Author: Noelle K. Moser

5 Myths About Homeschooling.

Posted on by Noelle K. Moser

My students completing a consumer mathematics assignment.

In this post, I will separate myths from facts regarding homeschooling. Like other topics within academic spheres, homeschooling is rife with false information, which leads to misinformation, harmful stereotypes, and stigmas. When remote learning became mandatory during the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling experienced a Renaissance, as homeschooling families received admiration for success in educating students at home. However, as remote learning has been stigmatized due to the effects on the students, homeschooling again suffers from these stereotypes. Homeschooling is not for everyone; it’s an academic path chosen on behalf of the parents after much contemplation and intent.

Myth 1. Homeschool Students Are Not Properly Socialized:

The subject of socialization is the most common stereotype associated with homeschooling. Homeschool students have more opportunities for socialization due to flexible schedules. Additionally, many students are members of homeschool co-ops, which offer socialization events such as prom, family events, and graduation ceremonies like their public school counterparts.

Unlike public school students who are socialized horizontally, homeschool students are socialized vertically. The homeschool environment allows students to relate to students older and younger than themselves, forming social bonds generally not accounted for in the public school setting. My students can relate to adults and students in lower grades, preparing them for the adult world and the relationships they will encounter in the work environment.

People often comment on my student’s mature behavior and disposition in public. They recognize something different about them that sets them apart from other young adults their age. Structured verticle socialization allowed by homeschool education forms much of this polished behavior.

Don’t let this negative stereotype affect your decision to homeschool your students. Misinformation embodied by family members, friends, and significant others will see the positive benefits of verticle socialization.

Myth 2. Homeschool Students Don’t Have An Academic Schedule:

Academic complacency is another common misunderstanding about homeschooled families and students portrayed by public opinion. Homeschooling parents take academics very seriously and seek resources helping to lead their students to success. Public schools are not perfect institutions; mass education is not for every student. As parents, we can meet our students on their level and adapt subject material specifically to their learning styles. Reaching students where they are leads to academic success and paves the way for an education that will benefit them far into the future.

My oldest student sitting in the cockpit of a CRJ on our homeschool educational trip to Washington, D.C.

Our academic day was very structured; school began at 9:00 a.m. and ended by 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. I reserved Friday for educational videos and nearby field trips. All subject material was completed during class time, eliminating the need for homework and allowing my students free time for the remainder of the day. Because there is less time wasted in homeschooling, our school day does not require the need for homework.

Myth 3. Homeschool Students Cannot Go To College:

Disqualification from higher education is one of the biggest myths about homeschool education. Not only are homeschooled students eligible to attend universities, they are independent learners and make better students. Accredited umbrella programs provide official high school diplomas accepted by major universities and academic programs, providing homeschooled students the same opportunities as public school students.

My student’s with their High School Diplomas.

Myth 4. Homeschooling Is Only For Religious Families:

Not true. The most common reason parents homeschool their children is the negative institutionalized environment of the public school setting. The desire for religious education is second, followed by individualized instruction tailored for the student. Surprisingly, many religions prefer secular homeschool curriculums and integrate their values into lessons when appropriate.

For example, we are a non-religious family and homeschool our children via a secular curriculum and programs. While many homeschool co-ops are faith-based, homeschooling is not just for religious families.

Myth 5. Homeschool Kids Cannot Play Sports Or Partifipate In Extracurricular Activities:

Many parents do not know that local school boards are required by law to allow homeschoolers to participate in public school sports, music programs, or other after-school activities. Additionally, many community programs welcome homeschoolers to play in recreational leagues, martial arts, and other community service projects. My students, who participate in Karate, currently hold a Brown Belt and will be promoted to Black Belt this fall.

Homeschooling is more than an education but a lifestyle. As a homeschooled family, we make education our focus in ways that are beyond the textbook. Errands and grocery shopping can be a teaching opportunity as we prepare our students for life. Anything can be a teaching opportunity; all you need to do is look and encourage a sense of wonder in your students.

