Magnolia Walker Company Ezine

Count the Cost

by Shirley M.R. Minster

When parents are considering homeschooling, they need to count the cost because there are many expenses to consider when contemplating educating their children. The costs are not just financial, but also emotional and physical.

Most people recognize the financial cost and tend to focus on that initially. Books, resource materials, and equipment must be purchased. It is possible that the local school will loan textbooks. If this is an option, make sure to also borrow the teachers edition and any other supplemental materials for the course. Also make sure that the student books are in very good shape. Nothing is more disheartening to a student than to see books that are falling apart or so old that they smell musty. Other homeschooling parents may loan their texts and other materials. However, when children are younger, buying workbooks and other consumable materials is more common and therefore more expensive. Remember that if two children are in the same grade, they may need different texts because of their different learning styles. One expensive item that pays for itself rapidly by is a photocopier. Have plenty of paper handy, too.

Families join local support groups for classes and socialization. Typically a yearly fee or a pay as you go fee for individual classes is assessed. Often there is also a membership requirement to fulfill so many hours of volunteering, too. If the group hires people to teach music lessons, science, creative writing, or science, families may still help out in the classes. It is less expensive than hiring a private tutor, but still is an extra expense for the family.

Another cost is related home organization. Shelving for books and equipment, table space for writing, wall space for a chalkboard, maps, and posters, and file cabinets for storage are important additions to the home. Parents and children feel much better if there is organization and the ability to put ones hands on the right information right now.

There is an emotional cost to homeschooling because it is physically demanding for the parents. They spend more time with their children than any other group of parents. Of course, this is one of the main reasons why home education was chosen, but it does mean that the parents are constantly teaching and working with their children. To help with the emotional drain, parents should plan into the day those time to do their favorite activities and times to rest. This can be particularly difficult to accomplish when the children are younger, but it can be done. Reading a mystery book or gardening magazine while the children are napping, sewing while the children are completing quiet work, and taking a quiet tea break beside the picture window while the children are playing outside are simple solutions.

By counting the cost first, talking with other homeschooling parents and children, and discussing options before beginning to homeschool, parents will be better prepared for the exciting adventure of working as a family. Successful homeschoolers know that planning ahead means productivity and peace.

About the author:
Shirley Minster is a Master Degree certified teacher, well known as a friend and advocate of alternatives in education. She regularly travels to several states administering individualized assessments and offering curriculum design, high school and college preparation consultation, or help with totally customized programs. She is also called upon to present expert court testimony in homeschooling cases that are facing legal challenges. Founder of Home Education & Family Services and Royal Academy, she and her staff provide unique services to families. Royal Academy, a state recognized private school, provides custom-designed programs for students grade K -12 and includes full transcript and diploma services to high school students as well as help with college and career planning and preparation. Call 207-657-2800 for more information. Home Education & Family Services