What do moms think of Homeschooling?

Jennifer - posted on 01/21/2010

I do know there is a group of homeschool kids that get togther. If the parents have trouble as they get older some parents will go in togther and pay a teacher to teach their kids. So there are other opertunities out there. I am think of doing home school when my kids hit middle school. There is a lot of villance in schools now.

Madalyn - posted on 01/21/2010

I home school my 3 boys..we love it . They are 12,15 and 16. I have been homeschooling for 5 years. As for the "socialization" that people say that they can't have being schooled at home, is so not the case. There are several things to do for your child ( homeschool groups, recreation classes, play dates, church, family ) , so many ways to "socialize" your child. The benefits more than outweigh the cons of teaching your child, you have been their teacher since the day that they were born, why couldn't you continue that. You know whats best for them and with all of the violence and drugs in public schools these days..This is after all my opinion , but I truly believe in home school and think it makes a world of difference in how my children learn and that learning isn't just in eight hours a day..learning can be all the time..life is learning. I feel that our family is much closer because of our choice. I hope this can be of help to you.

Crystal - posted on 01/20/2010

we homeschool and love it. we take her to the ymca 2 times a week for social time, they have a homeschool gym class there. i will never put my children in school. i feel lead to homeschool. so i say go for it. at least try it. where are you from, you can find all kinds of cool things to teach your child!

Jaelyn - posted on 01/20/2010

@Renae - There are a LOT of online based charter schools that are considered "homeschool". The school my son is supervised with is called CAVA and once he reaches 4th grade I believe, the materials are all presented online/ I then can step back from the teaching aspect of it, and have the opportunity to learn along with him to give helpas needed for subjects I am not strong in :)



Or course there is also the option to print the lesson and teach it myself if I feel comfortable doing so. Most of the lessons from K-on have some sort of online presentation that goes along with it to aid in teaching the material as well as a step by step guide for us to teach the material, including what questions to ask, how to phrase it and expected possible answers. Plus there is a supervising teacher who can step in and help teach or takeover a certain lesson if needed.



There are a lot of options. That was a big fear of mine as I am not very strong in math, thankfully I dont have to worry about it and may even be able to improve myself in the subject by going through it again my my kids :)

Megan - posted on 01/20/2010

Renae, there is so much available online that will help with the harder subjects. But honestly i would dual enroll when they get to high school and take some of those courses at a community college since they have to take prerequisites that make them repeat a lot of the science and chemistry. Take chemistry 101 in college and they can knock of a science and also not have to repeat what they just took in high school. Also there are kits available online for chemistry projects too. Hope this helps calm some of your fears. And really by the time they get into the high school grades they should be primarily teaching themselves by researching information and only come to you with the occasional question....and with google and other online resources I have yet to come up without an answer. Good luck

Renae - posted on 01/20/2010

All of you home-schooling mums have changed my opinion on it, thank you for the insight. I had always wondered about the socialization aspect.



But I am still left wondering? What do you do when they get to advanced physics or chemistry if you are not a science minded person yourself? Or even advanced math or geography, not of us aren't that good at everything! Just wondering.



Kellie have you made a decision?

Katherine - posted on 01/19/2010

I was homeschooled and am considering schooling mu kids as well, atleast untill they are in grade five or six, when they will have a better idea of who they are, instead of becoming what there friends are.

Jaelyn - posted on 01/18/2010

Hi,

I homeschool my kids who are ages 3 and 7. Well there isn't much to do with my 3 yr old, but we work on the basics, she is learning her letter phonics at the moment, can add simple numbers and is learning to write her name :) My son is homeschooled but his education is supervised by CAVA (California Virtual Academy) a public charter school. They do not provide materials for pre-school, you can enroll with CAVA at age 4/5 depending on when your birthdate falls in the year. They are AMAZING! They provide all materials, books, curriculum, a daily lesson plan complete with detailed instructions on how to teach it if you are unsure, as well as provides a computer and printer for free. They also include all the incidentals like pattern blocks, pretty much everything you would need to teach the lesson except pencils, pens, crayons, printer ink, and paper, that sort of thing.

Another nice feature is that you can work at your own pacce, whatever works for your child. They advances through grades based on age so there is no repetition, however the curriculum level is matched to your childs needs. An example, my son who is in 2nd grade has 3rd grade math and science, 2nd grade music, art, and history, and 1st grade phonics and language arts where he is struggling.

Since they are a charter school, they arrange all required state testing, have a teacher that you can go to with any concerns, have normal resources such as Title 1 and IEP for learnign disabilities. They have parent chat sessions where you can log in and talk to other parents for advice or feedback. They plan regular "outtings" or field trips so your child can socialize with other Cava kids in your area, usually at least 2 a week, depending on how good your supervising teacher is :) They also have organized sports that I believe begins at the 3rd grade level.

There is so much more I could go on and on :) The biggest pro for me is that we can do school anywhere. Most lessons are presented online so you need a WiFi connection, but a lot of them can be printed and taken with you. So there is no missed school for trips, appts, etc. No worrying about getting up or being late or forgetting lunches or having clean clothes.

