I'm a homeschooling mom AMA

[Anonymous]

OP, I haven't read through all the posts. I homeschooled my kids, including one who is 2E, through middle. Also followed SWB's recommendations--sounds like we have had very similar experiences. Just want to chime in that my kids started taking classes through the Well-Trained Mind Academy starting in 5th or 6th. Loved every single class, especially writing classes and AOPS. Strongly recommend.

Just a couple notes: the person who said AOPS isn't enough ?? I was skimming comments and maybe I misread. Have you used the algebra and other books or are you talking about Beast Academy? The textbooks are incredibly challenging and advanced. When my kids have gone back to school they have always placed at the highest level classes, a couple of years ahead.

To others, I live in this area and i don't know any uneducated homeschoolers. I get that there is some self-selection in who we choose as friends, but I know none. My friends who homeschool all have at least one parent with advanced degrees. My closest friends are: one BA and one Masters in teaching; two MDs; one JD and one MBA; one Phd and one BA. I have a PhD. One of these families is very integrated in an unschooling community and the kids spend several days a week with co-ops or other activities. The others are very into sports and other activities so they have a large community of non-homeschoolers. Personally, we did classical homeschooling mostly on our own with some online classes, some consistent activities with homeschoolers (a nature program), but mostly socialized with neighborhood families and families involved in my kids' activities.

Obviously we all have different experiences but we haven't seen the social isolation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is religion a large part of your teachings?
You say you teach evolution....
What about equality among homosexuals?

Also, I would likely give my child straight A+ grades if I homeschooled.

Is there any oversight into parents who do this?

Thank you!

Most states require state or national standardized tests and/or a portfolio to show actual work and corroborate both the grade earned and that the child is learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a certificate to teach elementary and my oldest is profoundly gifted. I really toyed with the idea of homeschooling but in the end going to school is just way too valuable an experience. Instead we chose a selective, progressive private school and we after school. It’s the best of both worlds. We’ve done story of the world and classical conversations—way too Christian centered by the way. Life of Fred, worldly wise, Miquon, AoPS—which by the way isn’t enough by itself. Chess club, Mel science kits, and just diving deep in interested topics. My oldest blossomed at school. That is the best way to describe it. The academic stuff is done at home, but you cannot replicate what is going on at school at home.

AOPS absolutely is enough by itself if a child is gifted in math. AOPS algebra is more rigorous than any other program. There is nothing that even comes close. Beast Academy is for kids that dont. need a lot of repetition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I haven't read through all the posts. I homeschooled my kids, including one who is 2E, through middle. Also followed SWB's recommendations--sounds like we have had very similar experiences. Just want to chime in that my kids started taking classes through the Well-Trained Mind Academy starting in 5th or 6th. Loved every single class, especially writing classes and AOPS. Strongly recommend.

Just a couple notes: the person who said AOPS isn't enough ?? I was skimming comments and maybe I misread. Have you used the algebra and other books or are you talking about Beast Academy? The textbooks are incredibly challenging and advanced. When my kids have gone back to school they have always placed at the highest level classes, a couple of years ahead.

To others, I live in this area and i don't know any uneducated homeschoolers. I get that there is some self-selection in who we choose as friends, but I know none. My friends who homeschool all have at least one parent with advanced degrees. My closest friends are: one BA and one Masters in teaching; two MDs; one JD and one MBA; one Phd and one BA. I have a PhD. One of these families is very integrated in an unschooling community and the kids spend several days a week with co-ops or other activities. The others are very into sports and other activities so they have a large community of non-homeschoolers. Personally, we did classical homeschooling mostly on our own with some online classes, some consistent activities with homeschoolers (a nature program), but mostly socialized with neighborhood families and families involved in my kids' activities.

Obviously we all have different experiences but we haven't seen the social isolation.

There's an unschooling community in DC? Do you know how they can be found?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is religion a large part of your teachings?
You say you teach evolution....
What about equality among homosexuals?

Also, I would likely give my child straight A+ grades if I homeschooled.

Is there any oversight into parents who do this?

Thank you!

Most states require state or national standardized tests and/or a portfolio to show actual work and corroborate both the grade earned and that the child is learning.

Which states? Not MD.

Most colleges require SAT or ACT scores to support grades for homeschooled kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: Do you read the Reddit homeschool survivor subreddit? If so, what do you think?

Yes I have. I think there are terrible parents in all circles, and I have also heard horror stories about private and charter schools that do a bad job teaching and public schools where kids are passed along without learning anything, so its definitely not a homeschool only thing.

I do think homeschooling can provide an unfortunate cover for abusive parents. That is why I don't have a problem with some state regulations, such as the portfolio reviews that my state requires. I don't agree with states having no laws.

I also am a bit of an outlier in some homeschooling circles because i dont think that any one parent can provide an adequate high school education (if your qualified to teach chemistry, you're probably not qualified to teach literature at that level). That's where the beauty of a strong community comes in to call upon the skills of other parents along with online classes etc.

I agree, at high school level. It’s ridiculous that people extrapolate that you must then have a degree to homeschool kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is religion a large part of your teachings?
You say you teach evolution....
What about equality among homosexuals?

Also, I would likely give my child straight A+ grades if I homeschooled.

Is there any oversight into parents who do this?

Thank you!

Most states require state or national standardized tests and/or a portfolio to show actual work and corroborate both the grade earned and that the child is learning.

Which states? Not MD.

Most colleges require SAT or ACT scores to support grades for homeschooled kids.

MD has portfolio review twice yearly.
https://mdhsa.com/starting/