homeschool?

Sherri - posted on 09/20/2010

I actually have no problems with homeschooling I wouldn't personally do it but each to there own. I just get tired of having all public schools linked into one and assume they are all terrible because there not.

Tammy - posted on 09/20/2010

Here's the thing, my son and daughter knew those BEFORE Kindergarten. ( My son was typing in his name and getting on computer games without help when he was 3, not genius just allowed to use his brain) So do many others. That seems to be one of the concerns of Connie. Kids have a HUGE capacity for learning when they are young. If you pay close attention you'll see that we are born with a desire to learn things. So where does this desire disappear to? One of the main problems with the public school setting is that a class (usually 22-30, sometimes even more) is generally taught at the mid to lowest skill level. One of the reasons why homeschool works so well is that it has the advantage of #1 lower student to teacher ratio and #2 most usually switch to mastery and interest type programs instead of spiral learning and grade levels by age.



When your focus is more on becoming excellent at each skill rather than how fast can they be moved up and out regardless of skill mastery you end up just churning out weakly educated masses. Assembly lines may work with inanimate objects but it doesn't work for children. Then again, assemly line products only come out with excellence when the "worker" is truely committed to the end product. Which is hard to have when you are only focused on one grade level. A parent will have the highest committment level don't you think? I don't blame a lot of the teachers so much because they are just a product of the system. A lot of what they are taught to get a certificate is how to "control" the classroom. (yes, I have heard from teachers who tell me just this sort of thing) It's truely amazing when I run into a teacher who has made the "connections" and realized where the system is getting things wrong. For all the talk of public school teachers being dissatisfied with their jobs because of pay I find it interesting to learn that teachers in private schools make less but are on the whole happier and more satisfied with their jobs. Probably becasue some of the usual problems aren't nearly as bad in a private school setting. Most or all of the problems can be eliminated with homeschool.



But again, if you found something that works for you then fly with it. I'm not out there picketing public schools and calling public schooling parents child abusers who are neglecting their childrens education. I'm not trying to make public schools illegal or force people to homeschool.



I'm just curious as to why people feel so personally offended by the mere idea of homeschooling. In spite of all the positive results, proof, evidence and history that supports it.



(By the way statisically speaking a child in public school has a much higher rate of being abused by the way. The majority of "abuse" cases involving "homeschoolers" involved children recently pulled from public schools and the parents weren't actually homeschooling. They lied to the schools. )

Sherri - posted on 09/20/2010

Yes but our 7th graders are in pre alegebra, our 8th graders are in alegebra, our kids are mandated to start taking 2 foreign languages in 5th grade until they graduate HS. They are required to take Spanish and French. Half the year is Spanish and half is French and this continues till they graduate. Just for kindergarten they must have mastered a 100 reading words and these math concepts. If these skills are not mastered they can not be promoted to first grade.:
The following skills should be mastered by the end of the
year.
Counts forward by 1s to 99 and beyond starting from any number
Counts backward by 1s from 26
Counts by 2s to 28 and higher
Counts by 5s to 100 and higher
Counts by 10s to 100 and higher
Counts 31 or more objects
Represents numbers using bundles of 10s and 1s
Reads and writes numbers beyond 100
Compares and orders numbers from 0 to 20 and higher
Solves number stories
Reads and interprets graphs

Tammy - posted on 09/20/2010

{Side note before I start my response. My family as well as lots of other homeschoolers I know enjoy a good debate and generally don't take much too personally. We generally percieve this as a debate, not an arguement. How else can one exchange ideas?}



It's not about slamming individual public schools, it's about the fact that the system isn't working. I have heard from many teachers all over the country who are trying to let parents know how the "scoring" works. One math teacher in Houston talked about how he was supposed to be teaching advanced Algebra but none of the kids in his class were really qualified to be in his class. When everyone of his students failed the test he gave (all under 50%) the principal called him in and porceeded to instruct him on how to "regrade" the tests with a different "formula" that would show the scores in the 70's. This school is considered a VERY good blue ribbon public school. This is happening alll over the country. That is why, when tested against students from other countries on the same tests we fall so far below. I don't even pay attention to SAT and ACT scores because they keep dumbing them down so that the tests scores will be considered high. Sure you have to take them to get into some colleges, but then why do you think Homeschoolers score so much higher on them? Some (very few in relation to the total) public schools are making a switch back to how schools USED to teach but it gets difficult when the text books are so dumbed down and full of propaganda. If you take a good look you'll find that most of what's being taught these days ISN'T showing our kids HOW to think but WHAT to think.



