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Jul 27 2013
Are mine valid reasons for homeschooling?
Community Question is a category inspired by you. Here and there readers write in with questions that are better served by the varied, experiential knowledge of those who read and contribute in the comments.
The following question is from Colleen.
"I am considering homeschooling my son. He is entering Grade 1 in the Fall, and has finished Kindergarten at our local public school. The school is fine, and the teachers are fine, but I feel very cut off from the school. From day one I have felt as though the parents were no longer 'required'. That just does not feel right to me. Is this just me not wanting to let go?
Also, my son dreads school; he feels rushed to complete his work as he really takes his time to do a good job. This means he often misses out on play time. He has also been told on a few occasions that he is too slow at writing, cutting and colouring. I have to wonder what the purpose of education is in this case. Speed? Or is it accuracy and effort?
So, my question is, are these valid reasons for homeschooling, or am I worrying too much? Do I just need to let go. By the way, I live in Canada and do not find it is as common to homeschool up here."
Colleen is curious if you think her reasons for considering homeschooling are valid. What do you suggest?
116 Comments and 69 Replies
Jen On Saturday, July 27 at 6:26 am
Hi, I too am from Canada, and in my area Homeschooling is rare. We are pretty much alone in my community. So I understand the questioning of going against the "norm" and homeschooling. As for your "reasons", I will not judge. But I will say this…Everyone has different reasons for homeschooling, and they probably wont stay the same as time goes by. In fact, my reasons change sometimes during the week/day! lol
I would tend to decide along the lines if homeschooling is something you and your family can commit the time/energy too, then id go ahead and try it for a trail period maybe throughout the summer months and if you love it,and he loves it, go for it. Worse case, you don't and he goes back in September with the new skills he learned during the summer trial period Best case you have the time of your life!
ps. i wont get into the trials of homeschooling, the ups and downs because this site has those posts already and tons of commenters have said it in so much better words than I can. However i highly recommend that *if* you decide to try it, please check the reg/rules/required information for your area, and read those post. have a great day!
jeannine: waddlee-ah-chaa On Monday, July 29 at 9:33 am
I agree totally with Jen. One person cannot judge another person's reasons for homeschooling. Every family makes the homeschooling decision for different reasons. It is a big decision but you are the only one that knows if it is the right decision for your family and your son.
Read, read, read and research homeschooling. This will help you decide if homeschooling is something to which your family would like to commit. Best wishes for a wonderful 1st grade at home or at school!
Annette On Saturday, July 27 at 6:29 am
I live in Maryland and have also felt disconnected from school since my son started, almost like they didn't want us to know what they were teaching. My son has completed 3 yrs at public school and we will begin homeschooling this year for 3rd grade. I taught him PreK at home and I swear public school has made him dumb, sloppy and more concerned about making classmates laugh than anything else. We believe that he wasn't challenged enough, he knew enough to pass and was then ignored. From what I've read about Common Core that seems about right. My younger daughter will never know public school and we like that idea. My son used to be bright, curious and pretty intelligent, but is now only concerned with video games and making people laugh, I think that's how he made friends. I know I have a long year ahead of me, but I'm up to the challenge. So I think that if you're up to the challenge, any reason to home school is a valid one. Good luck!
Karen On Monday, July 29 at 4:25 pm
I am afraid that his concern for video games probably came from home and not from school. I also had a son like you that was a real comedian. But I would never blame the school for that, he was that way before he went to school. Maybe these parents who feel left out should get more involved in their child's classrooms. Its easy for teachers to push parents out when they feel the parents don't want to get involved. I have never seen a teacher push away parent involvement.
Steph On Tuesday, July 30 at 10:46 am
We have a child who whet to kindergarten in AA county, and left knowing less than when she started. Now she's home schooled. Do you use an umbrella, or are you going through the state?
If Annette's family is anywhere near ours, the school doesn't want you involved. No matter what we volunteered for, there was "no need at this time." We were told that a lot of parent involvement causes classroom disruption, especially for the kids who's parents can't be here. The aides took care of everything.
Amy On Wednesday, July 31 at 11:19 pm
With homeschooling your student your student to teacher ratio is small. The was ignored because the teacher needs to attend to so many children, especially the ones who need help. With homeschooling, you can give your child such individual attention where you get more done in less time. The common core is ridiculous and comparing the U.S. to other countries without using a standard is absurd. I could go on but I digress. . .except that you can google how to stop it.
I would have to disagree with Karen as your son might not have even known about many of the video games if it wasn't for the influence of kids in school. Unfortunately some of those children come from homes where the parent isn't involved and there are no limits on video games or the types of games played. With homeschooling, your children can socialize with other homeschooled children that come from parents who are like-minded and very attentive and engrossed in their child's learning and well-being.
Andi On Tuesday, August 6 at 5:29 pm
Karen, that's is one of the main reasons we homeschool. At the teacher meet and greet the K teacher was amazed that our kid had not been in Pre-K and worried how well she would do. I asked if I could help her with anything, I stay at home and have the time, she said NO. She doesn't like parents in the room, it make the kids clingy and whiny but if you want to help you can sign up for Booster Club. True story, so after giving it a try for one year and helping with the Booster Club, I decided to homeschool. So yes, there are teachers and schools that don't want parents involvement, unless it's to help raise money.
Mel On Saturday, July 27 at 7:01 am
Valid? Those are certainly valid reasons to consider homeschooling. Before our children were even old enough for school, we wanted to homeschool because we hated the idea of them spending so much of their day on a school bus. The alternative was either me driving 70 miles per day, or homeschooling. We found that many more reasons to homeschool presented themselves in the intervening years. The main thing is, will your reasons still seem valid to you on the days that educating at home is really hard?
Sherri Len On Saturday, July 27 at 5:11 pm
Mel, You hit the nail on the head with your last question. And I would add: if you are thinking about it enough to write in to a forum, then your reasons a valid for your family. God bless you as you make your decision.
Meredith Phillips On Saturday, July 27 at 7:30 am
As a teacher, I can tell you that you should NOT be feeling 'cut off' from your son's school experience. Parents, teachers, and the school admin should all be working together for the betterment of the children. Is there any way you could talk with teachers or administration at other schools in your area? You might find other places have a much different atmosphere and attitude toward parents. In the US, it is possible to transfer your child to another school/district, but I don't know what the laws in Canada say about that.
Homeschooling is a big commitment and I would hate for anyone to take on that responsibility only because they felt it was their only option. I don't know your financial situation, but private schools could also be an option (and again, my ignorance of Canadian schools might be shining through here!).
As far as speed vs. accuracy in working, there is a fine balance. Yes, teachers should want accuracy over speed, but as children develop their skills, they should also naturally be able to complete things faster. Perhaps your sons teachers can see that he really understands the concepts and ideas being presented and now they want him to work on simply completing the work in a more timely manner. There are reasons that both of those aspects of independent work are important. I would not, however, want to put pressure on a child to work faster if he or she really doesn't fully understand the concepts or directions for an assignment.
Good luck! If you decide to homeschool, it doesn't mean it has to be forever. Maybe take a year to try it out and see how it goes.
Karen E On Saturday, July 27 at 4:49 pm
I agree with Meredith, you should not feel "cut off". I am a public school teacher in the elementary school my child first attended. We were always invited, welcomed and greeted enthusiastically to be involved at the school, which is the way we still treat parents. I took it so seriously I am now a certified teacher. I find your school not being welcoming to be questionable, I personally don't know what it takes to home school, but it is worth a try.
Pat On Sunday, July 28 at 7:38 am
I am a retired public school teacher and I agree with the comments above. If you son's school does not welcome you and encourage your participation and involvement, then something is wrong. Try the home schooling. If he thrives, then keep it up. I used to be very much against home schooling, but I am becoming a big fan of it as I learn more about it and as I see the directions our public schools are taking. One reason I finally retired is because the data (test scores, graduation rates, etc) seems to be more important than if our children are learning. I have seen too many children phased and graduated to keep the numbers up.
Kris S. On Monday, July 29 at 10:23 am
I am not a school teacher and I too felt cut off from the school my son attended. It seems that those of us who aren't teachers in the system have a very different experience than the teachers do. I say go with your instincts. They are God given!
Karen C On Monday, July 29 at 4:42 pm
i would never judge anyone for homeschooling. I actually think it's great even if it's not for me. I raised 4 kids in the public school system BEFORE I became a teacher. We even moved 3 times while they were growing up. I think it's very important as a parent to get very involved with your child's teacher and their school (time permitting). I volunteered a few times a week in the classrooms and for extra curricular activities (bake sales, PTA, carnivals etc). If you want to home school I say go for it! But if you do decide to give public school another try getting more involved. Know your principal, secretaries, school counselors. Hope it all works out for you. Whatever choice you make will be great.
Leah On Saturday, July 27 at 7:31 am
Any reason that you have is valid! You are his parent and you know your child best. Give it a shot, and if it doesn't work out, he could always go back to public school.
Linda Sue On Saturday, July 27 at 8:36 am
I am more the grandmother age -for several years I've watched my young friends struggle with this decision. Not a single family has regretted the decision to commit to home school their children no matter what caused the initial decision. I agree wholeheartedly with Leah – you know your own child and from my viewpoint – we tend to give too much control to so called experts in areas like child rearing.
Melody On Saturday, July 27 at 9:58 am
Exactly whath I was going to say
Jana On Saturday, July 27 at 7:55 am
Yes, that is a very valid reason to homeschool your child. You are your child's first educator, not the school. You taught him to eat with a spoon, use the toilet, clean his room, pick up his toys, say "please" and "thank-you", and so much more. You know your child and how your child learns. You see that the school is frustrating him and they are unwilling to listen to your advice. Not all children learn at the same speed or want to do things at the same speed. It sounds like they are asking him to be careless in an effort to hurry up. Your son's speed is a burden to them. You can see this is a problem. Imagine where you'll be in five years time if he's treated this way day in and day out. Eventually, he will tire of fighting the system and do what they are asking, compromising what he is trying to achieve. Get him out of that school. You know your child. You know how your child learns. You are his first and primary teacher.
Sarah On Monday, July 29 at 9:16 am
Hit the nail on the head Jana! I am going to graduate from home school soon and fully intend to home school my own children, God willing!
Rainey On Saturday, July 27 at 8:01 am
Could you work with your son during the summer months on speeding up his work, so that maybe he will feel more comfortable with the pace when he goes back to school in September. Maybe it wouldn't be something to dread if he was more used to the pace.
Stefani On Saturday, July 27 at 8:10 am
I think this is a good idea. However, if you find that increasing his speed decreases his love of learning or creativity, I would consider homeschooling as an option again.
Robin On Saturday, July 27 at 8:06 am
Those are totally valid reasons for homeschooling. Check the local regulations first to see if you're willing to put up with government requirements and if you are then decide whether you mind being with your kids all the time. If you're happy being with your kids all the time and if you're willing to do what your local regs say, then jump in with both feet and try it out for a year. We did and it turned out great. Now homeschooling through high school.
Joan Hicks On Saturday, July 27 at 8:31 am
We home schooled our children for several years and did not regret it at all. You have very valid reasons to home school. If you have the time, I'd say go for it.
Karen Munsell On Saturday, July 27 at 8:42 am
The real question should be "Is there a valid reason not to homeschool?" Don't get me wrong, I do believe there are legitimate reasons to use the public schools but certainly not just because it would be going against the grain to homeschool. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking that you cannot teach your child best. No one cares for your child more than you! With the resources now available to homeschoolers, it is very doable. You should take another week at least and research. Read all you can about homeschooling before deciding either way, or as some others suggested just do it for a year, you can always go back. But remember this, once your child dreads learning it is hard to reverse that. one major goal or rather result df homeschooling we see is children tend to enjoy learning much more. Give it a shot.
Sara On Saturday, July 27 at 9:04 am
Oh man, your son sounds so much like me. I am a perfectionist and had a very hard time in Kindergarten learning that in life, sometimes there would be time constraints on my work. I didn't know this, but apparently my parents were brought in for questioning because I made such a fuss over coloring outside the lines one day, the teacher thought I was being abused. (By the way, totally not abused. Fairly spoiled.) But, I eventually got better. I learned to pace myself and still turn out excellent work.
All that said, he's your boy. You know him best. If you think homeschooling is right, do it. If it doesn't work out, you can always change your plan. You should always feel like you have an open line of communication with the school, and if you don't is is an important concern.
Michelle Smid On Saturday, July 27 at 9:32 am
Colleen, your decisions to home school are of course valid. You are your child's mother and you know him best. I would agree with Meredith Philips and I would echo many of her comments. I would be hesitant to pull your child out of the school system (public/private) based on one year at one school. There are so many options! Montessori? Private? He has many years of schooling ahead of him. Like Meredith said, the comment on speed could just be the teacher encouraging him to take his perfected skills to another level. Something that he will need to learn in a short time. Meredith, as a Canadian, you did not seem naive to Canadian school system. After living in both the United States and Canada, there are notable differences, but we do have both public and private and the ability to switch districts if we advocate for it.
