Thinking of home schooling?

Question

Can any one tell me how it really is/ I have a 14 year old in year 10 who hates school he does have MLD but will fail GCSE,s this is my one worry are GCSE,s important? if i home school could he still go to college?

I also have a 9 year old girl with Downs syndrome she doesnt really learn a thing at school and would benifit more from life skills BUT i find the break from her nice

Then i have a child due to start secondty education next year he is very bright but refuses to take the 11+ there is only one local school i would allow him to go to

If he fails to get in was thinking of home educating him just worried i may take away any future chance of uni though

Please give me honest advice how you find it how you cope what activities you do how to encourage learning etc I can also be contacted by email

this is a huge step and i want to make sure 100% what i am doing is right for my kids

Answer 1

I am 17 and I have been home-schooled since I was 5. Firstly I would like to say that taking kids out of school doesn't deprive them of social interaction. I used to go to girl guides and I made tons of friends there. Now I have badminton classes every week where I meet people and socialize. My 4 siblings are home-schooled with me and they have various thing they do during the week too, ie: horse riding, brownies, dance class, amatuer dramatics, etc.

Home schooling gives you the chance to focus on your childs individual needs and interests. However, this undertaking should not be taken lightly. It does take work and, although there is tons of software out there to help your children, you must remember that YOU are there teacher. My parents just bought us kids a bunch of books and software, then expected us to motivate ourselves to learn. Now I think I am a bit behind because I didn't have the self discipline to nuckle down to work without guidence and supervision. Having said that, my parents are very loving and nurturing, they just didn't realize I needed help.

About GCSEs. They are helpfull, but there are many college courses which don't require them. Also, it depends on what sort of carreer your child wants. I want to work with animals and the most important thing in that field is experience. That's why I volunteer at my local nature reserves.

Answer 2

i was school at home did me no harm.got to go got to sign on.

Answer 3

Here's a previous discussion on hs'ing and college's

http://nz.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

Yes homeschooling is definately an option.  It can be stressful at times but it can be wonderful too.   I have 2 kids with LD.    The break of school would be nice at times but I know that they would fall between the cracks and not learn anything.  

I can teach them so much more at home, one on one.   It may be slow but at least they learn.   We started over 4 years ago and would change it for the world.

Answer 4

The only problems you need to think about is the discipline of actually learning in an academic environment, if your youngest doesn't go through the process he may struggle to fit in with the education system at a higher level..  As for the eleven+ if he is bright then he will either pass or will go through on appeal.  Having said that it is important to realise it is better to be top of your class than to struggle at the bottom of a harder group.  GCSEs have some importance and for any job a grade for English and maths however low is a good thing to show that you have had an education.  There are modern apprenticeships and more hands on training schemes available.  If you are in Bucks contact the Amersham or Aylesbury colleges for their advise, or if not your local colleges.  It is easier to learn with your peers at this age than when they were younger, life skills and social skills are very important.  

Your daughter will learn more life and social skills at school than you can teach her at home, interaction with others is so important for her.

Your children obviously have a very caring mum, but their educational needs at this age and with their special needs are better dealt with by the proffessionals. You do the loving and the caring which you are clearly good at, don't make things hard for yourself at home by trying to be all things to them all. It is a big world out there and they need that experience to be able to cope on their own.

Go and talk to their teachers and ask for their help to understand what the best route for you to take is.

Answer 5

i was 14 when i was pulled out of public school. its really bad. i was having a real hard time. i hated it so much i eventually fell into a depression over it!! i was really really not living how a 14 year old should have been living. i was pulled out and started to homeschool. i LOVE it! its the best thing ever. i can work at my own pace, without any distractions like public school has. i would say yes pull your daughter out as fast as you can because i know what she is going through and the longer you keep her in the more she is going to fall. i promise you homeschooling is great! my school is called agora cyber charter school and it is through k12. its an online learning program which means you will not need to actually teach her work. we have actual teachers online. and they ship you all the supplies you need. brand new hp computer with fax/printer microscope books, etc. its really great! hope you really take what i say into consideration!

Answer 6

Home schooling is an option. Like any other options ... It has its advantages and disadvantages.

on the + side if you can take the time to teach your child and make your teaching interesting (You adapt to a style he can relate to) Then it can work. He gets a better chance to spend more time on topics he might find hard to cope with in a classroom.

On th - side ... Your child may well simply see you as mum! Not take you seriously as a teacher. In this case you may find  all good intentions go out off the window if he decides he doesn't want to do one thing or another. Finally he doesn't get the motivation he would get in a classroom and misses out on socialisation.

I'm basing my remarks on a neighbour's children. She gave up after a few weeks and found herself facing up to the hard task of asking the school to take them back.

I do know home schooling works for some if! It doesn't mean it is fool proof.

No one can tell you what to do when it comes to your children educations but think abut it carefully before you decide one way or another.

Best wishes