There are only a few cons, one being that your childs education is your responsibility and that is a huge burden to bear. Even though my son has a learning disability and struggles with reading, I still feel guilty that he cannot fluently read yet, even though I have done nothing wrong. The outcome would have been the same or worse in a regular school as he gets individualized attention from me. Another con is you have to be very disciplined to make sure you do school time regularly, it can be very easy to put it off. While they let you work at your own pace if they do not see progress, they will contact you to find out whats going on so there is accountability which helps.

A lot of people say a con is lack of socialization, but I think that depends on your child. My kids are sooo outgoing they make friends whereever they go, parks, playplaces, etc so that has never been an issue. If anything they are better for it, they are polite, well-mannered and act age appropriate, without the pressure to grow up too quickly. Also they are not concerned with material items, as they do not see what is popular. When I asked what they wanted for Christmas this year they honestly couldnt tell me, which I love. They NEVER beg or ask repeatedly for things such as toys and delight in gifts when they do get them.

We have a playroom/classroom set upat home to try to give them a real experience. I found some used desks and a used round school table and chairs. I went to the dollar store and got a bunch of classroom decorations so there is bulletin boards and whatnot with things like the ABCs, numbers, months, days of the week, colors, shapes, etc. We have a huge whiteboard hanging on the wall for me to write assignments ot spell things out as an aid. We have a treadmil, trampoline and a Wii Fit, so they get plenty of excercise, probably more than they would in school. Also we do not have cable tv, my hubby and I watch shows we like online free and the kids tv time is limited to movies, mostly educational. As a result they both are very creative and have great imaginations, I love it! It was a struggle for my hubby to give up the satelite, not me though, I find that when we have it I will get lazy and watch it just because its there. So it is better for me.

I decided to homeschool for a few reasons. 1st was that my sn has a severe form of Bipolar disorder. He went to kindergarten briefly and spent 2 months in a public school then 3 months in a private school and he just wasnt thriving. So that was when I decided to homeschool. Another reason I wanted to do as was because I know he is stronger in some areas than others and wanted the flexibility to move ahead in subjects he does well in to continually challenge him. Finally I can control what he learns. We are Christian and I have decided to not teach him about evolution at this point. They begin teaching about it in the 2nd grade and I just opted to skip it. I will teach him about it later on so he is not lost, when he is old enough to understand, however I will present it as a theory that some people beleive rather than factual truth as it is presented in school.

Well thats enough for now :) If you would like to chat about it more you can email me at jaelynrae08@hotmail.com

If you want more info on the school google CAVA, California Virtual Academy, I am not sure what areas they cover (or where you are located), however if they are not in your area, I am sure there is something similar, google "public charter school". The curriculum they use is K12, which you can also google to get more info, they have a very detailed website. If there isnt a charter school in your area, you can purchase the curriculum directly from K12 and will get all the same materials, but you will have to cover the cost. They may have other resources to help with that as well, I never checked.

Hope that helps! :)

Megan - posted on 01/18/2010

YAY! I WAS HOME SCHOOLED AND NOW I AM A MOM AND PLAN TO HOME SCHOOL MY DAUGHTER! I have been in foreign public and private school, then public and private schools in the states, then requested to be home schooled. I was home schooled 8-12 grade. I would recommend getting your ged along with a homeschool transcript as it makes getting into a college a lot easier. As far as socialization - there are tons of homeschool groups out there to hook up with for field trips. If you think about it school is the only time in your kids life that they are surrounded by only their peers. As soon as the enter college or the career of their choice they will have to deal with people younger and older so being in public school with only your peers is not really preparing them for the real world. Also, as a home schooled student you are taught to search out the answers instead of being spoon fed in a classroom, you can go at your own pace, and it better prepares you for college in teaching you to work and research for papers on your own instead of groups (group projects are rare in college!). There are a lot of good things to say about public and private school too, but if you have the heart to teach your child you will NOT be doing any harm by teaching them yourselves. There are so many resources out there now! I LOVED BEING HOME SCHOOLED AND I HAVE AN A.A. AND AM VERY WELL SOCIALIZED!! Good luck - I hope you find what is right for you and your child! Feel free to contact me if you have anymore questions about what is like for the child being home schooled. :)

Jessica - posted on 01/16/2010

If your considering homeschooling. Try looking into the cyber charter schools in your area. and then the issue of socialization wont seem like such an issue. that has been the #1 question always whenever homeschooling is mentioned. I homeschool my daughter who is ten. We just started this year and friends and socialization are never an issue. Her education has taken such a leap forward and our bond has strengthened so much over this past school year.
good luck

Rebecca - posted on 01/16/2010

I home school 3 of my children. We love it. The kids get to be with each other all day long, so they have a very strong bong. We go at each child's pace in each subject. My kids are in school an average of 4-5 hrs a day, so they can have a life.
They are socialized through friends in the neighborhood, church, and sports activities.Don't buy into the idea that your children will be social outcasts unless you allow that. My kids are very well spoken and they can relate not only to children their own age but also to adults.
It's also nice if you have younger children because schooling at home gets them involved at a younger age.
If you research how home school kids fair compared to public school kids, you will see that homeschooling done right is the best way. Homeschoolers tend to do better with ACTs, SATs, better grades in college, more active in college functions, higher college graduation rate.
I have done the public route, and it did not fit our families desires for our children's education. We love homeschooling!

