Wondering What It’s Like to Homeschool in Marin County?
Marin Mommies presents a guest article from Marin mom and homeschooler Julie Schiffman, M. Ed.
Why would anyone choose to homeschool in a county where nearly every neighborhood is prized for its distinguished, award winning schools? Lots of reasons…
Deep learning—one of my favorite things about homeschooling is allowing my children the time and space to learn all about their curiosities and interests. Their school day never ends, so they do not have to stick to time schedules and are not bound by state standards for subject matter. Some of our favorite "curriculum units" have been Animal Rescue, Agriculture, How It’s Made, and Our Community. Because these themes were interesting to my kids, we have participated in many field trips in and around Marin--the Humane Society, Richardson Bay Audubon, Wildcare, Petaluma farms and dairies, Heath Ceramics, Mrs. Grossman’s, Jelly Belly Factory, Marin County Fire Dept., Marin Municipal Water District, Muir Woods, etc. are just a sampling of the many hands-on learning experiences we’ve had.
Customized education—when I was a teacher in public school, I’d always felt that every child deserved an Individualized Education Plan (for the uninitiated, IEP’s are given to kids who receive special ed services). Homeschooling allows our kids to learn at their own pace, suited to their own learning styles (which are very different), all while pursuing their passions and interests. If something’s not working for us—be it boredom, confusion, pent-up energy, etc., we are able to adjust our approach and find something that works in harmony with their strengths and desires.
Family time—we cherish our calm and easy mornings! No alarm clocks--our boys wake up when their bodies are ready, and we go about our morning routines without stress or haste as we usually don’t schedule our first outing until 10 am. Afternoons and evenings are spent playing and relaxing... our "homework" includes LEGO building, taking apart old toys to see how they work, watching Mythbusters, and cooking dinner together. And when dad gets home from work a little late, he’ll have plenty of play time with his boys until they go to sleep a bit later that night knowing there’s no need to get up early the next morning.
Fabulous community—Marin has two thriving homeschooling networks: Marin Homeschoolers (a secular group) and Homeschoolers in Marin (HIM, a Christian group). With so many other Bay Area Networks such as SF BUN, BAGHS, and BAY Homeschoolers, there are ample opportunities to connect with other families. We have friends all over the Bay Area as well as right here down the street. Our calendar is full of classes, field trips, special events, picnics, potlucks, weekly Park Days, and seasonal celebrations with our friends. The moms and dads we have met through the homeschool community bring so many gifts into our lives when they share their talents and hobbies with us. I feel so fortunate to belong to this community of parent-educators.
Other perks—it’s a LOT of fun! We go to museums and attractions during the school day, and we never plan our trips during school vacations. We have more time to enjoy the experience when we’re not fighting with the crowds, and we can travel for weeks without worrying the kids are falling behind. Kids can do schoolwork in their pajamas all snuggled up next to their furry friends or outside on the back deck. Birthdays are always holidays...and I’m told the food is excellent!
Classes and Resources
There are many diverse homeschool classes available in Marin. Golden Gate Learning Center, Dirt Time, Trackers, Marin Shakespeare, Art Abloom, Studio 4 Art, and Play-Well Teknologies are just a few of the places that offer homeschool programming from 9 am–3 pm. Along with public school options CAVA K–12 and Pathways Charter, there are some new educational alternatives available to homeschoolers: Quantum Camps Microschool, and Fusion Academy. To see a complete list of resources, head over to www.marinhomeschoolers.org.
Please join us Sunday, January 25 at 1 pm at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley for the Marin Screening of the documentary Class Dismissed. Stick around for a Q&A to follow with writer/director Jeremy Stuart. To learn more about homeschooling, come to the annual Bay Area Homeschool Fair on Saturday, May 2, 2015 and join a homeschool network at www.marinhomeschoolers.org or www.homeschoolersinmarin.org.
Julie Schiffman, M.Ed., is a homeschooling mom with over 20 years of experience in traditional and alternative education. She is a regional representative for the Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) and a county contact for the Homeschool Association of California (HSC).
