what do you guys think of homeschooling?

Question

Does anyone of you home school your children? I am seriously thinking of doing this. I need some input from parents that have done this.

Answer 1

"As a teacher, I would ask why you wanted to do this? What kind of credentials do you have that would make you more qualified than someone who spent 5+ years of school to get teaching credentials. I have had students who have come to my classroom after having been home schooled, and they were socially maladjusted. As a teacher, I have to tell you that you should probably leave it up to the professionals. "


To answer THIS question, I have to say that (as a homeschooler who is graduating this spring) the reason one would want to homeschool is to be free from the sort of mentality you've just displayed. Though I can completely understand your view of homeschoolers because it's not entirely untrue of SOME (and then again it is completely untrue of others) I think that it is every family's personal decision- those homeschoolers who enter the system socially inept are not the result of their schooling but the result of their family-life.

In the end, it's what's best for the kids. I've seen children who excelled in public school over homeschool and others who flourished at home in their own environment.
The same goes for private, Catholic, and whatnot.

The best thing to do if you're considering why or why not to homeschool is to do your research, find out your state's regulations and talk to your kids! Each family has a different approach to the matter.

Answer 2

I have hs'ed for 9 years now. We love it. I could parrot some of the things the other moms have said, but I'll add a few things that I have not seen in this post:
--One of the greatest lies when considering hsing is, "Leave it to the professionals." You need to ask yourself how good a job the 'professionals' are doing. I am not being facetious here. This is a serious question. In the newspaper and in various studies we read that education in America continues to go downhill, yet still people say "Leave it to the professionals." I would suggest a few things if you do not know any ps kids well enough to judge. First of all, would it be possible for you to volunteer in a ps classroom? I mean for an extended period of time. I have a number of hsing friends who started hsing after volunteering at schools and seeing what actually went on. In particular, try to get to know some junior high and senior high school students. Listen to them read aloud; look at samples of their writing; see how they behave. You will be appalled at their lack of basic education - many of them are barely literate. You will also be appalled by their...socialization...
--If there is a local hs group in your area, visit it and ask if there are any hs'ers there who used to teach in schools - you'll be surprised at how many you will find. I'll let you draw your own conclusions from this.
--Consider that all socialization is not positive. There seems to be a thought out there that any time kids are together this is a good thing. There is a popular poster that I have seen quite often that says, "Children learn what they live..." and it has quite a number of both positive and negative things that can happen to a child and points out the corresponding effects. People will agree that these things are true, then tell you that if your child does not attend school with all its base undertones that they will not learn to deal with life. No - it's the other way around. Children who live with bad behavior adopt it. Children who are raised by parents who have high standards and insist on good behavior on a daily basis and who monitor the children's friends will grow up much more able to live peaceably with others and be productive members of society.

Answer 3

I homeschool my two kids, 6 and 9. I actually started thinking about homeschooling before they were even born, while I was teaching public elementary school. My dh teaches junior high and by the time our daughters (the 9yo) was 6 months old, he was thinking about homeschooling, too.

It is a great way to raise your kids. It is a lifestyle, not just a method of education. It allows you to remain close as a family instead of having that bond prematurely ruptured--even siblings stay closer as a homeschooling family, usually, than if they were in school. It allows your kids to have an education tailored to them. It allows you to add what you want to their curriculum. It keeps them away from a lot of bs at an age that they are not really developmentally mature enough to handle it. It allows them, hopefully, to have a less stressful yet more productive school life.

People who warn you about social skills don't really know what they're talking about. The fact that they get to talk more and interact more with others since they are not sitting in a desk for a good portion of the day means they are getting social interaction and developping social skills. If you live somewhere where there are other homeschoolers, there are probably lots of opportunities to do things with them during the week. Your kids can also participate in community things like lessons and sports, summer camps... There is no developmental reason why kids need to be around 30 other kids each day to learn social skills or to make friends. If that were the case, humans lived for many thousands of years without making any friends or developping and social skills! Kids learned social skills by being around family, primarily, then if they lived in some sort of community, by interacting with the community--people of all ages.