Colleen, over all, you are going to read these comments and pay attention to the ones you want to hear most. I would encourage you to explore all your options and then pick which one you feel best for your son. I also want to point out that as he gets older, although your role as his primary teacher is that for now, outside influences will also be an excellent source of teaching as well. My personal view is that if I give my child strong foundations at home, at a young age and throughout, my child will be able to use that to think critically for whatever will come at him/her in the future. I also have my faith that plays a huge roll, in trusting that the things I teach and leaving the rest up to trusting the the Lord will ultimately watch over His child. Whether its in grade 1, grade 7 or as he goes off to live in dorms at university, he will face a variety of teaching styles, people, and yes even people who will critique things that we see as petty.
Best of luck to you as you head into this next school year with a big decision! Like the others have said, you can always re-enroll your son if whatever you choose doesn't work out!
Ashley On Saturday, July 27 at 9:34 am
We just wrapped up our first semester of homeschool. It was our trial period and I have to say that our reasons for trying it are now different than our reasons for deciding to continue it. In the beginning it was due to being unable to control our son's diet while he was at school, too long of a travel time, feeling like there were too many hours being wasted in public school, and my husband hardly seeing the kids because of his work schedule. Over the last few months we have added on more reasons. We saw how the kids were more rested and less cranky overall when they weren't hauled out of bed at 6am. There were no missteps with our diet. I taught our 4 year old daughter to read and when we pulled her out of preschool she was barely recognizing her letters. Our son has been able to skip a grade in Math, and we were able to spend more time focusing on reading with him. This was an area he was having trouble with.
You know your child better than anybody. I was always furious with people who admonished that boys will be boys and failed to see the real changes that took place in my son when he strayed from his diet. I had more than one person at school give him something he wasn't supposed have just to see if it would effect him.
I like what one above commenter wrote, that she had never met a family that made the decision to homeschool and regretted it.
Angela C On Saturday, July 27 at 9:38 am
I've been homeschooling for 11 years. Never regret if for a minute. Your reasons are valid for sure. Your child is still very young. You should not feel pressured to "let go". Your child is still at an age where he needs a great deal of guidance in many areas in his life. There will be plenty of time to get to the point where you need to let go of things. I think the fact that you are concerned about his frustrations, the speed over accuracy, and the disconnect from the school, shows that you are a good parent for homeschooling. You care and you know your child best! Being able to tailor a child's schooling to fit their personality and learning style is one of the biggest benefits to homeschooling. That is also why so many homeschoolers do so well in college and jobs. There is always time over the years to learn to speed up, or learn to work with a group, etc… By homeschooling, even for a while, you may be able to give him the start that he needs to help him be more successful in the future.
Mary Ann Potter On Saturday, July 27 at 9:38 am
Oh, these reasons are
Missy On Saturday, July 27 at 9:42 am
My youngest is just entering kindergarten this year, and I'm not sending him to public school. As a matter of fact my other three (11, 13 and 15) are also coming home. I don't care for the school district we moved to last winter as they offer no talented and gifted curriculum at any grade level and are not willing to individualize a student's plan. We are our children's most powerful advocate and must do what we feel is best for them.
Mary Ann Potter On Saturday, July 27 at 9:45 am
Oh, these reasons are MORE than valid. I taught high school English for 37 years, and I watched the schools take over parenting in increasing degrees. Neither your boy's dread nor your so-called unwillingness to let him go should be ignored. Children perceive things, and true, involved parents have the common sense to read those signals. Don't let anyone talk you out of standing on your principles. People might say that home-schooled children aren't socialized. What a lie. They may say that home-schooled children can't possibly achieve what the public schools can. Another lie. In these crazy times IT IS VITAL that parents get their kids out of the public schools. So much time is wasted in those places. Home-schooling gets rid of the garbage and concentrates on the essentials — learning, enrichment, and safety. Not many public schools can even offer that…
Kathy Second Fiddle On Saturday, July 27 at 12:31 pm
Wow! Gutsy reply. I appreciate it and agree. Though I don't have your credentials. Thanks !
LeeAnn On Saturday, July 27 at 2:14 pm
Thank you so much for your wholehearted support of homeschooling. I taught high school English for 7 years and purposefully left the classroom to homeschool my little boy. Sadly, I saw many of the same things you did.
Donna Jean On Sunday, July 28 at 1:11 pm
I agree! There is so much "filler" junk in public school now, with essentials actually squeezed out. You have a much deeper commitment to your child's learning of all areas (vocabulary, reading, speech, cognitive reasoning, problem solving, and CHARACTER – like perseverance, generosity, honesty, integrity, courage, respect, etc.) than any school teacher with many children possibly could.
I also agree with the comment about kids being less cranky. Kids don't get enough rest with the school schedules. Much better to let them get a full night's rest and then learn rather than drag them out of bed at an unnatural hour in the morning. And when they are sick you can adjust accordingly. And you can take advantage of community events & travel etc. and simply work it into the schedule without anyone's permission or consternation.
Do it. You'll be so glad (for so many reasons) you did.
Pam the Goatherd On Sunday, July 28 at 6:51 pm
Very well stated, Mary Ann!
Hannah @ Boots & Feet On Monday, July 29 at 12:39 pm
I finished my MA in secondary English, subbed for 3 years in multiple districts in the very monocultural, blue-collar region of upstate NY where we used to live, was verbally abused (racial slurs for the most part) by students, and swore that my children (interracial) would never, ever attend any of those schools. We have since moved across the country to a much more educated, diverse area, but since we have no insight into any of the schools here (I've been a stay-at-home mom for the past 2.5 years), we're struggling about what to do with our children's education.
CarrollWC On Saturday, July 27 at 9:46 am
I am not a homeschooling parent – my children went through some public and then private schools. One is dyslexic, the other has ADD.
I am commenting because of something you said in your question. You talk about your "feeling" of parents not being required and and that it doesn't "feel" right. This is NOT an attempt to minimize your feelings – that is certainly one reason we moved our children to private schools, but I want to know if you have actually addressed these feelings with the school, teachers, administrators, etc. to get an understanding of how and why you have these particular feelings.
In the end, homeschooling may be exactly the right decision for you, but I think you need more information from the school system. I hope this helps.
Pam the Goatherd On Sunday, July 28 at 7:04 pm
Twenty years ago a good friend of mine was feeling that she was being pushed out of any involvement in her children's schooling at the local public school. She had volunteered as a room parent in her three children's classrooms for about six years and was always very involved. Then she discovered that her children were getting high grades on homework assignments that were done incorrectly. When she went in to talk to the teacher she was told that because there were so many students who didn't turn in ANY homework assignments that the ones who DID turn in assignments were given As even if the answers to the questions/problems were wrong. When she went to the principal to ask that her children be graded on the quality of their work rather than the quantity she was told that she had no business telling the school how to do their job. She removed her children from the school that afternoon and began homeschooling shortly after. In the course of evaluating at what grade level she should start homeschooling her children she found that her two oldest (who were in upper elementary grades) were only able to do second grade level work! She never once regretted removing them from that environment where parents were not welcome.
Sarah B. On Saturday, July 27 at 9:50 am
I believe that if you want to homeschool and believe it is the best choice for your child/family, that is the only reason you need. The reasons you list above are perfectly valid as well. (And for what it's worth, I know multiple Canadian homeschooling families. I don't live there, but they do and love homeschooling and have found communities both online and locally.)
Faith On Saturday, July 27 at 9:50 am
If you are considering home schooling beause the public school makes you feel not needed or you don't feel welome then I think you should get to know some other parents,join PTL, get involved in your childs school in ways that would help you feel more welcome and a part of his education. I don't think home schooling is for every parent or every child..and if your afraid to let go.. or let someone else help educate your child remember "it takes a village to raise a child" in a traditional school or a home school..and you should make the choice based on what you really feel will benefit your son long term..not just as a first grader but through life.
Paulina On Sunday, July 28 at 6:53 pm
Dear Faith,
It is the parents' job to raise and educate their children. Not the village!
Penny On Sunday, July 28 at 10:46 pm
Sorry Faith, I don't think getting to know the parents will help. Those are the same parents who prefer time for themselves and away from their children. I made some comments about the curriculum and some suggestions for improvement and both of the parents snub me on a daily basis since then. And they were the 2 parents with behavior-challenged children.
Lesley On Monday, July 29 at 3:57 pm
I have no interest in my children being raised by a "village." The parents' job is to be the parents. If that means homeschooling or private school (like it does for my kids), all the better.
Niki S. On Saturday, July 27 at 9:55 am
All your reasons are valid, and shouldn't he spend his precious youth with you and your family instead of strangers who want to impose their agenda on him that probably does not line up with your values? He will get a more rounded education at home because you will teach him more than just facts, you will teach him about life skills. And, don't let family and friends bully you into keeping him in public school. They don't have your sons best interest at heart, just what they think is right because that is what is normal to them. And public school is NOT normal, its dysfunctional!
Megan On Saturday, July 27 at 10:29 pm
There are a lot of extremes in your comment. You make a lot of blanket statements–schools imposing agendas not in line with the poster's values, family and friends not having her son's best interests at heart, public school being dysfunctional. There are some schools that are in line with your suppositions, but there are many that aren't.
Lisa On Sunday, July 28 at 7:34 am
Whoa…your issues are showing! Not true at all for all public schools. This is a ridiculous overstatement and should not be taken as fact.
Laurie On Sunday, July 28 at 8:41 am
Wow, just wow. As a public school educator, I must say that I was really taken back at your comments. While I agree that public schooling is not perfect, especially in that it cannot fulfill the educational wishes of every group that wants the school to do something different (i.e. teach religion vs. don't teach religion, focus on basic skills vs focus on inquiry-based learning, etc. etc.), I would hardly call it dysfunctional. Public schools are filled with highly qualified people who have, in most cases, spent a significant amount of time and effort learning what and how to teach and who are committed to educating young people. I know that there are some bad teachers in the bunch-I have worked with some and my daughter has been taught by a few-but on the whole, the public school teachers I work with want to do the best job they can in nurturing and teaching their students.
Melissa A On Sunday, July 28 at 9:09 am
I agree with the two other responses above. My kids went to public school for a number of years and my oldest is returning again this fall. While public school is far from perfect, it sounds like you are making some sweeping generalizations about public school that is really unfair. If you want people to give you respect as a home schooler, you must give others respect as well. It is a two way street.
Jenny On Monday, July 29 at 11:20 am
I have a HUGE problem with your life skills point. I went to public school and my parents still taught me these life skills.
In fact one of the most annoying things about some people on here is that they act like you can only teach things like housekeeping, money management, and other life skills if you home school.
Not true….this stuff is taught by parents every day outside the context of school. In fact, if I home schooled, I would not even think of counting this as 'school time'.
Cortney On Saturday, July 27 at 9:59 am
I think either work with him at home to help him fine tune those skills, look for a different school that you and your son like better or embrace homeschooling.
If he is rushed to work fast then he may not get everything he needs to from public school. While it isn't talked about much, Kids can get left behind so to speak and either get put in a special class that they don't always need or struggle through school. Some kids like perfection and naturally work a bit slower than others. My daughter is this way and doing anything less then her best really upsets her to the point of tears.I'm encouraging her to do her best and as long as she does her best she can be proud of her work even if it isn't perfect in her eyes.
My reasons for homeschooling are simple: They are my kids and I want better academically than the school we have available to us in our area has to offer and as a Christian I want them to have a Christian based education. Some moms just want to spend more time with kids, others don't want to worry about shootings. Whatever your reason- if you are seriously considering homeschool that I would try it. You think he needs something different. If it doesn't work out for you then you can always put him back into public school. He is young and in my opinion the right age to give it a try.
I have a 1st grader and Kindergartener this upcoming school year and was a little worried I would mess things up and not teach them what they needed to know but my daughter (going into 1st grade) is already writing in cursive and doing 2nd grade math. She is not held back at home and her desire to do things perfectly has actually gotten her farther ahead. I found a book online that details what is taught by grade and that has really helped me to stress less and have fun with it.
Sarah C. On Tuesday, July 30 at 10:05 am
Hi Cortney,
Just wondering if you'd be willing to share the name of that book? I'm definitely interested!
Thank you!
