BookShark

Category: Homeschool Families

  • We Don’t Homeschool for Religious Reasons

    We Don’t Homeschool for Religious Reasons

    Homeschooling has come a long way in the last fifteen years. It used to be that most homeschoolers were educating at home because of religious reasons and mostly kept their children hidden at home—afraid that too much exposure to the world around them would hurt them in some way. These days, people are homeschooling for an array of reasons. Even some who are religious are choosing to homeschool for non-religious reasons.

    You might be new to homeschooling and you think that everyone in the homeschool world is highly reserved, secluded, or unaccessible because of their religious beliefs.You might be looking for other folks who have chosen to homeschool not because of their beliefs, but because of other benefits of the homeschool lifestyle. If so, you can probably relate to my story.

    I became a mom very young—19 to be exact. I never knew I wanted to be a mother, but when the doctor placed my son in my arms, my heart exploded, and I knew I would never leave home to work again if I could at all help it. Luckily, my new husband felt the same and I’ve been home with him ever since, along with three more little hooligans who have joined the ranks.

    Being such a young, inexperienced mother, I was fearful of making mistakes, so choosing whether or not to send our oldest to school was a huge decision. In my heart I didn’t want to miss those formative days with my son. It wasn’t a control issue or fear; I just wanted to be with him and enjoy life with him. After a trial-run year at a private school for kindergarten, we decided to try homeschooling. We’re now in our eighth year of homeschooling, and it has been a beautiful thing for our family.

    We wanted to be with our kids. We wanted to explore with them, do our days together, learn together, and have all day to achieve the education we dreamed about for them. Those were our reasons, and here are more non-religious reasons you might choose to homeschool:

    The Love of Learning

    The beauty of homeschooling is that you can cater to each and every one of your child’s interests and hobbies. You can choose rich literature and great teaching tactics to give your child an amazing love of learning to last their whole lives. This is another reason we chose to homeschool. After my son came home from Kindergarten with worksheet after worksheet, I knew I could give him something more—something that would light a fire in him to explore more, ask questions, and ignite his brain to think deeper.

    Flexible Schedules

    Some people choose to homeschool simply because they don’t want to answer to a big school calendar telling them where to be when. Having your school days open to explore is an awesome part of homeschooling, and some choose to homeschool because of this huge perk alone!

    School Troubles

    Bullies, teachers who don’t understand your child, and problems with friends or faculty are all reasons parents choose to pull their children out of school and give them a home education. Sometimes all it takes is a negative situation at school to open a parent’s eyes to what homeschooling offers in contrast.

    Indivdualized Learning

    The hard part about a traditional school is that it doesn’t have the adaptability to choose curriculum based on each child’s learning style. They have a budget to choose one curriculum that might have to last several years even if it’s not recepted well. This is where individualized learning comes in, and this is another reason why many people choose to educate at home. We have this amazing ability to change curriculum, try new things, switch halfway through the year, or scrap curriculum altogether!

    There are tons of other reasons parents choose to homeschool; this just scratches the surface. I personally am a Christian, but that’s not why I chose to homeschool my children. My husband and I don’t want to control them or shield them from the world. On the contrary! There are so many beautiful things to experience out there, and homeschooling allows us the freedome to truly explore them. We all homeschool for different reasons, but the wonderful world of homeschooling is our common thread that makes us all non-traditional innovators.

    BookShark offers literature-rich, secular curriculum packages for families who have chosen to homeschool for whatever reasons.

    About Our Author

    Alicia Hutchinson is the homeschooling mom to four.  She and her children love reading and history and exploring outside. They are just settling into their new home in the Minneapolis area, where they just relocated from North Carolina.

    You can read more about Alicia and their homeschooling adventures, current projects, and thoughts on motherhood at her blog Investing Love.

  • Three Reasons I Left My Homeschool Co-Op

    Three Reasons I Left My Homeschool Co-Op

    I have been homeschooling for so long that most of my friends and family are homeschoolers or at least homeschool-friendly. Honestly, I haven’t heard the question about socialization in so long that I forgot it was an issue. Today, I saw a Facebook acquaintance post a question to her friends, asking what kind of school they would choose for their kids. Every single one who said they would consider homeschooling mentioned joining a co-op for socialization as some sort of disclaimer.

    When I began homeschooling my sons at the ages of three and five, we joined a homeschool co-op for this exact reason. In a world of homeschool haters, joining a co-op gives you a way to say, “Look! My kids socialize! My kids sit in a classroom at least once a week!”

    We joined a secular co-op that met once a week for laid-back, academic classes. Co-ops are great for making new friends, learning in a group environment, and taking advantage of group rates on field trips. We loved being part of our co-op while it worked.

    But then, two years ago, it no longer worked for us. Rather than try to find a better fit, we decided to leave the world of homeschool co-ops behind for a while. Here are my reasons.

