homeschooling?

Question

what do you benefit from homeschooling? what are the disadvantages? can you still get a college education after homeschooling? how does it actually work? are you able to get a certificate from homeschooling?

i'm just wondering...

Answer 1

I homeschooled my kids for a few years. I had to put them back in school when my ex and I seperated. HOWEVER, here was my experience, as a parent....

My eldest daughter had gone to school for 2 years and she was getting frustrated and by the time she was hitting march break in grade 1, she was having a burnout. I had been considering homeschooling prior to sending her to school, but it wasn't well known in the community and I didn't want to fight with everyone to do something that I thought was best, but not informed enough about. When I saw how much distress my 6 yo was facing, I decided that enough was enough. Education is too important to have a child burn out in grade 1!!

Here is what happened, for us. She finished grade 1 in school. That had to be the first lesson. You finish what you start. Grade 2 came up, and I had a second child heading into kindergarten. We started the school year deciding what major projects we wanted to work on. These included a project on the Andes (Equator, Peru and Chile), Crystals, and Ceteceans amoung others. Then we worked the curriculum around the projects that we did. Sure they were elementary level projects. However, my kids learned about research, government, world events, history, language, math, science and social studies. Never mind music appreciation and art.

They also had to be part of group activities, so we had them registered at the local YM/YWCA. There they took lessons in swimming, Jujitsu, gymnastics and art. The kids also took music lessons, learning how to play violin, piano and even singing lessons. They were involved in choosing what they wanted to learn, so they had an interest about what they were doing. Even so, they had to take lessons in things that they weren't necessarily interested in... The one who was terrified of water HAD to take swimming lessons. The one who had no interest in ever becoming a music star HAD to choose an instrument to learn to play (she chose piano).

We were also members of a homeschooling association, so there were activities for the kids so thatthey could be with kids their own age and share a lesson for field trips. They also got to participate in science fairs and world expositions. They won prizes for what they did too.

Something that I insisted on was volunteering. Once a week we would go to a nursing home and visit with seniors who had some form or other of dementia. At least four of the ladies we would visit had been school teachers in their day. They loved seeing the kids, and the nurses told us every week that they really appreciated our visits because on the nights after a visit, the patients needed less medication and slept more soundly.

At the time I also had a home business, and the kids were invovled. I'm not talking child labour here, I'm talking about when I was doing business they were with me and they would see how things should be done to have a profitable business. What was the paperwork that should be done, where was math important, where are manners vital. What about follow-up and keeping your word? What about schedules so that everything flows smoothly between home, school and work...

The disadvantages as a parent, is that you are very heavily involved with the children. Which is good, but sometimes the lines of privacy get a little blurred. They would get involved in discussions that their father and I had about adult matters. Sometimes it was hard finding time for myself, being the primary care-giver and educator.

In Canada, we are working on setting up a system where homeschooled kids can go to college or university. There are some that already accept homeschooled kids. If I recall correctly they have to do a placement test, to see if they are ready to go, but other than that... I also hear that universities are finding a preference for homeschooled kids because they already know about self-paced work, and they don't have to be spoon fed information. They already know how to do research and propose ideas.

It works around your schedule, so my schedule was up in the morning, breakfast, dishes and a few household chores, school for the morning. Afternoon outings (family, school or business related), prepare supper, eat, bath and bed for the kids. A few more household chores for mom and then it was bed for me.

I would have given my kids certificates for graduation. Our association had graduation ceremonies for those who were finishing up their grade 12. We usually had 5-6 in the southern NB area in the years that I was involved.

What kind of curriculum did I use? Well, I homeschooled in french (since that's what I am) and french materials are not as readily available as english material. However, I had a french library at my disposal and a copy of the provincial curriculum - expectations of what they should know by the end of the school year. I worked hard to create a program that the kids could use to learn what they had to learn in a fun way.

There are many benefits to homeschooling and disadvantages as well. If the parents work as a team and are united in their efforts, work hard and invest heavily in their kids, you'll have a good homeschooling program. If the parents are lazy about it and just throw everything together willy-nilly... Well, let's just say that like everything else, you get out of it what you put into it. So consider it well, study your options, weigh your strenghts and weaknesses and find ways to compensate. It is a very important decision.

