Schooling, Public and Homeschool

Re: Is it possible...

Brandy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:55:40 GMT

cheap_yankee:
They tried hard, but constantly chasing down lesson plans, enrichment opportunities, socialization opportunities, not to mention dealing with children with less-than-patient temperments made them toss in the towel.

I forgot I wanted to ask why were they chasing down lesson plans? Were they trying to put together their own curriculum?

Many do follow some guideline or their own state's requirements to piecemeal curriculum or put together lessons. I do think this would take more time than many working parents might have the ability to give to it.

It's not necessary to homeschool this way, however. Many options, even somewhat frugal ones out there remove the lesson planning from the parents. Some even remove the instruction. I think these options would work better for a parent who does not have the time to spend on full lesson planning.

Re: Is it possible...

Brandy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:50:06 GMT

"About 1/3rd of the homeschoolers I know are "successful."

The very statistics on public education and homeschooling do not match what you are sharing here. It doesn't mean your experience is unreasonable. Your line of work puts you in the position of dealing with only those who are divorcing or having legal issues. I think your experience leaves you with an unbalanced view of homeschoolers on a whole. It's much like a police officer having a critical view of society because he deals with the worst of it every day.

cheap_yankee:
. Isn't the entire point of homeschooling to give our kids -more- than what the traditional school is offering

Many homeschoolers no longer care about thumping our chests and saying, "look how high my children can score on tests!" or trying to prove we are superior to those who put their children in public schools. Many of us are more concerned with the well being of our children and being able to meet their needs to the best of our ability.

I feel that if I have provided my children with a good foundation that helps them to achieve their goals in their futures, if I have taught them the skills needed so that they know how to learn for themselves and I have encouraged a true love for knowledge that will endure for a lifetime then we have been successful. If my children have the skills they need and find contentment in their choices in life, what does it matter if they scored ten points lower on a test than the public school student down the street or know words and phrases from two more languages than the public school child across the street?

cheap_yankee:
I worry when I hear parents talk about homeschooling to "minimum" school requirements

I understand that you are concerned that parents are failing to educate their children for their futures. If you are meaning that you see parents here speaking of teaching to the minimum, then I think you are misunderstanding. I see us informing you of the laws in our areas since you brought up what you thought were requirements. It doesn't mean we do not exceed those.

cheap_yankee:
Doesn't matter whether she works part-time or full-time, when you work and homeschool you serve two masters and serve neither one well.

The same could be suggested for working and parenting.

Re: Is it possible...

cheapChic — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:31:27 GMT

I think it can be done with the kids in evening or 3 days aweek what ever works out with the children and how responsible and a guide line for the kids to study when not at home also do a run first week then if it works out then go for it if not then go part time but it worrks with a cousin in moontana the kids study before mom gets home then a couple of hours of teaching but they are also farmers the oldest is 19 she already graduated and teaching the youngest the reading part unil mom gets mom then the mother does the rest it works for them...

good luck

cindy

Re: Is it possible...

Pat — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:08:26 GMT

cheap_yankee, I guess we know some very different people then. Almost all - I'd say 99% of all homeschoolers that I have known have been very successful. We also have different perspectives on what is a negative attitude. If you don't like homeschooling, that's fine. Not everyone agrees with the concept, but those who do, have the right to.

Re: Is it possible...

cheap_yankee — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:45:22 GMT

pat:
"Your numbers are interesting, but you're working from a negative viewpoint and making assumptions based on your own experience."

To play "devil's advocate" means to point out the other side of the issue. I have neither a negative or positive view of homeschooling in general, only some pragmatic observations about parents who've tried homeschooling and either succeeded beyond all expectations or failed miserably. The poster asked "is it possible." I see a lot of people in my line of work, including many homeschoolers, so I thought I'd just throw out some food for thought.

About 1/3rd of the homeschoolers I know are "successful." The parents who did wonderfully were dedicated stay-at-home moms(or in one case, a dad) who, for various reasons (frequent military moves, religious reasons, dislike of "consumerism" values, lousy school systems, etc.) decided to homeschool. Their kids have a structured 6-hour day, they use a formal curriculum (frequently borrowed from a regular school they respect such as Waldorf or religious-based but could/did not wish to attend), and they also spent additional time bringing their kids to extracurricular activities and sports for socialization. The kids usually studied year round and, in most cases, graduated a year or two ahead of their class and moved right on to college. The parents biggest challenge was incorporating appropriate science hands-on lab work into their curriculum. These kids all went on to top-notch colleges. Every one of the parents had that wonderful, beautiful patient temperment (that I envy) where they could spend all day with children repeating the same math lesson over and over again and never grow discouraged, and every one of the kids had that wonderful quiet disposition where they could sit still all day listening to mom/dad teach.

