home schooling kids

[SippinTea]

I'm responding late since I'm out of town and haven't checked the board much lately, but...

Melodya, I really liked post #8. Excellent thoughts. 

Not every homeschooler is socially stunted. Within the group that I'm in, they were very social and outspoken and well involved in the community. They knew what was going on, not just locally, but globally. They protested in Washington, met the president, rallied with goverment officials.....on and on. 

Not only that, but they paid attention to peoples needs in our community. While others were in public school, we were out painting bridges in the park, adopting a highway, visiting nursing homes.....

I could go on and on, but it's not necessary. My point is just that every homeschooler is different.

To me, homeschooling was beneficial for me in many ways. I learned more, actually ENJOYED school work, and most importantly, I got involved in my community. I was always on the go. I wasn't so tired from a full day of school and all the pressures there that I came home and went to bed, I got out there and actually cared about others that were in need of assistance. And since I wasn't in public school all day long and then riding a school bus home for two hours (even though I lived only a 1/4 mile from the school), I had time and energy to do more.

Woot! Love this, Ash.

DNR, I have no idea what state you live in, but I'm consistently astounded by your views of homeschooling. You must have been exposed to some real winners in this movement. My family has been highly involved in homeschooling for about 24 years now, and I can't imagine anything more awful than the homeschooling world you describe. I'm thankful I've only run into a handful of people who view/live homeschooling like you portray it.

In my experience, social skills only lack in homeschooling when the parents allow it. Or perhaps I should say when they fail to provide opportunities for social skills to not just develop, but thrive. The homeschoolers I know have very active kids... in sports, on teams, in classes (languages, life skills, etc), in speech clubs, in community projects and volunteer work, and are FAR more socially adept than the majority of the public school kids I know.

And speaking as a teacher, I'd ten times rather have a homeschooled student in my music classes than a public schooled student. Homeschoolers know how to think. And any skills that may be 'lacking' as far as group classes go are quickly and easily learned. (Although, truth be told, I've yet to see a homeschooled student who had any serious issues in that regard.)

My views only. Obviously, the experience of other will vary.

[myhaloisintheshop]

I have had experiences with homeschoolers like DNR describes.   And its quite possible that the reason for it was that the parents overly sheltered and social interaction WASNT a priority.

[Sis]

There is also a home schooling discussion going on at Facebook. An arrogant relative who's a teacher thinks that parents are basically too stupid to teach their kids at home and she insists that only certified teachers are able teach children.

Here's what one of her friends said about her own experience with home schooling her kids. I liked it.

"As far as outside experiences go....most home schools spend more of their time outside the "classroom" than public school kids are able to. All the subjects can be taught or built upon in a trip to a museum, the dinosaur park, a factory (guided tour), a hospital (guided tour), a police station, or even a walk around a lake. This gives the student a more holistic appreciation of the subjects being taught. They learn to see the interconnectedness of learning and how life isn't just static textbook subjects. They develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and how to apply what they learn in future learning (college). The peace of home allows them to focus and ask for help if they need it, or to zoom along in a subject they master easily. They are not held to a rigid time line of learning."

[Melody]

She must have missed all the data out there that shows homeschoolers test higher and are accepted to college easier.... than those taught by the certifieds.

[Sis]

I "mentioned" that. LOL She's pretty much into herself. I have another niece who's a principal in a school system and I get the same stuff from her. As a matter of fact, I heard that when I worked in the school.  I think they take a class that teaches that only certified teachers know how to teach properly.

I remember some in the lounge complaining that the parents taught their kids wrong and they had to reteach them correctly.  *SIGH*

[gospelgirl]

*SIIIIIIIGGHHHHHHH*  Not true of most. Maybe one or two or some in your circle.  The ones I knew played outside with the neighborhppd kids when they got home from school, and on weekends. The goal is NOT to protect kids from other kids and learning how to interact. The goal is to protect kids from being taught the leftist, socialist propaganda that the school system pushes.

