To wonder how people who homeschool acquire the knowledge to do so?

[Homeschooll]

Just as the title really. I don’t have strong feelings on homeschooling, I don’t think it would be my choice mainly as I have little patience and I don’t feel I know enough about science or maths.

If you do it how do you know what you’re doing is right? What about the pastoral side? How do you make sure there’s a routine?

Just interested really. I’ve found more and more people are doing it.

It depends on the age of the child. Some use tutors. Some are very educated themselves. Some probably shouldn’t be home schooling.

I wouldn’t be able for it, haven’t got the brains TBH. Neither would I be organised…
I often picture Earth Mother types around a kitchen table or Tiger Moms with schedules.

@Froschlegs ohh I didn’t know tutors were sometimes used. I literally thought it meant schooled by your parent or parents. I suppose your own tutor is quite nice!

My friend homeschools her child and she doesn’t do it herself. She has signed her child up to a “home” school company so it’s structured and taught by qualified tutors. Assemblies , extra help etc. No PE ! And the child is thriving, she is AudADHD and this has been a game changer. Not everyone who homeschools does it themselves.

@Homeschooll there is a wild variation in how home schooling is managed and there are definitely a lot of children who are not getting a good education this way. There’s been a lot in the news about it recently.

The people I know who homeschool have loads of groups, so they join together. A parent who is good at maths would take that class for example, one that’s good at art another.

It is my impression that a lot of homeschooled kids are not really getting sn education.

We considered homeschooling dd2 around secondary school age and practically it would be possible.

Dh is a secondary school teacher and covers math/science and I myself am a university graduate. My mother is a teacher and so are other family members. Lots of support.

We already pay for English (we do not have English as a first language even dd2 was born in the UK) and German tuition. We also pay for music classes.

However after 20 years in the UK we chose to relocate to Scandinavia where dd2 thrives at an international school.

Secondary schools in our area including the grammar school that the older two children went to have become very overwhelming in terms of student behavior. Especially if your child is neurodivergent.

They went to school themselves? You don’t need to be a mathematician to know primary school maths.

Having the skills to actually teach well is a different matter though.

There are loads of different “methods” to home educating. Charlotte Mason etc. Most families we know seem to try out a few and settle into a rhythm that works for their kids and them. And if it ever needs changing due to changing needs then obviously you have the freedom to do that.

For knowing what you’re doing is right, that’s an interesting question. A lot of people would say that the National curriculum is limited etc, so using that might be useful but wouldn’t necessarily be a goal in and of itself. There are so many resources out there we’re spoilt for choice to be honest. And most have at least something on “year” or something so you can have an idea on progress.

Regarding a routine, that’s completely individual! Some kids love structure, some hate it, some can’t do anything unless they’ve burned of some energy, some are best first thing in the morning etc etc. One of the best things about home educating is being able to tailor it I think.

There are quite a lot of resources you can buy. I'd imagine some children just don't get taught the more complicated aspects of maths / science etc if parents aren't well educated themselves.

The thing is a lot of children in state school get a crap education these years too.

This is really interesting! It’s making me want to consider it! I love the idea of there being a big group together and each parent doing a class

What about secondary?

I don’t think this is homeschooling tbh. This is online schooling which I don’t think is the same.

Do they? State school teachers are just as good as private school teachers. And they’re certainly a lot more knowledgeable than my parents who left school with a couple of O levels. I’m very glad I wasn’t home schooled. Having qualifications has completely changed my life.

Home schooling is very variable though. I have a friend who does it and her children are very motivated and self learn most of the time. She has got tutors for them at GCSE level. Personally think they’d have been fine at school too. I know of others who just basically sit in their room on the X box all day.

In the same way that many teachers double up on subjects I imagine - they learn the curriculum, look things up online ahead of teaching them. Many a secondary PE teacher now teaches geography and history.

It's just a summary word.

Some children are officially home-educated, but visit a small unregistered private school. Some have online learning and or tutors. Some are not getting much education at all. And yes, some are taught by their parents, it is much easier to teach one to one than a whole classroom.

The lows of homeschooling are significantly lower than in a school setting.

@Homeschooll , my elder son and his wife homeschool their children. My lovely DIL is educated to masters at a Russell group university and my son is a medical doctor. They have purchased various schemes for maths etc. to be honest you would have to be dim not to be able to support a child through primary education but you do need to be dedicated. They have native Spanish speakers who come to play with their children and our elder grandson (just 6) is doing very well speaking and listening akin to a four year old. My grandson is very happy and his achievements are more than a year in advance of what is expected at his age. My understanding is that they work through their plan for school work for the day early in the day and then later they attend swimming/tennis and forest meet ups with other home schooled children. My son has read through the bible and other religious texts with my grandson as well as touching on much in the way of science and philosophy.
I can’t possibly imagine a better education that a child could have.

This sounds amazing! Do they have jobs??

Do home schooled kids get fines for non attendance, or going on holidays during term time? Who assesses their progress when they need grades for University?

I could do it I suppose, but it sounds like very hard work to me without professional tutors. Teaching is a profession for a reason. And no I'm not a teacher I'm retired from something totally different.

But don't the parents just....need a break!?

Do a little Google search for home ed groups in your local area. You might be surprised! It's thriving in my area. A benefit of Home Ed is that you don't have to follow the national curriculum or a 9-3 routine, it isn't trying to replicate a school education in your own home led by parents.

There’s a large proportion of home education families who are in that position because school was harming their children, who often have SN. In these cases it’s often not a choice.

My sons were HE because of this, neither did anything in school at all. Out of school we weren’t able to do anything academic as they were too resistant, but we weren’t able able to focus on life skills and employable skills. Both now adults and haven’t been out of work since they were 16, both well adjusted in a way that that they weren’t whilst at school.