Home Schooling the way to go?

[skyline]

Does anybody have experience w/ home schooling? I am really considering it! I can handle my son (he's 5) saying a cuss word here and there...but when he come's home from school talking like he's in a porn movie...I tend to get a little be nice!

I'm reluctant to wade in, but here I go... We have 3 daughters and we had similar problems with neighbors and kids at school. We considered home schooling, but after much prayer and consideration, my wife and I decided that it probably would not work for us. I don't have a thing against it, we just didn't feel that it was a good fit for our family. We don't hold ourselves up to be perfect parents, but what we did was move out of the subdivision onto property so that we could control who the kids spent their time with and when. Where we used to live, we had kids hanging around all the time and some of them were not good influences. We also got the kids involved in a fantastic church youth group and encouraged them to spend their time with kids whose families shared our values. We are pretty strict about what they watch on TV and when something comes on TV that doesn't match our values, we explain that we don't say or do that and why. We don't let them veg out in front of the TV or computer without us knowing what they are watching or doing (till they reach a certain level of maturity.) When something comes up at school, when appropriate, we deal with the teacher or principal. If it's just a passing issue, we just talk it over with the girls and help them understand our values and why we don't talk like that or act like that. It's working pretty good for us. I've got 3 daughters that I am very proud of. They are in the world, but they're not of the world.

This is just they way we do things. Not condemning anyone else for how they raise their kids.

 

[CattleHand]

As for the early learning you have provided, studies show that by the time kids reach third grade, the kids who were early readers will be at the same pace with the late starters because they will naturally catch up to one another and level out. I used to tell that to parents who wanted their kids to read as three year olds. It isn't developmentally appropriate at that age, and although it is great if you can do it, it won't necessarily indicate that your child is gifted.

That's the biggest bunch of bull propagated by educators who achieve that claim by holding back children. I read at 3-4 because I was determined to read, so it was "developmentally appropriate". I have a daughter and now a grandson who are the same way. The grandson is 9, in the 4th grade, and reads at a 12th grade level.

I think the studies Lammie is referring to make since if those kids are only taught at school. If you teach a three year old to read and then send them to school when they are in kindergarten and don't continue to teach them to read on your own, of course the other kids who were never taught will catch up to your child. Your grandson is probably such a great reader, because your daughter keeps it reinforced at home. What was a big part in my education was the way my dad constantly quizzed us in math (even though we went to public school). It really helped my brother and I become strong (and ahead) in math. That's something I would suggest for you when it comes to thinking about your child's education. Every night when we went to bed he would sit in there and say a math problem went from addition, subtraction, multiplication to division (something like 6*4). Then my brother and I would try to see who could answer it first, if we didn't know it he told it to us and we just kept doing that. Good thing to do while getting ready for bed imo. Once he realized we were doing well in math but rather illiterate, he did the same thing except working on English. Said a sentence as asked what the noun, verb, adverb, etc. were. Sure helped me when it came to learning.

 

[Angus Cowman]

I have seen the good and bad of both situations
Homeschooling takes a lot of dedication and structure and it can work
I have noticed the ones it doesn't work for is the ones where the parents blame the school for their childs actions and disciplinary problems
A good friends daughter is a freshman and she decided she wanted to be home schooled this girl is very bright and outgoing and has always been on the honor role
she is doing exceptionally well at home and she is learning valuable life lessons she has started doing some of the book work and record keeping for their farm and business and doing a great job

She is a very outgoing person and is involved in alot of social activities

 

[Lammie]

As for the early learning you have provided, studies show that by the time kids reach third grade, the kids who were early readers will be at the same pace with the late starters because they will naturally catch up to one another and level out. I used to tell that to parents who wanted their kids to read as three year olds. It isn't developmentally appropriate at that age, and although it is great if you can do it, it won't necessarily indicate that your child is gifted.

That's the biggest bunch of bull propagated by educators who achieve that claim by holding back children. I read at 3-4 because I was determined to read, so it was "developmentally appropriate". I have a daughter and now a grandson who are the same way. The grandson is 9, in the 4th grade, and reads at a 12th grade level.

Okay, dollbaby. I'm not going to get into this with anyone. I have a background in early childhood learning and I also was a Kindergarten teacher, preschool teacher, curriculum supervisor and mother of two boys who started reading, on their own, at six. It didn't worry me in the least. They had a strong foundation. They are A students.

Barring disability, kids will level off. I have seen it. The difference is in whether or not the kids enjoy to read, in my belief. Children will learn to read placed in the right environment. You can't stop them. It's amazing. But some kids get pushed to learn before they can really appreciate what they are doing and it can lead to a someone who does not like reading. Some kids learn early. It is the ones who enjoy reading and who read for context that will do better in school, any school.

