Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool
Listen to Michelle’s Interview on Vintage Homeschool Moms
Our
That all changed, suddenly, during the spring of 2012. I set aside a time to pray and fast about the next step in my career. Instead, my heart was suddenly overwhelmed to homeschool. I knew following this strong conviction would require an about-face; quit my job and pull my kids out to school. I wasn’t sure if I could commit to that. I wondered, “How would I teach two kids to read?” Not to mention, algebra.
After the initial shock simmered down, my husband and I discussed many reasons to adjust our lives for the purpose of making our children and their education a high priority. There were two main reasons that topped our list. One, our family faith and values were being drowned in a sea of adult subject matter that my daughter was being introduced to in school. The second, the quality of education was not up to par with our expectations. So, we decided to take
You would think the biggest obstacle we faced during our first year of
Homeschooling offers families the opportunity to combat our culture and to teach morals, ethics, and values. Each family home is a ministry, an important one, and teaching our children certainly adds to that responsibility. Although the days of home educating are not perfect, the long term investment is eternal. Being together gives families the opportunity to work through challenges with solidarity and to serve one another. As a result the family unit becomes stronger. I didn’t realize how severed my relationship was with my daughter until I brought her home and intentionally poured into her life. Now, she and her sisters are flourishing with confidence.
Mom’s tone sets the tone in the home.
Prior to
Homeschool moms are consumed with curriculum and her children’s activities. I mean, we have to be. However, we need time out too. A time to recharge and care for ourselves or we will be no good to our families. Also, we need to be in tune with our stress level and know when to decompress. More importantly, we need know how to relax.
I have found simple ways to reduce stress and take care of myself which are: daily care, Quiet Time, walking, drinking tea, asking for help, and laughing. I believe these tips will work for you as well. I explain more here on how I use techniques.
On the other hand, if I may be brutally honest, the first year of
Mom vs. Teacher
The whole first year
Just like in business or ministry, when new management or leadership is coming into play, new trust must be built. Do your homework and plan ahead. Your child will see you have the answers and when you don’t you will learn them together. It is a process with many unknowns. Give yourself and your kids ample grace. In the meantime, here are seven things to check when dealing with bad attitudes while homeschooling.
Dealing with Perfection
Parents with a traditional mind-set towards education tend to struggle more in finding the balance between daily expectations and reality. I fall into this category and here is the deal: What you want to accomplish in a day and the amount work that is possible are not always the same thing. This leads families to compare their daily accomplishments to other families, and often leads to the feeling of inadequacy.
Each homeschool may do the same things but we all do them differently and have varying priorities. Every time you compare another family’s best day to your worst day, it will seem like you are failing. On your good days write down general notes of accomplishments to reflect upon on the bad days. There is much more progress happening than you realize.
What to Know Before
- Go Slow:
Homeschooling is not for the faint at heart, so don’t start on a whim. Take your time to let your emotions settle before you make the decision. For married couples, make sure you and your spouse are on the same page. - Do Your Homework: Take time to research your curriculum while talking to other homeschool moms.
- Peaceful Departure: Unless you child is in grave danger. Hold off on pulling him/her out of school until winter break or summer break. Then spend ample time getting to know one another again. Do the fun side of school for several weeks before starting your formal lessons.
- Talk to Your Child: The choice to homeschool is a parent’s decision, not the child’s. That said, talk to your child about the upcoming changes so they can mentally prepare. Get them involved in small ways for example, as them what topics they might want to study in science or include their interests in their required reading.
- Schedule Breaks: You will hear people say, “You should be finished with school by noon.” Personally, I don’t know how that is possible. You will want to rush through the daily checklist but your kids’ brains cannot handle it. Schedule lots of breaks during the day and time off throughout the year.
When my daughter was in school our day was rushed and she was being introduced to issues beyond her maturity. The time apart drove a wedge between us that I couldn’t break through. Now that she is in middle school we are much closer and enjoy a deep relationship. I know the challenges she faces and can facilitate her choices. Instead of folding under presser we, as a family, have worked hard to create an unbreakable bond. I have become a softer mom and learned what my child’s needs so I can parent accordingly. If I can transition from public school to homeschool successfully so can you.
Taking the plunge seems scary, I admit. I just know you will conquer your first year of homeschool and as a result your family will be stronger!
By Michelle Pohl
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Michelle loves telling stories to encourage her audience to grow in joy despite the chaos of life. She enjoys helping others by speaking, planning beautiful events, creating graphics and lovely websites. She knows the daily chaos of mothering
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