Thinking About Homeschooling?

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elementary schoolThe sign on the nearby elementary school reads, “Kindergarten Registration”, reminding parents of four-going-on-five-year-olds that “big school” days are a mere eight months away.  As I drove past it the other day, I remembered seeing the same sign a year ago.  I would drive past it at least twice a day, and each time I did, I would feel a twinge, wondering if we were doing the right thing.  Was I denying my daughter the educational opportunities I had had as a child?  Someday, would she resent missing out on the cultural experience of attending school?

You see, we had decided some time ago to home school our children.  So although the sign beckoned me to come in and register our daughter for kindergarten, I never did.  Instead, we spent spring 2013 reading up on South Carolina law about home schooling, exploring some local home school options, meeting up with other home school moms and kids for play dates, and choosing the books we would use.

Over the next several months, the two Kristi’s of the Columbia SC Moms Blog (myself and Kristi P.) are going to share with you what we have learned, and are learning, about homeschooling in our state, and what resources are here in the Midlands.  But I want to share right now that, a year later, I drive past that sign with a confident smile.  Our daughter is thriving in our chosen curriculum, she has made wonderful friends in the home schooling community that we are a part of, and we love learning together.  We chose well for our family.  I emphasize that because not every family needs to home school.  Not every family can, not every family should.  But I believe wholeheartedly that there are many who can, and who would, if they knew how to, and if they knew how possible it is to teach your own children.

Are you the mom of a preschooler looking ahead to kindergarten?  Or are your children enrolled in a traditional school, but you find yourself thinking, “I wish I could keep him home…I wish I could teach her myself…I wonder if we could pull it off…Would it be possible….?” If so, this series is for you.  Over the next few months we will tell you what parents must do to home school in South Carolina, what local resources are available, how to choose a curriculum, and what some different homeschooling approaches are, so that you will be able to make an informed decision for your child and your family.  Join us!

What questions do you have about homeschooling in South Carolina, or what topics would you like us to address?  Share in the comments below!

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Kristi Bothur
Kristi is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer, and former public school teacher for English for Speakers of Other Languages. She grew up all over the United States as an Air Force brat, but moved to Columbia in the 1990s to attend Columbia International University, and has called the Midlands “home” ever since. Her days are kept full with the antics and activities of her children - homeschooling, church activities, American Heritage Girls, and Trail Life - as well as writing and leading her Columbia-based pregnancy loss ministry, Naomi’s Circle. Kristi is a contributing editor for “Rainbows and Redemption: Encouragement for the Journey of Pregnancy After Loss” (www.rainbowsandredemption.weebly.com) and a co-author of “Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother“ (sunshineafterstorm.us). She shares her thoughts about faith, family, and femininity on her blog, This Side of Heaven (www.thissideofheavenblog.com).

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