Homeschooling with Ease

What is an Umbrella?
Unfortunately, there is no universal definition for homeschool umbrella. It can range from a group that covers your child's transcripts to one that issues report cards, host field trips and holds co-op classes. Each state has different requirements for teaching your child at home. Some states are very intrusive, requiring a teaching degree to teach at home. This is where an umbrella is a must (and HSLDA). An umbrella can cover you through their school affiliation. Because there is no site that has a list of umbrellas in each state, your best bet is to contact a homeschool parent, nearby churches, homeschool book store or google umbrellas in your area. Once you find one, get in writing the services offered and what is required. Some umbrellas do a review in your home and others have a review in a public library or other location. Find out if the review is once or twice a year. Most are held in the spring.

If you're not sure on whether to be reviewed by the state or to use an umbrella to do your reviews consider this:

What was your reasoning for Homeschooling in the first place?

Are you concerned about the state telling you how and what to teach your child?

Do you want to have your child's transcripts done for you?

Do you want a "go between" when a nosey neighbor calls the authorities to claim your child is truant?

Are looking for a diploma to show colleges?

Do you want to have a celebration for your graduate with other homeschoolers?

If you answered 'YES", you might want to look into an "umbrella".

As a mom of two special needs kids and a former Para- educator in the special education department it is my passion to assist in the challenges a parent, of a special needs child, faces. "Homeschooling with Ease- Learning Disabilities" guides parents in a range of options that will bridge the gap and repair learning glitches. This site is just beginning and will be added to as often as possible, so you might want to RSS it to keep up-to-date on the new information available. Thanks for stopping by and God bless you and your child. Remember to click on my photo to lead you "Homeschooling with Ease - Special Needs."

Homeschooling started out exciting and full of promise and now it feels like walking through quicksand. The more you struggle the worst it gets. The saddest part is you are taking your child down with you. A new day begins with more challenges and more uncertainty. You might have even questioned if you made a mistake choosing to home school. Down deep you still want to teach, you just want to do it better
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Don't despair, every parent has questioned at least once. It's part of wanting the best for your child. Even in the public//private schools teachers get frustrated and bored. Doing the same thing day in and day out can wear on the most dedicated of educators. And who is more dedicated than a parent?

However, the trick to enjoying teaching again is not moving full steam ahead but, stepping back and regrouping. Remember, the first steps you took when you decided to instruct at home. Maybe you wrote a list of school supplies you were going to use in your classroom. Perhaps you set up a classroom like the one you had as a child when you played school. You get the idea.

Although, you have probably purchased curriculum and have been muddling through, it might be wise to reconsider what is working and what is not. Sometimes it's just a matter of changing curriculums. Cathy Duffy's "One Hundred Top Picks" is a great resource to point you in the right direction. Also, check out "Teaching-at- Home Awards" for the my favorite finds. Keep the programs that work and sell the ones that don't. The curriculum you sell might be the one someone else is searching for.

Next, take a week off and reprioritize and reorganize. Set new goals and review what you have already accomplished. If you haven't already started a journal begin one. Keep notes of what is working and what is not. Refer back to your notes, weekly, to keep on track. Ask you child what he/she is interested in learning.Involving your child in setting goals will make it more enjoyable for both of you and keep junior accountable.

Remember that you are not alone. Reach out to other homeschoolers through church, online groups like this one, Christian Home Educators(CHEN),and co-ops. If you are having trouble connecting, ask the churches near by if they have a group. In addition to the churches, you can contact your local library and ask if they know of any groups. Last, check out your home school book store. As they say, "There is strength in numbers." Gain strength and encouragement by making school fun again. You can do this!

Last and most importantly:

Proverbs 3:5-6 states

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Let God light a fire in your heart and thank Him for the blessing of homeschooling!

"What about socialization?" Isn't this the first thing a parent hears when they consider homeschooling their child? "You're going to ruin Johnny. He won't know how to converse with anyone. He'll become a hermit!" Sound familiar? Well, let's take a look at this word socialization.

Webster's medical dictionary
http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/socialization

Defines socialization:
: the process by which a human being beginning at infancy acquires the habits, beliefs, and accumulated knowledge of society through education and training for adult status

Now, that we have a definition let's examine it and see if we are indeed ruining Johnny's life by homeschooling him. First, the description discusses acquiring habits, beliefs and knowledge to prepare for adulthood.

1.It does say through education, but it does not say through public or private education.

2.It points out the need for accumulated knowledge of society. What it fails to say is this social knowledge must come from a public or private school system.
3.It points out beliefs, but whose belief system?

4.It mentions habits, but whose habits? The child who is disrespectful to adults or the child a parent chooses to interact with that is polite and caring.

After studying the definition and seeing that nowhere is an education out of the home required for a child to be socialized, we move on to further our lesson. Let's ask ourselves some questions.

What do we, as parents, want for our child when it comes to being a healthy social being?

1.Are we willing to provide outlets for Johnny to be involved with people, of all ages, outside of his home?

1.Are we willing to instill proper behavior and encourage stepping out of one's comfort zone (considering safety first) when it comes to interacting with others?

3.Have we made the effort to find co-ops, scout groups, recreational sport teams, church groups etc.?

4.Have we considered having our child help an elderly person with chores and or inviting them for lunch?

5.Have we made the attempt to visit someone in the nursing home who has no family?

6.How about helping babysit for a young family?

The possibilities are endless when it comes to socializing. The best part of Homeschooling is we get to choose who, and where, I child interacts. In doing so, we insure that our child models behavior we would be proud of. Homeschooling is a safe environment. Unlike public and private schools, bullying and disruptive behavior is something we as homeschoolers do not have to deal with. Home education is a place where Johnny can grow up in his parent's belief system and be able to discover his own beliefs before he has to defend them. That opportunity is not afforded to students of private or public school systems.
The benefits of home education are endless. Lastly, if we make the effort to get our kids involved with all age groups and teaching them in the way of the Lord we will have raised very productive human beings, not only academically, but also socially.