Homeschooling
For Academic Reasons - Getting Started
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Homeschooling really is easy. I cannot
count the number of times people have said that they wouldn't
have the patience to homeschool their kids or that they would
fail because it was too difficult. The most difficult task is
mustering the confidence in yourself to actually take the plunge,
especially with a gifted and talented student. I often tell people
that I admire the folks who homeschool more than one student at
a time. A homeschool can be quite the flurry of activity that
is for sure, but my frame of reference is a homeschool where a
highly gifted student lives.
Perhaps all homeschools look like my house does, with Science
projects and animals and books, and books and books, and Art projects
and sports gear and doodles here and there on napkins and white
boards and clipboards. I would bet most homeschools have the same
uniforms too, an assortment of fuzzy slippers and flannel jammies,
but also hiking boots and puddle boots, butterfly nets and the
hats, one for every excursion. Backpacks, we have those too, for
our petri dishes and field books, Science books and laptops, library
cards and symphony tickets, cameras and airline tickets to cool
places.
We recently got back from a field trip, well actually it was a
three week trip to study Botany in Florida. Our neighbor told
us he thought we had moved. When I told him that we head to Florida
in February to get out of the snow he said, "well I guess
that's one advantage to homeschooling". And that really is
it in a nutshell. Homeschooling gives your student the opportunity
to explore strengths and accomplish many feats, at their pace
and on their own terms. With a little encouragement and a whole
lot of imagination, anyone can homeschool their kids. Here's the
really big secret, you don't have to do the teaching like at "school".
Mentor your children, show them how to acquire their own education
by providing access to what they'll need and by planting the seeds
of curiosity about a variety of topics.
As the mentor however, it is to your advantage to understand the
logistics of homeschooling:
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 Gifted
Homeschool "How-to"
How do I homeschool a gifted student?
[Jump
to Gifted Homeschool "how-to"]
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LEGAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Homeschooling is legal in all
50 of the United States.
One of the main things you think about when you consider
homeschooling is the legal ramifications. Homeschooling is legal
in all 50 states. Some states require that parents notify the
local school district of their intent to homeschool; others require
parents to register with the state department of education. Some
permit a homeschool to register as a private school. Many states
require yearly proof of student progress. Some states have additional
requirements, such as the submission of a curriculum plan or education
requirements for parents. A few states permit homeschooled students
to participate in public school classes or activities. Many state
education agencies have a homeschooling liaison to help families
register with the state.
Since states vary in their specific requirements, obtain a copy
of your state's homeschool law from your state department of education
or your state legislator's office. Pay particular attention to
laws that are specific to "Special Needs" students,
since some states see gifted students as "Special Needs"
students. Local home school support groups are good sources of
information for complying with the local laws and regulations.
You will need to refer to the education laws specific to your
country if you are from outside the United States.
[ Our
legal issues page] .
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TIME
COMMITMENT
Homeschooling requires an enormous time commitment by at least
one parent. Parents who choose to homeschool their gifted children
say that homeschooling is a way to tailor their children's education
to specific needs and interests at the appropriate academic level.
Homeschooling is a way to create an advanced educational environment
that includes a wide range of activities.
Talk together as a family to decide if this is the appropriate
choice for you. Some families find the demands and intensity of
homeschooling a gifted student to be too stressful; others love
the freedom and challenge. Some feel the need to plan, plan and
others don't.
[Our pages about curriculum,
record keeping and styles
& methods of homeschooling]
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ACADEMIC
CONSIDERATIONS
Homeschooling can offer increased flexibility and academic
challenge. Flexibility is particularly important since many gifted
students are widely varied in their abilities. Some children excel
in all areas and require academic challenges and constant research
by the educator to keep them engaged and motivated. Gifted homeschoolers
enjoy opportunities to develop in multifaceted ways and pursue
interests without time and curriculum constraints. It is important
to remember to include your gifted student in your academic planning.
You may find that your student knows more than you think he does!
The gifted student will amaze you at every turn in the road!
[Our
pages about identifying the gifted
student, our library and resources,
styles and methods of
homeschooling. ]
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SOCIAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Home schooled children are some
of the most widely socialized students around!
Many people have expressed concern about the social life
and potential isolation of home schooled children. Much has been
written about how homeschooling can be socially detrimental, and
about how homeschooling can be socially uplifting. Homeschooled
students tend to have a broader age-range of friends than their
schooled peers, which encourages maturity. Homeschooled children
are some of the most widely socialized students around! Homeschoolers
are not necessarily isolated from others of their age; they meet
and socialize with peers in their neighborhood and at community
classes and activities. In the case of the gifted student who
tends to have a broader age range ability to socialize, homeschooling
offers the perfect environment for this need. Gifted students
are often bored with too many same age peers. With networking
and little effort by families, most homeschoolers find avenues
for social and intellectual interaction.
[ Our articles
on socialization
,
support
groups and associations ]
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STYLES
& METHODS OF HOMESCHOOLING
There are many methods of homeschooling; no single method is best.
Success often comes through experience, confidence, and willingness
to experiment. Many parents prefer the structure of a purchased
curriculum and switch to their own tailored program once they
feel more confident. Some parents opt to teach all subject areas
to their children; others seek out classes or tutorials for some
or all of the subjects. There are plenty of curriculums and distance
learning programs available to homeschoolers. The selection however
designed specifically for the gifted student is slim. You will
need to have a really good idea of your student's abilities in
order to successfully integrate a purchased curriculum into your
home school. The gifted student will literally "devour"
a purchased curriculum, leaving you to scramble to "supplement".
"Curriculum compacting", is a practice some educators
use when dealing with gifted and talented students. It is a technique
we used before we started our current "method".
There are
several styles or methodologies homeschooling families embrace.
These are just a few: School-at-Home, Unschooling, Eclectic, Montessori,
Waldorf, Charlotte Mason. We use a mix of eclectic, school-at-home
and unschooling.
[ More on styles & methods ,
here's how we do it ]
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