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Replies to 'Homeschooling'
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July 5, 2006, 8:07 pm PDT
 Quote From: agis09 I have just stumbled over this website and I am glad I did. Reading your quote brought tears to my eyes as I am close with this subject with my son. My husband and I know, we will be battling worse troubles if we send our son to the public middle school, dealing with issues of depression, anxiety, bullying, etc., when our children have never asked for or deserve that kind of treatment. My husband and I have been comtemplating homeschooling our son once he would hit the 7th grade. He has been labled as learning difficulties, high anxiety, speech impaired, etc. when both my husband and I have this type of nature. We are who we are and upsets us for labeling our child with these types of problems, recommending to medicate him, with the help of his pediatrician(who is deadset against it), states, nothing wrong with him. He has been diagnosed this since kindergarden, stayed back in kindergarden because of it and he has now just finished the 6th grade. Throughout these inschool years, he was in special education classes, being pulled out of his class and recesses to accommodate the teachers. My son is a normal, loving, helpful child who would give his shirt off his back. and is a hands on type of kid. I have complained to my husband throughout the years that I always felt that he had too much help. He is unable to work independently because of this. Now, changing schools, heading into the middle school, they are placing him in every class Special Education. This is a very rough school, therefore we are pulling him out. We tried a private school one day with only to pick my son up after school, he looked like he was put through a wringer. That day I asked him, "What would you want mom and dad to do?" His answer was with sad eyes, "Homeschool?" That was it. My husband are scared about this as public schools is all we know but are doing it anyways. Any suggestions? I have no clue where to start. We can not afford to buy the curriculums, but I hear I can make my own curriculum, buying used books, using my library, etc. In doing so, without buying a curriculum, will he get a diploma? That is our main concern, to get his diploma. Your post really moved me. I felt that I could see those sad eyes of your son looking up at you. I don't buy any curriculum. We make our own based on the fundementals that my husband and I feel the children should learn in order to communicate in the world and we listen to our children and what they are interested in learning and we work as there facilitators and we help them find what they need using the library, internet, books found at yard sales and used book stores, etc. LEARNING IS EVERYWHERE!!!!!! There is a book that I would LOVE for you to read that you can get at your local library and in there you will find info on how to make a highschool diploma for your son. You will act as a private school and you will sign the diploma as the principal when you are satisfied with what he has learned. What we did first was to let my daughter "deschool", which means to just let her be and find herself again. For the first 6 months I read and read and read every homeschooling book I could get my hands on until I found what I liked for our family. Every family and circumstance and child in unique. Unschooling works for us because we want the freedom for our children and family to learn what we want and not what every other child has to learn in school. Before I get off track, the book is called, "THe homeschooling book of answers:The 88 most important questions answered by homeschoolings's most respected voices by Linda Dobson. If your library does not have the book, ask if you can get it on interlibrary loan. That means they will search other libraries and call you when then find it. It's a great "start" book.
This is a wonderful journey and the advice I would give you the most, is to RELAX and everything will fall into place. Your child comes first and there is no need to fear that he will lack an education. Your son shouldn't need to be on the same level of everyone else his age and he shouldn't have to deal with marks put on him because he is not. I am 33 and I'm not at the same level of every 33 year old woman, nor do I want to me. I am ME, YOU are YOU and he is his own unqiue self and he should not have to deal with all that sadness in the name of an education that he WILL be able to get at home. Children, as well as ourselves learn all the time, everyday. It's a natural thing.
If you decide to homeschool, you will need to let the school know, as well as the schoolboard. I have a sample letter that you can print out if you want it. Let me know and I'll be more than pleased to help you out in any way I cam;)
YOU CAN DO THIS! Sherri |
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