Wilda On Saturday, July 27 at 10:00 am
Listen to you gut! Your heart, head and gut are having a fistfight! Take yourself out of it. Picture a person that you love very much, and see what advice you would give that person. If your child is missing play time, then step back. Playtime is how children relax, and afterwards then go back to task. I had a similar experience with a mean first grade teacher. She spanked 2/3 of the class! I voluntarily had my son repeat first grade. He hated school all the way through. I pushed him every day, and the day always began with tears. 16 years later he received a Bachelors degree, and I felt like I had graduated again! The defining day of his life was the day in first grade that I decided that the teacher did not know best and listened to my gut! I also had him tested at our local university, sure enough, there were learning disabilities. However, I never allowed him to be in Special Ed., because of the stigma. He spent 13 years in private school with small classrooms and plenty of structure and discipline. Fortunately, I kept all the testing records. When he went to college, they used that information to customize his education with allowances for the disabilities, i.e. help with note taking and longer testing periods.
p.s. When he came home from school each day I turned him loose to play. There was no way he was going to get a snack and sit down and do 2 hrs of homework! He wasn't about to waste that sunshine! (:-). I followed my gut because I couldn't trust my emotions as a Mom.
Elizabeth On Saturday, July 27 at 10:01 am
I do not home school but we pulled our son out of a public school because they weren't interested in involving us and we felt were hostile to our involvement.
We moved to a small private school where we are 100% recognized as the primary educators. It is like night and day and i do not regret the decision.
If we had not had this private school, we would have homeschooled.
Joede On Saturday, July 27 at 10:03 am
I honestly dont feel that you have to have valid reasons to homeschool, just a sheer desire to do so. If you feel drawn to educate him at home, regardless of the reasons, you should do so. Education is no longer about taking the time to ensure everyone is doing what they feel is the proper job, it is about educating the masses. So some get left behind and others held back. Schools have a limited amount of time to present x number of things, so children tend to get rushed to complete tasks. At that point the children either learn to adapt to mediocrity or fall behind. If you want something more tailored to your childs desire for a job well done, homeschooling is a fantastic option. Homeschooling allows us to adjust our pace while allowing just as much education, and many cases much more, for our children.
Tess L On Saturday, July 27 at 10:11 am
You don't need a valid reason approved by anyone's opinion. My kids were never in school. We considered homeschooling when they were young. I looked into the schools, the private schools, and prayed about it a lot. But honestly, I wanted them home, Dh wanted them home, and that is how it's been. I don't have one reason to have them here other than it just feels right. Bring him home and have fun!
alicia On Saturday, July 27 at 8:51 pm
What she said! I'm curious about why you feel it necessary to provide a reason? Not sarcastic. Honest! (: That said, our "reasons" have changed since we began…now beginning just our fourth year. I do think it is important to make this a positive decision. What I mean is…is this a decision TO do something (homeschool) or to NOT do something (send your boy to school). If you are making the decision based on avoidance, I would think it would put you in a place of comparing and seeing public school as a "standard." We choose to homeschool because we think the best place to grow kids is in a family. We are not choosing NOT to go to school, we are choosing to be at home. Together. Does that make sense at all? It's always a benefit to me to make decisions based on "running toward" something, rather than "running away." (PS…this of course applies to much in life!) All the best!!
Little ole me in Tennessee (:
laurah On Saturday, July 27 at 10:13 am
Your comment, it doesn't feel right that you are not 'required' struck a chord with me.
When children are in elementary school is when the parents are usually most 'used' by the school district; not so much once they hit the middle school years. Let your thoughts be known to the administration before you make any decision, as this is a concern.
Where I live, parents can be in the school every day to help with the library, cafeteria, busses, and classrooms making them feel connected with the schooling of their children/grandchildren.
Nancy On Saturday, July 27 at 6:31 pm
I sent my older son to Christian kindergarten, then to a public school for the first three grades. Early in that 3rd grade year I started hearing complaints every day from a little boy who had always liked school. I volunteered in his classroom and quickly discovered why. He was very good at reading, but got about 10 minutes a day in a group with one other student because they were so far ahead of the rest of the class. He was having a hard time with arithmetic but the teacher spent no extra time with him, so he was behind in that subject. There were issues with the books given to him to read, faith based issues, and so spending some time quietly cutting out laminated pictures was very instructive. We took him out of public school, started homeschooling and continued through high school. He is a practicing attorney. My younger son never attended public school. I taught him to read in one semester with no difficulty. If, as you continue to think about this, you decide to homeschool your son, you will find that it's something you can do. It's worth it.
Melissa A On Saturday, July 27 at 10:26 am
You can home school for any reason at all. There are a few things you should consider before you embark on this opportunity:
1) Resources. Do you have the time and money to home school? I do not subscribe to the belief that all you need to home school your child is love. In reality, you also need a plan of some sort and the time and energy to carry it out.
2) Support. This does not have to come in the form of a co-op or an organized home schooling league. This can come from online communities, family members, or your spouse.
3) Requirements. What are the requirements in Canada to home school? You say that not many people home school, but if there are at least some, figure out what you need to home school appropriately.
4) Explore your options. Look into private school, co-ops, home schooling, switching school districts, switching teachers, etc. Make an informed decision to home school ; not an irrational one.
Best of luck to you. If you have any more questions about this journey, please write into Heather. We have all been in your shoes and would like to help.
Melanie C. On Saturday, July 27 at 10:32 am
OMG – those are perfectly valid reasons to homeschool your child! The school system is so wrong. Your son isn't coloring fast enough??? Ugh!
I recommend reading "One Size Does Not Fit All" by Nikhil Goyal. http://www.amazon.com/One-Size-Does-Not-Fit/dp/0974525219/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374938864&sr=1-1&keywords=nikhil+goyal
He is a brilliant teen and wrote this book when he was 17 years old.
Also check out Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk "Do Schools Kill Creativity?"
Good luck to you. You know what's best for your child.
melle@feathered ruffles On Saturday, July 27 at 10:34 am
as a homeschooling mom for completely different reasons, i wish that i had listened when your reasons were my reasons and not waited until it escalated into a dangerous (phsyically and emotionally) situation for my son.
I spent two years carrying his crying writhing body into the school building because it was *what was expected of me*. i would give ANYTHING to give him back those two years of childhood.
if your child is dreading school, and you dread leaving him there…. for WHATEVER reason…. then listen to your momma's heart. if it's telling you to homeschool…. then homeschool it is.
(it's not easy. and there will be days you'll want to throw in the towel. days you think you're not good enough, not doing enough. just not *enough*. keep pushing through… you're doing so much more than you realize…)
good luck on this journey!
Amy P On Saturday, July 27 at 10:43 am
Valid according to whom? My opinion is that, yes absolutely your reasons are valid, but what matters is that they are valid to you. It is important to you that you are inv
Lisette On Saturday, July 27 at 10:44 am
I am a teacher who has taught in a public school, a private school, and a one room schoolhouse and I would echo what others have already said–if your son dreads school, try homeschooling and see how it goes. You are not committing to do it forever. I think the fact that he dislikes school at such an early age is a very valid reason to try something different.
And he is YOUR child, not the school's. I think that the public education system is degrading (in part) because the people who know the students best (their parents and teachers) are not allowed to make any real decisions about their education–it all comes from administrators and politicians who have no clue how a classroom actually works. So the fact that you are not involved in a huge chunk of his daily life shouldn't feel right; it isn't right.
And hooray for you for recognizing that and being willing to do something about it.
Amy P On Saturday, July 27 at 10:55 am
Valid according to whom? My opinion is that yes, absolutely your reasons are valid, but what matters is that they are valid to you.
We've homeschooled for over ten years, and it has been wonderful. It has also been stressful, exhausting, and frightening, and there were times I wanted to quit. What has kept me going was knowing why we homeschool. Write your reasons down- not just the immediate reasons but also your end goal. What kind of adult are you hoping to raise? Your immediate reasons and perhaps even your end goal will shift and change over time, so reevaluate periodically- the end of the school year, for example. Having your reasons and your goals written down is a huge help on those days when you want to chuck it all and flee to Tahiti.
Lili M On Saturday, July 27 at 11:13 am
Any reason to homeschool is valid. Why? Because you are the parent, and you have every right to choose which form of education your child receives.
Think of the long term outcome if your child stays in school. In first grade now, but after years and years of being told he is slow, no good enough, etc… what self image does that create? We are formed by both our surroundings, and the reactions we have to those surroundings, and why have a child surrounded by negativity? What does that create in them? Now, a thing to consider, though is- you say that in Canada there are not many homeschooling families. This means that you would be setting the example for friends and family, but it also means that you may face many lonely years, and have to really make up for the social aspect, for both of you. The good thing is that Canada provides a stipend for homeschooling families (at least some parts of it, not sure how this works, it is second hand information). Another invaluable thing is that you are providing your child with a chance to grow as he is meant to…. encouraged, safe, loved, and all of those negative words will be buried under the truth of that affection.
Julieanne M. On Saturday, July 27 at 11:14 am
I was a public school teacher in the 1990s, and in my small, rural, conservative area of my state where I lived, my principal told me one day that "the best parent was a working parent" who was too busy to come by the school and bother the teacher and administration. I just about hit the roof! Even though I was not yet married and didn't have my own children, that was completely the opposite view I had of parenting and being involved with the school system. In my view, parents had every right to speak up and say something if their child was not being treated as an individual!
There was so much time wasted in the classroom, even when teachers (like me) were organized, provided excellent discipline and guidance, and prepared hard working 80+ hours a week to customize the students' learning. There were so many children who were disrespectful and refused to follow directions well, even in classrooms where the teachers had established a decent sense of order and control. Misbehavior and disrespect caused tons of time to be spent on working with students who were out of control, so it was and still is difficult to get much teaching across during the school day. Lots and lots of wasted time.
Students who were above average just floated along with the below-average crowd, not being challenged and not excelling at their own levels. Students who were below average were pushed to keep up. Ugh. But mostly the levels of learning were down in the below-average levels. Bright students were bored, no matter how I tried to tailor assignments to challenge them and meet their needs.
When our first baby was born, I happily quit my job and stayed home. Best decision I ever made! The next best decision my husband and I ever made was to educate our children at home. I selfishly didn't really want to homeschool, because I wanted to send them off to school and stay at home and have the "perfect looking" house, prepare everything homemade and healthy, and have time to pursue my own interests. I'm so glad God had other plans for our family. Homeschooling has blessed us in so many ways!
Many parents feel the same way that you do, that they are not needed at their public school except to help with fundraising, etc. Legally, when you drop your child off at the school each day, you are giving him up to the school's and the teachers' whims and opinions – and you no longer have any control over what ideology they are teaching him. There are some schools who still try to keep parents involved, but most often, this is generally just to help make photocopies, prepare bulletin boards, help volunteer in positions where budgets have reduced hours of employees, and correct papers, or do other tasks to assist the teacher.
I'm so thankful that we haven't had to deal with our local public school system. The values that they are impressing upon our local youth are shockingly opposed to what my husband and I believe. Only their liberal views are taught; we are teaching our children a multitude of views, not just what we believe to be truth. Our children are more exposed to real life experiences as they do banking with us, go to the insurance agent, and many other situations that they wouldn't be able to do if they were in school (we still keep time away during the school day minimal, though).
Our children (13 and 15) have had more opportunities to interact with people of all ages and types than they EVER would have had if they had been in public school and came home with 2-3 hours of homework each night – with no provided textbook. Yes, textbooks are not provided in our local schools, to bring home, so people have to try to Google everything to try to figure out what in the world the teacher was wanting them to do. Grrrrr.
Because our girls don't have tons of homework at night, they have time to invest in their interests, like piano and violin practice, photography, videography, singing, writing, debate, and so much more! And yet, academically, they are soaring and have been taught much more than they would ever learn in the school system: Latin, debate, public speaking, true cooking, how to maintain a home, taxes, budgeting, and so much more.
Your reasons to want to homeschool are completely valid! Your son's learning should be treated in an individual manner. He shouldn't be rushed to complete his tasks. This helps no one except the teacher who is trying to manage the classroom schedule/time. I applaud you for thinking along these lines and being sensitive to your child's needs. Even if you know no one in your community who is homeschooling, you will definitely find lots of Canadians online who homeschool happily!
cara On Monday, July 29 at 9:15 am
Interesting generalization you have here…I looked at your website and just sighed…your control over your kids' minds is scary…and slightly hypocritical…you don't allow " fantasy, magic or evolution" in any literature, but "Lord of the Rings" is OK??
As always, I wonder why religious fanatics feel their views are not strong enough to be related to their offspring without removing them from public school?
jenny brownlee On Saturday, July 27 at 11:35 am
Not all women or mothers are suited for homeschooling. My daughter wishes she could, but it would be a disadvantage to her children for her to do so. She feels a tremendous sense of guilt about it that I think is unfair. It should be as alright to not homeschool as it is to homeschool.
My opinion!
