Today I have an old friend from Seattle on the show discussing homeschooling. Eryka grew up in the Chicago area and attended public for her K-8 years, had one year of homeschool as a sophomore, and the rest of High School was at a private school.
She went on to get a teaching degree in the Seattle area and then began teaching at a private Christian school. Five years in, she burned out and left teaching for a season. She then returned to teaching, but now as a public school teacher in the greater Seattle area, teaching 6th grade to 32 students. Her family was expecting their first, so she transitioned to a stay at home mom after that year. Then a couple years later, a move from WA to CA, and a pandemic beginning, she accepted a position at a charter school in California to perform as a fully remote Educational Facilitator, where she worked with a number of students in K-12 who were doing at-home schooling with monthly meetings to support the families and students and ensure they were performing at grade level for the curriculum. We dive into some highs and lows that she experienced in all these various settings.
Next, we jump into her decision to homeschool her two boys. Her eldest was in Pre-K at the start of the pandemic, and zoom calls were not cutting it. Onward to homeschool despite her strong feelings that she would NEVER homeschool. Her eldest was able to land a spot with the CA charter school where she was remotely teaching. And some time after that, their family moved to TN. No longer a resident of CA, her son could not continue with the CA Charter school plan, and their family made the decision to fully homeschool.
I ask Eryka to give advice to the parent with worries and reservations around “I could NEVER homeschool my child." We discuss the ability to pivot plans and how freeing that is, and the abundance of resources available today to be able to do this.
Next we dive into the curriculum and program options out there for homeschooling:
-Google how to pick a homeschool curriculum for a quiz about the different styles of homeschooling to find what makes sense for your family.
-The common styles are: classical, Waldorf, Charlotte-Mason, relaxed, unschooling, outsourcing or online, and then those that do a little bit of all of it (eclectic)
-Get lost in this website for further insights about all the options: www.cathyduffyreviews.com
-If you’re going to purchase something, you must get a good printer! Checkout the eco-tank printer at Costco.
Last question I ask Eryka is to address the assumption that “homeschooled kids are socially awkward.” We both share our thoughts here. I think homeschooling is gaining popularity, so people may meet more and more families choosing this avenue, and thus making it less awkward or uncommon.
Podcast Mention
-All Things with Jen Oshman
-Read-Aloud Revival by Sarah Mackenzie
Book Recommendation
The Read Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
