How many of us are homeschoolers?

[MotherCharlotte]

Just curious. How many members here at BHM homeschool their kids? Can you tell me a bit about your situation? I'm always interested in meeting other homeschoolers.

As for us, I pulled my daughter out of school a couple of years ago when she was in Grade 2, because she was complaining constantly about how boring it was and how she wasn't learning anything. I figured I could challenge her more and help her learn more at home.

After homeschooling for a while though, I came to realize that there are many reasons to do it that aren't necessarily academic. I like spending so much time together as a family, I like learning together and discussing books together, and I really like that I am the primary influence in her life and not her school friends, her teacher, or the government curriculum. I don't think I would ever send her back to school, unless she really wanted to go for some reason .

Homeschooling is definitely the way to go for us.

[mistyriver]

I homeschool my youngest daughter. The oldest is off in college at a great university. We live in an incredibly beautiful but quite poor area and the schools are a trainwreck.
We use the Calvert School curriculum because it is such a great academic program but I do supplement it with other things, like Saxon Math. We'll be starting 7th grade in a couple of months.

[walls0stone]

The home school situation has changed here a great deal. Once, the local h.S kids were withdrawn, to a point it was dangerous. I recall one woman who'd kids were so out of touch, things that could actually harm them were unknown. Basically they would find themselves in situations/places they should not be, and not know enough to leave...say a party W/drugs. They reminded me of yip-dogs... when they did get away from the house, they would bounce all around. Basically most H/school kids here were once over protected. When they did leave home, many went way over board.

But lately, it seems that this problem has been addressed. I think more rational parents have been involved here. Mixing in more time with others. I've thought about it for our children.

[Funkhouser]

My wife and I homeschool our son. *He turned six in March, and would be starting first grade in the fall if he were enrolled in traditional school. *However, he is ahead of the curve in reading and reading comprehension, as well as math and social studies (we've been giving him first and second grade level material since the beginning of the calendar year and he's done very well).

We take it one week at a time. *It's not easy, but it's very rewarding (my wife and I can learn along with him as time goes by, or re-learn fogotten material).

We are fortunate to live in a state (NC) that does not do too much to infringe on the right of parents to homeschool their children.

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/North_Carolina.pdf

[homesteadingnky]

We homeschool our daughters. My wife actually went to school and got her teaching degree in elementary ed. But she became frustrated with the public school system and never pursued it. When our daughters were born we decided immediately that we would homeschool. We are really just getting started as this is our second year doing this. We attend a fairly small church (around 50-60 people if you count kids and adults) and everyone there so far homeschools. It's really cool! It's not by design and of course anyone is welcome but it's just seemed to grow from that circle. We are a fairly new church plant only 3 yrs old. I can't imagine sending our girls to public school!! They are already learning so much and you can focus on what really matters!

[stew]

We do. [ UK & Mexico ]
Just starting with these two, one at 4 and one at 5. I did it with my first two offspring 30 years back, (1st marriage), piece of cake - the home-ed that is, not the 1st marriage!!!.
We travel too much to be able to use the school system, even if we wanted to.
They are doing well, very happy outgoing, interested in learning new stuff.
Biggest plus, we are all together all the time, and no outside nonsense to deal with.

stew

[shadowood]

My daughter loved school, then in 2nd grade she got a teacher that never gave her extra assingments. She was always done way ahead of the other students, sitting around being bored. I pulled her out and started homeschooling her. She did great. I worked weekends out of town then and had four days off most weeks. I took a new job in town that has excellent benefits, but it requires me to work alot more so she had to back to public school. I miss homeschooling her and the time we spent together.

Shadowood.

[MotherCharlotte]

Thanks everyone for the responses. :)

Funkhouser it is nice, isn't it, to live in a place with little restrictions on homeschoolers? I'm very thankful that here in Ontario the government places no restrictions at all on us. We have to notify the school board every year in writing of our intent to provide education at home--but once that is done, the government assumes we are doing a decent job and leaves us alone completely. No reports to fill out, no testing, no home visits by government teachers, nothing! I know we are very lucky in that respect as few places offer so much freedom to parents where their kids' education is concerned.

[8kids4me]

I am homeschooling our two youngest daughters, we are about to begin our fourth year with them(I brought them home when their school closed). I have to say, it is much easier to hs now than it was with the older kids back in the 90's. So many more curriculum choices, more groups, more activities for them to enjoy.