In addition to being an accomplished homeschooling mom, I am a published author, multi-disciplinary writer, and website content creator. If you like this post, please visit my writing portfolio of work and other blogs.

The Works of Noelle K. Moser-Writing Portfolio

Coffee and Coelophysis – A blog about Dinosaurs!

The Kuntry Klucker – A blog about keeping backyard chickens.

~ Noelle K. Moser ~

Homeschooling, A Student’s Perspective

Posted on by Noelle K. Moser

After the conclusion of our homeschooling journey, I asked my students to reflect on their education and list several things they appreciated and enjoyed about being homeschooled. This post is their perspective as homeschooled students and its benefits.

1. Not having to catch an early morning school bus.

The bus route for the public school in our area comes by our house at 6:10 am, and the students riding the bus are at the bus stop no later than 6:00 am. For an adult, that is early. For a child, to be ready for the bus to arrive shortly after 6 am is a challenge. My students greatly appreciated not having to structure their morning to be prepared to catch the bus.

2. Feeling well rested.

Our homeschool day began at 9:00 am. Before school, my students had to complete morning chores that involved feeding the chickens and cleaning coops, making up their beds, eating breakfast, brushing their teeth, and getting dressed. To complete their task list, my students set their alarms for 7:30 am, a later wake-up time that allowed them to feel well-rested and ready for the day. As a parent, I noticed they were much more alert and attentive, given the extra rest.

3. Not having to deal with bullies.

Homeschooling removed my students from the public school environment and eliminated many childhood trials that many students face. With the arrival of social media, cyberbullying is just as damaging and impactful on a student’s ability to concentrate and learn. My students recognized this benefit and found a reprieve from not having to face this issue.

4. No overwleming amounts of homework.

The homeschool environment allows students to complete most tasks during class time and reduces the need for large amounts of homework. Classwork not completed during class can be tabled for the following school session. The ability to work at the student’s learning level further eliminated the need for homework. My students greatly appreciated this aspect of homeschooling. While many of their friends had large amounts of schoolwork, my students were free after our school day.

5. Having a flexible schedule.

One of the benefits of homeschooling is the inherent flexibility to roll with the punches and seize opportunities as they arise. In the event of an unexpected circumstance, we could accommodate it without much warning or planning. If our library hosted an event we wanted to attend, we adjusted our homeschool schedule to participate. My students greatly appreciated the flexibility in our homeschool schedule to make time for events that interested them.

6. Having time to pursue hobbies and interests.

Eliminating the need for homework and shorter school day allowed my students more free time to pursue hobbies and interests. My students voiced their appreciation for this aspect of homeschooling and the free time and flexibility to create time to learn things separate from academic coursework. This free time to explore leads them to passions they plan to pursue in their occupations and further education. Students allowed to explore subject matter on their terms positively impact their career path, and facilitate self-teaching, with individual growth. Missing in many public school settings, this aspect of personal growth sets homeschool students apart from their peers in ways that benefit homeschool students.

My students learning about the motions of the moon with Planet Buddies in a familiar low-stress environment.

7. Low-stress environment

Structured in a familiar and comfortable environment homeschooling reduces stress and facilitates clarity and the ability to focus. As my students advanced in academics, they appreciated this low-stress mode of education and the ability to focus on their academic goals. Homeschooling allows students to learn in an environment where they feel safe and can nurture the desire to learn.

8. The ability to learn difficult subjects at one’s preferred learning pace.

As we entered high school and subject material became difficult, my students were able to learn challenging academic material at their own pace. In the public school setting, students cannot afford this latitude. However, in the homeschool setting, students can gauge their learning style and speed tailored for them. Subjects such as Chemistry and advanced math homeschooling allow my students to take their time with concepts before moving forward. This pace-appropriate learning style removes much of the frustration students experience with these advanced subjects.

