Jun. 23, 2006 - Questions
An internet friend of mine posted a bunch of questions about homeschooling. She's Russian, married to an American, ministering in another country. Does anyone want to help with her questions? Some are general homeschooling, but many of them are specifically about homeschooling in an international situation, so I thought this would be a good place to discuss them. I've copied the questions below. She would be happy to have any input, so don't feel like you have to tackle all of the questions at once. 
--Phyllis in Russia
1. When do you start homeschooling a child (what age)?
2. How do you know that the child is learning enough (and fast enough)?
3. What happens if you don’t know the material your child is supposed to be learning? Or how do you explain to the child the subject you didn’t get when you were studying (such as math for some, languages for others. For me everything that goes beyond standard high school math is well…beyond me).
4. How does homeschooling effect mother-child relationship (for example, I liked my teachers in school, but there is no way I’d want them to be my Mom, I needed someone not connected with all the academics to be there for me)?
5. Does the child (or the Mom) ever get tired of seeing the same person every day for many hours a day and what do you do about that?
6. How do you encourage interaction with peers? Especially in an area where no homeschooling support groups are available.
7. What do you for physical activity and exercise?
8. How do you introduce them to the world around them (as in nonchristian world) and how do the children find contacts outside home and church?
9. When homeschooling, do you have any childfree time (for example for ministry)?
10. How does a husband participate in homeschooling?
I also have a few questions that are related specifically to living overseas and bilingual (trilingual) education:
1. When two languages are spoken in the family, how do you teach them equally?
2. I speak Russian with my children, Jim speaks English and he and I communicate in English. Most homeschooling materials and curriculums are sure to be in English too, how do I make sure to include enough Russian. Do I teach in English, because of the materials, too?
3. How would our children interact with their peers in the other country? How do you encourage that? Most MKs I know personally (especially boys), struggle with relationships outside their culture.
4. How do you teach a third language (the language of the country we’re in, obviously if we’re ever in Russia again this wouldn’t matter)?
5. How do you identify with the cultural problems and questions concerning school, if you haven’t done it yourself? How can you help?
6. How do you find resources available only in the US?
7. How about supplementary homeschooling (putting a child in a school in the country where you’re at but supplementing with English and Russian and whatever else at home)?
Comments
Jun. 24, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by KarenW
1. When do you start homeschooling a child (what age)? At birth!
2. How do you know that the child is learning enough (and fast enough)? When you spend all day with your child, you know what he needs to learn and what he has accomplished. Unlike some report card that just gives you a letter grade.
3. What happens if you don’t know the material your child is supposed to be learning? Or how do you explain to the child the subject you didn’t get when you were studying (such as math for some, languages for others. For me everything that goes beyond standard high school math is well…beyond me). Mostly, you can learn along with the child. We are doing Video Text Algebra this year because math is not my thing. There are so many options and helps in the area of homeschooling.
4. How does homeschooling effect mother-child relationship (for example, I liked my teachers in school, but there is no way I’d want them to be my Mom, I needed someone not connected with all the academics to be there for me)? We are a very close family. I think homeschooling helps in relationships because we have more time for eachother. Life is not a rush around, catch the bus, go to school, come home and do homework routine.
5. Does the child (or the Mom) ever get tired of seeing the same person every day for many hours a day and what do you do about that? No
6. How do you encourage interaction with peers? Especially in an area where no homeschooling support groups are available. We live in Romania and no on homeschools here. I have gotten my children involved in the community by taking art, sports, etc.
7. What do you for physical activity and exercise? Besides the above in #6, playing out in the yard, lots of walking when the weather is nice, exercise videos when it isn't
8. How do you introduce them to the world around them (as in nonchristian world) and how do the children find contacts outside home and church? See # 6
9. When homeschooling, do you have any childfree time (for example for ministry)? it is hard to have child free time when they are young unless you have someone that will watch them for a while. Mine are old enough to stay at home by themselves for a while. They are also old enough to have a big part in our ministry. They are also old enough that I realize my time with them is short and I am thankful for every moment I have with them.
10. How does a husband participate in homeschooling? That differs for every family. My husband is very supportive of our homeschooling but he doesn't do very much "teaching".
I also have a few questions that are related specifically to living overseas and bilingual (trilingual) education:
1. When two languages are spoken in the family, how do you teach them equally?We mainly speak English as a family since that is our native language and none of us are fluent in Romanian
2. I speak Russian with my children, Jim speaks English and he and I communicate in English. Most homeschooling materials and curriculums are sure to be in English too, how do I make sure to include enough Russian. Do I teach in English, because of the materials, too? Hmm... that's tough because we are not a bilingual family in that sense. Perhaps you could teach most subjects in English, but also have plenty of Russian literature and history to read to/with them. There is probably a lot of Language Arts type things you could do with them in Russian- creative writing, copy work, etc.
3. How would our children interact with their peers in the other country? How do you encourage that? Most MKs I know personally (especially boys), struggle with relationships outside their culture. I'm not sure what you mean by other country, the one you are serving in? Read # 6 above. I think it's important to get kids involved in the community and in your ministry.
4. How do you teach a third language (the language of the country we’re in, obviously if we’re ever in Russia again this wouldn’t matter)? We haven't gotten to a third language yet but I have heard that once you know two, a third one comes pretty easily
5. How do you identify with the cultural problems and questions concerning school, if you haven’t done it yourself? How can you help? Not sure I understand what you are asking here.
6. How do you find resources available only in the US? Some places ship here like Christianbook.com. Shipping is expensive. Usually, I have them sent to my mom's house in the states and someone brings them when they come this way.
7. How about supplementary homeschooling (putting a child in a school in the country where you’re at but supplementing with English and Russian and whatever else at home)? I put my youngest in kindergarten here for two years, mainly so she could learn the language. I don't like the schools here at all and wouldn't consider it for anything above kindergarten. I don't know how much Russia differs from Romania. Seems a lot of European schools are similar. They have so much homework, then to add on top of that the "supplemental", the poor kids would be doing school all day.
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any more questions!
Jun. 24, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by KarenW
Holly went to art class today here in Romania. She just turned 8. I posted her work on her blog. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AHollyDay/156314/
Jun. 27, 2006 - Oversea/Bilingualism Question #2 and # 7
Posted by AmaniS
I thought my comment would be two long here so,
Question #2 here
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AmaniS/157623/
Question # 7 here
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AmaniS/157625/
Jul. 6, 2006 - Just to say...
Posted by Panshrmu
I posted my answers on my blog so others who may have similar questions could see. Hope you come over and see it.