Anyhow, if you want to talk more about this, email me.

EDIT: As a former teacher, I say you don't need any sort of formal credentials. Your simple desire to do what's best for your kids, your willingness to learn as you go along (just as you do while being a parent--you didn't get credentials for that!) will take you through it. Credentials are mainly about how to teach 30 kids the same thing and try to have them all at a minimal level. Having taught, tutored and now homeschooling, classroom teaching is its own thing and has almost nothing to do with homeschooling.

Answer 4

My mum is currently homeschooling me, I went through primary school and didn't learn any of my basic skills and struggle so unbeleiveably hard with my work. I'm extremly right brained, and so is my mother. I am going in to year 9 this year, and I wont be able to cope. there's no doubt about that! so mum thought she'd try home school me. I am already socially developed to the age of 17. So not being able to socialize wont matter, and part of the problem going to school was I talk wayy too much! It isn't easy, we fight alot. But I would never go back to a school. Never. My advice would be go to a phycologist, and see where your children are at. My phycologist told my parents that I was extremely right brained, conseptional thinking skills of a 16 year old. And Many more.. If it sounds like they can do it, I would HIGHLY recommend get it done. If you have any more questions from me, I would GLADLY love to help you.
Elle.
P.S If you homeschool them up till year 10, they wont have to do a Highschool certificate. We do a test called Sats exam. It only has the basic things in it like maths and english. Not all of this other crap.

Good Luck, and I hope you do it!

EDIT:
And can I say to those teachers who are saying these cridental ****. You need to pipe down. Its not the fact that they should send ther kids to school because your all qualified. SO WHAT IF YOU ARE! The parents understand how there children think, not teachers. I have been through 9 years of school and let me tell you, I would NEVER send my child to a school. And myself I wouldn't go back. YOU IDIOTS!!!!

Answer 5

I am not a homeschooling parent, but I was a homeschooled student for eight years.

I went to public school K4 thru 4th grade where I was an honor roll student. My mom began homeschooling my brother and I in 5th grade and continued to do so through high school. I am now a senior in college (3.96 gpa) and plan to get my MBA after I graduate in June.

In regards to your question, I would suggest that you try to find some other homeschool families in your area. I believe they would be the best outlet for you to get more information.

As far as socialization goes, if handled correctly, it should not be a problem. There are plenty of opportunities for socializing should you choose to utilize them (not to mention, just about anyone can make friends). We were a part of a homeschool group and believe it or not, there were so many opportunities to socialize (i.e. field trips, various leagues, classes other parents/retired teachers would teach, dances, 4-H Club, etc) we had to pick and choose because there were so many activities available. Not to mention the multitude of social activities available just about anywhere.

P.S. I think from the get-go, a few years in public, private, or church school can be beneficial when it comes to children learning the basics before being homeschooled. However, if you feel confident enough to teach the basics, there are some great homeschool curriculum's available that are excellent.

Answer 6

I homeschool my 8 year old and we like it. It is hard work, but rewarding. I see my son excelling above what he would be learning in school by learning at his own pace, but if there is something that is hard for him we can take all the time we need.

There are some challenges though. You have to be good at scheduling. You have to have patience. You have to be strong in your convictions and priorities. Why are you homeschooling? What is your game plan if things don't go as you hoped right off the bat? Will you adapt or give up? Will you do it year round or follow the school schedule? What do you hope to accomplish? There are a lot of things parents are responsible for teaching...responsibility, the ability to care for themselves and their home, morals, social skills, respect, personal hygene, and many other things. Once you add traditional schooling as well it becomes a little challenging. How will you handle it?

No matter how you think it will be, it won't. But you should have an idea up front what is so important you won't budge.

For us, I would say the hardest thing was to find the best curriculum for us. In kindergarten we used Hooked in Phonics for reading and I put together a curriculum for the rest from workbooks and supplies I bought from the teachers supply, or from books my mom and mother in law gave me (they are both public school teachers). This worked well as far as continually challenging him an d keeping him interested, but was a lot of work to maintain. There would be times I would work for an hour putting a lesson together and he would get it and be ready to move on in like 2 minutes.

