Homeschooling with Dr. B

As parents, we have dreams for our children. But the problem with that is sometimes, out of our own fear, we often underestimate them. We should not put expectations on them based on our dreams or perceptions of them. Instead, we should help our children develop their own dreams and help them reach their goals.

Impostor Syndrome is common amongst homeschool moms. We are constantly questioned about our ability to teach our children. Sadly, we sometimes internalize that criticism as insecurity. We begin to think or feel that we are not good enough to teach our children. Kids we have been teaching to be part of this world since their birth. When we overcome our fears, we begin to travel our individual journeys, thus creating a world of possibility for our children!

Many homeschool moms are guilty of the curriculum overbuy, especially when we're just starting homeschooling. We tend to think that we're saving lots of money when we buy a curriculum on sale, and we just end up with a lot of curriculum that we never use. But there are many other ways to save money and still get the best curriculum that fits your family. Your local homeschool group or co-op are some of the most significant resources to help you through this journey.

As a result of being unschooled by my parents, I missed out on some of the fundamentals, particularly math. So when we decided to homeschool our kids, I couldn't believe that I would have to teach math. I found out that this was a common problem among homeschool moms. Fortunately, I stumbled upon Saxon Math! The best thing about it is that you don't have to be good at math to become great at math! Why wasn't this around when I was a student?! I just love this program!

The diversity of options is one of the many benefits of homeschooling. Online education is one of these options. We did extensive research on some online high schools because our twins wanted to continue homeschooling. If you're considering an online program for your family, some of the things you need to look at are its affordability, format, accreditation, and student success. The combination of these issues can help you decide if online education is right for your family!

When we first started homeschooling, I didn't realize that there are many curriculum options like free curriculum, all-in-one curriculum, piece-it-together curriculum, or create-your-own. Each has its own negative and positive aspects. It's really all about what works best for your family!

Is a mentor right for you? When you're starting your homeschool journey, a mentor's a good idea because they can help you get through that hump. They will help you get connected to the community, share the resources that they have acquired over time, share what worked or didn't work for them, why it worked or didn't work. A mentor can help you decide on the things that may suit your family. But remember that this person is gifting you with some of their time. Be appreciative. Be respectful.

Is socialization really a problem for homeschoolers? People think that kids need to go to a traditional school setting to develop their social skills. Research finds that many homeschooled children score higher than children who attend school on measurements of socialization. Through homeschool activities, the children can be exposed to a diversity of race, religion, age groups, political beliefs, among many other differences. Socialization, like learning and life, takes place every day!

I began using Ikea furniture almost as soon as we started homeschooling because they're versatile, inexpensive, and last for a long time. It's ideal for a constantly changing homeschool room setup. But do you really need to set up a classroom? Not really. If you're the kind of family that can work in the living room, good for you! That doesn't work for us. It really depends on your kids' specific needs, and Ikea has enabled us to have a setup that works for everyone in our family.

When I started homeschooling, my kids were used to being in a traditional school system, so it took us a couple of weeks to break loose from it. One of the benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility to adjust your schedule based on your kids' goals and your family's needs. With a bit of patience and experimentation, you will find the schedule that works best for your family.