Lear about Homeschooling and decide if it is right for your family.

1. What Are the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling?
The idea of homeschooling children is becoming an increasingly popular idea for dual
and single family households. There are approximately 2 million children in the US that
are learning from home. Many say that those homeschooled are much more likely to
succeed on standardized tests making them a shoe in for more colleges and universities.
The decision to homeschool however, is not for everyone and therefore you should take
careful thought in this decision. If you are considering this as an option for your
household, you should first make sure that homeschooling is meant for both you and
your child. Below are a look at the pros and cons.
Pros
Easier to Schedule Around
Parents who work 9 to 5 and those who are stay a home parents agree that sometimes
working around the schedule of the school can be trying. Homeschooling means that
there is no set schedule. Parents are able to teach children when they have the time in the
day allowing them to do things such as: run daily errands, put child in extracurricular
activities, work a regular job, and more.
Educational Freedom
When homeschooled the child has more time to focus on areas of education that they are
particularly interested in. They can stay on this particular curriculum for as long as they
need. Depending upon the interest level, maturity level, and ability to complete work,
students are able to learn at a much faster pace than in the traditional brick and mortar
classrooms.
Freedom from Daily Pressures at School
Sad but true, children today are faced with a lot of different struggles while in school.
There are the pressures to succeed academically, the fear of bullying, getting into
competition, building social relationships, and much more. Many parents have found
this to be a thing of the past when the child can focus on themselves and not constantly
compare themselves to others or be picked on by others about their flaws.
Cons
More Time Invested
Even though home schooling can take place when the time is best for the parents and the

2. child, there are still some restraints that parents need to consider. Home schooling means
that you will have to invest a lot more time into your child. Those who send their
children to school act as a support to the teachers whereas parents who home school are
the teachers and therefore must be prepared to help their child whenever possible.
Limited Social Activity
Mom and dad are not going to be socializing with their friends as much as they may
have been used to. A person who decides to homeschool might as well get used to the
fact that they’re going to see their children 24/7. This is also true for the children. Unless
the parents are willing to get them involved in community sports and other activities, the
child will ultimately miss out on the social part of being in school.
Homeschooling can significantly help some children who may have been suffering to
overcome their challenges and succeed in further education. However, before you decide
this is right for your household, consider the pros and cons and make sure this is
something that everyone is in favor of.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Homeschool Teacher?
The idea of homeschooling is when children in grades K through 12 are taught from
home rather than the traditional brick and mortar school building. While the debate on
whether parents can effectively provide their children with the same education as
educators in traditional school settings, many experts believes that there is no real
evidence that a parent cannot do the same if not a better job than some certified teaching
professionals. For this reason, many cities and states have created their own rules and
regulations as it pertains to a parent being able to teach their child. While many states
agree a parent does not require particular certification to be a great homeschool teacher,
others states doe not which is why doing your own local specific research is best.
Know Your Responsibilities
If you’re a parent or guardian looking to homeschool your child you should be made
aware that there are a lot of responsibilities involved. Sometimes once you know all of
the responsibilities required of you, you may opt for a online public school or to send
them for traditional schooling. Your first responsibility is to reach out to your child’s
school district and make them aware of your intentions. It will have to be put into
writing prior to the new school year starting.
Administrative Requirements

3. Depending upon the state you live in there may be some administrative requirements
necessary before you can begin teaching your child from home. This could be but is not
limited to providing the school district with your name, the child’s name, and their age.
It may also require you to produce a school curriculum for which you intend to teach
your child from to ensure they are being educated according to their age and learning
abilities.
Capability of the Parent
Another factor that could greatly affect whether or not you can be a homeschool teacher
is your ability to teach effectively. Many school districts have the requirement that the
parent themselves must have some form of high school diploma or GED, they must
fluently speak English, and should be capable of teaching modern day curriculum. Most
states do not require you to take a test of any sort, but again it is best to check for
yourself.
Many states will agree that you as a parent can do just a good a job if not better than that
of a traditional teacher in a traditional school setting. However, you must be sure that
you’ve dotted your eyes and crossed your tees before you simply pull your child out of
school. If you feel that you may not be up for all the responsibilities that goes along with
being a full time homeschool teacher, there are options that include an online public
school which will allow someone else to teach your child (a certified teaching
professional), while you guide them through the learning process in your own time.
Whatever choices you make, always be safe rather than sorry and speak with your local
education department for all necessary administrative and educational requirements.
Is Homeschooling Right for Your Children?
There are plenty of questions a parent will have on whether or not something is right for
their children, and more and more the topic is on homeschooling. Are you a good parent
if you homeschool or are you keeping your child from socializing? Is homeschooling
going to be a bonding experience for your family or will it put more strain and stress? To
be quite honest, there is no real right or wrong answer to this question as it more
depends upon your child, your family dynamics, and how much you’re willing to
sacrifice. In order to make the decision on if homeschooling is right for your child,
consider these factors below.

