Anonymous wrote:Can anyone comment on the cost of homeschooling? Do you spend a lot on materials? I am just beginning to consider homeschool for my child for next year. He has had a bad year and has not really made any progress this year. I worry what will happen if he has another year like this next year. I requested an evaluation from the school and they wrote an IEP, but it doesn't seem to be making any difference for him. I'm pretty sure I could do it if I knew more about it. I have done lots at home to support his public education, but he gets tired and discouraged after being in school all day and then coming home and spending more time doing school stuff. I always plan a "summer learning at home" curriculum each year to review what he learned in the last school year. So I think I could homeschool him, but I'm also curious about the challenges of it, and especially the cost.

Anonymous wrote:I considered it, but my kids fight constantly with each other. They need time apart, and school helps with that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same thing first starting out. If I have 3 kids x 6 instructional hours a day = how can I possibly do this? But it is so much more efficient than regular school. For us, we get the required (by mom -- math & English) work in in only a couple hours, then they spend the rest of the time playing (the work of children) especially outside, taking lessons/outside classes, reading, playing sports, and generally pursuing their interests. Some families are more structured than others.

I don't get sick that often, but when I do, they're pretty good at entertaining themselves. They are always working on some project or adventure, and they're usually happy to get some time to do that. And I also let them do some things on the computer such as Scratch Programming, and the do get a little bit of Minecraft or that Slither game or whatever is popular at the time.

My kids play sports, socialize through Homeschool classes & activities & groups, have activities through our religion, and generally living in the world. They seem more respectful of adults (I'm told) and enjoy their outside classes more, maybe because they're not forced to do lots of meaningless drudgery all day.

When the new sports season rolls around and they meet their new teams, the kids often go around and say what school they attend. When my kids say "Homeschool" they usually get a "Luck-Y" or two, but that's about it. There are tons of homeschoolers around when you start to look, so it's not that unusual.

The main con for me is that there's so much amazing stuff out there, it's hard to choose sometimes. Choices can be stressful, even fun choices. Basically you can make it as stressful as you want to. Some parents are happy as clams without a care in the world, and some seem completely harried, but generally it's wonderful and amazing and such a great opportunity. You can always try it for a while, and if it doesn't work, just go back to what you were doing before.

For years I have been interested in homeschooling, but am reluctant because I don't personally know anyone who does it. Also, we are not a religious family and although I know there are secular homeschoolers, I'm worried that that there aren't enough to build much of a network. Do you find that there are a substantial number of secular families in the DC/NOVA homeschooling community?

Anonymous wrote:I am new to the idea of homeschooling, and I would love to hear the pros and cons. Never thought I would be someone that would consider it, but I am. The most that I can think of is that you are constantly "on", 24-hours a day, all the time. What happens when you are sick? How do you socialize your child? How are kids received in social groups when you do extracurricular activities?

My husband and I are starting to have this discussion, and I would love to hear more. Really happy there is now a HS forum, even if it does move a bit slower.

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same thing first starting out. If I have 3 kids x 6 instructional hours a day = how can I possibly do this? But it is so much more efficient than regular school. For us, we get the required (by mom -- math & English) work in in only a couple hours, then they spend the rest of the time playing (the work of children) especially outside, taking lessons/outside classes, reading, playing sports, and generally pursuing their interests. Some families are more structured than others.

I don't get sick that often, but when I do, they're pretty good at entertaining themselves. They are always working on some project or adventure, and they're usually happy to get some time to do that. And I also let them do some things on the computer such as Scratch Programming, and the do get a little bit of Minecraft or that Slither game or whatever is popular at the time.

My kids play sports, socialize through Homeschool classes & activities & groups, have activities through our religion, and generally living in the world. They seem more respectful of adults (I'm told) and enjoy their outside classes more, maybe because they're not forced to do lots of meaningless drudgery all day.

When the new sports season rolls around and they meet their new teams, the kids often go around and say what school they attend. When my kids say "Homeschool" they usually get a "Luck-Y" or two, but that's about it. There are tons of homeschoolers around when you start to look, so it's not that unusual.

The main con for me is that there's so much amazing stuff out there, it's hard to choose sometimes. Choices can be stressful, even fun choices. Basically you can make it as stressful as you want to. Some parents are happy as clams without a care in the world, and some seem completely harried, but generally it's wonderful and amazing and such a great opportunity. You can always try it for a while, and if it doesn't work, just go back to what you were doing before.