For anyone who wants to start homeschooling

[Diva Betsy Ross]

It is that time of the year again to decided if you are going to send your child off to public school, or if you are going to take the leap and homeschool. I wanted to start a thread to offer you support and perhaps answer some of your questions about homeschooling by freepers who do homeschool.

Post questions , answers and links helpful to new homeschoolers or curious parents who just want more info about homeschooling.

Best of Luck to all parents and children as we get ready for a new school year!

[TontoKowalski]

Oooh. Your post has so much I'd like to respond to, but I'll just give a small piece of advice. You're probably a little overwhelmed at the prospect of taking this on. Don't look at it as a life long commitment. Look at it as "I'm just going to do this until Christmas, to see how we're making it. If it's not working we can look at something else." We've always left ourselves an "escape hatch." In fact, we used it once when my wife had a brief but intense illness. Other than that, we're on year three of our "experiment."

[dasboot]

What homeschool graduates I know are doing this year:

Annapolis grad Marine Corps Officer

Firefighter fighting forest fires in California

Coastguardsman ... 23 years-old...just bought a house

Maritime Academy grad, Merchant Marine Engineer

Singer/songwriter getting attention

Heading to Brown University

Trying to figure out what to do

Missionary educator in Costa Rica

Marine Corps grunt

Bank Manager

Homeschooling , married mother of two

These are just the ones I know personally.

[TontoKowalski]

Hi, Mom!

Your faithful servant, Tonto, standing by to answer questions about A Beka. We're trying the DVD program this year (along with half days of looser child-driven studies).

[steplock]

Education Doctors

[2Jedismom]

We're entering our fourth year of schooling, 3rd with Alpha Omega Lifepacs. We tried the Switched-On Schoolhouse last year for 3rd Grade, but didn't actually care for it. My son took the initiative and requested returning to the Lifepacs.

Alpha Omega Curriculum for those interested.

[ladylib]

That's the ticket. I guess it might be a good idea to let a son or daughter know that if they slip up, they will be "coming home." It's probably also a good idea to let the school know that if they jerk your son or daughter around, that your son or daughter will be "coming home" (kaching, kaching -- public schools understand that).

[azcap]

You can make your own handwriting sheets by downloading the Zaner handwriting fonts for you PC. Those are the fonts that have the arrows and dotted lines to teach children.

[GOPrincess]

It concerns me that on a support thread (which I greatly appreciate!!) my choice for homeschooling, K12, is consistently denigrated either because of its affiliation with Bill Bennett (whose unfortunate gambling history has nothing to do with the outstanding curriculum, which I've examined firsthand) or because it's a public charter. This theme seems to repeat consistently in homeschooling threads.

Yes, it is wise to keep a weather eye toward the possibility of new government encroachment into private homeschooling. I'd be first in line to defend parents' rights to direct their children's education as they see fit. But some folks refuse to consider the flip side of the charter homeschool story: that once parents break out of their bricks and mortar schools in greater and greater numbers, experiencing choice *and* home education for the first time, they're going to resist ever being forced back into the traditional box; and moreover, the public charter provides an excellent first step for many parents who either are a bit timid about making the transition to private homeschooling in one step, or who would face financial difficulties in acquiring their preferred curriculum.

In my lengthy research on homeschooling I constantly found an "us vs. them" mentality, whether it's unschoolers vs. curriculum users, private homeschoolers vs. charter, etc. I think that's really the only negative I've found about homeschooling! (grin) I've heard some amazing stories about "in person" homeschool support groups split in anger over these issues.

Information about parental rights and considered discussion of the pros and cons of using a government charter are always welcome, as are firsthand experiences with curriculum, pro or con. But flat statements that charter homeschooling must be stopped or sarcastic comments about another parent's choice -- made after literally years of research and agonizing over the best choice for one's family -- don't seem to me to be very helpful or supportive, and tend to prevent constructive discussion.

All of which is to say that, particularly as a new homeschooler, I would hugely appreciate support on the "hows" with rather less derision about my family's choice. :)

I hope my thoughts here will be considered in the friendly spirit with which they are offered. Thanks much!

[ladylib]

"But some folks refuse to consider the flip side of the charter homeschool story: that once parents break out of their bricks and mortar schools in greater and greater numbers, experiencing choice *and* home education for the first time, they're going to resist ever being forced back into the traditional box"

Yes, it will be hard for public school authorities to get students to attend brick and mortar schools for 6 or 7 hours a day, and some public schools are smart enough to see the writing on the wall. They're basically finished unless they cater to parents and students' lifestyles.

Once parents realize that they can give their kids a great education because of the excellent curricular choices and technological breakthroughs available today, that their children can learn anything they want, at any time they want, with any teacher they want (how about a real historian, rather than a stupid football coach who has no interest in history and would rather be out on the field), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the public schools will cease to exist.

The next generation -- the technologically savy kids -- will change how education is delivered.

