Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
So since I first began the blog my husband and I have had a HUGE debate. My husband approached me one night and told me that he felt we should give DJ a chance to go to kindergarten in a public school, especially since we live in such a good school district. My nature caused me to buck this suggestion and rule it out immediately. How could someone I love and trust so much ask me to go against everything I believe in? Through much prayer and talking to my husband I had to come to terms with myself, and my own bias. Homeschooling is My belief, because I know how great it was for Me, but my husband does not have this experience. So, I set up a meeting with the principal at the elementary school, I checked over the curriculum, we discussed my fears, worries, concerns, beliefs, etc. I am going to compromise with my husband, as these are OUR children. DJ goes to kindergarten in public school, but if any of the serious concerns that I have materialize DJ comes home. I'm not totally okay with this, but I'm pretty sure it's a Me thing. I'm going to trust my husband with this and we'll see what the Lord has in store. I will still be blogging on here with our experience with kindergarten. So far the enrollment experience was not too painful. DJ isn't sure how he feels about it yet, but we're trying to make it a positive thing. We have come to a unanimous decision that public school is not an option post elementary school. I just wish that there was still a half day option in our school district. Apparently there are not enough parents interested. I won't go on a rant about my feelings there because it would just sound very critical and judgmental. Enough for now. I guess for now more appropriate would be "Here We Go Public School". Will need much support for this one. I welcome suggestions. Thanks for letting me sound off.
Friday, May 1, 2009
So You Want to Homeschool, but What About the Things They Will Miss Out On?
Here is a list of FAQs that I have compiled from my own library, and those of friends that homeschool and don’t homeschool. I hope that these are helpful at answering your questions, I will try to be as unbiased as possible.
Q. What about socializing? How will they make friends, and learn to interact with people?
A. This has to be the #1 question asked by those who have never experienced homeschooling. Now because of the nature of homeschooling, there are some parents that choose not to socialize their children, so I certainly don’t speak for the whole population of homeschoolers. Let me try and put it simply. Most homeschoolers that I know attend some form of homeschool group. Yes, a group of homeschool parents and children get together and do activities and socialize. I have made it a point to take my children at least two days a week to a park, the MacDonnalds play place, have other kids over, or take my kids to play at another house. This aside from attending church. My 5 year old, who can be shy, will immediately look for someone to play with, introduce himself, and engage in play without my assistance.
Q. What qualifies you to teach if you’re not a teacher?
A. First of all as a parent, you know your child and their learning style better than any “teacher”. This is the glory of homeschooling for the parent, you get to read ahead, and sometimes re-learn those things that you had forgotten about. Thus keeping you “smarter than a 5th grader”. Homeschooling is NOT for everyone! If you find that you lack the ability to teach your children, then don’t do it, unless you can afford private tutors.
Q. What about gym class and sports?
A. Ah, gym class. This is where the liberties of homeschooling are really wonderful. Gym class can be composed of joining a sport at the YMCA, taking aerobics classes, going horse back riding, training for a race, going for a bike ride at the park, going roller skating, the list goes on and on. No it is not a state, or developmental requirement that you be belted with a dodge ball to become a thriving member of society. The sports question is usually geared towards the high school students and usually referring to the school teams. Homeschooled children maintain the ability to join these teams at their school district, I think this is how they justify still making you pay school taxes. Lol. Also there are intramural teams at churches, recreations centers, and so forth.
Q. What about the prom, and graduation?
A. Refer to the above question reguarding sports teams in your school district. Also, being homeschooled does not mean that children cannot interact with children who attend formal schools. In most states if a child completes the outlined criteria for graduation, set fourth by the school district, they can attend graduation at that school.
Q. If they don’t receive a diploma from a “real school” how will they get into college?
A. This is actually a really good question. Most schools and universities have policies for admissions of homeschoolers without traditional diplomas. Many colleges accept a transcript with ACT/SAT scores. Some do require a letter of recommendation from a licensed evaluator. All research shows that many colleges and universities are eager to enroll homeschoolers, even Harvard, Princeton, and Georgetown.