Sandi On Saturday, July 27 at 4:07 pm
Very true. Homeschooling was just becoming an option when I was young, and we had some friends that did it. My mother considered it every now and again, but always came back to the opinion that she would strangle us all if she had us home every day. She also knew the public schools in our area were not of the quality she believed we needed. She sacrificed a lot to put the three of us in a private school. While I never did that whole rebellious teen angst thing, and we communicate almost daily now, I agree that homeschooling with her would have been disastrous for us. Some of my best friends to this day are the people I was friends with growing up in that school (it was a 3K-12th) so it was overall definitely the best decision for our family.
That said, I did homeschool my son for one year. I would have liked to have done it for a lot longer, but as a single mom with a FT office job, I just could not get a good balance of time with him versus time at work and still maintain my sanity so his schooling suffered. If my circumstances had been different, I think I would have done it for most if not all of his schooling. Different personalities of both parents and children make for different levels of success. My son also was "slow" doing his work. If work could be done orally, he would spout it off and be done with it. If he had to write it down, it took HOURS. He never finished tests on time, and thus had bad grades even though teachers agreed he did know the material. Grrrr. Homework was tortuous for us. It would literally take until bedtime to finish it when others did it in 20-30 minutes. This was the worst in elementary, but was still a struggle in middle school. By the time he got to high school, they began allowing more things to be typed rather than handwritten, plus he had finally learned to work a little faster, so it was a lot better. To this day, though, if you tell him to do something, he'll do it and usually in a normal time. Tell him it has a time limit, and he freezes up and will not get it done in time. I strongly believe that part of it was that he had so much trouble when he was younger and the school system simply did not have the time to work with him and just kept telling him to work faster.
Abbe PB On Saturday, July 27 at 5:40 pm
I am so sorry your daughter feels so much guilt over not being able to homeschool her children. I fully agree that not everyone has the ability to. Making the best decisions for our children requires taking all factors into consideration – not just how you feel your child will receive the best education, but also how to keep a roof over his head, how to ensure she is getting proper nutrition and healthcare, and even making sure the kids have a sane Mom & Dad to rely on!
Sometimes life requires a little give & take to make sure everything is taken care of. Nobody should feel guilty about not being able to homeschool their child. Education is an important decision, but it is not the only important decision. Keeping an eye on the right balance for your family should be the ultimate goal.
Kara On Saturday, July 27 at 11:35 am
So I'm going to be the one here to be the voice of dissent, based on my experience. To your points:
1 – You say that you feel like you're cut off from the school. What have you done to get involved at the school? Have you looked into the PTSA, volunteering, being a home room mom, etc? I've never seen an elementary school that didn't want and need parent volunteers at all levels.
2 – You say you feel like parents are no longer required. To some degree, part of being a parent is preparing your child to be self sufficient. Parents won't be around all the time and I'm not just talking about when parents die, but as a fact of life. A child needs to be taught in age appropriate ways that they are responsible for themselves
3 – You say that your child has been told he's too slow and you ask if the goal is accuracy or speed. In the real world, no one has the time to take as long as they possibly could want to get every single detail 100% perfect. This is not about accuracy – it's about perfectionism. And part of growing up is learning to balance perfectionism and speed. (That also goes for the child who wants to rush through everything instead of take the time to do it right – so it's a two way street.)
Now I know a bunch of people are going to say "but he's just a child; let him be a child for a little longer" or "a child his age shouldn't have to worry about real life right now" or other stuff like that. This is where my experience comes in.
My step-daughter is 10. Her mother is the quintessential helicopter mom; she does EVERYTHING for my SD. Her mantra to me and my husband over the years has been "she's just a child – she has plenty of time to learn". Except now her mother is at the end of her rope because SD has no coping skills, no sense of personal responsibility, no ability to be on her own or do things on her own or make decisions. X-wife is now coming to us and venting about how "she's 10 and she should be stepping up to take some responsibility". Well, mom, you created this monster by constantly reinforcing "oh she's just a child – let her enjoy being a child". But now that she's 10 and should be making decisions on her own, managing her own time to a degree, getting herself ready for school and camp and playdates, she can't/won't. She doesn't even clean up after her dogs or remember to feed or water them because she was never expected to (she's just a kid – it's not her fault she can't remember). When faced with a difficult decision or a rough patch, she completely crumbles and can't handle it and runs to her mom or her dad.
I"m not saying that you are the same as my husbands ex, but some of the things you said set off warning bells in my head. Do you want to homeschool because you think you can do a better job of teaching your child based on his needs/abilities and preparing him for real life, or do you want to homeschool because you don't want him to grow away from you and you are feeling insecure about other people's level of involvement and input into his development? Only you can answer that.
Kris S. On Monday, July 29 at 10:42 am
Do you even have any children? You sound like Cinderella's SM. You just called your SD a monster. If your husband is any sort of father he would stand up for his daughter. Shame on you both! Children with uninvolved fathers act out in these ways too. Maybe look inside your home for the answers.
cara On Monday, July 29 at 11:16 am
And Kris…you sound like the biological mom here! I think Kara is showing concern and rationality.
Kara On Friday, August 2 at 3:22 pm
Wow, Kris. I just came back to the thread to see how the overall consensus was and saw your response.
First of all the phrase "created a monster" is a common phrase that means "created this situation that you now cannot control" (i.e. Frankenstein's monster where the doctor couldn't control the creation). It does not mean I am calling my SD who I love very much a "monster". Although, you know, my parents used to refer to my brother and I as "you little monsters" – all with love and affection
Next – how DARE you imply in any way, shape or form that my husband is an "un-involved" father or that he doesn't stand up for his child. You owe me an apology for that – not that I expect to ever get it from you. But your comment is out of line and unacceptable.
My husband and I are VERY involved in SDs life. We see and/or talk to her daily. We all 3 attend parent/teacher conferences. Even tho her mother has primary custody, we are still fully involved in her life. That doesn't change the fact that for the majority of her early life, she was not given any responsibility at all by her mother and now that has come back to bite all of us in the butt.
Obviously you didn't actually bother to read anything I read that explained that part.
Sara from AR On Saturday, July 27 at 11:49 am
I am in Arkansas where there is a lot of people homeschooling but I do have a friend in Quebec, Canada who has chosen to homeschool her kids. She told me that sometime it is hard to find people to share with about that but she does not regret it at all.
I can relate to you in so many ways you have no idea. Am I too "possessive" of my son? He is slow for this or that but smart for this or that.
At the end of the day, homeschooling won. It has been 2 years now and I am not regretting it at all! Like everyone else, we had ups and downs but my son is happy. He is learning and showing interest in things that I thought an older child would. Who said that we have to conform with the norm? KIds needs to do this or that in that period of time…what kind of adult will that create?
If you are toying with the idea of homeschooling, your mom instinct has kinda told you what you need to do. Now you are dealing with what we all dealt with…fear or the unknown and can I do this and not mess up? And the answer is, if you care about your son the way it seems you do, yes you can do it!
Molly R On Saturday, July 27 at 12:20 pm
YES! Those are very valid reasons. You are his parent. You know him better than anyone. Obviously, you are a very thoughtful person, and the fact that you are aware of the possibility of holding on too tight indicates that you probably aren't. You're just wa thing out for what his best for him. I homeschool 3 out of my 6 children (next year it will be 4), and one thing I've learned is that all children learn differently. They learn best when they can go at their own pace, and with homeschooling, you can help them to identify their strengths, so they can do their best with them, as well as know their weaknesses, so they can improve upon them.
Kim On Saturday, July 27 at 12:36 pm
Hi, Your reasons in my mind are valid, and really they are your reasons, so there really is no valid or not valid as they are your reasons and concerns for your sons well being and education.
I am in Canada and Home School. As in the states each province has it's own rules and regulations to follow. Where I live, as in many other places there are home school groups to join all you have to do is Google home school and your city and you will come up with links to different home school support groups. In Alberta depending on your umbrella school district that you register with the amount of support you get will vary. As far as the material you will need to home school you can get it from your umbrella school order it online use freebies from the net, again it depends on the province you are in and the rules that the school district you enroll with are. We are very blessed here in Alberta in that we get money for each child that we home educate. Which is really just a portion of our education taxes that we pay. If you want to talk ask questions please feel free to email me kbuitendyatgmaildotcom I wish you all the best in what you decide for your family.
Kathy Second Fiddle On Saturday, July 27 at 12:38 pm
I have 2 grown boys that I homeschooled. They are both brilliant in different ways and are succeeding in life.
I'm not sure the public school system, or even the private school system is shaped for boys under 8 or 9. Young boys seem to need lots of activity – running, jumping, large muscle group stuff. Once those activities have been done, they can sit down and do some book work.
They generally do better school work if allowances are made for activity.
When my boys couldn't focus, we sent them to run around the house a few times, or 1/2 hours of play. Then, they could focus.
I think you have great reasons for homeschooling. Wait to put them in when they can sit still better.
Youth is fleeting, and there are alot of rompings and looking at bugs in the grass that need to be done before life hits them.
Small muscle motor skills are girls forte. School seems to be made for girls.
Donna On Sunday, July 28 at 1:23 pm
I agree with Kathy's insight into developing boys. They need to romp and play and look at bugs every day to get the ants out of their pants (and satisfy their curiosity and zest for living and moving around). Too many people view boys under 10 as a nuisance instead of embracing their natural way.
Good idea – have them run around the house a few times before sitting down for book work. Making a little boy miss recess is counter productive if your goal is to get him to sit still and "learn" in a formal setting.
Lora On Monday, July 29 at 8:06 am
I completely agree with this! I see so many parents who allow a teacher or school system to tell them their sons….never daughters…need medication because they are always active, can't sit still or focus in school. Well I'm 36 and if you make me sit in a meeting for more than 20 minutes I am off in space! I can't sit still and focus for that long so what makes anyone think a 5-10 year old boy can?? My son is always getting in trouble for talking or getting up or what have you. At home I send his little butt out to the critters when he starts running me crazy and it works just fine. I have been tossing the idea of homeschooling around because I have a friend with 4 boys that homeschools all of them now and they are all doing great!
Debbie N. On Saturday, July 27 at 12:50 pm
I believe the feeling of being "cut off" is a valid enough reason to homeschool your son. I have a soon to be 8th grader and 4th grader. I felt cut off and not required by my youngest daughter's school this year, so I am going to homeschool her this year.
My advice to you would be… Don't wait. Do it because it just feels right. If it doesn't work, you can always send him back to the public school. No harm will be done.
I am in Minnesota, so I am your neighbor!
Good luck,
Sunny On Saturday, July 27 at 1:11 pm
I'm a gramma of 13. Our daughters both chose home school and are thrilled that they did. As are we. You do have "valid" reasons to choose this for your son. He is telling you how he feels; it will reassure him that you not only HEAR him but you do something to help him.
One of our grandsons has Dyslexia; he is now a Senior & in public school & so confident of himself and his abilities and is a real leader on the football & baseball teams. He is also a leader in his church and youth group. He understand why it is difficult to read but it does not define him.
Four of our grandkids were not home schooled. Our son made a different choice. The difference is obvious.
I'm from Canada originally; but I would be a trailblazer if you need to be. Your kids deserve it!!!!
Gramma Sunny
Terry N. On Saturday, July 27 at 2:14 pm
Yes, mom you know best. Its that little feeling when something is just not right. It sounds like at this point he may feel that he can't do much that is correct and that is just not the message any little one starting out should hear. Every child is an individual and deserves respect. As a former homeschool mom, I say go ahead and give him the encouragement an opportunity to be homeschooled and hear encouraging feedback. . And as a former private school Kindergarten teacher I just find what you are describing so totally unacceptable.
Danielle On Saturday, July 27 at 2:57 pm
I am not a homeschooler, but your reasons sound very valid to me. A big part of the reason that I love my son's public school is that parents are encouraged to be involved and communication with the teachers and principal has been awesome. Last year I was in the classroom to help every Friday and my younger daughter was welcome to come along with me. The teacher even let her sit at a desk and work alongside the "big kids!" Working parents who wanted to help but weren't able to come in were given papers to cut or staple for the teacher. Our school not only had teacher appreciation week, but the teachers put on a parent volunteer appreciation breakfast every year that is fabulous. I love that the school treats parents as active partners in our children's education. If I was missing that I'd probably think seriously about homeschooling also. Go with your gut!
Thia On Saturday, July 27 at 3:44 pm
Absolutely valid reasons! You should be involved in your son's life, he's YOUR son! And if he loves to do a good job, that should be encouraged. The speed will come with practice.