There is no government plot against home schoolers.

I could go on but I know it wouldn't make any difference.

 

[Chris H]

Okay, dollbaby. I'm not going to get into this with anyone. I have a background in early childhood learning and I also was a Kindergarten teacher, preschool teacher, curriculum supervisor and mother of two boys who started reading, on their own, at six. It didn't worry me in the least. They had a strong foundation. They are A students.

Barring disability, kids will level off. I have seen it. The difference is in whether or not the kids enjoy to read, in my belief. Children will learn to read placed in the right environment. You can't stop them. It's amazing. But some kids get pushed to learn before they can really appreciate what they are doing and it can lead to a someone who does not like reading. Some kids learn early. It is the ones who enjoy reading and who read for context that will do better in school, any school.

There is no government plot against home schoolers.

I could go on but I know it wouldn't make any difference.

The highlighted parts are exactly what's wrong with many public schools -- teachers who think they know everything. The parents are considered to be stupid and are addressed in condescending words and tones. The parents are even too ignorant to be given facts from valid studies because "it wouldn't make any difference". I am not surpised at all that all the children you've seen, "level off".

By the way, what's with "no government plot against home schoolers"? I certainly never said that, so why address me with that ridiculous comment?


edited to add: You still haven't given me any proof of your belief that "all children level off".

 

[Lammie]

I believe it was you who first started to talk down to me, not the other way around.

I stand by what I say. Kids will learn naturally placed in the right environment. I don't have anything against home schooling, per se. I just think that a lot of parents, well meaning or not, will try this and do more harm than good.

And for your information, I recieved a warm PM from Showtime today, to which I responded in kind. I wish her and her children the best and I certainly do support her in whatever path she chooses. It is a hard decision and not to be taken lightly.

I do not know it all. Far from it. No one does. All children are different and will learn their own way and public schools are not always good fit. It has to do with the way teachers are taught to be teachers. Flawed to be sure. But it can work and does every day.

There is no one way to go about educating one's children. Most of the teachers I know really want their students to learn and be enriched by the experience they have in the class room. They work long hours before and after school going the extra mile for their students. They are extremely dedicated to their work.

 

[Chris H]

I believe it was you who first started to talk down to me, not the other way around.

I stand by what I say. Kids will learn naturally placed in the right environment. I don't have anything against home schooling, per se. I just think that a lot of parents, well meaning or not, will try this and do more harm than good.

And for your information, I recieved a warm PM from Showtime today, to which I responded in kind. I wish her and her children the best and I certainly do support her in whatever path she chooses. It is a hard decision and not to be taken lightly.

I do not know it all. Far from it. No one does. All children are different and will learn their own way and public schools are not always good fit. It has to do with the way teachers are taught to be teachers. Flawed to be sure. But it can work and does every day.

There is no one way to go about educating one's children. Most of the teachers I know really want their students to learn and be enriched by the experience they have in the class room. They work long hours before and after school going the extra mile for their students. They are extremely dedicated to their work.

If you're going to stand by what you say, then provide links to any studies to back up your claims. Otherwise, you're just blowing smoke.

 

[angie1]

Chris I was a public school teacher for 14 years and a mom even longer. I have 2 children read at the 98th%tile in national assessments, and 2 who struggle in reading. The difference was not in their education, it is (as Lammie correctly states), in whether or not the kids enjoy to read. You were determined to read at a young age because you enjoyed reading. Children will learn what they are motivated to learn. You and yours were motivated readers. The problem is not, as you state, with "teachers who think they know everything" any more than it is with parents who walk in with a chip on their shoulder and an attitude caught sideways.

Most of the teachers I know really want their students to learn and be enriched by the experience they have in the class room. They work long hours before and after school going the extra mile for their students. They are extremely dedicated to their work.

This has been my experience as well, and I have worked with many many teachers.

 

[Lammie]

I don't have to prove a thing to you. It wouldn't do any good anyway. I am sure you are armed with your own research. I am also sure that for every point there is an equal and opposite view, complete with research. Kinda like cigarette smoking and seatbelts. You only find out the truth after the fact. Most research is flawed and bent to reflect one side or another, intentional or not.

I stand by what I said as a matter of principle, experience, training and through working with hundreds of children throughout the years.

I am not picking a fight with anyone and I certainly am not going to waste time trying to prove something to someone who won't believe anything but their own point of view. Quit trying to pick a fight with me. This isn't about you. This about a mother making a difficult decision about the education of her children. I don't think that home schooling is for everyone. It won't solve all problems. It is not the be all end all. It is just one option within a range of options.

You are just mad because I didn't say what you wanted to hear and because I called you dollbaby. Get over it, dollbaby.