    1. Homeschool Co-Op Took Too Much Time

    While classes only meet once a week for a few hours, co-ops rely on the support of all the members. Teaching classes is rewarding and a lot of fun, but very time-consuming! Our family had so many other opportunities and obligations that I found it difficult to juggle planning classes, buying supplies, and helping with administrative duties. Co-op took over my life, and my sons’ education suffered for it.

    2. Homeschool Co-Op Was Expensive

    Though most co-ops are run completely by parent volunteers, they can still get pricey. There are typically supply fees, field trip costs, and building fees. As my kids got older, the cost increased and we realized there were other classes and opportunities they would like to try that the co-op money could be used for.

    3. Homeschool Co-Op Had Drama

    Any time you get a large group of people together, you will get personality conflicts. My sons had a great time with their friends, but I had a hard time dealing with some of the other parents. It’s okay to have disagreements and prefer some members over others, but when you get to a point where you dread each weekly meeting, it might be time to say goodbye.

    What have I gained by leaving co-op behind? Time! We are no longer rushing around every single day. We have at least two days every school week that are devoted to being at home, reading, learning, and enjoying being together. We also have time for play dates with our friends, days at the museum, and volunteering.

    In addition to time in our homeschool, I’ve gained personal time, too. I no longer need to spend 100% of my time being a homeschooler. I get some downtime to be myself: to invest in my own interests, read books for fun, and focus on my needs.

    I am grateful for the friends we made through co-op and the support we received as new homeschoolers. As my boys get older, we may choose to join a more academic co-op where they can learn different subjects. But right now we need the freedom to learn away from the group. Don’t worry, though, they still get plenty of socialization even without a homeschool co-op.

    About Our Author

    Stephanie Black is a writer and homeschool mama of two boys in Indianapolis, IN. Along with her husband and feisty rescue dog, they enjoy hiking, road tripping, and loudly singing 90s rock music. 

  • Help! My Homeschooled Child Wants to Go to Public School

    Help! My Homeschooled Child Wants to Go to Public School

    There are a lot of different reasons that people choose to homeschool. At the core of them all is that we feel it is the best thing for our child. No one chooses this path to torture their kids!

    Most homeschooled kids love learning at home and realize how awesome it is to be homeschooled.

    But what if your child asks to go to public school? Maybe they went to school before and want to go back, or maybe they just want to see what it is like since they’ve heard other kids talk about it. What do you do when you want to homeschool but your child wants to attend school? Here are my six suggestions.

    1. Pinpoint What They Miss

    If your child has previously been to school, there might be something about it that they miss. Maybe they liked having a teacher or seeing their friends daily. Maybe they liked the independence or structure. Open the lines of communication and figure out what they feel is missing. Then try to figure out a solution that somehow meets that need.

    2. Look Into Private Schools or Co-ops

    Some private schools have daily or weekly classes open to homeschoolers. This arrangement can give your children the opportunity to be in a classroom setting for a certain subject but be homeschooled the rest of the time. There are also a lot of homeschool co-ops that are structured like school. If your child misses being in a class and interacting with a teacher, this option may be the fix you need. 

    3. Keep a Public School Schedule for a Few Days

    I don’t know about your homeschool schedule, but ours looks nothing like a regular school day. Most kids don’t realize going to school means getting up and moving bright and early and spending 6+ hours in classes and then completing homework at home! Oh, and no pajamas allowed! Sometimes giving them a small taste of what real school would be like can help them appreciate how wonderful homeschooling actually is!

    4. Change Your Approach or Curriculum

    Is your child interested in going to school because what you’re doing isn’t working? Maybe they hate the curriculum you’re using, or maybe your approach is too structured or too casual. It may be that with a few tweaks your child is happier in your homeschool environment and will no longer dream about going to public school.

    5. Put Them in Lessons, Classes, or Clubs

    If your child is missing interaction with their peers or having a teacher, enrolling them in something like tae kwon do or getting them involved in scouts might be the answer! You can even check out your local library for kids activities or clubs—even homeschool specific activities. Having a weekly or bi-weekly activity can fill that desire for seeing friends and having fun.

    6. Make Sure They Have Friends Who are Homeschooled

    A common reason for kids to want to go to school is because all their friends are in school and they feel left out. Making sure your child has friends who are homeschooled will relieve this feeling somewhat. 

    If your homeschooled child wants to go to public school, there is likely a variety of forces causing that feeling. Don’t take it as a rejection of you as a parent. Instead, take the time to address their concerns, talk things through, and come up with solutions that everyone can agree on!

    About the Author

    Krista is the homeschooling mom of 3 boys. After 13 years she has learned the value of chilling out, going with the flow and keeping homeschooling fun! She is the blogger behind Far From Normal where she hopes to encourage parents and homeschoolers, and inspire a life lived happily outside the box!

