Theresa Dennison tutors a Foundations Class at Classical Conversations Homeschool Co-op at Crosspoint Church in Beckley. The program is broken into three parts according to age groups. Each group focuses on a different step in the learning process. Dennison oversees five tutors at the co-op.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — When choosing between a public and private school, many parents may not know that West Virginia offers a third option: homeschooling.
Homeschool education — parents teaching their own children — is gaining in popularity, according to local homeschool consultant Kristen Adkins.
Adkins, 40, is a former public and private school teacher who now homeschools her four children. A certified teacher, Adkins is also an education consultant for parents who need an advocate in private, public or homeschools and assists parents in helping their children to achieve educational goals.
She consults with parents who want to begin their own homeschool journeys.
Adkins’ blog, www.homeschoolingconsultation.blogspot.com provides information on how to start homeschooling and how to choose a curriculum, along with critiques of popular homeschool co-ops and stories from other homeschool parents.
“The main reason for me to homeschool is to educate my child as a whole person, not just academically,” said Adkins. “I want them to be well-rounded and have life skills, communication skills and to thrive academically.
“I also began homeschooling simply because I wanted to be with my own children,” she said. “As a teacher, I spent all day with other people’s children while I longed to be with my own.”
Adkins said she enjoys sharing her homeschool experience with local moms who want to teach their own children but who may have questions or feel like they’re not up to the challenge.
“If you have taught your child to tie his or her shoes or potty-trained them, you can do it,” said Adkins. “It is no different than teaching them anything else…
