Why are you homeschooling? It’s vital you know.
When it comes to homeschooling the first thing you need to do, after making the decision to do so (of course), is to know WHY you are doing it. Too many times I have seen this scenario – “I am going to homeschool and now I am going to pick the curriculum.” It’s a little topsy-turvy really, and knowing why is going to save you time, energy, and possibly money when you finally do look at curricula.
Knowing why you want to homeschool is important. You will come back to these reasons time and time again, especially on days when you might doubt yourself.
Your whys can have big, deep philosophical reasons, or maybe they are more basic than that. But they are YOUR whys.
UNDERSTAND YOUR REASON FOR HOMESCHOOLING
You really do need to understand your reasons, your whys, for homeschooling.
- They provide motivation and focus
Clear motivations provide a sense of purpose and can help you stay focused during challenging or frustrating times.
- Guides you with curriculum selection
Your whys can guide you in choosing a curriculum that aligns with your educational philosophy and goals.
- Helps set goals
Knowing your whys can help you set realistic and meaningful goals for your child’s education.
- Helps build a supportive community
Your whys can help you connect with other homeschooling families who share similar values and goals.
- Advocating for your child is easier
Having a clear understanding of your whys can be helpful when advocating for your child’s needs, especially in situations where homeschooling is questioned.
TOP REASONS PEOPLE HOMESCHOOL
There are many reasons why people choose to homeschool. And none of them are wrong – because they are personal and individual.
Here are some of the top reasons:
- Academic concerns
- Religious or philosophical beliefs
- Have a child with special needs
- Flexibility
- Spend more time as a family
- Bullying or negative school environment
- Desire to have more control over curriculum and teaching methods
- Avoidance of lots of testing
- No homework
- To cater to their children’s specific learning styles
- Want to utilize alternative teaching methods
- Desire to protect children from negative peer influences
- Health concerns or medically fragile child
- To accommodate a family’s travel or lifestyle choices
- More play time for their children
- Introduce subjects not otherwise taught
There are so many more, but these are ones that you will hear time and time again.
So, what about you? What are your whys?
WRITE OUT YOUR WHYS
I encourage you to write out why you are homeschooling and have it printed out and somewhere you can see it regularly. This is going to be something you can come back to again and again when you are struggling or feeling frustrated. Remembering your whys will help you anchor and settle again.
My husband and I wrote our why statement. And I often read over it, especially when I am ready to put my girls into school because we are all annoyed at each other. It helps me to remember that that is not what we want for them (not that there’s anything wrong with school!)
“We homeschool because we want to provide a quality, skills-based education that allows our children to work at their own pace, in a way that suits their learning style and follows their interests. We want flexibility, not constrained to a desk and school hours, not being taught to the test, more time as a family, and keeping them safe without a military mindset.”
Taking the time to do this will be so beneficial. Feel free to borrow ours as an outline for yours. But start brainstorming, write them out and then put them together in a couple of sentences. This will be such a guiding light when you are stressed, frustrated or feeling burnt out with homeschool. Remember how important this is to you.
Check out these posts on Do What Works For You.
Part One
Part Two
Or check out Homeschool Pros and Cons
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