Q. How will they learn structure if they don’t have to get out of their pajamas to go to school?
A. I am going to refer to my previous statement that this is an individual thing. My day as a homeschooler was structured, as will my children’s day be structured. We were up at 7a.m. 5 days a week, got dressed, ate breakfast before school. The only thing different was that we had time to do our chores before school. We had horses, cows, rabbits, dogs, and a cat. Our school day was structured, we were usually allowed to decide which order we did our lessons in, and if we got burned out we could come back to it.
Q. What about children with disabilities?
A. This is a broad term. Many children with learning disabilities actually do quite well at home. Lessons are able to be tailored to the child, and without the ridicule and labeling that occurs in the public school. Some learning disabilities of a more sever nature do require professional support. However the ability to spend smaller, more frequent increments on subjects is immensely helpful to the hyperactive child with a short attention span. There are many fantastic resources on the web from parents who successfully homeschool children with ADHD, ADD, Autism, Auspergers, and other conditions of delayed or special learning needs.
This list is a work in progress, and I will add to it as more questions arise. Also, please submit any questions that you may have, questions that you have been asked, etc. If I don’t have an answer, I will find one.
Here is a list of FAQs that I have compiled from my own library, and those of friends that homeschool and don’t homeschool. I hope that these are helpful at answering your questions, I will try to be as unbiased as possible.
Q. What about socializing? How will they make friends, and learn to interact with people?
A. This has to be the #1 question asked by those who have never experienced homeschooling. Now because of the nature of homeschooling, there are some parents that choose not to socialize their children, so I certainly don’t speak for the whole population of homeschoolers. Let me try and put it simply. Most homeschoolers that I know attend some form of homeschool group. Yes, a group of homeschool parents and children get together and do activities and socialize. I have made it a point to take my children at least two days a week to a park, the MacDonnalds play place, have other kids over, or take my kids to play at another house. This aside from attending church. My 5 year old, who can be shy, will immediately look for someone to play with, introduce himself, and engage in play without my assistance.
Q. What qualifies you to teach if you’re not a teacher?
A. First of all as a parent, you know your child and their learning style better than any “teacher”. This is the glory of homeschooling for the parent, you get to read ahead, and sometimes re-learn those things that you had forgotten about. Thus keeping you “smarter than a 5th grader”. Homeschooling is NOT for everyone! If you find that you lack the ability to teach your children, then don’t do it, unless you can afford private tutors.
Q. What about gym class and sports?
A. Ah, gym class. This is where the liberties of homeschooling are really wonderful. Gym class can be composed of joining a sport at the YMCA, taking aerobics classes, going horse back riding, training for a race, going for a bike ride at the park, going roller skating, the list goes on and on. No it is not a state, or developmental requirement that you be belted with a dodge ball to become a thriving member of society. The sports question is usually geared towards the high school students and usually referring to the school teams. Homeschooled children maintain the ability to join these teams at their school district, I think this is how they justify still making you pay school taxes. Lol. Also there are intramural teams at churches, recreations centers, and so forth.
Q. What about the prom, and graduation?
A. Refer to the above question reguarding sports teams in your school district. Also, being homeschooled does not mean that children cannot interact with children who attend formal schools. In most states if a child completes the outlined criteria for graduation, set fourth by the school district, they can attend graduation at that school.
Q. If they don’t receive a diploma from a “real school” how will they get into college?
A. This is actually a really good question. Most schools and universities have policies for admissions of homeschoolers without traditional diplomas. Many colleges accept a transcript with ACT/SAT scores. Some do require a letter of recommendation from a licensed evaluator. All research shows that many colleges and universities are eager to enroll homeschoolers, even Harvard, Princeton, and Georgetown.
Q. How will they learn structure if they don’t have to get out of their pajamas to go to school?
A. I am going to refer to my previous statement that this is an individual thing. My day as a homeschooler was structured, as will my children’s day be structured. We were up at 7a.m. 5 days a week, got dressed, ate breakfast before school. The only thing different was that we had time to do our chores before school. We had horses, cows, rabbits, dogs, and a cat. Our school day was structured, we were usually allowed to decide which order we did our lessons in, and if we got burned out we could come back to it.
