Homeschooling....

Okay, so discuss

Would you? Wouldn't you? Do you? Do you know someone who does? Advantages from your P.O.V? Disadvantages?

Sorry forgot the link
The Pioneer Woman

I did correspondence from the age of about 6 ½ through to the beginning of high school. I loved it. I could get my school work done early in the day and spend heaps more time playing. I think I thrived on the one on one tuition also.
When I started high school I was in the top 5% of pupils my age in the county……boy did that go down hill attending school! I struggled in the first year as I had pretty much done all the work that was being taught so got bored (I had already done that years work in English, Maths and History so relaxed a little too much)
I think it is great, but do feel it needs to be structured because if you do go to a ‘school’ it is a HUGE change and takes a fair bit of adjustment.

I love the idea of it but don't know if I personally could do it. In saying that if school wasn't working out I wouldn't hesistate to pull my kids out and homeschool. I think if you have the patience totally go for.

I and my 2 brothers and my sister (4 of us my poor mother ) were all homeschooled.
I found it absolutely wonderful and I was at least a year ahead of others my age when I did go to school at 11 1/2 (for life reasons I won't discuss here :D). Part of what made it so great is my mum would plan trips out and about for study. So we went to the northland Kauri forests when we were studying Kauri, went to a Kiwi place for that. Went to the beach to study waves, coastline etc.
My mum also went to great lengths to make sure we were socialized, inc arranging for me to play mini ball at a nearby school, and all the homeschooling families in the area would often collaborate doing paper-making or just having a picnic etc.

However, theres no way I'm homeschooling any of my own children as I don't feel I'm anywhere near organized or disciplined enough!

In saying that I had a really good experience being homeschooled, I did meet other families that were only doing it in name only and let their kids get away with blue murder and didn't really teach them anything, I met a 6 almost 7 yr old who could not read or write, not even her own name, so yeah depends hugely on the mum or dad doing the homeschooling.

And my mum is awesome :D (I'm not biased at all, can you tell?)

Lol very true Crafty1.

This is going to sound like I'm tooting my own horn. But I think in this situation I need to honk loud and proud lol

I'm reasonably confident the kids will be homeschooled for their secondary years. If we have the $/room/facilities we'll try and consider it earlier.

I just feel like we could do a better job than the public school system. It's not the teachers at all but rather a numbers game.And education is the family business / kinda natural to us.

We will have the freedom to educate our children in a way in which they learn most, we can provide the balance each individual needs to grow and develop and feel good. The opportunities for field trips are endless, and it frees up time for family trips etc too.

I was speaking to one 15yr old homeschooler who loves it. He feels confident with any social group he's in from litties to adults thanks to the experiences he's had offered. He spends 3 hours a morning on normal school day stuff, and spends the afternoons teaching himself engineering.

We'd outsource Music, a second language and Swimming to some local tutors lol, we know our limits! Aside from that hubby and I have the curriculum covered, we're a bit chalk and cheese.
DD grabs an idea and runs with it. She isn't two yet but by playing with letter writing on paper, in sand, and often with her porridge, she's got a few of her letters sorted. Without prompting she verbally spells her name, only missing one or two letters at the moment. It seems she's a natural learner if that makes sense?

I'm pretty firm on basic structure for balance, so there will be learning time, and time when the kids are elsewhere so I could just chill out.

But then I don't want them to be ridiculed, treated differently, or looked at funny just because we chose to teach them ourselves.

It's a hard decision.

Edited by Flake

I think from what you have said Flake,that you SHOULD homeschool, it sounds like its made for you and I think you will regret it if you don't.
If people look at you and your kids funny because its something they wouldn't do, that is their problem not yours

I think that more needs to be made known about what Homeschooling involves, what the advantages are etc. I don't know much about it and I would hate to admit it but might not consider employing someone who has been homeschooled because I know nothing about it and would wonder at what type of social interaction they have had. And yes, that is ignorance on my behalf but my perception of homeschooling is kids who didn't fit the schooling system and would therefore make me wonder if they would fit into the working 'system'.

Just MY perception (outdated probably) and I really should learn more about it..but then I'm not in a position to hire anyone so probably just as well.

Flake wrote: Lol thanks Kelly But on the flipside, these kids may grow to resent it and feel left out / isolated etc.

You know what ? so might my kids ...that can be like any teenager...cross that bridge if and when you come to it

PS -you're welcome

Thanks for this topic. we are planning on homeschooling our kids (our oldest is 2 at the mo) - hubby was fully h/s and I was fully schooled, so we have experienced both worlds! I've been looking at various curriculums versus writing my own....what have you found regarding that, Flake?