They don't need to learn spells from the neighborhood practicing witch. They don't need to learn to be Muslim for a day including wearing headwear.  They don't need to learn to find their spirit guide and let that spirit guide them through life. They don't need to learn that parents ideas are old fashioned and they are the new voice for a new generation.

There IS a reason that I won't teach in the public schools anymore.

Great post Sis.

[Sis]

I just heard an ad for hkttp://k12.com as an alternative to public school. I looked it up and there's some information in there. Might be something to look into. I haven't read everything. It might just be for some states and not others, but it appears to be ok.

[Melody]

I'm not sure I've given an update and I don't know if there is a more recent thread on it.


This is our 2nd year of homeschooling and it's going well.  We started w/ ACE because it was very basic as we have made the transition. 

I ended up taking Andrew out the last quarter of his 5th grade year.  I think God pretty much had to push me out of the nest to get on it... lol

This year, only because it came together this way, we are using some ACE, some Alpha Omega, and some BJU.  My kids are learning, on target and developing their own groove.

Since the last post, Andrew has hit jr.high age, joined the youth group which also interacts periodically w/ the youth of our section also. Because our church is so large which means kids that are unchurched are always coming, I haven't really reached out to the local homeschooling group.

I feel like I'm just getting a handle on this and am starting to seek how to change some things. I'm more passionate about homeschooling than ever.  I have 1 friend that started homeschooling one of her children, and another that is researching everything she can to get the most out of it when she does start next year.

It's not knowing every move my kids are making, b/c really I don't scrutinize that much, but it sure does help knowing the context of situations and more in tune w/ my kids.  I'm seeing both good and challenging things in them that I just didn't have the capacity or tools to address previously.  Perhaps I just wasn't a good enough parent before?

This curriculum: Charlotte Mason. keeps coming to my attention.  I was wondering, since I can't recall from our long time ago discussions, whether anyone else uses or used that?  It's all very interesting.

I am seeking God if this is the direction we should go as it is not at all like ACE where the kids read and write incessantly it seems.  Though they do get are learning more than the "average" public schooler in a more long term way, it does leave something to be disired to have SO much paperwork.  One of my kids is a talker.  Let him discuss out a subject and he will know it in fine detail forever.  This doesn't work so well w/ ACE, though he is still doing well.

[Lynx]

It was long, long ago when I was homeschooled, but ACE was what we used.  I loved it.  Besides, Mom did much better field trips than any public school could do. 

[SippinTea]

My family is somewhat familiar with Charlotte Mason.

I REALLY like a lot of her style/approach but I would hesitate to use it entirely, because she's definitely more on the UNschooling side of things. And while I like education being part of everyday life, I think people who go entirely to UNschooling end up with mega-sized gaps in their kids education (I'm thinking primarily of Math and English).

Personally, when I'm homeschooling my own kids, I plan to have a fairly structured approach for Math and English and be a little more UNschooled on the other stuff. Reading history and science books out loud together, doing science experiments, maybe raising animals, doing lots of hands-on projects, etc. Those are the kinds of things the whole family can do together, and they provide learning opportunities for every age - parents included!

[Melody]

I appreciate that review Ruby. ☺

[Roscoe]

It was long, long ago when I was homeschooled, but ACE was what we used.  I loved it.  Besides, Mom did much better field trips than any public school could do. 

I was never homeschooled, but went to a church school that used the ACE program from k-9th grade. Still remember Ace, Racer, Pudge, Grandpa Lovejoy, and the gang fondly. My mother was our little school's ( about 20 kids) kindergarten teacher. When the church school closed, I went to public school and tested at 12th grade levels while in the 9th grade.

