by Christi DuPre

Created on: May 19, 2008

Maybe you are sitting on the fence with the public school on one side and your would-be home school on the other? Or perhaps you and your child are so exasperated with the outcome of public or private education that you must get out NOW! Whatever the case, it is wise to gather some critical information before making a change. No educational change is irreversible, however frequent change can be disruptive to everyone. So take a deep breath, get a pad and pencil and do a little research. Here are some considerations to reflect on before deciding if home schooling is for you.

FAMILY
Are both parents prepared to support home schooling as a life style? Mom and dad should decide what their roles will be. In our home, I do the traditional teaching while my husband ensures physical education by helping coach sports teams and supporting boy scout activities. He trusts me completely in my choice of curriculum. Conversely, I have friends that share the role of traditional teaching, and dad has a definite hand is selecting curriculum. I also know a single parent that successfully home schools her children. Discipline and diligence of family members, including the kids, is necessary for learning to occur. It should be fun, but you can't lose sight of pursuing academic goals.

What about finances? Will home schooling require a parent to stop working outside the home, or can part-time work be managed? There are some added expenses associated with curriculum and extra activities, but they may be offset in savings on food, clothing, or transportation.

NETWORK
If you know families that home school, ask them if you might observe a typical day in their home. Chat with as many families as possible. The reason? Each home school is different, and yours will be unlike any that you see. I wish I had realized this when we began. There is a compelling drive to compare yourself with everyone else, but you must resist the urge! Learn from others, but forge your own path.

If you aren't acquainted with a home school network, try to locate a support group in your area. Local churches may be able to provide contacts. Attend support group meetings, and ask any question that comes to mind. If all else fails, use a search engine on the internet to find a treasure trove of excellent sources; homeschool.com is a good place to begin.

While you are networking, study the laws related to home schooling in your state. The degree of government intervention varies by state, and its prudent to operate within the given guidelines.

READ
To leave no stone unturned, I highly recommend that you borrow or buy Mary Pride's book, The Complete Guide to Getting Started in Home Schooling. This book is divided into 12 sections, spanning nearly every facet of home schooling. Save yourself the trouble of searching through a collection of books, and start with Mary Pride. You needn't read it cover to cover to glean valuable information, but you won't be disappointed if you do.

PRAY
And finally, if you choose, ask God for guidance in making this decision for your family. Home schooling has many benefits and blessings, however there are also sacrifices and challenges. When stress mounts, I trust that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength- one day at a time.

Having done your homework in the above areas you will be prepared to assess whether home schooling is right for your family. Carefully weigh the information you have gathered, and go forth in confidence no matter what your decision.

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