Do you homeschool?

Question

*Who teaches your child(ren)?
*What are those person's qualifications to teach?
*Does your child(ren) learn phys ed., art, and music? By what means?
Do you believe that by homeschooling you are giving your child an overall better learning experience?
Do you think your child is ready to face the real world?

I'm most interested in the first three questions.
I don't have children nor do I plan on homeschooling my children. I am simply trying to learn more about it.

Answer 1

I homeschool my children and wouldn't have it any other way. I teach them myself, and I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education. However, I have learned since I began this adventure that it is not my degree which qualifies me to teach but rather my love and concern for my children. I know their learning styles better than anyone else, and my investment in them as human beings is certainly more important to me than anyone else. I began because my husband had been stationed in an area lacking in quality education, and I planned to only school my oldest daughter for one year, but the closeness we developed led me to continue. Her education is more complete and consistent, she is so much more confident without the constant competition at a young age that schools promote, and the relationship between my children (ages 12, 8, 6, and 3) is phenomenal. I constantly receive comments about how well they get along and look after one another.

People often ask if I am concerned about "socialization." My children do more activities with other kids than I did when I was their age. Their socialization is more true to the real world. In school, children are segregated by age, and most are from the same socio-economic area, and that is really fairly artificial. When they grow up, they won't get jobs with 30 other people exactly the same age as they are, with approximately the same income bracket. They meet so many people in real life situations being with me throughout the day.

They play soccer, take walks each day, go to piano and choir lessons, participate in clubs, etc. They have also had gymnastics and ballet lessons in the past. Our state (Ohio) requires instruction in these areas, but they easily fulfill those requirements through their extracurricular activities.

I believe they have more time to be children ( a lost art in this society) and that they are at the same time more naive (not exposed to so much garbage as other kids) and at the same time refreshingly mature (my 12 year old could run a household without me). They can think for themselves, because they are not constantly swayed by the weight of peer pressure. They have high self-esteem, and a real concern for others. For us, it has been a wonderful experience.

Thanks for being someone who is interested in understanding homeschooling without first judging it....I am always amazed that because so many people know 1 or 2 odd or backwards people who homeschool that they assume the whole thing should not be allowed. There are certainly many people in prison and on welfare who were educated at public schools, and most people do not assume that the whole public education system is corrupt and worthless because of those who do not succeed. No system is perfect! I find that this way works well for many.

Answer 2

I'm a home-school student just so you know:

*Who teaches you?
I'm taught through the American School of Correspondence, not by my parents.
*What are those person's qualifications to teach?
Everyone who works there has been a teacher, or currently are teaching (work at AS part-time). Very professional people there!
*Does you learn phys ed., art, and music? By what means?
At The American School they offer numerous courses, and electives just like any other school. They have art, and music as an elective. You can do phys ed. on your own time. LOL
Do you believe that by homeschooling is giving you an overall better learning experience?
Yes. Sitting in class room with 30+ students, old textbooks, and overworked teachers gets old after awhile. I would rather work at my own pace, and be able to concentrate without hearing numerous people talking when they should be working.
Do you think you're ready to face the real world?
I face the real world everyday.

Answer 3

Many people are curious about homeschooling at how it benefits the child. I was homeschooled for 11 years, and I would not have had it any other way.
* Usually, the parent teaches the student. In many cases, girls are much easier to instruct than boys because they can distinguish between "Mom" and "Teacher". It makes things difficult when you are trying to ensure a quality education.
* This is a little tricky, because with each state comes different qualifications. So this is not a concrete answer, but in most cases the parent must contact the state. From there, a process begins in order to become a 'legal' place of schooling. Everything has to compare with public schooling. If they are schooled in so many areas in public school, your child has to have the same necessary education or more in order to pass that grade. Same rules apply with test taking, required book reading, and so on. It all has to match up with the core requirements in order for a Diploma to be issued by the state at the end of the student's senior year. Most homes are also under 'audit' throughout the entire academic career. Every few months, the State Department of Education will come in and look at the physical school paperwork that the student has done. The parent must always have a gradebook and a lesson planner with a detailed description planned out at least two to three months ahead.
*A child can also take classes such as physical education, art, and music at any neighboring schools because they are a registered student within the county. A special form of recommendation is required at times, but it is very easy to obtain. Also, there are online courses that a child can take in order to have credit in that area.
*Homeschooling is, in my opinion, a very good way to give your child a better start. No, they may not get to go to Prom or Homecoming or participate on any academic clubs, but all good things have their pros and cons. By my seventh grade year, I was tested and had the education of a junior. When done the right way, homeschooling can benefit the child more.
*I'm in my third semester of college now, and I enjoy it very much. A few of my friends who have graduated from a public high school have since dropped out because they find it too challenging.
Another thing I have forgotten to mention is that children are sent to a week long testing to determine their placement. This happens at least twice a year and basically just keeps track off their standing. This way, they know that the child obtains the full education.

Answer 4

Who teaches your child(ren)?
Primarily I teach my child, although she also does some distance education classes, takes some classes in the community (piano, soccer, dance, art), and in a small homeschool co-op (science, word roots, critical thinking, art).

What are those person's qualifcations to teach?
I have a master's degree in biochemistry, bachelors in chemistry with a math minor, my husband has a degree in engineering. My co-op partner has a masters in education (curriculum design and development). Her other teachers have excellent qualifications as well. However, I've met parents that do an excellent job educating their own children with just a high school degree.

Does your child(ren) learn phys ed., art, and music? By what means?
Yes, by learning at home and in classes in our community.

Do you believe that by homeschooling you are giving your child an overall better learning experience?
Yes, she can pursue subjects much more completely, deeply, and at her own rate. She is developing skills and attitudes she needs to be a life long learner.

