Were you homeschooled?  Did you like it?  Do you wish you wasn't?  What was the best thing?  What did you not like?
134905
Yes, my brother and myself, for a couple of middle school years.  We did not lack the companionship of other children, we belonged to sports teams, the Boys and Girls Club, and Sunday school.  We also had many children in the neighborhood to hang out with.\n\nThe best thing was being able to go out to the park to do our work on nice days.  If we slept in--no biggie--we did the work later.  On the days mom worked, we did the work in the evening.    \n\nOur mom worked harder than we did - researching and planning the lessons.  The reason she took us out of school for those 2 years was that we knew nothing that we were supposed to know for our ages--she was furious when we couldn't even name the capital of the state we lived in, or the President of the US. \n\nWhen we went back to public school we tested ahead of our grade levels, and knew things that the other kids were just starting to learn.  We did well, and I would not trade in those years.
434952
hey, im homeschooled!
348898
I did not see the particular episode you're referring to... BUT I do have a thought to share on the subject.  I've met quite a few children who were home schooled who have NO social skills whatsoever. (in other words, they are quite shy around others, and are in capable of interacting on the same level as someone who attends a structured school.)  Also, unless the parents who are home schooling children are qualified to teach children, I have a VERY difficult time agreeing that these children are receiving the best education possible.\n Also, just to correct your grammar... it's "As a home schooled....", not "As an home schooled...."\n\n****\nTo "answer faerie" .... since when has the word "home" been a word beginning with a consonant but starting with a vowel sound???  \nSimple misspellings happen to everyone ... even Harvard grads.... but not knowing or understanding basic grammar, because your schooling didnt' provide for it, is quite hurtful in the long run to the children.
285343
Ripped jeans are hot.\n\nSeriously, what do you think of being homeschooled??
80861
I have never in my entire life been homeschooled\n\nare you?
240822
I use to teach- and LOVED it (most days)- but then I had my kids.  Now that they are young, I tutor in my house.  \n\nIt is convenient and flexible. I love that I can be more relaxed and that I have the opportunity to meet some great kids. \n\nI do however, miss teaching a class of students- When I taught I worked with the whole class, in small groups and one and one all in a given day.  I DO NOT the miss the stress of the politics behind teaching....still I hope to go back someday.... goodness knows when that will be.  In the meantime- I will have to stick to tutoring and visiting this website :) \n\n\nGreat question !
341483
I would recommend trying to hook up with a local homeschool support group. They will be able to tell you all about the regulations where you live, what sort of things are available, etc.\n\nAlso, check out www.hslda.org yourself for the regulations and just surf the web a bit and check out your local library--there should be some books on homeschooling in the education section.\n\nBeyond that, consider what type of homeschooling you want to do. You don't say how old you are, if you want a diploma or anything like that. There are a ton of online programs to choose from if you want to go that route. There are also just a ton of other programs available, period. A Beka, Robinson and Sonlight are three that pop into my head at the moment, but there are others, too--oh, like Switched On Schoolhouse, AlphaOmega... You may also just be able to do your own thing. Depends on the regulations where you live!\n\nTo those naysaying your interest, I say ignore them. Homeschooling can be great if you make it great.
614401
Check out Accelerated Christian Education, or ACE.  Their curriculum is designed for the student to work at their own pace.  I graduated from high school as a homeschooler and loved it.  Actually finished a year early and got a free ride to college!  Definitely check it out.
265848
I homeschooled for a long time, gave up and went to high school and am now excelling in college. I blame homeschooling for a lot of problems I've had although also feel that I was able to do better academically than otherwise. A good home life is key regardless of where the child is spending his school time. School is not the only place to receive an education although the benefits of finding independence outside of the home is equally important.
84682
My mom and dad home schooled me because 1) I wasn't learning much in school 2) They saw that socializing with out-of-control kids was not helping my attitude 3) They wanted me to spend more time with them and my sister. I went to public school from kindergarten through second grade.  Throughout that whole time, I learned very little—I could read, write (barely!), and I could "socialize."  I could not spell (because the teachers wouldn't correct my spelling for fear of "damaging my self-esteem"); I could barely add; and I couldn't subtract 3 from 4.  Also, socializing with other hyper, out-of-control, rude kids had turned me into a little terror. This change really disturbed my mom (who had stayed home with me since I was a baby) because I had been such a good child until I went to school.  (Another factor contributing to my withdrawal from public school was that we would get permission forms [written by teachers!] that contained misspellings and many grammatical errors.  My parents obviously didn't want me to be taught by these people). Eventually, my parents couldn't take it any more.  After I finished second grade, they pulled me out and started home schooling me using a program through Christian Liberty Academy ( http://www.homeschools.org/ ).  It took several years of hard work (and many tantrums!) before I was able to read, write, and do math proficiently and was able to un-learn my bad habits.  \nI know that many people will disagree with what I've just wrote.  They will say that only trained teachers can give students a good education. They will say that children need to socialize.  I have found that this is not true.  My parents were able to give me a very good and rigorous education (I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and received a composite score of 30 on my ACT).  As for socializing, I get along fine with people. I work at my local YMCA as a life-guard and swim instructor. (It was at the Y that I made an interesting observation. I've taught both home school and public school children how to swim and the difference between them is like day and night. On the whole, home schoolers are more polite, responsible, well-behaved, and respectful than public school kids. Most home schoolers possess a level of maturity that I rarely find in public school children).  \nIn conclusion—yes, my life was more sheltered than other kids, but I am grateful for it because it has made me a better person. Also, it allows me to be with my family (my sister is my best friend) and take field trips and vacations with them.  I believe that family is important; but in today's society, the family unit is downgraded. Home schooling has allowed me to connect with my family in a way that I don't believe is possible otherwise.\nI highly recommend home schooling. I love it and cannot imagine learning any other way.
