A slow start
While I wish it was easy to jump into the groove of schooling, it hasn’t been. Afterall, nearly three weeks ago I gave birth to our third child. Therefore, juggling everything has been a bit of a challenge, and I’ve put off some of the lessons for another day… or another week.
I suppose that’s the nice thing about homeschooling. It’s on my time and my schedule… and delaying things is not an issue, as long as we get around to it. Plus, we only spend a couple hours “in school”… which is usually divided into thirty minutes here and there, with a nap or break inbetween.
I’m still putting together the lessons for this trimester (breaking the school year into thirds makes it easier for me), but have relished the inspiration I’ve received from my friends and homeschooling bloggers. I love to see how and what others are teaching their children!
Truth be told, I think know I learn just as much as my children do- even if it’s just a refresher of the knowledge I once held. Learning as a family is such a joy, even if it is a bit hectic at times!
20071002 8:35 pm
It works!
20071005 3:49 am
Why would you homeschool your children? I believe that you can teach them basic grammar and english, maybe a little art, but what about when they’re older? What if they want Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Trigonometry? How will you teach them that? Sure, you can buy the books and have your children learn that way, but they need a certified instructor. Someone that has been there, and done that. My chemistry teacher in highschool worked at a pharmacutical manufacturing plant, he knew what careers there were for us, and what it all entailed. We leared best from him. If I had my parents teaching me, I know I wouldn’t have learned anything! It wouldn’t have sunken in at all!
You are really doing a disservice to your children. You’re a horrible mother on this account.
20071005 3:51 am
And what about social integration. I’m sure that the playground can be a brutal place, but that doesn’t amount to anything! You child needs to be around others. You can’t always be there for him/her. Just let it go!
20071006 11:14 pm
I wonder who Alicia is and why she seems to think she has the knowledge to bash homeschooling when she obviously knows very little about what it entails…
I think you are a wonderful, insightful mother! I’m looking forward to seeing what activities you all are up to. Are you using a curriculum, making your own lessons, or using any certain methods? I am still looking into Montessori schooling, and I’m also really interested in unschooling in general for when Rosie is older.
20071010 8:21 am
What everyone has failed to “inform” me of is further schooling. As previously stated: What about the more difficult classes where a specialized instructor (not super-good computer programs or what have you) is needed?
20071015 1:29 am
I believe in being informed on both sides of an issue. So to judge someone as a “bad mother” is not helpful, especially when the facts aren’t known. And actually, it’s not for other’s to inform you. Mother’s had to do their own searching and considering. They don’t have alot of time to completely educate everyone. They are busy educating themselves of the pros/cons.
There is so much social interaction in homeschooling. Church, sports, play groups, and classes that homeschoolers may attend. People may not realize that colleges, such as Rice, Harvard, etc….are promoting homeschoolers to come to their college. They say there is a great difference in homeschoolers who have been properly homeschooled.
Algebra is NOT my forte! But there are videos, games, tutors, classes, and work books for the child and answers for the parents. Same for other classes. In homeschooling groups, there are classes for parents who prefer some subjects be taught in a classroom setting with a teacher.
And there are so many ways to teach things. As they are older, let them buy groceries….there is math involved. They can cook – math is involved, among other things they need to know in life. And preparing for the SAT or whatever test you choose, there are CD’s/DVD’s that really help. There are distractions….horns honking, people talking, etc……, to prepare them for the distractions that may occur.
Again, it’s a choice. I realized that alot of my child’s day in school was spent in watching TV, and actually on a few hours on subjects. And the subjects are based on a broad range of teaching all types of learnng abilities. Which is fine if your child is doing well. Homeschoolling can be done in a few hours, and you actually get more done in one day than teachers are able to get done in a week. They are tested by the same tests that schoolers are, and usually are a few grades ahead.
So….it’s not a wise idea to call someone a “a bad mom” unless you really know both sides. And if anyone doesn’t agree with something a mom does (besides abuse!), then remember…..there are other moms who don’t agree with your parenting in certain areas. Everyone comments on the “social” limitions…..and that is very far from the truth.
We had no problems getting into college……and were actually welcomed with open arms!!