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Well said.

[GOPrincess]

"The next generation -- the technologically savy kids -- will change how education is delivered." I very much agree. Just as the Internet has made huge changes in how we receive our news and in how politicans operate (no more local secrets!), I believe it is going to make a huge impact on education. While I still very much believe in children reading "real" books, etc., the Internet as a resource to materials, support, and ultimately classes will be a huge thing. In fact I doubt I would be at the point of choosing homeschooling if I had not had the Internet in the first place as a means of connecting with other local homeschoolers, ordering books, researching the state laws, etc. Having all that information at one's fingertips is incredibly empowering. I am choosing homeschooling for all of the reasons you mentioned: more efficient use of time; the ability to delve into subjects at length using higher quality resources; and particularly the lifestyle change and stress reduction. I have two older children (one in public high school, one in private school) and after 11 years I am *tired* of the "school grind," the hours of homework, dealing with poor teachers and worse administrators, social problems, etc. We have always approached life in general as "education," taking "field trips," thousands of books in the house, exposure to politics, etc., and I'm excited about expanding that attitude into the rest of their education. If the coming year goes well then the next-oldest child will join us at home a year from now :). I think it's probably too late for our oldest to make the change (her jr. high and H.S. experiences in particular have provided much of the impetus for us making this transition!) but fortunately she is a gifted student who already receives probably the most significant portion of her education at home, including reading Free Republic (grin).

[ladylib]

Just think -- those big old schools that are being added on to, or the new ones that are being built today, might be totally obsolete in a generation or two. In the 70's when the school-age population was low, public schools were turned into condominiums in my area.

Taxpayers are being bilked and they accept it because they haven't seen "the writing on the wall." A new day is dawning in education.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I just got into a raging fight on a homeschool loop , where the people ran me off because I said I supported cyber schools and Bill Bennet. I am for school choice.. I give you credit for finding the best fit for your family and your children. I am an unschooler, but if the time comes that I need a bit of structure I will look to K12.com. I think having cyberschools around enhances the homeschooling community and school choice movement. You know you are doing the right thing, so forget what other people way.

The argument has been introduced to weaken the homeschooling community and to further isolate cyber schoolers.

[gitmo]

Homeschool bump.

[GoreNoMore]

There is an organization at www.NAUMS.NET It is for homeschoolers that want a university model for their children. I have gone, private, religious, public school, and this will be our first year at this type school. The twins are 15 and very responsible about their schooling. This sounds wonderful....

[ladylib]

So many options today.

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

I just added that sight to my favorites list. It looks really interesting. I certainly think one of the cool things about homeschooling is the ability to take little pieces of what you like from a variety of sources. When I was growing up, I went to a great private school from Prek though 12th grade. It was so small at the time and so unique, it isn't even the same place today...so much bigger, more liberal, more ruled by PC and rules.

I also was lucky enough to travel a great deal growing up (my grandfather lived in Europe.) I look back and realise I learned as much, if not more, from my travels, my endless political and social debates with my wonderfully educated family and from the "weird" activities I loved as a child ( I was a political activist from an early age.)

I guess my point is, homeschooling in so many ways opens up the whole idea of learning. It no longer becomes something you turn on and off depending on the building you happen to be in. Besides, maybe saving tuition can pay for a trip to another country (off season when its cheaper and no one else is on vacation!!!) to really learn about the world!

[VOA]

bump

[Diva Betsy Ross]

There are people who homeschool from the car and distance learning is great for some people. I love the mobility. I love to have field trips or just stay home and read or do "weird " science experiments that mess up the whole kitchen. Homeschooling: What a great way to grow up.

[GOPrincess]

"The argument has been introduced to weaken the homeschooling community"

I think that's a great point. Homeschoolers have less power fractured and splintered into different factions, than if we can all agree we embrace homeschooling and the freedom to use the methods that fit our families best (which may change from year to year!) and support the availability of all options, ranging from completely private to using one's tax dollars to pay for curriculum and *choosing* any strings which are attached (the same arguments come up in voucher debates!), and ranging from unschooling to any curriculum, testing or no testing, etc. If we unite behind that idea we have much more political power and everyone's concerns can be addressed and supported. Unfortunately, it seems to me, homeschoolers (who it seems by our nature have a good bit of gumption in order to go "against the grain" of standard thinking about "school") sometimes channel their passion into being fractious with one another rather than working together to support our choices. Sorry to hear of your recent experience. And want to say I very much appreciate the supportive posts here!

Although I've chosen a curriculum for multiple reasons, being exposed to unschooling philosophies has been immensely helpful in my journey over the last couple years. Having been a very traditional type student myself, examining unschooling ideas helped me realize the shortcomings of as many as 34 (!) children being expected to move in lockstep in a classroom, and how much learning my children already do at home as it is), how much time is wasted in a classroom. That helped give me the confidence to take the plunge!