9. Three-day weekends

As a homeschool educator, I can create a lesson plan that works with our family dynamic. I structured our academic year on a four-day schedule with a three-day weekend. I taught classes Monday through Thursday, taking Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as a weekend. We worked hard for four days, reserving the weekend for social activities and participating in functions we wanted to attend. My students appreciated this schedule because it allowed them time to participate in activities they were interested in and allowed us a long weekend for relaxation. Many school systems are beginning to adopt this four-day-a-week school plan as the benefits are numerous.

10. Three-month summer vacation.

Quite possibly, my student’s favorite part of homeschooling was the three-month-long summer vacation. I worked my students hard during the school year. I used the summers to plan next year’s classes, curriculums, and lesson plans. I wrote most of the curriculums for my students much of my preparation time was best utilized during June, July, and August. Their peers and friends started school at the end of July, but we did not start till the beginning of September. Shopping for school supplies did not signify the beginning of the school year but rather the midway point of our summer. My students used the summers to participate in library reading programs and work on many of their interest areas. Although extended, our summers were productive and facilitated the coming homeschool academic year.

My students preparing stuffing for the Thanksgiving turkey.

Homeschooling is more than an education plan but a lifestyle. As a homeschooled family, we make education our focus in ways that are beyond the textbook. Family vacations have an educational component as we tour museums or stop and take in fascinating geological features. Family game night focuses on various aspects of education or life skills. Errands and grocery shopping can be a teaching opportunity as we prepare our students for life. Anything can be a teaching opportunity; all you need to do is look and encourage a sense of wonder in your students.

Using grocery shopping as a teaching opportunity to teach my students important life skills.

In addition to being an accomplished homeschooling mom, I am a published author, multi-disciplinary writer, and website content creator. If you like this post, please visit my portfolio of work and other blogs.

The Works of Noelle K. Moser – writing portfolio

Coffee and Coelophysis – A blog about dinosaurs!

The Kuntry Klucker – A blog about the adventures in keeping backyard chickens.

Graduation Day!

Posted on by Noelle K. Moser

Today my sons graduated high school as homeschooled students. As I reflect on our journey, many things and emotions come to mind. I am surprised at how fast the past thirteen years have flown by; my head spins when I think about the events that have transpired in our educational journey. How did thirteen years go by so fast? What happened to the time? Time dilation is a reality we all face as our lives on this earth progress, day by day and year by year. For me homeschooling my kids was more than a journey; it was an experience that will resonate with me. Homeschooling my kids was the greatest honor of my life, one that I struggle with concluding. I think of all the things that I could have done better, all the details that I should have paid more attention to, and all the ways that I let others affect me that I should have ignored.

As my journey ends and I think about our homeschool experience and the events of the past thirteen years, this post will focus on all the things I would change if I had the chance.

Take more pictures:

I homeschooled my boys for over a decade and only have a few pictures. How did I let that happen? In my defense, when I started homeschooling, phone cameras were not what they are now. I had to use a dinosaur, a digital camera that required a photo chip to store media. They were not the greatest and many times photo files were lost or deleted when uploading for printing, as many who used these antiquated cameras will understand. These cameras were frustrating and required deliberate action on the part of the user to take photos. As we keep our smartphones close, capturing moments is much easier and does not require much forethought. Still, it’s not an excuse but something I would do better. If you are starting your homeschool journey, capture all the moments you can, they are fleeting when they are gone, they are gone.

Paniced Less About High School:

Entering the D.C. Metro Station
My oldest student in the cockpit on his first flight.

In the back of every homeschooling parent is the anxiety-provoking high school years. These are the core years that will form the future of your student’s career path; it’s hard not to be nervous as this milestone approaches. After each year, I could feel the butterflies stirring in my stomach as we inched one year closer to high school. At the end of our 8th-grade year, I was very nervous going into the summer before 9th grade. However, I realized that high school was not the beast I imagined.

