Homeschool Myths

homeschool myths

When thinking about homeschool myths, several ideas come to mind. Here is my take on the subject. Feel free to add your own ideas about homeschool myths at the bottom of this page.

Myth #1 - You have to use a curriculum if you are homeschooling. Why is Abeka curriculum so popular, because so many people have bought into the myth that they have to follow someone's set plan for their children's education?

Do you need plenty of home school resources and homeschool help to have a successful homeschool year? You certainly do. Do you need a packaged curriculum to be able to have a successful homeschool year? No - in my opinion.

If you don't use a curriculum, what should you do? In a nutshell, make sure you have a general plan at the beginning of the year. Is your child going to study Earth Science or Physical Science this year? Are you going to study Early American History or modern day World History? Choose an area of study and then get books and resources to help you implement that study.

Start with the main subjects like homeschool Language Arts and Math and then build from there. You can check my recommendations for home school books and subjects and my favorite homeschool resources for more detailed information.

If you DO use a curriculum, what should you keep in mind? Remember that curriculum is just a tool and not your master! Some parents do well with a curriculum and like having everything planned out for them. They just need to make sure that they can adjust the curriculum if their child is having problems or needs to move ahead faster.

Public school teachers adapt their curriculum all the time. If their students need to slow down or speed up, they make adjustments where needed.

If you want help in avoiding homeschool burnout, this one statement about keeping curriculum as a tool and not a master will help you more than anything. Trust your instincts as a parent and always remember that you want to pursue what is best for your child.

Myth #2 - You have to have lesson plans and know exactly what script you are going to use to teach your child each day. While it would be wonderful to be able to find and follow the "formula" for homeschooling or parenting, it just doesn't exist. While lesson plans can help guide you, you still have to allow your own personality to help you be the best parent you can be.

Myth #3 - You will be able to keep your house clean at all times. There aren't too many people with children who can keep their houses clean at all times. While you can use different tactics and helps with cleaning, you will need to set all standards of perfection aside and realize that you and your children will be spending LOTS of time at home. When people spend time in a home, they need to get used to the fact that there will be messes that will need to be dealt with.

Myth #4 - There is an imaginary list somewhere that says what my child is supposed to complete in a year, and I will be able to help them complete that list. Every child is unique and has different needs. Our job is to help guide them and help them accomplish all that God wants them to accomplish in a given year. Should we be lazy and just let our children do whatever they want? Of course not. If we take our children's learning style into account and encourage them to work hard and do their best, then they will have accomplished all that they need to accomplish for that year.

Myth #5 - My children will not be able to know how to socialize with other children and adults because I homeschool them. Any homeschool parent knows all about the homeschool myths associated with socialization. Children have no problems socializing with their siblings and parents and can easily transfer that socializing over when they meet and interact with others. In any given day there are plenty of opportunities for homeschool socialization.

Myth #6 - I have to be a very organized person if I want to homeschool. While being organized does help, some of the happiest and most well adjusted children have mothers who are totally disorganized. Love is probably a lot more important than organization when it comes to homeschooling. You can learn lots of tips about how to organize your day from other homeschool parents and from experimenting with different methods along the way.

Myth #7 - Homeschooling costs too much money or we can't live on one income. It is possible to homeschool for free or to find lots of ways to save money homeschooling. If God wants you to homeschool, He will find a way to provide the resources that you need. Don't let these homeschool myths be a stumbling block to you. Many times there are veteran homeschoolers that are more than willing to pass on materials that they no longer need to families in need.

Many homeschool moms operate a homeschool home business to help supplement their family income. I maintain this website and help my children find ways to earn money. I also like to sell homeschool books that I have purchased used and resell them for almost as much as I purchased them. This helps tremendously with the homeschool budget.

This is just a small sampling of many of the homeschool myths out there. If you have homeschool myths that you would like to share and how you overcome this, please share it in the box provided below. I would love to hear your story.

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You have to know everything about a topic before you can teach it to your children. 
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