  • Why I Don’t DEAR (Drop Everything and Read)

    Why I Don’t DEAR (Drop Everything and Read)

    Teaching reading was my greatest fear as I contemplated homeschooling. Could I do it? What if I messed it up? What if I turned my kids off of reading forever?

    Of course, teaching a child to read is not nearly as difficult as you may expect. And all of my children are proficient readers! What I’ve found over my years of interacting with my readers is that there is really only one element that is key to helping someone find success in reading—quality time with a mentor.

    I grew up in the DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) era. We dropped everything and read all the way through my middle school days. This practice seemed effective for me, but I was already an avid reader. DEAR time merely fed that existing passion.

    Now that I’m helping cultivate young readers of my own, I question the principle of DEAR. It’s not that I don’t love to read or that I don’t encourage my kids to read. Far from it! But unsupported independent reading is not something I find valuable.

    Resisting the Temptation to DEAR

    Let’s be honest. DEAR time is a wonderful thing for a mom who needs to prep dinner, to start the laundry, or to get the next kid moving along in their math. It can be a quick go-to activity that can make you as a teacher feel like you’re doing something great for your budding readers. Doesn’t mastery come from lots of practice?

    The reality is that I can practice playing baseball for hours and hours, but if I don’t really know how to play, I’ll never improve. The same goes for reading. If I only leave my new reader or my veteran reader to practice good reading habits on their own, they will never be able to get beyond their own limitations. They need a mentor to support them in their independent reading.

    The good news is that doesn’t mean you have to give up that valuable quiet reading time. With a few simple support techniques, you can take your independent reader to the next level.

    Supporting Your Readers

    Young readers need support from a mentor that can help them find success in their lifelong pursuit. Selecting appropriate books and understanding the author’s intent are not intuitive tasks. They need to be modeled, assessed, and cultivated. Here are some excellent ways to support your readers:

    Curate a Home Library

    It stands to reason that a home library will offer greater opportunities for reading. Leslie Morrow conducted a study indicating that children read 50 to 60 percent more in classrooms with libraries than without. You don’t have to own all of the books in your home library. Visit your local library frequently and always have a selection of quality books available for your budding reader.

    Ensure that you have a variety of types books to choose from. You want your students to be reading realistic fiction, informational books, fantasy, instructional books, biographies, poetry, graphic novels, online articles, and journals. If you have a variety of books in your home library to offer your readers, you’ll have more opportunities to mentor your readers.

    Model Book Selection

    Reading success does not come from just having countless volumes to choose from. This can be overwhelming to a new reader. Show them how to select a book that is just right for their reading level. Encourage them to read in a variety of different genres. This will help those readers who always choose comic books learn to appreciate and enjoy different types of books.

    How do you know if a book is worth reading?

    • Can they read it? Have them read aloud for a couple of minutes to see if the vocabulary is too challenging. If they seem to understand what they’re reading, you’re good to go.
    • Is it a topic that interests them? If it is, their interest might push them through a book that contains more complex language usage.
    • Does it offer something to think or talk about? We read to discuss ideas with one another. If a book doesn’t offer much to discuss, model how to be selective in what you choose to read.
    • Does it help in practicing what they’re learning? If you’re working on a specific reading technique, there are some books that are better than others to draw out that understanding.

    Discuss Their Reading

    When you ask them to read, a simple way to follow up on their reading is discussing what they read. You can model what this looks like when you read books aloud together. This doesn’t have to be another line item in the planner. It can be incorporated into your life in simple ways:

    • Ask them about their reading while you’re in the car.
    • Share about what they’re reading at the dinner table.
    • Use narration to have them relate what they just read.

    It’s so easy to let instruction slip away in favor of independence. While it is important to allow time for your students to practice their reading, they still need you to check in on them.

    About the Author

    Betsy Strauss is a wife to a deep thinker and a homeschooling mom of three kids.  When she stumbled into homeschooling, she thought it would just look like public school at home. Thankfully, she quickly learned that using a one-room schoolhouse model of teaching was a great way to unify the family, and enrich family life without going crazy! She shares her encouragement on Family Style Schooling Blog.

  • Why Homeschooling Is the Best: Kids Go at Their Own Pace

    Why Homeschooling Is the Best: Kids Go at Their Own Pace

    It seems that parenting and education have become all about reaching milestones and getting grades. This focus on achievement is fine for some families. But if your child does not fit into the typical pattern of success, it’s easy to feel as if there is something wrong with them and that you’re a bad parent.

    But you can opt out of this cycle thanks to homeschooling. It’s is the perfect way to educate kids who need a bit of extra time or even those who need less time to do something.

    Homeschooling is the best because it allows kids to move at their own pace.

    Working at Their Own Pace Encourages Delight

    If you allow kids to go at their own speed, they can take time with what delights them. We’ve all experienced the joy of learning something we’re really interested in. By foregoing a strict outside-imposed structure on your homeschool, you will be amazed by what your children are capable of doing. And you will be pleasantly surprised by how much genuine learning comes from a child fully engaged in what they’re doing.

