I homeschool my daughter and will homeschool my son as he gets bigger. If you homeschool, what are your reasons and what kind of curriculum do you use?
I homeschool because I was very unhappy with the public school curriculum and because it just seemed like the right thing to do. I use a prepared curriculum that I purchased from a reputable school.
I wouldn't give up homeschooling unless I felt it was in the best interests of my children and at htis point I do not.
[question posted by goldjay]
responses and comments:
I am very not happy of the school sistem too. In my country in 5 th grade we learn teorems and to find the answer if we don't know like x+2=3. Here my child is now 8 grade and they just learn that I am not sure what is that school sistem. Now I found out why people from my country are winning a math olympic games. [ralevi]
Yes, I understand totally. What country are you from? [goldjay]
My best friend home school her son he just started school. She is doing it for the same reasons you are she doen't trust the public school systems and I don't blame her now days [Shaun72]
Yeah, it can be pretty bad at times. The school my daughter would have gone to wanted her to basically be bored in kindergarten. We visited in March of the year prior to when she would have attended and she could have participated in the lesson and gotten all the answers correct without even having had the class. [goldjay]
My sister-in-law homeschools my niece and nephew. i'm not sure what cirriculum she uses. I know that her and my brother were not satisfied with the public school system and with all the violence and things going on. They are raising their kids in church and a lot of their friends are homeschooled as well. My sister-in-law's sister is also homeschooling her sons and seems to like it very well. I think you learn more and it makes your family bond tighter with homeschool. I think it is wonderful of women now days wanting to stay at home and raise their children. I praise you for your decision. [sharkbiter]
Thank you. I think it is better for the whole family unit myself and I also think my daughter learns more. [goldjay]
I homeschool my children and have been doing it since the beginning. My daughter, who is in 2nd grade, also goes to a charter school three days a week for two hours at a time. She takes science and spanish classes there. I like this arrangement because it gives her the chance to get a taste of a real school setting yet not be there all day and I still homeschool her on most of her subjects. My son does the K12 virtual charter school and it works well for him and I. I homeschool for social reasons and personal convictions. Thanks for the topic. [knowitallgurl]
I wish we had that type of charter school here but we don't. There are still many classes she can take at different locations so that is nice too. I agree with you for the reasons you stated for homeschooling. Thanks for replying. [goldjay]
I don't homeschool my children. I just don't feel like I am organized or structured enough to do it properly. I think it is a great option to have though. [Khokhonut]
Yes, it does take some amount of organization and structure but you'd be amazed at how, once you get started, it is so easy. I know it's not for everyone and it's great that those of us who do want to, can! [goldjay]
I homeschool my 15 year old. I use curriculum that is provided by a virtual school. I homeschool my daughter because she is very smart and it is easier for her to work at her own pace and be able to go forward when she is ready and not have to wait for the rest of the class. I also think that with all the shootings that happen in public schools these days that children are much safer at home. [tanaclark]
I so agree with you. I think schools are scary with all of the violence but I also homeschool because my daughter is very smart and would be bored in public school. As it is, she is a grade level ahead of her public school age. [goldjay]
I've been very much considering homeschooling my youngest, but he needs to get out everyday. [sharon613]
Yes, as homeschoolers, we do get out most days. We make our schedule so that we are home at least one day per week all day. Other days we are home at least part of hte day. We love to get out and do stuff with other homescoolers and once you hook up with a local group, there is so much to do you are actually having to turn opportunities down. From field trips to the water company to homeschool bowling leages, it's all out there!!! [goldjay]
for my opinion, homeschooling is not good because you prevent them from having the friends.. not that you child can't get any friends if he stays at home to study.. [rallymercado]
Mapiklfish1 (Ihope I spelled this right, it won't let me paste!), I sooo agree with what you said! I don't need my kids to have friends like those you described. Kids who will tease and lead my kids into trouble!!!! My daughter gets out plenty and has more friends than I can keep track of!!!!! At her birthday Party last year, she had a list of 50 kids she wnated to invited to her party (we had to limit it but still, there were that many kids she knew to invite!!!) She is a very socialized and very well rounded child! [goldjay]
Homeschooling is a tough and a great job. It is better coz the parent and the child have more time together, aside from teaching them academically, you will also be able to guide them well. The lessons, the bond that only a parent can teach their child [akosi63]
Yes, I totally agree! [goldjay]
I personally don't but my cousin does and loves every minute of it. In her town where she lives, there is a growing number of parents who home school their children they have their own softball and soccer league. Its a growing trend now with all the concerns if you child is safe at school and are they getting the best education money can buy. My children attend a five star school rated by our state. My cousin's school system wasn't as good as mine so I can see her reasoning in doing so. As our children deserve the best of everything. [BlackVelvet1992]