The last piece of advice that I have is look at what worked and didn't work every year. Evaluate the process every year. It doesn't mean you failed if you send the kids back to school after a few years. It means that you did your best, gave your best and the kids need more. That happens. You can still give your best and do your best and supplement what the kids are doing in school with extra projects on things that they are particularly interested in (with my kids it's ceteceans and geography/cultures)...

Answer 2

The benefits of home schooling range from a tailored education to opportunities to serve the community with more freedom that a person in a tradition school environment.

Some say the disadvantages are that students have little social interaction and they are isolated from the "real world". This may be true in some cases, but the same can be said for some students in public schools. Home schooling can offer a wide range of activities, club events, community projects, and advanced education to students. All it takes is time and effort on the part of the teacher and a willingness to participate by the student.

Home schooling works different for every family, and sometimes for every student. The ideal curriculum is one that both the teacher and the student can excel in. For example if a student is an avid reader, for English, Grammar, and Spelling have them read the classics and write a report on them.

Teaching students that knowledge is not all about having the right answers but it is also knowing were to find the right answers. This encourages students to actively seek answers long after they have completed their traditional education.

Home schooling allows students to have greater interaction with the teacher since most of the time the teacher is a parent, and thus school is always "IN".

Yes, students can receive a certificate or a diploma depending on what state you live in. Transferring to a college is not hard providing that the ACT, SAT, or TASP have been taken by the student.

Hope this answers you questions.

Answer 3

I was home schooled and I must say that there is really no disadvantage to it. I would say that there are advantages, provided you are knowledgeable enough to understand the material on your own. The advantages that come when being home schooled is the abilities of "time" it's a lot easier to understand and apply material when you are not pressured. The good thing is if you don't understand something you may review over the material as much as you like and even have the abilities to talk with parents or goto your local library to get assistance, believe it or not there are alot of librians out there who would be honored to help a student with his or her studies, but you have to ask for help, and also you have the ability to finish school alot fast and younger then must kids, which would give you a head start for college.

Best regards,
FxMM

Answer 4

My wife has been homeschooling our daughters since they started and we've got one in 1st grade now and one in 4th...the laws vary by state, but it works well because you can tailor the curriculum and learning style to each individual student...it's not for everyone because it takes a whole lot of patience and there will be good days and bad days but usually the kids seem to retain a lot more information because they can't just slide through the cracks like in public school..there are several academies that you can work through to either do it online or send in the work for them to grade that will give you a complete transcript and yes many colleges will accept those transcripts.

Answer 5

Yes you can get a Diploma from Homeschooling and go to College after Homeschooling is done with.

Answer 6

Homeschooling is awesome
No peer pressure
Work at your own pace
More Freedom
Homeschoolers can get into Collage

Its Great
I think the Public School System is messed up and its getting worse
I dont think there is any downsides to home schooling-

We Love It-

Answer 7

The only disadvantage is being sheltered.I was homeschooled through 5th grade,and it was better than public school because I had my mom's undivided attention,and because of that I was able to learn more.Plus,you don't have to get shots!=)

Answer 8

mostly, it doesn't work. People tend to stress those elements that they're strongest in, for me it would be English and history, while ignoring or short change those topics that they're weak in, for me my kids would have been short in math BIG time. and many parents don't set an actual school schedule...and then lapse and say to themselves "we'll make it up later" and later never arrives. For the most part, home teaching is a disaster because every parent ASSUMES teaching is a snap.

Answer 9

Your disadvantages are that u dont have social interaction wit other kids, u want get 2 any fights, u will miss out on seeing your 1st fight, u want be able 2 go 2 any parties, u will miss out on ALL the fun, & MOSTLY ERRbody is in public school, & a kid can miss out on the fun & new experiences if they dont go. I dont know the good things that benifit 4rm it, but wouldnt wanna b in home school. Get at ya girl, Miss *Princess* $Diva$ !Jade!

Answer 10

I have no experience with it but it seems so creepy
no recess, no friends, no outside experiences
It seems many people praise homeschooling but I wonder what happens to the 'flunkies ' and drop outs, I am sure they still exist in homeschooling
How else would someone learn to make friends or deal with bullies or learn how to be part of a group?