Welcome to Homeschool Skills!

Homeschool. It’s a word full of meaning and controversy. For various reasons, homeschooling is a rising trend. The US Government estimates that 1.5 million students are currently homeschooled (Rao, 2010). While there is some controversy about the accuracy of these numbers, that shows a dramatic increase in the number of homeschoolers over the last decade.

I have met many people who would like to homeschool their children, but are nervous about getting started. Fears about their own educational shortcomings, the logistics of curriculum and scheduling, and other aspects of homeschooling prevent may prevent some parents from trying. To these parents, I urge – Don’t worry about it! The greatest joy of homeschooling is the ability to learn together. (But that is another post entirely… =D)

Ultimately, quality education plays an enormous factor in a child’s future success. Whether it occurs in the homeschool or a public school setting, quality curriculum, lesson plans and activities are essential for an enriching and enjoyable learning experience. Children learn best when the lessons are personal, entertaining, and engaging. Public school teachers, day care providers, and other teachers are welcome to adapt the contents of this blog to their own use.

Three days a week, this blog will explore the universe of homeschooling. Among other things, we will discover:

• The purpose of homeschooling
• The types of homeschooling
• The myths of homeschooling
• Sample home school lessons
• General homeschool strategies

I am a homeschooling parent of four who is also pursuing a college degree in education. I firmly believe that everyone can home school their children, and it is my goal to provide encouragement and ideas to home learners of all types.

Guest posts are welcome—if you have homeschooling experience or ideas to share, please contact me at homeschoolskills@gmail.com. Questions and suggestions are also very welcome.

—

Sources: Rao, V. (2010, September 27). As home-schooling moves to mainstream, stigma fades . Retrieved March 7, 2011, from MSNBC Today: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39342787/ns/today-parenting/