Yes, I agree that children deserve the best we can give them! Not all parents can homeschool for different reasons but it's a great option to have. We have homeschool leagues here too that are really wonderful! [goldjay]
I would never homeschool my child. I don't have the patience and I think it would be very hard to do. I understand that lots of people do homeschool their kids. I am very happy with my school district so I wouldn't even consider it. I don't know how good it is for kids anyhow. They get no socialization with other kids etc. [cdirock]
You are wrong about the fact that they get no socialization. In school they get no socialization!!!! Teachers are always telilng kids to be quiet and not to socialize. Those that do are bullying each other or teasing. My kid goes to more activities and gets more exposure to real life and she knows how to handle all types of situations. She goes to art classes where the kids sit around and chat while they work. She goes to gym classes where kids have to work together. She knows kids of many different ages and works well in multiage settings. [goldjay]
We were definitely going to homeschool our boys because the school system was so terrible. We have now moved and I'm finding out about the school here before we make a final decision. We had chose the Sonlight curriculum. I will never hesitate to homeschool if I feel it's necessary. [mom2rottie]
Sonlight is a good curriculum if you like a lot of reading! We do love to read here and we have used some of Sonlights currriculum but not all of it. It is great and ahs great books! [goldjay]
My husband and I are both public school teachers, but that doesn't mean we don't see value in homeschooling. I think it can be a terrific alternative if the parents are motivated and for certain types of children. My son has a learning disability in reading...and he MUST pass the state reading test this year (3rd grade) in order to be promoted to the next grade. If he doesn't pass it, I may very well be homeschooling him next year because I think it's insane that one test will decide whether or not he is ready for the next grade. But that's a whole different discussion... [Ekacker]
That sounds like just one piece of red-tape that school systems are known for. You are right that if he has a learning disability, he shouldn't necessarily meet the same standards as other children. Homeschhooling is great for these types of kids who often get teased the most in schools anyway. Good luck! [goldjay]
no I not homeschool my children. Somethimes I think about it but still they are going to school [anja31]
Thanks for commenting. It is a great alternative if you ever choose it! [goldjay]
Yes my girlfriend does. But I dont think it is any good for the kids now they dont have many friends. Because in school you learn how to get along with other people and they lacking in that. Also they only get taught for a couple hours aday. Im sorry I dont think that is enough time. [TerryZ]
You'd be amazed at how much a kid can learn in a couple of hours without the distractions you have in public schools. My daughter learns more at home in a couple of hours than her peers learn all day in school. She can concentrate and get it done so she can move on to other activities. And, she is very well socialized and has learned how to get along very well with a whole variety of kids. In public school, you are forced to be friends with kids who happen to be born the same year you were born but as a homeschooler my daughter has friends from 3 years younger to 5 years older and they are boys and girls and they all get along sooo welll..... [goldjay]
Yes my girlfriend does. But I dont think it is any good for the kids now they dont have many friends. Because in school you learn how to get along with other people and they lacking in that. Also they only get taught for a couple hours aday. Im sorry I dont think that is enough time. [TerryZ]
My daughter can learn a lot in a little bit of time becuase she is solely concentrating on her work and not on other children's misbehavior and not waiting for the teacher to get down to work after things like taking roll, collecting permission slips, making announcements, etc, etc. My daughter works on her schoolwork for about 3 hours per day and the rest of the day is "life learning". She is a whole grade level ahead of where she should be so you can't say she's not getting enough learning in. She learns subjects that she would not learn in a typical elementary school like cooking, woodworking and piano and she does this in her "spare" time. She has more friends than most kids I konw and is very well socialized! [goldjay]
My daughter is only two years old, but I am interested in learning more about homeschooling as an alternative to public school. I live in New York State and don't have the slightest idea where to begin to get more information on the matter. I actually would like to homeschool her before kindergarten, because preschool is so exspensive and I am not comfortable handing my baby over to strangers when she is so little. Goldjay, do you think you could help me find out more information about this please? I will be watching this discussion in the hopes of learning more about homeschool. [Angrykitty]
Go to http://www.hslda.com and you can get a lot of information about homeschooling in different states. I think you can click on your state to find out the rules/laws for your state. New York is one of the more difficult states to homeschool in but it is not impossible. There are a lot of benefits. You might also join yahoo groups and find a group of homeschoolers in your state so you can chat with them directly and find out more information! I don't know specifics about NY since I don't live there. I can say that the benefits are great so good luck to you! [goldjay]