[gwhilikerz]

Hi, I'm new here. Nice to meet you. We homeschool our Grandson. We've been doing that since third grade. Now he is in 9th and we wouldn't think of sending him back to public school.
We particularly like the Alpha Omega products. We alternate between Switched-on-Schoolhouse and the LifePac books. Add the ALEKS online math programs and we feel he is getting a much better education than would be possible in public school.

[rivahmom]

We homeschool our 6 year old and have plans to do the same for our 4 yr old. I don’t use a set curriculum. I teach math, reading, and hand writing formally. Everything else is taught as their interest shows through use of the computer, library resources, and field trips. I may formalize more subjects as they get older but this works for us now.

[EarthMama]

We've been homeschooling for 18 years so far. Oldest daughter (now 26) was taught at home from 4th grade through high school... and then took online college classes here at home, for her first 2 years of college. Only son (now 21) was taught at home from start through finish, and our youngest (now 11) has been taught at home from the start too.

I always tell everybody that homeschooling isn't the only way to educate a child... it's just another way. There's pros and cons to everything, I guess. But we've been happy with the decision we made, to homeschool, those many years ago.

:)

[idrathergarden]

We have homeschooled our four children, 14, 13, 10, and 7year old. Having a hard time this year with facing High school this year with my oldest. Trying to adjust to our new surroundings. Our "home" church has a lot of homeschool families plus a support group. Starting to get to know other homeschoolers in the area. Just started attending a new church plant with only one other homeschool family.

[JoH]

I homeschool my 11yo and I'll be starting at Christmas-time with my 3-1/2yo. This is my 3rd year with the 11yo...she went to public school until 2nd grade. I don't plan on sending my 3-1/2yo at all.

Jo

[MotherCharlotte]

I homeschool my 11yo and I'll be starting at Christmas-time with my 3-1/2yo. * *This is my 3rd year with the 11yo...she went to public school until 2nd grade. *I don't plan on sending my 3-1/2yo at all.

Jo

My daughter was in public school until second grade as well. It seems to be a very common year for people pulling their kids out of school...I wonder why that is?

[otterbob]

This post is not meant to “raise your hackles”!

I understand why most want to home school, BUT, I have seen it as good and bad.
On the good, the children not only have a better understanding, but seem to be better “rounded”.
On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

Please explain your ideas of homeschooling.

Otter Bob

[rivahmom]

This post is not meant to “raise your hackles”!

I understand why most want to home school, BUT, I have seen it as good and bad.
On the good, the children not only have a better understanding, but seem to be better “rounded”.
On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

Please explain your ideas of homeschooling.

Otter Bob


Otter Bob,
You didn't raise my hackles. I'm glad you asked instead of just assuming. How many homeschoolers do you know personally? Many homeschooling parents understand a child’s need for relationships outside of the family. Many homeschoolers play on athletic teams, are members of boy scouts, 4H, etc... The unsocialized-homeschooler is mostly a myth IMHO. The ones I know can interact respectfully with any age group and are less likely to engage in peer pressure. I feel being in an environment isolated with only those of your same age for 5-6 hours of a day is unhealthy socialization. When a child enters the real world they have to know how to communicate, work, and socialize with all age groups. If public schools still had the one room school house model where the older ones assisted with the younger and they were taught how to learn independently so the teacher could focus on those that need it, I probably would not have as much issue with the public education system.

[JoH]

Otter Bob,
You didn't raise my hackles. *I'm glad you asked instead of just assuming. *How many homeschoolers do you know personally? *Many homeschooling parents understand a child’s need for relationships outside of the family. *Many homeschoolers play on athletic teams, are members of boy scouts, 4H, etc... The unsocialized-homeschooler is mostly a myth IMHO. *The ones I know can interact respectfully with any age group and are less likely to engage in peer pressure. *I feel being in an environment isolated with only those of your same age for 5-6 hours of a day is unhealthy socialization. *When a child enters the real world they have to know how to communicate, work, and socialize with all age groups. *If public schools still had the one room school house model where the older ones assisted with the younger and they were taught how to learn independently so the teacher could focus on those that need it, I probably would not have as much issue with the public education system.



Well said, rivah! * I've had a few people bring up the issue of socialization (including my mother...repeatedly :(). * The analogy I use is this:

In public school my daughter would be kept all day in a room (or rooms) with other children who are within 1 to 2 years of her age. *They will all have approximately the same abilities as they are required to learn at the same pace. *They remain with this same group for several years. *

Give me an example of when this will occur again within her adult lifetime...?? *Remember...same age, same abilities, same group for years.

