Cindy Downes

Dec. 29, 2007 - Keep on Going . . .

This blog entry is for those who are wondering, "Why am I homeschooling? Am I really making a difference? Or am I ruining my kids?"

I remember thinking like this many times during my homeschooling years. As a veteran of homeschooling who educated my children from K-12th grade, let me give you three words of encouragement. KEEP ON GOING!

As many of you know, I've been back in college at a public institution. At age 57 (almost 58), I wonder sometimes why I am doing this. But I think one of the reasons I am back in college is to be reminded how broken the public system is. Yes, I've had some good teachers and they do make the system better.

But I also had WAY too many bad ones. It's not that they didn't care - it's just that they either couldn't teach or they were limited by the system in how they do teach. The only way I learned in these classes was by "homeschooling" myself through the curriculum and by using alternative resources that I found on the Internet and in bookstores. In some cases, I learned more than was taught because what was expected of the students was too little. (That was really frustrating!)

Don't ever think you're not qualified to teach your children. If you love your kids and put their education as a priority in your life, you will teach as well or even better than many of those who are "credentialed." Having a "credential" does not make one a teacher.

What makes a good teacher? I'll give you an example of one from a class I had a OSU. My logic teacher, Mary Gwin, was what I call a good teacher. You could tell that she loved teaching logic. She came to class excited and energetic. You could tell that she put effort into her lesson plans. And she cared about the students in her class. Because we lost a lot of class time for various reasons, she was forced to go fast through the curriculum and this left some of us behind. But, instead of lowering the standards, she went out of her way to help us catch up. She lent me extra resources to study. She emailed me extra practice and the answers. She stayed after class to explain difficult concepts. And I made an A!

That's what you do as a homeschool parent - every day! You love your students because they're your kids. You seek out other resources if the ones you are using don't work. You sacrifice your free time in order to make sure your kids learn.

That is what makes YOU A GOOD TEACHER!

Dec. 29, 2007 - Hi

Posted by momofsix

Thanks for the encouragement. I sometimes feel the load to be too heavy, and your post really encouraged me. Thanks.

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Dec. 30, 2007 - Thanks Cindy!

Posted by deedeeuk

For that encouragement! We all need it from time to time. Even if we arent' thinking of quitting, it is nice to have the encouragement that we are doing something right!!

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Jan. 2, 2008 - Thanks

Posted by Danaover40

I'm in the home stretch of my homeschooling career, and enjoy reading what you have to say. I'm also peeking into your post-homeschool life to plan what I'll be doing next.

I'm formerly from OKC, so it's fun to read about hsing in OK, too.

Happy New Year!
Dana

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Jan. 3, 2008 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>

Posted by amymperry

I, too, started back to school recently. I was determined to get all A's, so I studied all the time. I actually enjoyed it.

I was amazed at how so many students grumbled, though, that our professor didn't do a good job. I thought she did just fine, and wondered why in the world the others felt that way. I think the difference was in our expectations.

I looked at the role of our professor as a supplement to my learning, not the sole source of it. I think the other students thought she would teach them all of the knowledge they would need. In fact, I heard many of them say they never even opened their textbooks!

If nothing else, I want to teach my children that they DO NOT need to rely on someone else to learn things; that they can can learn anything they wish if they put their minds to it.

Amy

Edited by amymperry on Jan. 3, 2008 at 7:35 AM

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Jan. 3, 2008 - Thank YOU

Posted by hugabunchmom

You are such an inspiration, and certainly a great encourager! Our oldest is also at OSU, but in Stillwater, and the stories she brings home certainly keeps me to the task at hand of teaching our children. The system is truly broken. But it is certainly true that their are great teachers in the mix, what a blessing to find them!

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