How is/was your homeschooling experince?
486903
My mom homeschooled all eight of her kids. Her oldest is a USMC lawyer, her second oldest an RN, I'm an accounting clerk, the fourth oldest is going to be a missionary and the rest are still being homeschooled. Everyone who is old enough has either graduated from college or is currently enrolled. \n\nYou be the judge!
51122
I took American School. Its in illinois and is through the mail. But its a top notch school and they know what their doing. I worked at my own pase and im 16 and in college. Also, With being able to work at your own pase, you can keep your social life. Dont listen to what people say about homeschool. Most people have never given it a try and just jump to conclusions about it. Good luck finding a school to go through with!
889484
It depends on who you ask and how their week went.  Check the answers that are posted during the weekend as opposed to during the school week, lol.  :)  \n\nI've been teaching for 3 years and still love it.  There are all sorts of trying days and all sorts of really difficult people to have to work with, for, around, etc.  Reaching children on a personal level makes it all worthwhile.  So do the daily hugs that some students must give you in order to get their day started off right.  With education in the US, there's all sorts of stupid politics and ridiculous testing mandates that can quickly suck the life out of a person.  It's important not to get bogged down.  Not taking your work home with you will help.  I personally love teaching elementary school, but there are days when I long for a classroom full of thoughtful middle schoolers who can have more engaging conversations about the world (assuming such a class exists).  I couldn't handle high schoolers.  My husband is great with them.  They just frustrate me because I know they're about to go out into the work force for good.  \nOverall though, it's fulfilling to the people who put into it what they expect to get out of it.  Best wishes!
850467
We homeschool too!  As you can see most of the negative aspect of HSing is that ignorance is abundant.  For us I feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by far.  I wanted to have children and want them to have the best education!  I don't feel that I need a babysitter in the form of the public school system.\n\nMy dd really wanted to go to preschool and so I found a highly recommended private Montessori school that we were paying almost $400.00 a month for 2 days a week.  Week 2 she was moved to the Kindergarten /1st grade class  (only 4) because she was soo advanced.   I had planned on sending her there for Kindergarten as well.  She began to have behavioral problems and I finally pulled her out of there.   I feel that we had been HSing since birth but had planned on sending her to a private school.  Since that preschool incident have chosen to continue with our homeschool path.  We belong to a couple of HS groups and do some classes and field trips together.  I really have come to not like the word HOMESCHOOL because we are never at home but always out at a class or other outing.  She is with children for hours at a time at least 4 days a week.  For those that only point to the socialization...remember when you were in school...I remember quite a few socially retarded kids and they had been in public school the whole time!
641444
Hi MomOfSeven.  We also have seven children, some special needs, and we have home educated our children since 1988.  We have graduated five of them.  It has been a challenge.  Nothing actually goes smoothly.  The rewards sometimes come way down the road.\n\nI pulled my hair out the first year.  Would our school look like public school?  Would we have classes?  Would we make up report cards?  All of that stuff.  \n\nPlus, we had some behavior problems.  That is why we got fed up with the public school kindergarten!  (Long story.)  \n\nWe filled out the forms, bought the books, made a plan... la la la la la...  I was ready.  But, the kids weren't.  I had to parenthetically teach about everything.  Soon, I made up my own worksheets for extra practice.  I made up my own literature program.  I put a lot of effort into helping the kids journal and record their thoughts, etc.  Instead of doing workbooks when we read a story, we would pause at different points and draw pictures of what we just read.  Then, the child would tell about the picture and I would caption the picture.  They would assemble the pictures into their own book.\n\nThere is so much you can do if you are willing to be flexible and creative.  And don't worry if you are not creative.  It does come from somewhere inside when you see that a bit of this or a little that could help your child better understand.\n\nMy advice is two-fold.  In the home school community, it is likely that the parents have children who are acing every test they take.  They will talk about percentiles and give you lots of golden evidence about the value of home school.  The fact that your 10-year-old child sat through a story might be huge to you, but it dims in comparison to a four-year-old that is completing essays on The Courage of Sarah Nobel.  Also, many home school parents believe their children are well behaved and quite self-sufficient.  I was asked not to attend one parents group because my children were less than model citizens.  