Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

.


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.

So b/c I like to look at the moon and the stars, I'm now an expert who should apply for a job at NASA?

You may have been a teacher at one point, PP, but most homeschooling parents have no expertise in this area. I'm surprised - that as an EDUCATOR - you can't understand why that's such an important factor.

My friend, a former elementary teacher with a concentration in SPED, homeschools her 4 autistic children. I respect her decision. However, if she had a degree in architecture, I'd question her motives.

Don't we all learn on the fly? We start reading about pregnancy a few months before while TTC then we take birthing classes and read books on birth a few weeks before the due date, then when we're sleep training we read about it, we read about Bfeeding while trying to latch the baby, we read about every milestone when it's about to happen. Why not learn about how our kids learn while trying to figure out what works best for them? What's the difference?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

.


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.

So b/c I like to look at the moon and the stars, I'm now an expert who should apply for a job at NASA?

You may have been a teacher at one point, PP, but most homeschooling parents have no expertise in this area. I'm surprised - that as an EDUCATOR - you can't understand why that's such an important factor.

My friend, a former elementary teacher with a concentration in SPED, homeschools her 4 autistic children. I respect her decision. However, if she had a degree in architecture, I'd question her motives.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Spina bifida is not the same as seeming shy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was homeschooled for awhile. Hated it with a passion. My parents certainly thought they knew what education would be best for me but they were wrong. I loved being in school. One of my sibs loved being homeschooled, the other was indifferent.

.

Why did your parents homeschool? What about school did you prefer? Did they pull you of of school to homeschool you?

We moved to a fairly remote area for a couple years and my parents decided to homeschool us rather than living nearer to the closest city and schools. There were schools in our area but they required long commutes so they decided given we were only going to be living there for a couple years they would homeschool us. What I missed was time away from my parents and family. I needed independence. I missed the hustle and bustle of a classroom, group work and having lots of friends all around. I missed the routines of school, the assemblies, recess etc... I was a very social kid and I hated being home all day with my family. We did activities but as a family and there were kids around but they were all in school during the day. Also because they were all together in school I was in the dark as to who they talked about, and what they were doing. I missed being on school sports teams and all the other teams and clubs. I had been in public school up until then, after homeschooling I went to private for a couple years then back to public for my last couple years of high school. I was homeschooled for grades 6 and 7.

Anonymous wrote:

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:

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

.


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:Actually, there are a lot of secular homeschoolers in this area. I've been homeschooling here for several years now and the majority of homeschoolers I meet seem to be motivated by quality of education rather than religious or political ideology. I'm in Silver Spring.

Secular? Hardly. Not from my experience. All HS I know belong to religious groups. This includes my SIL who is a Southern Baptist and moved her family from NOVA to Lynchberg, VA, (her home town). In her case, it's more about running away from the secular world rather than being motivated by quality of education. The kids sometimes stay with us and I watch them study, I do not see much rigor in their curriculum. I suspect that the kids are behind as compared to students in Fairfax County. SIL was a mediocre college student and she could not hold down a job. She quit the "corporate world" when she became pregnant with first child. I hardly think this qualifies her to be a teacher.

.


Why would faithful religious families feel unwelcome in public schools, I wonder?