The half way through 1st grade we went to an Abeka display and I decided to try it so I wouldn't have as much planning. It was ok. There was a lot that was too easy and too repetitive, especially in the reading and math. The social studies was more of a kindergarten begining with a community heros kind of thing, and I thought it was a waste as my son had Rescue Heroes and knew all of that. The science was pretty good, but for us it would have been better if there had been more to it because this is a major area of interest for my son. In addition, it was A LOT of worksheets!! And it was a fight to get through the day, so we opted to not go with it again this year.

This year we went with Switched on Schoolhouse a computer based curriculum. My son should be in 2nd but because he is a strong reader we went up to 3rd grade. Overall it is very good. Again the History/Social Studies leaves a lot to be desired, but asisde from that everything has been great. My only complaint is there is not much room for me to be involved.

So next year we may go with SOS for bible and math, maybe science, but we are going to go a more classical education route. I am reading the book A Well Trained Mind (recommended by another homeschooling mom) and think it may be a good fit for us since I have another son I would be teaching in about a year, and with the classical education all kids are learning the same history, literature, and science topics just on different levels.

If I were you I would attend a homeschooling convention and really look at all of the curriculums.

You can do it. Don't be discouraged. If you have any questions, feel free to email.

Answer 7

I am not a parent who has homeschooled children but I did grow up with several different families who homeschooled their children and I would not recommend it. The children are very intelligent and the parents did an excellent job at teaching them to at least a public school level and probably even beyond that but the children have suffered when it comes to socialization skills. School is a place where children learn to work with each other, to deal with issues that may not arise at home and it allows the skills necessary for a person to be successful in the real world- the children I know who were homeschooled do not have these skills.

Answer 8

wow, reading some of the responses!
I am a homeschooling mother of preschooler and a 1st grader, my son plays with the children from the public school, children at church, at the playground, etc. They get to learn what they need to learn, in some areas, my son is further along than his public school friends, because of the one on one time he gets, where as his friends have to share the teacher with 20+ other students. we move at his pace, there are just to many positives, from my perspective. This is a topic that is always being brought up. you devote time Monday - Friday to reading, writing and math at their grade level. And i find if you allow the child to guide you with their interests it makes learning more fun and interesting for everyone. we also include the computer to reinforce that days work, first 15 minutes on a reading site, second 15 minutes on a math site and then they have 30 minutes of free time to play games. We take the approach that their schooling is work that must be done before any other activity. It is rewarding!

Answer 9

I have loved the experience of teaching my child. I also use a curriculum from Bob Jones University which has the option of using a satellite class. I am amazed and love the way they teach. He gets to do this at his pace. If we have something we need to work on we can stop and go from there. Things we dont need to work on we can go on. Unlike public school!!! (I was public schooled so I know exactly what it’s like) The Bob Jones has helped me as a parent on teaching him easy ways to learn and not only that but it CAN be fun..Be sure and join a homeschool organization so that you can have your child involved in other activities.

I can honestly say there is nothing like watching your child learn something the first time all by their selves. Their way of teaching has just really opened my eyes to a whole new way of learning. They learn so much and without a lot of pressure. He is ahead of the kids in public school right now as I like to check to see how we are doing and if I need to work on more. My Aunt is a teacher and is amazed at how great he has done. He loves it and has made it clear that he does not want to go to public school. Hes much happier right now.

Just be prepared to have some days where you ask yourself what you are doing :) It’s going to be tough but it’s worth every bad minute to watch the wonderful ones that will happen.

Answer 10

There are many couples who want to homeschool their children, and some of them are even more successful than those who send their children to public, or private schools. Homeschooling can't be beaten if you are a dedicated, intelligent parent, who has had some psychological studies of pre-school/ adolescent children. One of the problems is that your children might be upset with you for separating them from their friends, and the environment of public schools tend to equip them better for social integration with other children. If you can overcome these obstacles, I say go ahead. But give your children plenty of opportunities to associate with other children and their parents.