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IAMHOMESCHOOLING.COM - YOUR #1 HOMESCHOOL RESOURCE

iamhomeschooling.com is a comprehensive homeschool website that provides valuable information and a vast compilation of resources to all homeschooling families, whether considering homeschooling, new to homeschooling, or veteran homeschoolers.

Homeschoolers nationwide will find helpful articles, support groups, umbrella schools, evaluators, curriculum resources, homeschool events and programs, printable planners and forms, organized links to educational websites and free resources, and more. Understanding the need for up-to-date information, and knowing first-hand how hard it is to find, we strive to keep our content current and relevant.

We also offer our own umbrella school for homeschoolers in the State of Florida. We operate as a home-based private school for grades K-12. We require annual attendance reporting in lieu of evaluations. Our school is affiliated with Florida Virtual School, and we can assist high school homeschoolers with dual enrollment at Florida community colleges and universities. Learn More

If you have any questions or comments about this site, please contact us.

iamhomeschooling.com • Post Office Box 1041 • Englewood, Florida 34295
About Us

The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

There are so many benefits to homeschooling that it would take several pages to share them all, but we've mentioned a few here for starters.  And, like Newton's Third Law of Motion, every homeschooling advantage has an equal and opposite disadvantage (Well, not quite. It's all how you look at it.), so we included a few potential drawbacks of homeschooling here, too.

Pros

Family Bonding

Homeschooling gives you an opportunity to build a special bond with your child.  If you have more than one child, your children will build close relationships with each other, as well.  Learn together, grow together!

  • Be there when your child needs you.
  • Help your child develop essential emotional, social, and critical thinking skills.
  • Enjoy quality time with your children while teaching them how to cook, sew, and shop.

Flexibility

Even if your state requires a specific academic program and set daily school hours, you still get to choose your child's curriculum and how, when and where your child will learn the material.  Your children can learn about the things that interest them and are not just taught someone else's inflexible, one-size-fits-all standards.

  • Mold your child's curriculum to your child's learning style and ability.
  • Arrange a schedule that works for your family.
  • Visit museums and science centers during regular school hours and have the place to yourselves!

Safety

Your child is safe in the comfort of your own home or with other homeschoolers you know and trust.

  • Your child wont have to deal with peer pressure or bullies at school.
  • You don't have to worry about kids bringing guns and knives to school.
  • You can protect your child from exposure to drugs in school and inappropriate behavior.

Accomplish More with Less

Public school teachers have to spend most of their day managing the classroom.  By the time assignments are given out, there's little time left to work on them and students end up taking the work home. Homeschoolers are able to complete assignments in a fraction of the time leaving more time for fun.

  • Immediate help when there's a question.
  • No unproductive busywork.  No wasting time on concepts already mastered.
  • Your child will have time to pursue other interests.

Cons

Too Much Quality Time?

Everyone needs a break once in a while, but when you're a homeschooler, it takes a little more effort to schedule one in.  And since you'll be with your children during almost every waking hour, you will need a good deal of patience, too.

  • Homeschooling consumes most of your free time.
  • Your children will have ample opportunities to argue with you (and amongst themselves) and push your buttons.
  • Your house will be messy (from all that productive cooking and sewing, of course).

Time Consuming

I think this may have been mentioned once or twice before.  (Wink) (Wink)

  • It takes time to prepare your child's curriculum and lesson plans.
  • You need to keep yourself organized.  If you're not organized, then your children wont be either.
  • You are the official taxi.  It is your responsibility to make sure your child has opportunities to socialize with other children.

A Huge Responsibility

As a home educator, you are solely responsible for your child's education.

  • You need to keep up to date with current homeschool laws.
  • You must be able to provide or arrange for adequate instruction.
  • You are responsible for making sure your children reach their educational goals.