How many homeschooling families are there on AFF?
 

Do you homeschool? Are your kids in private school? Do you send them to co-ops? Are they in public school?

And, if you do homeschool, what is the philosophy behind your decision?

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Hi Miss Brattifield! I am not a mother (yet) but I have been homeschooled my whole life and have decided that when I do have children of age to homeschool, that I will. I believe that it is good for the parents of children to be spending time with their children and teaching them one on one. The parents know their children and their strong points and weak points. For instance, I know of someone who's child had a slowness in learning math and spelling. He was at least 3 years behind other children his age, but because he was homeschooled, his mother could just work with him on his timing and he wasn't rushed or humiliated that he was with the younger children just because he had a hard time reading or doing math.
I do believe though, that children need to interact with other children, so it's nice when you're apart of a group/church that all homeschools and you can get together and do "community" projects, like learning (for girls) how to sew or quilt, (for the boys) how to make a cutting board or build a kite. They need friends to be with. But I do believe that homeschooling where it involves the whole family, including the parents, especially, is great for the children.

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Veteran - 15 years! :thumbsup My mother homeschooled in the 70's when it was against the law. :thumbsup

I homeschooled because I wanted my children to have time to make good grades and not be shuffled like cattle. I wanted them to take their time to experiment and explore.

My first decision came in Kindergarten when they sent a list of words home for my daughter to memorize. I asked them when they would be teaching phonics. Her reply, "Oh, sometime next year." Arghhhhh!

I also wanted them to be tested on their knowledge and not taught to take tests - TASP testing. :thumbsdown

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Homeschooling is something I've always wanted to do, even as a child I wished to be homeschooled. When we had our first child my husband and I agreed we would homeschool but it wasn't something we could do right away. My son did K and 1st in public school. This year we were blessed to start homeschooling him for 2nd and my daughter is in K.

Life is actually easier for us without them being in school. I love it and my children do too. It's a win/win for everyone.

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I voted other.

I have homeschooled my children in the past.

I would right now if I could.

And I possibly will in the future.

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Home schooling is awesome. Home school compares with government school like home cooking compares with dormitory or prison food.

Horace Mann was an education reformer for gubment education. Atheist and communist and proponent of propoganda. The father of public education.

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I voted other, because my kids are now grown/in college. Ashley home-schooled for six years, and Zac for four. The rest of the time they were in public school. I think there are pros and cons for both. We have a bunch of home-schoolers in our church now, but when Ashley started (1989), it was kind of looked down on by the community.

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Awesome, Darcie! Let me just say that when I needed ANYTHING, I would pray and God would provide - knowledge, instruction, materials, supplies - WHATEVER - He provided!!! It's an awesome experience!! :thumbsup

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Been there - liked it so much we bought the bell!
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...weep/bell2.jpg

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I completely agree. :thumbsup

My children went to public/charter schools for the past four years, and then we took up homeschooling (again) for 2008-09. (We had homeschooled before, but for various reasons, had to call it quits.)

Anyway, it is amazing how well-adjusted they are, and the almost immediate change in their dispositions. The most common objection by non-homeschoolers is the lack of "socialization", but I have found that my children are better able to socialize with other children and adults now than they were just a year ago.

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All three of them!

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...viacloseup.jpghttp://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...rBQ08GRACE.jpghttp://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...rBQ08final.jpg

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I love it!

I do agree - but think must be said that homeschooling done well, does not "just happen". There is a lot of intentional effort that goes on - but that is true for general parenting as well. Kristin pours her heart into it, and for that I am forever grateful.

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I love that bell!!!! I meant to show it to Jeff the last time you posted it--maybe I won't forget this time.

We are turning our garage into a classroom/recreation room this summer. I am so excited about it. That means I can be organized and have things on shelves where they belong, rather than everything being in the dining room, in the buffet, in bins, and stacked on an extra chair next to the table!!!! And all the games, books, science materials, and toys can go where they belong!!!

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Well, I'm a public school teacher. We're in a pretty conservative area, so I personally don't have a lot of problems.

That said, when our daughter becomes school aged in a few years, we are leaning toward homeschooling. Sort of depends on our situation at the time, but it's definitely an option.