i've seen from the disscusions here alot of people are in favor of homeschool. i understand that public schools might not provide all the education and knowledges needed, but in my opinion homeschool is not an option. they miss alot of things. bonding with other children, learning to understand and adjust to different kind of learning and demands (provided by different teachers) and they even learn to organize their time for the terms. i don't know if kids are that motivated to learn when they are rated by mom or dad, while having to learn at school also develops their sense of competition (at home they don't have anyone to compete with). i do see however homeschool as an after classes solution to add some knowledges to what u'r kid is already learning in school. [apostrofy]
I'm not angry...just stating my opinions. I went to public school too and did fine but public school today is way different from the public schools I went to. [goldjay]
I have considered homeschooling more recently because I have a preteen whose hormones are raging. Her studies have not been consistent and her grades have been dropping. The teenage brain doesn't allow them the best concentration either! I think if I had an adequate curriculum I would be able to keep her attention and interest without her having all of the peer pressure to deal with. I don't have a set opinion on 'to homeschool or not to homeschool' because I can see advantages and disadvantages for both. Homeschooling is safer (drugs, shooting, bullies) and you have more quality time with your kids but unless the kids are involved in some other sports, groups, or social functions... they can't learn to socialize properly, become a member of society, or make lasting friendships. One of the reasons I chose to send my daughter to public school is because we live in a little town that is very much a melting pot. I love the diversity of getting to know people from different backgrounds and cultures. I also think the children need structure, which is obtainable by a home-teacher or a public system. [MySpot]
I understand your concerns. Homeschooling is not for everyone but it works really well for my family. My daughter is involved in a lot of outside activities and meets a lot of people. There is a lot of diversity in the people who homeschool and she also is able to interact with kids of different ages which is wonderful. She sometimes teachers younger kids how to do something while older kids sometimes teach her things and they all play and work together happily. [goldjay]
I homeschool my 2 teenage daughters. My oldest will graduate this year and I've been doing this since she was in 5th grade. I used to order all of their books and stuff from various companies, but have found an online school that is free for minnesota residents. It's great, they do all of the grading and report card stuff. The curriculum is great as far as I can tell. I started homeschooling them because the public schools were teaching unessesary things and the drug problem in our town was getting out of control. I just felt the girls were better off home with me. I'm very proud of the way they are growing up and believe they have alot more common sense than most kids their age. [josemyms]
I soo totally agree with you! Congratulations for raising two fine kids! [goldjay]
I homeschooled my son through high school. He graduated in '03. We did very well. We used Saxon Math and Bob Jones History, both highly regarded. We were a part of a very large home school group that would plan outings, field trips, etc. It was a very positive experience and he is now doing very well in college. [perrytx]
That is so great! I hope to homeschool all the way through high school too. [goldjay]
I did homeschool for one year. One of my children had been sexually assulted in the school's cafeteria by another student. This student that did that was protected because he was a minor. This child was innocent till proven guilty. In the mean time my child was made to suffer. I found it disgraceful that my child was subjected to be in the same class as the abuser. I refused to have any part of it, and homeschooled. [barbaradjt]
I do not homeschool my children, but I was a homeschooled child. It was about 15 years ago. I have to say that I enjoyed being homeshooled and think that I probably learned more from this than I would of in public school. I lived in a large city and the schools were way to full to be able to actually devote any time at all to the children. [cwgrlsarefun]
That's great to hear a success story. How come you don't homeschool your children? [goldjay]
I do not, but I support anyone who chooses to do this. I couldnt do it with my children, I posted somewhere else along the same lines that I trust the system and like it in the area that we live. It gives me more inspiration as a parent to teach my children that in "that enviornment" to make better choices throughout their life. My parents had me in public school's and there were a lot of things I had to learn on my own and keeping me at home wouldnt have changed it one bit. There are several ways I could have taken my life, but having support and advice and direction from my parents conquered over everything and Im happy with the smart choices I have made. [Country_Girl311]
Thanks for the comments! [goldjay]
Our son is not old enough to go to school yet but my husband has said he wants me to homeschool our child. I don't know if I will do that or not though. I've still got a while to go before I have to make that decision. I have a friend that homeschools her son and she wouldn't have it any other way. She even gets to take him on field trips and everything. [sweetgirl_k1]
Yup, we go on field trips and participate in a lot of homeschool activities. [goldjay]
