When I was deciding to homeschool I interviewed and followed families and made a video. Now I'm trying it and want to write about the good and bad so others can know. As a public school teacher I always knew I wanted something else for my family. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:18:00 -0500 Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:18:00 -0500 I've really gotten into homeschooling. I feel like it is the best way to educate and to live. So I feel wierd around people who have left us. I was recently at a school event to volunteer. I saw two families that once were in a co-op of homeschoolers. I still can't believe that they don't homeschool anymore. And chose public school. They looked happy but I still felt like how could they. I don't have the right to judge so it must come from my insecurity. We are a bigger more visable "movement" but still it's hard when some leave. I guess it's nice that we do have choices. And who knows if they'll come back some day. I did get to work with one of the children at another volunteer thing I did this summer. I was shocked that he had gone from child directed learning as a preschooler to bragging about his "A's in all his classes and wondering what he would get in my class. It was just for fun and to learn and be creative. That's what I fear - that my kids, in a traditional school, would be all about the grade and not real learning. At least that's what I saw when I taught in a public high school, Kids didn't want to do anything unless it was graded, and some not even for that. And then they'd just do the minimum. They had no interest in learning, in knowledge. it broke my teacher heart. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/601939/ Wed, 8 Oct 2008 18:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/601939/ I was reading my first ever issue of Old Schoolhouse, from my own subscription that is and love it. One woman was talking about seeing her kids learn every year and it made me question why do we have kids go from one teacher to the next each year. The teacher finally gets to know the kids and their learning styles and then bam!  They are in a new year with a brand new teacher.  Homeschooling makes sense - we know our kids, see how they learn, can adapt to them instead of the other way around, and we get to build the relationship with them and continue it not have it end in May or June.  I love how homeschooling makes me think differently about the world. Maybe that's why God made it so strong for today's world. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/571123/ Thu, 7 Aug 2008 08:43:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/571123/ I admit I'm not good with the thought that we should totally submit to our husbands. I've done one of the "homeschool" sins I've read about. I'm the one who is into it, not my husband. He thinks public school is fine. He's been nice so far and let me homeschool for two years but thinks I should do more "school" like and curb the unschooling. I don't mind that. But I worry. We aren't really making ends meet. Some of me thinks just keep going, trust God, it always works out. But the other side of me thinks bite the bullet, get a job, pay the bills. But if I do that the homeschooling is in deep danger. One for time reasons, but also my husband would definetely push for them to be in school. It isn't a deep conflict and he hasn't read all I have on homeschooling or been burned as a teacher like i was in the public schools. But I thought I'd confess here. In my heart i feel like I should continue on and just trust that God's plan will be revealed. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/568606/ Fri, 1 Aug 2008 12:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/568606/ This week we are dog sitting for a friend.  It is a cute welsh corgi.  She is old and has cataracts in one eye.  Poor thing also has arthritis in her hips.  It is a good test to see how my children will do with a dog. I'm usually a big dog person but now I think smaller might be better. My seven year old can walk her without being pulled out of the yard - I know she's an old dog but a younger one still wouldn't be as strong as bigger dogs - I assume.  My youngest is three and trying to give the dog "high fives" since we do that all the time in his autism spectrum RDI therapy, but the dog tries to nip from her hip pain. So we'll wait a few years but it is nice to see them talk about the dog, feed and walk her.  I was thinking my oldest could research other small dogs and we could do that as a homeschool project as we look into a dog to get - plus going to the local shelter. I'm thinking of one of those mini-colies.  Does anyone know what they are called and if they are good with kids? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/554248/ Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/554248/ In our area they have just built a new middle school. They've decided that 5th graders now have to leave elem school and go to the middle school through 8th grade. It got me thinking - schools never really do what is best for your child. It's what is convient to them - for the buildings, textbook purchases, for the masses.  Politicians demand "progress" and want to see the most number of kids passing tests (standardized which benefit those companies that produce and grade them).  What if your child "falls behind"?  What if your child has special needs? When I taught, I clearly saw how it was so hard not to just teach to the middle!  I'm so thankful I found homeschooling and can do what is best for my child!   On another note, I just started writing a devotions for homeschoolers. I know there are some but I still want to write one just to re-assure myself (when family attacks!)  