As I worked with my umbrella school advisor and began course planning for the following four years, my students had a vision for their future and chose many classes for their high school careers. We live in the golden age of information. Finding resources for high school classes is at our fingertips. Help in the form of homeschool co-ops and online classes for homeschool students is abundant. While I taught many of the subjects, several classes were online classes. Homeschooling encouraged my students to be self-learners and self-teachers. As I look back, high school was undemanding. My students did much of the work; I assumed the role of facilitator, allowing them to take on a more active part in their education.

Had I known the reality of homeschooling during my students’ high school years, I could have saved myself many sleepless nights. If you are just starting your homeschool journey and you have many of these same thoughts and hesitations, don’t worry. Work with your umbrella school academic advisor and your students, you will find that homeschooling during high school is straightforward and uncomplicated.

Not Allowing My Family to Interfere in Our Homeschool Education:

Homeschooling comes with a lot of stigmas. I was sandwiched on both sides by will-intended yet ill-informed grandparents in aspects of homeschooling. It was not until COVID-19 gripped the nation and remote learning became necessary that my family realized the value of how I was educating my children. As many families began struggling with the challenges of remote learning, my nieces and nephews included, only then did grandparents come to understand and appreciate our approach to education. 

I struggled with relationships with both sets of grandparents concerning my educational choice for our children. I allowed them to interfere and strived to show them that many myths surrounding homeschooling are attributed to misinformation and fear. I have COVID to thank for the eventual acceptance, but it came at a high cost for many others. I regret that I allowed this family dynamic to persist which caused much tension and stress. 

If you are in this situation, stand your ground and inform family members that this is not on the table for discussion. Don’t allow them to place doubt in your mind about your ability to educate your children. Your children do not need to attend an accredited school. You know your child better than anyone else; these scare tactics are based on false information. 

Not Doubting Myself So Much:

My oldest student working through math problems on the white board.

I am my own worst enemy and second guess myself often. Am I doing the right thing for my children? Am I a good enough teacher? Should I send them to school like all of their friends? Do I have enough patients to get through this school year? Did I choose the right curriculum? I could go on and on. As parents, we second-guess ourselves a lot. It is our job to raise good human beings; we want to do that to the best of our ability.

When homeschooling our children, that responsibility becomes even more paramount. It is easy to doubt our decision based on others’ opinions and our opinions of ourselves. If you take nothing else from this post, take this, you know your child the best no one can make a better decision for your child than you.

Public schools are not perfect educational institutions neither are charter or magnet schools. All aspects of education have issues; our job as parents is to decide which of these paths is best for our students. It is in this area that your opinion supersedes all others.

More Prepared For The Conclusion of Homeschooling:

Even now, as I am creating this post, I am in the emotional throws over the conclusion of homeschooling. Many thoughts and emotions circulate in my mind as I think back throughout our homeschooling endeavor. Did I prepare my students well? How will a homeschool education affect them going forward? How will I adjust to no longer being a teacher? All of these thoughts and emotions consume me at the moment.

While homeschooling my students we were working toward this goal, graduation. Now that we are here, I’m unsure how to handle it. I am excited for them and thrilled that I went the distance but saddened that some of the best years with my children are over. I found myself unprepared for the emotions that would take over my mind as I requested their diplomas and purchased tassels with caps and gowns. Concluding homeschooling is a lot harder than I expected.

As a homeschooling parent, I never experienced the emotional upheaval when sending a child to kindergarten. I never experienced fear when a school shooting was reported on the news because my children were at home with me. These are new feelings for me.

If you are starting your homeschool journey or are closing in on the conclusion, prepare yourself for the thoughts and feelings that will surely come. I know I will get through this but prepare yourself for the throughs that will inhabit your mind. It’s hard to say goodbye and even harder knowing you can never return.

Cherish the good old days while you are living them. I wish I recognized and was living in the good old days before they were gone. Time with your children is fleeting, cherish those days and capture as many of them in pictures as you can.

