Schooling, Public and Homeschool

Re: Homeschool thoughts

Brandy — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:05:03 GMT

HeyK:
"What about socialization?"

That question always strikes me as a funny one. I have always wondered if people thought we each hid in our own rooms all day never leaving the house or speaking to each other. I have only asked when really irritated though.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

HeyK — Thu, 22 May 2008 06:08:21 GMT

I chuckled when I saw your post. My Mom (a teacher) had the same concern when my SIL (also a teacher) decided to Home School ten years ago. Now, I laugh because my Mom wouldn't have it any other way and is a very vocal advocate of Home Schooling. My SIL was firm and polite and let time prove her case.

We had long time friends last year verbally attack us and Home Schooling as "living in our livingroom" and implying our child would be socially backwards if we Home Schooled. I was even confronted one day in the Grocery store checkout line by a retired teacher in the next line over! Basically, most people say those things out of ignorance...they've been fed a stereotype by perpetrated by the NEA and their local schoolboards and some teachers. In my community, the School system is paid per child/per day enrolled, so they're not going to applaud Home Schooling. I've found the best response is to smile sweetly and proceed to tick off the activities we choose to participate in. My child is very comfortable starting and carrying on conversations with children and adults. Many people are surprised, especially in the grocery store to hear her reading ingredients searching for hydrogenated oil.

Your post reminded me of a recent End of Co-Op picnic we had. We participate in a weekly Co-Operative group. We have four classes for each age /grade range (plus Latin for older children), taught by the moms. We finished the year with a play by my child's class and a gropu musical. Then we had our annual picnic. I had to laugh as I watched 85 children, playing on the playground/playing freeze tag and ball/swinging and sliding/visiting picnic blanket to picnic blanket. "What about socialization?" There was plenty of it... the differences being that in Home School: it's cool for the 15-year-old to talk to/help/play with the 6-year-old; your parent immediately knows on any given day whether or not the child is doing their work (no surprises); and peer pressure is pretty nonexistent. Four of the major plussses: we know WHO is teaching our child; WHAT our child is being taught; WHO our child's friends are; and the SAFETY of our child (our school system has some gang problems-the Superintendent flatly denied this 3 months ago, only to have the newspaper report a gang beat-in at a Middle School, gang graffiti at the High School and another Elementary school near our home).

We love that our daughter is being taught morals and values (not Humanism, Post-Modernism, or Relativism), she loves to learn and incorporates that learning into playing, we can take Home Schooling on the road with my DH's job, and we can pursue her interests.

Hang in there! You may want to check and see if there's a Home Schooling group in your area where you can get more information.

Sincerely,

Re: Homeschool thoughts

lala — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:39:46 GMT

babs:

That is so true. And the older they get if they have learned to study, they are self motivatied to do it theirself. Then there is the aspect of learning being hands on. Math is learned in the kitchen or sewing. science is learned in the garden. It may not look like school but it is learning. I started homeschooling in 1981 and will finally finish with my kids this year. DD wants me to help with her kids next year. lol Babs

Babs,

I expressed the same feelings to my dh. a trip to the grocery store is a lesson in economics. and a trip outside to see grasshoppers is a nature lesson. We have learning all around us. I think it has to do with being creative.

btw thanks for all the wonderful posts. they're very encouraging.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

TizzyLizzy — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:36:39 GMT

I finally just set my sights lower on our youngest, Brandy. She simply doesn't have the motivation, the want-to or, really, the intellect that the older two have. She loves her job and making money and I've satisfied myself with the fact that she'll never go hungry. Educationally, she's doing the bare minimum to graduate and since I'm older and lazier, I let her get by with it...Liz

Re: Homeschool thoughts

Brandy — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:08:09 GMT

babs:
And the older they get if they have learned to study, they are self motivatied to do it theirself.

