I totally identified with your article: I am a homeschooling mom but also a certified teacher, and have been teaching for the past 20 years. It’s definitely a learning curve, especially if you tend to think of homeschooling literally as “school at home”. It took me about a year to relax about that.

One thing that really helped me to embrace different homeschooling methods was when I began teaching private expository writing classes to homeschoolers in our area (metro-Atlanta). I got a glimpse into how other families “did” homeschooling, and it gave me confidence when it became time for me to teach my own kids.

Also, my employer (Sylvan Learning Center) has recently launched a homeschool program here in Atlanta. Beginning in June, we’ll be offering all kinds of classes during the school day for homeschoolers: math (all levels), social science, and of course academic writing (taught by yours truly). Their discounts and referral programs are excellent, as well as their testing services. My own kids will be enrolling for classes, too, and it’s nice to have someone else teach them something that I may not be as strong in (like, say, algebra). Fellow Atlantans who may want to know more can go to the website: http://www.sylvanhomeschooling.com. (Hopefully the trend will catch on in other Sylvans around the country.)

Hang in there, Mimi! And thanks for the blog! Love it!

Nancy Slagle