Diana - posted on 01/16/2010

I am homeschooling my four children 11,10,8, and 5. I really enjoy it. Our family travels and moves quite a bit and we have one little one that has some special challenges. Homeschooling fits us great. I enjoy being involved in what they are learning. My kids are involved in local sports, in church activities and in a local coop that meets twice a month. It does make motherhood even more demanding. There are days when things don't go so well, but over all we are all very happy and wouldn't do it any other way.

Vicki - posted on 01/15/2010

i am in australia and did homeschooling for my second eldest(11) it is alot of work , we recived booked from distance ed and we worked along with phone lesson , i personally hated it but since then my son has been doing really well in public school as he never wants to go back to being home full time with no friends

Kelly - posted on 01/15/2010

About Socialization: One of the biggest pros with homeschooling - your kids are able to Socialize with people/kids of all ages. I know many public and private school kids and they are handicapped because they only want to play with kids that are the same age.... and the same gender. Besides, you don't send your kids to school to socialize - you send them to learn! There are plenty of opportunities for socialization (different activities/sports/dance/etc... churches... other homeschool groups) I'm sure there's a group in your area - there are always trips to different places with homeschoolers.



Or, look into K12 - it's an online school. In Texas it's a Charter School so, you've got a good education... and socialization.... plus you get the home environment.



I enjoy the fact that the kids don't have to do 6 hours a day - plus, you teach them what they are interested in.... For instance, my oldest (now 13), a boy, loves to read because he was able to choose topics that interested him.



There are so many "pros"..... and most of the "cons" aren't always real issues (i.e., "socialization" - sorry, I've heard that one a lot and it really urks me when I see how it affects the other kids!)

Kimberly - posted on 01/15/2010

I disagree with those claiming that socialization will be a problem. Kids in schools socialize mainly with kids their own age and are not exposed to people of different ages as are homeschooled children. I think homeschooled children tend to mature well since they can develop trusting relationships with more adults and even children that are younger than them, helping them to respect adults and have patience with younger people. I have no problem with socialization. We have many playgroup possibilities and there is always something to do and somewhere to go. You are only limited by your imagination. I don't agree with the type of "competition" children are learning in school. Too much is placed on clothing and material items. And in public schools too much emphasis is placed on testing like the FCAT. There is very much a herd mentality, you have to keep up with th herd and the teacher "sprays and prays" info and has to move on quickly no matter who is having trouble catching on to a lesson. You can either choose the herd approach or an individualized plan of education that will prepare your child for real life. "Real life" seldom mimics your school days. Look how you live your life now and how many of us still surround ourselves with all teh characters from our school days?

Cheryl - posted on 01/14/2010

Hi Kellie, I have been homeschooling for four years. I took my daughters home when they were going into 6th grade. I love it and the pro's are too many to list. It can cost money if you choose to stay out of public school but there are charter schools avaiable as well. I love the book "Educating the Wholehearted Child" by the Clarksons as well as the "Charlotte Mason Companion". They are great books! Also, read "Cathy Duffy's 100" and Jim Trelese's book of recommended books. Classical Conversations is an awesome program that you look up on the web as well. My girls take ouside classes, attend youth, theater group and play a sport. Overscheduling is tempting but so far we keep to one outside activity per semester & it works for us. I also have a fourth grader & a kindergartener who attend a small christian school near our home. My mantra: one year at a time, one child at a time. Each year we reevaluate what their needs are and go from there. We belong to an Independant Study group that has more to offer than we could ever do :) They also provide my legal covering and forms, grading, planning ect. Keep investigating. You can ask people for advice and opinions all day but unless you talk with people who are doing it you will not get an accuarate description. Best to you! You can do it! Imagine, raising your own child just like we've done for 1000's of years! What a concept! Go for it!

Wendy - posted on 01/14/2010

I come from a larger family, and my siblings and I were all homeschooled at some point. But it was after we had all been in public schools for a few years and had good groups of friends. I homeschooled for a couple of years from grade 5-7 and my socialization did not suffer at all in this time. We were also from a small-ish community. I did not continue the homeschooling because there were things I wanted to do with my peers in highschool classes. My little brother however homeschooled for many years and greatly enjoyed himself, and had many many friends. He only went back to school when we moved and did not know anybody in area we moved to.

Kathia - posted on 01/14/2010

I homeschooled my daughter for 5 years. As a result, when she went back to school entering 6th grade, she was moved up to 7th grade. It's a great experience if the child wants to do it. My 6 yo does not want to be homeschooled and I put her in public school. In my opinion it works out as a whole. You can vacation during times that school is not on vacation breaks. Your child is learning at their pace. I had a curriculum but I was very flexible with it. If my daughter was interested in something I would teach her that specific interest. We started out with books and then had a combo of book and online learning. The cons for me were just it got harder once I had more children.

