Getting Started Part I: Back To The Basics

OOver the years, I have come in contact with many parents, Muslim and non-Muslim parents, who are not aware of homeschooling as an alternative educational option for their children. Like you, they have numerous questions or misconceptions about homeschooling that require clarification. This week's blog will focus on the challenges and advantages you may encounter as a homeschooler, as well as the numerous resources available to support successful homeschooling. Knowing this information in advance will help you to decide if homeschooling is right for you, and Allah knows best.

  Key Aspects to Keep in Mind Before Your Homeschool Journey

1. Research: If you are sure that homeschooling is what you want to pursue for your child(ren), do your research. Ask other homeschool parents about their challenges and advantages. Seeking the guidance of Allah (swt) is the foundation of all future success. This method of seeking guidance should be implemented as part of your daily routine. Allah frequently answers the parents' du'ah for his or her child. 

2. Planning/Organizing: Homeschooling necessitates a significant time commitment from at least one parent. Plan on setting aside time each week for lesson planning, prepping, and teaching. This process will take a minimum of 30 minutes a day for children at elementary levels (actual teaching time should take no more than a total of 2–2.5 hours a day). For children in middle and high school, lessons are typically completed independently; however, planning the weekly lessons, materials, and activities could take 1-2 hours.

3. You Time: Trust me, as a homeschool parent of 20 years, it usually means you have little or no personal time since the kids are with you 24/7. Although most parents find that it can be one of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling, everyone needs downtime to avoid burnout. So, you must arrange time with your spouse and schedule time to relax so you can break from your chaotic schedule. These duties can be as simple as watching the kids so the home teacher has time to take a relaxing bath or go do a little shopping.

4. Financial Costs: Homeschooling can be accomplished in a variety of ways to fit your budget. The cost all depends on the choices you make regarding the resources and accessories needed for the school year. You may need curriculum guides, online subscriptions, tutoring, private and group lessons, books, kits, educational games, magazines, and school supplies. Thankfully, so many parents are turning to homeschooling; there are several online and offline resources that are available at little to no cost.

5. Socialization: It's crucial to focus on bringing your children together with others. The beauty of homeschooling is being able to have more control over the social contacts your child makes. On average, homeschooled students tend to have a broader age and ethnic diversity of friends than their publicly or privately schooled peers, which encourages maturity. Homeschoolers meet and socialize with peers in their neighborhood and at community classes and activities. Most homeschoolers find avenues for social and intellectual interaction that provide a much better quality of socialization than that found in the group schooling environment. 

6. Household Organization: Organization and scheduling are often the keys to greater efficiency and productivity around the house and in the homeschool. Housework and laundry still have to be done, but they probably won't get done first thing in the morning. Talk to other homeschoolers about their schedule, and look at your personal preferences. For example, do you prefer to have a clean house in the morning? Or, maybe you prefer waiting until the afternoon to do the chores? Then work out a schedule that works for you. Once you start homeschooling, you may find that the schedule needs to be adjusted. This is a natural part of the adjustment process and should be seen as positive feedback rather than a failure to plan properly. The first year will be the most challenging, but once you settle into a routine, homeschooling will become effortless.

Getting Started Tips:

For young children, starting from the beginning stops any resistance. Parents may believe that it is better for the child to attend a traditional school setting in their primary years so that they learn all the basics. But students who have been homeschooled after being in a group setting from the start often struggle the most. They have never known anything apart from group schooling, and the change to homeschooling can be extremely frustrating and lonely for them. 

Older students may worry that they will lose friends or no longer be able to engage in the activities they enjoy. However, they will eventually see the benefits of homeschooling by focusing on significant benefits such as

• creating their schedule 

• work at their own pace (intermediate/advanced)

• become more independent and self-motivated 

• more time to pursue interests/hobbies/ sports. 

• less peer pressure. 

• no exposure to drugs, alcohol, dating, or school violence. 

• time to study/memorize the Qur'an

• They have the ability to travel without falling behind in their studies, as my children have traveled to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and across the U.S. during their school years. 

• They may finish high school ahead of their peers, as my sons completed high school at ages 15 and 17, while both my daughters finished at ages 13 and 14. My youngest daughter is 14 at the university, Alhamdulilah.

• better college preparation. My son completed his psychology degree at the age of 19, and my eldest daughter completed her bachelor’s in educational psychology at 17 years old, mashaaAlla.

Every Mom Is a Teacher

Don't be intimidated by teaching; if you can read, write, and speak in English fluently, you should be able to teach your child(ren). If you conduct thorough research and acquire high-quality curriculum and teaching materials that assist you with lesson planning and instructional methods, you will likely succeed.

Get help from others if you need to, and feel free to hire tutors for subjects that you are not comfortable teaching. There are many methods of homeschooling; no single method is best. Success often comes through experience, confidence, dedication, and willingness to experiment. Many parents prefer the structure of a purchased curriculum and switch to their own tailored program once they feel more confident. Some parents opt to teach all subject areas to their children; others seek classes or tutorials for some or all of the subjects. There are plenty of curricula and distance learning programs available for homeschoolers. You will need to have a very good idea of your child’s abilities and your educational philosophy to successfully integrate your chosen curriculum into your homeschool.

Methodologies

There are several styles or methodologies homeschooling families embrace; these are just a few: pre-approved curriculum (time4learning.com), unschooling, eclectic, classical, Montessori, Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, and more. (InshaaAllah, we'll dive deeper into these topics in future blogs).

Research as many methodologies as possible to find the one that best meets your needs. Some kids will finish the materials faster than others; this is normal, and you'll learn to adjust the program to their needs. 

Check out this link.

https://www.k12academics.com/alternative-education

Don't Neglect The Marriage

Marital stress is bound to occur when Mom is home all day trying to keep up with babies, toddlers, and teens. Dad is out working one, even two, jobs. Grumpy husbands, exhausted moms—home education can be stressful on a marriage. Both Dad and Mom will have to find some peace amidst the struggles and challenges. You must make time to be together in the evenings after the kids are asleep or on weekends (this is vital!). It can be just half an hour of tea and conversation, listening to a brief lecture together after Isha, or a special night out to dinner alone. The point is to keep your marriage healthy while meeting the demands of home, work, and homeschooling. 

Homeschool Potluck

 Why Others Began: It is always beneficial to hear why other families chose to homeschool. Put together a potluck for other homeschool moms, and share your stories, hardships, helpful resources, and activities in homeschooling. You never know, something someone shares may click for you, or you may help someone else with a challenging dilemma. There is always a personal family story on why the family chose to homeschool—and it is not always for the same reasons—yet the majority of the time, the ultimate goals are the same.