Need some empowering feedback on homeschooling?

Question

we have decided to homeschool my 5 and 10 y.o. this coming school year. this is a decision we feel is a great decision, but just to give us that extra boost, would you guys mind shouting out what you love about it? i'm going to print these answers, and every time i get scared, i'm going to read them. i really appreciate it! also, any good books on homeschooling topics that i can read over the summer to help me prepare?

btw...we are spiritual people, but i am looking more for books that don't focus solely on Christian curriculum or beliefs for homeschooling, but if your reason for homeschooling is Christian based, i would still love to hear your answers!

Answer 1

you should learn how to teach....at least do a part time course.

Answer 2

Homeschooling can be a wonderful lifestyle.  There are so many opportunities available in the world outside of the classroom for children to learn and develop.  

You can do what you want, when you want and focus on whatever is best for your family.  Create an enriched environment in which your children will thrive and you will enjoy the glory of what homeschooling can be.

I suggest you read "The Teenage Liberation Handbook" by Grace Llewelyn.  Although it's written for teens, it is great for any new homeschooling parent.  "Better Late Than Early" by the Moores is good too.

I've been unschooling my kids for 16 years and have no regrets.  They have grown into amazing young adults with such incredible skills and knowledge, everyday they amaze me.  It can be done with great results.  

Best of luck to you :D

Answer 3

If you get discouraged and need encouragement, come on back to Y!A and we will let you know that you are not alone in this journey.

Join a Yahoo support group.  

Join a local support group.

Make sure your husband is committed to this.    He will be your number one supporter when things get ...rough.  (Yea, this is life and everything has rough spots..even homeschool.)

What I love about homeschool?

I LEARN AND I LOVE LEARNING!

Answer 4

I've homeschooled my 10yo since he was 6, and I've got to say it's one of the best decisions we could have made.  It's not right for everyone, of course, but it's been wonderful.

The first year, go easy on them and on yourself.  Homeschooling is a transition - a good transition, but still a transition.  Allow yourself and the kids to learn *how* to homeschool.  Don't get caught up in having to do every little thing, or finish every page of the book - instead, help your kids learn how to love to learn.  Surround them with good books, fun science and craft ideas and kits, and give them time to explore.  Help them - and yourself - understand that learning doesn't only take place from a workbook :)  (These are all things that I wish someone had told me when we started - it would have saved a lot of stress for both of us!)

You'll likely find that you're in awe of your kids in some way each day; look for that and savor it.  The things they learn and retain, ideas they come up with, interests that they show - these are all things that will bring joy.  Take the time to see that in them, it's something that can fall by the wayside if you let busyness get in the way.

Remember that not every day will be a rose garden, but that's ok.  Overall, your kids will grow in ways that you never would have thought of, and so will you.  There will be days when the kids complain, or things just don't go right, but those days won't be the majority.  Just keep your eyes on what matters, and keep some Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer tea on hand :)  I promise, it works wonders!

Write down your goals for homeschooling and keep them somewhere you can see them.  Why did you choose to homeschool your kids?  What are you hoping for them to gain?  With all the options open to you, and especially during the transition of the first year, having your goals readily available is a great morale booster and guide.

We chose to homeschool because my son falls outside the demographic of what our local schools can offer; he has a 5-year range between his subjects (3-5 years ahead in science and math, at grade level or just below in spelling and language arts, in between with history, writing, and languages).  We continue to homeschool because he thrives with it, and because I love having the ability to teach and guide him.  Every day isn't peachy, and there are days that one or the other of us is grumpy or out of sorts, but overall I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I get to learn along with him, to help him become who he's supposed to be...I get to help him train for his future and to be who he is in the present.  I have a great relationship with him, as does his dad, and we're the ones he turns to with problems, questions, and joys.  I wouldn't trade that for the world.

Homeschooling books:

Homeschooling the Early Years (by Linda Dobson, I think?)

Homeschooling the Middle Years (same series)

The Ultimate Homeschool Handbook by Debra Bell

Curriculum...that's hard to recommend, as I don't know the needs of your kids.  Here's what we've had good results with:

Lapbooks (Hands of a Child, mostly)

Math U See

Apologia Science

The library - seriously, make good friends with your childrens' librarians :)

Hope that helps!

Answer 5

As far as books to read, go to the library and look in the 371 section, you'll find tons of books about homeschooling if your library is decent.  Teach Your Own by John Holt. Patchwork of Days by Nancy VanLande, The Well Trained Mind. Great books to browse through.

I would also suggest attending a homeschool curriculum fair this spring/summer, just to see what is out there. My best move was buying used the first year - I tried out and discarded my share of stuff (still do!) but it cost me much less money than if I had bought it all brand new.

Find others of like mind. If you don't find them, start your own group.  We only found exclusively Christian homeschool groups in our area, so three families joined together and formed our own group where holding to a specific set of beliefs is not a requirement.  We have grown (not without "growing pains" at times) and are a thriving group with almost 100 kids now. Amazing!

