Barb F. PA in AZ
03-13-2008, 06:03 PM
Someone on another board listed a bunch of questions about homeschooling, and since I was having trouble sleeping last night I wrote a long post in response. Experienced homeschoolers will nod in recognition at most of my answers, but I thought I'd post it here anyway since I don't have a blog to keep things on. Maybe it'll help a lurker newbie somewhere :)
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Hi there! I teach our 6 and have been doing so since I taught my 17yo to read and add at age 4. Here are some answers to your questions:
What is a typical day like?
This question always makes me giggle. You mean the day that my 2yo woke up early, peed in his potty and then proceeded to pour it all over the bedroom carpet? Or the day that we decided to sleep in and then have donuts while reading History read alouds all day? Or maybe it was today when my 17yo and my 11yo cleaned out all the landscaping while I taught the 8 and 6yo's and the 13yo took the 2yo to the park to keep him out of trouble. Then the older girls did their schoolwork over bundt cake before bed. A lot of our schoolwork tends to take place where food is involved. My day involves a lot of rolling with the punches and feeling thankful for all I've managed to accomplish with the assorted setbacks of the day. Pretty much just parenting on steroids.
What, in your opinion, are the pros and cons?
If I have to be honest, the cons include never having a quiet moment to think. Those toddler years where you're never alone, even in the bathroom will last until they graduate. But really, in its own way, that's a pro too.
The major pro for me is being there to see *all* my kids' firsts. Not just the first step or word, but reading the first sentence, writing the first coherent paragraph and seeing the light go on after wrestling a tough trig concept. Knowing that all of it is because of me. It's also pretty great that they are growing up unencumbered by anyone's preconceived notions of who they are. No peers or teachers breathing down their necks or lording a repuation (good or bad) over them that they must live up to or live down. They are free to follow their interests, create their own moral compass, and develop their ability to form a logical argument before being thrown feet first into the deep end of society. I am so proud to see the strong young women my 17 and 13yo girls are becoming.
I'm a smart girl, but do you ever question your ability to teach your kids?
No. We just do the next thing. I would question my ability to teach 30 kids of varying abilities, but luckily teaching my own is nothing like that. My education is so much better now that I've gone through the first 8 years with my kids a few times. I've filled in the holes. Things I'd forgotten or never learned to begin with, I learned right along with them. How cool is that? Once they hit high school and begin to outgrow me as a teacher, my role becomes one of facilitator and partner. My high schoolers study much as college kids do...pulling a lot of the information for themselves. If they hit a snag and I can't help, then we can find almost anything on google, from lit discussions to any math topic you want. We muddle through it together. My oldest started taking college classes for some things at 14 and is now taking 17 hours a semester her senior year in HS, so outsourcing helps a lot too.
Do you "school" all year around or go with the conventional school year?
Oh we totally do the year round thing. We used to go with school-lite in the summer...a little math, lots of reading...but now that we're in AZ, summer is prime school time. It's too hot to do much else but swim and that gets old. Schooling year round means we take trips and head to the museums and other fun places when everyone else is in school. We never have to fight crowds. It's nice to have the flexibility to take time off whenever life gets in the way--unexpected illness, baby, death in the family, a move, etc
What about extracurricular activities (the ones usually only available to schools)?
Kids don't *need* extracurricular activities. These are a nice extra if you are already in the school system, but not necessary for a full life. Try the YMCA or do martial arts, gymnastics, dance, or sports through local youth leagues. There are many opportunities out there if you choose to take advantage of them. We don't and are happier for it. We have more time and money than if we were dedicated to organized sports. Each family has to decide for themselves, but don't take it as a given that formal extracurriculars are a necessity. Also, depending on your state, homeschoolers may be welcome to participate in extracurriculars at the local school.
Do your grow children want to homeschool their own children?
My 17yo, 13yo and 11yo girls say that although they want to go to college and start careers, they also want to homeschool their kids. Don't ask me how they are going to manage all that, but LOL more power to them. The fact that it is important enough to them that they already have goals to make it work speaks volumes, I think.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi there! I teach our 6 and have been doing so since I taught my 17yo to read and add at age 4. Here are some answers to your questions:
What is a typical day like?
This question always makes me giggle. You mean the day that my 2yo woke up early, peed in his potty and then proceeded to pour it all over the bedroom carpet? Or the day that we decided to sleep in and then have donuts while reading History read alouds all day? Or maybe it was today when my 17yo and my 11yo cleaned out all the landscaping while I taught the 8 and 6yo's and the 13yo took the 2yo to the park to keep him out of trouble. Then the older girls did their schoolwork over bundt cake before bed. A lot of our schoolwork tends to take place where food is involved. My day involves a lot of rolling with the punches and feeling thankful for all I've managed to accomplish with the assorted setbacks of the day. Pretty much just parenting on steroids.
What, in your opinion, are the pros and cons?
If I have to be honest, the cons include never having a quiet moment to think. Those toddler years where you're never alone, even in the bathroom will last until they graduate. But really, in its own way, that's a pro too.
The major pro for me is being there to see *all* my kids' firsts. Not just the first step or word, but reading the first sentence, writing the first coherent paragraph and seeing the light go on after wrestling a tough trig concept. Knowing that all of it is because of me. It's also pretty great that they are growing up unencumbered by anyone's preconceived notions of who they are. No peers or teachers breathing down their necks or lording a repuation (good or bad) over them that they must live up to or live down. They are free to follow their interests, create their own moral compass, and develop their ability to form a logical argument before being thrown feet first into the deep end of society. I am so proud to see the strong young women my 17 and 13yo girls are becoming.
I'm a smart girl, but do you ever question your ability to teach your kids?
No. We just do the next thing. I would question my ability to teach 30 kids of varying abilities, but luckily teaching my own is nothing like that. My education is so much better now that I've gone through the first 8 years with my kids a few times. I've filled in the holes. Things I'd forgotten or never learned to begin with, I learned right along with them. How cool is that? Once they hit high school and begin to outgrow me as a teacher, my role becomes one of facilitator and partner. My high schoolers study much as college kids do...pulling a lot of the information for themselves. If they hit a snag and I can't help, then we can find almost anything on google, from lit discussions to any math topic you want. We muddle through it together. My oldest started taking college classes for some things at 14 and is now taking 17 hours a semester her senior year in HS, so outsourcing helps a lot too.
Do you "school" all year around or go with the conventional school year?
Oh we totally do the year round thing. We used to go with school-lite in the summer...a little math, lots of reading...but now that we're in AZ, summer is prime school time. It's too hot to do much else but swim and that gets old. Schooling year round means we take trips and head to the museums and other fun places when everyone else is in school. We never have to fight crowds. It's nice to have the flexibility to take time off whenever life gets in the way--unexpected illness, baby, death in the family, a move, etc
What about extracurricular activities (the ones usually only available to schools)?
Kids don't *need* extracurricular activities. These are a nice extra if you are already in the school system, but not necessary for a full life. Try the YMCA or do martial arts, gymnastics, dance, or sports through local youth leagues. There are many opportunities out there if you choose to take advantage of them. We don't and are happier for it. We have more time and money than if we were dedicated to organized sports. Each family has to decide for themselves, but don't take it as a given that formal extracurriculars are a necessity. Also, depending on your state, homeschoolers may be welcome to participate in extracurriculars at the local school.
Do your grow children want to homeschool their own children?
My 17yo, 13yo and 11yo girls say that although they want to go to college and start careers, they also want to homeschool their kids. Don't ask me how they are going to manage all that, but LOL more power to them. The fact that it is important enough to them that they already have goals to make it work speaks volumes, I think.