Why Should I Homeschool?

Written by Chi Alpha Crusaders | June 15 2007

If you asked a room full of homeschooling moms and dads why they chose to homeschool, you would probably get so many answers that your head would spin. The reasons are as numerous and varied as the clouds in the sky.

Here are just a few reasons to homeschool:

• You have the opportunity to choose the curriculum your child will be studying; enabling you to teach him about the world he lives in from a Christian perspective.
• You have the joy of spending much time with your child and actually knowing him…really knowing him.
• Teaching your children at home allows them to have a childhood, to get out and play, to be free from the restrictions placed on their peers who are not homeschooled.
• A homeschooled child spends his time learning from the environment around him and discovers the joy of learning without the busy work and waiting in line experienced in a school setting.
• You can instruct your child at his own pace, much like a Montessori school, allowing the opportunity for him to move ahead in one subject or spend extra time where needed in another. This ensures that there will be fewer gaps in your child’s education.

Should you homeschool? Definitely, if you have prayerfully considered whether it is the Lord’s will for your family. Homeschooling is not a decision to be made lightly, however. It takes a great deal of time and effort and can often isolate you from your friends who do not homeschool. Family members often think you are crazy for even considering such a thing.

Homeschooling is not a voyage to begin because you are running from something or because you think you can control life and how your children perceive it. If your intentions of homeschooling are to isolate your children from worldly influences, then you have the wrong idea of homeschooling. In fact, that is the wrong idea of life as a Christian. First, the world is even in the church if you go to church with people who work outside of the home and children who go to public school. Remember, we are to make a difference in the world and the only way we can accomplish that is to get out there among the lost and begin the work God has placed us here to do.

1. WHAT ARE THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS? The state of Georgia requires that you instruct your children for 180 days, four and a half hours a day. The course of instruction must include (but not be limited to) Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. Once a month you will be required to submit an attendance record to show that you have completed school for that month.
2. DO I HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SCHEDULE? No. As long as you school 180 days, four and a half hours a day, you can choose the days and hours that suit your family’s needs.
3. DO I HOMESCHOOL YEAR-ROUND OR TAKE A SUMMER BREAK? This is entirely up to you. Some moms have found that it is easier to school year-round, taking frequent weekly breaks throughout the year. Other moms begin in September and end in May, and bask in the summer months, using this as a refresher time. If you choose to take a summer break, you will want to begin your school year with a plan and do your best to stick with it. Some moms plan their curriculum based on 150 days, leaving 30 days free for review or field trips.
4. DOES IT REALLY TAKE FOUR AND A HALF HOURS A DAY TO HOMESCHOOL? Usually, it does not take four and a half hours to teach each child the basics, which leaves plenty of time to have classes like music, art, physical education and much more.
5. WHAT IS H.S.L.D.A.? H.S.L.D.A. is the Home School Legal Defense Association. This is a group of attorneys that will represent you in the event your state or your local school board finds reason to bring litigation against you. As long as you follow the legal requirements, though, you should not have reason to worry about this possibility. However, it is very wise to join the H.S.L.D.A. The cost is under $150 a year.
6. HOW DO I CHOOSE CURRICULUM? If you are looking for a curriculum that “feels” like a classroom school, A Beka Books, Alpha Omega Lifepacs, Saxon and Bob Jones University are great places to start. Rod and Staff, Sonlight, Beautiful Feet, Christian Light and Christian Liberty offer a more “back to basics” curriculum. Apologia is a science curriculum that is written specifically for the Christian homeschooler. Teaching Textbook (www.teachingtextbooks.com) offers middle and upper level math curriculum. R.O.C.K. Solid (www.rocksolidinc.com) and Rainbow Resources (www.rainbowresource.com) are great places to get started looking for school materials. Teaching the Trivium and The Well Trained Mind are wonderful books that offer suggestions in Classical education, using Charlotte Mason’s teaching style as their inspiration. As you can tell, there are many publishers of homeschool curriculum. You can also find books on learning styles that will help you choose the right curriculum for your children.
   • DO I HAVE TO FINISH ALL OF THE CURRICLUM? No. You can work at your own pace, making sure that your child grasps the concepts of the lessons taught before moving on. Once your child is in High School, they must complete 80% of the material to receive credit for the work.
   • CAN I MIX AND MATCH CURRICULUM (ECLECTIC) OR DO I HAVE TO USE THE SAME PUBLISHER FOR EVERYTHING? Moms who are just beginning homeschooling often feel better if they choose one publisher for all of their school needs, purchasing all suggested material for the grades they are teaching. As you progress, however, you will see that what works for one child does not necessarily work for another, and what works one year may fail the next. Feel free to be flexible and to mix and match, using catalogs as your guidelines.
   • WHAT IF I DO NOT FEEL QUALIFIED TO TEACH A CERTAIN SUBJECT? WHERE CAN I TURN TO FOR HELP? There are co-ops and various outside sources where you can acquire the extra classes for your child that you do not feel qualified to teach. Many of these classes meet once or twice a week.
   • CURRICULUM IS EXPENSIVE. IS THERE SOMEWHERE I CAN BUY IT USED? Yes, by doing a search on the Internet, you can find used homeschool curriculum. You can often find things on Ebay or Amazon.com. The favorite website of many moms is Vegsource (www.vegsource.com/homeschool). You can click on the appropriate grade level, read the post, click on the link and send an email to the seller. Most sellers will accept PayPal, cash or money order for payment. Be prepared, though, you will need a cup of coffee before you sit down to shop on Vegsource. There are many books available.
   • WHY IS A SUPPORT GROUP IMPORTANT? It is not easy to answer this question. Some people feel that being in a group requires too much commitment or work. This is true of many groups. However, Chi Alpha is a support group whose main purpose is to offer friendship and fun for its members. We strive to have social gatherings for our children, as well as field trips. Possibly one of the best things about being in a group like Chi Alpha is the encouragement you will receive from moms who have experienced the joys and excitement as well as the confusion and burnout that you may be feeling even now.
   • WHAT ABOUT STANDARDIZED TESTS? The State of Georgia requires your children to be tested by an eligible tester every three years beginning after the completion of third grade. An eligible tester is someone who has a college degree. Chi Alpha has qualified testers and we test every year. You may choose to test your children after every school year.
   • HOW IMPORTANT IS GOING TO A CONVENTION? You may feel like going to a homeschool convention is either not necessary or too overwhelming. Do not miss this valuable experience. Every year in May, the GHEA hosts a convention that provides seminars on homeschooling. Publishers and providers of homeschool materials have booths at the convention. There is also a convention in July. More information can be found at www.ghea.org .WHAT ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL? Do not be afraid to homeschool for high school. You can attend a seminar at the convention and get all of the information you will need. Keeping up with credits is no problem. If your child completes 80% of the material for a particular class and spends 120 clock hours, he will receive one credit. See http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/about/sub.asp?key=17&subkey=1874 for further information. Choosing the classes and knowing what is required is not difficult either. You can go to your local school board or state Board of Education website to see what is required for graduation from a public school and you can go to any college website and see what they require for entrance. Those are great places to start. In addition, homeschool catalogs generally follow the guidelines of school requirements.

Chi Alpha wishes you success as you make your decision regarding homeschooling. We hope to be a support to you in the future.www.xacrusaders.org

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