Any Brits out there who homeschool their children?

Question

Could you please give me your experiences? I am considering it bt am very unsure and nervous...also my family will be very aginst it. What problems did you come up against, why did you decide to homeschool and how are the children liking it?

Answer 1

I decided to homeschool my children in September this year and its the best thing I ever did. You need no formal qualifications to teach your child at home - just dedication and a desire for the best education possible for your child. We go on trips to local museums, the beach etc and take our lessons from there. The beach trip started the children asking questions about tides, fossils, the water cycle, sand, rocks etc so I used all these to teach Geography, Maths, Science, English and cookery (rock cakes!) You can use online resources and borrow books from your local library. If my children are interested in some thing in particular, we do several hours on that subject and they don't have to stop for break - we just carry on. If we do a lot of work one day I let them off the next. You can be as structured (following the national curriculum) or unstructured (autonomous) as you want. Most important of all, have fun!

"Education Otherwise" is a brilliant website, setting out all legal requirements and it offers advice, access to websites and other home schoolers.Research has been made into home schooling (see link below) showing absolutely anybody can do it with good results.

Answer 2

Are you talking about homeschooling in England...or the U.S.?

A number of my grandchildren have been homeschooling for years....they joined a home school group which is a big protection...they will do all the required paperword records, etc....for a small fee.  They help keep you on track, check your child has done the tests, etc.  And you also can join a group that has classes you can take...everything from art and ballet and sports, to history, math, etc.  

Two of my older grandkids finished school in the 10th grade....took the GED test and went on to Jr. College....then on to regular college...both have graduated early, etc.

Some are still homeschooling....and one is doing  some classes in Public School...and finishing some classes at home over the Internet, which she likes better.

Usually people who are against it don't understand it.  In regular school here in the states, the required studying only takes up two hours of your day.  Then you have all the rest of the time to do what you want.  If you have dedicated parents, they gain so much more with field trips, etc.