What are we in for?

[mangyhyena]

My wife and I are pretty sure we are going to home school our two children, one 3 years old right now and the other 7 months old. Both my wife and I are high school graduates, no college at all for either of us. Although we will be taking college classes online at a later date, just for the heck of it.

My wife is a stay-at-home-working-her-fanny-off mom. I currently work 2 full time jobs but in a few years I will work only one job while my wife remains home, so I should be able to help more.

We've subscribed to Home Education magazine. (Don't quote me on the actual title of the mag as we just got it.) And I'll be doing more research on the net about home schooling.

So I know some folks here home school their children. I was wondering if any of you have advice or experiences to share with us. What would you have liked someone to tell you back when you first started home schooling? Then fill me in. ;D Also, any books or websites you think I should read would be appreciated.

If not home school, then at least a private school. I know it's expensive but if our only other option is public school I'll send them to a private school no matter how many jobs I have to work.

As well, I noticed an article about protecting yourself against school officials. What the heck can I expect from them? Why would they give me any hassle in the first place?

If it makes any difference in regards to troublesome school officials, we plan to home school from either Wyoming or South Dakota.

Thank you all in advance for any help getting ready.

[pinetreefarm]

We are in our 5th year of homeschooling. We homeschool a set of twin girls.

The first year we started with a prescribed curriculum but found it tedious and slow. We have since designed our own. Beginning emphasis being on phonics and arithmatic, while we later expanded in an ever widening circle.

We are very conscience of the state laws and homeschooling requirements. We also joined a national homeschooling organizatin for our "protection". We have found the local school district helpful on some occasions while "self-protective" in other areas.

We also are in a homeschooling group. The girls are also in choir, sports and dance. It is imperative that children be encouraged to meet with ALL age groups of people, in my opinion.

However what we have found is two blossoming girls growing each day in knowledge and sharing this adventure has been so very worth it.

Go ahead, you will love it. :)

Pine Tree

[hillbilly_mom]

Check out HSLDA. Just type it in your search bar and it will give you all the current rules for your state.

We also don't follow a set curriculum. We do workbooks, things I pull off the Internet and old public school books I pick up at yard sales and resale shops. We do more unschooling that actual bookwork. They do about 2 - 3 hours of "book learning" in the morning, then the rest of the day is all about life experiences. My children learn more by life lessons than anything else. An example. I had been trying to teach my 6yo how to count by 3s. It wasn't sticking in her head. I sent her out to play. She started walking across the rungs of a ladder that was laying flat on the ground. She would count every third rung. That is how she learned to count by 3s. They do biology when we butcher animals, Home Ec when we cook, math when we measure out ingredients (fractions, cups, pints, quarts, etc.). Many things can go into a school lesson. A trip to a grocery store can be a wonderful learning experience. Teach your children how to figure the best value of price by ounce, etc.

The one thing I wished someone had told me is that I would need to remember to take time for myself. If your wife does the main part of teaching, remember to give her a break every now and again. She is going to need some down time away from the kids. When you homeschool you are with the kids 24/7. Though I love my kids dearly, there are times when I sure wish Calgon would take me away. ;)

Here is a link to what each grade is suppose to know. It is set for preschool, but all of the grades are listed on the left of the page...

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum/preschool

This will give you a guideline of what each grade is suppose to know.

And BTW, I only finished high school also. And my kids are pretty darn smart. :) Plus I have a 17yo who feels he can come to me and talk about anything, whether it is about girls, (gasp) sex, God, his friends, and anything else under the sun. Can you imagine many 17yo guys talking to their moms about some of that stuff?

It is REALLY well worth the time and effort that you put in it for your children. Homeschooled children generally schore higher on achievement tests.

[disleksic]

my son was not doing to good in fourth grade so my wife homeschooled him and my youngest son for 2 years and when they went back to public school they were way ahead and have been above average students since my oldest is a senior this year and looks forward to college next year so its been a good experience here ;D

[mangyhyena]

Thank you so much. We're going to go for it.

