Why is Homeschooling on the Rise and How Does it Work?

Hi Jacksonville moms! Homeschooling is on the rise, especially in our city. This is due to many factors. Some of them include:

• Families with children who have special needs like ADHD, giftedness, dyslexia, etc  -and they find that homeschooling suits the child’s needs better than schools do
• Families that are disappointed in their neighborhood schools and can’t afford private school or don’t want to use a private school
• Families that want to travel
• Families with kids who are very involved in sports or other activities and they find that the school schedules and homework make everyone miserable
• Families with kids who have had bullying problems at school

Homeschooling might not be what you think it is. It doesn’t mean sitting at the kitchen table with a fixed curriculum, making the child do the work. Homeschooling can actually mean many things, depending on the needs of the students and parents. Because of the rise of homeschooling, many groups, classes, and even schools for homeschoolers have popped up. Some of these target a particular population, like gifted homeschoolers or Christian homeschoolers, others are more general.

Parents can homeschool any time of day, some prefer 5 days a week others prefer fewer or more, some families homeschool for 9 months a year, others prefer year round homeschooling. Parents can hire tutors for certain subjects or find mentors like grandparents. The only limits are the state laws, which are minimal. Florida requires either standardized testing at the end of the year or a portfolio of work, signed off by a Florida licensed teacher.

Homeschooling can mean:

Virtual school – in virtual schooling, a child might do a full load of courses or just a course or two, with outside instructors. This frees up much of the day for other things like hobbies and sports. Florida Virtual School has free options.

Co-ops or schools for homeschoolers – Jacksonville has many options for co-ops (cooperatives) and schools for homeschoolers. Some are Christian, some are secular. Kids attend these for a few hours once a week or twice a week, usually. In co-op situations, the parents stay in the building and volunteer. The other academics are taken care of by the parents.

A box curriculum or an eclectic approach – many, many options are available. Courses can come with a full curriculum and supplies, or parents can create their own courses. Typically, young elementary children might only spend 2 or 3 hours on academics a day. Older children might spend more like 4 or 5 hours, depending on the child.

Classes – Jacksonville’s local businesses offer many classes for homeschoolers. Options can be sports, like ice skating, or arts, or academics, like a course in science at the beach.

Unschooling – in this approach, parents follow the lead of their students and offer supplies and information where needed, but do not follow a curriculum or force the student to study any certain subjects.

Playgroups and other opportunities – Jacksonville has tons of playgroups for homeschoolers. These are run by parents. Some are neighborhood specific. There are also lots of other opportunities for field trips like museums, historical sites, and nature experiences. Think of teaching art by visits to MOCA or the Cummer, Florida history with visits to St. Augustine or Walter Jones Historic Park, and nature experiences through the St. John’s Riverkeeper.

So, as you can see, the variety of schooling types and activities is varied. Children rarely spend the day at a table or desk without friends or peers. They are usually out and enjoying the city for a good deal of the time. If it is right for the whole family, homeschooling a child can be a very rewarding experience. The first step is to learn about it via some of the great websites and books available. My favorite book is Creative Home Schooling by Lisa Rivero. I am also available to help families set up a homeschool.