I am a homeschooling mom to four loud, but wonderful children.
We have been homeschooling for 9 years and, unless God decides otherwise, I have 16 years of homeschooling left.
In many ways, I cannot imagine doing life any other way, but in reality, it has not always been that way for us.
I want to share the challenges I faced going from public school educator to homeschool mom, the benefits of being a public school educator before we started homeschooling, and the benefits our family reaps from homeschooling.
From Public School to Homeschool: Lessons Learned Along the Way
First, a little background for my story.
Fifteen or twenty years ago I could have easily been voted LEAST likely person to begin homeschooling. I went to college and earned a degree in Elementary Education. Then, while teaching public school, went back for a Master's in School Administration. I worked my way out of the classroom and into the principalship of an elementary school.
I was a huge proponent of the public school system and fully expected that my children would one day attend the school where I was principal.
Fast forward a couple of years and add in a husband and two children. I felt I was raising everyone else's children to the detriment of my own.
When I was able to leave my job to be at home with my children, I thought it was a temporary situation until they were both school-age and I went back to work. However, during that time at home and the one year that my oldest spent in the school system, I realized it was not the right fit for us. We pulled my son out of school at the end of his kindergarten year and have not looked back.
This has not always been a smooth and easy path, but it has been a hugely rewarding path.
From Public School to Homeschool: Lessons Learned Along the Way
Challenges of Going From Public School Educator to Homeschool Mom
I honestly look back at our first year, particularly that first month, of homeschooling and laugh. I tried to recreate a public school environment in my homeschool even though public school was not working for my son. I had a daily schedule that said we were going to do each subject at a certain time, a behavior chart, and a Christian-based but otherwise traditional textbook curriculum.
I scheduled five days of school each week (and then tried to figure out how to fit in field trips and other activities). My daily plan was slightly shorter than our local public school, but still had my first grader doing school work from 9 am to 2 pm.
In my public school mentality, I had compartmentalized each subject. So I was trying to cover every subject independently, every day. This was taking a long time and not creating the learning environment that I desired.
One other challenge I faced was my fear of what other people would think about our decision. I knew that I had a lot of colleagues, friends, and family that worked in the public schools and many more whose children were in public schools. I had to struggle with doing things a certain way to make them feel like I was being successful.
(Need a little encouragement? Read Stop Telling Me Why You Can’t Homeschool!)
Benefits of Public School Background
While I am a firm believer that it is not necessary to have a background in education in order to be a homeschool parent, there were a few benefits to my educational background.
First, it gave me the confidence to know that I could teach my children. I had been paid for years to teach other people's children so I was confident that I could teach my own children. I even had to use that argument with family a few times.
Second, I had a figurative toolbox of strategies that I could try when my children struggled with a concept. All of that information is available on the internet, but I had tried and true strategies that I had used in the classroom. It helped me to re-teach, adapt, and modify my lessons to make them work for my children.
Finally, it gave me credibility among the doubters. People (often strangers) would ask me what qualified me to teach my children. Sometimes I would share real reasons, such as the fact that God gave me my children and I was responsible for training them up in the way they should go. However, especially with those that I did not think would listen to the real reasons, I would give them my educational and career background and they normally would leave me alone.
Benefits of Homeschooling (for our family)
With the challenges I mentioned earlier, you might be wondering why we stuck it out. Even when we were trying to replicate a public school in our home we saw the benefits of being at home and once we loosened up and found our own path it was even better.
We loved the flexibility that it gave us to spend more time together.
My oldest two children were able to continue building a close relationship, with each other and extended family, because they were together for most of the day. My husband was working a flexible schedule that had him gone late into some nights but home in the mornings or off on a Friday.
When my oldest was in public school, he would sometimes not see his dad for a couple of days because of his school and sleep schedule. With all of us being home, we could take off when my husband was off, or even tag along with my husband when he needed to travel for work.
My oldest learned to read at three (and thus was very bored in kindergarten) and my second child did not learn to read until she was about seven. Homeschooling gave us the flexibility to meet each of their needs and individualize their education.
There are many things I want for my children, but above all else, I want them to know Jesus as their savior and walk closely with him. There are Christian students in all forms of education, but homeschooling allowed us the opportunity to spend more time focusing on spiritual development and to weave it into all areas of our lives. I loved that our science books not only explained the biology of plant life but also that God was the creator of that life.
(You might also enjoy reading Mary’s posts - Stay in Your Own Lane - about marching to your own beat as a homeschooler - and also Let Them Be Little: The Crime of Vanishing Childhood)
Advice for Public School Educators Choosing to Homeschool
If you are a public school educator that recently became a homeschool parent, or if you are considering making that switch, I would like to offer you some advice.
First, each child is an individual and each home is different. This means that what works for one might not work for another and that is perfectly acceptable. Homeschool provides an amazing opportunity to custom tailor a curriculum to match temperament and interests.
Second, there are reasons that you left the public school. When things are hard or you find yourself trying to replicate what you knew in the classroom, remind yourself of those reasons and find encouragement to keep walking this path.
Finally, embrace flexibility. This does not mean that you can't have a routine or use a curriculum but remember that you get to be in charge and decide what works best for your family. If you have a chance to take a great field trip or visit with a relative, put aside the math books for the day and enjoy. Take your schoolwork outside. If your child can finish their work before lunch, don't feel the need to add more. Take advantage of the free time for playing, creativity, or handicrafts.
When my oldest was born almost 15 years ago, no one in my life would have dreamed that I would be a homeschool mom, but looking back I see how God was preparing me for this life. If you are thinking about taking that leap of faith, I encourage you to give it a try, expect challenges, and enjoy the ride.
Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family. Some of her favorite parts of homeschooling are hymn studies, living history, and read alouds. She and her children also enjoy incorporating food into their studies as often as possible.