I trace my love for reading back to that little church school and have talked to several of my Mama's former students who ALL share the same love of reading. I feel that it gave me quite the leg up in academics, I just wish I'd been wiser and went to college after school. My wife and I have decided that Cheyenne will be enrolled in a local Christian school that uses the ACE program when she starts school this next year. It's expensive, but I'd work three jobs to afford it if we have to- she deserves the same kind of leg up that I had, and maybe she'll be smart enough to go to college and USE the education, unlike me. Unfortunately, home schooling is not an option for us right now, with our jobs and all.

[Melody]

Update:

The school year is over and I'm gearing up for the next. 

I still am feeling very torn about sending Andrew back into public school.  Academically, I believe he is getting just as much if not more than public school. But I also cannot provide band and sports, of which he would like and I want to take advantage of, in public school.

Now that he will be in middle school/jr.high I feel like the better part of character building and basic academics have been laid well.  However, adolescence is a very vulnerable time.  It's not so much of "is it there" but "will it stand" which is the same question of any adolescent regardless of their academy.

I see something has happened in society:

School is for academics, so academics are the priority.  Or are supposed to be.

Yet, it seems time is getting away from families to cover all the other important things involved in good character development, let alone spiritual.  And frankly, many, not all but many, are coming up short.

Oh they may have a decent education, but they are immature, immoral, and insecure. I have seen some that aren't, and they all admittedly come from such strong, Christian heritage, that it's a little baffling.   

And while school is for academics, and home is for character/spiritual rearing, the lack thereof creates a vacuum.  The public school system recognizes this and has tried to compensate, understanding to a certain degree that lack of it affects their ability to be successful in imparting knowledge, or the ability to learn, to children.

Well, because the public school system, both the larger scale and the local are NOT based on true morals, there is a disconnect and confusion.

So we then have SO many people coming out of highschool with an education full of holes and a misguided perspective of moral values.  It's not simply the school, it's the parents.  And I don't believe it started with my generation but before, and has become more unravelled than ever.

Yet, I see another issue in homeschooling.  And that being that the balance of both character development and academics is difficult.  Having enough time is Still a challenge!  And because we have taken both upon our shoulders, it is a heavy burden.  Compared to the cookie cutter public schooler, I know my kids are a well rounded success.  But If I was only looking to be equal or slightly better than what they would have at public school, then I have missed the REAL point of homeschooling. 

Maybe this is due to the fact that Andrew is turning 13 in a few weeks and there is a lot going on in an adolescent that honestly overwhelms me at times. 

Hannah will continue to be homeschooled.  We haven't reached a final word on Andrew. 

I know fear is not of God.  That faith and fear do not coexist.  Transparently though,  I feel like I just can't give enough.  No matter how I slice it, I still see lack.  It's frustrating.  I want to say, "Look here! A homeschooling kid that's perfect!" and thus exposing public school's deep flaws and debunking the ignorance that supports such a crooked system.  But I can't, and critics will use every individual's shortcomings to as defamation against homeschooling.  I want to be a testimony, but it's all I can do to raise my children in every aspect to be self-sustaining successful people.  The definition of "success" being as broad as the horizon.

I don't know if that makes any sense at all.  Ramblings of a homeschooling mother.   

I definitely see the advantage of parents being trained in homeschooling's options. I wish there was a class I could take even now! Certainly not like public school teachers are today trained to contain a mob and get them to score well on tests, because that is all they have time for really.  Just figuring out what's out there though is daunting to say the least.  I have gotten 0% farther on the Charlotte Mason system... lol

I want to go back and start over!  I want to start from kindergarten.  I want to already have connections and know the valuable keys to making it affordable and exponentially profitable. 

I suppose really the underlying theme of this post is not education but parenting.  My heart is heavy.  I don't consider my life a success and here I am trying also carry and make better my children's future.  Dear Lord! What is He thinking putting any in my care!

All that and I'd start all over again and give just about anything to have another baby... LOL

[Lynx]

The previous post said more than many books, in fewer words.

[Amelia Bedelia]

My brother was able to play sports in city leagues outside of the school system - does your community have anything like that?  Is there an opportunity for music through your church, other homeschooling groups or private music schools?