As a homeschooler, she's out with me on a daily basis. *Maybe she's having her ice-skating lesson with other homeschoolers...maybe she's at one of her 4-H clubs...maybe she's at Girl Scouts...or maybe she's just running errands with me. *During this time she's interacting with a wide variety of adults and with children of all ages and abilities. *She helps out with younger children (voluntarily, I might add) and she learns from older kids. *School doesn't run from 9 am to 3 pm. *It runs 24/7. *When we find an opportunity for learning...we take it! *

How is this NOT the MOST well-rounded education? How is this NOT the best preparation for adulthood?

I am so thankful -- EVERY DAY -- that I am able to stay at home with my children and educate them not only in the 3R's...but educate them in life!

Jo

[reyecat]

my name is Jo too. *I hope it won't be confusing.

socialization. * If you define socialization as the abiltiy to recognize name brands, and the correct body style and make up and assuming a poor attitude, my children are poorly eqipped. *I prefer for them to be unsocialized. *I would rather have them poorly socialized and happily whole than the other alternative.

My b-i-l has been working with a carpenter who used to be a teacher. *he complained about how as a highschool teacher he got no respect and kids were so rude and didnt' care about anything. * and he couldn't handle the stress of helping these kids into adulthood where the school system and the parents were protecting the natural consequences from every corner so he quit.

then my b-i-l said...well we homeschool.

Then the teacher dude went off on this rampage about homeschoolers and how they are not "socialized" and blah blah blah.

my bil said, you've just been complaining about how horribly the "socialized" children were coping with consequences or the lack of them and that they had no respect for authority.... how is that socialized... i choose for my daughter to not be socialized in that definition. *

[grower]

I started homeschooling in 1990, when my oldest son turned 5. I've been homeschooling ever since, with my 4 kids. My oldest is now married with a new baby, running his own business. 2nd son is in the Army. Daughter is off at college. My youngest son is 15 and the only one I'm still homeschooling.

The laws here in Alabama are fairly lenient too, which I appreciate. Just leave me alone to teach. My kids are thoughtful, polite, and wise. And they know how to think for themselves and make good decisions.

I'm glad I chose to homeschool, although my reasons for doing it have changed with time. To start with, I did it because I thought it would be fun, and I did not like what I saw in the government schools. As our family grew together over the years, I could not think of another way to live. And it has been fun!

[MotherCharlotte]

Regarding the "socialization" issue--I read this on another board, I thought it was pretty funny.

Homeschooling Family Find Ways to Adapt to a public school "Socialization"
Program:

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering home-
schooling our children, we are without fail asked, "But what about
socialization?" Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same
socialization that government schools provide.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the
bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the "in" crowd, taking special care to poke fun of any physical abnormalities.

Fridays will be "Fad and Peer Pressure Day." We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, most expensive clothes and the loudest,
fastest and most dangerous car.

Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality. If our kids attempt to use the bathroom without permission, we
will punish them immediately.

And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion or try to bring up morals and values."

[rantinraven]

MotherCharlotte that was the best answer I have ever seen to the socialization question. It literally had me laughing so hard I woke up my husband. I am homeschooling 3 of our 5 kids atm although the babies sit in on the majority of schooling so I guess they are getting a good dose too. My grandmother and my dad are by far the biggest critics of homeschooling and one of them constantly has something to say. My GM is of the "I raised 5 kids in public school and it was good enough for me" attitude. I have to bite my tongue off to keep from reminding her that 1 son was in prison for 15 years, 1 daughter was/is a revolving pill addict, and 1 other son had 2 children and ran from the law for 17 years to avoid paying child support. My argument to my dad is that he had his chance screwing us up so it's only fair that I now get my turn with my kids. The "socialization" argument is always raised, and people just don't get it. It takes a special type of parent to home school and I commend you all for sticking with it. Something I hear often that just makes me role my eyes is other mother's saying "I can't wait till my kids go to school so I can get a break!" I guess I just never felt the need for that "break" they are referring to. I would rather have my kids home where school is practical, they learn everything along with me, discussion isn't limited or forbidden to raising their hands and they aren't required to have bladders of steel. School here definitely doesn't end it might relocate to the library, local park, lake, back yard, basement, or any other place that we may be going that day but it never stops. I guess I am lucky that I don't have a need for the public baby-sitting system. Raven

[farmmilkmama]

I am new here. We homeschool our two sons, ages almost 5 and almost 6. When people ask why we chose to do it, I generally answer "Because my husband is a cop and works crappy hours and it would be nice if the kids would get to see him instead of passing him at the door when they come home from public school." But there are several reasons...the husband's job, however, generally brings the least resistance from people we know would cause a stink.