Tricia - posted on 01/13/2010

Amen!

Tricia - posted on 01/13/2010

I homeschool all my children I use Abeka Acadmey DVDs. They have their master teachers teach theses classes. Two of my children are in 6th grade and my oldest went to 10th grade using it. My children socialize so well people think they are much older and are very polite and helpful. None of my chidren have bad self esteem and are very positive about school and all have plans for continued educaton. We are very close. Our whole family works as a team to care for the home and each other. I choose where my chidren will socialize, for example my 11 year old has been in dance since she was 6 her best friend morgan she meet in dance almost 4 years ago. Her mother alo homeschooled and also was a Christian. My son and daughter take Taekwondo 3 times per week and go to Awanas once a week. There always so much they can do with other homeschool groups it crazy at times. there is also coops you can join. i'm a part of YHSA (York Home School Assoiciation) that was very helpful when I first started. We have been blessed with a wonderful family and ?I am able to stay home with them. I couldn't omagine them being gone every day all day with strangers teaching them things I might not agree with. They love being home schooled and are well above grade adverage according to testing that is manditory by state. There are no cons in my book because every difficulty we faced made us better people. My God Bless your decsion.

Ginger - posted on 01/13/2010

i think that homeschooling is a decision that needs to be considered in depth and carefully. and what works for one child may not work for another. I went to public school all my life and I did well. My little sister was homeschooled from 3rd grade thru 8th grade. She returned to public school as a freshman and had no problems adjusting. She is about to graduate and is fairly high in her class. That was probably the best for her though, in k,1,and 2nd grade she always did well academically but she was very shy and only had a few friends. She was always finished with her work before most of the kids and ended up being bored. She never got into trouble but momma felt that she needed more to do. The whole class had to slow down for the kids that couldn't keep up. I was a more curious person and it would've drove me crazy to sit at home. I also loved to play sports and at that time in that area there was nothing for kids except public school programs and summertime softball. Now in many areas there are more options. As far as the struggles of getting her to do her work. Momma didn't fight with my sister to do her work any more than with me to get up and get ready and well as doing homework. Socialization....teachers used to tell us that "school was not social time" other than recess and lunch during hs we really only had a few minutes to socialize. One thing about sports and other activities through the school the school usually provides transportation where homeschooling you'll have to provide the transportation for those activities. But most other parents are willing to carpool and help each other out. It comes down to what is best for YOU and YOUR CHILD. And I think that it could be different with each child. I would not have done well I don't think but it was wonderful for my sister.

Monique - posted on 01/13/2010

I worked in the public school system for years, had my oldest daughter in public school and my son was in Kindergarten when I pulled them both out of school and started to homeschool them myself. Our reasons for homeschooling had more to do with my husbands traveling and work schedule and our attempts to spend more time together as a family. Socializing the children is VERY EASY. I'm actually incredibly annoyed with every single person that comes up to me to ask "What about socialization?"



A) My children go with me everywhere. To every appointment and errand. They are incredibly well-behaved and have learned how to associate with adults as well as children.

B) We have moved several times in the past few years and have been able to locate a Homeschooling Group by simply typing in "Homeschooling Group in (name of town)_________" in the Yahoo! search bar. Within these groups we have discovered co-op teach and learn groups, plus gym days and field trips with other homeschooling students. We have attended "Safety Days" that was organized at a church that had the firemen, EMT's, and policemen all prepared to teach homeschoolers the techniques of staying safe (just like the public schools provide for their students). My 3 children have been more active and busy with extra-curricular activities than they ever were while in the public schools. They couldn't have karate or dance because of all the homework they brought home that had to be completed in the evenings. Instead, my children accomplish their studies in the morning, we have a review period after lunch, and then the rest of their evenings are free. They never FAIL, because I work with them individually on anything they might have difficulty with UNTIL they are completely ready to move on to the next subject. What teacher with 30 other students in the classroom can do that for your child? Besides, we can concentrate more on my childrens interests and develop the lessons based on their learning styles. PLUS, there is a wealth of information and help for homeschoolers in this technological age that has never been available to homeschoolers before.

C) My children have been able to travel to places at all times of the year because they have never been restricted by the traditional school schedule. We went to Disney World when it was convenient for us, not their school schedule, therefore, we were able to go during a non-peak season and get our vacation for nearly HALF of what it would have costs us if we had to wait to go during Spring Break while everybody else is trying to visit Disney. And the lines were shorter!!! :-)



My oldest is thinking about re-entering the public schools just for college prep work next year. Even though I am more than certain that I can help her get into college, I will do what she thinks is best for her. I'm not happy about it, but I have been reading book after book about how to get homeschoolers into college. In fact, I find that more colleges accept homeschoolers because of their wealth of experiences before a student that has come from a traditional school setting. But, as with all things, I will cross that bridge when I get to it. For now, I get the ability to bring my children to the threshold of education, and watch them grow and learn every single day, while I learn with them. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I taught my 7 yr.old and 9 yr. old how to read, how to multiply, and helped my 12 year old understand why she needs to classify triangles by the degree of angles and length of sides!!! These are my accomplishments! Never will I be face with the sadness that I didn't spend enough time with my children, that I missed out on their childhood. Because I am right beside them, growing with them, laughing with them, crying with them, and learning with them. I recommend it to everyone!!