[Sunny]

You are in for a wonderful life! We started home schooling because of academics (our oldest suddenly began failing 7th grade math) and continued because it created quanitity time for a beautiful family life.

Eleven years ago when we started a "paper trail" was still a good idea for college bound kids. We used Calvert and American School. We home schooled in three states and one foreign country without problems. I do recommend HSLDA for troublesome states or if you have obnoxious neighbors ;).

Our youngest just received acceptance to college for next fall. ;D

[wax]

I don't really understand the movement.

The very concept of "home-schooling" is confusing to me.

If you are a parent who sees you child on a daily basis then... well... you "are" home schooling aren't you?

It is amost as though people are saying, (sigh) "My child left this morning and returned this afternoon and thus all of my parental duties are fulfilled concerning education and values" (sigh)

Huh?

My children have been and will continue to be sent to public school.
But I understand that they require a vast amount of more information and instruction than anything they could receive in public instruction!
These are my children, not one of the sheep that stagger through our streets!
Public school is designed to expose, to conform, to reach a standard of some sort.
But if that standard (reached by majority requirement) is your standard as a parent then it really doesn't matter what you do... your child is doomed to much worse than mediocracy!

There are some who declare that they do not wish to have a child exposed to modern liberalism and encouraged to be mundane. Some of those who declare this have theological reasons and I have no right to deny them an absolute: it is a human right that can not be set aside, you can choose to raise your child believing anything you believe!

Yet if your goal is not limitation of exposure (a questionable goal at best considering that your child will be exposed to society whether you wish it or not), then why not simply enhance what they are exposed to?
"Yea... your teacher says that all religions are the same but they really are not. This is the truth as I believe it, this is what we know to be the truth."

It means a sacrifice of course, but the benefits far outweigh the bad. You must actually ask your child questions and provide better answers than they can receive in public school... but then you would be doing that as a home school parent wouldn't you?

There is one step which is required in home schooling that some (like myself) actually enjoy, while others (like my wife dread).

When I walk into my child's school people are notified... secretaries pick up intercoms and personnel move with intent and real goals!
When I walk into my child's school decisions are about to be made and things will be different when I leave!
There is a chance... a slight chance but every adult knows that it exists... that sheriffs will be called and documentation will be required!

Why?

Well because I understand what my role as parent is, I know who works for whom and why a failure in the system is never my childs fault.

I have yet to receive a restraining order but it is not out of the realm of possibilities.

When our public school calls they ask for "Mrs Miller please".... but the tone is clearly "pretty please... we will gladly call back later... could we please do that..."

Don't get me wrong, I simply understand my role in the situation.

The St Peter School district once tried telling my wife that our youngest child was in need of "extra help" and if she would just sign on the dotted line then he would receive all of the "extra help" he required... please sign it... no need to take it home or actually read it...

They of course were looking for Federal funding so it didn't really matter that they were attempting to claim a disability that did not exist... they just needed someone to sign a piece of paper after all.

My job was clear.

One day I received a call from school chiding me on not reporting that my child was "home sick".
The attitude was quickly dropped when I informed them that they should call the local authorities and that I would meet them there in less than ten minutes.
They tried to back pedal at once of course, maybe it was simply a missed count... maybe it was simply... well... it was something wasn't it?
My child of course was sitting in class... mis-counted and overlooked but that is a mistake that the St Peter school district will never make again with my child!
The officers had already determined the mistake made and it wasn't mine.
They relieved me of my sidearm and secured my rifle, but they had already determined that the laws concerning firearms near scholls had already been negated by the fact that they were called for a school mistake.
There would be no charges because no jury would ever convict me; because I have a right as a parent which can not be negated by any ordinance or law.

Yet the message remains and it is extremely clear.

My children are "home schooled" because I am a father.
They have no fear of my being called to school because they know what side I will come down on.
In fact they have demanded my involvement whenever they have considered themselves abused in any way.
They know who the instructors who pretend authority work for.

My children have learned a great deal in public school.
Nothing compared to my instruction of course but they were introduced to concepts at least.