I'm pretty sure that if schools actually taught the way they did in the begining, when communities got together and collectively hired a teacher and the teaching methods actually were based on EDUCATING our children instead of indoctrinating them so many wouldn't be turning to homeschool now. There wouldn't be as much of a need to. We under value and under rate our children. We are told that they can't possibly learn to read well without 12 years of schooling even though they used to do better in the early 1800's. Back then children learned MORE and BETTER is just 4-6 years of basic schooling then they do today with 12+. This is just historical fact and proof that what is happening today in classrooms across this country is NOT education but REeducation.



So if you're happy with where your children are and how they are developing educationally then great! Wonderful! I mean it:) Just remember, the homeschoolers didn't go onto a Public Schooling Blog to try and convince you to homeschool. We are on a homechooling blog giving advice to someone who requested it.

Sherri - posted on 09/20/2010

No we don't and won't homeschool. However, not all public schooling is terrible. Actually our school system is 4th in the nation. So be careful some homeschooled children received an amazing education and excelled and some homeschooled children should never have been as they really suffered because they were homeschooled and the same for public school systems some are down right terrible and some our simply amazing. My public school system test scores are the highest in the entire state. The school systems reading, writing, math, and science scores are significantly higher than any of the state requirements. So please do not slam all public schools and I promise not to slam all homeschoolers.

Tammy - posted on 09/20/2010

Beleive me Connie when I say it won't take long at all. You have absolutely no idea just how much I regret not homeschooling from the start, and I hope you never do. I wish they had sent me a list of what they expected my child to know so I would have realized just how little they had to offer my daughter. My polite, happy, smart and well adjusted child who used to offer to pray for others regressed in her maturity level, her academic level and her social level to the point where we are STILL dealing with the behavior issues. Honestly, the more I learn about it the more I'm convinced that the children in public schools are capable of sooo much more. They aren't given the chance to excel. Before the advent of Government public school our country had a 99% Literacy rate! The best we ever had. Some like to think that people back then were just ignorant and uneducated backwards people. So not true. They went to college at 15,16,17 years old! Laura Ingles Wilder was teaching at 13!

Connie - posted on 09/18/2010

thanks to all of you. I have not made this decision lightly without thought to every aspect and how each would affect my children. I would love to continue to hear your thoughts and suggestions...what you have found to be true for you and your children. the deciding factor for me came in the mail yesterday. I recieved my kindergarten daughters first progress report and I was dumbfounded. the goals my beautiful, intelligent daughter was asked to meet she could have accomplished in her sleep a year ago....recognizing her name, counting to 10, colors, holding a pencil, and using scissors....
Please dont misunderstand, this may be exactly where some of the kids need to be working but how long before the mundane drains the love of learning from my little one? how much boredom will it take before she stops paying attention? how long before low expectations convince her that that is all she can achieve? My little ones deserve so much more. I want the world to be open to them. I want them to know anything they dream can be accomplished if they are willing to put the effort into it. I want them to have the opportunity to do, touch, and see the things that they might never even read about in public school. I wish all of you the best and once again, thank you. Please, continue to post and if you have any suggestions or run across good deals or information post it here or email me at bryanpauley@yahoo.com.
Good luck and God bless!

Charity - posted on 09/18/2010

Tammy, thanks for the info, and in response to your "socialization" example, (I am both a dog owner and a boarding kennel owner) My "socially awkard" cousins are the type who, if they were dogs, never were allowed to leave the house, and can't interact well with either people or other dogs and whose owners wonder why. The "well adjusted" cousins, were properly taught behavior at home, and were given opportunities to practice in groups. BTW, love the example, so true!
I am happy to learn that extracurricular activities for homeshcooled children are often avaliable, as that is my husbands #1 concern about homeschooling, as he was an athlete in high school and doesn't want his son to miss out on the same thing. To all of the ladies who posted, I've enjoyed reading your opinions, and helpful remarks, good stuff to think about making the decision for my own kids and to Connie, I hope that you make your choice wisely for yourself and your children, and good for you for caring enought to research your alternatives.