4. Are You Ready for the Responsibilities?
Before you get into the idea of whether or not homeschooling is right for your child you
should really consider if it is right for you? Are you a busy parent? Do you have a lot of
time in your day to devote to helping your child learn? Are you organized? Are you
disciplined? Do you have the mental “knowhow” to get your child through rough topics?
Are you patient? All of these qualities and responsibilities will play into your everyday
life. If you are not prepared for any of this, then it is not a good idea for your child
either.
Is Your Child A Fast Learner (Or Do they Work Well Independently)?
Your child’s learning abilities can play a huge role into whether or not they are ready for
homeschooling. If your child is always a step ahead of the rest, this could certainly play
a key role in how they learn at home. You’re able to teach them at a faster pace to keep
them intrigued in learning. If your child has learning disabilities that prevent them from
learning as fast as others, if you have the ability to walk them through it, homeschooling
can be a great option. However, for parents who have children that really don’t grasp
concepts well or that have learning disabilities that they are not familiar with how to
teach them, they may consider letting them stay in traditional school.
Is Your Child Introverted or Extroverted?
Socialization is a huge argument that continues today amongst parents, educators, and
experts. The idea that learning from home means that the child will not socialize with
their peers as much is a constant downside to homeschooling. If your child has a very
introverted personality, then having them at home and taking them out to socialize on a
weekly basis could help them excel. However, children who are very extrovert find it
hard to cope with being in the house by themselves.
Unfortunately, these are only a few questions for you to ask yourself and your child, but
they are key to determining whether or not they are ready to or would be suitable for
homeschooling. If you find that you or they are not ready for this form of education,
there are other resources that you can inquire about that can help you be a better
supporter at home while they attend traditional schools.

5. Ensure Your Child Receives the Peer Interaction He or She Needs
The biggest debate remaining on homeschooled children is whether or not they get the
social interaction that they need. When a child is schooled in the home, it becomes the
responsibility of the parent to get them involved with children their age. Failure to teach
them social attributes could in turn affect the child in the long run. Even though this is a
significant debate, parents who opt to home school don’t have to assume that their
children are doomed in the future. There are things that you can do that will help them
get the peer interaction they need. Consider these tips below.
Join A Local Homeschool Parent
Chances are you’re not the only parent in your neighborhood that has decided to
homeschool their children. Check local homeschooling groups to find out about the
other parents in your area. Then you can coordinate with them and have your children
interact with one another. Even having a “play date” once per week can make a
significant difference in your child’s social life. Play dates of course should have some
element of education to them so that the children are learning together.
Organize a Field Trip
You don’t have to rent a bus and pull out all the stops for your child to socialize with
others. Instead consider getting some of the local moms together and scheduling a field
trip. You can carpool and take them to locations that are very easy to get to including
local museums and art exhibits. There is a lot that children can learn right in their own
communities. Field trips can be on a monthly basis and parents can take turns organizing
where to go and who will drive.
Take Them to the Library
The local libraries are always coming up with ideas for children to socialize free of
charge. Consider checking the events calendar at your local library to see what functions
they have going on that are appropriate for your children to participate in. They will
have a great time socializing with children from the neighborhood.
Local Sports/Extracurricular Activities
A lot of times there are free and affordable things that you can get your child involved
in. there are plenty of local sports teams, girl or Boy Scout troops, dance classes, karate
classes, and more that your child can participate in. The more they interact with others,
the more social attributes they will learn.
Getting your child involved in social activities is imperative when you’re
homeschooling. Those who do not involve their children find that it is more challenging
to get them to open up as they’re older. It does not have to be farfetched nor does it have
to be an everyday occurrence, but striving to get your child involved with peers their

