What does 'home schooling' say about you?

Question

Mike C asked in one of his answers: What does homeschooling say about you? He also asked: What does going through homeschooling teach your kids?

I'd love to hear homeschoolers' answers to these questions. :)

What I think homeschooling says about most HS families that I know is that they care very much about their kids, they are dedicated to them, they want something better for their kids during their childhood. They are willing to challenge themselves and put in the extra effort for their kids' benefit and not pass it all off to someone else.

As for what does going through homeschooling teach my kids (aside from the character and educational benefits many homeschoolers see in homeschooling), I think it teaches them that family is important, that it's okay to not be doing what everybody else is doing and that we love them enough to do what we feel is right for them, even if much of society disagrees.

Please actually answer the question and not provide just general opinions! Thanks.

Answer 1

For us, I think our choice to homeschool says that we want to do what suits our family and is best for our particular kids, and that we follow our consciences on important matters even when it's not the most popular thing to do. I think it also says that we listen to our kids and take into account what they believe is best for them. They all vote for homeschooling any time it comes up. I would hope that any educational option we ever choose will say those things.

I think as we homeschool, my kids are learning how to function in real life outside the classroom. They're learning to be open-minded and non-judgemental. They're learning to think of other's needs before their own. They're learning to be self-learners and self-starters. My kids are learning to communicate with both genders at all different age levels.

Unfortunately, I think our choice to homeschool says different things to outsiders looking in. So many people have such preconceived notions about homeschooling. People are SO surprised when they find out our family homeschools. They think we're a normal, happy, healthy, social, family, and then we throw them all off by not fitting into the box that they placed us in. It's really funny, but kind of sad, too.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I was never homeschooled but I had a friend who was. Althought it seemed nice because you could stay home and when you were done you got to do whatever you wanted. I cant say that you get the best education from your parents, unless they bring a teacher in.

When my friend started public school it took her a long tim eto get socialized. She didnt fit in, she iddnt know how to act or socialize. She was never around other kids or adults. to this day she says that public school was much better because she learned many valuable lessons that you cant learn being homeschooled.

She also said that if she had been homeschooled thorugh highschool she would have missed the dances, being educated on boys and her transition to college would have been very hard. I think it is different for each child and each learning style. I wouldnt pressure a child to be homeschools, they need intereaction with others and need to be a kid. There are tons of after school programs and classes to help a child be ahead of the game while still being able to enjoy everything about growing up.

Answer 4

What does homeschooling say about you?

Not that much about me really. We tried school for my son and it didn't work out, so I was left to pick up the slack. I wasn't willing to have my son crying every day and having stomach aches and I was tutoring him in 4 or 5 subjects by the end of 1st grade (they were adding an extra subject every few months as we went through school) so I was almost homeschooling him anyway after school and on the weekend.

What does going through homeschooling teach your kids?

I asked my 13 year old son, and he says tons of kids homeschool and he thinks its totally normal. I do think he's spoiled about it, he expects learning to be a lot of fun since I pick a lot of fun books and games to use for hs. I wonder what it will be like in college when he is having to read dull, boring books like Melville and others. I'll have to get him acclimated to some of the more boring texts the year before college.

Re: Atlanta's post you don't have to skip extracurricular activities as a homeschooler. All of those activities you can do as a homeschooler and it's required by law. You can homeschool and play in public school band, or sports, or cheerlead or whatever you want to participate in!

Also, one of the posters was suggesting you need a certified teacher and I have read other comments like this before. I would suggest that homeschooled students have more self confidence in their learning and teaching and realize that you don't have to have a certificate to became knowledgeable in a subject. Haven't you ever developed an interest or a hobby and learned about that without going to college? Additionally, many private school teachers do not have certification as teachers. Homeschool teachers have teacher guides, know where to look for answers, (re)learn with their children, and/or sign their children up for classes and community college courses.

Answer 5

Well, there are lots of different styles of homeschooling, but in my homeschooling experience (12 years) I've learned a few things. Self discipline is probably one of the most valuable things I've picked up. I write my own assignments and have to make sure I get everything done. I'm also close to my family because I'm with them so much. Because lots of homeschool social events are family based, I've learned to interact with whatever age kids are there. It also makes it easier to learn to think for yourself. You're already going against the grain, so it's not really anything new to resist peer pressure.

Answer 6

What does homeschooling say about me?

It says that I love my children and want them to have the best education they can get for who they are. It says that I am going the extra mile to make sure that they can make smart independent decisions based on their on beliefs and values not the schools or friends and not even mine really. It says that I made the decision to be the biggest although not the only influence in my children's lives.

What does going through homeschooling teach my kids?

It teaches them that there are many different people, places, and styles out there and that it is okay to make your own choices and still be normal. It teaches them that family, compassion, and self evaluation are just as important as reading and writing in the real world. It teaches them that working hard for your self and not for a score is a better life lesson. And it teaches them that they should come up with new and better ways for doing things without fear of doing it wrong or with mistakes.

Answer 7

Homeschooling says that I adore my children and I want the very best for them.

It teaches my kids that they can be individual. They don't have to go with the status quo. They can learn as much as they want about anything they want.

My pediatrician asked my oldest where he goes to school just yesterday. He answered, "at home." The pediatrician was astounded and thought it was the neatest thing he had ever heard.

Answer 8

I think homeschool says I'm an independent study. I can do most of my school work alone because I don't always have to be taught everything...since I only have one teacher for all subjects I had to learn how to teach myself how to do my own work at certain times.

Answer 9

For me, homeschooling says that I am responsible, comitted and independent. I am in charge of my own education and have learned respect and self-discipline through that. Try writing research papers for an internship with ADHD and no teachers yelling at you. That can be tough. It says that I am willing to walk my own path and be confident in myself, even when a fundamental part of myself goes against the grain of society.

But mostly, it says that I can spend 16 hours playing video games once my work is done. WHOO! \m/

Answer 10

I don't know, I think that if I had children, I would want them involved in the activities that school provides them, be it band, cheerleading, yearbook, newspaper, football, etc. I would give them the freedom they would want to choose. I understand the parents concern regarding other children, but if you lived in a safe area for the most part, you wouldn't have to worry about this. I grew up in a great area and we didn't have any trouble other than minor drug problems, but my sister and I weren't bothered by this because we were raised right by our parents. I guess each person is different, but when I have children, they will have the benefit of going to a school, be it public or a christian school so that they can benefit from the social experience.