First Genre- Narrative: My Experience

This is a Narrative that I actually wrote about my thoughts on homeschooling. Before I started homeschooling about three years ago, I had attended public school, and a few other school environments. My opinion is that homeschooling is much better than "traditional" methods, and I feel that I have gotten a better education in these past three years because of it.

My Personal Experience

I have heard people say that homeschoolers have no idea of what public school is actually like. I do, because for nine years, I went to public school. I have been homeschooled for about three years now, and I can definitely say that I prefer homeschooling to public school. I went to a small community public school, next to a private charter school, then back to public high school until finally my parents decided to homeschool me. The best thing about homeschooling is that your education is personalized. I am able to take classes at my own pace. I can finish a subject I am good at in under an hour, which leaves time for me to focus on a subject that I might have more trouble with. I don’t have to sit through long lectures of things I’ve already learned, and I don’t have to waste time with class distractions (fire drills, class clowns, student discipline) like one would have in public school.

Some people say that homeschoolers are un-socialized recluses. That is definitely not true. There are lots of homeschoolers all over the United States. Many cities have co-ops, and my family is a member of one in my community. I feel that I have met more people and have had better relationships than any I had ever had in public school. My co-op has social activities at least once every month (but usually more.)

I don’t miss public school at all. With homeschooling I am able to personalize my education and even take college level classes on a college campus during my senior year. I feel that I have learned and retained more because I can work at my own pace. But I do more than just one subject a day. I have a normal class load, and a few years, I‘ve been able to take more classes than I could have during a year in public school. I generally do school work from nine in the morning to four in the evening. Sometimes I go to seven or I end early, it all depends on what I have to do on a certain day.

Sure, homeschooling is different. But I feel that it is different from traditional schooling in a good way. I had learning disabilities, and I feel that my mom was able to work with me to clear those up, which was something that wasn’t being worked on in public school. Homeschooling can be intimidating and it’s a lot of work. Especially for your mom, or whichever of your parents plans your lessons, grades your work, and answers your questions in addition to running the home. I usually have a longer day than one does in public school (but that’s because homeschoolers don’t have homework.) But overall, I feel that I have better social interaction, better educational materials, better understanding of my classes, and a better experience with homeschooling than I ever did in public school.

Homeschooling is… a unique experience. It is different from public school, but not in a negative way. Homeschooling allows you to take control of your education in a more personal way.