Well you all are in for a treat towards the end of the month.  The HomeFront team, the military homeschoolers' e-newsletter, has been working on our next issue.  Since we all seem to have so many ideas about planning and preparation for the coming school year, some of us will be posting our articles on our blogs. 

For those of you who receive our e-newsletter, you will be blessed by the wonderful insights of the lovely ladies on the team.  I always am.   If you don't receive it, go to any of our blogs (see my sidebar), TOS website, or the bottom of my blog and sign up! 

But, until it comes out, here is one article I have worked on.

Homeschooling Only One

Whether by God's design, or by the fact that your older children are grown and gone or for other reasons, most of us will all be homeschooling only one at some time or another. However, just as homeschooling many children has its own challenges so does homeschooling one child. Most important with all homeschooling is to determine God's leading and define the philosophy of education for your family. I’d like to share some of the different issues, both 'pros and cons'  regarding homeschooling one child.

One positive aspect to homeschooling only one is having one on one interaction with your child that has been proven to be the most effective teaching method. Your child will have your undivided attention and access to you for any questions or concerns that arise. But, along with that, they may also desire or even expect your undivided attention. Since they are the only one, the focus on them, their work, and behavior can be intense. You, as the parent, often become their friend and constant companion. This can be a hurdle to overcome as they learn to entertain themselves at times.

Another positive is you can readily identify strengths and weaknesses and nurture them. It is easy to focus on weaknesses and perhaps set unreasonably high standards leaving your child feeling a bit hopeless. So, relax. You don't have to drag your precious one through lessons, activities, or life. Look to their strengths and encourage them through the struggles. Enable them to learn how to acknowledge weaknesses and lean on God. Next, let's look at the issue of socialization.

Yes, the dreaded "s" word. If you look at the definitions of socialization, it is defined as "the state of being socialized," or being "made fit for companionship with others." In her book, Homeschooling Only One, Donna Conner states that, “True socialization should encompass all age groups and life situations." Homeschooling only one can provide the best of true socialization. Most older children are involved in activities that offer them many age groups to be around, not just their peers. For younger children or first time homeschoolers like myself, it may take some time to determine good activities without overloading your life but it can be done. One way to determine what kinds of activities you could pursue, after seeking God's plan, is to ask other homeschoolers of onlies. Remember, just because they are being homeschooled alone, they don't need to be busy every minute of the day.

Another challenge with homeschooling an 'only' is curriculum. We are so blessed to have so many choices today for every type of child or learner. It is hard to spend money when you will use something only once. Also, some curricula have so many activities it can be overwhelming to the point of frustration. Yes, it can be easier to fit a curriculum to only one child, but I have found it is easier to pick and choose from many sources and create my own curriculum. Though this more eclectic approach works for me, it doesn't always work for every family. Remember, look to God for His plan for you and your family. He will guide you.

What about homeschooling only one in a homeschooling world where 'onesies' are not the norm? It’s easy to feel alone when you are homeschooling only one. I have found it to be common most people will assume if you homeschool, you have more than one child. Be aware of those moments that may be awkward when you announce you are homeschooling only one child or even have an "only." If we work together as a homeschooling community, we can all learn from and grow with each other.

Homeschooling only one is a wonderful opportunity, especially when following God's plan for your family. I feel I could share more and more about this subject but, there is a much better resource out there for us; Donna Conner. (I mentioned Donna’s book earlier). You can find Donna sitting on HSB's Company Porch every Friday, on her blog at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/donnac or her own website/ message board (www.donnac.com) for homeschoolers of onlies.