The story below is from our July/August 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Local families embrace homeschooling to tailor learning to their children’s needs, providing flexible, values-driven education and unique opportunities outside traditional schools.
Courtesy of Valley Forest School
Brittany McPherson leads story time with Valley Forest School students during their field trip to Carvins Cove.
Families choose alternatives to public school education for a variety of reasons. Parents often want to customize curriculum and the learning environment for each child, use different learning approaches and have the freedom to impart their values. Others think it offers a safer learning environment, or academic and life opportunities unavailable in traditional schools.
Virtual schooling and homeschooling alternatives differ in structure, delivery and oversight. Virtual schooling, like Roanoke County’s RCPSonline, Virtual Virginia and K12, provides online instructions through established institutions, while homeschooling involves parents taking responsibility for their child’s education, offering greater flexibility and autonomy in curriculum design and delivery.
Courtesy of Brittany McPherson
McPherson’s daughter, Phoebe, used cooled coals from the fire as face paint for the student-directed play.
“COVID caused people to confuse schooling at home with homeschooling,” says Vera Wilson, founder of The Road Less Traveled Homeschool Academy (TRLT). “Schooling at home is somebody else directing the curriculum, philosophy, homework requirements and times to be online — similar to what public schools did during COVID — whereas homeschooling is the parents deciding the philosophy, curriculum, schedule and evaluations, making shifts as the family grows. Homeschooling is a lifestyle.”
The Organization for Virginia Homeschoolers website states homeschooling in Virginia increased over 50% in the past decade with more than 65,000 children being homeschooled. Regionally, there are over 2,000 registered homeschool students, including 615 in Roanoke County, according to the Virginia Department of Education.
To meet state requirements, children must comply with the state compulsory attendance law. HEAV (Homeschool Educators Association of Virginia) and The Organization for Virginia provide extensive resources covering how to get started, homeschool philosophies and styles, curriculum ideas and annual conventions. Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HLDA) offers legal advocacy and advice.
Chrissie McNeil, Homeschool Coach & REALTOR® with First Choice Real Estate, LLC, felt called to homeschool their children and felt it was best for their family.
“Our oldest daughter went to a traditional school for Kindergarten only,” McNeil shares. “I really wanted to start homeschooling then, but people told me she really needed to be IN school because she was such a social butterfly… so... I sent her. We both hated it for a multitude of reasons.”
Three days before first grade, they began their homeschool journey.
Kelly Milam wanted input into what her girls were being taught so she reached out to three seasoned homeschool moms at church.
Milam shares, “They were encouraging and supportive. One of them invited me to learn about Classical Conversations (CC). That was the beginning of my 10-year journey with CC.”
Classical is one of many homeschool philosophies. Others include Charlotte Mason, Unschooling, Eclectic and Unit Studies.
Courtesy of Chrissie McNeil
The McNeil Family: Callen, Greyson, Rob, Isabelle, Chrissie, Emilie (Thanksgiving 2023)
Megan Saben and her husband agreed when they married to homeschool their children. She says they homeschool their five boys, ages seven to 17, because “we want them to know God, to read lots of books, to think, to explore personal interests and to have plenty of free time.” They enjoy having discussions throughout the day and addressing character issues as they arrive.
Saben was homeschooled through elementary school in Iowa in the 80’s and 90’s.
“For a while, it was illegal, and I remember picketing on the Capitol steps when a pastor was put in jail for homeschooling,” says Saben. “We were in the local news now and then because my parents were pioneers in the movement.”
Brittany McPherson, Outdoor Education professional, was homeschooled in elementary school then attended public school and was an honor student. Despite graduating from college with two degrees and feeling she did all the right things, she didn’t know her passions or plans. She wanted something different for her children and began homeschooling 10 years ago because she believes it is the right path for her children, now 10, 12 and 15.
“We have the time and flexibility to pursue individualized paths,” she says. “Each child can go at the pace that works for them.”
Courtesy of Chrissie McNeil
Siblings Callen 12, Greyson 10, Isabelle 6, worked together on a motors and simple machines project last year.
They participate in Great Valley Homeschool House, a co-op that meets weekly, and Valley Forest School, a supplemental drop-off program that teaches nature skills like foraging, fire building and water purification and a farm program that teaches gardening and farm skills.
Kathryn Keefer began home instruction with her daughters, Hailey, 15, and Makayla, 13, during COVID when public schools implemented virtual learning. After school reopened, the girls went back but it was not a good environment for their mental and emotional health, especially since they experienced bullying.
“I wanted them to feel safe, heard and loved – which they were not feeling in public school,” says Keefer.
After trying a private online school, they switched to Time4Learning and started participating in a Circle Group. Keefer emphasizes, “You know your kids best so do what you know is right for you and your family, knowing that everyone’s experience will look different.”
Wilson homeschooled her children after discovering her son was deaf and qualified for cochlear implant surgery which required multiple trips to UVA. To accommodate his needs, the family stayed home and helped him to hear and be verbal.
After homeschooling for nine years, “chasing classes all over” and trying some co-ops, she polled other moms to find out what they wanted in a school for homeschoolers. In September 2015, TRLT opened its doors offering a variety of pre-K – 12th grade classes. In the last few years, approximately 70 families with 200 students attended the Monday classes.
Unlike a co-op, parents are not required to teach a class. Instead, they pay a small fee for their children to attend and be taught by people passionate about their subject.
Students may attend all day or come just for a class or two. Plans include adding a second day of the week for theatre arts and choir as they gain access to the Old Colonial Elementary building.
Local homeschool academies and co-ops offer opportunities to learn together and classes cover a wide range of topics. Some families join for the classes while others join to broaden their social circles.
Courtesy of Chrissie McNeil
The concern about socialization arises when considering homeschooling, but many experienced homeschool mothers say their children interact with people of all ages through co-ops, apprenticeships, conversations with neighbors and everyday life situations. There are homeschool recreation leagues, social events, dances and field trips.
Saben says her boys bond with each other and friends over video games and they host a book club at their house, and hike with other families.
“We get compliments on how the kids engage with people of all ages,” McPherson shares. “They are exposed to a broader range of social situations because they are homeschooled, not in spite of it.”
For families considering homeschooling, McNeil offers programs at Franklin and Bedford County libraries where she covers the how-to’s of getting started. Renee Campbell offers these in Roanoke.
McNeil suggests finding a support system that includes those who encourage you and a seasoned homeschool parent.
“Even now I need one and I’ve been homeschooling for 11 years,” she says. “You need others who understand everything you’re doing and can lift you up on those days you feel like you might want to put them on that yellow bus (we’ve all been there), to bounce ideas off of, to be excited with you about new curriculum or something your family is doing.”
Other moms agree a support system is invaluable. They encourage becoming familiar with different philosophical approaches and curriculums and visiting local co-ops.
“Homeschooling is about so much more than school...it’s about doing life together as a family and cultivating that love of learning,” McNeil emphasizes.
The story above is from our July/August 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!