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My son went K-5th in a small country public school, but the principal was a devout Christian and somehow happened to only hire other devout Christians. If a child had a problem, many of the teachers would take them out in the hall and pray with them. They did a lot of "Christian" things that wouldn't be allowed in most schools. They had to learn the Ten Commandments, etc.

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We have homeschooled for 13 years. When I was little, I always told everyone that when I grew up and had children, I would teach them at home. I didn't even know about homeschooling back then. I feel this is something God put in my heart way back then. That is my main reason for doing this. I also feel they are getting a better education by being homeschooled.(MO), and honestly, I have a problem turning my children over to complete strangers to do what I consider to be my job. Lastly, I enjoy it !!

These are just my reasons for choosing to homeschool. Each family has to choose what is right for them.

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Still deciding, my oldest won't go to school for another year.

One of my fears is that my son won't listen to me like he would a teacher. He does whatever he's told in Sunday School and at his pre-school, but at home, not so much! Another concern is that he is extremely social, he loves people around all the time. That is why i put him in pre-school, to give him more opportunity to play with other children in a structured environment.

My concerns over the public school system are many.

We do have a good private baptist run Christian school in our city as well, so that is being tossed around as an option.

I pray for God's divine direction!

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I am a retired teacher/administrator. I did not have children of my own, but I taught them for 30 years. When parents first started homeschooling, I was very leery of the process. I have had relatives that have homeschooled their children. Some that have done an excellent job, some have not. I must say that if I had children, I would home school them, if at all possible. I think it would take discipline from the parents, and a structured curriculum. But there are so many things you can do with children that would be educational. I must say as an educator, given a dedicated parent and the right curriculum- it is a winning combination. I do have a question- So many non homeschooling parents have complained to me that they had problems working with thier children on school work - do homeschooling parents have this problem?

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How so ? Do you mean by helping them with their work or by getting them to do their work?

Sinatra

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Yes! Agreed! :thumbsup :thumbsup

Agreed! I might add, IMO, that husband, wife AND children must be in 100% agreement to homeschool or you will struggle through the process. I wanted to give up after the first half of my first year of homeschooling. My husband said, "I want you to go all the way through May. Just make it until then." Thank God, because after the first half, everything started falling in place. So thankful he was by and on my side!

The right curriculum varies from child to child, family to family. What I did was look at my state's requirements. I then picked curriculum for every subject that best suited my child or what I thought best suited. Some things we had to discard or sell, but that didn't happen often.

I went to homeschool fairs and homeschool websites to see what the going curriculum was for each grade I was teaching. I bought resources and manuals as a type of support and to bolster my confidence for times when I would feel inadequate. Sometimes we do this to ourselves and sometimes the outside world puts pressure on us. You have to center yourself in literature, prayer, people that also homeschool.

From my experience - If I became distracted, my children were distracted. Therefore, no phones calls and no computer during school for Mother!

I had a weekly chart for each child. I wrote down the assignment for each class and what they had to accomplish to complete the week. When they were finished they put an X on that square and moved on.

My youngest brother was homeschooled. After graduating from A&M, he went on to Duke University and obtained his Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

His advice - "Stay organized and set goals". :thumbsup I followed his advice and saw how very necessary that was!

I largely enjoyed the experience, but I am glad that it's over. :thumbsup

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I do have a question- So many non homeschooling parents have complained to me that they had problems working with thier children on school work - do homeschooling parents have this problem?
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I think, in a lot of cases, if the children are raised from babyhood that they are to honor and respect their parents (as the Bible says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this right." and also "Honor thy father and mother as they Lord thy God has commanded you, that your days may be long and that it may go well with you.") then they will automatically honor their parents. I'm not saying they won't have their "times" and think you're as dumb as dirt, but for the most part, they will and should honor you as their parent and teacher.

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We have homeschooled both our children.

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Couldn't have said it better.

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Steve,
You the man!

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I know some who WILL be homeschooling, that will soon be known nationally as an example why parent's shouldn't be allowed to home school.

(And this same couple is in Wisconsin, the same state where another pair I know will soon have major law passed because of the (easily preventable) death of their daughter -they let her die when a cheap insulin shot would have saved her.)

In both cases, stupid people are helping to speed the losses of religious liberties.

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You are right. Stupid people.

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Actually, it's the government's wrong response to stupid people that will bring those laws.