Q. What about children with disabilities?
A. This is a broad term. Many children with learning disabilities actually do quite well at home. Lessons are able to be tailored to the child, and without the ridicule and labeling that occurs in the public school. Some learning disabilities of a more sever nature do require professional support. However the ability to spend smaller, more frequent increments on subjects is immensely helpful to the hyperactive child with a short attention span. There are many fantastic resources on the web from parents who successfully homeschool children with ADHD, ADD, Autism, Auspergers, and other conditions of delayed or special learning needs.
This list is a work in progress, and I will add to it as more questions arise. Also, please submit any questions that you may have, questions that you have been asked, etc. If I don’t have an answer, I will find one.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The family and friend response.
So with the decision to homeschool came the time to let certain friends and family members know our plans. One friend, who I love dearly, we were pregnant with our boys together, and the boys have played together since infancy; and by the way would have been in the same kindergarten class. This friend successfully completed education through the public schools in the school district that we live in. So the response was that she thinks I am crazy, and that I haven't even given the school a chance, therefore I am making an ignorant decision. DJ will miss out on socialization, he won't learn how to take turns, or how to stand in line, or how to be quiet when it's time to be quiet. I'm not going to type out the hour long debate that went down, it ended with both of us settling on "I value your opinion, but I'm going to disagree with you on this". This morning was my mother-in-law, who was already aware that if the kids went to public school at all, it would only be for elementary school. So I let her know that we had made a decision, and DJ would not be attending kindergarten in the fall. Long silence. I broke the silence by citing a few of the factors behind our choice, shortly thereafter her phone was beeping and she would have to hang up. Obviously there's no oposition from my family, as I was homeschooled successfuly. I know that this is only the beginning of defending the choice to homeschool to very well-meaning people who love our children, and happen to think I'm crazy and damning them to a life of anti-social behavior, coupled with the inability to be quiet, take turns, stand in line, hold their bladders, or sit still for the greater part of a 6 hour day. If I ever lose my sense of humor...........well let's just hope that never happens. I know there are many more questions I'll have to answer to. "What about choir, and gym class, and sports, and the prom"? I think I will be constructing a post with my answers to these, and other FAQs, if nothing else to have as a reference, or to print and hand out at family functions when I see that look on someones face. So if you have any questions yourself, or if you have suggestions for questions please comment.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
...............and so we will home school
Meet DJ. DJ is 5, and would be scheduled to start formal kindergarten this fall. DJ has always been a very interesting child. He is inquisitive, imaginative, he's very interested in things that little boys are interested in, but he's very tender and sensitive as well. DJ was also blessed with the gift of gab. The child that didn't talk until he was almost 3 has not stopped since then. I have wrestled with the idea of sending DJ to school since I was pregnant with him. Getting to know him over the last 5 years has only provoked the battle that I was having. Getting DJ to sit still for longer than 2 minutes to look at a book that doesn't involve tractors, trucks, hunting, or science is near imposible. It was always a joke in the family that when DJ goes to kindergarten he probably won't know his ABCs, but he'll know how to over-haul an engine. Well guess what, DJ doesn't completely know his ABCs, and he can tell you in complete detail how combustion occurs inside of an engine, he can tell you which presidents appear on money, he explained to my mother-in-law, at 4, how evaporation occurs and the effects on the weather. It has been such an inspirational journey to watch this little guy turn into the person that he is. When the subject of enrolling him in pre-school came up I tactfully avoided it. When the subject of enrolling into Kindergarten was brought up it was time to make a decision. Everytime I thought about all these wonderful things that make up my little boy I realized that none of them fit the mold of the public school system. I was then taken back to remember a little girl who sat in the hallway and visited the principals office frequently throughout K-5, and was made to feel that voicing her ideas was bad. I was that little girl, and at the age of 27 those feelings are still just as fresh. So I constructed my case and took it to the Head of the Board, aka my husband, and the decision was made. So here we go......................
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