It's time I owned up. You saw me at the supermarket with my small band of school-age children. 'Pupil free day?' you chirped. I half-nodded and kept moving. At the barbecue, you asked if my kids went to private or state school. 'A small private school,' I murmured, then changed the subject.
The truth is I homeschool. I don't know why I didn't tell you earlier. I love homeschooling. But I also love it when people mistake me for a normal person.
I never meant to homeschool. It just sort of happened. My then eight-year-old daughter was in a situation at school that was causing her constant anxiety. For months, I tried working with her teachers, but things only became much worse.
I decided to homeschool for one year, to give my daughter a chance to recover and to build her confidence. I never expected to fall in love with the lifestyle. Twelve months later, I gave in to my younger son's entreaties and began homeschooling him as well — just for one more year.
Homeschooling has given our family the gifts of time and togetherness. We start our day with breakfast and chores, then traipse out the door for a bike ride. After this, we sit around the table for a few hours, working together or separately. All up, we're usually done with our book work by lunch time.
The afternoon is for cooking, reading, climbing trees, gardening, playing music, knitting, researching topics of interest, and jumping on the trampoline. Later in the day, they might go to scouts, swimming lessons, dinner with grandparents, sports, or an after-school kids club. On Mondays, we meet with other homeschooling families to learn subjects that work well in a group setting, like science, art and dance.
People often ask about assessment. How do I know if my children are up to standard? When I first started, this worried me too. After all, school teachers work hard to keep track of their students' progress. But, of course, school teachers have 30 new children each year. Keeping track of a small group of students with whom you live, and in whom you are intensely interested, is second nature.
There's no need for tests and portfolios. I already know my nine-year-old has a sharp mind for maths and devours books like a maniac, but needs encouragement to express himself in writing. I'm already planning fine-motor activities for my five-year-old, who has plenty