Episode Description
Did you begin homeschooling to escape a problem with traditional school? That may have brought you home—but it’s only the beginning. In this episode, Ginny and Mary Ellen explore how homeschooling gives families the freedom to travel, learn, and discover opportunities far beyond the traditional classroom.
Show Notes:
Many families begin homeschooling when a local option isn’t working. The local school is a poor fit. Catholic school is too expensive or too far away. So, they bring their children home and immediately start looking for a co-op or hybrid school to replace what they left behind. But homeschooling is more than a safe alternative. Done well, it opens the world to your children.
1. MAKE TIME YOUR ADVANTAGE
Homeschooling often takes less time than a traditional school day.
- Primary grades may take only an hour or two
- Middle school can often be finished by lunchtime
- High school students can increasingly work independently
- A little planning may even make a four-day school week possible
This is key: The goal isn’t to recreate a seven-hour school day at home.
2. USE YOUR COMMUNITY
Your community may be full of educational opportunities.
- Zoos and museums - Planetariums and historic churches
- Hiking trails and county fairs - Libraries and local history museums
- 4-H and homeschool programs
Go with another homeschool family—or go with your own.
Remember: You do not need to join a co-op to have a rich homeschool life.
3. TRAVEL WHEN OTHERS CAN’T
Homeschoolers can travel during less crowded and less expensive times.
- Visit Washington, D.C., and its free museums
- Explore state capitals and historic sites
- Camp your way across the country - take advantage of national park programs
Education doesn’t have to stop because you left the house.
4. SCHEDULE LESSONS DIFFERENTLY
The best piano, dance, art, or skating teacher in town may be booked after school.
But what happens when you say, “My child can come at 10:30 on Tuesday morning”?
Suddenly, there may be an opening.
Hint: Your flexible schedule provides access many other families don’t have.
5. LOOK BEYOND SCHOOL SPORTS
Your budding athlete may have more opportunities outside the local high school.
- Community sports leagues
- Little League or Pony League
- Club and travel teams
- American Legion teams for advanced players
A school team has only so many spots. Look around for better opportunities elsewhere.
6. FIND OTHER STAGES
The same is true for the arts.
- Community theatre
- Dance academies
- Local music groups and church choirs
School programs aren’t the only place for talented young people to perform.
7. MAKE TIME FOR WORK
A job can teach lessons no textbook can.
- Show up and be on time
- Work hard and put away the phone
- Build a good reputation
Start with babysitting, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, or helping at church. Older teens may find work in restaurants, retail, offices, or local businesses.
8. LET THEM FIND THEIR TRIBE
Children make friends in all kinds of places.
- Sports teams
- Music and dance lessons
- Church, work. the neighborhood
There is nothing wrong with co-ops or hybrid schools. But don’t worry, your kids can find their tribe on the sports team, at their dance academy, or just in the neighborhood.
A Final Encouragement
Homeschooling may begin as an escape from something that isn’t working. But it can become much more: an opportunity to give your children a richer education, a more flexible life, and experiences they might never have found inside a traditional classroom.
Homeschooling Resources