6. own age should most definitely be at the top of the priority list. For more advice you can
always consult with local school boards to find out other ways your child can participate
in the community while learning from home.
Some Reputable Online Homeschooling Sites
Since the ages of time parents have taught their children the bare necessities from the
comfort of their own homes. As time evolved, more and more children started going to
school to get their education. Fast forward again and now more and more families are
reaping the benefits of educating their children from the home. If you are thinking about
homeschooling your child, you will need an array of resources to help you teach them as
much as possible. The internet has afforded parents hundreds of different resources right
at their fingertips, however, knowing which resources are ideal to use can be the tricky
part. Below, you will find a list of some of the most reputable homeschooling sites and
resources for parents to use.
ALEKS – www.aleks.com
This site is great for parents. It provides them with instruction and support that is
necessary to help teach their children math.
What2learn Virtual School- http://duane425.what2learn.hop.clickbank.net/
Are you joining this trend by providing learning games in the home? The What2Learn
Virtual School provides you with all of the resources you need to make this happen and
to support your children in achieving their potential. Enrol your family today for just
$50 and give your family access to:
•Four child accounts and one parent/teacher account to monitor progress.
•Suitable for grades 6-12.
•Easily switch between different levels of content or between content for US or
UK education systems.
•Over a thousand ready-made interactive learning games covering Mathematics,
English, Science and much more.
•Create your own activities to help your children prepare for tests.

7. •Automated marking and feedback.
•New learning games added daily.
Connections Academy - http://www.connectionsacademy.com/
This site is great and is one hundred percent free for online homeschooling education.
Connections academy is like a form of free public school in which students are able to
log on and attend from the comfort of their own home. This site is great because it
involves not only parent involvement, but the advice and expertise of professionals.
Basic Skills Assessment - http://duane425.bsaes.hop.clickbank.net/
Basic Skills provides high quality educational products to help you evaluate your
child's academic progress and prepare them for achievement testing. All
products are shipped first class.
eHarvey – www.eharvey.org
This is an online homeschooling site that offers an array of technologies for students and
their families.
Secret G.E.D. Loophole - http://duane425.adsonline1.hop.clickbank.net
Secret G.E.D. Loophole Program offers the best value in distance education –
combining reasonable tuition and top-quality curriculum in online format.
Attending one of the online High Schools we recommend will allow you to earn your
diploma faster than you ever thought possible – up to ten times as fast as traditional
classroom high schools.
Everday Education - http://duane425.jceved.hop.clickbank.net
Internet Home School – www.internethomeschool.com
This is an accredited K-12 online school which provides students with lessons in math,

8. English, science, health, computers, and more. This is not a free site but tuition for this
school is very reasonable.
Homeschooling Guide - http://duane425.dotspro.hop.clickbank.net
Although studies prove that the benefits of homeschooling far outweigh those of our private and public
schools, only after pulling together information that paints a complete picture can you decide if
homeschooling is right for you.
Easy Fun School – easyfunschool.com
This is a homeschooling site for parents interested in finding resources to teach their
children. It has more than a thousand tutorials for parents to help students in areas that
include science and history.
Home School Cash- http://duane425.homesklcsh.hop.clickbank.net/
This one-of-a-kind membership opportunity takes you by the hand and
explains to you, step-by-step, how to make money with information products by
home schooling your children. Plus, it eliminates all of the guess work that goes
along with making a full-time salary from the comfort of your own home.
Other Places to Check
There are other sites that you can check out for home schooling information which are
more specific to your locality. There are certain state and government regulations that
must be upheld in order for a child to be schooled from home. To learn more specific
information you would need to check with your locality’s department of education to
ensure that you’re following all of these rules. You might also be able to check with their
board of education to find out ideas on curriculum and studies to teach your child that
will keep them up to date with students who attend a physical school each day.
Be careful where you get your information for schooling your children at home from.
Obtaining outdated or inaccurate information not only puts you in a bind, but it also puts
your child behind academically. You can easily determine the credibility of a site by
checking out review sites where other parents have listed their personal opinions. There
you can make an informed decision on whether or not you should use or lose the
information you’ve found on your own. Once you’ve found reputable sources, be sure to
bookmark them so you can easily access them in the future.