Homeschooling 101

Lesson 1: Before You Begin

Homeschooling Dads

I think one of the most important tools to homeschooling is to have support from Dad. Don’t get me wrong. I know a bunch of single mothers that homeschool, and do a GREAT job at it. But I think Dad can bring some valuable lessons to the mix. I decided to ask a homeschooling dad, to see what he thought.

1. In what way do you participate with homeschooling? I don’t get to participate as much as I want to in the actual "schooling," but I teach my kids a lot. I also reinforce what my wife teaches.

2. Whose idea was it to homeschool? My wife first brought it up, and I thought she was crazy! I mean, I went to public school and I turned out fine. But I read some of the books my wife brought home, and some web pages she had found, and I knew it was something we had to at least try.

3. Do you think homeschooling is working for you? Yes! We wouldn’t have it any other way now!

4. What method of homeschooling do you use? Well, we are very relaxed. We purchased a unit study that we love, but we also add things to it. Like, for example, we were studying ancient Egypt, and we did things like mummify fruit.

5. Who does most of the teaching? My wife does most of the "book work," but she lets me help out with a lot of the hands on stuff!

6. How many hours a day do you spend schooling? Do you follow a set schedule? Twenty-four! We don’t follow any sort of schedule, so the kids are always learning! At dinner, we talk about nutrition, they count the silverware to set the table ... etc.

7. Any advice for other homeschooling dad’s? Participate as much as you can! If your kids see that you are taking schooling seriously, they will.

8. Would you change anything? Yes. We would have never sent them to public school.

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