Heather N On Saturday, July 27 at 5:02 pm
Dear Colleen,
I believe your concern for your child's educational and emotional development cuts to the heart of why so many of us choose to homeschool. Homeschooling for us is such a natural extension of "parenting" our children. Education should be about more than being in someone else's care for 8 hours, following rules and a time-table. Homeschooling provides our children the freedom to take their time, and to learn their lessons at a deeper level, not just for a test. It is about developing the whole child, and helping that child discover their passions. There is plenty of time for our young children to develop skills they need for the workplace, such as completing assignments on time. What young children need beyond the education/scholarly work is to have playtime, and time to imagine, and time to explore the outdoors. There are wonderful public and private schools out there, homeschooling is not the only choice. But it might be the best choice for you and your family right now. Good luck with your decision!
SusanP in ON On Saturday, July 27 at 5:24 pm
Each of those reasons is valid, not that you need a reason other than wanting the best for your own child. No one wants more for your child than you do and no one knows better than you what that is. I don't know where you are, but in Ontario it is a breeze, so the "rules and regulations" won't hinder you at all, there really aren't any to speak of!
You THINK there are no homeschoolers around…before we met a family that homeschooled I had never even heard of it (mid-late 90's) nor would I have ever known there were families doing it in the area. Pulled them out in January 2000, looked into a local co-op (low key, mostly fun, who knew it existed?) where said family attended and bingo my kids were two of about 84 that met weekly! At the time it was said that in our small area there were enough children being homeschooled for a reasonable sized school, which in our area would be about 300. I know it has only grown since then. So, you may be quite surprised to find that there is a group local to you that you could draw support from, be it advice, curriculum questions, kid-play time, etc.
At his age, really, what do you have to lose?
dobes On Saturday, July 27 at 5:49 pm
By asking your question on a homeschooling blog, I think you may be looking for a specific answer. Ask the same question on your public school blog, and the answers will be quite different. Personally, I think the best thing to do is probably to stay with the school. I think it's important for kids to learn to deal with all kinds of people – both adults and other kids – in many different settings. Kids should learn that uncomfortable dealings with others will not cause them to fall apart. And it is VERY important for parents to learn, gradually, and over the years, to allow kids to have parts of their lives where the parents are not involved. I think school begins that process, and rightfully so.
I am more concerned that someone at the school has been calling your child slow at performing his tasks. I think that a parent can – and should – in such circumstances talk to the person who did this about the possibility of giving the child a negative view of himself. They probably didn't mean to do it, and if you approach it diplomatically you may be able to change such behavior.
To me, taking a child out of school (which I did, by the way, with my middle child) should be done only when it is clear that the school is having a negative impact on the child which the child is not able to handle and which you are unable to change. Otherwise, I think that parents are best advised to remember that the chief goal of parenting is to raise a strong, resilient, independent adult capable of interacting with the many types of people in the world, and school is an excellent place to begin that process.
Megan On Saturday, July 27 at 10:35 pm
Fabulous answer!
laurah On Sunday, July 28 at 9:43 am
Your last setence is fantastic. You said it succinctly what a parent's goal should be. Our children are competing with top-notch educated people for jobs these days; they must be prepared and ready to enter that world.
SoCalLynn On Sunday, July 28 at 6:48 pm
Your answer and the two replies are very revealing to me. It tells me each of you know little about homeschooling.
lydia On Sunday, July 28 at 7:27 pm
Amen, SoCalLynn. . . . we're in so many co-ops, community groups, church activities, and the like that my homeschooled kids know far more about working, socializing and communicating with people from all age groups and all walks of life than many of their publically schooled counterparts. Please. Homeschooling done by conscientious moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and on and on — provides unparalleled opportunities for growth among young people in just the areas you mention in your great last sentence.
laurah On Monday, July 29 at 10:44 am
Take issue with comments in reply to posts. Know far too many homeschool parents who are NOT educating their children.
Also am a homeschooling parent of 30 years with four grandchildren being homeschooled. With that being said live in a rural area where fewer and fewer families are making the effort to connect with other people outside their immediate household. Church attendance in our town is down, there are no co-ops or community groups and unless parents are willing to go the extra mile, the kids are NOT socializing much with people outside of their immediate family. And for the families that have multiple ages and grades, homeschooling to the standard needed is taking all their waking hours.
I do agree with you Lydia, conscientious, is the word. If educating correctly, you are right, there are unparalleled opportunities for youth who are homeschooled. I know– all of my adult children have had opportunities they never would have experienced in public or private schools but I HAD to step out and be sure they had them.
dobes On Monday, July 29 at 3:42 pm
Actually, SoCalLynn, I think I mentioned in the post that I did homeschool my middle son, from grades 7 to 12, in New York City. He is dyslexic, and I could not convince his teachers to stop ridiculing for his difficulties. In addition, he was training to be a professional ballet dancer, with many performing commitments with the New York City ballet that took him out of school. Every school we tried could deal with either the dyslexia or the time off for dancing, but not both. Finally, after one more teacher made the classroom laugh by sighing heavily and wondering aloud whether my son would finish writing on the board in time for lunch, I took him out. Frankly, I wished he could develop a hard enough skin to deal with such ignorance without letting it affect his self-esteem, but at that time he could not. After a career as a professional dancer, he now has a degree in software engineering and works at a very well-known company, so it all worked out.
My issue with some but not all homeschooling parents is that, frankly, often the issue seems to be the need to control every aspect of their children's lives. You see a lot of comments about how parents know best for their children or must decide what is right for themselves – meaning the parents. But I think that in fact it really does take a village to raise a well-rounded child, and some in that village should be very different from the parents and the home. Kids need to know that there are others who think, believe, and live differently from them in the wide, wide world. They need to figure out how to deal with authority figures they don't agree with, and when to stand up for themselves and when to let it go. And a lot of this they need to do for themselves, without a parent looking over their shoulders. Although people homeschool for very many reasons, I think some parents need to ask themselves if they are doing it to maintain their control over who and what their children are exposed to – and then ask themselves if that is the best way to raise a fully developed adult.
Claire On Wednesday, July 31 at 7:26 am
I was really hoping to see someone post this advice. It takes a lot of commitment and honesty about one's abilities and their child to take on teaching. You need to understand the lessons you're teaching (kids sense hesitation), find texts, vet resources, and prep meaningful assignments. Plenty of intelligent, well-educated people get burned out by teaching kids. even their own! If you do go homeschooling I recommend grabbing some professional or experienced assistance. However, a lot of times just spending an hour a day after school is enough to get children back on the path of confidence and success.
I've also noticed some people say they've been discouraged by the schools for involvement. Most schools I've worked with LOVE parent volunteers, but the volunteers have to be willing to follow the school's guidelines. You might be asked to help in the cafeteria when it's empty. You're still needed and welcomed, just maybe not in the way you envisioned. Good volunteers won't focus on their child (too many try to) or distract a class by openly disrupting a lesson. Other parents aren't willing to listen to advice from someone who isn't a/the parent of a child and tend to treat that constructive criticism as an attack.
I think it's worth trying to re-start the parent-teacher relationship by dropping all expectations and asking, "How can I help best?" Truly listen and then offer what you can.
Rebecca On Saturday, July 27 at 6:16 pm
I dont homeschool and have no plans to — but I think your reasons for wanting to homeschool are legit and valid. Do the research. If you are not happy, and more importantly, your child isnt working up to his potential – ditch the traditional school and bring him home.
sherri p On Saturday, July 27 at 8:51 pm
My father taught high school math for 30 years and left the profession. My sister taught high school math for ten years and left the profession. My cousin teaches junior high science. She has become disillusioned by the educational system. All three hold very similar opinions to the opinion expressed by Mary Ann Potter.
If you are concerned about socialization, why not join sports where the kids play in teams. Learn at home – socialize at play.
Maggie in SC On Saturday, July 27 at 8:55 pm
Years ago, I had the same question for my children. Like you, my son had just finished kindergarten in a great school. He would at times become very anxious when I took him to school. After talking to several people, teachers and homeschool parents. The majority of them told me that if I had ever thought of homeschooling this was the time to do it.
They suggested I try it for one year and see what I thought. If it didn't work then we headed back to school in the second grade. They stated we would have a year of seeing if it was the right fit for our family. That was 5 years ago. We are still homeschooling and although some days are tougher than others. My kids and I enjoy it. We are part of several different homeschooling communities where my boys have a great many friends.
Each year we reevaluate where we are and where we want to be ~ Although I can not say it will continue to be a good fit, for now it is.
Here are a few books to consider reading
The Call to Brilliance: A True Story to Inspire Parents and Educators
The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child
There are a lot more but these are two I could think of off my head.
All in all it's important to listen to your gut. If you have thought about homeschooling, take advantage of the opportunity and enjoy your time learning along with your son.
Best of luck with your decision!
Donna On Saturday, July 27 at 9:23 pm
Absolutely those are valid reasons!
YOU know your child, and my goodness how silly to rush a 1st grader like that. Those teachers are "fine", maybe, but they are not "very good" at all. But they are in an institutional setting and must 'get the job done' so to speak, not care about your child as an individual.
Young children flourish when home schooled by a loving parent. Your child will be way, way ahead in his learning and development if you teach him his first few years instead of sending him off to that school every day. You can work with his natural rhythm and his learning style at a very, very formative time in his cognitive development.
Liz in GA On Saturday, July 27 at 9:43 pm
Absolutely these are all valid reasons for homeschooling. However, you may want to have your son evaluated for learning disabilities or he could be at the other side, talented and gifted. Either way, the public school will fail him, quite possibly. rule out reasons why he is slower than other children…you don't want to overlook a problem because the earlier intervention the better!
I have 2 boys and they both got really bored and frustrated with deadlines and the fast pace of school. One has a form of autism (which by the way was not fully diagnosed until he was in high school because he is so high functioning!), so he was in special ed. until 8th grade with learning disabilities. He was so high functioning that he was able to get a high school diploma with lots of help from us as parents and lots of advocating!!
My other son is the opposite…very social and very motivated to learn and when he was in 6th grade was put in all the talented and gifted classes…but by the 9th grade, he got very frustrated that the teachers no longer would work with him to allow him to jump ahead when he felt like it, or to take his time on an assignment when needed. His grades declined because he was stuck in a box! Literally!! In his elementary school the teachers always had an open mind and allowed for creativity he had no problems there…BUT Then high school was a different story!
So, finally in the middle of 10th grade, my son came home to do an on-line high school that was fully accredited with our state and the curriculum was already established BUT he is able to work at his own pace and can accelerate when he feels he can and then he can receive extra help from the teachers thru Skype and e-mail when needed. Thru the magic of technology, he is still able to keep in touch with teachers and we always know as parents what he needs to work on.
I don't know what is available in Canada, but if you worry about making up your own curriculum, perhaps you want to find an on-line k-12 program that is fully accredited and provides support for your child and you as a parent. This could be private or a charter school and should provide face-to-face learning (thru electronic means such as Skype and programs like chalkboard).) This is usually done at least one hour of live lecture a week for each class). As in my son's case, he watches 6 lessons a week either live or recorded to fulfill this requirement. All other learning is done on the computer and all of his textbooks are on-line. He loves it because he no longer has to deal with the slower kids at school and a teacher that drones with uninteresting material! he is once again motivated.
So, you have lots of work ahead, but it will be all worth it….good luck!
Laurie On Sunday, July 28 at 8:51 am
I would just like to point out that learning disabilities and gifted and talented aren't mutually exclusive. In other words, a child can be both gifted and talented AND have a learning disability.
laurah On Sunday, July 28 at 9:54 am
Have a dyslexic daughter (doing well in college) who was top of her class so I echo Laurie's comment.
A learning disability does NOT mean a child cannot also be gifted and talented!
Also have another daughter who has dyscalculia yet received four years full college scholarship based on her stellar grades.
Both these children graduated from local public high school with high honors.
Jade On Saturday, July 27 at 10:18 pm
If you said your reason was 'just because I want to', it would be a valid reason. Raising your child in the way you see fit is your duty. To yourself, your child, your community, and yes, your God, if you acknowledge one. My children did both, more than once. At different times in their lives they have different needs. If you have doubts about your child flourishing in public school, you should take him out. If you decide later he is better equipped for public school, put him back in. It is all about the best for the child first, the parents second, and the rest of the world after. Good Luck!
Gary On Saturday, July 27 at 10:45 pm
I'm so glad that there are people brave and strong enough to home school. I was lucky, I went to Catholic schools that challenged me and allowed me to grow back in the 50's and 60's. No one thought of these options then.
I remember saying to a teacher in high school, "I just figured it out. You're not teaching me English, you are teaching me to learn." And, he and his fellow teachers did, and I have used it my whole life.
Be brave and strong! The future of your children depends on it.
Meredith On Sunday, July 28 at 7:32 am
Your reasons for homeschooling are very valid. My daughter spent three years in public school here in the US and I had very similar concerns as yours. Go with your heart. Your son is YOURS. He should be allowed to progress at HIS speed, especially if he is trying very hard to get things right. You don't want to squash that trait! My daughter is now in a Christian School for her high school years. I wish I had homeschooled her every year prior. Good luck.