Melissa - posted on 09/18/2010

Connie, as a previous public school parent, I can understand how homeschooling can seem like a daunting task! This is our third year and I appreciate the opportunities it affords our children. If you're seriously thinking about going for it, look up your state homeschooling laws and state teaching standards. There is a series of books called, "What Your ____ Grader Needs to Know" and while they're not inclusive, they have topics you can branch off of. If you change your mind about writing curriculum (for now) you can try a prepared curriculum based on nationalized standards. I personally like time4learning.com for my elementary aged kids, as well as the workbooks put out by Evan Moor and Spectrum. Be sure to research co-ops in your area, as well as classes for homeschoolers. Depending on where you live, you are likely to find arts, foreign languages, and sports. Many local and large businesses offer discounts for homeschoolers (Staples, Barnes & Noble, JoAnn, etc).



Jane, no offense taken, but I'm curious. If you were forced to take your children out of their awesome public school and move them to one where only half the kids (in a good year) were passing their standardized tests and there was over a 95% poverty rate (so instead of AP classes and cheerleading there were ESL club and homeless awareness programs) would you consider homeschooling? That's what happened with us. No, my husband didn't lose his job, and we didn't have a nasty divorce. Neither one of us use drugs nor alcohol. My husband is just busy defending the nation and we go where we're needed. We began to homeschool as an academic necessity. Our children are each in several extracurricular activities (with children of many ages) and they continue to perform better than they did while they were in that fabulous public school, both academically and socially. They have visited many places and seen things in person that institutionalized children tend to only read about in books. It's one thing to read about the Revolutionary War, but it's another to be onboard the USS Constitution. Looking at a photo of Whistler's mother is interesting, unless you've stood within mere inches of her larger than life portrait. The story of the pioneers is pretty dry until you climb Independence Rock. I don't regret our decision to homeschool. If anything, I'm embarassed that it took us this long to figure it out.

Bethany - posted on 09/17/2010

Look around at what resources are available in your area for homeschooling. Where I live, there are TONS of homeschooling groups that have extra-curricular activities, and work groups where they can get together to learn a subject, and create lots of opportunities to socialize. Google homeschool groups for your state or particular area.

Tammy - posted on 09/17/2010

First: "socialization" has nothing to do with being awkward. There are plenty of public school students who are awkward. IT's a stage a lot of children go through. Either you teach them through it or you allow them to imitate other kids behaviors. I guess it depends on what you mean by awkward. Most people when pressed on this issue think that awkward is when kids aren't yelling and screaming, interrupting, displaying anti social behavior or being rude. I was public schooled AND awkward! I didn't fit in because I didn't want to be a bully. The REAL news is that many companies, colleges and groups are learning that homeschoolers are a rich and excellent market for students, employee's and leaders.How's that for awkward? Here's a question for those of you with pets, especially dogs. How do you "socialize" a puppy? Do you throw him in a pen with other puupies so they can all learn how to behave properly from each other? Sounds a little silly doesn't it? What do you think they will learn? Will they teach each other not to jump on people? Will they teach each other to go potty in the right spot? Just something to think about. So many people don't understand that Socialization and socializing are two completely different activities.

Second: You will be rather surprised at the number of oportunites there are for homeschoolers when it comes to sports and activities. Depending on your states homeschooling laws you can usually utilize public school sports and extracurricular activites. You can also look into joining teams through local private schools. In some areas there are so many homeschoolers that they form their own teams.

Good Day! - posted on 09/16/2010

Charity, I've heard of districts that allow homeschooled kids to participate in sports. But it really depends on the school district. A cute website that a mom on another community suggested is http://abcjesuslovesme.com/. It's a three and four year old pre-shcool curriculum. There are tons of links and resources on that website that should get you started.

Charity - posted on 09/16/2010

Good to know there are others out there thinking on this subject. (My son is 7 months old, so I have time yet LOL) I have a cousin who was "homeschooled" and is very socialy awkward (notice the quotes around the word, I am not sure how much school actually happened, not the best parents to try it) an cousins who were homeschooled and are well adjusted, intelligent adults. In the latter case, they were part of a group of homeschooling parents who got together regularly to give their kids the social experiences they might miss when not in school. I am genuinly frustrated that our public schools are teaching to the lowest common denominator, and think we need vast changes. I would welcome anyones input on websites to look at for curriculum ideas and pros/cons, as my husband would prefer public school, so we have agreed to research and then decide together. Also, does anyone know if kids who are homeschooled can participate in sports teams, etc in the district they are in? They should be able too, we pay taxes too.