We've homeschooled our kids for since our son was 8 and our daughter was 6. They are now 18 and 16. We've always made an effort to have them involved in group activies, church and 4H, homeschool groups and such. They are generally more able to get along with a wider range of ages than kids that are in school. They act more grownup and mature and often are able to spell and speak better than the kids in school. We started homeschooling because we felt it was something the Lord was leading us to do and haven't felt led to put them back in school. Our daughter, now, doesn't want to go to school. I think if I were to make her go back to school, I'd have trouble with her. She's a little different, not a girly girl and would probably get teased a lot. She's always been very sensitive. [mapiklfish1]
That is wonderful! Very inspiring! Thanks for the cmments! [goldjay]
When we homeschooled we used abeka curriculum mixed with workbooks from Walmart, Kmart & Staples. I homeschooled my oldest daughter because it was the best thing for her at that age due to problems she was having at school. Now she is older and my youngest daughter is in Kindergarten and they both go to public school, they are doing good in school and I am glad to have a break from homeschooling. Homeschooling was only done as a last resort for us, it turned out to be a very stressful thing for me because we were so busy building a house at the same time. I am not totally happy either with the public schools in our area, but my youngest really loves school and I think right now it is good for our kids to have some friends their age. I don't buy in to that socialization thing, it's just best right now for them to be in school. That's great if you are teaching at home, it can be a very rewarding experience if done correctly and you have the time and patience to do it. Every parent needs to explore and find what's right for their children. Who knows, at some point we may have to go back to homeschooling - I'll do what's best for my kids at that point. Good luck to you in your homeschooling! [thumper2]
Homeschooling is a very indificuatlized decision. It was the right decision for our family. I have homeschooled for 2 1/2 years and not regretted a single moment of it. [goldjay]
I have homeschooled my 10yo son from the beginning. It wasn't something I had planned to do and I was not homeschooled myself. But I ended up with a different kid than I imagined and at some point I realized it wasn't a choice. It was a necessity if I wanted him to not lose his love for learning and continue to be himself. He has always been very high energy, excessively talkative, persistant, and very advanced in several subjects. After talking to people in the school system when he was ready to enter Kindergarten, I was not satisfied with the answers I received about what they could do for a high energy (no, not ADD) kid already reading at 4th grade level and at 2nd grade math level. We use an "unschooling" format and create our own curriculum. It's what works for us. We will continue to homeshool as long as it is the best choice at the time. If he goes to a public school at some point, it will be his choice and because it is a better choice at that time. He is around public schooled kids on a regular basis so knows the subjects they are studying and the challenges they face. [prismrainbow]
I have really mixed feelings about skipping grades too. I mean, it is good to have curriculum that is slightly challenging rather than boring but if you are the oldest kid in your class that can be a problem among the kids. As it is, as a homeschooler, my daughter can work at whatever grade she happens to be at in a particular subject and she gets along with so many different aged kids because none of them care sinc ethey are all different ages. [goldjay]
i homeschool my 2 children as well. a 3 & 6 year old. i love the homeschooling thing. i have been doing it now for almost 2 years. i have been hearing horror stories about the public school system of nowadays, and i am not impressed at all. in fact im a little disgusted. everyone is soo into being politcally correct by not mentioning religion in the learning environment, they dont understand that religion is the backbone for any kind of good upbringing. i mean i have my particular belief, but as long as there some kind of foundation, any kind of foundation is better than no kind of foundation. thats my opinion. as far as curriculum is concerned, i basically piece it together from different sources. google has become a major staple on my cpu, and there is the library of course. my Printer is my friend, and i mind as well buy stock in my ink company...lol. however, like you godjay, i wouldnt give it up unless i felt it was a benefit for my children. i love setting the pace for them. some days, we act silly and go on nature walks, come home and discuss what we seen, and what we didnt see. or we go on alphabet hunts in my house (for the 3 year old) to make the whole abc's with labels, colors, book titles, or utensils..whatever. then there is the regular days, where we do normal work. but at the pace set by myself and my chidren. as i sit here now typing to you, i look up and see all of the art and Crafts we have done for this past 3 months on my wall. see the posters that reflect the things they are currently learning seperately, and the things that are posted up as a reminder for them collectively. i am by far an educator, but this experience has teached me new heights of patience, and i love it all the way. okay, ill stop typing now. as you can see, i can go on and on and on, about this subject....lol. big hugs and smiles. [thatmom2]
We did the alphabet book thing too just using regular paper with a letter at the top and magazine pictures. At ages 3 and 5, thatmom, you should have plenty of days filled with fun and silliness! My daughter is 7 and while we do bookwork most days, some days are "life education days" where we cook and sew and go to the park or whatever we feel like doing. [goldjay]