    Don’t worry about state standards or what kids are supposed to know at certain stages. When you let your kids choose the pace, they can savor learning.

    Going at Their Own Speed Allows for Mastery

    Sometimes kids need extra time to master a new skill or concept. For example, without a strong foundation, math can become increasingly difficult and ultimately traumatic.

    I know that my kids need extra time to understand math. And they weren’t given this opportunity when they attended public school. As homeschoolers, we moved them back a year to make sure they had space to catch up and feel confident. I have noticed how quickly they’re ploughing through the work now. So by going back, we have actually sped up. And most importantly, math is a subject that they’re actually enjoying! 

    When my kids were in public school, they were pushed through a system that had definite outcomes and didn’t leave much space for deviation. But by allowing them to spend some extra time on reading, for example, they have mastered this important skill without any stress. They are now avid readers.

    Kids Can Speed Ahead and Avoid Busy Work

    As much as homeschool is fantastic for kids who need extra time, it’s just as beneficial for kids who are gifted. Schools typically cannot provide the additional support for kids who don’t naturally fit into their age-assigned grade. But homeschooling is the perfect environment for children to speed ahead.

    And another fantastic benefit is that children can work across grades. They might excel at one subject but need extra help in others. (This is called asynchrony when a child’s levels don’t match across subjects.)

    If using traditional grades as a measure, my twins are ahead in English but behind in math. Luckily, we have the flexibility to allow them to work at their ability as homeschoolers.

    The Family Has Time for Breaks

    Sometimes we all need to take a break. The public school system’s breaks don’t account for your family rhythm or your child’s needs. When you homeschool, you can take breaks when motivation and engagement are lacking regardless of the dates on the calendar. I have found that by taking a few days or even a few weeks off throughout the year, we are still actually doing more learning. I have found that by taking a few days or even a few weeks off throughout the year, we are still actually doing more learning. It’s because the pace is dictated by my kids.

    So if you feel that your child doesn’t fit into the system, but you know that they’re capable and have a love of learning, then homeschooling could be just the solution you’re looking for! Allow them to continue a love for learning by going at their own pace, whether slowing down or speeding ahead.  

    About the Author

    Charlotte Jones is a multi-tasking mom who works from home. She spends her days blogging at My Little Home School, homeschooling her twins, and teaching English online.

    Her home is a small house in a quaint little town on the coast of South Africa. You can often find her swimming in the lagoon or hiking in the forest with her husband, special needs twins, and furbaby.

    She loves her family, spending time in nature, running, red lipstick, and drinking too much coffee.  

  • Why the Homeschool Day Is So Much Shorter Than a Typical School Day

    Why the Homeschool Day Is So Much Shorter Than a Typical School Day

    How long is a typical homeschool day and how does it compare with the hours of a day in public school? Many parents, new to homeschooling, wrongly assume that they should homeschool for the same length of time as their public school counterparts. 

    In general, a homeschool day is much shorter than that of a traditional school. But this shorter school day doesn’t mean that less is getting done. In fact, homeschoolers can often achieve more in less time than public school students. 

    This truth is how BookShark can offer a robust and challenging homeschool curriculum that takes only four days a week. In the homeschool setting, you simply don’t require as much time.

    Is There an Average Homeschool Day?

    Some homeschoolers tout the expression “done by noon” as one of the benefits of homeschooling. This may or may not be the case for your own homeschool depending on the number of children in your family, outside activities, your natural pace, and how old your children are. 

    The beauty of homeschooling is that you can cater it—your routine, your curriculum, and your methods—to the unique needs of your kids and your family! Homeschool moms have the advantage of being in nearly full control of their homeschool schedule.

    • Not morning people? Then you might not start your homeschool day until afternoon. 
    • Diligent early birds with young children, on the other hand, might have their work complete before brunch.
    • Other families may like to take long breaks in between each subject, taking all day to complete their work but in an enjoyable and leisurely fashion.

    Typically, students in elementary grades get their work completed in a fairly quick amount of time, often hitting that “done by noon” standard if they started the day early. Of course, the workload increases as children mature. So a middle schooler or high schooler will need to spend more hours on school work. Outside activities such as co-ops, field trips, doctor appointments, therapy and library visits can interrupt and lengthen your homeschool day, too. 

    In short, the average homeschool day varies greatly from family to family. But it is typically much shorter than the school day of a traditional classroom. 

    The Homeschool Day vs. a Typical School Day

    Take a moment to consider all the classroom management teachers deal with! While all these tasks are necessary based on the setting, they aren’t directly related to learning. Teachers have to juggle:

    • 20-30 kids per classroom
    • individual and unique needs for each chile
    • keeping the classroom organized
    • roll call
    • class disruptions
    • redirecting students and keeping them on task
    • bathroom breaks
    • lunch break
    • hand raising
    • discipline issues
    • standardized testing and preparations
    • emergency drills

    All these requirements cause teachers to lose important teaching time. Homeschoolers may have many these issues to contend with as well, but they are equipped to handle them much more quickly and efficiently because of the drastically lower student to teacher ratio.

