...If the answer is yes then yes you are qualified because you know the materials and subjects your child will be learning.
For me, I am more than qualified because no one will love them the way I do, no one will know what's best for them the way I will, and no one will care more about their character than me.
One of the things that excites me about homeschooling is educating myself. Of course I find many aspects of science, math and language arts fascinating, but I am also growing in profound ways that most likely would not have happened had I not pursued this path for my family.
Next think for a moment, what a person really needs in final outcome of education.
We are incorporating the Charlotte Mason method into our home school. In her book about planning for a CM education, Sonya Shafer asks,
"The best place to begin is at the end: What do you want the "end product" to look like? In other words, what is your goal? When your child stands before you, having completed your program of study, what do you want to see?"
Writing out our goals made a lot of sense to us and I was somewhat surprised see how much we emphasized character.
Continuing, Sonya writes, "Education involves so much more than just What do I need to know to pass this test? Education, according to Webster means training by both formal instruction and supervised practice; it includes all that we do to help our children develop mentally, morally, and aesthetically; it involves our persuading our children to feel, believe or act in a desired way. If you have thought through your own goals for your child's education, you'll be less likely to swallow someone else's agenda and find out later that it may not have been the best fit."
Rating the importance of subjects and knowing your states requirements for high school graduation help round out the big picture.
Every child under natural conditions is curious and loves to learn.
This is so crucial for every parent to grasp. Government indoctrination centers stifle this natural tendency. However, it's possible for a homeschooling parent to squash this as well. Many homeschool parents make the mistake of bringing the school room into the home - they want to mimic a public school setting, which of course is going to make everyone miserable. Even a little bit of unschooling would go a long way.
One of the (many) benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility it offers. I have basically combined the philosophy and recommendations of three curriculums, in addition I pick up ideas and materials outside those curriculums. Homeschooling is very adaptable.
What is the predominant learning style(s) or combinations of styles -- tactile, visual, audio, associative, intuitive?
This can be a little tricky with younger children. However, as is the case with kids in general, trial and error. And of course, nothing ventured, nothing gained! I found the book,
The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias to be enlightening.
...there is an excellent program filled with classical books and supplemented by the Saxon Math system. This curriculum is the Robinson Curriculum. All twelve years of books, dictionary, Encyclopedia Brittannica and more comes on disks that can be copied to a computer hard-drive. for easy use.
Yes, it's a very inexpensive program costing $195. One thing of consideration for this curriculum is the cost of toner and paper if you choose to print out all the books. His book list is available for free on the internet and I incorporated his recommendations into my Master Book List (along with the Ron Paul curriculum and Charlotte Mason method). Dr. Robinson used Saxon Math for the "formal" math tutoring, but all the other subjects were literary books. He also tells those who wish to implement his program to not give any form of sugar (sadly, he includes honey in this though i am not positive if he means commercial or raw) and to have no TV in the home. He also had a traditional classroom of sorts set up where his children sat at school desks and he allowed no talking.
Some of his approaches would not be conducive for the environment I strive for in my home. However, I do implement his approach of starting the day with mathematics, and even on the days I cannot teach a formal lesson (I also use Saxon Math) I still give my kids about 25 math problems to solve. I also fully embrace his (and RP's and CM's) belief that lots and lots of reading is key, and that many topics are being taught at too young of an age - before kids have developed certain skills and before the foundation is even set to move on to higher levels of science and math.
...A life science experience can be... Civics and political science can involve... Grammar and composition can be learned from...
Some of us homeschooling moms giggle a bit when people ask our "schooling schedule" or when we have to report our school attendance to our umbrella school. We basically teach all year long because there are so many opportunities to do so - there really is no reason to stop. There are so many "teachable moments" and many of those moments occur while I am making a family meal, or running errands, or reading a book they picked out from the library out loud to them. They are often quiet, gentle moments that end up being among the sweetest of memories.
Nothing about home schooling has to be complicated.
Agreed! A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with a couple of moms I had just met. I told them I homeschool my kids. They said they couldn't do it. I asked why, because you don't think you're smart enough or have the patience? They said because they aren't very organized. I laughed and laughed. I told them I have spent many a morning in my pajamas tutoring them; or I teach them while holding a baby on my hip, while stirring a pot of something on the stove, while trying to remember if I called the dentist for an appointment, while wondering if I should go ahead and start the laundry, while thinking of something else that needs to go on the grocery list! It can be loud and chaotic, but somehow you can find the humor (and if you're inclined, the joy) in the midst of the rivalry, the busyness, the tiny voices, the messes, and the exhaustion.
Public schools with their drive to produce students competitive with the rest of the world have lost sight of this and are alienating learners all over the game board.
I disagree. I think there is something far more sinister at foot...
Homeschooling gives you the parent the opportunity to .... get back to a more organic and truly enriching childhood for your child.
Absolutely! And I know I will never, ever regret investing in my children.