Tammy - posted on 09/16/2010

Thank you Sara:)

Connie, about curriculum, Be aware that there is A Lot of available ideas out there and it can be overwhelming. Try to write down an idea of what you are looking for so you'll be able to narrow the field a little. There is everything from "everything done for you" to "a pad of paper, a pencil and a library". The "Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling" by Mary Pride is pretty good and it's divided into sections so you can look up information by what your questions are. Also keep in mind that you may not stick with what you thought you wanted to use. Almost all (if not all) homeschooling families usually end up trying out different things until they come across something that really clicks. There is a book called "How They Learn" that can help you determine your childrens learning style. Some need more hands on and some just want to read everything. I started with stuff that was all done for me and have grown into adding in things here and there and going to different places for different subjects.



For example: I came across a reading/spelling program that I wish I had know about 8 years ago! It's called Spell to Write and Read. Fabulous! I highly suggest it. www.bhibooks.net Just read the Senate speach by Wanda Sensari and you'll be hooked. It takes them from nonreader to at least 12 grade level in 4-5 years barring any learning disabilities. Then maybe a little longer. Like the Severly Downs Syndrom girl who can now spell at a 12 grade level! It lessons so many other learning challanges too. When combined with Cursive First dyslexia isn't even a problem.:) This is something you can start now. Once they can read and spell well it frees up the mind for higher level thinking, ie: all the other subjects. It's how we used to teach reading, spelling and writing way, way back when.



For Science may I suggest you look into www.apologia.com, this is a Christian curriculum. It is phenominal and covers all grade levels I believe.



I got an Art course through www.aop.com taught by Thomas Kinkade for my daughter as well as a Teach yourself piano course, and a wonderful typing instructor program.



So you could actually find something that fits you and your childrens styles and it doesn't have to all come from the same place. With preschool you don't really need anything structured. Just google up a list of what should preschoolers learn or there's a book series called "What your {insert grade level here} Should know". Most of it is working on motor skills like scissors, coloring, etc. and identifying things. Basics in all areas like weather. Really just take every subject and think of things on their level. But don't just talk about it, go out and experience it! Do lots of hands on crafts and look into lapbooking. (Silly me, for 2 years I thought it was some electronic gizmo and I didn't need another one) It's actually using a file folder and making little mini books of information, drawings, writing and fun stuff about a topic. Tons of fun ways to do it without buying templates.



www.lessonpathways.com is a free site with tons of stuff by grade level. I actually created the unit on the Great Lakes for 3rd grade, and I think I did a pretty darn good job if I say so myself:)LOL



Anyway, this has been yet another long post. I get chatty when I'm tired:) Just sit back, take a deep breath and ask yourself if you think you can try it for a year or two to see how it goes.

Good Day! - posted on 09/16/2010

Connie, I've considered it for my family, but fortunately we live in an excellent school district. I actually used to teach in the district and my mom currently does. I know all the principals and many of the teachers so I am comfortable with our public schools. But before we had moved to this district, homeschooling was something we were considering.

Tammy is absolutely correct that homeschoolers out perform traditionally schooled kids. I've also seen studies that show they do well in college and in their professional lives. So if you feel that you are up to the challenge, I say go for it!

As far as curriculum, I would suggest ordering one or borrowing one. Maybe even use it for the first year. Then write your own. When I taught, the teachers in my school wrote the entire curriculum and ditched the one the state had given us. It is a challenge, even for a group of teachers that went through college and got an education degree. You will have a lot on your plate trying to teach and write a curriculum for all subjects. My thought is, there are plenty of awesome curriculums out there, so why re-invent the wheel? I know a few people that use Sonlight curriculum. It is heavily based in real literature and world history and cultures. I looked through it and loved it.

I live in the US and our state has a list of grade level expectations and the full curriculum for each subject and grade level on the state board of education's website. Here is the curriculum for the state of Louisiana: http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/saa/... Here is the grade level expectations for my state: http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/saa/...
Maybe that will help get you started in the right direction.