VA On Sunday, July 28 at 8:09 am
Wow! You're an amazing mom – you're so perceptive and enlightened about your kid's learning style. Good for you. Even if your son were in a classroom with a wonderful teacher and there were as few as 15 students the teacher would not have the time for each of her students that you do for one student. My preference is quality over quantity in my life, too. As he matures you might want to discuss the idea of "better finished than perfect"
team work, deadlines, and some of the other issues we deal with as grown ups. Just be sure his need for extra time is not a result of day dreaming and laziness.
Bill Weisel On Sunday, July 28 at 9:15 am
Not to the current question but a good easy read for your kids that will really get them thinking about their own personal pocketbook and finacial future. Easily available and an Amazon top seller at about $12. "Automatic Millionaire" by David Bach. This really opened the eyes of my two daughters as we were raising them and got them to plan and take care of their finacial futures. Younguns will be amazed at the prospect of them ending up as millionaires !! You can check it out and read all of the reviews to confirm it's validity.
Linia On Sunday, July 28 at 9:21 am
Points to remember: If you don't care about your children, no one else will. Have children's eyes checked to make certain there are no 'eye tracking' issues. I was a secondary teacher for forty-one years. Believe me, I have seen it all. Good luck to all of you. With hope and love in your heart, you will succeed.
Laurie On Monday, July 29 at 5:18 pm
I would just like to point out that in some cases, it is the teacher and the educational system who care for the child when the parents don't. I realize that is not the case here, but there are cases in which children are neglected and the school is where they feel most cared for and nurtured.
Apron Girl On Sunday, July 28 at 9:23 am
I smiled while reading your concerns in regard to home schooling. Moms tend to undersell their talents and abilities on a regular basis. I encourage you that as a mom, you know your child better than anyone, and to follow your heart. It is natural to miss a beloved child, especially when they are being released into the care of someone that does not necessarily share the same values, and cannot begin to love your son as much as you.
When my oldest son began attending school, I watched as his bright spirit began to dim and he seemingly was no longer thriving. With each summer at home, he perked up, only to grow sullen once again as a new school year began. I eventually made the decision to home-school him as he began 4th grade, and everything began to improve. He eventually transitioned back into a Christian high-school, and continued to do well.
My twins were home-school kindergarten through high school. One of them went on to college, followed by a masters program, the other is "climbing the corporate ladder" and is quite successful. My two youngest also home-schooled, and each benefited for different reasons. My daughter is extremely right-brained and required personal attention to achieve the goals before us, and my youngest son was simply on his own time line for maturing and developing. My daughter has gone on to be a successful art teacher while pursuing her own art career, and my youngest son is transferring from the local community college to a four-year technical college.
All of my children are successful in their fields of endeavor and have great people skills. I believe a big part of it is that they were free to develop at their own pace, and bloom as individuals. Yes, we had out bumps and challenges along the way–home-schooling is a day-by-day decision–but I have absolutely no regrets. There is a price to be paid for whatever you decide. Conventional school or home-school. Count the cost on both sides, trust in your heart, work hard, and you will reap a harvest of glorious fruit!
Jan On Sunday, July 28 at 10:58 am
Your reasons are valid.
My only reservations about home schooling are honesty.
First. Are You willing and able to provide the time and energy and skills to provide a good education for your child?
Second. Do you understand his Needs? Have him evaluated if their are questions that need to be understood.
Third. If things change, if you become overwhelmed, can you overcome pride and enroll your child in a school (public or private) that will.
Most of home schoolers are prepared for the very real work of preparing lessons. However, over time However, one friend had a significant change in family circumstances and could not admit she could not handle everything. The outcome for her children was very sad. Always be honest with yourself.
Kathy Owensby On Sunday, July 28 at 12:58 pm
There is another option–schooling at home. There are several schools that offer online education, some are private, some are public. You might want to look into that as well–you would be supported by teachers and be intimately involved in your son's education.
Best of luck in your decision!
Allison Biek On Sunday, July 28 at 1:54 pm
Homeschooling is challenging and wonderful. Your comments brought all my concerns and hesitations that motivated me to homeschool back in a rush. I now am heading into our 4th year of homeschooling and my children are grades 4, 3 and K. It's pushed me and refined me, but every day I'm grateful to have the freedom to homeschool.
In my opinion, your concerns are extremely valid. Don't feel like you should "let it go". Go for it!
Nats On Sunday, July 28 at 2:28 pm
Very valid! That the school doesn't welcome your opinion and participation with open arms should be a cause for concern. Homeschool over the summer and see how you like it. As another commenter said, worst case scenario is that he goes back to school in the fall better equipped for the year academically. Good luck!
= )
Aimee DHondt On Sunday, July 28 at 2:34 pm
I started homeschooling with my stepchildren back when it was not the norm in the United States 22 years ago and I actually went back and forth between homeschooling and letting them go to school. I am now homeschooling my natural born children and am not going to vacillate like I did with my stepchildren due to social and family pressures. I have seen both sided of this coin and experienced it personally. My step children are now 27 and 24 years of age and they wish I had kept them at home because "I was more fair in my grading of their work and more balanced on knowing they had progressed and learned something rather than on how well they were keeping up with their peers and how they compared. My younger children ages 13 and 11 have been home schooled since their birth and we have our moments but we also have fun and great relationships; I believe because we homeschool. I agree with many other comments about my reasons changing often as to "why" I homeschool and my reason are definitely not the norm as we travel, sometimes weekly, from business to business and home to home along the west coast. My only advice to you would be to pick up a book called "The simplicity of Homeschooling" by Vicky Goodchild. I wish I had read this book before I started home schooling my older children. I did read it before I started home schooling again with my younger ones and it was invaluable in bringing me to the decision to proceed with homeschooling again. She helps you lay out your methods of home schooling (there are more than one way to do this) as well as your reasons for doing this and I loved the book. Amazon sells it used and its an easy read. Good luck and remember you are the mother and you know your child best regardless of wether he is at home or in a public/private school system.
Kate On Sunday, July 28 at 3:07 pm
My kids have never been in conventional schools, since we homeschooled from the beginning, but I was a teacher in a private school before marriage. One of the things that frustrated me as a teacher was the time constraints – I was required to do x-number of subjects a day in a very limited time frame with 30 kids who were very different. I could see kids falling through the cracks and some only because they were slower workers. Some very bright kids received poor grades because they didn't finish all the problems on a test because they were careful. This leads to discouragement and a dislike of learning. Some kids worked quickly but they were sloppy and careless. It gets to the point where speed is valued over quality or quantity over quality at least that's what sticks in kids' minds (just listen to discussions on the playground). I really couldn't fix any of these issues in the classroom and just restored to discussing it with their parents, who in turn gave pep talks or threats to their kids. Young learners especially shouldn't be under that kind of stress and pressure. What I would like to have done was tailor a lesson or test to each child and been more leisurely about learning – the kids loved to have me read a story aloud and I think they would have enjoyed learning and learned more if I had spent longer periods of time reading, than doing lessons on required subjects. They also should have spent more time outdoors with nature and in free, non-orchestrated discovery. That's what I was able to do with my own children. My eldest two have graduated from college and I have a few more years to go with their younger siblings. Overall, despite the challenges, we have been happy with our homeschooling decision.
Dianeygirl On Sunday, July 28 at 6:10 pm
Before you make a decision you need to gather more information about why he was slower in school. He might need to be tested to find out if he has a learning disability. Go to your pediatrician first, ask the school if they do testing. Talk to his teacher and get specifics on why he needed more time.
Kim On Sunday, July 28 at 6:46 pm
I homeschooled my three children. Two were homeschooled from the beginning, and one from third grade. All three turned out great.
My reason will probably make everyone laugh. Well, there were many, but this one was the biggest and it's just like yours, I think. I was writing yet another excuse for my son to stay home (he hated school) and I realized that I, the mother of this child, was writing an "excuse" for him not to be in another place. I was excusing him for staying home sick.
That really stuck in my craw. God gave this child to me, not to the school. The school should be writing notes to me excusing him for not being able to be home with his family because he must spend time with them, not the other way around.
When you begin to realize that someone else believes they have more right to your child than you do, homeschooling begins to make a lot more sense.
Lydia On Sunday, July 28 at 7:17 pm
Anything that concerns you is valid. You never should feel that you need to apologize for feeling any certain way. As multiple people have pointed out, you are your child's parent, know him best, and you are the one most qualified to judge many things.
Did you have the chance to speak with the principal or director of the school about your observations? We those ongoing impressions, taking place over the entire school year (about feeling unwelcome at the school) –or is there any chance you misunderstood someone at the school? If I were in your shoes, if I felt like the school and its staff were otherwise conscientious, perhaps I'd see if I could gather more information about this one aspect.
We have three daughters (in the US) and homeschool, although our oldest (14 years) is entering public school (ninth grade) this year. We love the fact that we have homeschooled her through most of her elementary-school years and middle-school years, and that we are able to do the same with her two younger sisters. Perhaps these are the years when a child is most impressionable, and it has meant a lot that we've been able to be her main teachers during those earlier years. Maybe this would be something for you to consider.
Angela On Sunday, July 28 at 8:04 pm
Just wanted to comment that I'm in Canada as well and the popularity of homeschooling varies considerably depending on community and the province's attitude toward homeschooling. Many provinces offer funding for homeschoolers if you are registered with a distance learning school, which is also a bonus. You may just find a homeschooling "underground" in your area that you didn't know about when your child was in the school system.
Dona Haggerty On Sunday, July 28 at 8:06 pm
Yes, your reasons (feelings) for homeschooling are very, very valid! Go for it, Mom! I am 60 years old and now the grandmother of four. We have seven children, ranging in age from 33 to 18 and we homeschooled all of them. Some longer than others. In raising our children, I always went with my heart and when I did not, I was so very sorry! I say…GO WITH WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS! Don't worry what others may think or even say. Listen to your son. You are not being overprotective and it is not because you "just don't want to let go". You only have your babies for a short while. Time goes faster than you can even imagine! You may regret NOT homeschooling…but you will never regret homeschooling. Homeschooling forms a bond that can never be broken between you and your children. Your family will be closer and you will find so many positives on the way.
Debbie J. On Monday, July 29 at 7:30 am
Your reasons are valid. You don't want your son to feel pressured to perform beyond his abililty, and it is already becoming an issue so earlly in his public school career. AND, you want to be involved in his life, which is a good thing.
In my opinion the only invalid reasons to homeschool are for the child's harm. Like you homeschool so no one will know your abuse your child.
Terry S On Monday, July 29 at 9:08 am
Unfortunately, we are living in an age where parents should be seen and not heard. Well, actually, not seen either. Reading, writing and arithmatic are no longer "the essentials". It is seen as more important that they are well educated in "alternative lifestyles" and "global warming", and know that they are part of the "COLLECTIVE" Woe be it to the parent that trys to interfer…they may be banned from the school property. Remember, the Romeikes who fled Germany in order to homeschool their children but now the DOJ is trying to deport them. They are a double threat…Christian and parents who care about what their children are taught. By all means, HOME SCHOOL.
Sarah On Monday, July 29 at 9:12 am
Yes! Your reasons are very valid and is the reason that many parents home school- the truth is that parents are the first teachers, and know their children best. YOU should be part of their education, not feel like you just stand by! And as a soon to be home school grad, I can tell you that I will never regret the move from public school to home school. I have grown and matured as an individual and am more grounded in my principles than my peers. I attribute all of that to home schooling. And it sounds like your son is in an uncomfortable situation that is not conducive to learning. School is about truly learning and understanding, not cramming in work.
It's almost impossible in a public school setting for a teacher to give individualized instruction, which is unfortunate, since every child is different. Your son may be a visual leaner, while another kid is comfortable with textbooks. That, in my opinion, is the beauty of home schooling. You know him and his strengths and weaknesses. You can pinpoint those areas and help him polish his strengths, without pressure.
I say you jump in and join the community! God bless
Stacey On Monday, July 29 at 9:33 am
I think that is a perfect reason to homeschool. My younger brother was the same way and my mom put her foot down and said that that was a sign that he was careful and thoughtful about his work. It probably helped that my grandpa and my father are both engineers and that is a characteristic that they share! It can take my dad AGES to get something done, but when it is, it's perfect. He does the mirrors that go on the research satellites. If he were sloppy and quick about that work, they wouldn't work. Maybe your son is going to be an astrophysicist someday and will need these skills he is already showing. Not to have them squelched and ruined by teachers who are in a hurry to keep the group going. I can't wait to find out what my brother is going to do when he finishes college!