Another 1/3rd I know tried it for a number of years, but gave up and sent their kids to a regular school, either private or public with additional homeschooled "enrichment" at home. They tried hard, but constantly chasing down lesson plans, enrichment opportunities, socialization opportunities, not to mention dealing with children with less-than-patient temperments made them toss in the towel. Not having enough hours in the day because both Mom and Dad both needed to work (even if mom only worked part time) was always a significant cause of failure, although some parents just plain realized they didn't have "the gift" (that perfectly patient temperment with children). In most of these cases, not only did they throw in the towel, but when they tried to mainstream their kids they discovered their kids were significantly behind their public school peers in several major subjects (frequently math and science) and needed remediation. I fear our poster might possibly fall into this category were she to try to work and homeschool Lil'Pumpkin. Doesn't matter whether she works part-time or full-time, when you work and homeschool you serve two masters and serve neither one well.

The last 1/3rd not only failed miserably at homeschooling, but they were so rabid about the subject that they wouldn't listen or pay attention when it became obvious their kids were falling behind. Homeschooling was about them being able to beat their hands on their chest and shout "look at me ... I'm a martyr for my kids..." For various reasons, the kids would be years behind their peers, curriculum was scattered or nonexistent, marriages sometimes fell apart, DSS would occasionally step in, quite a few kids needed to go to counseling because there were other issues of dysfunction in the family, and there were a variety of other problems I've seen. I worry when I hear parents talk about homeschooling to "minimum" school requirements. Isn't the entire point of homeschooling to give our kids -more- than what the traditional school is offering, not the minimum?

I don't homeschool because I don't have the temperment for it. I -do- have the temperment to step into "second teacher" role. Hubby -does- have that wonderfully endlessly patient temperment, but we can't survive on just my income, so we are left with keeping a sharp eye on what our kids are being taught in school, what the research is showing the holes in the curriculum are, and filling in the gaps at home. In addition to 6 hours at school, our kids get an hour per day of some sort of exercise/sport program, half an hour directed to practice their music lesson, two hours of homework (or more if needed), they get sent outside to play for at least an hour of free play (usually whining "we waaaannnttt to come iiiiiinnnn"), a half-hour bedtime story, and a 10-minute family "silly song."

Re: Is it possible...

Brandy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:04:08 GMT

holly679:
Homeschooling is dear to me.. so I tend to ramble.

Like the rest of us never do? LOL!

Re: Is it possible...

holly679 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:41:26 GMT

Is it possible to work full-time and homeschool in the evening?

Hi! I am relatively new, (just posted this morning!) but this spoke to me, so I thought I would throw in my very humble opinion It is totally possible. I have done this in the past. When we first began homeschooling 10 years or so ago, I did not have a choice. I had some problems with our public school system with our oldest and pulled him out, but financially, I could not quit my job at that time. So, we did it and just made it work. I think the most important thing to remember and keep telling yourself is keep it simple. It is a really good mantra to follow.

Everything counts and for the two years that we homeschooled while I was working I used to beat myself up, because I was constantly wondering if I was doing enough, or missing things. Turns out that I really dont believe that if you put your heart in it, and follow your instincts, that you can go wrong. My oldest 15 right now, is about to enter a junior college this spring, (when he turns 16) and while he is not the smartest student that anyone has met,(there are areas that he struggles with such as writing papers) he held his own when applying and being accepted etc. He is on track to graduate from school (college and the police academy by the time he is 20.)

At the lower ages, just sitting at night and reading aloud together, picking out wonderful books and spending an hour exploring them together is a huge thing. I used to make dinner when the kids were younger and make it all about a certain letter when the kids were learning to read, for example we would have peanuts and peppers, and pork chops for the letter P. Learning does not have to be in a box. It is very possible to make it work. Well, that was a book! Homeschooling is dear to me.. so I tend to ramble.

Re: Is it possible...

Brandy — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:00:26 GMT

ohionative:
If you would like some websites that have information on the different subjects & also unschooling, let me know I'll post some

Please begin some new discussions on your experience with unschooling. It's not a method I use but others who read the posts here may be interested.