[WileyCoyote]

Hi, farmmilkmama, welcome to the forum.

I came in for a lot of criticism when I homeschooled our children. One teacher walked up to me in the grocery store and demanded to know why I thought I could homeschool my children. Her rudeness and insistence that only qualified teachers should teach children, and that parents needed to butt out, only proved to me that I was on the right track. When my fourth-grader came home with a spelling test that was marked 100% - and four of the ten words were mispelled - and when I called the teacher and asked her and she said that the spelling didn't really matter, it was the effort that counted - that proved to me even more that 'certification' did not mean ability, quality, nor professionalism. It took me over a year of homeschooling to actually get my children back on track with education instead of socialization.

I'm glad that you found a passive way to defuse those rude enough to inquire. I would have told them off - just as I did those teachers! ;D

[farmmilkmama]

Nice job!!

I just always have found it interesting that there are people who ask about homeschooling because they are truly interested, and then there are those who ask because they want to drill you into the ground about it and cause issues. I am lucky enough that I figured out early that people can't really argue with the "need family time with dad", otherwise THEY are the ones who come off looking like the jerks!

I did have someone ask me at Christmas this year, "So...you're STILL homeschooling?" (like we've been doing it forever ;D) and I said we were. She kind of rolled her eyes and said "Yeah, but are you enjoying it?"

Some people. They just don't get it.

[EarthMama]

On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

Otter Bob


Bob, are you thinking about specific homeschooled children of your acquaintance, when you make these statements, or are you thinking of a group of homeschooled kids that you've met that are all "withdrawn" and "have no people skills".

I'm really curious. I've been homeschooling for 18 years and can honestly say that I have never met any homeschooled kids who are "withdrawn" and "have no people skills"... and I've met a LOT of homeschooled kids in my day.

As far as being educated for "life"... if you think that the kids in public school are ready for real life, when they graduate from 12th grade, I have a bridge to sell ya. ::)

[EarthMama]

P.S. About the "real life" issue... I'm the woman who cared for my aging mother for over 7 years in my home (you may have read my post in the prayer request folder). Mom was bed-bound the last 8 months of her life, needing a LOT of care. My homeschooled 11 year old daughter took part in that care as much as everyone else under our roof did. In fact, she was at my Mom's bedside too, when Mom drew her last breath.

If that ain't "life", I don't know what is.

[EarthMama]

I did have someone ask me at Christmas this year, "So...you're STILL homeschooling?" (like we've been doing it forever ;D) and I said we were. She kind of rolled her eyes and said "Yeah, but are you enjoying it?"

Some people. They just don't get it.



Ya know, as a veteran homeschooler, I think there's a lot to be said for "enjoying" homeschooling. I really do think that some parents are not wired to homeschool and that's really not a bad thing to admit.

I always tell people that you have to like your kids and you have to enjoy homeschooling them or it's just not going to work. Most parents love their kids but you have to *like* them too, in order to be able to be around them 24/7.

My caboose is going to a homeschooling co-op at our church. She started attending the co-op in autumn of 2007 but then Mom got sick so I withdrew her (December 2007) after 3 months of attending. She didn't start back up until this past November (2008 ) after Mom passed.

I didn't do this with the 2 older kids but I'm doing it with our youngest. I still home-educate her but then she attends the co-op from 8:30am til 2:30pm, on Mondays - Wednesdays - Fridays during the week, to do independent study that I give her to do. This is the child that gets on my last nerve whenever the opportunity arises. ::) The first 2 didn't do this but the last one does.... endlessly. So we found a solution that was acceptable to both of us, to give her some independence (aka: break time for both her and me!!!).

The point is... I recognized the need for this and took action to resolve it. Homeschooling my caboose, at home 24/7, was not a very enjoyable proposition for either her nor I and it affected not only our relationship but her schooling as well.

So I think there's a lot to be said for the "enjoyment" factor of homeschooling. Both the child and the parent has to have some sort of enjoyment out of it or it's just not going to work.... or if it does work, it will work miserably.

Just my .02

[farmmilkmama]

I agree with you, Earth Mama. I didn't mean to sound like homeschooling is enjoyable every minute of every day. The "some people don't get it" comment was more a stab at her...who is pretty sure with our simplistic lifestyle that I'm forced to do this by my husband and chained to the children all day, against my will.

I agree that in order to homeschool your kids, it helps to like them a good majority of the time. I know people who have said "I admire what you're doing. I could never do that, I don't like spending that much time with my kids." And while that seems really crass and mean at first glance, I think the honesty is a good thing. I don't think every parent is cut out to homeschool. I think those who don't want to, shouldn't.

