OLTL Discussion Group

Topic: Home-schooling opinions, please

Hi.

I usually lurk here, but today I have a question. I have a 4 year old daughter, Rachel.

I'm wondering about home-schooling for her.

There are two houses across the street from me. One has 2 kids and they love going to school. The other has 5 kids and the mother does home-schooling. She and the kids love that.

I'm considering home-schooling for Rachel, but I'm concerned about her learning socialization skills.

The home-schooling family across the street has the kids involved in all sorts of community activities, but there is nothing like the group skills learned in the classroom.

I still have time to decide. Do any of you have any experience with home-schooling? The pros and cons?

Thanks for any help.

I say, go for it, I wish I would have.  My boss's kids are being home schooled and are way ahead of their peers, academic wise and socially.  They are involved in other home school groups, so they get lots of socialization.

I lost faith in our public school system a long time ago.  It might be different in other places, but down here, things suck.  I think I would encourage my kid's to home school my grandkids, maybe by the time I retire, I can help them.

I have posted here occasionally so I hope no one minds if I respond to this topic.

I homeschooled my children for 4 years.  We were a part of a small homeschool group that went on field trips together, met at each other's homes for a special class or two, and even formed a small choir that actually taught the children to sing in parts. 

I always chuckle when I read that children need "socialization skills".  Children socialize every single day...with siblings, friends, parents, grandparents.  Most homeschooled children are well behaved and have a close relationship with their parents and know how to communicate well with adults as well as other kids.  If a child is shy, he will be shy no matter how you school him.

There is a vast array of homeschool supplies and teaching materials out there that make teaching, especially the k-3rd grades very easy.  You will need to see what your state requirements are however.

If you don't want to send your little one to school yet then don't.  I would not trade those years I homeschooled for anything in the world.  I really really got to know my children and we have a lot of happy memories from those years.  

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Thank you. The woman across the street who home-schools, has her kids in all sorts of activities. I watch them play with the other neighborhood kids and they all seem to have the skills. I have a year to decide...-eom Marcia

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Posted by: Grandma b@s
Date posted: Fri May 9 3:35:55 2008
Message:

I know what your feeling.  You are feeling that seperation anxiety from your little girl.  I so remember when I had to send my kids off to school for the first time.  My youngest daughter's birthday is at the end of August.  Our schools here STARTed in the middle of August.  She had never been apart from me and she was ready to go to school but I wasn't ready for her to go.  I was almost tempted to homeschool her as well.  I mentioned her birthday because she was only 4 (a couple weeks before her birthday) when she started kindergarten.  I didn't want to let her go, but I knew that it would be better for her.  I'm just NOT a teacher.  I don't have the patience to be a teacher.  I'm smart and I KNOW stuff, just can't comprehend why others just don't KNOW it as well.  I explain it the way I know it, but they don't get it.   She's 12 now, almost a teenager and in 7th grade.  Although she is one of the youngest, she still makes high grades and is in advanced classes.  I could have never taught her that. 

 

And my baby, because of a speech delay, started school at THREE.  When he started, he still was not potty trained (how do you communicate with a child that can't talk?)..  I knew I couldn't teach him and they had a special program at school that COULD.    When he started, he could barely say 5 words and you could barely understand them.  I knew HE could hear and understand and he was very smart.  He's 10 now and in 4th grade.  He has had to take speech classes even after he started school but they have gone as far as they can with his speech.  He still has a problem with some sounds but it's something they can't teach.  They say it is the way his mouth is formed and the only thing that would correct that is surgery.  He is making up for all the years he didn't talk though and is quite the jabbermouth.  Oh yeah, he's on the honor roll.   He's been playing computer games (for teens and adults) since he was 3 and is pretty good on the computer.  He can kick his older brother on some games.  He wants to be a video game designer when he gets older and I'll bet he could do it.    I could have never taught him THAT either. 

 

One more thing... I dreaded when they had to go to school at first but NOW, I dread when school lets OUT! 

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I'm sorry. This doesn't seem to be about my issue of home-schooling. Children with special needs benefit from programs provided at the schools. Rachel has no special needs at this time. You really don't know how I'm feeling. Separation is not an issue for me, I'm trying to make the best plan for her future. Thank you for your input. -eom Marcia.