Now that my homeschooling journey has ended, I want to help others who are just starting by sharing all the knowledge and wisdom I have gained throughout this incredible experience.

In addition to being an accomplished homeschooling mom, I am a published author, multi-disciplinary writer, and blog contributor. If you like this blog, please visit my portfolio of work.

The Works of Noelle Moser

In my next post, I will examine the myths of homeschooling and how to combat the negativity. So, grab a cup of coffee, and a notebook, and let’s begin.

~ Noelle K. Moser ~

7 Ways to Prepare for a Positive Homeschool Day.

Posted on by Noelle K. Moser

How you start your homeschool day will set the rhythm for your students. If you start frantic, they will follow suit. Some of my worst homeschool days were the result of my ill-considered frame of mind. To teach students successfully, you need to set the correct tone for the day. Here are 7 ways to prepare for a positive homeschool day.

Get up several hours before your children are due to wake.

Get up an hour before your students are due to wake, and use this time to progress through your morning routine. Have your morning coffee, take a relaxing bath or shower, and prepare your mind for the school day. The days I felt rushed to get ready for the day were often our worst days. Taking the time to prepare yourself is crucial for a smooth and productive school day.

Being prepared-preparedness is required for learning to happen.

Have your lesson plans ready for the school day. Use the previous evening to gather necessary items for projects the following day. Taking time during the school day to locate various items causes distractions and prevents learning. For children who struggle with ADD, these distractions can be troublesome.

Morning responsibilities- start the day with productivity (chores, pets, plan for dinner).

Make sure school starts with a productive mindset. Before bed the previous evening, ensure everyone is clear on morning chores. Feed the cat, take the dog for a walk, make up the beds, plan for dinner, dishes, etc. For us, morning chores consist of letting the chickens out and cleaning the coops, making up beds, feeding the cat, and putting dinner in the crock pot. Set the mood for a smooth school day by starting the day with productivity.

Create a relaxing atmosphere for learning.

Before you start class, take a few minutes to create a relaxing atmosphere for your students. Light a candle, turn on soft or classical music or diffuse some essential oil. Atmospheres that are calm and relaxing facilitate increased learning.

A screen-free start

Start your day distraction-free. Every parent is familiar with the battle that ensues when it’s time to turn off the television or video game. Commit to starting your day without the distraction of screens. I learned over the years that school days that can start without an argument over screens are more productive and enjoyable.

Make sure students have a quality breakfast.

An advantage of homeschooling your children is the freedom to take a little extra time to eat a good breakfast. With the possibility of missing the school bus removed, quick breakfasts are not necessary. Children can focus on learning when they are not hungry or counting down the minutes till lunch. A breakfast high in protein and fiber goes a long way to academic success.

Set reasonable expectations.

Things don’t always go as planned. You can take all the necessary steps to have set productive days into motion and events out of your control take place. The power or internet goes down, the dishwasher starts to leak, the heat or air does not work, or one of your students wakes up sick. Homeschooling is the art of rolling with the punches. On these days (they will happen) allow yourself a little grace. If the issue is pressing, take the day off or give your students assignments to work on independently. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed by these situations, roll with it, and the next day will be better. The important thing is to make sure that you set reasonable expectations for yourself and your students. Some days will be a wash, but that’s okay, homeschooling offers a lot of flexibility, use it when necessary.

Setting the stage for homeschooling success will go a long way in achieving academic goals for your students. Take it one day at a time and enjoy the journey.

I am a mulit-disciplinary writer, blogger and web content contributor. If you liked this post, tap the subscribe button.

If you liked this blog, please visit my writing portfolio.

The Works of Noelle Moser

~ Noelle ~

What is Your Students Learning Style?

Posted on by Noelle K. Moser

Teaching Kinesthetic learning through the use of visual aids. Our lesson, is the phases of the moon.

To successfully impart academic information to your students, determine their learning styles. The term learning style means that every student learns differently.