Lindsey - posted on 01/13/2010

tally, u said that ur daughter was in a lot of activities. did she ever feel uncomfortable or was treated differently by the other children for being home schooled?

Kirsten - posted on 01/13/2010

You can still have a lot of control and input into what your daughter is learning if she goes to public or private school Teachers love parents who are involved at school, ask their kids questions about their day, help with their homework, and keep up with what is going on in the classroom. I think homeschooling is a great option for some families but it does require a lot of work and extra planning on the family's part to make sure that kids are getting not just an education but the socialization that they need.

Monica - posted on 01/13/2010

I have to agree with all the other moms out there. HS children do not miss out on social interactions. There are so many groups out there that provide social activities for kids. I have 3 children...13,9, and 7. I do struggle at times with them, but I only have them to worry about, not 30-35 children that are all misbehaving at the same time. I have more control over what my kids learn. I also think that HS kids are far from being sheltered. That is an old myth. My kids go everywhere with me and interact just as I do with strangers. I am not an unsocial person, so I believe there is no way that my kids are going to be unsocial themselves. As for the issues you deal with in public school, well...stabbings and shootings dont have to be a part of their life in order for them to learn. In fact, isn't that what school is for.....learning, not socializing. My daughter (13) was in middle school, making straight A's. Did that mean she deserved to get bullied by other girls??? No, did it make her wiser because she was bullied, not at all. She is wiser now because I have taught her who to stay away from...A teacher will not do that, nor do they have the time to counsel each kid who may have problems. These are my children and I get to teach them EXACTLY what I feel is important, without having to deal with other people's childrens' issues. I mean really...teachers these days are just expensive baby sitters. They do not have the time to deal with learning when they are dealing with discipline all the time. I think HS is the best and I am very glad that I chose this for my kids. The best part is that my kids are very well behaved. I can discipline them how I see fit. I don't have another parent telling me how to handle my class, as parents do to teachers. I really give it to teachers, but, they have too many other things to deal with in schools these days than just teaching.

Mirdza - posted on 01/13/2010

Love it!! The kids love it, I love it. It takes lots of patience, though. You can choose your own curriculum and you can choose your own hours. You can work at an individual basis, which is totally awesome. All that is required is that you file the paperwork with the state once a year to show you are homeschooling.

Stacie - posted on 01/13/2010

Home Schooling can be great .I just started home schooling this year he is 11. Its been grat and horrible all at the same time. Some times He misses public school and then some times He love it ,Because we set are own plan for the day and He never has homework.But for me its a hole lot of work..I was so use to haveing my own time when my husband and the boys left ,Its been hard to adjust and now I do most of my mom chours on the weekend when I would have been with my boys.But its a trade off I think my son is geting so much more out of this then he ever got out of public school. You find very few teachers these day who care enough are have a small enough class size to give are chrilden the one on one they need anymore. So I think its something you and your child must figure out on your own, Its for some and not for others.

Melissa - posted on 01/13/2010

Con -some kids don't like school at home b/c its too easy to say "mom I just really want to go play" and struggles happen. You have to be ready for the "I just dont' want to do this" arguement. Good Luck
PS There are a lot of homeschooling conventions that can help you get support!

Holly - posted on 01/13/2010

My child was abused in the public school system, twice. We took that as a firm kick in the pants to keep her home and teach her the love of Jesus Christ through all of her academics and socialization.



I now homeschool my two girls, while playing with my 14 month old. It's not so much about "non-interupted" time. It's the interuptions that encourage flexiblity, and new opportunities to learn.



We participate in homeschool sports which take us all year long - soccer, basketball, and softball. We go to church, and meet with friends for playdates. That's just as much socialization in public school. Not to mention the "Homeschool Days" at the zoo, the marine science museum, and the special classes offered at local colleges specifically for homeschooled students. (We're taking a Rock Science Class at the end of the month)



It's not for everyone. But for those who are called to homeschool, it's rewarding, time consuming, frusterating, wonderful, victorious, flexible, and a hundred more mixed-bag emotions than you're used to going through in a day. I'd better go, so we can start ours. Good Luck, and God Bless you and your little one!