They would disrupt the other children.  They would need to be supervised.  They might cause the other children to behave badly.  You have to know this is coming and find people who can relate to your struggles.  I was so hurt I withdrew.  It took YEARS to find the support I needed.  Yet, I knew home schooling was working for my family.  I just had no one to share that with.\n\nThe second piece of advice is to be persistent but don't be afraid to step back and re-attack the work.  Many states are very flexible about your progress and allow you much freedom.  Some states are very difficult.  Proving progress can be very hard.  Sign up with Home School Legal Defense Association and always, always, always, go to them when you need advice.  They have access to information about groups and teachers that support home schooling special needs children.  \n\nStay in tune with your child's needs and flex the curriculum and materials to meet your needs.  Use a copier to copy pages and make the words bigger and easier to read.  Copy the workbook pages and allow the kids to cut the words and place on the blanks so they can see if what they want to do makes sense.  Then, let them paste them in the book if drawing lines is too messy and confusing.\n\nYou must have a computer with a printer and a copier.  That way, you can make your own worksheets.  Sometimes that will be very important.  Access to the internet helps.  You can print themed pictures for the kids to color and cut or to write reports about.  You can do it without, but I think it has saved us money in the long run... and has definitely helped my creativity and sanity.\n\nKeep up to date with doctor's visits.  Having a doctor in your corner is a wonderful thing.  If your doctor isn't supportive, get another doctor.  Many doctors, you will find, are very supportive of home schooling.  \n\nHome educating your children is a lot of work and a really serious commitment of time and resources.  I w
1098256
In higher education, in my experience first as an academic mentor, as an advisor, and now as a program coordinator, I would say that "Results vary WIDELY."  As with many things, the starting point and logistics are critical.  A parent with lots of time to burn, a great educational background, access to excellent community resources, and lots of money can potentially provide a superior education to the most expensive private school.  On the opposite end of the quality spectrum, some parents use homeschooling as a cover for their ongoing sexual abuse.  A neglected homeschooler is probably better off in a regular school.  My first experience with a homeschooled boy reflected this case: he was behind in every subject but religious dogma.  He could  recall and recite Bible verses, but had trouble with simple algebra and composition.  His parents were nice enough people, but not very good teachers.  He was also feeling very socially isolated and had trouble making friends even though there were Christian groups he could have joined.  He did not last one year in college before panic set in and he dropped out.\nOn the other hand, I have met popular 4.0 students that were also homeschooled.\nNow I say results vary, but usually the results were extreme one way or another, like the student that confided in me that her father was outraged that she would dare attend college and that her proper place was back in the home doing the cooking and cleaning - and not any home or a husband's home, but HIS home.  The fact that he was divorced apparently didn't dissaude him from the idea that he was the paragon of "family values."  I'm not sure his "family values" would actually sit well with most Christians, but when "homeschool" becomes prison, who can know or argue it?\nHomeschool works wonderfully for the wealthy.  They can make a lesson plan that includes a trip to the Great Wall of China or take the time to visit NASA.  They might even have access to people in power for high level mentoring that poor kids simply don't get access to...  I'm pretty sure you can still go to the Debutante's Ball even if you're homeschooled.  You could buy the chemstry and biology equipment and supplies for home labwork in a space you can afford to devote to such study.  A top-notch education doesn't come cheap.\n\nThis is not to say that a cheap homeschool education can't be good, but sacrifices will certainly have to be made unless the student gets access to something like a community college or university.  School vouchers and waivers may make this more convenient, however, such children also tend to be somewhat isolated from their peers on account of ageism.  Other resources, however, might out-perform regular schools and most certainly - in some locations - it is possible to access arts and crafts and opportunities that are simply not available in the structured public school environment.\n\nAll that said, homeschool experience may range from outstanding to horrific based on location, teacher skill, and available resources, and motives for homeschooling.
168480
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/
408626
hey, thats really cool! i was homeschooled all my life! dont you hate when other ppl say you dont have a social life? i had a friend a few years ago, and all she ever did was make fun of homeschoolers.
