Has the pandemic actually gotten you considering a jump to homeschooling (at least temporarily)?
We are work-at-home parents of three kids who have been homeschooling for over a decade. Kim is also a former educator, and Jason has worked in school districts nationwide to support teachers and administrators for the past 15 years.
Many people have lost confidence in how well the school system is able to serve their kids in the year ahead and are anxious over the uncertainty of what’s next. As such, we are hearing from tons of people who are suddenly considering the prospect of homeschooling.
One thing is certain: We’re not going back to normal anytime soon.
We wanted to make a video to address 6 common fears and challenges to give you some insight and confidence as you consider this option.
Resources
Articles
Here are some posts we’ve written over the years about our rule-breaking, Adultitis-fighting, homeschooling life:
- Make Way for Greatness: What Our Kids Really Need
- Our Homeschool Disclaimer
- Why Homeschooling is for Us
- 6 Rules That Don’t Exist That Will Surprise Most Parents
- 12 Big Ideas About Homeschooling From Penelope Trunk
- Thou Shalt Be Excited When School’s Out for the Summer
- Lessons from Lucy’s Pancake Stand
- How to Bigify Your Life
Books + Podcasts
Unschooling Rules by Clark Aldridge. Our favorite book with a simple, no-nonsense approach that questions our basic assumptions about school and learning.
How Children Learn by John Holt. Over a million copies have been sold of this book by a well-respected voice in the homeschooling community who brings sharp, well-researched insights into the nature of learning that are more relevant today than ever before.
Living Joyfully by Pam Laricchia. A podcast for parents wanting to live joyfully with their children through unschooling. This is Kim’s favorite resource for “borrowing courage” from other parents who are further along in the homeschooling journey.
Free To Learn by Peter Gray. The developmental psychologist argues that in order to foster children who will thrive in today’s constantly changing world, we must entrust them to steer their own learning and development. Drawing on evidence from anthropology, psychology, and history, he demonstrates that free play is the primary means by which children learn to control their lives, solve problems, get along with peers, and become emotionally resilient.