Ask:
We have been considering it, though DS is very young still. But I have been researching it for future.
Why do you do it, and do you really enjoy it... Have you ever thought you were going to screw your child up??
Do you have degree??? Are you full time SAHM?
Answer:
We began homes schooling Matthew the last semester of this school year. His baby brother, Tommy was born with a severe congenital heart defect that requires 3 surgeries, among other complications. We need to be at the hospital quite often and most of those times there would be nobody home when Matthew got off of the bus. It was very stressful on our entire family. We decided to homeschool when the school told us how many days he was missing.
We are members of a homeschool association. We do not take standardized tests unless we request them. Most of the time, I enjoy homeschooling. It's hard to continue to find topics he likes, but for the most part we both enjoy what we are learning together. He has ADHD, so that has added to our challenges. I would like to say that we will continue to homeschool, but it is going to be a decision I am going to think about over the summer. It depends a lot on what Tommy's health is like when school starts. We are facing his second heart surgery this summer, so his recovery is involved in the decision.
I don't think I am screwing him up. I think he is benefitting from the one-on-one attention and the flexibility that homeschool brings us. I do not have a degree, just a high school diploma. I am a SAHM. Sorry so long, but without the background, it makes it hard to explain our decision.
Answer:
I knew I wanted to HS before my oldest was born. Schools have gone to hell and private schools (though not much better anyway) are too expensive for three kids on a one income family. That of course is just one out of dozens of reasons why I homeschool. My oldest is gifted and I knew she'd be bored in school just like I was. She taught herself to read and I give her the flexiblity to learn at her own pace. She's 4 1/2 now, she would be starting K in the fall, however she's already on a 1st grade reading and math level. At home I can work one on one with her while a teacher is spreading 30-40 mins with 30 kids, admin duties like taking roll, disiplining, etc. So no, I don't feel like I'm screwing them up. My kids are very active in extra activities and classes for "socialization." That seems to be everyone's concern, although I don't see why, it's not an issue for us. I am a SAHM, although I used to provide childcare part-time and used our curriculum for the boy I watched also that worked well. I recently became a Realtor, so we'll see how that's going to play out. My dh is going to be working from home somedays and taking Fridays off so I can go into the office some during the day, and I'm hiring a mothers helper for tuesday morning meetings. Anyway, we will work it around our homeschooling. I do have a degree and past teaching experience, although you don't need one and I've found my teaching background is NOT beneficial b/c I am trying to not make it like a school setting and it's hard!
I have to go my kids are done eating, but I recommend to everyone considering HS: Mary Pride Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling. It's a great book!
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I do not homeschool and I don't think I ever could. I am very pleased wtih the schools we have and my kids love going to school. For me, it is kind of like working from home, it is hard and takes lots of discipline. You have to be organized and I would think scheduled. I like that my kids have a variety of teachers and they act so different for other people than they do for me. I don't think there is any thing wrong with homeschooling, but it is definitely not for me. I suggest doing lots of reading and research before you make a decision.
Answer:
I homeschool and have since DS#1 was preschool age. I do not believe HS is for everyone, but it is a perfect fit for our family. I enjoy virtually every minute of it and have never regretted our decision to do so.
We decided to HS for many, many reasons. I believe each child is gifted in his or her own way, and those gifts do not always get the attention or nurturing they deserve in public schools. It just isn't possible do to the logistics of having larger classrooms. Also, I have taught upper science classes in a well-to-do private school, chemistry labs in college, and tutored to every grade level. I was astonished at the lack of kowledge and basic skills of the students (some of them honor students) that I worked with. I didn't want that to happen to my children. I also wanted to be able to incorporate moral lessons and religious discussions in our lessons. Plus, I believe children were made to experience things and learn, not sit at a desk and witness things. Not all children are this type of learner. DH and I also love to travel, especially in the fall. HS allows us to travel with the children and not have to worry about attendance regulations.
I do have a BS in chemistry. However, I do not believe it is necessary for a parent/HS teacher to have a degree. Nor do I believe they have to know or understand the entire coursework. Tutors, coops and learning facilities are available to fill these voids should they occur.
I am a full-time SAHM. I never intended to be. I had a very successful career in dental materials research but was let go following notification of my first pregnancy. DH encouraged me to try being a SAHM (nobody wanted to hire a pregnant chemist anyways). I loved it! Although I thought it was a horrible thing at the time, my dismissal was one of life's biggest blessings! I do not believe you need to be a full-time SAHM to HS. However, HS does take a considerable amount of time and preparation depending on the age and number of kids. It would be very hard for me to work many hours and HS all my children the way I like. I do work as an on-call breastfeeding counselor, but that requires very little time.
I do not think I am harming my kids in any way by HS. Any time I start to question things, my uneasiness is relieved with compliments from others about the kids' behavior or intellect or some success that one of the kids has achieved. Those who doubted our decision to HS are nothing but supportive now that they see the results of our labors.
There are some wonderful threads and suggestions in the Homeschooling and Education section here on MS. Feel free to ask lots of questions! We'll do our best to answer.
Good luck in your research and decision!
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I am going to homeschool all 4 of my children. My dd is 4 and we are working on a kindergarten curriculum. She takes gymnastics and this year is going to a summer camp sponsored by one of our private schools so she can be exposed to other children her age. I chose to homeschool because of a horrible situation that happend with my 7 year old stepson in public school. His mother was forced to put him on medication that has had bad side effects. They showed no desire to work with him or help him. I don't feel like I will mess my kids up nearly as bad as something like that experience would.
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I do not homeschool, but will send my 1st off to Kinder. this year. She will be attending christian school. I have good thoughts about home schooling, but it is a huge task. In the state I live in the HS children are required to do a test each year to make sure they have been learning things properly and I've heard the tests are quite difficult for many kids. If the child doesn't pass the test in two tries, the state recommends that they are placed in a school system. My mother is a teacher here and had a home schooled child in her classroom 4 months into the school year and the child was way behind the rest of the kids, so they put the child down a grade. I would be worried that if I homeschooled my kids, and they were put into that situation they would be emotionally set back. I am NOT SAYING that all homeschooled kids are behind!!!! So, don't understand me wrong, I am just saying that you really have to be ready to make sure to stay on top of things when you decide to hs. I know there are many parents who are WONDERFUL at it! I commend them! It is wonderful. I just choose not to do it. I don't believe that makes me a bad mother, it's simply a decision that is made by each individual.