The Four Learning Styles (VARK)

There are four main learning styles, and which one your students adhere to will impact how they absorb, process, comprehend and retain information. These four styles are visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic, known as VARK.

Students have different approaches to how they process information. A student’s preferred learning style has significant influences on behavior and learning.

A student’s learning model much match with learning strategies. Matching learning styles with the material will increase comprehension, motivation, and learning success.

Education and the Public Schools System

Education is not a one size fits all application, but this is how the public education system teaches. To teach a large class, academic material is delivered through visual and auditory means.

Students with learning styles other than visual/auditory will struggle with the learning process; institutionalized education fails to reach all students. For the students lucky enough to have these learning styles, that’s great; for others, it is a hard road to success.

I had to work very hard in school to get the grades to apply for college. When I went to college, I learned the truth about my learning style and that I was not learning disabled. Until then, I felt inferior there was something wrong with me. Once a child is labeled, it becomes their self-fulfilling philosophy. I do not want the same to happen to my kids.

Homeschooling and Learning Style Education:

As homeschool parents, we can match our student’s learning styles with class material. We can take the time to find out students learning preferences and apply curriculums accordingly. To successfully match learning style with curriculum, understanding VARK is crucial.

Overview of VARK

Visual learners: Visual learners prefer images, graphs, maps, and pictures to facilitate learning. These students will watch a video on the subject material rather than read the material. Visual learners are keen on imagery to process and comprehend information. Classes that facilitate the use of media and videos best reach these students. Visual learners appreciate textbooks and written material that incorporate several images and graphics to help them absorb information.

My students using laptops for a school lesson.

Auditory learners: Auditory learners understand information through listening and speaking such as lectures or discussions. Auditory learners retain information from lectures or recorded lessons well. The public school system caters to auditory learners. If your students are auditory learners, incorporate podcasts or media lectures in your homeschool curriculum to facilitate education.

Read/write learners: Read/write learners are copious note-takers. These students learn best through reading and writing information to facilitate learning. Read/write learners are avid readers and learn well from textbooks. Often read/writer learners are self-teachers as they can facilitate learning from reading. If your student is a read/write learner, curriculums with a lot of reading will appeal to this learning style.

My read/write student reading his way through Walmart.

Kinesthetic Learners: Kinesthetic learners best understand information through tactile repetition and hands-on learning. These students process information best when they can manipulate what they are learning with their hands. Science subjects are often a favorite for this learning style due to the lab work that accompanies this subject. If your students are kinesthetic learners, curriculums that incorporate a hands-on approach to learning will appeal to these students. Curriculums that incorporate a Montessori perspective on education will appeal to these students.

My Kinesthetic Learner using a moleucle manipulative to demostrate a chemical element.

How to find your students’ learnign style.

Understanding different approaches to learning are key to finding your students learning style. To find out how your child learns, observe them at play. As children grow and absorb information about the world, they embrace methods to facilitate this approach. Read/write children will be fascinated with books, visual learners find pictures appealing, kinesthetic children want to manipulate everything, and auditory children are drawn in by sounds. While all children are mesmerized by the TV, this is not the best way to find your child’s learning style.

Teaching with learning styles in mind.

Once you discover your students learning style, incorporate aspects in class material. For visual learners, choose a curriculum that utilizes a heavy video component. For auditory learners, curricula that incorporate podcasts or video lectures will appeal to these students. Read/write learners love to read. Textbooks, literature, and writing assignments will provide necessary education fulfillment. Kinesthetic learners love to manipulate things. Incorporate curricula that provide a manipulative kit or make your own. Curricula with a Montessori approach to learning will engage these students.

I am a published author, multi-disciplinary writer, and blogger. If you like this blog, please visit my writing portfolio.

The Works of Noelle Moser.

If you liked this post, tap the subscribe button.

~ Noelle Moser ~

Why Homeschool?

Posted on by Noelle K. Moser

As parents, we face many important decisions in the lives of our children. One of the most crucial to their development and transition into adulthood is their education. Thankfully we live in a country where parents have options.