Rachel - posted on 01/13/2010

Kelli :) I homeschool my kids. My oldest is about to turn 11 and we have homeschooled from the beginning. Homeschoolers get many opportunites that public / privates schooled kids do not have. WE travel as a family for my husbands business trips a couple of times a year. We can travel to see family whenever we want / need. They can learn about the things taht interest them as well as the things that they need to learn. They learn to work as a team in the family environment (taking care of their home, helping with siblings, etc.). If you are in a homeschool group (some are free some are not, some are HUGE and some are very small) you will have opportunities for weekly or monthly get togethers. You do not have to have a teaching degree to educate your children. If you feel inadequate, there are many urriculums out there to choose from. many people just use the library to educate their children. You will have the opportunity to teach your family values to your children and why you hold those dear. They will be able to see how you life your life all day every day and why you live that way. Kids are socialized in many places and many ways. Playground, church, neighborhood, group functions, shopping, etc. Socialization is a funny joke in the homeschooling community as was mentioned by a previous poster, Tally I believe. homeschooling kids are kids just like any other kid. On average though they score a lot better on the standardized tests. They have more one on one attention and can learn at their pace in their way. they do not have to wait for 29 other students to catch on or hold 29 other students back and feel stupid b/c they are the only 1 not getting it. Definitely give it a try. We did a trial run for pre-K and never looked back, not once have I ever considered putting my kids in a school environment. And I don't plan to. We had a park day yesterday with other homeschoolers and yes, it was ata tiem of day that other kids in the neighborhood could be there too. The kids played with homeschoolers and non homeschoolers. One advantage to that is that they know how to play with kids of all ages, not just their age group. They know how to talk to adults and babies and teens and kids their age. Now, yes, there are some homeschoolers that can seem a bit odd but there are public schooled and private schooled kids that can seem a bit odd too - we all remember kids like that from our school days. There are adults like that. there is no where in our society except in an institutional school setting where people are stuck with only people of the same age range for 6-8 hours of their day, strange socialization I think. This is getting really long sorry. I will close by saying yes my home can become an absolute disaster area and I can get really tired and cranky and sometimes just want to be alone. and there are times when the kids just want to be alone and are tired and cranky. So, we have set quiet times in the day that we try to utilize if we can make it work to use our schedule at all. Or we just declare a quiet time if we can. Organization certainly helps but I know many families that are not organized at all or only semi - organized that are homeschooling quite successfully. Praying for you while you make this decision. Some families decide it is just not for them, most that I know have never turned back. MY SIL decided it was not for her and her family so she put all 3 of her kids back in public school and they are doing well. They are exposed to things that I would not want mine exposed to at that age but that is my preference and part of why we educate at home.

Rebekah - posted on 01/13/2010

I know there are some homeschool parents that shelter their kids. But I would say that on the whole, homeschooled kids get exposed to more rather than sheltered. But they do so in a safe way. They still see the cruelty of others but not necessarily at the recieving end. For some things, like molestation in the hall ways and busses you could not PAY me to endanger my child by putting them in public school. That is something that happens pretty frequently in my area. For a while there every week it seemed there was another story of a teacher molesting a student or an elementary child being accosted by another student in the hallway or bathroom.

Laura - posted on 01/13/2010

Well my mother- in- law home schooled all 5 of her children and they are very smart and well rounded kids. I think that if you feel that it is right for the mean time than do it and maybe later on you can put her back in school, but they also have school for home schoolers during high school to help.

Kelsey - posted on 01/12/2010

I have thought about it, and think it can be good for many families, as long as they have some sort of social outlet. I personally would rather put her in public school, I think sheltering her from the not so positive things in the world will just make it more shocking when she does finally experience them, and can make her confused. I think the schools here are pretty good, so I really dont see too many advantages to homeschooling in our situation, not that it isnt whats best for other families.

Hayley - posted on 01/12/2010

I recommend it.. I do it.. its hard at first but once you both get into a routine its quite easy.. Now they also offer so many wonderful ONLINE schools that can help with the classes and most now offer diplomas and colleges are acknowledging Homeschool as a "REAL" school.



Just make sure you get your child involved in outside activities so he stays Social with other kids.. for example my son does Karate, The Metroparks where I live offer Homeschool programs, and I also take my son to Chucky Cheese so he can play and run around with other kids his age.

Michelle - posted on 01/12/2010

I was homeschooled in every grade except for 8th and 9th and I would not recommend it. Homeschooling does not always keep a strong bond. I agree completely with what Melissa Illuzzi had to say. Social skills are very important for when your child is ready to go out into the world on there own.

Becky - posted on 01/12/2010

You know what works for you and yours may not work for others,so you need to be careful not to judge or bash other parents. It sounds like you have done an outstanding job with your kids education but i'm happy to say the "public" school system worked for my four, now grown children.

Janet - posted on 01/12/2010

I have homeschooled all four of my sons. My youngest one is now in the 10th grade. I would recommend you look into it for your own child. I did not care for sending my children to a school district that was teaching my children something other than the Truth.
As far as social skills? Leave it to a public school teacher to bring that one up. My children where in all sorts of activities, roller hockey, softball, yearbook committee, and many more associated with our church. Believe it or not they were able to pick thier friends, solve thier own problems, stand up right and talk without drooling. They also knew had to dress appropriately as for covering their behinds.
As for the education and diploma, my oldest is doing to college this year and my two middle sons went into the army. Both of the middle two had thier diplomas accredited by the Army.
Think about this when he are making your decision: Would you take your child to a total stranger and leave them there for 8 hours? That is what you are doing with the public schools.