Re: Is it possible...

ohionative — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:31:26 GMT

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=TX You don't even haveto notify the school in Texas that you are homeschooling. All you have to do is reading, math,, spelling,grammar & good citizenship. No tests or evaluations are required. No certain amount of days are required.Basically called a state with no requirements. If you would like some websites that have information on the different subjects & also unschooling, let me know I'll post some. There are thousands of websites that have good learning materials on them. Lisa

Re: Is it possible...

MarthaMFI — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:50:28 GMT

I think they offer the dance and martial arts because there is those places right there and they don't have a gym. I believe they uses some local churches gyms for reg. PE or the park on a nice day. there are a couple churches with gyms within blocks of their place. I am pretty sure you have to have PE. Here you have to take PE until grade 10 in reg school to graduate.

They normally offer courses that the parents would like to see like creative writing or algebra. I wouldn't be able to teach my kids those things. hated creative writing and barely passed algebra! You don't have to take the courses, they just offer them.

There is a social aspect, they have pizza days, a student council etc. I think it is kinda of the best of both worlds type of thing. as I say you don't have to sign up for this type of homeschooling.

Most kids I know are in after school/weekend activities. Lots are offered at a reasonable cost here. plus there is help for lower income families. Plus lots of programs run for 10 weeks so you are not stuck for months with the same activity. plus dropins for gymastics etc for younger kids.

I enrolled ds for soccer that runs from sept to march $130 plus dd wants to do it but will discuss it with her very seriously first. not a fan of exercise. I know I will probably put ds in ice skating in the fall to keep him busy. he needs that type of thing.

my kids are not the norm. because they only do one or two things at a time besides our reg playgroups etc.

Re: Is it possible...

karenteacher — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:28:05 GMT

MarthaMFI:
I am not 100% sure but I believe so because why would the homelearners offer classes?

Socialization, perhaps? All of the courses you list - gym and otherwise - are intended for groups, not individuals. Also, this type of group presentation makes a wider range of activities available than if each parent tried, individually, to provide for every interest each of their children has.

Re: Is it possible...

Brandy — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:13:23 GMT

MarthaMFI:
because why would the homelearners offer classes?

Perhaps there is a demand for extra-curricular activities, electives and other enriching lessons that parents feel help a child but are not necessarily required.

Re: Is it possible...

MarthaMFI — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:04:38 GMT

I am not 100% sure but I believe so because why would the homelearners offer classes? there is a martial arts and dance studio in the same building as the homelearners site. now this is if you enroll for homeschooling this way or you can be totally independant in homeschooling but you don't get to use their resources.

The govt is worried about kids fitness levels so that is why besides gym they now have daily fitness in class in elementary schools. should have it in high school because the kids we have had are pretty weak compared to us in our day :) our student could barely help dh bring the couch up the stairs to the livingroom.

that is the only comment on dd report cards is her lack of desire to do the daily fitness. not a big surprise to me. I told the teacher if she can play in the playground for hours and walk everywhere with grandma (doesn't drive) then she can do 20mins of gym. teacher a bit naive about kids. so amazingly the second report card had a better gym report :)

copied from their site. http://142.33.122.45/nwhl/glance.htm they do camps , field trips etc too.

Term 1 classes start the week of September 28th, 2009 and run for 8 weeks ending on November 20th, 2009.

Grade 3 - 8 classes are on Tuesdays and Fridays

Tuesday classes are Science and Personal Planning.
Friday classes are PE, Creative Writing & Art.

Primary Program (K-2) classes are on Wednesdays & Fridays

Primary Program……choose Wednesday or Friday morning
Primary mentorships such as yoga, art, martial arts & dance are on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

Re: Is it possible...

Brandy — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:25:18 GMT

MarthaMFI:
I found out that taking martial arts, gymastics etc counts as gym. same as taking piano lessons is music.

Is gym a requirement for homeschoolers there? Some states don't have requirements for it here so parents don't count those activities in. I don't add the time in to my daily schedule but it's listed on the records I keep for things taught or activities done.

Re: Is it possible...

MarthaMFI — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:40:22 GMT

I don't know about the US but here in my town when I looked into the homelearners program. I found out that taking martial arts, gymastics etc counts as gym. same as taking piano lessons is music. They have a few classes and they have martial arts classes at the place upstairs of them which counts as gym.

most parents have their kids in after school programs anyways so if you homeschool, it works. going to the aquarium or science world counts where for me it is just a day out. so I think homeschooling as an option is very doable here. my kids are happy with public school but if it doesn't work later I will always change.