Everyone is always welcome to have an opinion – but opinions are best when every side is considered. Homeschooling is not for everyone…..but that doesn’t mean anyone is a good/bad mother. She is well informed and has made a choice that fits her and her children and is making a huge commitment, if she decides to homeschool. Libraries have plenty of information and homeschoolling groups, especially when they are older, are easily found. And there are stores that cater to this group and have wonderful ways to teach certain subjects, or to find tutors, etc….. And the graduation is very intimate, and the parents give the child their diploma after a short speech.
We teach our children not to judge, not to say bad things about someone, to be kind, and accept all races. Jumping to conclusions
is an excerise that makes life hard when “socializing”, and not a good idea as an example. And isn’t that what parenting is all about? Showing our children to be open to ideas that seem “outside the box?”.
20071017 11:50 pm
Wow; well at least we’ve seen what kind of grammar comes out of public schools!
20071018 5:22 pm
I, for one, commend you for homeschooling! We’ve been radically unschooling for over 8 years now and it has been a beautiful thing. I had to laugh at Davney’s comment, because that jumped out at me too – 12 years of public schooling to produce sentences like “It wouldn’t have sunken in at all!” made me cringe. But I digress.
The socialization criticism is bunk, too. My kids are very well socialized. We’ve been involved in theatre groups, homeschooling groups, and community groups. My children interact with schooled and homeschooled kids all the time, and also regularly interact with adults. They get real life – not life as depicted in textbooks and canned, separated-out, dulled-down lessons. When my children and I choose to do something, we delve as deeply as we want. Their knowledge on certain topics borders on expert, because they have the time and my support and facilitation to explore their interests to the fullest extent desired.
My 14 yr old was offered a job at a computer company after we walked in one day and asked if he could hang out and learn from them. He’s a computer guru and can build computers from scratch, program in several languages, and design video games including 3D graphic animation. All self-taught.
My youngest is an aspiring writer, pianist, comic strip author, actor, chef and soccer player. He spends his time on these pursuits and has an impressive resume for an 11 yr old.
Homeschooling is certainly not for everyone, so don’t take the critic’s words too seriously. They get to make their own choices. Live and let live. I actually have a post that addresses the questions/criticism of others here – http://piscesgrrrl.blogspot.com/2007/08/q-time.html
Happy homeschooling to you!
20071019 4:04 am
Just what is that supposed to mean, that I have poor grammar. Yes, and learning from someone that has no teaching ability must merit better grammar, I suppose?
Just one more — final — question: Could you teach, comprehensively, Trigonometry? Trig is not something that you can teach — easiy — through simulated programs! I just don’t know how I can explain it any better.
20071019 4:15 am
Excuse me, there is one final thing that just popped in my apparently uneducated brain: In every science class I have been in, even from seventh year, I have used a microscope to better use and understand scientific materials. How will YOU provide this for your child? Just looking — and only looking, through the “magic” of DVDs — at, say, Elodea cells can not truly show you how to make a correct wet-mount through trial-and-error, can it?
Do most home schooled children that continue to college chose to major in a science/math-related fields? From what my uneducated ears hear, and from what my eyes read, the majority of these students chose majors that aren’t — let’s just these majors aren’t as academically challanging as Clinical Laboratory Science/Microbiology. Interesting.
20071019 11:40 am
Alicia,
I don’t personally have time to go into detail about all your questions (although I think it’s great you raise these questions as they are valid). I encourage you to check out http://joyfullyrejoycing.com. She has answered nearly every question I’ve come across (whether in my own mind or through someone else). The website is loaded with information- so if these questions of yours are genuine (and not just attacks.. which I hope is not your goal) you should be able to find answers there. It’s very informative.
God bless!
20071026 9:51 am
Dear Alicia:
As an ex-teacher in the hospital setting, (19 yrs) there are those who want natural births, epidurals before they get to the hospital and Cesareans, even when unnecessary. They each have a reason, and if they are informed, then I would support them in anything – including giving them info on how to talk to their doctor, who might be against their wishes.
Why am I saying something completely off the subject? Just an example of how different people are, yet they MUST do what comforts them in having the birth of their choice.
