Anonymous wrote:Here's a question I've had for a long time. How do you "train" your child to think of time at home, with you, as school time? If you've been a SAHM with your child, and you decide it's time for school, how do you make the kid understand that there is time in the day (a significant chunk of the day) when they need to be sitting and doing schoolwork? Instead of playing with bubbles in the sink, or having teddy bear tea parties, or coaxing you into building forts with the furniture and bedsheets? I know that all these activities can be part of a HS day, but I can't imagine getting my child to switch gears and work on something that's not necessarily fun when she's accustomed to all play all the time.

Also, does anyone homeschool an only child? Is it easier with multiple children, so that they follow each other's cues?

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Every family is different as to how they order their day. Usually, when parents first start homeschooling, they do a more rigid "school at home" model, with set aside hours for desk work. Typically, the longer a family homeschools, the more relaxed they become about "doing school," because they realize learning goes on all the time. But not always--some families find comfort in a rigid routine. They might start with the Pledge or a prayer or a bell, something that announces schooltime. It is no more complicated than announcing lunchtime or naptime.

Our family has a mix. Morning is set aside for book work, which is the basics of math, reading, spelling, grammar, theology, and science. Literature and history is done in the afternoon and as bedtime stories, and afternoons are set aside for clubs, swimming, jiujitsu, playmates, games, and free time (which must involve using their brains).

Schooltime means cuddling with Mommy, having a big sibling give a younger sibling one-on-one attention, puzzles, science experiments...in other words, it is fun. And once you have a daily routine set up, everyone knows what to expect.

I think it would be so cool to just have one child to homeschool. My mom and her sisters, who all are down to their last kid at home, say it is a blast, and their last children are geniuses, so it is working out well for them. But having lots of kids is also nice, because the big kids help teachthe little ones, and the best way to learn something well is to have to teach it to someone else.

Here's a question I've had for a long time. How do you "train" your child to think of time at home, with you, as school time? If you've been a SAHM with your child, and you decide it's time for school, how do you make the kid understand that there is time in the day (a significant chunk of the day) when they need to be sitting and doing schoolwork? Instead of playing with bubbles in the sink, or having teddy bear tea parties, or coaxing you into building forts with the furniture and bedsheets? I know that all these activities can be part of a HS day, but I can't imagine getting my child to switch gears and work on something that's not necessarily fun when she's accustomed to all play all the time.

Also, does anyone homeschool an only child? Is it easier with multiple children, so that they follow each other's cues?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of one woman who homeschools who's not a religious freak. However, her reason for homeschooling is odd, as she wishes to protect her daughter socially b/c she's extremely shy.

I find that odd, quite frankly. How does a shy child benefit from being pulled out the mainstream? I realize there are some interesting, enriching activities in which homeschoolers can participate. But usually for these activities, homeschoolers are surrounded by the same group.

I have no doubt that the non-religious homeschooling mom is smart. She runs a home business and appears sane. But I still question her main reason for doing this.

Furthermore, while I, as an educator, recognize there are different teaching styles and methods, I do question whether or not these homeschooling parents recognize that being trained in strategies helps many students master content and skills. While reading for pleasure is a goal, so is critical analysis. How many "regular" parents are able to create (or find for that matter) wonderful graphic organizers specifically created to help students analyze theme? There is so much junk out there that unless someone is trained in content and content-specific methods, I doubt s/he can claim to be an expert.

just my 2 cents

Is this part tongue-in-cheek?

No

But obviously you're no educator, or you'd value different strategies, especially those used with kids who are visual learners. Some are awful, but I'm certain that many homeschooling parents wouldn't notice the difference. Nor do most have the background to teach upper level courses. So where do kids go? to public for a course or two (happens at my school) and to the internet

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Why the negative assumptions? Who knows kids more than their parents? Do you honestly believe parents can't figure out how their kids learn best?

I admire educators immensely. I once was one, and I loved my job. Teaching my own children is completely different than teaching a classroom. Totally different skill set. The tutorial model of education is timeless and intimate. Assessments can be done through conversations, rather than multiple choice. When kids never experience the institutional model of education, learning is very organic, just like when a toddler learns to talk.

And what is wrong with seeking out the resources your child needs to pursue the knowledge s/he desires? That is not a sign of failure on the parents' part--it is a sign of success. That is he beauty of homeschooling: flexibility, only using what works.