Does anyone want to see the rough draft and tell me what they think?  If so, email me at tuscanspeak@yahoo.com   Gracias! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/546643/ Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/546643/ I think I have posted before that my mother hates homeschooling. Ever since I simply left my job (as a public school teacher) and started staying home with my eldest son did she get nervous because I didn't put him in preschool and said the homeschooling word. I agreed to let her pay for him to go two days a week to preschool (for two years). That wasn't so bad except they got all the kids excited for school so the first few months of kindergarten he kept asking about school.  Then she agreed he could go part time to a democratic "unschooling" type of school.  That worked fine till she learned more about unschooling and was terrified that some kids (in general) don't master reading until they are , gasp, twelve. Somehow all 7 year olds must be fluent readers or we are all doomed somehow.  Are they signing leases and bank documents that I am unaware of? Anyways, last time she was in town (she's seasonal with a winter home) she said she was cutting me off - never talking to me unless I put him in the public school that week.  It was horrible. I felt abandonned, manipulated, and like that wasn't possible under those circumstances (I hope never to put him in public school but if my husband and I decide to do that it's on our terms, not hers).  Well after not talking for a few weeks we talked with a therapist and agreed to disagree. Now she's back in town and the new tactic is - she'll pay for him to go to a secular private school. Actually a few years ago I would have said yes but now I know too much about homeschooling and was amazed that they do better than in private school on academics and how it makes the family strong and well I love most everything I hear (that's why I make the videos and still try to present all sides for others deciding like I did).  One negative I can say - parenting pressure. Anyways, to be a good sport I agreed to take my son to see the school before it got out for the summer. Big mistake. He liked what he saw, of course. Nice playground, that wonderful bus that all kids want to ride, and pretty art work. Who wouldn't like that?  So he's back to thinking/wanting to go to a traditional school. When I told her I still don't want him to go to that school or any school full time, she said she'd have to do some serious thinking. So I have no idea what that means? I"m trying not to worry, just give it all to God but I'm afraid it'll be some other not talking to you or worse, financially squeezing us since we owe some money. I can deal with responsibility and paying back our loans but I just hate it for manipulative reasons. Any advice?  prayers welcome. Thanks! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/539961/ Thu, 29 May 2008 13:21:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/539961/ I know I like to rant about people leaving homeschooling but I guess every family has to make their own decisions. I'm trying to set up some interviews with parents whose children are now or will be going to schools and in the meantime I was talking to someone who knew them. She said that in one family the girl was doing well in the public school elementary level, but the boy was struggling. We agreed that girls usually do better since they like to sit and do workbooks and follow the rules. Whereas boys show signs right away that traditional schools don't fit them = they wiggle, and want to run around and look out the window - in general. I know that I tend to want to buy workbooks and my son hates them. I'm learning to save my money. But then I was thinking - what happens to all these "good" girls? After years in school do they really learn what they need and want to have a fulfilling life? I know that I was quiet and good and followed the rules but now I'm not as good an entreprenuer as I could be and in some jobs trying to follow the rules hurt me (especially when other people didn't follow the rules and try to blame the institutions problems on me!) And I never learned how to run a household or even figure out that working outside or inside the home you still have to clean, cook, and take care of the cars! I wonder how much I could have learned if I was homeschooled? I wonder how much more confidence I would have had and would've figured out earlier what I really wanted out of life instead of an extended adolescence way into my 20s. At a cafe where I use the wireless they sell crafts by local people. Some of the jewlry is made by a 12 year old homeschooler who figured out to sell it at the cafe and to make nice information signs to go with each piece and a write up about herself. How many more girls could find their way like her? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/533176/ Fri, 16 May 2008 10:03:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/533176/ Yesterday I found out about two families who have children that will go to school next year. One whose son is choosing to go to high school, the other is a little boy who will start first grade (kinda a do-over).  It makes me sad. I think the young boy will be eaten alive. He's a very sweet sensitive boy and from what I remember, boys like that were tortured int he playground.  His family is very quiet and of a pacifist religion so I don't quite understand. The other is a family I don't really know but were one of the first homeschoolers I ever met. I know other families who let their older kids choose to go to high school but since that's where I taught I kinda felt like that would be horrible for my kids. The peer pressure was so anti academic and to be rude to adults.     