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Basic Homeschooling Information |
Grandparents Some grandparents react
very favorably when they learn that kids will be homeschooled. Some of them even offer to help. Ways that grandparents can help include: ·
Remember that your children are trying to do what is best for
their kids. ·
Be positive and show interest without being judgmental. ·
Politely explain that you don’t know a lot about
homeschooling, but would be interested in learning. Inquire without interrogating. ·
Teach one subject. For
instance, once a week teach art, or take kids to an art class. ·
Organize monthly field trips:
history museums, art museums, the bank, bakeries, restaurants,
wildlife preserves, city hall, the state capital, parks or playgrounds, corn
maze, cider mills, lava beds, petrified forests, fossil beds, science
museums, the theater… There are books available with field trip suggestions. ·
Transportation. Assist
with transportation to extracurricular activities (this is true whether the
kids are being homeschooled or are in public school). ·
Gifts. Christmas and
birthday gifts, if you give those, could be games or books linked to the
kids’ studies. Elementary kids who are
studying anatomy might enjoy The Body
Game or My Amazing Human Body. Anyone taking music lessons might enjoy Totally Treble or Crazy Eighths. Those who
can’t take music lessons might enjoy Music
Ace. A great family game is Elemento. Someone studying geography might like World Discovery Deluxe. Electronics kits, chemistry sets… ·
Pay for classes. Some
grandparents give gifts of music lessons, ice skating lessons, swimming
lessons, gymnastics, roller skating, or health club memberships (this, too,
is true whether the kids are being homeschooled or are in public school). ·
Offer to be the photographer for “school photos.” Use your digital camera, help the grandkids
choose clothes, set up an appropriate backdrop, and take pictures of the
kids. Then do the work of selecting
the best photo of each child, cropping to the right size, collecting money,
and placing/picking-up the order. ·
Politely inquire about your grandkids schoolwork. Just as you used to ask your own children,
“What did you do in school today?” you can ask your grandchildren, “What are
you learning about?” or “What’s your favorite subject?” Grandparents, if you have
concerns, address them directly with your child. Be positive and polite. Ask; don’t accuse. If Johnny is seven years old and still
hasn’t learned to read, find out if the family is using a “better late than
early” approach (some experts advocate waiting until ages 8-10 to teach
reading; within a matter of months, kids catch up – and even surpass – those
who started reading lessons at age five).
Maybe the child needs a different reading curriculum. Maybe the child needs glasses. Or maybe the kids are truant instead of
being homeschooled (unfortunately this is true in a small number of
cases). Keep the subject focused on
your grandchild’s education. Honest
inquiry should be welcome. Attacks
won’t be. Learn about the educational
philosophy they have adopted. A minority of people
remain adamantly opposed to homeschooling.
I have never heard anyone willing to articulate exactly what their
objections are, simply “children belong in school.” If any grandparents wish to email
their objections to homeschooling, I will try to include that information
when this website is updated. I have
followed a number of online discussions, and have summarized what appear to
be people’s objections to a home
education. |