Single Parent Homeschooling
Single Parents Determine to Take a Leap of Faith for Their Child's Education
By: Michedolene Hogan
Since the institution of a safe haven law in Nebraska, allowing parents to leave their infant children at a hospital with no repercussions, parents have taken advantage of a loophole and left older children at an alarming number. What would motivate these parents to abandon their children? For some it is a feeling of an inability to properly care for them.
Fortunately this bleak take on parenting is only a surface view of our culture across the media today. Take a look behind these stories and you will find an ever growing group of extremely dedicated parents. On the opposite end of this spectrum these parents make the ultimate sacrifices each day for the opportunity to provide a parent directed home education. These are the single parent home schools of our time. You may ask yourself, how does a single parent serve as sole financial supporter and home educator?
Take a Leap of Faith
Some parents have opted to work from home as they educate their children. This choice may require the parent to make a complete career change in an effort to find at home opportunities. Often working from home requires a reduction in pay, but a determined parent can find a way by learning to cut corners when shopping and readjusting their budget. Parents can focus their finances on areas that are truly necessary and reduce the number of luxuries that are often distracting in today's culture.
Lean on Others
One necessary measure single parents need to have in place is a positive support group, especially if working from home is not an option. When the decision to home school has been made parents can turn to friends and family to assist with child care while the parent works. Parents can also seek out home school networks in the community for support in many aspects of home education, including networks for single parents, daytime activities and discounted curriculum.
Flexibility
Single parents do not have the same amount of time each day as a two parent home school would so flexibility is very important. While a parent needs to adjust how they think about education it will be helpful to know home schools do not require the same rigorous schedule as a formal school environment. Instruction can occur in the evenings, on the weekends and even at work with the parent if the environment is conducive. Parents should also consider that instruction is not always reading and writing, rather parents can incorporate trips to local exhibits and have their child write up a review for documentation.
Child taught Curriculum
Among the growing resources single households have at their disposal, self-taught curriculum has got to be the most powerful. A self-taught curriculum is designed in such a way that the child does not need an instructor on a daily basis, instead a learning coach is sufficient. A learning coach is someone that is available to help children understand assignments they can't grasp on their own. The Robinson Curriculum is an excellent example of child directed education with positive results. This curriculum was specifically designed with the single parent home school in mind and resulted out of an immediate need after the sudden death of the sole educator.
Behavior Problems
Single parents can not neglect the possibility of behavior problems in their children. While home-schooled kids are less likely to develop the negative behaviors of their peers they are not immune to rebellious attitudes. Many factors can contribute including divorce, death in the family, and a lack of structure. It is crucial that parents take a pro-active approach in stopping bad behavior in children at the earliest signs, especially for single households. If parents have successfully established a support group, even challenges such as this will have minimal impact on a successful home school.
Learning Disabilities
Another challenge that may discourage single parents from homeschooling is that of learning disabilities. While having a child that is a struggling learner can at times be overwhelming, a home environment is often the best solution. With home education a child can receive the much needed one-on-one teaching. Again having support in place is crucial to success and can include friends, family and online support for parents.
The number of single parent home schools is growing as a result of increased awareness. This growing movement includes more support networks, improved curriculum options and devoted parents willing to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to offer their children a home education. With all that is available today it is possible for any family to take advantage of the home-school option and provide their children with an exceptional education.
About the Author:
Michedolene Hogan is a homeschooling mom of her four younger children and takes great pride in her natural approach to parenting while focusing on the strength of her family. In her efforts as a wife, mother and homeschooler she has found many methods for teaching children in todays society