i just feel sad that they're leaving homeschooling. i'm too sensitive http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/527999/ Tue, 6 May 2008 12:46:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/527999/ I just read: A pracitcal guide Homeschooling the Challenging Child by Christine M. Field Finally, some honesty!  I love homeschooling and even if my kids never win a spelling bee, I think it's the best choice for us.  I wish no one would send thier kids to a traditional school after working in the public schools and seeing what really goes on - plus the sense of being always told what to do so that the class can be "managed" whereas in homeschool the students learn a love for learning and exploring. But, when deciding to homeschool I had a hard time finding anything about some of the negative feelings and hardships involved. Nothing is perfect so that's why I try to interview people (see www.youtube.com/homeschoolvideo) and find out the good, the bad, and the ugly.   In this book, there was great advice on learning disabilities and how to deal with the public school system and your choices in homeschooling. But I was delighted to find some nuggets of gold on frustrations sometimes felt as a homeschooler.  (I'm still at the idealistic stage).  I guess it shows how sometimes we tell everyone how wonderful everything is (esp. to prove to those who don't homeschool) but honesty might be best since some of us may feel like failures if we aren't "measuring up" Here is what she said in the book: In the begining I believed that if I invested myself in this process my children would 1) flourish acadmically, 2) be spiritual giants, and 3) never rebel against our authority...... But God knows better...He gifted to us these exclusive children and allowed the fruit we are seeing or not seeing. The "success" we may have been led to expect by our homeschool daydreaming may forever elude us. Perhaps God has other lessons we are supposed to be learning. (after she realized she used to have more interests and time for herself and homeschooling was only one interest) When the role of homeschooler takes a downturn - when homeschooling is hard, our sense of self takes a downturn. WE feel like a filure because the only thing that filled our basket has rolled out onto the ground. We feel vulnerable and emotionally at risk as we gaze into that empty basket. This causes some of us to excessively focus on what we cannot control, specifically the challenging kid. For learning delays and disabilities: In the Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Sharon Hensely, author of Home Schooling Children with Special Need said: "You cannot fix your child's learning disablity by homeschooling him/her, but you can give them a more approriate learning experience. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/525434/ Thu, 1 May 2008 09:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/525434/ I just read two great books. One was called Short Bus about a young man who was put in special ed classes. He buys a little bus that is used for transportation for special education students and travels the country interviewing lots of people who were put in special education programs. The fascinating thing about the book is how he talks about the evolution of special education programs, schools, and the definition of "normal". It was just another confirmation to keep my kids far from the schools - they have to label and in general, the student has to fit the school and not the other way around. The kids in these programs call themselves "tards" and basically know they don't belong and their self-esteem suffers. It makes me think that eventhough in the education programs like I went through to become a teacher they tell you to boast kids self-esteem but the system does just the opposite. You don't read at the right "grade" level. You don't get picked for the team. I was never put in the right math class - always too hard or too slow. So most people come out of the school system with hurt self esteems, especially from the social life of middle and high school. Yet, homeschoolers do great because mom never labels them and puts them in a "special" room. Mom can adjust the curriculm to fit the child's needs. The other book I read is the Harsh Truth of the Public Schools. Most of it was not new information to me since I worked in the schools. He has a lot of facts and figures which doesn't get me in the gut like the personal stories of Short Bus, but they are good to have. Some of his facts are a bit tweaked by his opinions but if you can get past that the numbers are good to use. What surprised me the most was the facts on homeschooling. In the schools, they talk about poverty and how those kids never seem to do well. The last school, and the worst, that I worked at was full of racial problems, but according to his statistics, kids from poverty and minority races do just as well as the other kids with homeschooling. I wondered about that. I want to encourage everyone to get their kids out of the school. In a loving environment, anyone can learn. Minority kids are given a message loud and clear that they do not belong in the middle class schools, I saw it first hand. But at home they can learn with their family and about history and culture that they won't learn in the schools. I even heard a report last summer that African American kids do better over the summer with their reading scores, than all year in school. Hmm, makes you think. What do other people think about these books? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/517818/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:25:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolvideo/517818/