    As you become a more experienced homeschooler, you will gain a sense of the right amount of time for your school day. Remember your day will still be shorter than a typical public school day. And that’s one of the big perks of homeschooling! Enjoy it!

    The flexibility of homeschooling allows you to cater the learning experience to your child’s unique needs and interests without the loss of teaching time. That means more time for the extras you love!

    About the Author

    I’m Erin, an introverted homeschooling mom to two intense extroverted kids. We are child led with a heavy emphasis on read alouds, games, art, nature hikes, and hands-on everything! My kids just learn better when they can use their hands. You can find me at Nourishing My Scholar.

    We traded the hustle and bustle of city life for the quiet that only farm life can provide. This creates a wonderful environment for our children, complete with chickens, goats, ducks, and cows. I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter and Gilmore Girls. When we’re not homeschooling, you’ll find me curled up with a cup of coffee and a good book or possibly enjoying a random dance party in the front yard to the newest Disney soundtrack.

  • Bilingual Homeschooling: How I Got Started

    Bilingual Homeschooling: How I Got Started

    The thought of bilingual homeschooling first entered my mind twelve years ago when my daughter was in kindergarten. We started homeschooling because at that time we lived in a failed school district where the state closed one school and then taken over the other. As I learned more about homeschooling in general, I realized that I could personalize our learning experience as so many families educating their children at home often do.

    That’s when I realized that I wanted to pass on my own heritage to my children and make it a part of our lessons. I’m Spanish Mexican American. My dad and his whole side of the family live in Spain. And my mother was Mexican American. I grew up with both feet and a hand in each culture.

    This mishmash of traditions and two languages are all part of what makes me the person that I am. And I treasure my culture-filled childhood so much that I wanted the same for my own children. But it was very difficult because my husband and I lived far away from our families. So I began scratching away at our monolingual, monocultural lifestyle using our homeschool as a way to help my children learn about and appreciate the richness of their Hispanic heritage. And language learning was a small part of it.

    When I started, though, there were absolutely no resources available for bilingual homeschooling. Zero. I looked online for materials, and it was a slow, difficult process. Most were Spanish-learning programs, not curricula for teaching in Spanish. I even looked for Hispanic homeschool support groups, but there were none.

    So I started my own blog to chronicle our journey and share any resources that I found in the hopes of encouraging more Hispanic parents to consider homeschooling their own children.

    Over the last decade or so, I’ve seen bilingual homeschooling slowly but steadily increase. Most of these homeschoolers are made up of bilingual or multilingual families who see the benefits of raising bilingual children. Like me, nurturing their children’s bilingualism and biliteracy is a way for them to pass on their family’s heritage and culture. It’s a way to instill pride and foster confidence. And it allows parents to prepare their children for personal and professional opportunities in the future.

    Some are worldschooling families who have the ability to travel for work or pleasure. This allows parents to take advantage of the opportunity to immerse their children in the target language developing not only complete bilingualism, but biculturalism, too.

    But since the start of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the number of bilingual homeschoolers has exploded. Why? Because now both monolingual and bilingual parents who had their children enrolled in dual-language or immersion schools have found themselves homeschooling their young language learners.

    What Is Bilingual Homeschooling?

    By definition, bilingual homeschoolers devote equal time and energy to studying in two languages. The emphasis is placed on fluency in both languages. Seems simple, right? 

    Unfortunately, most families who decide to homeschool bilingually don’t have much guidance or support. Just as I was left to sort things out on my own, they must blindly figure out their way through the process because there is no bilingual curriculum available for homeschoolers. 

    The lack of resources and support has made things difficult in the past, but things are changing these days as more and more products and services are hitting the market to support bilingual learners. This is due mainly to the growing number of dual language schools across the country.

    So most families end up choosing an approach to teaching and then search for the resources that will support it.

    The Approaches to Bilingual Homeschooling

    My experience is mainly with Spanish/English homeschooling, and I will use that combination as an example in this article. However, the approaches listed here may be applied to any language combination. Here are some of the ways families are homeschooling bilingually:

    1. Complete Immersion

    Complete immersion families teach their children all subjects in the minority language (Spanish) only and rely on their child’s interaction with relatives, friends, and other influences to teach them the majority language (English).

    Unfortunately, this can be a difficult situation if your state requires yearly testing in English. In order for children to achieve academic success later on and qualify for college admission, they must be able to effectively communicate and learn in English, which may or may not be advanced depending on how much they actually learn from others.

    The complete immersion approach also becomes more difficult as the child enters higher grades where very limited teaching resources are available. Thus very few families (if any) successfully homeschool K-12 in Spanish only.