Eileen - posted on 01/12/2010

Also, rules for homeschooling depend on where you live. Do a search for homeschooling by state. Some states make it very hard, and you have to be more than a little dedicated. I live in an easy state.



http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

Eileen - posted on 01/12/2010

Socialization is a myth. Schools are not social clubs, unless you count gangs. Homeschooling is something you do for whatever reason meets your needs. Some public schools are outstanding. Some are abysmal. All follow a program that may or may not fit your child. I took my daughter out of a school that was outstanding, according to stats, but she was bullied everyday and had dietary allergies that were ignored. Her grades were failing.

Homeschool was the best option for us, and we have not regretted the decision we made in 2002. Both of my children have great social lives with many friends and activities. At this moment, my failing 2nd grader is 15yo and is teaching a karate class of 20 students, including both children and adults. She handles college level academics, and is a leader among her peers. She continues to be homeschooled.

My 2nd child has ADHD, never went to school, and seems to learn better without the distraction of 20 other children breathing around her.

Sherri - posted on 01/12/2010

I tried home schooling for one year with three kids at two years age difference from kindergarten to fifth grade, If you have the patience and schooling for it then go for it dear.
I did not and my older two had trouble so I held the oldest back and she understood the information better at school so mine went back to school but I chose a charter school and they did very well there. My oldest went from there into High school and advanced classes she was honor roll for two years after that.
Good Luck in whatever you choose to do.

Crystal - posted on 01/12/2010

ok thank u my aunt goes thru the school district too but i havent asked her how she does it i guess i need too

Autumn - posted on 01/12/2010

I called the school district's enrollment center and there were no other schools that I would have like my son to transfer into at that time and weren't sure if they would later in the year so they offered homeschool option through the district. I would call up your school district and ask them if they have a homeschool program that is offered and if not if they have resources. In California we have school enrollment centers that you enroll your children at and not the district itself so I would probably just start with the district because I am not sure about your location or check out your school districts website and see if they have any information on it. Hope that helps.

Crystal - posted on 01/12/2010

Quoting Autumn:

I have been homsechooling my almost 8 year old since February of last year. He was in first grade.

I took him out of a school that was full of bullies.
I was able to find a homschooling program through the district and they are amazing and helpful and understanding. They prefer field trips and hands on learning to paperwork. They offer class age appropriate field trips that cost next to nothing, they have a resource room that we are able to go and get supplies from or go and do work at. They offer art classes etc. It is a great setup. Did I mention that the teachers that you work with are fantastic?

Pros:
No bullying, He gets to learn as fast or slow as he wants. He gets to help in picking out the lesson plan which gets him more excited, we get to do lots of things that the public school is not equipped to offer anymore, I get a huge say in what he is taught and can align them with our belief system as well. It has really strengthened our relationship.

Cons:
It is a lot of work, patience and frustration. You have to learn your how your child learns and not get angry so they do not get soured on learning. Sometimes it feels overwhelming and there is the social aspect. I have found it is hard to hook up with a outside homeschooling group. It is good to have a supportive family. There are a lot of people who think that homeschooling isn't a real education and will definitely voice their opinions to you.

For me it is working right now I have moments of GREAT frustration and moments of awe and wonder - to have a hand in your child's education and see it put to work is amazing.

Make sure you really think it over before you decide it is a big commitment and most of the time really worth it.

Also, the homeschooling websites and teachers I have spoken with said you don't want to do schedules and have all these rules it puts a damper on a child's learning and they get so discouraged and learning becomes a chore and not fun. You don't need to work the whole day.. we have short days where we only do a couple pages and then do more art or cooking - some days we do more paperwork it is really about learning how your child learns and then proceeding from there. You don't have to be a college graduate to homeschool your child you just really have to have the heart to do it and resources are always great.

how did u find it with the school district i need any help i can get i have another year to go befor emy daughter will be 4 so i am  looking now so it will be easier then

Autumn - posted on 01/12/2010

I have been homsechooling my almost 8 year old since February of last year. He was in first grade.

I took him out of a school that was full of bullies.
I was able to find a homschooling program through the district and they are amazing and helpful and understanding. They prefer field trips and hands on learning to paperwork. They offer class age appropriate field trips that cost next to nothing, they have a resource room that we are able to go and get supplies from or go and do work at. They offer art classes etc. It is a great setup. Did I mention that the teachers that you work with are fantastic?

Pros:
No bullying, He gets to learn as fast or slow as he wants. He gets to help in picking out the lesson plan which gets him more excited, we get to do lots of things that the public school is not equipped to offer anymore, I get a huge say in what he is taught and can align them with our belief system as well. It has really strengthened our relationship.

Cons:
It is a lot of work, patience and frustration. You have to learn your how your child learns and not get angry so they do not get soured on learning. Sometimes it feels overwhelming and there is the social aspect. I have found it is hard to hook up with a outside homeschooling group. It is good to have a supportive family. There are a lot of people who think that homeschooling isn't a real education and will definitely voice their opinions to you.