551699
There is a lot more diversity in the homeschooling community than you might expect from the mainstream view of it. \n\nI suggest just getting to know felllow homeschoolers in your area, and don't worry too much about the political labels - you all love your kids and want to do what's best for them!\n\nBesides, it's good for your kids to learn to deal with people who have different views. Yay! Diversity. :-)\n\nI'm a liberal (oh horrors!) non-religious, peace lovin' homeschooler, but I'm friends with conservative, Christian, Bush-supportin' homeschoolers, and we manage to get along just fine.  At least when we talk about the kids and not politics.;-)
924101
First, find out what your state requirements are.  Go to www.hslda.org  or  www.nhen.org  so you know what is expected.  Then you decide what type of curriculum you are interested in:  all book work, computer work, on-line programs, correspondence type.  There are tons of curriculum to choose from.  You could also try to talk with other homeschoolers to find out what they use and why they like it.\nWith that being said, we use Alpha Omega's Switched On Schoolhouse.   We love it, it's all done on the computer.  I know several people who use Sonlight curriculum, Bob Jones, and Saxon.  Any of these are excellent choices.\nChoosing what to use is an overwhelming task that you have to be somewhat patient and persistent with.  Then most families try several ones before they fine "the" one that works for them.\n\nI did not mean to sound so negative.  We LOVE homeschooling and would never do anything else.  Choosing curriculum can just be a huge ordeal!\n\nGood luck with it all.
278934
I homeschool my two boys and the lady I sit for pays me extra to hs her dd for preschool.  I HIGHLY recommend you hs if you have the will and the ability.  Two big things to remember with hsing at ANY level is: one day at a time...you're not talking about geometry and calculus yet.  Second...it's not forever unless you want it to be.  She can re-enter public school when she is ready.  You can email me, I started hsing my now 4th grader when he was in K.  He has TONS of confidence, he gets ONE  ON ONE education, I teach him the way he learns best, rather than plunking him down in a group of 30 kids and droning on at a chalk board...I use manipulatives, pc programs, games, baking to learn fractions, printouts from sites like enchantedlearning.com etc etc.  When he needs a break, he gets one.  We hs year round, so he doesn't forget half over the summer, but our hs days are short.  He learns things he WANTS to learn about.  When he showed an interest in pirates, we got books from the library, coloring pages from the internet, we built a ship, made our own course on a map, created a flag, etc etc.  HSing is the BEST at your dd's age, because you can take ALL the pressure off of her, and teach to what she needs, one thing at a time if you like.  If she is currently crying over math, take a break from the usual math stuff, and play dice games instead!  Just because it's fun, doesn't mean you can't use it for school.  Think outside the box, teach her fast math skills by having her play games!  Teach her spelling by only drilling in the car, and make it fun!  See what I mean?  And don't let the folks that know NOTHING about hs except for the freaks they find on tv worry you about socialization.  There are hs groups in your area to help.  There are groups online.  There are church groups and public sports and music lessons and play groups for socialization.
266852
I think it depends on the child and family. Homeschool kids do NOT lack socialization or group experience, most are very active in 4-H, community clubs and recreational activities,etc., so in all reality they have more diverse and varied social interactions that public school kids don't get because they are only around people their own age, and don't learn how to properly interact with people outside their age group, where homeschool kids do. Also homeschool kids are very driven, dedicated, and independent which makes them much more prepared for college and careers as adults. Some kids do better being homeschooled and some don't, and not all parents would be good teachers for their children. It's an individual decision each family has to make for themselves. And another note- most public school kids never reach their full potential and most homeschool kids do, this all has to do with the school system and parents not being involved enough with their kid's lives, so I think if parents were involved more with their kids there would not be all the problems there are with kids today. Parents just need to be more active and involved.
399195
It shouldn't I know frinds that were homeschooled and had no problem YOu are still getting The stadardized testing (CAT Iowa...) and have you taken you SATs?
967362
8) Most my social interaction came from the classes I took on a public school campus. I even found some great Christian friends who lived really close. One of them is over at my house almost every day (or vice versa)\n\n10) When I was in 6th grade my mom sent me to a public school for elective courses. The school was very accepting me and I even found a couple of other people who were homeschool there too.\n\n11) I loved the proximity to home. Every year my mom would ask me if I still wanted to be homeschooled and every year I said yes.\n\n12) I never had a lot of friends my age till I started taking classes on a public campus.\n\n13) No. I had a very well rounded education, that went along with the public's but even went into our religious aspect of it. \n\n13) Most places these days are very accepting to homeschoolers. It's even said that homeschoolers have a higher education.\n\n14) Definitely. But, like my mom, I might send them to a public campus for just a couple of classes.\n\n15) Washington.
681579
I agree, and the school issues you mention are one of many reasons I plan to homeschool.\n\nscary link.
409043
How easy it was .\n\nTo be honest, school is easier than life.
1084154
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.