How does your child feel about school?
Do they love it?
Do they have tons of friends and opportunities for positive social interactions?
Or do they dread it?
Do they feel isolated, judged, and mistreated by their teachers and classmates?
Do they pretend to have headaches and stomachaches each morning to get out of going to school?
Or maybe it’s not your child that is dreading going back to school this year.
Are you worried about sending them back due to COVID19?
Mindset around learning and school is critical.
So how do you know whether you should switch your child from brick-and-mortar to virtual school/homeschool?
Is homeschool best for your child?
Is Homeschool Best For Your Child?
Picture this.
You’re walking the hallways of your child’s school, heading into their parent-teacher conference.
How do you feel?
Are you eager to hear about their success?
Are you feeling a little bit smug about their latest amazing project or the fact that they broke the curve on the latest exam?
Or are your palms a little bit sweaty, and your heart beating just a couple of beats too fast.
Even though these meetings go well for many parents, the typical public school setting isn’t a good fit for all children. Sometimes you have to wonder whether another method could be the better choice for you, your child, and your family. In last week’s episode, we covered some of the Pros and Cons of different learning methods outside of the traditional brick and mortar system.
But let’s take it a step back.
Because first, you have to ask the question: is homeschool best for your child? What about virtual school?
What Are Your Child’s Needs?
You are your child’s biggest advocate, and in order to do your job well, you must know their needs inside and out. You need to make sure that you attend teacher conferences, talk to your child about their day each afternoon, and review their schoolwork and grades carefully.
Ask them questions!
Do they have friends?
Do they feel safe and happy in their school environment?
How do their teachers treat them?
Do they love their teachers?
Or are they afraid of their teachers?
Do they feel challenged or bored with their classes?
If you feel like something is not right, and that some change is needed, there are resources available to help you in making that decision. I encourage you to have this be a two-way conversation with your child. Ask them what they would like. I also encourage you to make an appointment with the school guidance counselor and discuss your concerns with them. A trip to the pediatrician would also be helpful in ruling out a possible deeper issue going on, such as a potential learning disability.
The internet is a great resource and can provide a list of questions that you need to answer before jumping into this decision. Also, make sure to look up some local virtual school or homeschool groups and set up a meeting with a parent. No one else will be able to provide insight into homeschooling quite like someone who is already living the experience.
What Would Homeschool Entail?
If you’re wondering: “Is homeschool best for your child?” Then part of answering that question is how much effort it will take for your child and yourself. A big thing to consider is that if you choose to homeschool, you should designate an area of your home as the actual schooling area. You will need to purchase the typical school supplies you need, such as pencils, paper, and books. A chalkboard or dry erase board would be an added bonus. As anyone who has worked with me will tell you, I am a big advocate for incorporating learning into a child’s natural daily life.
After all, learning can occur on a beach day or family picnic. However, creating structures and routines around learning will not only make it easier for your child to get into the learning mindset for more difficult subjects, but it will also help them adjust if they decide to attend college, or even return to a brick and mortar school later in their education.
Just like at school, there are practices you can follow at home to make sure your child is getting the correct education. Plan field trips, volunteering events, and socialization activities outside of the home, and make sure to set aside time for the arts. Have time for physical education, and don’t forget to teach safety.
To be prepared for disasters, you can perform safety drills for emergencies at home. Safety drills will prepare your child for emergencies, such as a fire, tornado or earthquake.
How Do You Get Started?
You have answered the question: “Is homeschool best for your child?” You have also made the official decision to virtual school or homeschool, and prepared an area of your home, so what comes next?
One of the benefits of homeschooling is the opportunity to personalize an educational curriculum for your child which means that you don’t have to worry about grade levels, and you don’t have to get caught up in a specific curriculum if you don’t want to. Play on your child’s strengths, help them improve their weaknesses and teach them to be a well-rounded student who will flourish both academically and socially.
Another benefit of homeschooling is that you don’t have to do it alone. There are tutors out there whose expertise is in homeschooled children. I personally have been the main educational provider for several children and with structure, expertise, and guidance, they are able to excel and succeed. Sometimes, they do even better than they would have if they stayed in a brick and mortar school system.
TL;DR
The decision to homeschool your child is a big one. It can seem like a scary, new thing for both your child and yourself. And even once you’ve decided and committed, you may be questioned by the naysayers out there. You may hear:
“But are you sure?! Is homeschool best for your child?!”
“Is virtual school a good idea?!”
“You’re depriving them of all the friendships they could be making!”
However, when done correctly, a child who was struggling in the public education world can truly thrive under the guidance and influence of a proper homeschool curriculum or by attending virtual school.
And if you do decide to virtual school or homeschool, I have something amazing coming down the pipeline for you in the next couple of weeks! I can’t give any details about it just yet but I promise you it’s going to be huge and it’s going to be incredible for you, your child, and their education.
I am certain that if you implement the lessons I teach here on The Learning Corner, you will start to see significant changes in your child’s motivation and their behavior towards school and learning.
But if you’re still struggling with your child and would like some individualized support, I highly encourage you to apply for a free 1:1 Academic Success Call with me.
In this call, we can talk more specifically about your child, your family’s needs, and my best advice on how to proceed in order to set your child up to have the absolute best chance at a lifetime of success, happiness, and financial stability.