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The government should treat those cases individually, rather than making sweeping laws that affect the rest of us.

By the way, there've been two cases in the past year and a half of two little boys who died because while they were at public school, someone hung them from the coat rack until they strangled to death. Last week, a 17 year old boy who attends Jenks high school shot and killed his 18 year old girlfriend while at a party.

Yet, I don't see the government acting against public schools and declaring them unsafe environments as a result of crimes like these, which are increasingly common.

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I homeschooled my kids for one year and one and a half years (depending on the child). This was between 7th grade and 10th. I am glad I did it.

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We're expecting a child due next month, and I'd like to homeschool or find a good charter school. I don't have confidence in the school system where I live, from speaking with others who have kids in the system.

In short, the school pretty much just helps the kids pass the required tests so the school can get more money, but they don't learn anything.

Unfortunately, my wife and I don't agree here. In conversations on the issue, she's made her feelings clear that she wants public education for our child. She feels that homeschooled kids either lack quality of education or have trouble with social interaction.

I'm still praying though...

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n David: I've lived my life with a church that homeschools all of their children and often times, the concern was is that the children would lack proper schooling because the mothers felt it was soooo long since they had been in school. The hope is, I think, that the children won't be rushed through each category and can go more at their own pace, so they learn instead of just whizzing through school and not knowing everything. And with the lack of social interaction, it helps is the families have other friends (like finding another homeschool group) and getting together for dinner, school trips, projects and stuff like that.

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I think there are so many factors. There are some great schools out there, and there are some horrible schools. There are dedicated parents with good teaching skills, and parents who shouldn't be teaching the family dog. So ---- I'd just say it depends.

I have a 3 year old, and she will probably go to private school.

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Did they obey James 5:14-15?

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That's too bad! These two assumptions couldn't be farther from the truth, in most cases.

It would be interesting if all publicly schooled children were evaluated to see what "quality of education" they are receiving, and how well they interact socially. I think the percentage of those who are uneducated and lacking social skills would be MUCH higher than it is among homeschooled children.

A well-run homeschool is more akin to private school or private tutoring, with the advantage of having a teacher who really cares about each individual in the classroom. Not to mention the advantage of custom tailoring the education to suit the needs, learning style, and academic level of each child.

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Private school is a good choice, IMO. :) If we could afford it, we'd consider it (for high school).

Although, as successful as homeschool has been for us this year, I'm less inclined toward it than I was in the fall of 2008.

I have a nephew and a friend's son who are presently dealing with teachers in public schools who have terrible teaching skils, and are picking on these boys because they are loud, squirmy, opinionated and otherwise normal, intelligent boys. One teacher suggested that one of the boys be put on Ritalin, the other humiliated my nephew in front of his class this past Tuesday, for no good reason. Public school is particularly unfriendly to hands on learners, and the teachers who care to take the time to diversify their teaching methods are few and far between. Homeschool is diverse by nature.

The other day I was preparing Hannah's World Studies lesson, and Jeffrey became interested in the map study on North America, wanted to see the Atlas, got out the globe, asked questions about where everyone lived (and we looked at South America, where Sis. Alvear lives--Jeffrey sent a letter to her a couple of months ago, and received a response back)--ANYway, we took about a 30 minute detour into a child-guided lesson in basic geography. When he was finished (or rather, when I was ready to move on), he took the globe and atlas into the other room to recount everything he had just learned to his Grandma.

It is doubtful that such an opportunity would be seized upon for the sake of one child in a public school class setting--or even in a private school, unless the classroom size is small enough to allow for it.

Such "digressions" happen several times a day around here. :thumbsup

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This always amuses me. It's as if no one knows of a single "public school kid" who makes poor grades, or has poor social skills. But let a single homeschool child have these problems, and homeschooling is an awful idea.

Clean up the public schools first, and then we can talk.

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These people, I mean:

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I have no clue Timmy. But I read nothing in James that forbids use of doctors.

I trust in the Lord for all my needs - but I need a swift kick in the behind if I refuse to work! Same is true when it comes to faith/sickness/doctors. It is not about either/or - it's about honoring and trusting God in and through ALL aspects of life.

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It says what to do if you're sick, and what will happen if you follow the instructions.

No mention of doctors.

How would it be "honoring" or "trusting" God to use a doctor?