Topic : Homeschooling

For your first question I must say that is a valid concern and unfortunately such things have happened.  But you sound like an intelligent person and surely you have seen that these people exist everywhere; they are insidious peoples who infiltrate even the most protective of homes. Future Osamas and NAMBLA members are everywhere-even public schools or there wouldn't be situations like Columbine or the Amish Shootings.  So we can't count out homeschooling, which really is the best choice for some families, simply because there are some truly unstable people out there.  I don't know about every state, but where I am we have to show proof of sustained educational progress yearly, test our children in grades 3,5,7 and each high school year, and our children have to have yearly evaluations by a certified adult who will conduct an interview with the child.  Most states do require some type of monitoring.   For your second question, I don't feel a homeschooling parent is doing their job if they aren't educating and exposing their children to all the things you mentioned.  And I completely agree that it takes a village to raise a child.  I do a basic 36 week curriculum with my child who is in 5th grade, Dad teaches things he is good at, we consider them "electives" such as motors, outdoor survival, advanced computer skills etc.  His grandparents spend regular time with him and pass on their knowledge and passions.  My son is involved in extra curricular activities such as guitar, baseball & soccer (seasonally) and Tae Kwon Do.  We also belong to a homeschool group which offers classes in topics I may not think to cover like Public Speaking, Missionaries of the World and regular organized gym time.  There is no way I would want to take this on on my own.   Also, homeschooling can be done year round and the parents have the freedom to educate their children wherever they wish; without being reprimanded by a school board for missing too many days of school.  Our family went on a 2 week vacation last year to Holland and France (we don't have a lot of money, we planned and saved for a long time for this trip) and I wanted to take my high school aged brother with us, but he couldn't go because he'd already missed 3 days of school and missing 10 more would put him over his "alloted days" including days alloted for educational absences.  He was on his 2nd year of French and couldn't go to France because of a technicality, it was a true shame, he would have learned so much more than he did sitting in class those days.   Homeschooling is not for everyone.  Every parent has to decide what is best for their individual children.  I know some families who homeschool one child and another goes to public or private school because they are putting each child where they will learn the most and develop that passion for learning and achieving.   Lastly, there have been many previous posts about how many uneducated parents there are out there who shouldn't homeschool because they can't put a proper sentence together themselves.  I feel this is a very unfair statement.  Where there is a will there is a way and if a parent truly wants to homeschool there are so many resources out there to utilize.  I wouldn't have felt this way 20 years ago, in the "dark ages" of homeschooling where families where homeshcooling underground and resources were so few.  But no there is a vast wealth of structured curriculums out there at our fingertips, complete with teachers manuals; appendices, explanations and answer keys; homeschool groups abound from town to town and what better way is there to teach your child the value of an education than to value it yourself?  To want to improve yourself right before your child's eyes simply because it's important?  I've learned or perhaps re-learned more in the years I've been homeschooling my child than in more years then I can remember.    Sorry to go on for so long.  Thanks for hearing me out.

Hi!  Have you checked out the Konos curriculum?  It's more of a guidebook, actually, but is perfect for wiggly little boys (I have 3 of 'em!).  A lot of my friends who have ADHD kids or just kinestetic learners are finding a lot of success with KONOS.  It's very hands on and multi-sensory.  It's not for every mom though, so if you are not the hands on kinda mom, you'll lose your mind! LOL!  That would be my suggestion to you for curriculum.  Each little child is so very different from each other, so it's so nice to have so many options available to us to choose from.  Good luck to you!  It will be a great adventure!!

I just want to say that I have decided to homeschool. I manage a fast food place and I just discovered my two best employees are homeschooled. I didn't know it till we started discussing the Dr. Phil Show. The get along well with their co-workers, are always on time, do a great job and show lots of initiative.

 

If they hadn't told me I wouldn't have known they were homeschooled they are normal kids. I hope I can find more homeschooled kids to work for me. They have a great work ethic.

 

 

 

 

  Well mamamonkey, you sound like you're doing a very thorough job. (Would you like to help out with mine too?)   I hope everyone makes such an effort.  I am not singling out parents such as yourself.  I hope you, and other parents like you, are not offended by my concerns.  

  It's too bad that the government doesn't give financial incentives for parents who do homeschool.  Tax write offs for field trips, extra-curricular activities, paper, etc.  (or do they in the U.S.?)  That would help out people who are doing all they can to ensure their children are well educated.

The Canadian government is starting to implement a tax incentive for all children who participate in physical activities, like skating or hockey.  Just a thought...