    2. Partial Immersion

    I consider partial immersion the ideal method for bilingual homeschooling. Gaining in popularity, this approach teaches a combination of subjects in both English and Spanish. Generally, the minority language is nurtured and developed in the early grades with introduction to English by 2nd grade, or vice versa.

    Partial immersion is becoming easier with the development and access to new Spanish-language resources for bilingual homeschoolers.

    3. Second Language Learning

    Second language learning is probably the most common type of bilingual homeschooling. In this approach, language learners are English-dominant and learn a second language at an early age for greatest success, for example, kindergarten or first grade.

    However, students can begin learning a second language at any point in their K-12 education. The myth that learning another language must begin prior to age 7 is slowly disappearing, and more and more families are waiting until high school to begin their student’s bilingual journey.

    4. Bicultural Learning

    Bicultural learning is different from bilingual learning. It takes a multicultural approach by emphasizing foreign cultures and traditions for a more global learning experience.

    This form of learning often goes together with worldschooling. In fact, the two frequently overlap as it is impossible to travel the world and not learn about the cultures in which you are living. Homeschoolers may begin learning a foreign language in later years. 

    Can Monolingual Parents Raise Bilingual Children?

    Is it possible for English-only households to homeschool bilingually? Yes, but the challenge is real. Most successful families use native speaking tutors or mother’s helpers to interact with, or teach, their children on a weekly basis. Playdates with bilingual families and even family vacations in Spanish-speaking (or your target language) countries are also valuable teaching tools. And now, with the pandemic, a lot of native speakers are teaching classes online, giving anyone with internet access to routine conversation.

    In a perfect world, bilingual homeschoolers would fall under the partial immersion category, but the reality is that most land somewhere between partial immersion and language learning. Wherever your homeschooling journey takes you, the key is to remember that the intentions of your heart and the effort you put into raising a bilingual child are what define your experience.

    About the Author

    Monica Olivera is a homeschooling mother of two, author, and a freelance education writer. Her site, MommyMaestra.com, helps Hispanic parents get more involved in their children’s education by providing resources, tips, and opportunities.

    She is also the author of The Latino Family’s Guide to Homeschooling and the Heritage Journal Series. Her education articles have appeared in numerous online sites such as NBCNews, Woo! Jr., and PBS SoCal. 

  • 5 Benefits of Homeschooling for Introverts

    5 Benefits of Homeschooling for Introverts

    I need some alone time, mommy. I’m an introvert.

    I’ve known my son is an introvert for a long time. Of all my children, he is the only one who intentionally goes into his room and plays for hours by himself. He gets easily overwhelmed by multiple people talking at the same time. He also gets extremely frustrated and exhausted when he’s interrupted.

    He’s your classic introvert: quiet, reserved, and soft-spoken. He’s quite the opposite of his outspoken older siblings.

    I didn’t set out to homeschool specifically because of personality. However, I’m convinced that homeschooling offers so many benefits to introverted children that traditional schools can’t provide.

    1. Extra Processing Time

    Introverts need time to process information and experiences far more time than extroverts. They gather information constantly and can ponder it for days.

    It’s not uncommon for teachers to move on from a subject, thinking it’s done. Then to their surprise, an introverted child will share some deep thought or conclusion about it days later. They’re just now ready to talk and engage more with that subject.

    And all that time in between?

    They were thinking, processing, and making connections. All this happened in the quietness of their own minds.

    Extroverts may easily jump from subject to subject. Introverts need more time to dwell on a particular subject. They also crave the flexibility to return to topics they’ve pondered for a few days. Homeschooling allows introverted children to take as much time as they need.

    2. Reduced Risk

    Not every extrovert is a risk-taker. Yet, research shows that the majority are far more apt to take risks than their introverted counterparts.

    Think about how much risk it takes to ask a question in a classroom full of peers. Just the thought keeps many introverted children’s hands right by their sides.

    The ones that risk and fail? They are even less likely to risk in the future.

    Asking and answering questions is rewarded in a traditional classroom. Even if a student does well in other areas, he might be penalized for lack of class participation.

    In addition, introverts think deeply about problems. They might not be ready to answer questions as rapidly as teachers ask them. Homeschooling provides a safe place to both ask and answer questions. They don’t have to fear failure or ridicule. It gives them time to think before answering.

    Therefore, introverted children can grow in confidence in this secure place. They’ll need it to engage and succeed in a culture that favors extroverted character traits.

    3. More Alone Time

    While it’s a myth that all introverts steer clear of people, most do need time alone to recharge. That quiet time is not just a nice thought or bonus.

    They need it.

    Introverted children who attend school all day can become overloaded by the excess stimulation. Because of this, they come home withdrawn at best, and a hot mess of pent-up emotion at worst. Homeschooling provides time for introverts to be alone and get the quiet time they desperately need. As a result, they can give their best emotional energy to the people closest to them their family.