You did ask for opinions. Our opinions aren't necessarily going to benefit you because we don't know you or your child. While one child can thrive and truly benefit in either setting, there are others who do not. I think it would be best to ask the advice of someone who knows your child and can offer suggestions on certain cirriculum. I wouldn't pretend to know what your daughter needs, you are the best judge for that. Just remember, you don't have to stick with one or the other, you can always change, even in the middle of the year. If you feel comfortable being your child's teacher, then give it a try. If it's something that doesn't fit your lifestyle or her learning style, you can change. No reason for rigidity. Personally, I'd think that teaching my pretend child the contents of first grade would be a lot easier than, say 8th grade. It will probably be a learning process for both of you. I've always heard pro and cons about homeschooling, but I've never heard anything about how colleges feel or look at homeschooling. I know colleges depend a lot upon tests, so that's easily approached. But I've also heard that colleges like to see participation in sports and academic clubs. In the end, it's just an opinion, not an answer. You'll have to decide. eom/Jenny

Marcia, my son is the only one that had special needs (speech). I added him to my OPINION because I had to send him to school at AGE THREE. That was murder for me because he is my BABY...and for sure the last baby I'll ever have. Besides the speech, he's learned so much more that I never could have taught him at home. He could READ at age 3, but he could not communicate. He's not in a special school, he's in regular school with regular kids and is more ADVANCED BECAUSE he went to school so early. I say advanced, because it wasn't till 3rd grade till he even started getting CHALLENGED. .... You're right, I don't KNOW you.. you posted on a board where NO ONE knows you, asking for opinions on homeschooling VS regular school. I just shared my opinion and experience. I have considered homeschooling lots of times but I KNOW that my kids (all SEVEN of them) are and have learned so much more than I could teach them at home. I just thought you might have the seperation anxiety because I DID. I just know too that I don't have the organization skills, OR the patience OR the training to homeschool. /Gma b@s

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Posted by: Valerie
Date posted: Thu May 8 23:18:06 2008
Message:
Children need to be with other children and learn how to be away from their parents and develop relationships outside the home.  As a person who works in a school enviroment, I don't believe in home schooling.  Activities outside of school are wonderful, and you can and should do them with your child anyway, but having a child adapt to other adults as educators, role models and authority figures as well as developing a respect for these adults and also for other children are life experiences I truly believe are helpful in developing a well-rounded foundation for their future.  Ultimately, you need to examine your own situation and your childs needs and make a decision that is right for your family. Good luck.

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Thank you. Those are the reasons I'm leaning towards public schooling. -eom Marcia

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Posted by: Shirla
Date posted: Thu May 8 15:27:44 2008
Message:

WELCOME, and DON'T DO IT!

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I still need to think about it, I guess. -eom Marcia

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Posted by: Gail M
Date posted: Thu May 8 12:38:55 2008
Message:

First of all, WELCOME Marcia!    Come out and play with us any time!    

Re the home schooling, my best friend home-schooled her two children.    Her son was born very prematurely and has autism, cerebral palsy, etc.    She is a teacher and she had him in special needs school until it just got too much for them to handle and he HATED it.    So she decided to home school and her daughter chose to join in.    I was SO upset that her daughter was being home-schooled because I worried to death about her socialization skills.    What I didn't know is that there a LOT of activities that they still participate in with other home-schooled students.    Plus she took riding lessons, swam at a local pool and socialized all summer.    She is one of the most well-adjusted, sweetest people I've ever known.     She has been a college student for three years now, is a model, has a boyfriend of about a year, and is very assertive.    Kind, but isn't going to take any cwap from anyone.    ;-)

It is, of course, your decision (and a big one.)     I'm sure there are great pros and cons to both sides.    For myself, I would choose not to home school, but there are cases where it works wonderfully well, so just thought I'd share one.

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Thanks for sharing that story. I see benefits both ways. That's why I'm torn. -eom Marcia.

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Posted by: trkdrvrsqueen
Date posted: Thu May 8 12:19:04 2008
Message:
There's nothing like getting use to the real world, as in going to school!! I would not want to set my children apart by home schooling them. I think they miss out on the best (& the worst) when home schooled. I would not want my children to miss out on the experience of school days! IMO home schooling is for when there no other options!

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Thank you. That's why I'm torn. -eom Marcia

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Posted by: bink
Date posted: Thu May 8 11:43:22 2008
Message:

My opinion is, don't do it.

I know people who do and I've seen the results (kids).  I can go into specifics if you want to go into it in e-mail.

Long story short: Just don't do it.

e-mail inside

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inside

Thank you. I might email later, -eom Marcia

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