Profiles in Co-Schooling: We didn’t plan on homeschooling
“I never planned to homeschool; but the pandemic provided the push I needed.” While their oldest daughter continued remote learning through the local middle school, Steve and Dawn realized that their younger two girls could benefit from something different. So they all hit the road. The 2-month long road trip as a family was their first foray into homeschooling. They tasted the good fruit that comes from time together, experiential learning, and instruction at their own pace. Not only did they learn about the history, geography and culture of different parts of the country, they also learned about themselves and grew closer as a family.
After finishing the trip, Dawn recognized her own need for support as a new home educator. She and Steve desired that their daughters receive the advantages of classroom education: the good of a group, science labs, studio art, and social connections. That’s when they turned to co-schooling through Greenhouse.
“I thank God that Greenhouse not only provided structure for our home school, but also provided a vibrant Christian community for me and our girls. It was important for us to find families that share similar values. While our girls developed quality friendships and loved their dynamic teachers, I received overwhelming support from the Greenhouse community. It was a tremendous blessing to know that we weren't alone as we navigated homeschooling for the first time!” The girls enjoyed the subjects at Greenhouse. They loved their 14-15 classmates, as well as the buddy relationships with older and younger students. Performing in the winter play and participating in the science fair were highlights of the year.
A Tutor Makes a Difference
To supplement her efforts as a new home schooler, Dawn sought a tutor. Enter Abby, a recent Greenhouse graduate. Dawn hired Abby to help keep her middle daughter on-track with her Greenhouse assignments. Knowing Greenhouse from personal experience, Abby could assist with understanding what was expected and in answering questions that arose when they met together twice a week. “Becoming a tutor and a friend to the girls was such a blessing. The girls and I were able to create memories over homework and games, all the while giving Dawn a break. Because I had attended Greenhouse, I knew how to help them with their homework. I loved seeing them grow in their abilities and interests throughout the year!”
Tutoring proved to be one of the keys that made co-schooling even more fruitful for the whole family. “Through the support of the Greenhouse community, and Abby, we were able to thrive during our early years of homeschooling. Not just academically, but also relationally and spiritually as a household.”
Many home-schooling families enlist the help of tutors. Some tutors assist with specific subjects like math or a foreign language. Others address special needs like reading issues. Tutoring can be a truly helpful addition to a home education, and can be configured in many different ways.
Learn more about co-schooling, the Greenhouse Christian Co-School and our core program for grades 1-12. Interested in applying? Make sure you visit our admissions page for application deadlines.