Salute to Homeschooling Fathers
June 20, 2009 -- FLORIDA -- In honor of Father’s Day, I thought I’d take a moment to recognize all the homeschool dads out there. While it is usually the moms who get all the credit for teaching the kids, where would we be without the fathers? It may be true in many households (mine included) that the mother handles the majority of day to day issues in education and manages curriculum, assignments, and field trips, but the dads play a vital role, too, from teacher to facilitator, and everything in between.
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It's Father's Day, Every Day
June 20, 2009 -- Austin, MN -- If Father’s Day is a time for families to enjoy and bond with a father or father-figure, then every day is Father’s Day at the Jacobs house.
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Homeschooling is Rewarding
"What in the world were you thinking!" I'm sure you've probably heard this from others or told yourself this same statement. The thought of homeschooling your children may have seemed like a great idea at first. Especially if you have only boys! What father wouldn't want to teach their sons about science by going fishing? Fishing is a science right? But then reality hits you. Yes you may be good in math or science, but you're not
knowledgeable in everything (although we pretend like it, right guys?). Then there are so many questions that start going through your head. Where do I get curriculum, what curriculum should I use, can I really do this, and of course what about socialization? Let me put your mind at ease. It's not as difficult as it looks.
Relax and have fun. The main objective to parenting is to teach children how to become adults. The reason you are homeschooling is to enjoy the time spent with your children and to learn together. You want to help your children learn how to learn, teach them how to figure things out, to work through problems. Once they understand the basic
principles of math, language, or life they can accomplish much. Here is something you might want to think about. In the typical school, one teacher spends 6-7 hours teaching 20 children. This is equivalent to one on one tutoring for 1-2 hours a day. Learning is a lot easier in a relaxed atmosphere with this type of one on one attention. And when it is all said and done, you will have taught your children something more valuable than what is written in a schoolbook. You will have shown them how much you loved them.
Start talking to people you know who already homeschool their children. They will have plenty of good advice to get you started. If you don't know any homeschoolers then try to find a homeschool support group in your area. Many churches also have organized homeschool support groups. Check around and see what you can find.
Next you should find out about the homeschooling laws in your state. Different states have different requirements. Some states have testing requirements. Some have specific curriculum requirements. State support groups generally have a summary of their state laws. Check the listings on our State Homeschool Support Information page or ask a local support group.
