The term “homeschooling” refers to choosing to educate children at home, rather than in a public or private school. Usually, one or both parents act as “teacher”, although not in the same way as a class teacher. Yes, it is totally legal in all fifty states. In fact, it would be illegal or even unconstitutional to deny parents the right to choose where, how and what their children are taught.
Homeschooling provides a personal and individualized educational experience for the child. Children learn faster and more when they receive one-on-one interaction from a parent or guardian. Parents care more about each child’s individual success because it’s THEIR child: no one loves your child more than you do.
Anyone who homeschools will tell you that the experience builds a closer relationship between all members of the family. There are very few problems with teens and parents getting along, and each child learns to contribute to the family as a whole. They are learning to interact with people of all ages, how the real world works, rather than being forced into an unnatural group where everyone is the same age.
There are as many different ways to homeschool as there are families who homeschool. Each family will develop their own system, routine, rhythm, whatever works best for them. This does not mean that you have to know everything before you start. Most families will research many theories, curricula, etc. different, and then they will try what appeals to them. If something doesn’t quite work for them, they try something else. There are no hard and fast rules.
This highlights one of the main advantages of homeschooling, namely that the methods used are chosen to best suit the needs and learning style of the child. When a particular topic is too easy, you can move on. When a child needs to spend more time learning a skill, she can take as long as necessary. In a traditional classroom, the teacher needs to get everyone to do the same thing at the same time, which bores those who have mastered the skill or leaves behind those who need extra attention. This child-centered, self-paced homeschooling feature is a big draw for many.
No special skills or training are required for homeschooling. You are teachers simply because you are parents. Requirements for homeschoolers vary from state to state, but I am not aware of any states that require special certification or degrees for homeschooling parents. Also, most education courses of study apply to traditional classrooms and to managing 20 or 30 students at a time. They don’t really focus on one-on-one teaching. There are many resources available to help parents who have no homeschooling experience. For example, the curriculum we have been using (now in our sixth year) provides me with a daily lesson plan that explains everything that needs to be done to learn the subject. They also have counselors available to answer any questions we may have. It would be very difficult to fail with so much help and support.
Of course, a packaged curriculum isn’t for everyone. But even those who create their own study plan will be able to find books, websites, support groups, and more to help them. No one needs to “reinvent the wheel” when starting homeschooling.
Wherever you are on this journey, I wish you the best. Ultimately, you need to figure out the path that works best for YOU, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.