Carolann On Monday, July 29 at 10:32 am
Book recommendation:
So You're Thinking About Homeschooling by Lisa Welchel
An extremely helpful and easy read when we were trying to decide!
Denise On Monday, July 29 at 10:38 am
I'd think one of the most important questions to ask yourself is are qualified to be your child's teacher? Not only can you teach the subject matter, but are emotionally suited for the job? . Teaching is a profession and good teachers are worth their wight in gold. If you do not feel you can do the job as well as a professional, and you do not like your current school, perhaps you could check out other schools in the area.
Karen On Monday, July 29 at 12:23 pm
Hi Colleen – I live in Calgary, Alberta, and my daughter is now in college but we started homeschooling in grade 3. I wish we had started earlier because we had a lot of catching up to do to a grade 3 level. She experienced a lot of bullying and was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder when we took her out of school. I think some kids take to school like a duck to water, but others not so well. You have to take a realistic look at your son and the time commitment you're willing to make to decide whether or not to homeschool. There are a lot of great resources in Canada for homeschooling. You'd be pleasantly surprised!
Sharon M On Monday, July 29 at 12:24 pm
We had read a number of articles in which our national teacher's union stated that parents basically didn't know anything, and that they should leave teaching to the professionals. We had talked with parents who were told to stay out of the classroom, and told they should not have any say in what was being taught to their kids. We talked with teachers who took their own children out of the schools because of what they saw in the schools. We were not impressed with the so-called "socialized" students we saw in the public school. We believed that parents are responsible for seeing that their children are educated, and decided that we would not turn that responsibility over to the public schools. We tried private school for awhile, but found that even there, where we know the teachers cared a great deal for our children, that some students were overlooked in even a small class of 10 or 12. So we brought our children home, and never looked back. Our children are grown, all have college degrees, and all are teaching their children at home. I now teach in a small private school, and was talking with a public school teacher. She said there was no support for teachers when they had a discipline problem. Neither the principal, nor the parents, were interested in supporting the teacher. Also, she was told by her principal that students would be assigned to them to be mentored. The teachers were told to "be their parent" at school. They were also told to invite students to their homes to provide further "parenting" time! And while I will agree that there are some parents who aren't doing a good job of it at home, have you taken a good look at public school students? There are many, many of them who are not being educated. Even with all the state testing mandates, we still have students graduating (with a real high school diploma!!!!), applying for a job, and not being able to measure a block of wood. True story! One local business has a number of applicants apply following graduation. They are told to use a ruler to measure a block of wood, and many can't do it. We are not talking about special education students. These are students who have taken all the required courses of math and science, etc., but somehow, they are not being educated. These are your children, if something doesn't seem right, don't ignore it and hope it will go away. Your reasons are valid.
tcmullinax On Monday, July 29 at 12:43 pm
You will never regret home schooling your son.
His great sense of humor should be encouraged constantly.
He shouldn't feel rushed-that takes away the joy of learning and discovering who he is.
No one will love him and guide him better than you.
I know homeschooling isn't common in your area-so what. You are globally connected to all of us on the internet. As you can see from all the heartfelt responses-home school people care and support one another.
Enjoy your son.
"You can do this…we can help!"
Grama Ann On Monday, July 29 at 12:58 pm
No one will care as much about your child as you. Just a thought! ;0)
marilynr On Monday, July 29 at 1:23 pm
Don't do it. Your reasons for wanting to home school are not good for your son. If the local schools were of poor quality, riddled with crime, etc., home schooling would be a sensible alternative. If you lived far away from town and your child would spend an inordinate amount of time on the bus, and miss school due to bad weather, home schooling would be fine. But children get a lot of positive things from school: Socialization with other children, beginnings of their involvement in the real world, and many other things. You are a very loving mother and do not want your child to be unhappy. Unfortunately, he needs to focus less on his comfort, and more on working to the standards of the world. School is the start of it. If his work is slow, or not completed on time, you should be working with the teacher to get him up to speed. He will suffer certain indignities in school, because that is part of growing up. He should not live in a little perfect unreal bubble-world by having education parceled out to him when he wants it, and a selected group of children that will always cater to him. You need to toughten up too. If you keep him from learning to deal with life, what will he do when he is an adult? What kind of adult will he be? Will he be able to hold a job? Or, will he keep getting fired because of poor work performance? Will he be let go because he is not very well educated? Or, will he be intolerant of others not handpicked by you?
There is another reason to not homeschool: The self-discipline of the 'teacher/mom'. Are you going to be rigid about having school hours and completing the curriculum on time? Or are you going to do it 'later, or when you feel like it? If you do not like regimentation yourself, you will not be consistent about keeping him on task and he will get behind. Do you really want to take a large amount of time to go over what you learned in the first grade? Do you have teaching skills? This requires more than turning on a computer, or handing him a bunch of notebooks. You cannot be mommy enjoying a story with him, but be the teacher who takes however long is required to be sure he understands the material, and then makes him finish it on tmie. Teaching is a difficult thing to do, and it should be left to the professionals.
You love your son, but your reasons for homeschooling are so you will not lose him, not because it is good for him. And, the reality is that you will lose your son a little each year, and that is good. When he is 18, he should be ready to take on the world, not be a wimpering lazy mess who wants you to take care of him. Think long and hard about this.
Abbe PB On Monday, July 29 at 10:37 pm
Your post very strongly implies that homeschooling puts children at a disadvantage, and I want to strongly voice my opposition to this idea. All of your concerns about how her son will turn out are not founded in anything but negative stereotypes. The vast – VAST – majority of us who were homeschooled have done extraordinarily well in the "real world." We are not penalized for lack of education, we are not unsocialized, we are not raised in a bubble world, and we are absolutely not anything like the "wimpering lazy mess" you are claiming her son will be if she chooses this route.
I am truly sorry if you have met people who were raised like this. I have as well, but the majority of them were educated in the public school system and coddled at home. Homeschooling does not implicitly shelter children from the hardships of the real world, and in many ways it actually pushes them to generate necessary coping skills and ways of adapting that will help them far better than many of their traditionally educated peers. While some parents do unfortunately choose to inhibit their children from gaining these skills and developing friendships, the majority of parents do not do this and are well aware of what it takes to raise a competent and confident child who can survive and thrive in this world.
We are not talking about an older child or a teen who had a bad experience with a peer. We are talking about a very young boy who is struggling in school who, at best, has been penalized for taking his time on assignments, and at worst has possibly been straight-up bullied by the exact people who were supposed to be helping him learn. For a young child, that is not a "life lesson" or something to "deal with," that is something that needs to be fixed before the bad taste in his mouth sticks around for life and he decides his education isn't worth the hassle.
marilynr On Tuesday, July 30 at 5:24 pm
As a family law attorney, I have seen too many home schooled kids who are behind when they have to go to public school. As much as two years behind.
One homeschooling parent told me he generally got out the books on Friday afternoon for a few hours, each week. One of his kids was a year behind, the other 2 were 2 years behind. Of course, the problem in that situation was that neither parent liked school, neither parent was educated and neither would follow through with regular classes. Personally, I have not yet run across any home schooled kids that were on track academically, and are well adjusted. My opinion is that it is best to leave your children in public school unless they will be sent to an unsafe school, or there is some other problem with the school (distance, etc.). I question whether uneducated people can be good home school teachers. My opinion is that most uneducated, undisciplined people who want to home school their children are more concerned with their own egos, than with their children.
LisaM On Tuesday, October 29 at 8:03 pm
And what about all of us educated, very organized, disciplined people who simply want our children to have a better academic experience? My son's school was not unsafe, but the educational standards are light-years behind him. He can already read, write, add, subtract, tell analog time, beginning fractions, knows a great deal about geography, to include that he can find and identify the US, Canada, Mexico and many other nations such as China, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, even Norway on an unlabeled map. He's 5! I chose to homeschool for a variety of reasons. One, I work full time, but I work second shift. If he were in public school, I would only see him on the weekend. A loss of family bonding is a huge problem for many kids today who identify more with their peers and their values than their adult community and its values. Second, my son has a strong love of learning. He loves to do science experiments, learn about geodes and other geology aspects, chemistry, biology, meteorology, engineering. He has been challenged to build a working (model) car that relies completely on solar, wind or hydro power. Though his design won't be winning any awards today, he did learn some important values about kinetics, simple machines and how electricity works. My son has passed the state standards for every subject for first grade (he's only in kindergarten) and been evaluated by our state (a requirement). I have multiple advanced degrees and I love learning. I make it a habit to read and learn about anything I can.
Homeschooling is a parent/student specific process. Each family has their own needs, strengths and weaknesses. Homeschooling is not for every family. But, homeschooling does work and work very well for a very large group of people. Generalizations, especially those based on families that you have run in to as an attorney, are not helpful to any of the groups involved. It should be considered that families who generally need a family law attorney may have other problems in their home that go beyond the scope of their schooling. Yours may not be the best test cases to draw from.
jenny rosie On Monday, July 29 at 1:44 pm
I'll probably get it bad for what I'm about to write. Its just that I know too many homeschooling families who, in my estimation, are not responsibly educating their children.
I have a child in public school and I believe very strongly that the reason why our public schools are struggling is that as soon as a parent feels that his child is not receiving a "top-notch" education, or that the school is pushing a "worldly" agenda on his child, he yanks his child out and heads for the home-schooling hills.
I am not opposed to homeschooling, but I believe that Christian families should be a part of a community containing both "believers" and "non believers". Children should know how to deal with those who do NOT share the same belief system. I know some homeschooling families who strive to keep their kids in such communities but, sadly, most homeschooling families stick with their church or homeschooling organization.
Before you pull your child out of public school, I believe that you should try every avenue to connect to the school. Drive the administration nuts with questions and suggestions, attend PTA meetings, hook your kid up with as many play-dates as possible, meet with the teacher and volunteer when you can, do your research. Most of all, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.
Show the school and your community that you are committed to being part of a solution.
In short, YES you should have a valid reason for homeschooling your child.
I never dreamed that my son's education would be as important to me as it is. Its becoming clearer to me with each passing year that his schooling is not book learning; its learning how to be a friend, how do work through difficulties, how to function outside of his home in a responsible, caring way. This makes things very challenging for me because I have to become involved and invested in his schooling. When he learns something in school that goes against the values we teach him at home, I have to show him how not to be afraid and to know through and through what he believes and to stand firm with compassion.
My number one job as his mom is to help him know who he is, recognize and process through his emotions and point toward the one who holds all the answers and loves him the most.
Lesley On Monday, July 29 at 3:58 pm
Let me introduce you to the First Amendment. It says we are free to associate with those we wish.
marilynr On Tuesday, July 30 at 5:08 pm
I agree with you completely.
Another thought: Most public schools can test for learning disabilities, vision, hearing, etc. They also have programs for gifted children. They have sports teams for teenagers. They have dances for teenagers. It is possible that the original writer's son has a problem finishing on time because he has a learning disability. It is also possible he is just spoiled. Public schools would identify if he has a learning disability, and have a program to deal with it, so he can come up to speed. None of this happens with home schooling.
SoCalLynn On Tuesday, July 30 at 6:11 pm
I don't know one single homeschool family who hasn't put their heart and soul into their kids' education. Most homeschool families I've met have students who have graduated from college, early, and are well on their way to being productive, happy, well adjusted members of society. Just do a little bit of research and you'll find out that homeschool kids consistently score far above public school students on all standardized testing, even though many homeschool families detest standardized testing.
jenny rosie On Tuesday, July 30 at 9:54 pm
Lesley… I feel like you didn't really read what I wrote. Of course we all have freedom to associate with whom we want. I believe that I have and OBLIGATION to stick things out with my school and my community. This obligation comes from my firm commitment to the teachings in the bible. It's also my job to teach my son to do the same. If a family chooses to homeschool their child, I believe they are still obligated to expose their child to his/her community.
SoCallLynn…Most homeschooling parents I know DO pour their hearts and souls into educating their children and they have bright kids. Some days I am tempted to pull my son out and homeschool him myself. In the end, I always conclude that he will learn more staying where he is. Educating a child, in my opinion, must include more than focusing on high scores. A child must be taught how to function in the real world. I don't believe that a church or homeschool organization is necessarily an accurate cross-section of society.
Kara On Friday, August 2 at 3:30 pm
Lesley – if that is what you think the 1st Amendment means, then you shouldn't be homeschooling anyone
LisaM On Tuesday, October 29 at 8:09 pm
And what about all of us Non-Christians who homeschool? Also for Marilynr, my son's doctor can test for all of those things, gifted programs aren't available in every school, have you seen what happens at those school dances and on those sports teams?? And those things are available to my son as well (dances and sports teams) which he participates in the sports teams. He is too young for dances yet. Lots of children go through the public school system with undiagnosed learning disabilities. This is often do to the fact that one poor teacher is dealing with 30+ kids and simply can't discover the nuances of every child every time.