514495
It depends a lot on how the student was homeschooled, from my personal experience. I've met a lot of unschooled teens who are great kids, but their personal interests have not been highly academic. Their behaviour tends to be different from what I see among the high schooled kids--while they do enjoy having fun and being kid-like, they're not immature in what they choose to do.\n\nOn the other spectrum, I've been around homeschooled teens who definitely have better vocabularies than what I hear from many public school teens, more likely to think on a deeper level about issues than simply plod along through life, get through school, focus on friends and their social lives. Like the unschooled teens, they tend to have a more mature outlook on their lives and what's going on around them, all the while preserving their kid-like enjoyment of fun stuff.\n\nSo, I'd say that it's attitude more than anything that makes the difference rather than actual education. Even if a public high school student understood all the vocabulary you use, they aren't likely to use it because social 'normality' is too important. As part of this difference in attitude, you probably take your studies more seriously, or at least more attentively, than most public school students, which is why you would know more, feel smarter.\n\nOn that note, I'd say that it's probably more likely that a homeschooled student following an academic program is likely to be more motivated and attentive in their work than the average public school high school student. Not that there aren't high school students who are highly motivated, but in terms of the average, from what I see here, they aren't that focused on their studies.
29139
HEY! I'm homeschooled! I socialize! my parents answer the questions i don't understand, but i mostly solve them myself.
636026
Any other Occasion (and I swear this is true) I would hav absilutly sed yes, one problem- I have two essays, an eight slide powerpoint, two fifty question tests and a whole chapter book to do before this friday ALONG WITH regular Nine subject school days (its a STUPID  A** HOMESCHOOL COMPUTER PROGRAM IM IN...) and I actually asked the same question on here, then deleated it after a hundred no's.  Sooo sorry, Trust me I really know wut its like, i might fail...AH, i gotta get bak to work (any ideas for a cultural change taking place between the 50's to Seventies???) lol. \nSee, I do know, Hek, when Desperation calls..\nwell, The answer machine brakes. BYE!!!\nGOOOD LUCK!!!!
612891
Greetings\n\nWhat has your experience been at your school?\n\nWhat have you learned?\n\nHighlights?\n\nTeachers\n\nWhat are you looking forward to, future plans\n\nWhat advice?\n\nThank yous.
66782
the main benefit of homeschooling is the ability to individualize everything that goes on. any educator will admit that there's nothing better than one-on-one teaching, when it comes to actual learning (it's just that they can't). the parent/teacher can evaluate how well a student is learning, work around blocks and learning disabilities, and utilize natural talents. more attention ALWAYS equals better learning.\n\n plus, what kid wouldn't want a curriculum designed specifically around his/her interests? what kid doesn't want to be able to find out about what he's curious about without having to raise his hand, and wait for teacher, or a computer to open up, or library time? what kid really wants to be in a world where everything is structured down to the minute, full of illogical and sometimes unpredictable reward systems and dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, filtered by someone who's too busy to spend more than a few minutes paying attention to him? \n\nhomeschoolers have been proven to be better socialized that institutionalized kids, more mature, and score better on achievement tests. they are more creative, independent and have a love for learning that is drummed out of most kids by about 3rd grade or so. \n\nmost objections boil down to just a few roots: \n"i had to deal with the hell of regular school, and so should everyone else." and "those kids are weird." well, if weird means getting into the best colleges, winning the National Geographic Geography Bee, dominating national spelling bees, and eventually becoming just like everyone else, with jobs as diverse as entrepreneur or mechanic, then sure, they're weird. \n\nalso, schools are paid by the student. therefore, they are highly motivated to denigrate the move towards homeschooling. (every kid who quits is money down the drain for them.)\n\nlinks to stats and studies:\nhttp://homeschoolinformation.com/homeschooling/homeschool_statistics1.htm\n\nhttp://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp\n\nother links:\nhttp://www.homeedmag.com/INF/strt_index.html\n\nhttp://www.homeschoolzone.com/unschooling/
276399
I graduated nearly 3 years ago from homeschool, and yes, I was by myself.  My mom threw a HUGE party for me.  I had to walk down the the aisle of our church with a cap and gown in front of a couple dozen friends and family.  People got up and talked about me (very flattering) and then I even gave a "speech" (very nerve-wracking).  We had cake and then went out to dinner afterwards.  In the back of the room we had laid out photos and binders from unit studies I had done.  My 2003 gold and white tassel hangs by my bed.\n\nOh, and btw, I have adjusted to "real life" just fine.  I've taken online college classes through Patrick Henry College (consider this a recommendation) and am now working as a receptionist for a loan company and semi-secretary for an attorney.  I'm hoping to attend Bob Jones University in the fall.  Sorry!  You probably weren't requesting an auto-biography.  I just wanted to let you and everyone else know that homeschool grads aren't wierd! :-)  Just unique...;-)
504203
You raise a very good question. I home schooled for a year with my children who were in 3rd and 1st grade at the time. My daughter who was in 3rd grade benefited tremendously from it. And it worked for her. My son who was in 1st grade at the time and was diagnosed with ADHD should have benefited from it but didn't. He didn't want to cooperate with any of it, and thought he was on vacation! They are both back in public school. While my son still has occasional problems, he enjoys school much more.\nI know alot of home schooled children and public/private school children and I think it really depends on the home environment and the individual kids.  A person that teaches school at home has to be really organized, and I wasn't. I think that all programs are great when the parent stays involved in their education whether it is home school or other schools. I don't feel one is better than the other and they should be treated as the same.