | | that view home schooling as a lesser form of |
| hold responsibility for my childs education. | | | | education. You will need to stick by your |
| | | | choice and feel confident that you are doing |
| If you answered yes to all these questions | | | | what is best for your child. |
| then you have tackled the major disadvantages | | | | |