Do you think your child is ready to face the real world?
Not yet - she's 8! However, she is very confident, poised, well-spoken, well-liked by her friends (homeschooled, public school, and private school), and I believe she will continue on this path. I think she will experience more of the 'real' world outside of the artificial construct of public school.

Answer 5

I teach my children. I have a MA, which is more education than is required to be a public school teacher. Phys Ed is a non entity in most public schools now, but my kids get physical activity every day by playing in our huge yard. They play tee ball, kick ball, soccer, they run and play tag, they climb on the jungle gym. They are also in either dance or martial arts. My children are having a better learning experience because they are able to take their time, learn their way and spend as much time on any given subject that they want. Of course my kids are ready to face the world. They are out in the world every day. They aren't cooped up in a classroom with ONLY people their own age. They visit the nursing home and our elderly neighbors. They play with other kids in the neighborhood. They visit with all races and ages just about every where we go.

Answer 6

1. I teach my children, more specifically, I facilitate their learning, they teach themselves.
2. Qualifications are that I know my children quite intimately, I can read books and talk to them. I started the program for school teachers at the college and it's mostly crap about management and how to make learning fun. We already do that, it doesn't take that much skill. As someone else mentioned, they are MY kids and I have a vested self-interest in ensuring the best for them, unlike passing them from stranger to stranger year after year.
3. Phys ed, they learn by playing (PE is just schools answer to taking away free time and the ability to choose play)
art, they learn by playing (what is art anyway?)
music, they learn by playing (theory is nice, but really, music is an art, and what is art anyway?)
4. I KNOW I am giving my child a better experience. They've all been in public schools
5. My child faces the real world every day, unlike kids who are trapped in a brick-n-morter until they are 18 and then forced out into the workforce or indep living.

Answer 7

I homeschooled my first daughter until second grade.
Although both she and my second daughter both go to school, I continue to teach them things at home.

I was the primary teacher.

My qualifications to teach were that I am a responsible adult who knows the basics of the English language and arithmetic. That I have a Bachelor's degree is just gravy.

My kids learn physical education by playing outside. Art by drawing, painting and coloring. Music by listening, singing, and taking private piano lessons.

By homeschooling, I KNOW I am giving my child a better learning experience. My children are learning HOW to think, rather than WHAT to think. Furthermore, they learn values from the lessons they study with me. The quality of the education I provide them is also superior to that which they get from their formal school. For instance, my oldest daughter learned to read when she was three, and was an avid and accomplished reader by four. Today, her reading level is beyond that of many kids two grades ahead of her.

Being under 10 years old, neither of my children is ready to face the "real world." But they will be, by the time they're 18. And judging from the number of publicly schooled 30-year-olds who are still living with their parents, I'd say my girls are going to have huge advantages.

Answer 8

I do homeschool. I teach my own children. Currently I have a 10th grader who attends public school 1/2 time to take art, music, foreign language and Biology lab. I also have a 4 year old who is reading/writing three letter words.
Previously I had homeschooled my children grades K-6, we attended a homeschool support group which offered art and music courses. We fulfilled our PE requirements by playing soccer, t-ball/baseball, swimming lessons, gymnastics, and any other organized sport offered by our local recreation center.
I do believe I am giving my childen a better learning experience because it is tailored to their learning style and needs as well as interests.
Though I did graduate with "High Honors" from high school, I had only one year of college before beginning a family, so my "qualifications" may not be a Bachelors in Education, but I believe I am fully qualified as the mother of my children to educate them in the best possible way...and in my state no other "qualifications" are needed.
I commend you for your interest, and for your openness to learning enough about homeschooling to form a valid opinion.

Answer 9

I was homeschooled in years 11 and 12. In Australia, homeschool, particularly in the later years, focuses on Independent Learning. I would receive my readings as well as questions, assignments or essays each week for each subject, work through it as best as I could, and contact the teacher who sent me out the information if I had any queries. As I got to select my subjects, I didn't choose to do phys ed, art, music etc.

In a way, homeschooling can be viewed as giving a child a better overall learning experience - it teaches independent learning, time-management and self-discipline - all traits which are extremely important when it comes to attending university. However, to the contrary, you may be depriving your child of learning very important social skills or your child may not have the capabilities at this stage for independent learning which would make home-schooling difficult.

I did home-schooling as when I was completing years 11 and 12, I was working as an actor full-time, and it was either do homeschooling or drop out of high-school. As a result, I engaged with a variety of people on daily basis and I don't think my social skills suffered. My advice to anyone who enrols their child in homeschooling would be to put them on a sports team, or enrol them in an acting class or so on, so they still learn how to interact with other people.

I think that homeschooling if anything benefitted me - I'm currently studying law at university - and the study skills and independent learning experience I gained through homeschool have seemed to help. I am fairly assertive, I have a great group of friends and so on. However, I was only homeschooled for 2 years, and I spent 10 years at a normal school.

I know people who were homeschooled and have none, or very little social skills, are very introverted, seem to have no confidence and are not assertive. I think that it really depends on the child, and the experiences you give them

Answer 10

*Who teaches your child(ren)?
*What are those person's qualifications to teach?
I'm his parent. I know his learning style, needs, and interests best. I also have a teaching certificate.

*Does your child(ren) learn phys ed., art, and music? By what means?
Yes. We've done private lessons for skiing, swimming, and art. We attend local concerts and listen to music they are interested in. We have discussions about what they like and don't.

Do you believe that by homeschooling you are giving your child an overall better learning experience?
Yes. I can pick curriculum to fit their needs, interests, and learning style instead of being stuck with the all-for-one curriculum provided by schools. We can freely explore related topics of interests to us. We can go at our own pace so if we want more or less time on something, we can.

Do you think your child is ready to face the real world?
LOL. Of course. They are out in the "real world" more than public school kids.