Lesson 2: Creating a Personal Philosophy
Every parent who decides to homeschool has to create a philosophy. It doesn’t have to be a permanent philosophy. I have been known to change mine three times in a week….or an hour! However, it does help to have some sort of philosophy when you are starting out. Figure out what kind of homeschooler you are and where you stand on various disability related issues that will affect your homeschooling.
What is a structured homeschool?
There are many ways to homeschool your child and most of them are right. All that matters is that the method works for your child and is fun for you. Most homeschoolers start out structured and gradually loosen up as parents become more comfortable with homeschooling and the children become independent learners, but parents starting out should choose any method they enjoy that works.
A structured homeschool closely resembles a traditional public or private school. Students often use a purchased curriculum. If the parent prepares her own lessons, she plans a complete program, complete with textbooks and assignments. The parent chooses the curriculum and the methods that will be used to teach the child. There is generally a schedule for each day.
Structured homeschools are excellent for beginners who are unsure of what will work. They are comfortable for children who have been in public school because they understand just what is expected of them. Parents also understand just what needs to be done each day. Children who have been in public school generally have no training in the art of learning to learn, so they are not yet ready for an unstructured day. Parents also find structure more comfortable in many cases. It is easy to explain what you are learning when you are asked and it is easy to see and monitor progress.
Structured schools are also very good for children who must have structure to function. Many children are simply not able to choose what they want to learn or how to learn it. You certainly don’t want a child who is already behind to simply drop out of school and watch television all day. Children who are autistic, or who have ADD or other learning differences often require structure to stay calm and in control.
I generally recommend a fair amount of structure at the start of your homeschool experience. Then, as you become more comfortable, you can loosen up in any areas you wish.
When I first began homeschooling, we opened with a prayer and the flag salute. I wanted to be sure the children learned the Pledge of Allegiance and I also wanted a structured transition from home to school. When we began our little opening exercises, the children understood that we had entered the school day and the rules would be stricter than they were in our normal life. At the end of the day, we had a similar ceremony to mark the return of pleasant home life.
As a structured homeschooler, you will look at the legal requirements for homeschooling in your area as well as your own desires and plan a curriculum. Many parents use a day planner to record what they intend to accomplish and mark off each assignment as it is completed. If you prefer to self-pace, list each assignment, project or lesson in order in a notebook. Then checkmark it when it is complete. If you choose this method, figure out an approximate schedule just so that you know whether or not you are on schedule for the end of your school year.