I enjoy it at this point because I like being with my kids and its about the only way I think they'll have any kind of normal relationship with their father in his particular line of work and schedule he has to keep. I'm thankful for the opportunity. It allows us a flexibility.

Kudos for doing "different" with your caboose. You could have just kept on doing the same thing, but that would have drove you both nuts and been destructive to what you were trying to accomplish. Honest people rock.

[goodwifefarm]

I'd just like to interject here......I don't homeschool........but I respect people who do. *I work in the public school system (cook at a high school) *and I could tell you stories that would curl your hair. *I love every one of those kids that I interact with every day and I will tell you for sure the ones who have parental involvement and the ones who don't. *My daughter goes to public school. *I was a stay at home mom *until last year when I got the job at the school (took that job because it doesn't intefere with my real job of being a mama) *The problem with many publicly schooled kids is that their parents flat out just don't care. *They don't check their homework or even ask if they have homework. *They don't send them lunch money.....have a relationship with the principal or teachers....... *I do not understand most people who have kids. *The first thing that I and my daughter do when she gets in the car after school is talk about her day........her friends.......her teacher, homework whatever. *I feel like I'm rambling, I'm just trying to say that you can publicly school your kid and have them be ok too, as long as you are every bit as involved as a homeschooling parent. *I'm really having a hard time articulating what I want to say here.......hard to type my feelings I guess. *I suppose I want to say, kudos to homeschoolers, and kudos to VERY INVOLVED public school parents as well! * ;)

Thought some more about what I was trying to say. Just wanted to share that my husband and I also use every situation as a learning experience. My goal for my daugher is for her to be a compassionate child of God. I do not get wrapped up in what the report card says (although my daughter is a very good student) Real life does not begin and end with what the standardized testing says! I frequently get into very lively debates with the principle of my school about how messed up the "rules" are. I also would like to say that my daughter's very rural school is in a very Christian community. Her second grade teacher had a poster with the Golden Rule on it and the scripture reference at the bottom. I'm sure that at some point in the future someone will move into the area and raise a stink, but until then.......... I tell my daughter that no one can ever stop her from praying at school. Maybe they can stop her from praying out loud, but they can never take away her relationship with God because that is inside her.

Ok.......I feel like I'm rambled enough for one night :o ;D

sarah

[Jamie]

I realize this is an older thread but I don't get on the homeschool portion often. We homeschool, our oldest is now in the Air Force, then next is getting married at the end of the year, both were homeschooled and did very well. We have 3 that we are teaching this year and it will be 4 next year. The other 2 are still too young. I will be at this for a while but I love being with my children. If we could only figure out how to have daddy home too, it would be even better. We use a variety of things, Voyages in English, Saxon Math, Christ the king, Lord of History, mainly the books put out by Our Lady of Victory. We live in a good state for homeschooling right now( oregon) but will be moving somewhere as soon as my hubby can find a job.

God BLess!
Jamie

[Laura]

We pulled out kids out of public school at the end of their 6th, 5th, and 3rd grade years.

We prayed, every single day, that the Lord would show us and confirm to us what HE wants us to do.
And He Did!!

He lead us in every way and still is today.

Why did we do it?
We are wonderfully and uniquely created in the Image of God.
That means each one of us is an individual, with an individual purpose in life, and an individual brain.
We do not 'oprah nod' (where she says ANYTHING and the crowd just shakes its head yes......"3+3=83.....and they all nod yes")
We believe the Bible......every single word of it.
Not evolution. Not global warming. Not all the horse feathers that are fed to the children.
My son is a boy, growing up to be a man. He will not be neutered by some femi-nazi teacher. My daughters are girls, growing up to be young ladies, not Gloria Stein-whatsherface.
My boy is a boy.....he does not need medication.

We don't goose step. We don't follow the crowd.
We are uniquely and wonderfully created for an individual purpose.

My children can communicate with a 3 year old, a 13 year old, a 23 year old a 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83 and everything in between. The boy has respect for his elders and for women. The girls have respect for their elders.

Boys on my son's organized sports team.........they have NO idea how to talk to adults. Once you get them out of their 'peer' group, they are retarded. They do not make eye contact, they mumble, they give one word answers, there is NO conversation. They cannot stand still........and if the conversation isn't all about them? They are ready to move on. It's sad. Only a couple of kids other than my boy, can you converse with.......out of 20? That's not good odds.

When I get the "well what about socialization" question I say:
THAT is why I pulled them!
I get the weirdest looks!