Tammy - posted on 09/16/2010

{I think this might be a long post so sorry in advance for the rant:)}



No offense taken on my part. Unfortunately it's usually the Non homeschoolers who take offense to homeschooling. Everyone says they "know" a homeschooler and they are awkward and deprived. If Everyone knows one like this then half of America is already homeschooling. So please don't take offense if I don't believe it. I think it would be safe to say that I actually know more homeschoolers than you do. ( Just a statement of fact, not meant to start a fight) and not one of them is socially awkward. However, I do know several Public schooled children whom I wouldn't want to be seen in public with and I have a friend who's 12 year old son practically tries to crawl back into the womb if there is a single cloud in the sky. The Facts and evidence show that homeschooled children out preform their public school counterparts by 20%-30% or more on all standardized tests and college entrance exams. They also have a lower drop out rate for college. Colleges are currently trying to create more scholarships and grants for homeschoolers because they want them so bad. I have also found that what some people are calling awkward is actually just kids being polite and not interrupting. I can actually have long conversations with some moms who's kids don't interrupt constantly! LOL Just because they know how to quietly listen and entertain thelselves doesn't make them awkward. Also, just because they prefer reading to Xbox doesn't either. I know more anti-social public school kids. But I also wouldn't tell someone that because I know some anti-social public school kids that they are all that way.



There are many reasons why people choose to homeschool. Thankfully we have that choice:) One of the reason I did is because America's public school system is routinely ranked as one of the worst in industrialized nations. It also has a 30% illiteracy rate coming out of highschool. These are facts that can be looked up and verified. There are many other reasons on my list but I figured you'd want something you could lookup.



Don't worry about us, Homeschoolers don't learn in a closet, they learn in the real world. The public school environment is an artificial one. It is found nowhere else in the "real" world. Look for yourself. Now I realize homeschooling isn't for everyone. Not every parent has the dedication level required to educate their children and teach them how to learn and love doing it. We just are a little tired of people telling us we shouldn't be able to and spreading false information. The old "socialization" comment has been debunked since forever. Also, public schooling has only been around since the mid 1800's. Google Famous Homeschoolers and you'll see all of the people you think are awkward and under educated are the same ones we have holidays for and have to thank for telephones and so many other advances we enjoy today. Am I worried about my daughters socialization? You betcha! That's why I homeschool:)



We pulled my daughter from public school and in the first 2 months her reading improved 200%. Unfortunatley she had already lost her desire to learn and had learned some rather "awkward" socializing skills like slap fighting, talking back to her parents, interrupting and tantrums. Things she really didn't have a problem with before. Her maturity level had actually regressed about 2-3 years.



You would also probably not believe just how many public school teachers choose to homeschool their own children. Plus with the climate in schools these days I just am not prepared for my 5 year to be given condoms and my 12 year old to be watching rated R movies like Broke Back Mountian without my knowlege or consent, thank you very much.



So even if homeschooling isn't your thing I hope I've at least planted a seed for you to search out more information instead of taking what you may have heard somewhere and judging the whole thing with it.

Connie - posted on 09/16/2010

I am considering this for my girls for the same reason I choose to be an at home mom, so that my girls will grow up with my values not someone elses. We also have schools that are poor at best and it will allow more free time for extra activities. there is no reason why homeschooled kids can not participate in sports teams or any other extras.

Jane - posted on 09/16/2010

Please do not take offense to this but I do not understand why parents homeschool. I think homeschooling a child is detrimental to the social development of the child. Maybe I've been spoiled because our school district is wonderful but there are even people here, where I live that homeschool their children and I don't get it? Every child that I have encountered that has been homeschooled is socially ackward, do not get to participate in extra-curricular activites and miss out on all the fun stuff that school is all about!

Why are you considering this for your children?

Tammy - posted on 09/16/2010

Hi Connie:) We have been homeschooling for about 4 years. I have a 12 year old daughter whom I took out of a public charter school( a whole other story, beleive me) and a 6 year old son who will hopefully never set foot in a public school to receive teaching. There is A LOT of information you can learn about this topic and in order to narrow it down a bit I would want to ask you a few questions.
1) How old and how many children are we talking about?
2) What state are you living in? Laws are different.
3) Would you be homeschooling from a religious or secular stand point/world view
4) Are you totally committed to homemade curriculum or are you flexible with a little of both or looking into all that may be offered?

e-mail me and I can at least answer a few of your questions and maybe point you in the right direction for answers:) I can also give you some links to places that have some condensed info or zero in on specific issues you may have:)

Tammy Foster
phbfoster@yahoo.com