Jessica Andres On Monday, July 29 at 2:23 pm
These feelings of being "cut off" from school caught me off guard! My youngest son of three is going into SK this year in Canada and I can honestly say that, that thought never entered mt head:) It never occurred to me that teachers might act this way. Maybe they are with me but I ignorantly missed it. I often come into the classroom in the morning with my kids and volunteer often and am on first name basis with all their teachers. I feel very strongly that my children are my responsibility (and my property) and I have every interest and right to know any and everything that is going on! I would love to home school but my husband (rightly) reminds me that I could not do it:) Unless of course I absolutely had to then i know I can do anything!
Sarah On Monday, July 29 at 3:51 pm
Every sincere reason for homeschooling is valid. You are the mother. This is ultimately your call and only you can say when your child's education is not adequate. Good luck!
Septembersmiles On Monday, July 29 at 4:48 pm
I was a public school teacher and now homeschool my own children. Children learn in different ways and excel in different areas. There is no way a school can individualize for each student but you can at home. I would never cut out the things they are not good at but they can do more of the things they like and do things like reading about the things that interest them. Teach your family values in read alouds. There are great curriculums that are totally set up for you or you can piece it together. I loved teaching but I see many advantages to homeschooling!
Lori Jeffries On Monday, July 29 at 5:50 pm
I agree with the idea that you should go with your instincts. I wish I had followed mine earlier. We didn't begin homeschooling until my oldest was in 4th grade. I wish we had begun earlier. Another thing to consider. There is a whole body of research to suggest that children may not be ready to sit and attend to formal education until 8, and that is doubly true of boys. So the fact that he may take longer is pretty normal esp. for a boy and says NOTHING about his abilities. Finally, during the years my sons were in public school, my first goal was that they learned to love learning. That is still my goal.
Remember, homeschooling is not a forever commitment. You can homeschool and choose to revisit that decision every year.
Gayle On Monday, July 29 at 7:30 pm
Oh boy! I don't know if I could home school, but I have spent a lot of time tutoring both of my children who are now in high school. Personally, I am not a fan of public schools and believe that private schools were the best option and experience for my two. There is a lot of structure, discipline and experiences that I could not give them if I home schooled. Besides, here in my state, home schooling is not recognized and the kids have to take the G.E.D. exam to be able to go to college. Is there school of choice in your area? That might be an option if you do not like the school that is in your residence area. All things aside, you have to make the best decision for your child. Good luck!
lydia On Monday, July 29 at 8:43 pm
If you do not homeschool, don't like homeschooling, and want to insult homeschoolers . . . why in the world do you come to this section of Ree's Web site? Why? Are you the president of your local teachers' union or something? If there were a section of the Web site devoted to public schooling, and I were an exclusively homeschooling mom, I would not hang out on that section and blast moms and dads for publically schooling their kids. I would not. Why do you all like to come on this section and insult homeschoolers? Cut it out.
That is all. Sorry to vent. I'm just sick of seeing this happen again and again. Some poor soul comes on with an honest question about homeschooling and all the naysayers jump on board with the ignorant, stereotyping comments about homeschooling that seem to be all they can write. Quit painting us all with the same broad paintbrush — we're not L'il Abner up in the hills ruining our kids' lives because we don't do no math or science book larnin'.
SoCalLynn On Tuesday, July 30 at 6:14 pm
Claire On Wednesday, July 31 at 7:41 am
I used to tutor, hope to return to it, and still care deeply about education. So I like to check in on this blog for the resources. I think a lot of the criticism here hasn't been too insulting. Rather it's meant to caution folks considering home-schooling against jumping into it without fully considering the full scope of consequences and requirements. My biggest recommendation to anyone considering teaching/tutoring is to take some college level courses on education and child development. It's literally an eye opener and will give you some great ideas on how to better connect to kids.
cara On Wednesday, July 31 at 7:54 am
Claire, You have a refreshing note to your post. Unfortunately, the HSers that frequent this site have the notion and repeat the mantra that "I love my child the most, therefore I am the best teacher". Your unpretentious recommendation hopefully will be taken to heart.
Stephanie On Tuesday, July 30 at 7:13 am
I have not read through any of the other 90 comments. I just don't have the minutes to do this. BUT, my son is going into 8th grade this Fall. We are homeschooling him for the first time. He started his school career at a private Christian school, but switched to public in 5th grade. I, too, thought all was fine. I, too, felt very unneeded and not required any longer, where I was always at his private school, volunteering or eating lunch or being there to celebrate their learning. So, at the end of the 7th grade, God began to show me this option of homeschooling. Over this summer I've prayed about it, I've discussed it, I've read books on it, I've researched blogs about it….and last Friday night my husband and I wanted the movie "indoctrination". That movie solidified my decision to homeschool. We have a three year old daughter…she too, will be homeschooled.
I hope you can find a solution to your heart's question, but from what I hear in your question – you seem to be the perfect candidate to homeschool. My son, switched to a new private school in the 2nd grade…that teacher told him he was not a good reader….he's 13 and hates to read and still believes her – even though he was a good reader – he was SLOW when he read outloud – BUT he was only in 2ND GRADE. I hate that comment from that teacher – and if your son is hearing the same lies from his teacher in 1st grade – I'd have a word with that teacher and yank him from school.
Do what your heart says and makes sense for your family! Praying for you!
Cheryl C. On Tuesday, July 30 at 9:08 am
I homeschooled my children in Canada. You are mistaken if you think it is uncommon. There are many many homeschoolers and homeschool groups that you can become part of to support you in your homeschooling efforts (at least in the larger centres). You should be encouraged to follow your gut reaction to your situation. In Alberta at least, you could send your child to the school (if you register him/her there that is) for some subjects and do some at home. For example, I sent mine to the school for options one year. The school board office in your area can tell you what to do to arrange to homeschool. When a child dreads school this is a red flag. He may not always feel this way but as he does now I say honor his spirit and self-esteem by mastering his skills with you for a while at least. My daughter schooled at home for 2 years and asked to go back (Grade 8). After doing this by March she was ready to come back home! By this time she had developed such a good work ethic and self-discipline that she was annoyed with the amount of time wasted in class and the mind-numbing amount of repetition. I always stuck with the program of studies for our province in case anything happened to me or our situation so that if they had to go back to classroom they would do so from the same place study wise. Good luck!
Steph On Tuesday, July 30 at 10:38 am
My philosophy is that if Kindergarten isn't GREAT, school probably isn't the thing for the child. If your feelings were mine, I'd pull him out now. Try something new before the crush of unreasonable expectations (for him) hurts his desire to do a good job and passion for learning.
Lisa On Tuesday, July 30 at 10:49 am
This is such a great topic for discussion. I have read with interest almost all of the responses and the same questions keep coming to mind.
First, in your case, who will benefit most from home schooling? Would the child benefit from staying home or will the parent benefit from the child being home? You ask the question "is this just me not wanting to let go?" How will you know the answer to that?
Second, you state that the child has been told he is too slow at coloring and cutting. Who said this? Did you speak to that person? Did they say it or did the child perceive it? Was it an adult or another student? Does it matter?
The child just finished kindergarten, not his senior year of high school. Before making the decision to homeschool any responsible parent needs to carefully evaluate all of the W's, who, what, when, why, and how. It may be the perfect solution for you and your family, or it isn't. Parents make all kinds of mistakes in rearing their children. No matter what you decide I hope you have the wisdom to recognize after a reasonable amount of time if it was right for your child and if not, to correct course in time to make reparation where needed. After all, that is what parenting is. None of us has ever raised our children before and no child is like any other. Best to you in your decision making.
Laura M On Tuesday, July 30 at 11:38 am
Parental involvement has a different meaning for teacher and parent. I know, because I am a teacher and a parent. As a teacher, parental involvement is help when requested for various classroom activities, special events etc. it does not consist of a parent hovering over their child's every move. As a parent sometimes parental involvement is construed as having the teacher available to discuss every minute aspect of a child's education.
Finishing work within a concrete framework of time is an important aspect of life, one of your concerns was your child missing recess due to unfinished work. This is one area where I have seen many homeschooled students struggle if they return to a traditional setting. Circumstances change, a parent might have to return to work, take care of am ailing parent and the child has to return to a traditional school setting.
My son was miserable in kindergarten, his teacher was awful. We just reinforced that every year would be a different teacher, some he would like some not so much. The life lesson of adjusting to different personalities is one more important life skill.
I have seem children thrive in a homeschool environment and I have seen quite the opposite. Just a few things to consider.
Maria On Friday, August 9 at 8:52 pm
I used to volunteer in my sons classroom when he was little. I was rarely asked to work with him. Instead I'd be given kids who needed the extra help or whose parents weren't able/willing to work with them.
I stopped volunteering in the classroom around 3rd grade because he no longer wanted me there (too babyish) , but I was still more than welcome to help in the school.
LisaM On Tuesday, October 29 at 8:27 pm
I do agree with you that learning to adapt to different personalities and learning to complete work in a concrete amount of time is an important life skill. However, if those lessons come with the intense hatred or dread of learning… which is more important? I think this all comes down to priorities. All of these skills are important. I personally homeschool because I value cultivating critical thinking skills, creativity and a love for learning above dealing with different personalities and time restrictions. My son is only 5. He gets the opportunity to practice social skills, conflict resolution and other skills on the playground at the park, during team sports (which I require him to do something-anything- at all times, be it Tball, Soccer, gymnastics, karate, dance, whatever), at friends' birthday parties, and other very very frequent activities. As he approaches middle and high school, those skills will be enhanced and reinforced through advanced courses offered through our local college (to kids as young as middle school for homeschoolers in our area), more team sports and activities and internships and study groups. I do not believe that a five year old needs to learn those lessons at this juncture at the expense of his love of learning.
But this is just my opinion, my child, our family. It is different for everyone. My son is VERY social (I swear the kid has never met a stranger) and has friends everywhere. Kids, adults, it doesn't matter. THere are people at the grocery store, the local art galleries, the library, the marine museum, the post office (just to name a few) that know him by name and frequently interact with him. My son employs conflict resolution skills frequently on the playground (kids are kids wherever you go)
Elle C. On Tuesday, July 30 at 11:47 am
"My son dreads school". It's only Kindergarten, and your son already has the sense that he can't approach learning in the style that is best for him. He obviously cares enough about his work that he wants to be careful and do it right, and yet he is reprimanded for that. It only gets more extreme and more high pressure from there. How do you WANT your child to feel about learning, about expressing himself, about work? After 3 years of homeschooling, I've become convinced that the single most important thing about educating a child is helping them learn to LOVE learning. If they begin to hate learning, no amount of schooling will help.
ellen s On Tuesday, July 30 at 2:15 pm
Many years ago, my husband and I made the decision to home school our children after seeing how lovely our neighbor's children were, but, that they couldn't spell and seeing how much other friends were paying for private school tuition for their children. That decision was the best one we ever made. We home schooled for their entire education. We made sure that they learned the basics and received a classic and moral education. We made education the number one priority . They are now both in college and doing well. Two dean's list students!
Colleen, your son is yours. You understand him best. You can do it. Go for it.
Julie On Tuesday, July 30 at 4:58 pm
I can't tell you whether or not to homeschool your child, but I can tell you that the pressure to do things quickly decreases as the child advances through the school system. I was also very slow at doing things when I was young; my first grade teacher told my mother that I was very smart, but too slow at accomplishing tasks. When I entered middle school and high school, the ability to do things well outweighed doing things quickly; I graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA and am now a physics major at Boston University.
Aneta On Tuesday, July 30 at 5:19 pm
Hi, I'm originally from Poland, but live in USA for close to 10 years. My son is only 2, but for about a year now i've been thinking about homeschooling when the time comes. I feel that when it comes down to your children, to their well being and their education you have to listen to your heart. You know your child best and if homeschooling feels rigth to you, i say that's all you need. Don't listen to anyone who might try to discourage you because at the end of the day, this is your life and you don't want to wonder what if or regret anything. I say go for it, give it a try, you can always put your son back in school if homeschooling doesn't work out.
All my best,
Carla On Tuesday, July 30 at 7:17 pm
I'm a college professor teaching business courses to undergraduates online. I love education in general, but I can say I'm not thrilled with public education. I only have one son and he will be entering first grade this fall. I wish there were some hybrid schooling options – part time public education and part time home schooling where he could get the best of both worlds.
SoCalLynn On Tuesday, July 30 at 10:39 pm
Many homeschool co-ops and public charter schools are just that, part time at a classroom setting and part-time at home. Also, Classical Conversations is the same (although not a public school.) I think you would be amazed at the wonderful opportunities and many variations out there for homeschoolers.