365 Things to Avoid while Homeschooling
#39 Letting your homeschool stuff take over your home
Summer is a great time to declutter and reorganize your homeschool. Take a hard look through your supplies and books, find the things that aren't working or you've outgrown, and either sell them or pass them on to another homeschooling family.
What's your best tip for keeping your home organized, and your homeschool stuff accessible?
#38 Leaving really long comments on blogs and articles critical of homeschooling
There are a million examples of this. Someone writes a blog post or article knocking homeschooling, usually based on misinformation, or even the author's guess of what homeschooling is like, and the link starts getting passed around on e-lists. Then angry homeschoolers decide to either enlighten the author, or tell them off with comment posts that are longer and better researched than the original post. Why is this bad? It makes us look kind of crazy, and like people who can't handle criticism or take a joke.
#37 Bashing schoolteachers...
Sometimes there is a tense relationship between homeschoolers and professional teachers. Some teachers see homeschooling as an insult to their profession or have had bad experiences with homeschooled kids who return to school and are, in their opinion, "behind". Some homeschoolers became homeschoolers because of bad experiences with specific teachers. However, slamming teachers in general isn't fair, and we should avoid it.
#36 Spending too much time online...
Sometimes it's hard to believe that there was homeschooling before the internet. Homeschoolers network with email-lists, we ask for advice on virtual bulletin boards, we buy and sell curriculum online, and we do LOTS of research on the web. Thanks to all the new devices available, we can be online and accessible 24/7, almost anywhere. However, if we let it go too far, it can have a big effect on our relationships. The New York Times recently reported on a study by Sherry Turkle th
#35 Pushing organizers to change their rules to suit you...
Sometimes you hear about a great class or field trip, and then you find out that there is a rule that means your family can't participate. When this happens, there is nothing wrong with explaining your situation to the organizer and asking about the purpose of the rule, to see if there's a way to work-around the problem. However, if they say that the rule is firm, you need to accept the "no" and move on. Pushing after you've been told no will only discourage the organizer from organizing again in the future.
#34 Pointless fads...
Lately, I keep hearing about Silly Bandz in the news. Apparently they are rubber bands that come in a wide range of shapes that kids are wearing as bracelets, and like to trade at school. Schools are banning Silly Bandz, kids are in tears about trades gone bad, and my kids are only vaguely aware that they exist. YAY HOMESCHOOLING!
#33 Getting completely overwhelmed by the Rainbow Resource catalog
It's that time of year again! The Rainbow Resource catalog is here! If you're like me, and find it totally overwhelming, check out their website (www.Rainbowresource.com), shop used curriculum fairs, or ask homeschooling friends if you can look at their curriculum.
To be clear: I have no relationship with Rainbow Resource, aside from occasionally purchasing something from them.
#32 Expecting too much from experts...
Homeschooling, like parenting, is very personal, and while experts can provide ideas, insight and advice, and can definitely help navigate the legalities of homeschooling, they can't tell you what is best for your child. You are the expert when it comes to your child, and you have to sort through the myriad of options and figure out the best path forward. If someone does try to tell you exactly how to homeschool your kids, I'd recommend you approach the situation with a lot of skepticism.
#31 Assuming you are anonymous in the homeschool community
Even in large metropolitan areas, the homeschool community is kind of like a small town. As you go on homeschool field trips, attend homeschool classes, etc... you tend to see the same faces over and over. And on local homeschool e-lists, you see the names over and over again.
#30 Forgetting to ask about a homeschool discount...
Lots of places either offer discounts specifically for homeschoolers, or include homeschoolers in their educator discount. If you are visiting a museum, a zoo, or theater, or are buying books or supplies for your homeschool, ask if they offer a discount to homeschoolers. The worst case scenario is they say no, and perhaps you've planted the idea of their offering a homeschool discount in the future.
What's your favorite place to use a homeschool discount?
