From our Home School Families

Tell me about homeschooling. How does it work for your children? Why did you select it?

Homeschooling allows us to focus our kids' education around a foundation that meets our moral values, and also keeps us continuously engaged in the development of our children. This applies to moral issues, social areas, and also educational levels. For example, we can encourage our children to engage in helping out with the community, while at the same time teaching them the moral lessons behind such actions. We also felt that home schooling offered a lot of freedom to advance our kids if they excelled in certain topics, or to spend extra time with them to nurture them along if they were struggling, without the fear of being left behind. Of course, home schooling offers a lot of flexibility for time related to travel and other recreational activities.

How does homeschooling change going from elementary to high school?

As the grade levels increase, so does the complexity of some of the topics. High school has presented some challenges for us with time and knowledge. We found that the higher math or science classes, for example, required more planning and research in order to give a good lesson, simply because we were not experts in the topic. We were moving into realms beyond common knowledge. There are plenty of teacher-intensive, complex classes on the elementary level, though, too. Many of the differences between Elementary, Jr. High, and High School courses begin with the students' changing maturity levels, interests...and changes in HOW they learn.

What are some of the specific needs of the homeschool community and how do you find solutions for them?

Homeschoolers often have the need for expert tutoring in specific areas. For example, a student might be taking a literature class at home, and the parents might be average in grammar. Having access to experts in the field is a bonus for rounding off some of the literature education.

How does After School University solve some of your needs as a homeschool family?

One of the challenges with homeschooling is to avoid falling behind. It sounds easy, but sometimes the education can play second fiddle to other family priorities. We find ourselves thinking that we can simply catch up later. Then, if we are facing a more complex topic such as physics, the challenge of catching up becomes more difficult. Another scenario is that the parents have the best intentions, and keep a very rigid schedule, but they simply do not have the time or expertise to teach a topic such as physics. Having an outlet such as After School University is an absolute blessing, as it provides the opportunity for 1x1 teaching, and progress is not dependent on time, which means the teachers are very attuned to the student's level of knowledge, and can adjust the pace accordingly. Yes, After School University charges for their time, but in our experience, they have been extremely focused on the performance of the student, not the fees they collect. One student might be advancing beyond the group pace, and After School University might suggest moving them forward, while another student might be struggling, and might recommend additional 1x1 sessions to catch up. All of After School University's suggestions are geared towards the best possible education of the student.

Call for a free assessment today at 719-659-5979.