As a parent and business owner, homeschooling has been filled with unique challenges and rewards. When my husband Allen and I decided first to start homeschooling Audrey, who is now in third grade, our decision was influenced by the unusual difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back, it's fascinating to see how our journey has evolved. Finding the right balance and fit for homeschooling can be daunting, and through sharing our story, I hope to make this process easier for others.
Curriculum Choices
There are innumerable choices in curricula for homeschooling, so much so that it can be overwhelming to a new homeschooling family. But, the upside to having many choices is that it allows you to find a curriculum that works well for your child’s learning style, your family’s lifestyle, and your preferences as the instructor. After some trial and error, we landed on The Good and the Beautiful. It particularly excels in math and language arts and holistically integrates elements of social studies, art, history, and geography into these core subjects.
One significant advantage of The Good and the Beautiful is its cost-effectiveness. Plus, if you prefer to go paperless with schoolwork, the PDF version makes that possible. Another benefit is that it goes up to grade 12, giving you a consistent educational experience all the way through high school, should you choose to continue using it.
To complement our core curriculum, we incorporate BrainPOP Jr. for enrichment in science, history, and social studies and Typesy for keyboarding skills. BrainPop is very engaging with its short, animated videos, and Typesy turns keyboarding practice into a fun game rather than boring repetition.
Extracurriculars and Special Interests
One key benefit of homeschooling has been letting Audrey pursue her own special interests. She participates in an art class with Art-Ventures in Suffolk, Virginia, and has been taking piano lessons for years. She also enjoys tennis with the Western Tidewater Tennis Association, swimming, and tumbling at Studio 37, both of which help keep her moving and active.
We’ve also introduced her to coding, sign language, graphic design, and video editing through online tutorials. Not only has this helped develop her creative and technical skills, but it has also provided an avenue for her to explore her interests in a more structured way. These activities and tutorials are essential for a well-rounded and comprehensive education, extending her learning experience beyond traditional academic subjects.
Flexibility and Customized Learning
For our family, one of the benefits we most appreciate about homeschooling is the flexibility it offers. People are often surprised to hear that Audrey spends so much less time doing schoolwork than her traditionally schooled friends. That’s because homeschooling tends to be much more efficient, offering personalized attention and customized learning free from the typical distractions and delays found in a conventional classroom setting. It also allows Audrey to work at her own pace, moving ahead faster in subjects where she excels and taking it a bit slower for more challenging subjects.
Our schedule includes homeschooling three days a week, each subject taking a reasonable amount of time. She spends about 45 minutes to an hour on math, 30 minutes on language arts, and 20-30 minutes of daily reading. This allows us the freedom to include regular field trips, nature walks, and visits to museums and zoos in our week, giving Audrey exposure to a much wider and more enjoyable array of learning experiences.
Homeschooling, in general, and our curriculum choices in particular, allow us to start the school year whenever we want and take breaks as needed. At the end of each unit, we take a least a week off and at the end of each level, we take 3-4 weeks off, but we don’t take a full three months off during summer. This prevents the 'summer slide' and keeps Audrey engaged and learning year-round. To be confident that she’s staying on track, she takes regular assessments so we can see her progress and fine-tune it where needed.
Balancing Screen Time with Hands-On Activities
With the explosion of technology and virtual education in the last few years, balancing screen time with hands-on activities is crucial. While we take advantage of the convenience of digital resources like PDFs, online educational games, and videos, we are careful not to be overly reliant on them and intentional about complementing them with various hands-on activities. Audrey's involvement in non-digital activities, such as art classes and tennis lessons, provides a valuable counterbalance to screen time, fostering her creativity and manual skills.
Enjoying the Homeschooling Experience
Homeschooling has been a rewarding journey for both Audrey and me. It requires time and energy, but seeing her progress and truly enjoying learning makes it worthwhile. We plan to continue as long as homeschooling suits Audrey’s needs and interests, and will also introduce it to Corey when he is old enough.
Every homeschooling experience is unique; what works for one child may not work for another. The key is to find a curriculum and a rhythm that fits your family's lifestyle and your child's learning style. Remember, flexibility and adaptability are your greatest assets in this journey. Happy homeschooling!
More Homeschooling Resources
The following are some homeschooling websites that have been helpful to me on our journey.