By Joyce Coronel
Kris Hansen has a master’s degree in biology and teaches online courses through Mesa Community College, but she’s also got a more an unconventional teaching gig. The mother of five teaches chemistry, natural science and biology to children, all from a friend’s spacious kitchen. The endeavor is part of the homeschooling movement, and the Tempe Public Library is offering a workshop Feb. 11 to assist parents like Hansen who educate their children at home. “Whatever my kids are learning that year in science I offer it to my friends’ children who are a similar age,” Hansen said. “I don’t think you should homeschool in a bubble and do everything yourself. Sometimes you need to reach out and get help. I would not hesitate to outsource what I can’t do well.” Hansen’s children are part of a growing trend nationwide. According to Nancy Manos of Arizona Families for Home Education, more than 32,000 Arizona students are learning at home rather than traditional schools. Manos, the mother of two grown daughters who were entirely homeschooled through 12th grade, serves on the board of AFHE. She’s offering a “Homeschooling 101” workshop Feb. 11 at the Tempe Public Library that will delve into curriculum approaches. Last month there were workshops that taught how to get started homeschooling and featured tips for success. “The whole thing with homeschooling is it’s the parent taking full responsibility for their child’s education,” Manos said. “Nobody is going to hand you a program and say this is what you need to do.” Both Manos and Hansen say that there are many benefits to educating a child at home—benefits that others might not readily see. “I really didn’t want to send them away for seven or eight hours a day and then get the leftovers at the end of the day,” Manos said. “I had the day with them to explore the joy of learning. It was really fun.” “It’s made for a stronger family,” Hansen added. “You’re together all the time so you have to get along. They don’t know any different — they don’t know that, in a regular school setting, sometimes your only friends are the same age.” Hansen’s oldest daughter is taking a foreign language class at a community college—not an unusual practice among homeschooled families. Two other children, a 9th and an 11th grader, play basketball together on a public high school team. Homeschooled children are allowed to participate in public school extracurricular activities such as sports or band. “It’s not abnormal for them to hang out with friends together. My older sister and I never did that,” Hansen said. Manos said one of the benefits of homeschooling is the one-on-one help students receive. If they need more assistance to master a concept, there’s time to do so, and if they excel in other areas, parents can pick up the pace. “In those moments where they struggled with a topic and then all of a sudden would get it, being able to be part of that was really special for me as a mom,” Manos said. “It helped create closeness in our family.” And while homeschooling was once viewed somewhat suspiciously by some, it’s gained more mainstream acceptance as well as support through the years. The Eagleridge Enrichment Program in Mesa offers homeschooling families the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of classes and activities during the week. Music, physical education and field trips are some of the resources available to homeschooled children. There’s also an annual statewide homeschooling conference at the Phoenix Convention Center each July that attracts families and vendors from around Arizona and the nation. Last year, 5,300 people attended, Manos said. Some 40 people participated in the last homeschooling workshop at the Tempe library, and Manos hopes for another strong turnout Feb. 11. “We’ll be talking about the different methods of teaching, such as the textbook-based, traditional approach or an eclectic approach,” Manos said. “The whole point is to help parents figure out, knowing their children, what the best approach might be.”
What: Homeschooling workshop
When: 6 p.m. Feb. 11
Where: Tempe Public Library
3500 S. Rural Road, Tempe
More: (480) 350-5500
tempe.gov /city-hall/community-services/tempepublic-
library
Arizona Families For Home Education: afhe.org
