Homeschooling advice is not only limited to new homeschoolers; it can come from any well-intentioned person, even a non-homeschooler.
Even if you don’t look like you need it, you’ll still homeschooling advice. You know what I mean.
The Best Bad Homeschooling Advice
After getting some “bad” homeschool advice, I have to admit that I actually needed to follow some of it.
■ Use a boxed curriculum.
I left behind boxed curriculum after I was past being a new homeschooler.
So when another seasoned homeschooler suggested I use a boxed curriculum while I was in the process of moving, I was taken back by the advice.
I never told her, but that day I did just what she suggested because it made sense.
I purchased a boxed curriculum for one semester.
I gave my boys laid out curriculum, packed my boxes and we made a huge move.
I spared myself a lot of anxiety by following that best bad homeschooling advice.
Also, check out my article, How to Use a Boxed Curriculum Without Giving Up Your Homeschool Approach.
■ Get your mom or dad to help you teach a subject or two.
If you have parents that are not supportive of homeschooling, then one of the best ways to get them on your side is by asking them to help you teach a subject or two.
It’s not exactly what you want to hear and especially if your parents are not supportive of your decision to homeschool.
However, grandparents bring a richness of life and a whole wealth of experience that your children deserve.
When the boys were real little, my parents lived on the same wooded acreage as we did.
My boys would run over to my mom’s house every day after school to “narrate” back what they learned. Having a captive audience when I no longer could listen to them helped them to retain information more readily.
If your parent’s health is good, they may be better at teaching a subject or two that you may be weak at.
My mother excelled at math and math has been my weak area always.
Her influence on my sons has been a valuable asset to my homeschooling journey because two out of the three sons are advanced in math. I am grateful.
Did I mention that time away from me was a break for my boys? Check out my article, How Grandparents Can Inspire Your Homeschool Journey.
■ Stop running around so much!
Ouch! That one hurt.
I thought the “good little homeschool mom” kept the roads hot while she took her children to “socialize”.
Slow down, stay at home and homeschool was the best piece of advice I could have received from a seasoned mom when I started my journey.
Of course at the time I had the miffed look thinking that was bad advice because I was going to be sure my children didn’t crawl under a rock somewhere. Can you just say ugly?
Humbled by what I know now many years into my homeschooling journey, I spared myself a lot of wasted time on the road when we could have stayed home a bit longer.
Too, I have never wanted to be known as a sensitive homeschooler or one who takes offense easily thinking that all homeschooling advice is well- intentioned, but misguided.
Homeschooling is about a whole hosts of difficult choices, so I am glad that I actually tried some of the best bad homeschooling advice I’ve ever had.
- Homeschool Critics: How Do You Know You’re on Track?
- Top 5 Approaches New Homeschoolers Need to Know
- What to Do When You Feel Alone as a Homeschool Mom
- 100 Ways to Silence the Homeschool Naysayers (Maybe!)
How about you? Have you ever received some best bad homeschooling advice?
Hugs and love ya,
Rachel G says
I definitely hope to benefit from my mom’s expertise in the future when I homeschool my own children! She’s a master at teaching children how to read in particular (my sister has dyslexia, so overcoming that gave mom some really good skills). It’s good to know what resources you have in your family/community.
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Tina Robertson says
Hi Rachel,
I loved reading about this today. So true. Use every resource available to us.