There's a good reason homeschooling grows in popularity every year. It is awesome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former elementary ed teacher here. I HS because I have seen first hand the poor quality of teachers in the public schools. There are some gems out there, but overwhelmingly the caliber of educators at the primary level gives me pause. I'm in farfax city, VA.

There is a huge HS network in the area and resources and support is very accessible.

How do you even know YOU were that good?

That's not relevant to her situation now. Regardless of whether she was good or not before, she can be good now because she's not a slave to relentless standardized testing, she doesn't have 20+ kids to deal with (unless she's a Duggar), behaviors to manage, parents to appease, etc.
We don't homeschool, btw.

I don't know if I was "that good". However, I do know that I'm a better educator to my 2 children than I was when I had a classroom of 26 kids. I also have the opportunity to dedicate 100% of my school time to my kids and not the peripherals that the PP mentions. There are enough blatantly incompetent teachers out there that keep me from sending my kids to public schools. If we had the money to send our kids to the best private school money could buy, then I would not HS.

BTW, we are not religious...unless attending church on Easter and Christmas counts. I know quite a few HS parents who are pretty progressive/liberal; however they are truly open minded people and do not berate and degrade religious families like many posters who frequent this board.

Anonymous wrote:only political or religious zealots would home school in DC area.

Loudoun County.

OP here. I appreciate all the thoughtful replies. I agree with many PPs that negative socialization, teasing, bullying, quality of education, etc can all be good reasons for homeschooling. It really scares me when I see the level of bullying that goes on now at such a young age. Yes, it happened when I was in school eons ago but now it just seems so intense and so MEAN. There are those that will say that's life and you need to learn how to deal with it. A child's self-esteem is so fragile during these years. You can go to the best schools in the country and still feel inadequate and unsafe if you are bullied. Many teachers are overwhelmed with so many students. How many fall through the cracks? Aaarrgh....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of one woman who homeschools who's not a religious freak. However, her reason for homeschooling is odd, as she wishes to protect her daughter socially b/c she's extremely shy.

I find that odd, quite frankly. How does a shy child benefit from being pulled out the mainstream? I realize there are some interesting, enriching activities in which homeschoolers can participate. But usually for these activities, homeschoolers are surrounded by the same group.

I have no doubt that the non-religious homeschooling mom is smart. She runs a home business and appears sane. But I still question her main reason for doing this.

Furthermore, while I, as an educator, recognize there are different teaching styles and methods, I do question whether or not these homeschooling parents recognize that being trained in strategies helps many students master content and skills. While reading for pleasure is a goal, so is critical analysis. How many "regular" parents are able to create (or find for that matter) wonderful graphic organizers specifically created to help students analyze theme? There is so much junk out there that unless someone is trained in content and content-specific methods, I doubt s/he can claim to be an expert.

just my 2 cents

Is this part tongue-in-cheek?

No

But obviously you're no educator, or you'd value different strategies, especially those used with kids who are visual learners. Some are awful, but I'm certain that many homeschooling parents wouldn't notice the difference. Nor do most have the background to teach upper level courses. So where do kids go? to public for a course or two (happens at my school) and to the internet

From the thread about the murder-suicide:

http://wusa9.com/news/article/161543/77/Kensington-Murder-Suicide-Was-Dad-Next-On-Hit-List

Never ceases to amaze me when institutionally-schooled parents cluck over homeschooling kids missing out on "socialization.". It is precisely because of the NEGATIVE "socialization" that many of us homeschool.

I have a couple of friends who home-school their kids. In one case, it's because they live in LA and apparently the public schools there are atrocious. In the other case, it's a religious thing. I would never home-school, but in their cases I'm not too concerned because I was in honors high school classes with both of them and both are smart enough to be reasonably good teachers. (the one friend - a former teacher with a Masters - has her veterinarian husband teach science.) I am very against uneducated, not-that-bright people home-schooling their kids, though. I feel like that just sets the kids up to be downwardly mobile from their parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former elementary ed teacher here. I HS because I have seen first hand the poor quality of teachers in the public schools. There are some gems out there, but overwhelmingly the caliber of educators at the primary level gives me pause. I'm in farfax city, VA.

There is a huge HS network in the area and resources and support is very accessible.