    4. Fewer Interruptions

    As an introvert myself, having four children made me realize that interruptions drive me crazy. Not only that, they literally sap the energy out of me. When I’m reading aloud during our homeschool day, the more I am interrupted, the less energy I have to finish a chapter. When I’m interrupted in the middle of a task, I can completely forget what I was doing.

    I’m starting to see more of this in my son. He struggles with speech, so when his siblings interrupt him repeatedly, he forgets what he was going to say. This adds to his frustration.

    Also, interrupted subjects in school settings frustrate introverts. When the clock says time’s up, the teacher moves on to the next subject. So, telling an introverted child to save a math sheet for homework or to finish the book later can be extremely frustrating.

    Depending on your family dynamics, homeschooling can be an ideal way to avoid interruptions. You can spend as long as you need on a particular subject.

    5. A Chance to Develop Leadership Skills

    Leaders who demonstrate extroverted qualities flourish in western cultures. Assertiveness, quick thinking, teamwork, charisma, confidence, and multitasking are all traits of the extroverted leader.

    It’s easy to overlook introverted leaders in a school setting. The culture values and praises extroverted leadership traits. Because of this, introverts can start to believe that they aren’t really leaders at all. But introverts make good leaders, too. Schools just struggle to recognize and develop them.

    Introverted leaders tend to have better focus, better listening skills, and more creativity. They are also cautious. They like to think carefully about a problem. Then they act. This can be essential for certain leadership positions.

    Homeschool parents have the opportunity to help their introverted children become strong leaders in three simple ways:

    • Provide a safe space to be themselves
    • Praise introverted leadership qualities
    • Provide opportunities to practice leadership

    The Homeschool Advantage

    While introverts can succeed in a traditional school setting, homeschooling gives them a distinct advantage that they may not get anywhere else. If you need more information about raising introverts, I highly recommend these two titles:

    1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
    2. Nurture by Nature: Understanding Your Child’s Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger

    And consider homeschooling. If your introverted children are not flourishing in traditional school, homeschooling might be the best gift you can give them.

    About Our Author

    June loves deep discussions about homeschooling, parenting, and minimalism. When she’s not homeschooling, decluttering, or blogging at This Simple Balance, she loves to enjoy perfect silence while sipping a hot cup of coffee and thinking uninterrupted thoughts—which, of course, with four kids ages eight and under doesn’t happen very often!

  • Why Homeschooling Is the Best: Flexible Routines and Schedules

    Why Homeschooling Is the Best: Flexible Routines and Schedules

    With our flexible homeschool schedule, we’ve had the space and control to achieve a perfect rhythm for our days. This schedule has not been imposed on us by public school, and we’re reaping the rewards! Life is much more relaxed, and the kids are learning more, too. Flexible routines and schedules are another reason why I say homeschooling is best.

    The Science of Routines

    Science backs the importance of routines for children. Psychology Today speaks about the comfort that children get from having a predictable routine. When they know what is happening, they feel safe. 

    A study found that a fixed family schedule actually helps children with behavioral issues such as oppositional defiant disorder and hyperactivity/impulsivity. I can attest to this! Our son has elements of both of these disorders and benefits from knowing what is going to happen during his day. When he is in a routine, he has far fewer meltdowns and is much more willing to learn and to engage.

    Based on the data, it would be easy to think that a rigid public school routine is the ultimate comfort. But I have found the opposite to be true. And I’m not the only one!

    Rigid Public School Routines Are Old School

    In his TED Talk from 2010, Bring on the Learning Revolution, the late Sir Ken Robinson explained that the current public school system is based on an old model from the 19th century, “We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and batching people.”

    The public school schedule is an example of this conformity. Children do thrive on predictability, but they are often forced into a learning routine that does not work for them mainly so they can be batched and managed.

    My kids did not thrive with the one-size-fits-all timetable of public education. In fact, the early, rushed starts caused them a huge amount of anxiety.

    Some kids are better later in the morning or in the afternoon. An article in TIME says that teenagers are actually better suited to staying up late and sleeping late, so a more flexible school schedule could lead to more motivated teens. I know that my 9-year-old twins, who do like a set routine, benefit from a later start. 

    The Beauty of a Flexible Homeschool Routine

    Schedules and routines are great, but I don’t think the public school ones should be forced on everybody. And this is where the beauty of the homeschool schedule comes into play. There are so many ways that you can mold your daily schedule to best suit your child. Here are some of the freedoms we’ve discovered in our years of homeschooling:

    • Kids can get enough sleep and are rested and ready for the day. They can then start the day when they feel ready to learn.
    • Kids can have a peaceful morning routine rather than feeling stressed and rushed.
    • You can decide if you want to follow year-round homeschooling, take breaks periodically or use a 4-day schedule. You have the flexibility to decide what works best for your family and to change your mind whenever you like.
    • You can homeschool on the road and take holidays when you want to. Kids can experience the world, without having to wait for designated periods in the year to go on vacation. 
    • Kids can have a break if they’re sick or even just having a bad day. We do this a lot! It’s difficult to expect concentration and engagement from kids when they don’t feel their best. 
    • You can dive deeply into child-led learning, letting children focus on what delights and engages them. A flexible schedule means that subjects can easily be moved around to accommodate these interests.