Believe in yourself - you can do this. You will have bad days, you will threaten to put your kids on the bus, or at the curb with "free puppy" signs around their necks :) but you will endure.  The good times will outweigh the bad, and you will learn so much you'll be amazed.  

As far as curriculum we use Sonlight. It is Christian based, but I have been able to leave what I didn't like out, and the overall content is of such high quality that I am willing to pick thru to get to it.  Please remember, you do not have to check every box, the idea of homeschooling is to customize to meet your children's needs.

Most of all, spend time together - travel, field trips. beach trips (I'm from NJ :) go to museums at 2 PM when the school buses are leaving and you have the place all to yourself. Enjoy life!

Answer 6

Our reasons for homeschooling:

      1. We could give our son a better education

      2. We would spend less money

      3. It would be less frustrating then re-teaching him or teaching him a simpler way

        

What I love about homeschooling?

    1. His morning reading can be with me snuggling in bed  before breakfast.

    2. He chooses what he wants to learn

    3. We can change curriculum as it suits us. and we have to a lot

    4. We never wake up late / early for school or go to bed to late/ to early

    5. he can take as much time as he needs with anything

    6. He's able to participate in sports he wouldn't be able to in school

    7. He can go on vacation or visiting when ever (school comes too)

    8. Days "off" as needed (ie. no book work)

    9. It's so much easier then dealing with a teacher, & politics

    10. Depending on state no testing

The only homeschooling book I've read is "Dumbing us Down" I feel it's a must read.

Answer 7

My brother and I were home schooled for some time as was my brother.  AT first it was lonely, but soon we joined a homeschool collaborative.  We did "gym" together, and even took turns having classes at each others house.  There were about 5 families, and each mom taught what she knew best once a week. It was a great experience.  Also, I just want to mention - colleges are more accepting of homeschooling now. - My brother is going to Oxford in the fall!!  -

Answer 8

My two brothers and I were all homeschooled and it has been a great experience!  We began when my first brother and I were in the 3rd and 2nd grades, and we are now very happy and successful college students.  My other brother is ten years old and still homeschooling.  One of the best things about homeschooling for me was the freedom and flexibility to explore my interests and be involved in "real life" as opposed to being stuck in a school environment all day.  We were all very active in things like scouting, volunteering, and music.  It was also a relief to be able to grow up away from the constant judgement and peer pressure of a school.  I was able to develope a strong sense of who I was that has stayed with me into my young adult life.

Have you looked into any homeschool support/social groups in your area?  They can be a wonderful resource for homeschooling kids and parents.  If by any chance you happen to live around Fort Worth, TX, I could give you a lot more info.

My mom would know a lot more about homeschooling books than me, but I'd suggest looking at your local library.  A lot of libraries these days carry homeschool literature, and many families I know (mine included) homeschool partly, or almost entirely with books and media from the library.

I'm sure you're going to enjoy the experience!

Answer 9

If you DID NOT put "But i am looking more for books that don't focus solely on Christian curriculum or beliefs" then I would feel HORRIBLE for your children and what you would do to them...

But since you are intelligent enough YOURSELF to understand that you need to teach a well rounded curriculum, not one that is narrowly focused on only ONE part of a VERY VERY large world, then I think you will do a great job and end up with children that will be able to function in society, unlike a LOT of 'whack-job' parents that think that 'traditional' education is the work of the devil or some nonsense like that. THEIR kids end up being the ones that we hear about on some compound, waiting for the race war to begin...

Homeschooling is a VERY good option considering the decaying curriculum in general and either indoctrination into a teacher’s way of thinking or the complete and utter apathy of the teachers that are too afraid of saying something that will get them sued so they end up neutered and ineffectual.

Homeschooling allows you to open up whole new worlds of knowledge that your children would never have even heard about in a traditional school setting.

You can keep current with advances in science, history, technology, health, exc. with extensive use of the internet and the various History and Discovery Channels and not be limited to using a text book so old that it practically refers to the civil-rights movement as “Trouble Ahead”. <-Family Guy Quote.

You can put the emphasis back on creativity, art, music, language, physical activities…

You have malleable minds that have the ability to absorb 100X more information then is provided at a public school!

PLEASE don’t neglect social skills though… They NEED large periods of peer-interaction to come out mentally balanced and socially adept adults… PLEASE don’t forget that!! If you keep them too sequestered before college… They tend to go nothing short of fu*king NUTS when they are out on their own at University… I’m not exaggerating… Let them have some fun and learn their personal boundaries BEFORE they are let loose under their own control!

But as long as your goal is the expansion of knowledge for the betterment of your children then *HIGH FIVE SISTER!*

Congratz on doing the best you can for your children’s educational future!

Answer 10

Im 15 and ive been home-educated since prep.

I chose to do it and my parents never forced me, i never liked school and tried going several time.

Ive never regretted home-schooling, the only thing that annoys me at times is not getting to see my friends as much because they get busy with school.

But i still do lots of after school activities and work so its all worked out well

Best of luck to you and your family xo

And we dont follow a certain curriculum, my parents got to the bookshop and do the books that the schools are doing so if i do ever decide to go to school i'll be upto the same stuff they are doing