This post is for new and prospective homeschoolers trying to get a handle on how to start homeschooling. When I began homeschooling, I read at least 30 books on how to homeschool, how homeschooling went, and how homeschooling should go. All of these books were good and valuable, but after homeschooling for 4 years now, I look back and shake my head. Following all of the advice in those older and often outdated books is akin to feeding my child milk from a bottle because my mother fed me that way. Here are some differences between homeschooling then, and now.
School Room Then: Every book I read gave instructions on setting up a schoolroom. They may have meant cleaning out the dining room, and dragging in bookshelves, and desks, or transforming an extra bedroom into a classroom.
School Room Now: In my four years of homeschooling, I have never been able to get my children to sit at desks or even a table and homeschool. I even went as far as to build a classroom in the basement and all it has turned into now is somewhere to make a mess. Maybe someday it will be used for messy science experiments, and we certainly clean our paintbrushes in the sink I had installed, but my kids prefer to learn sprawled on the floor, or sitting at the dining room table. Instead of transforming a room, my home has instead been transformed just a little. I switched my dining and family rooms and the dining room needed more space from the increased activity. I often find my children under the dining table reading a book. This homeschooler describes her day and you can see there is no designated room.
Social Worker Then: Beware of the social worker was the mantra for many years as homeschooling parents were often reported for educational neglect. Homeschoolers were instructed to not let social workers in their homes, and instead to give them a written warning from the HSLDA. The fear of the social worker was quite disconcerting.
Social Worker Now: While social workers can still show up and attempt to interview children, most know better. In addition, anonymous calls to the Department of Social Services are no longer accepted in many states, so if someone is willing to “report” you, they must do so publicly. In my years of homeschooling, I did have a truant officer sit in front of my house. When my children went to the door, they drove away. I received a call the next day. It turns out I forgot to send in my intent to homeschool for the year and they wanted to know if I was still homeschooling. I sent in the form and the problem is over. I also know of an instance where a child died and a social worker got involved on behalf of the other kids. There was also a woman whose mother and sister called the department of social services and claimed educational neglect. Generally, though, you do not need to worry about the social worker.
Teaching Children Then: Older homeschoolers are purists in a sense and feel that the parent should teach all subjects. If the parent does not know the material, then they can learn it along with the child. They tend to frown on using outside teachers (outside of a homeschool co-op).
Teaching Children Now: The homeschooling movement began before the personal computer and internet became a household staple. The learning resources are far too numerous for parents and students to not take advantage of. While I do understand and appreciate the joy of teaching my child pre-algebra, I have to admit that I slowed down their progress, and so was glad to hand them over to a paid tutor of algebra and all math classes beyond that. Homeschooling is constantly evolving and most homeschoolers I know (of middle school age and up) are actually a type of hybrid homeschooler with their kids taking outside classes 1-3 days a week and being at home the remaining days to complete homework and projects. Next year my children will be taking classes two days a week and we will be retaining a math tutor for when we need extra help.