    The world is changing, and education needs to change too. Even though public schools are constantly improving, they are not doing so quickly enough. The old way of managing kids is still prevalent in most schools, yet this way of teaching is not going to prepare all of them adequately for the future. And that’s why homeschool is the best! 

    When you school at home, you can adapt learning, content, and schedules to give your children the best education possible. And then they can be ready to face a changing world that needs people flexible enough to navigate its complexities. 

    About the Author

    Charlotte Jones is a multi-tasking mom who works from home. She spends her days blogging at My Little Home School, homeschooling her twins, and teaching English online.

    Her home is a small house in a quaint little town on the coast of South Africa. You can often find her swimming in the lagoon or hiking in the forest with her husband, special needs twins, and furbaby.

    She loves her family, spending time in nature, running, red lipstick, and drinking too much coffee.  

  • Why Homeschooling Is the Best: Flexible Routines and Schedules

    Why Homeschooling Is the Best: Flexible Routines and Schedules

    With our flexible homeschool schedule, we’ve had the space and control to achieve a perfect rhythm for our days. This schedule has not been imposed on us by public school, and we’re reaping the rewards! Life is much more relaxed, and the kids are learning more, too. Flexible routines and schedules are another reason why I say homeschooling is best.

    The Science of Routines

    Science backs the importance of routines for children. Psychology Today speaks about the comfort that children get from having a predictable routine. When they know what is happening, they feel safe. 

    A study found that a fixed family schedule actually helps children with behavioural issues such as oppositional defiant disorder and hyperactivity/impulsivity. I can attest to this! Our son has elements of both of these disorders and benefits from knowing what is going to happen during his day. When he is in a routine, he has far fewer meltdowns and is much more willing to learn and to engage.

    Based on the data, it would be easy to think that a rigid public school routine is the ultimate comfort. But I have found the opposite to be true. And I’m not the only one!

    Rigid Public School Routines Are Old School

    In his TED Talk from 2010, Bring on the Learning Revolution, the late Sir Ken Robinson explained that the current public school system is based on an old model from the 19th century, “We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and batching people.”

    The public school schedule is an example of this conformity. Children do thrive on predictability, but they are often forced into a learning routine that does not work for them mainly so they can be batched and managed.

    My kids did not thrive with the one-size-fits-all timetable of public education. In fact, the early, rushed starts caused them a huge amount of anxiety.

    Some kids are better later in the morning or in the afternoon. An article in TIME says that teenagers are actually better suited to staying up late and sleeping late, so a more flexible school schedule could lead to more motivated teens. I know that my 9-year-old twins, who do like a set routine, benefit from a later start. 

    The Beauty of a Flexible Homeschool Routine

    Schedules and routines are great, but I don’t think the public school ones should be forced on everybody. And this is where the beauty of the homeschool schedule comes into play. There are so many ways that you can mold your daily schedule to best suit your child. Here are some of the freedoms we’ve discovered in our years of homeschooling:

    • Kids can get enough sleep and are rested and ready for the day. They can then start the day when they feel ready to learn.
    • Kids can have a peaceful morning routine rather than feeling stressed and rushed.
    • You can decide if you want to follow year-round homeschooling, take breaks periodically or use a 4-day schedule. You have the flexibility to decide what works best for your family and to change your mind whenever you like.
    • You can homeschool on the road and take holidays when you want to. Kids can experience the world, without having to wait for designated periods in the year to go on vacation. 
    • Kids can have a break if they’re sick or even just having a bad day. We do this a lot! It’s difficult to expect concentration and engagement from kids when they don’t feel their best. 
    • You can dive deeply into child-led learning, letting children focus on what delights and engages them. A flexible schedule means that subjects can easily be moved around to accommodate these interests.

    The world is changing, and education needs to change too. Even though public schools are constantly improving, they are not doing so quickly enough. The old way of managing kids is still prevalent in most schools, yet this way of teaching is not going to prepare all of them adequately for the future. And that’s why homeschool is the best! 

    When you school at home, you can adapt learning, content, and schedules to give your children the best education possible. And then they can be ready to face a changing world that needs people flexible enough to navigate its complexities. 

    About Our Author

    Charlotte Jones is a multi-tasking mom who works from home. She spends her days blogging at My Little Home School, homeschooling her twins, and teaching English online. Her home is a small house in a quaint little town on the coast of South Africa. You can often find her swimming in the lagoon or hiking in the forest with her husband, special needs twins, and furbaby. She loves her family, spending time in nature, running, red lipstick, and drinking too much coffee.