Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

Is after-schooling okay?

Every once in a while, you’ll meet a family that refers to themselves as “After-schoolers”.  After-schoolers are folks with  children enrolled in schools but who reinforce and/or supplement learning at home, after school hours, in a homeschool-like fashion.  It’s a great term, really, as it means exactly what it is — schooling after school.

Whatever your feelings on why this may be necessary, how people manage to squeeze it in, or why people would choose to do this at all — the question is, Is after-schooling okay?  The answer is, yes it is.  And though there is no research, it appears to be growing [slightly] in popularity, too.

Much like many parents oversee and supervise the completion of homework after school, – parents conduct homeschool after school.  And like many parents help with homework that is assigned every day, after-schooling parents help with material at home, too.

What takes place during after-schooling is up to each individual family.  Some families like to study new things after school, like foreign languages, hobbies such as ham radio or model trains, or hands-on activities like building furniture or organic gardening.  Other families prefer to stick to the basics already being introduced in school, like language arts, mathematics or history — either doing more of what is being taught in school, or adding on to what teachers don’t have time to teach in the regular classroom.  Some even enroll children in outside classes, tutoring centers and other academic activities during summers and weekends, either to catch kids up on skills or advance them beyond what they have been able to accomplish in school.

So, to answer to the question, after-schooling is certainly okay.  Parents are well within their rights to teach children at home (after all, they’ve been teaching the kids things all along anyway), whether before school, after school or on the weekends.  The practicality of after-schooling is another matter altogether, but as long as everyone has the desire and the time, there is nothing wrong with it.

Though some would argue that school children are busy enough and that parents need to protect their child’s down-time, family life and social life, the decision really lies with the parent.  After-schooling may work in some situations but not in others.  But there is nothing wrong, and certainly nothing illegal, about doing so.

Finding YOUR homeschool laws

Finding homeschooling laws is easy if you just know where to look.

Here, you’ll find a list of web sites that offer information about homeschooling laws in each state.  Some offer a synopsis, while others give a more detailed explanation.  Some even have laws for both the U.S. and world-wide.

Try each link right now to find your favorite (each will open in a separate window).  Then, jot down the URL or save it in your bookmarks for the next time you need it.

Home Education Magazine

A to Z Home’s Cool 

Home School Legal Defense Association

Homeschool Legal Advantage

The Homeschool Mom

Additional links of interest:

NHELD

Homeschooling is Legal

American Homeschool Association

Photo: Free Digital

Parent qualifications

 

Does anybody know your child better than you?  No, right?  That’s what makes you uniquely qualified to teach your child!

That’s right! Parents need no additional qualifications to homeschool a child in the US.  With the rare exception of parents who test their own children and require a degree or certification (not required for all tests, only some) or states where parents tutoring children must be “properly qualified”, homeschooling moms and dads do not need to be specially trained to homeschool their own children.

Qualification myths are sometimes proliferated by those who know little about homeschooling and opponents who believe that individuals with teacher credentials produce better students.  Well-meaning friends and family may also wonder about a parent’s ability to teach, but usually only because the traditional classroom/teacher model is all they know.  

Rest assured that the evidence is overwhelming — homeschooled kids tend to excel no matter how qualified (or not) their parents.  In fact, research shows that teacher training has nothing to do with homeschool grades.  Besides, the number of successful homeschoolers today are proof enough that ordinary people are well able to nurture a love for learning, allow children to develop their own unique talents and encourage youngsters to pursue their passions. 

Since the only folks who have both a stake and a heart for their children are  the parents, ultimately — “qualified” or not – parents make the best teachers.

Will my child ever be ready?


Readiness comes at different times in different children. Some read at age 4 while others wait until they are 8 or 9 to do it. Some youngsters write short stories at 8 yet others aren’t ready until 16.

In the homeschooling world, though it can be hard to wait, exactly when things begin to happen doesn’t matter as much as one might think. While parents may wish the kids would start sooner, no amount of pushing, coaxing, bribery or worrying about it will necessarily make it so.

It may help to think about homeschool in the same way one might think about extracurricular activities. If a child doesn’t really like ballet, does she still have to do it? Or if a child is afraid of the soccer ball, are you still going to sign him up?  Potty use doesn’t always come early either.  And no matter how long you’ve tried and the methods you may have used, the truth is that toddlers generally use the toilet on their terms and only when good and ready.

It can be tough to wait on a child when others her age are doing something. But forcing a child to perform something she isn’t ready for is generally fruitless and frustrating anyhow.  Experiencing disappointment and feelings of inadequacy can come on as well. Waiting several weeks or months, even a year or two in some cases, until the level of readiness is reached may be be best for all concerned. [Note that readiness is different from willingness — another topic altogether.]

First time homeschoolers working with a first-born sometimes feel pressured to meet milestones, record bench-marks, and keep up with the pack.  I find it very endearing to watch new parents fret over babies and new homeschoolers worry if everything they’re doing is exactly right.  I was once there, too and I understand.  Over time, however, with subsequent children comes a slightly more relaxed attitude and the realization that added pressure doesn’t speed things along any more quickly than waiting it out anyhow.  

Much like patience is learned through parenting, exercising great patience is important during homeschooling as well.  And while mastering course requirements can certainly become very important in upper school while preparing for testing and college, waiting it out during the early years avoids excess anxiety and unpleasantness for parents and students alike.

Proof of homeschooling

Homeschoolers don’t need to carry I.D. cards.  Meeting the requirements of state homeschooling laws is enough — no additional evidence is needed.

On the other hand, sometimes families desire proof of homeschooling for other reasons. It could be something simple, like qualifying for a bookstore discount or attending a teacher event at an office supply store.  But proof may occasionally be needed for something more important — like meeting eligibility requirements to join a team or applying for a virtual schooling program.

For everyday use, like receiving discounts on products or reduced admission fees to local attractions, a membership card from a support group or homemade homeschooler ID may be enough.  There are even free homeschooler ID cards that can be printed right from a home computer.

For other uses, it may be necessary to request a form or a letter from the homeschooler’s own district, private or virtual school or other formal entity that can verify registration or enrollment.  Usually this letter can be given directly to a homeschooling parent; other times, verifications like these will be mailed or transmitted electronically to the requesting organization.