I understand that some specific students might benefit from home schooling, such as those with learning disabilities or for example autistic children. However, for children of average intelligence and average social skills, I fully believe in public schools. Children and teens need socialization which is another skill that home schooling cannot teach them. In life, a person needs to be able to deal with many types of people. So, for example, if a child is homeschooled because his parents believe he will not get good moral ideas at school, he will have maybe home and church to teach him socialization and he will not have the examples of dealing with people in the outside world. Children need to be exposed to people and situations that we as parents feel maybe either good or bad. We cannot shelter them. When they get out in the world, they will be in shock. Also, socialization with peers allows the child to learn to make decisions about good and bad and healthy and not healthy and moral and immoral. Not everything can be taught to a child face to face over the kitchen table. Your child will not experience the importance of team play, and good physical fitness, music, art and scientific labs. You may be able to offer some of these things at your home, but schools are equipped and generally have trained persons to teach these things. In the case of severe physical or mental limitations, there may be exceptions to my leaning toward public schools. When Christian friends tell me they would rather shelter their children from the "bad" things they could learn in school, either socially or academically, I always point out that a child brought up in a good Christian life is going to know what to sort out as good and bad on their own. One example of this is: My son was given a very simple reader in first grade about the theory of evolution. I read it with him and he had to give a response. He wrote this, with my help only on some spelling, the wording is all his own: "This book about evolution is a lie. The man who wrote it is a liar. God created the world and all the animals and people. This man is a liar. This book is very bad." His teacher phoned me to congratulate me on raising a six year old with that much conviction about his beliefs. Today my son is almost sixteen and has the very same strength about his moral and Christian convictions. He was a witness and an example to his teacher. That is a big count in favor of sending my children to public school. They are going to be more influenced by a strong parent and home environment than they will by the outside world if you teach them what priorities are before you send them out. BE a parent instead of just saying you are one. [kbkbooks]
First of all, just because children are homeschooled, does not mean that they are HOME all day long. My daugher interacts with PEOPLE all day long and has learned to deal with all sorts of people from the tellers at the bank to the kids in her co-ops to seniors at the senior center we visit to the strangers that want to know why she is not in school. She is well-spoken and knows how to talk to people. She takes classes in subjects that I am not confident in teaching such as dance, music, and art, among others. She knows how to work with teachers and with the other kids in those classes. And, she knows about BAD things that I don't necessarily want to exposeher to but she doesn't have to deal with it on a daily basis at age 7, as she shouldn't have to. Why should she sit in class wasting her time while teachers have to continually discipline other children. Not only that but she is an exceptionally bright child (I'm biased perhaps but she is working a whole grade level ahead of her age and knows stuff typical kids of her age do not know) who would be bored with school. It would just move way to slow for her! She likes to do something and once she's mastered it, she's ready to move on! Homeschooling does not work for everyone. We have a great homeschooling community and great support here. It is working very well for us. [goldjay]
Homeschooling may be one of the new budding things of the millenium. But icant predict how effective it will be.YOu say that you get the cirriculamm from a reputable school then why not join u kids there ? Thats what I feel. But if you are mentally strong that this education will do much good to your kids than wat schooling does then I beg you to continue... This is one of the new entertaining IDEAS.. SO Htas off to you.. [gpraveenkumar5]
The reason that my daughter does not go to the school where we get her curriculum from is that the school is 100 miles from our house! They send the curriculum all over the world. [goldjay]
Just wanted to say well done to all those who homeschool their children and best of luck in the future doing so. Not quite sure how many if any homeschool their kids here (Ireland) I imangine it's not many, But I think we have a good mix of schools here ?? I send my children to an Educate Together School, It's fantastic. [design]
Glad to hear of your great schools in Ireland! That's so nice. Here in the US, there is often very little choice in schools (unless you can pay big bucks!) [goldjay]
I homeschooled all 3 of my kids until high school. At that point I just thought that it was something that they could benefit from being in the system then and the schools could teach them better. If you are uncertain, look into the option of cyber school systems. Check them out carefully and be picky. In most states, at least in PA where I'm at, they are free IF they are certified with your state AND your city (local) school district has to pay them. In most cases you will not only get all your books from the charter cyber school but a computer and free internet hookup/service. We utilized this system when I began working full time plus was going through a divorce. That was my only way to remain sane! lol Good luck! [hockeygal4ever]