There are many parents considering homeschooling as an option during this time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since we had been homeschooling for at least a decade, I’m writing this blog post to help new homeschoolers and those who are considering this option for their children this coming school year.

Who will the be child’s teacher if the child will be homeschooled?

The parents will be the main teacher of the child.

Is it required that the parent or parents be college graduates so they could homeschool their children?

Some homeschool providers required that. But, some providers are not strict with that requirement. If you will not get a homeschool provider and choose to be independent, you can surely homeschool whatever is your educational background as long as you want to teach your child or you want to facilitate your child’s learning. I suggest that you read my post 10 Reasons Why You are Qualified to Homeschool Your Child.

Can busy, working parents hire a tutor or teacher to help them homeschool their child?

Yes. Some homeschooling families do that. They outsource some of the teaching to other teachers or tutors for subjects where they are not very good at or are not confident to teach. But the parents are still the main teachers of most subjects.

Can busy, working parents homeschool?

Yes. But it takes a LOT OF COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, DISCIPLINE, AND TIME to stick to your goals and follow through on your decision to take charge of your child’s education. It’s possible but you need to have a very strong/big why/reason why you want to do it. There are many working parents who have homeschooled or are homeschooling. They make the time to homeschool because they saw the benefits of homeschooling as an option for their children. It will mean sacrificing some things to find the time for homeschooling. If you are seriously considering homeschooling your child this school year, I highly recommend that you read this blog post of mine first titled Homeschooling 101. I also recommend that you read my blog post titled Time-Saving Strategies for Homeschooling Parents.

How long should a parent homeschool a child each day?

There is no one answer to this question. This varies from child to child depending on the attention span of the child and the child’s interest in the activity being done or lesson being discussed. For 6 years old and below, 30 minutes to 1 hour of structured activities is usually enough. Then, the child is given a lot of time for free and imaginative play. For early elementary kids, many homeschooling families homeschool between 1-3 hours of structured learning activities. For Grades 4-7, many homeschoolers homeschool for 2-4 hours of structured learning activities. This includes breaks in between because real homeschoolers are not very strict with structure. We are not rigid. We allow our kids breaks if they ask for a play break and we allow them to eat or stretch if they need to. After the planned and structured activities, the kids may play or pursue their chosen interests or projects. Homeschooling families have a learning lifestyle and mindset. So, learning happens 24/7 with or without planned or structured lessons or activities.

Are parents required to enroll their child/children with a homeschool provider to homeschool?

No. But if you want to get accreditation right away for this school year, you can choose to enroll with an accredited homeschool provider. You can read more about homeschool providers on this blog post.

Where can parents of children who will homeschool independently get their curriculum?

There are many curriculum sources. Some are free. Some are paid. The Department of Education in the Philippines has provided a free curriculum guide for parents and teachers. Parents can use this. Or they can also use other curriculums through books or providers accredited abroad. If you want to learn more about free resources you and your family can use to homeschool that will help you save money, join our support group where we have a thread on FREE RESOURCES. Our group is called Homeschooling Parents Support Group PH.

How can homeschooled students who did not have a homeschool provider go back to being enrolled in regular schools?

Those who homeschooled without a provider (also called independent or indie homeschoolers) for at least a year can still get accreditation and go back to mainstream schools through tests like the PEPT or ALS in the Philippines. Your child can take the PEPT after a school year or just before your child enrolls with a regular school or with a homeschool provider. You can read about our accreditation story when my kids took the PEPT here. You can also read the pros and cons of being independent and having a provider on this blog post.

Do parents need to get a homeschool provider located near a family’s place of residence?

No. Before the pandemic, this was a factor for some homeschooling families who wanted their children to join some of the activities of their partner schools or providers. But because of the pandemic and the need to stay home, all transactions this school year would most likely be online and no live classes or events will be done in the schools or organized by the providers.

Do you have more questions? Let me know in the comments and I would do my best to answer them.