No one knows a child better than the parents. As parents, we are acquainted with our child’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Some children are natural mechanics others are natural scientists, writers, or actors. Parents want to harness and nurture these special abilities. There is no better way to help our children grow than through their education.

As parents, we have to make a very important decision on the educational path for our children. There are many paths available public school, private school, military school, boarding school, charter schools, and homeschool.

In this blog, I will detail my experience as a homeschooling parent. My students will be seniors next year. I have been down this path and hope to help others who are just starting their educational journey.

Let me start by sharing with you how my journey began. When my first son was born, I loved showing him things in the world around him. Things like colors, animals, objects, and reading. The delight I would see in his eyes when he made the connection was magnetic. I dreaded the day that I would have to send him to school, no longer sharing these learning experiences with him.

A year later, my second son was born. Although just as curious about the world around him, my second son did not care so much for repeating colors, animals, and objects. Rather he was independently drawn to letters, numbers, and books. He was a delayed speaker, not talking till about the age of 4. By the age of 3, he knew how to work a calculator, write letters, and read.

When I arranged to play dates, he was not interested in playing with other children or toys, he was happiest when he was reading. At one of his doctor appointments, I presented this to his physician. After visiting a few specialists, it was determined that he was Autistic, specifically Aspergers Syndrome. Although technically on the autistic spectrum, he was high functioning.

On cognitive tests and intellectual tests, he was off the charts for children his age. But on social assessments, he struggled. He was unable to “go with the flow” or able to adapt to a change of plans without a lengthy prior warning.

Intellectually he was labeled as “gifted” but socially he was unable to conform. Knowing the public schools in my area, this meant one thing. Special Education.

Being unable to conform to the mainstream schedule of a normal day, this would present problems. He was undoubtedly intellectually gifted but could not be placed with the mainstream students; intellectually detrimental.

As I began to look for options for his education, homeschooling began to appear on my radar. I assumed that my children would attend school like many other children.

I dug deeper into the possibility of homeschooling. While my children were still toddlers I did research. Fortunately, after spending many years at University pursuing several degrees, deep research was no stranger to me.

I spent several years researching. Finally, I derived an education path for my children. In my state of Tennessee, I have to inform my local school board that my children will be homeschooled. I only need to provide proof of attendance and meet the mandatory 180 days of instruction per school year. In some cases, an umbrella school will take upon this task, freeing me of the task of any contact with my local school board.

Deciding to homeschool my children, I began laying the groundwork early. While they were still 4 and 5, I began to make education a part of our daily schedule. I turned their play time into a time for teaching; counting, writing, coloring, and so forth. By the time I started kindergarten, they were working at a first-grade level.

Another decision I made was when to officially enroll my younger son in homeschooling. Before I made this decision, I sought the counsel of his doctor, speech therapist, and several homeschool counselors. The consensus determined that holding him back due to his age would be intellectually determental. This meant my boys would be in the same grade. I assumed that at some point they would naturally diverge when we encounter the harder math. But to my surprise, next year I will have two senior students. Both my students are working at a college level in several subject.

My departure into homeschooling was unconventional. I did not plan on educating my children at home. I was presented with circumstances requiring a different direction to education.

I have more homeschool days behind me than in front of me, I can honestly say it has been an honor to homeschool, my children. It has been a long road, one that yielded many memories and treasures. The most meaningful aspect is watching them learn. Without homeschool, I would have missed all these precious moments in their education.

Now that my homeschooling journey is nearing its end, I want to help others who are just starting. In the posts following, I will share with you the knowledge gained through this experience.

In addition to homeschooling, I am a published author, multi-disciplinary writer and blog contributer. If you like this blog, please visit my portfolio of work.

The Works of Noelle Moser

If you like this post, please tap the subscribe button. As always, thanks for reading. See you next time.

Welcome to Chicken Math University, pleased to meet you.

Noelle