SOS is a horrible curriculum for ADHD, they have to sit still at a computer and the problems are the same over and over again. Besides it is boring and unchallenging.  You will do better at a unit study type approach.  SOS is hard to learn, because it is on a computer screen.  My children learn better with pen and paper and hands on. 

kristina

homeschooling 9 years with

one ADHD child

     I'm a mother of 7 children.  I have been homeschooling for 21 years.  My two oldest children went to school, but forseeing a problem with my third child, and having been exposed to the idea of homeschooling, I decided to homeschool the 5 youngest children.  They were all homeschooled through high school and all attended the community college in our area when they were seniors.  Four of the children transferred into 4-year institutions and 3 have already earned their degrees.   The third child who was having "learning problems" in school has a degree in Business from the University of Arkansas.  Another child has her degree from Cal Poly University in horticulture.  One daughter has her degree in history from San Diego Christian College.   Our  fourth  daughter quit school to marry but only had a few courses to finish her degree .   The youngest child is in college now majoring in business. 

     Homeschooling was the most rewarding thing I have done in my life and I believe was the most rewarding thing that the children have done.    The relationship that my husband and I were able to develop with our children was invaluable.  They are well adjusted kids who are comfortable in any situation.    Homeschooling them allowed them to learn at their own pace and was a one-on-one tutoring, which is one of the best ways to learn.  They learned that books are truly their friends and they  have an ability to seek out and learn anything  that they are interested in.    They were able to spend time with their peer group as well as a great amount of time with adults, community service,and organizations like 4H.

     Obviously it was the right way for our family.

I am sixteen and homeschooled. I love it, there is so much to do. We have a teen book club that meets for breakfast on Fridays. Monday's we go skating. And I do several co-ops with my friends. Tuesday I attend a Spanish Co-op. We celebrated Day of the Dead and are planning a traditional Spanish Christmas.  Wed. I attend a Music History and Theory co-op. I also take private piano lessons. Thursday's I go to a Art History class offered at a local museum.  I also work after school, most of my co-workers are teens so we have a lot of fun hanging out together. When I am not going to school or working I hang out at the mall with my friends. I love to shop!!!! And keeping in touch with friends isn't a problem we IM, text message etc. Homeschooling is FUN & EDUCATIONAL.

 

I have already taken the ACT, and thanks to my high score will be starting college Fall 2007. I know a lot of posters have concerns about homeschooled kids getting into college, but it wasn't a problem they excepted the transcripts my Mom made plus my ACT scores. Several of my friends are attending the same college.

 

 

I know quite a few homeschoolers in college and they are doing very well. Congrats on your high score,you will do well. 

My son went to public school for kinder, and it was a good experience for the first part of the year.  And then things changed.  He began to cry when we would take him, and then it turned into rage attacks like none of you have ever seen.  The school year ended, and we decided to see what first grade would bring us.  The first day of school, my son cried, wet his pants, vomited, and needless to say, didnt go to school.  And things escalated from there.  After 21 days of his first grade year....every single day carrying him to school crying, raging...I said enough.  We made the decision to homeschool.  And he was a totally different child.  We began to see a specialist as well, and he was diagnosed with Aspergers.  That was a wake up call for us.  We had him tested at the end of his first grade year, and he is testing out in the 4-6th grade levels in most areas.  And the third in the others.  While we did all the "basics" I allowed him to learn at his own pace.  If there was something he wanted to study, we did.  At the age of 6, my son was calculating weather patterns in an on line weather school, predicting the paths of hurricanes days before the meteorologists were.  He got one of the highest scores in the online class....everyone else was late teens.  He made the choice this year to return to public school, and really loves his teacher.  Which is great.  But he is still so far ahead that he has some issues.  And now it's a fight every day with the schools to get him the services that he should be having.  And I hate that feeling.   And I will say that his "attutude" and picking up bad habits from other kids has been an issue.  But we deal with it right now.

 

If my son decided tomorrow that he wanted to be homeschooled, I would.  And if he decides next year that he wants to stay home, he will.  My second child is homeschooled Pre-school/kinder right now.  And it's his choice next year what he wants to do. 

 

I feel it should be decided by the individual child, not just because.  My son did great at home, he's doing well now, they just dont know what to do with him most days, because he already knows what they are teaching in the curriculum. 

 

My opinion is that we need a revamp in the public school system so that education is based on the "Level" that they child is at...Not at the age.  If you think about it..in your life, how many of your friends are the exact age as you, and your in the exact same place in your life.  It doesnt happen.  We should be teaching our children at their level in learning, not teaching them the first grade stuff just because they are 7.....It gives those that need the extra time what they need, and those that learn some things quickly a chance to move on to something else.  My son's biggest problem is that he is bored...so they give him free reading time when he could be learning something new.

 

 

 

 I am way above the other level of students. I was in 7th grade and I cried everyday because I got so bored. Finally, my mom yelled at the board and made me take 10 grade honors geometry when I went into 8th rade. She works non stop and I would never let my dad homeschool me. I can't stand it. I pretended to be sick for yesterday and today just to get away. I go back tomorrow and will cry again. I would do anything to be homeschooled.