How do you even know YOU were that good?

That's not relevant to her situation now. Regardless of whether she was good or not before, she can be good now because she's not a slave to relentless standardized testing, she doesn't have 20+ kids to deal with (unless she's a Duggar), behaviors to manage, parents to appease, etc.
We don't homeschool, btw.

It's absolutely relevant. As an example, my SIL homeschools (or says that she homeschools) her 6 kids. She barely got through high school herself and from what I can tell, the kids are in horrible shape. They picked up on her lack of ambition and interest in education. A disaster.

Why does SIL HS if she is disinterested in education? Why doesn't she send the kids to public school?

Because it's full of godless socialists.

The assumption here seems to be that devoutly religious homeschooling parents can't do a good job with their kids' education. Why is that?

However, her reason for homeschooling is odd, as she wishes to protect her daughter socially b/c she's extremely shy.

I find that odd, quite frankly. How does a shy child benefit from being pulled out the mainstream? I realize there are some interesting, enriching activities in which homeschoolers can participate. But usually for these activities, homeschoolers are surrounded by the same group.

My brother has spina bifida. While his physical problems were largely fixed with a series of surgeries, he has a host of learning disabilities and a quirky demeanor. He is physically awkward, and when you first meet him, you assume he is mentally limited, due to his mannerisms and manner of speech.

Actually, he is quite brilliant, and an extraordinarily gifted musician and composer. He is also gregarious, funny, loving, and hardworking.

My mother homeschooled him through high school. He is now attending college with a double major in music and computer science. His learning disabilities make his academic life a challenge, but in the subjects that he loves, he sails through effortlessly. And he has great friends from the music scene.

If he had gone to school, he would have been mercilessly teased and tormented and misunderstood. He would have been defined by his limitations, rather than seen as a whole person.

My mom gave him the greatest gift by teaching him at home: the freedom to be himself. He did not have to be beaten up, shunned, or teased to grow up. Those trials would have gotten in the way of his future.

He was never isolated or "out of the mainstream." He was able to be MORE mainstream because he was not shoved into some category by his same-age classmates or labeled by his well-meaning teachers. He was able to just be himself.

Anonymous wrote:I know of one woman who homeschools who's not a religious freak. However, her reason for homeschooling is odd, as she wishes to protect her daughter socially b/c she's extremely shy.

I find that odd, quite frankly. How does a shy child benefit from being pulled out the mainstream? I realize there are some interesting, enriching activities in which homeschoolers can participate. But usually for these activities, homeschoolers are surrounded by the same group.

I have no doubt that the non-religious homeschooling mom is smart. She runs a home business and appears sane. But I still question her main reason for doing this.

Furthermore, while I, as an educator, recognize there are different teaching styles and methods, I do question whether or not these homeschooling parents recognize that being trained in strategies helps many students master content and skills. While reading for pleasure is a goal, so is critical analysis. How many "regular" parents are able to create (or find for that matter) wonderful graphic organizers specifically created to help students analyze theme? There is so much junk out there that unless someone is trained in content and content-specific methods, I doubt s/he can claim to be an expert.

just my 2 cents

Is this part tongue-in-cheek?

I know of one woman who homeschools who's not a religious freak. However, her reason for homeschooling is odd, as she wishes to protect her daughter socially b/c she's extremely shy.

I find that odd, quite frankly. How does a shy child benefit from being pulled out the mainstream? I realize there are some interesting, enriching activities in which homeschoolers can participate. But usually for these activities, homeschoolers are surrounded by the same group.

I have no doubt that the non-religious homeschooling mom is smart. She runs a home business and appears sane. But I still question her main reason for doing this.

Furthermore, while I, as an educator, recognize there are different teaching styles and methods, I do question whether or not these homeschooling parents recognize that being trained in strategies helps many students master content and skills. While reading for pleasure is a goal, so is critical analysis. How many "regular" parents are able to create (or find for that matter) wonderful graphic organizers specifically created to help students analyze theme? There is so much junk out there that unless someone is trained in content and content-specific methods, I doubt s/he can claim to be an expert.

just my 2 cents

Anonymous wrote:Because if I didn't I would have to go back to work!!!

(I admit it- I'm a troll)

I know someone like this. I don't know what the excuse will be when the kids turn 18.