For me it is working right now I have moments of GREAT frustration and moments of awe and wonder - to have a hand in your child's education and see it put to work is amazing.

Make sure you really think it over before you decide it is a big commitment and most of the time really worth it.

Also, the homeschooling websites and teachers I have spoken with said you don't want to do schedules and have all these rules it puts a damper on a child's learning and they get so discouraged and learning becomes a chore and not fun. You don't need to work the whole day.. we have short days where we only do a couple pages and then do more art or cooking - some days we do more paperwork it is really about learning how your child learns and then proceeding from there. You don't have to be a college graduate to homeschool your child you just really have to have the heart to do it and resources are always great.

Rebekah - posted on 01/12/2010

I would go for for it. It is not always easy, but you do end up knowing your child a lot more than your counterparts. If you have a special needs child, even just ADDHD, than homeschooling lets you work at their pace without them being labled.
As for the socialization issue. Think of this, please. In a school setting the children are only with kids their own age all day. Those that homeschool meet people of all ages and have to learn to get along with and work with them all. Homeschool co-ops and outside activities help with this.
Many homeschooled children I have seen think much more than their counterparts. They tend to be more observant, have a bit more common sense, and be a bit more mature behaving. Their creativity nor their personality is not stifled (there is no pressure to make them conform to a mold that schools expect out of children).
On the flip side homeschooling can be a lot of hard work. If you don't know the material how are you going to present it to your children? Why and how are questions that get asked alot. You need to be prepared to give an answer more than just because I say so. There are days when your house barely gets touched. And because your children are home a lot more there is a lot more to clean. There are days when you are sick but have to make yourself carry on because the children are well and home. Unless you make it a priority, time for yourself is rare. But you will see marvelous benefits if you choose to go the route of homeschooling. Higher education standard is just a start.

Crystal - posted on 01/11/2010

i was homeschooled and i hated it i lost all my friends but i am thinking abt homschooling my daughter As an army family i think it would be better to homeschool my child then send her to a different school ever few years and now they have all these other groups that homeschool and they do stuff together u just have to find one in ur area my daughter will be 3 in march i am looking for stuff for her but cant find much for a 3 yr or 4 yr

Angelique - posted on 01/11/2010

Home schooling is good in teaching a child educational facts: math, history, science etc, but children also acquire other skills in going to school and interacting with peers social skill, communication, and behavioral skills. Also the child will only know what you teach them....To quote: You would be in control l of what your child is learning.....Good Luck

Amy - posted on 01/11/2010

even though homeschooling is great - i was homeschooled for a couple years - i think kids still need to learn how to deal with other kids and the social situations that school provides. i'm not talking about people to chat with, but how to problem solve, work in a group, etc. no matter what, they learn a lot from us parents. but honestly, there are some things i cannot teach my child well. everyone i know says kids only homeschooled are either VERY well behaved and well adjusted, or complete terrors. there seems to be no medium.i think it's a great way to jumpstart their education, though. i got into college when i was a sophmore and was almost done with college by the time i graduated high school. and since i did some in high school, i got scholarships and paid for one semester and that was it. if you have tons of patience, i think it could work well.

Jodie - posted on 01/11/2010

if i was bright enough to do it and had the time i totally would but i dont there fore i cant! Plus i also think its a good experience for children to mix cos if they dont it can cause some mental health issues in later life and cause some children to become whats know as a recluse, maybe if you did it for like her first few years part time or something i dont know how your system works but children need other children helps them learn x

Laura Zoey - posted on 01/11/2010

i was homeschooled from the beginning and my husband went to elementary and middle school in public then private and ended up being homeschooled for highschool. we both loved it. really loved it and i have always planned on homeschooling my kids. as for socialization, a hs comedian said in his show "when people ask me , dont you worry about her socialization? i answer YES that WHY im homeschooling!" i agree totally. i heard a statistic that shocked me, most middleschoolers have had their first oral sexual experience before they graduate to highschool. I was stunned. this is yet another reason i will homeschool my kids. my mom decided to hs because she said that she had dreamed about having kids her whole life and now that she had us she didnt want someone else spending so much time with us. I agree and I want to be the one shaping who my kids will become, not whoever is teaching that grade. I never want to let my kids learn things that will shape them into adults that i wouldnt be proud of so i want to be the one teaching them.
as for cons
its alot of time and effort
it gets harder each year (scholastically)
you dont get a "break" when the kids leave for school
you cant put off chores for when the kids leave
but as for pros
you decide what she learns
and when she learns it
you can let her learn faster in some things and take her time in others
you can take a day off if she needs it
you can pick when and where field trips are
she wont have the possible emotional scarring from teasing and bullying
you decide what she gets punnished for
you can help her in chosing friends as she doesnt have a ton to chose from
you can take vacations during the school year or take extra time off whenever
it is documented tht in general hs kids are more advanced
you decide which religious teachings she has
and doesnt have
you teach her sex ed when you see fit and only what info is appropriate
she is likely to have a close relationship with you!

Laura