What I noticed when they would come by to show me their baby, they were almost apologetic, because they had a preconception that I wouldn’t approve of their choices. I would praise them for getting what they wanted – even if I didn’t agree. THEY were happy with the birth, and that’s what is important.
Don’t worry about being defensive or hiding the feelings of “incompetence” or whatever you’re feeling. My son made it through the school system and graduated with honors. Mandy has a completely different way of learning, and schooling was not helping her reach her potiential.
And you know what? I don’t think I could have homeschooled in their early years. There were many things going on in our lives, and I needed them to be schooled. Otherwise, it would have been disasterous!! Do I feel guilty? Well, I wish I could be more like my daughter, but at that time, I couldn’t. So, NO, I don’t feel guilty. I just couldn’t do it, but had extra activities in the summer to keep their brains charged. I didn’t HAVE to do that either. Many of my friends homeschool their children. (I started early having children, so they are raising their children and I’m enjoying grandchildren!!
I’m happy for them and they children are very intelligent and mannerly. Does that come from “unschooling”?? No, it comes from parents who teach and expect manners, etc…. from their children. Remember – my son graduated with honors at a public school.
If your child(ren) are doing well in school, and it’s best for the family, then don’t you think you are making the right choice? I bet you are a very good mother. Yet mother’s are put under the microscope on everything they do as a mother. It becomes a competition – and then feelings are hurt. In the news paper, there was a list of the most STRESSFUL jobs. Guess what was #1 ? A MOTHER !!! Well, of course!! Mother’s are producing the next generation of those who will “rule” the country, be productive, etc….. Now THAT is scary to carry that burden. It makes us have so many mixed feelings and afraid of NOT being the best mother!!
There are many times we have to sacrifice when we don’t want too. But, ’tis mothering. When flying on a plane – what does the attendant say???? I have it memorized!!
“IF IN THE RARE EVENT THAT WE LOSE CABIN PRESSURE, MASKS WILL COME DOWN FROM ABOVE. (showing us what happens). FIRST, PUT ON YOUR MASK, THEN, IF THERE IS SOMEONE OR A CHILD WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE, HELP THEM WITH THEIRS.”
WHAT???? Save yourself before your child? Yep….how can you save your child if you are passed out? Mandy often refers to her MIL taking the children for a while. She is refilling her oxygen of motherhood, then she can come back refreshed and ready to get back into motherhood. I had to do that…..and did I get comments? Oh, yeah! “I never had to do that”. Of course not…..if you live around family, then everyone helps the other out. But that’s not our world today. Did that make me feel quilty? Yes, it did, but I still had to do what was best to help me be a good mother.
Believe me – every family is different and every family does the best they can. And I believe you are doing that ! You are asking very good questions – questions that I wondered about at first. But, in the homeschooling stores, there are all the microscopes, etc…. and it can be learned at home. As for me? Algebra II was as far as I thought I could handle – so that’s why parents/child(ren) are in a group and classes just for these type subjects – when parents don’t feel equiped. I know it’s hard to imagine, but I learned that homeschoolers learn things just as well as schoolers – but at the child’s pace. And one thing I do know…..I came out a smarter mother!!
You, Alisha, still “homeschool” your children, because they are learning something from you everyday. YOU are the most important teacher in their life, even if they are schooled.
So – to each their own!! And THAT’S what makes the world go around!! Pat yourself on the back – you are doing what is best for your family. Another lifestyle IS interesting, but don’t take a lifestyle that’s different from your’s, defensively.
I think everyone would like to hear what you do as a mother that you are proud of !! I know I would ! I made it through motherhood half way sane and didn’t eat my children – even when I wanted too.
Hey…..I’m glad now! They are great adults – which I wondered sometimes if we all would live through the teenage years!!
Have a great day, Moms !!
20071220 4:49 pm
WOW! I used to think like Alicia. Jesse was homeschooled, but severly sheltered. He was taught nothing of the “real” world and in his homeschooling lessons was taught to fear God and that he would never be perfect enough for Him. I blamed Jesse’s introvertedness on his parents teaching (and very “out there” beliefs)
But now I’ve learned that homeschooling maybe the best approach for my and Jesse’s situation..I’ve learned alot from your blogs!