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OT - Lots of homeschooling questions
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Question:
Who here homeschools?
Why do you homeschool?
How long have you been homeschooling?
How long do you think you will continue homeschooling?
Have you picked an age/grade when you think you would like your child(ren)
to go to school?
Was homeschooling *really* a mutual decision in your home?
Before you actually *did* homeschool did you feel that you were academically
strong enough yourself to do it?
Have you been happy doing it?
Do/does your children/child enjoy it?
For those of you (if there is anyone) who homeschooled and now the
child(ren) is/are in school, are/is your children/child ahead of their
peers, behind, or equal?
I'm asking all this cos Dylan and I just had the "are we going to
homeschool or what" talk. I have no idea why we do this every now and then
but anyway. He is way more into homeschooling then I am. I'm worried the
kids won't have friends, will feel weird that they're doing something
different, I don't want them to feel isolated by it. He said he thinks by
homeschooling till about the 7th grade the kids will end up ahead of their
peers academically. The base has a homeschooling association so I can get
info from them on exactly what we need to do I guess. He's saying now he
doesn't think he wants Charlotte to go to preschool in the Fall, that "we"
should homeschool instead. He also thinks that with homeschooling we can go
on leave whenever we want (and not worry about the kids missing classes),
and we can move any time in the year, and it can be done year-round. I know
some military kids are homeschooled cos it's the only way that a kid who
moves a lot can keep his/her education consistent I guess. I'm not totally
opposed to it but I just wonder if I'm smart enough to know how to teach my
kids. Does that make sense? I guess I'm just curious as to why and how
people homeschool.
And anyone who is thinking about homeschooling, answer too please, on
why/how you think you might homeschool too.
Answer:
- Just to give the other side of the coin: I don't homeschool,
and don't plan to, and am currently happy with the education my
children are getting (though if they don't straighten out some
budget issues, I'm going to start raising cain). I would homeschool
if I didn't think my children's educational needs could be met
in another situation, but otherwise I am happy not to have to do
that. I don't particularly have the temperment to do it, and I
like that the kids have established student-teacher relationships
with people other than me.
I grew up a military brat, changing schools every few
years. There were ups and downs to that, but personally I found
the ups to outweigh the downs. The trick, however, is arranging
things so that the schools the kids attend are good ones. That
probably is more difficult today than it was when I was a child.
You also pay a price for that. The number one criteria when my
parents looked for housing was the school district. Sometimes
that meant renting instead of buying a house, long commutes,
taking postings that weren't as good career-wise, etc.. There
were real sacrifices involved in ensuring that we had a good
education, and I'm sure some others would feel that the sacrifices
involved with homeschooling are easier than the sacrifices
associated with getting a good education while moving all
over the country.
I think that it is usually possible for homeschoolers
to overcome the disadvantages associated with homeschooling
and develop well-educated, well-rounded, socially adept kids--
but not all homeschoolers do that. I think that it is usually
possible for those who send their kids out to school to
overcome the disadvantages associated with public schooling
and develop well-educated, well-rounded, socially adept
kids--but not all public schoolers do that either. I think
it boils down to your particular family situation, the
opportunities available to you, your personality and the
personality of your kids, and so forth. I think it is
generally wise to stake out a personal preference and
work toward it, but to make bottom line educational decisions
on a kid-by-kid, year-by-year basis.
Also, since you will bear the brunt of the burden of
homeschooling, I think that you ultimately have to really
want to make that commitment. No matter what the advantages,
if you cannot be happy doing it, then you are not the person
to be teaching your children in this way (obviously, you
are alway teaching your children some things, regardless
of whether you homeschool or not).
- In no certain order, just the order I am thinking the reasons up:
1. I feel it's the parents' job to.
2. I strongly believe no public school can adequately educate a child. I
have total say in how my children are taught. (especially reading! I believe
in phonics, the schools in my area don't use phonics)
3. I believe homeschooling teaches more life skills than school.
4. Not a real reason, but a pro of homeschooling- it's very convenient,
especially for families where the father works something other than a 9-5
job, or there are family emergencies, or whatever.
I guess since birth :o) My kids have never been to school.
I'm not sure about this. As long as everyone's happy it could be until high
school is over.
After dh got over his initial closed-mindedness about it, yes. He totally
agrees with it and even encourages it to other families who mention that
they are considering it.
When I was first considering it, I wondered if I'd be able to, if I were
smart enough...and after reading more about it I saw you don't have to be a
genius to homeschool LOL
Everything they learn reinforces my satisfaction with
it. When my oldest learned to read last year, I was in awe that a lowly
homeschooler taught her to read, and read well ;
They both love school and doing work. My oldest will do
schoolwork all day if I let her, but you just have to make dinner sometime!
That was a worry I had at first, but my kids easily make friends wiht other
children and there are kids in the neighborhood. And really, the subject of
school just isn't that important to younger school-age kids, IME they don't
care where or how you go to school. And I've heard so many older students
say they wish they were homeschooled.
He said he thinks by
Of course you're smart enough! You're Sophie! lol The very first advice I'd
ever give someone wanting to homeschool is "Have faith in yourself".
Especially in the beginnings of it all, it can be scary starting out. I know
I emailed one friend who homeschools about once a week wondering if I was
doing it right LOL and worrying if I was wrong.
- We do.
Personally tailored education program, safety reasons, positive instead of
negative socialization, learn at their own pace-freedom to pursue their
interests, religious reasons 3 years
Through high school
Most definitely. Homeschooling when only one parent wants to do it is a
recipe for a big disaster. I've seen it.
I know that my guys are ahead in some things such as math and reading,
geography. On par with others like science. And behind on some others like
handwriting and history.
I'll give you my two cents. If you are really against homeschooling
Charlotte next year then don't do it. You are the primary one the
responsibilty falls on. It's easy for Dylan to talk the talk but you are the
one who has to do it. If you are open to it but not sure-then go ahead and
try. Pre-school/kindergarten is more about exposing your children to
experiences and giving them a joy of learning than hard core academics. I
have no doubt in my mind that you are more than capable of homeschooling
your children but if someone doesn't want to then it doesn't matter if they
have a doctorate in education, they shouldn't do it.
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