Back to Homeschool With Possibilities

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We start Monday, and I guess I'm about as ready as I'm going to be! I don't know for sure how the kids feel because they aren't home today. I have this whole day to do my final preparations, or at least whatever I can do without them here. This will be my eighteenth year homeschooling, and although I'm way more relaxed and confident going into a new year than I once was, I am still excited and hopeful about all the possibilities a new homeschool year holds. Maybe a little bit nervous too, because almost every year means a new experience of some kind that we'll have to figure out.

And when things start to happen, don't worry, don't stew.
Just go right along, you'll start happening too!
~Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

I took a few moments to think about the opportunities and options that we have because we homeschool, and came up with quite a list. Here are some of the many possibilities before us, advantages big and small.

I have a student that wants to graduate a year early, and that is possible because we homeschool. He can take a couple extra credits and it's not a big deal with scheduling or administration. We just figured out what he needed to do this year in order to graduate, and now it's up to him to get it done if he still wants to. 

Our kids can work part-time jobs, and their schedule can be quite flexible because we're in charge of our own school schedule. My son worked at his job two weekdays through most of the spring season last year, which wouldn't have been possible if he'd been at a traditional school. Because they can work during the day, there are more job options open to them as well.

Coming home after a hard day at work.

My students have a lot of input into what they study. Sure, there are certain required courses, but there are lots of choices in which curriculum to use. I'm sure my kids would prefer if they didn't have to study Algebra at all, but at least they can study it at their own pace and using a curriculum that works for them. And when it comes to electives? The possibilities are almost endless!

Selfie credit: Kennady

We can spend more family time together. I spend time with my kids during the day, and they have less homework to take up their evening and weekend hours. This opens up some great possibilities - strong relationships, meaningful conversations, mentoring, and discipleship. And when extended family comes to visit, my kids are available to spend lots of time with them as well, even if it's in the middle of the school year.

We're in charge of our calendar and our schedule, which means it's possible to take a family vacation in October, or take extra time off around Christmas. It's also possible to arrange our daily schedule so that it works for us. Were we out very late on Sunday night? We can decide to start school and hour later on Monday morning, and not miss any classes. Does someone have an appointment in the middle of a Thursday? Somebody not feeling well? We can adjust our schoolday accordingly, and no doctor's note required.

The possibility also exists that things will change as we go, or that something new will get thrown into the mix. It might be an extra opportunity, or it might be a new challenge to work around, so we know that we'll need to be flexible and sometimes creative.  And we might need an extra cup of coffee...

I'm looking forward to a new year full of adventures in homeschooling - and lots of possibilities!

You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!
~Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

What kind of possibilities does the new school year hold for you? Leave a comment and let me know! Be sure to visit all the participating blogs in this week's Back to Homeschool Blog Hop, hosted by the Schoolhouse Review Crew and Homeschool Blogging Connection. Or you can stop by my Back to Homeschool Blog Hop page, which has links to all the participating blogs.

2015 Carnival of Homeschooling hosted by Nerd Family.

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