Some Advantages of Homeschooling

     In the past two weeks, three people have contacted me with questions about homeschooling. One person asked why we chose to homeschool. Since I have already blogged about that, I won't repeat, but you can read about it here if you want. However, now that I am a few years into it, I wanted to list some ways that homeschooling has worked to our advantage. Some of these we had thought about before and some of these were pleasant and welcome realizations.
     Before I begin my list though, I want everyone to know that I am not trying to guilt anyone into homeschooling. I also understand that it is not for every parent. Actually, I believe that there are some parents that should not homeschool. However, it works well for many and is rapidly becoming more popular. From 1999 to 2007 home school has increased 75%. In 2011, 2.04 million children were homeschooling in the United States. This article explains that this percentage isn't necessarily due to "running away" from public school, but running to home education. I am not trying to push everyone to homeschool, but I do love it and I am happy to be able to help anyone considering it.

1. I get to spend that eight or nine hours with my children that they would otherwise be gone instead of someone else getting to. If they are gone 9 hours and are sleeping 10 hours, that is 19 hours out of each day already.
2. I get to teach them how to read, addition, how a kidney functions, etc... What a great feeling, and at the same time, a huge responsibility! I don't know why I chose "how a kidney functions". It was just the first sciency thing that popped into my mind!
3. I get to see the light bulb moments. I love to see when things click with my guys and gal!
4. I get to learn right along with them. And I am! Our math curriculum is teaching a whole different way than I learned, and it is very cool. Also, I have always been a good reader, but never knew why some words are spelled the way they are. It has been very interesting learning all of the rules. Then there is the history and the science. I should be a genius after teaching all of these kiddos!
5. We can choose curriculum that is best for our kids' learning style, and our teaching style. This helps them learn the most effectively. If something doesn't work, we can change things up or add supplements.
6. Everything we learn carries over into the rest of our day to day activities. I have been teaching them, so when we are keeping score in a game, or reading signs along the road, cooking, etc.., I know exactly how to review or reinforce what they are learning.
7. We can teach subjects (science, history, etc.) with a biblical viewpoint. Very important to our family!
8. If we come to a topic that interests one or more of the children, we can dive deeper. We check out and read tons of books (They would all seriously sit and listen to me read all day.), watch tons of YouTube videos, and take field trips. The kids become really strong in areas they are interested in when they are provided the means to explore it. Silas has done this with the water cycle, honey bees (He has even talked his dad into beekeeping.), and  more recently birds.
9. If there is a lesson one of them is having difficulty with, we can stop and "camp out" for a while, and we can plow through the lessons that come easily. This has been HUGE for us. While Silas has been moving right along in some subjects, he has really struggled in another. We have been able to supplement and even get some great outside help! All kids learn at a different pace.
10. If I try to teach something and see that one of my guys is not ready for it, I can move on to something else. We can revisit it later on. Sometimes a few months of maturing makes a world of difference!
11. We can do all sorts of educational on-the-field type learning. We are not just tied to Saturdays. We usually have something once every week or two. The boys just learned about invasive and noninvasive animals of our state and hopefully next week will be participating in activities focusing on early life through WWII in our state.
12. We can take off to spend time with Matt (my husband) when he is off, and school longer on his long days or Saturdays when he is working to make up for it.
13. We are not tied to the school schedule. We can school during the torturous hot days of the summer and be off during the beautiful days like we have been having recently. I have seriously been considering year round schooling so we can just take several one and two week breaks throughout the year. I am thinking that would work better for us.
14. We can take vacations during off season's to avoid crowds and price peaks!
15. We can do lessons (music, swim, etc...) during the day, and be home all together in the evenings when Matt is more likely to be home.
16. Our kids get to go to home school functions and associate with kids of all ages.
17. They get to spend a lot of time with their siblings.
18. They have the opportunity to help out at home (both inside and outside) often. This will definitely help them when they are adults.
19. We can still have school when they are contagious sick, as long as they are feeling up to it. Plus we don't have to worry about getting a doctor's excuse.
20. We don't have to get up extremely early(to us anyway) to get dressed and drive to school. We can do school in our PJ's, (or swim trunks, which is another post entirely). And, they can learn at their best time of the day.
21. We can usually be finished with official school by lunch time, though we really never stop learning (books, videos, outside exploring etc.). Well, unless we don't begin until after lunch.
22. They can do school outside, or on their tummies on the floor, or in the van, etc...
23. The kids don't have to have the newest and best things. Don't get me wrong, I am very into their fashion (Cute clothes make me happy!), though 95% of their clothes come from a bi-yearly consignment sale. However, Silly Bandz were gaining popularity at our house, when it was losing popularity at everyone else's (which saved tons of money). So you get what I'm saying.
24. Birthdays off.
25. Sleeping in on rainy days!

     So these are of few reasons that homeschooling works well for our family. This article lists more reasons people homeschool, if you want to know why other families are choosing this. My reasons for homeschooling are going to be different than someone else's. It doesn't make either of us wrong in our decision. However, if you feel God calling you to it, that is the only reason you need. But, He uses a variety circumstances to direct His children toward His calling for them.  I am so happy that God has chosen this route for our family and that we obeyed Him when He called us to it!