I can only wish it worked that way with my oldest. The younger two are more motivated to learn on their own.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

TizzyLizzy — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:24:14 GMT

OMGosh, babs, you mean I'll never get to retire, lol??? Say it ain't so...Liz

Re: Homeschool thoughts

babs — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:46:19 GMT

That is so true. And the older they get if they have learned to study, they are self motivatied to do it theirself. Then there is the aspect of learning being hands on. Math is learned in the kitchen or sewing. science is learned in the garden. It may not look like school but it is learning. I started homeschooling in 1981 and will finally finish with my kids this year. DD wants me to help with her kids next year. lol Babs

Re: Homeschool thoughts

Brandy — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:01:52 GMT

TizzyLizzy:
I'm guilty of my own children looking as if they're 'doing one thing and not another'

I think you know my oldest has worked since she was sixteen and the middle child went on a shrimp boat with his Dad for a month. They were both active in helping when my husband had a martial arts school as well. I am sure we look as if we don't spend much time on studies but our average day is four hours and we school all year long including some weekends.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

TizzyLizzy — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:56:53 GMT

I'm guilty of my own children looking as if they're 'doing one thing and not another'. Our homeschool day starts fairly early and ends before noon - our youngest dd sometimes has to be at work at 10:30 a.m. As my children moved thru grades and (finally!) took on the responsibility of completing 'x' amount of work over the course of the quarter, they became more efficient at completing the work in a timely manner - shortening their school day considerably.

It could be that children seen 'not studying' have indeed completed their work for the day...just a thought. Liz

Re: Homeschool thoughts

Brandy — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:43:36 GMT

lala:
Our school system in our city is horrible.

That was one of the arguments I used for homeschooling. I didn't feel I could do worse than a public school. I have lived and schooled in two states that consistently remain at the bottom of the educational system. My husband and I consider ourselves victims of those systems. We wanted something better for our children.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

Brandy — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:36:39 GMT

gailewis:
Do you have patience?

I think many parents have the capacity for the patience required to homeschool. The question is do they want to take that extra step, do they feel confident they can dig deep and find it on those hard days when it wears thin.

gailewis:
-and they were spending their day taking care of the day care children, rather than studying

I think hands on experience with life and learning the skills needed in adult life is a great thing for all children. It has to be part of a full and sound education though. Does the mother you know think she is offering a good education?

Re: Homeschool thoughts

lala — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:34:49 GMT

Brandy:

lala:
how many of you have come across nay sayers?

It has not been the easiest path to take but I don't suppose life with children is ever easy. I don't regret homeschooling and I intend to have twelve more years ahead of us.

isn't that the truth. ever since our little angel arrived our lives have changed. there isn't anything that i wouldn't do for my little boy.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

Brandy — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:15:26 GMT

lala:
how many of you have come across nay sayers?

I began homeschooling our oldest child twelve years ago. It was not an educational choice that most people were making at the time so few understood it. I had little support from my family. My children are second generation homeschoolers so I had a great support system with my in-laws.

It has not been the easiest path to take but I don't suppose life with children is ever easy. I don't regret homeschooling and I intend to have twelve more years ahead of us.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

lala — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:08:21 GMT

I am a stay at home mom and i plan on being one when my ds gets older. i have an associates degree in human nutrition. so i have some college under my belt.

I see where you are coming from. I have found a great amount of patience when it comes to my child. My mind is always thinking about things that i could teach him. If it becomes to difficult we will send him to private school. We will find a way to pay for it.

Our school system in our city is horrible. We have several "F" schools. these are schools that are failing. some are "B" schools but most are "D".

I don't want my ds to be lost in the shuffle of 30 students.

Re: Homeschool thoughts

gailewis — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:30:44 GMT

I have a degree in Elem. Ed, and I substitute teach a lot. I have also worked in a job where I went into homes that offered home daycare to preschoolers. I worked with them on organization and curriculum. I have observed quite a bit of homeschooling in these daycare homes. I applaud your thoughts on homeschooling your child. You may want to think about your abilities in teaching. Do you have patience? Are you very organized? Can you take the time that is needed to do this? Can you put together a curriculum and gather the materials that you may need? Will you be strict enough to make sure your child is on task and engaged in learning activities? Is there an area in your home that can be used as a classroom with no other distractions? It doesn't work as well to have your child study at the kitchen table while the TV is on and you are cooking dinner (for example).

I have seen some wonderful home school situations, and some children who thrive in this environment. I have also seen some horrible situations---like the day care mom that "home schooled " her older children----and they were spending their day taking care of the day care children, rather than studying. I know you will not do that! Still, you need to access your skills and how you will meet your child's needs before you decide to do this.