Ok guys, talk to me about home schooling...

[momalot]

I'm not sure I understand the question. Differences in what way? Values? I get to pick what I teach. If I don't know how to teach something, I can ask for help.

[ELLE-TN]

ZOO

[momgenet]

There are so, SO many things for homeschoolers in our area . . . we could easily be involved w/ actitivties EVERY DAY and accidently forget the school part! Oops!
IMHO, my kids get MORE interaction with a greater variety of children/people , than if they attended classes with the same children, day after day.
Here in our small town we have homeschool sports teams, orchestra, all kinds of classes, art and language classes, scouting, and even a homeschool cheerleading squad. We also have a large curriculum library and you can "check out" diff. curriculum for a year at a time for no charge.
1. Research laws for your state -- they are different everywhere . . .
2. Join a homeschool yahoo group that is local to your area and lurk. Just go to the yahoo group home page, enter the word homeschool and your city/state/region name. Try to join a LOCAL discussion group
3. Attend a homeschool convention in the spring.
You will learn so much here your head will spin! :hectic1: There are soooo many options for hs'ing these days. A word about the virtual school programs . . .some of them have a lot of rules, restrictions about what you can and CAN'T teach and how. . . .keep that in mind.
And don't worry about knowing how/what to teach. You can find curriculums that go step by step . .. .We use WinterPromise.com (This is a secular, hands-on curriculum also lit based) and mfwbooks.com (A Bible based program).
I could post more on this, but this site dosen't have the space
Good luck! Its a lifestyle we LOVE!

[renee_anthony]

Originally Posted by momalot I'm not sure I understand the question. Differences in what way? Values? I get to pick what I teach. If I don't know how to teach something, I can ask for help.

for example, new math vs old math. some parents were taught the old way (not sure myself what that is b/c i was taught new math) and now schools are teaching new math, so parents have problems helping their kids w/ their homework b/c they are not sure of the steps the teacher rqst the kids to use b/c of the differenece in teaching. it's more a of a time difference-when you were raised vs current. does that make more sense? and i'm not speaking down on how anyone was taught, please don't take it that way.

also, assuming you are paying for curriculum out of pocket, are you able to take that expense off on your taxes along w/ any other expenses that are related to schooling your child(ren)?

thanks for all the responses so far. i have looked up my state laws per the first suggestion, and nc doesn't seem to be too bad. they just require you send in tests scores.

[TheWoman]

2. Do you teach your child(ren) yourself, or do you use the computer/satellite method? If you use computer/satellite, can you point me in a direction for more information?

This is the first year that we have been using Connections Academy. I like it prety well. There are things about it that frustrate me (such as having to record hours spent) but they are worth it to me for the benefits. First of all, it is free (but only available in a few states). Second, with a new baby I knew I would need someone to keep me acountable that the kids actually learn something. Finally, there were areas that I knew my kids were a bit behind but I wasn't sure how to fix it. With connections I get a complete curriculum and a teacher who I can contact if I need help.

Many states have a similar onlne charter school program. K12 is another I am familiar with.

3. How do you substitute the lack of interaction w/ kids in a classroom?

Interaction with kids in a classroom is overrated. My kids go to sunday school weekly and that is plenty for them to learn how to behave in a classroom. As far as playing with other kids, there are kids in the neighborhood, kids from church, and their sisters. They also go to a homeschool PE class at the YMCA.

[momgenet]

Teaching from a different perspective than how I learned is of no concern to me . . . In fact . .that's WHY I homeschool. I am able to teach what I choose . . .new math, old math, whatever.
In fact, the way I am teaching my children is NOTHING LIKE what I learned in public school. We are learning history chronologically (starting w/ the ancients and moving on). And I pair history with the Bible (ie . .teach about Moses and the Egyptian pyramids, etc.) I do a lot of hands on stuff w/ the children (like I'm looking at making a real mummy!) And we mostly learn from real books , not really text books.
Also I am teaching something called Singapore math . . .not new or old math . . .its math done visually and mentally, the way it is taught in China, Japan, etc.
The thing is . . . .when you teach alongside your children . . . you learn right with them . If they are younger, you will start at the beginning too!!!! You are not going to have trouble understanding the assignment because you GAVE the assingment!
If you do have trouble or don't understand a curriculum, you can switch to something else !
And as long as the children learn to do add, sub., x's and divide . . .who cares HOW they do it!!!
As far as the taxes are concerned, I don't believe it is tax deductable . . . .sorry. But take heart, you have options like buying used, Paperbackswap or checking stuff out of the library. You will learn the best options for your area as you move along.

Just MHO<
genet

[tmotley]

We're using switched on schoolhouse now for the older kids. It's a computer based curriculum, though not online. It's easier for me as it is more self paced and self learning. I help out when they get stuck. It also grades about half the work for me. It is not all great, as it can be a little boring and because it's a computer program, sometimes it only accepts specific answers. But I can go back and change any grades I want and give credit for an answer if I want to.

We have done workbooks for the younger children and we did "unschooling" and eclectic schooling for the first few years. We also do a lot of life skills learning. The kids learn so much faster and better than they did when they were in public school. (Only my oldest 3 ever went to PS)

I agree the socializing is not really an issue. The kids have more time for other activites and have friends from church, co-ops, hs groups, classes, and more. They also learn how to socialize with kids and adults of all ages and not just kids that are the same age as them, so in most cases, they tend to be better in social situations and can relate to a variety of people. (When you're in the real world, you generally are not stuck in an office or job with only people that are the same age as you.)

I lived in NC a few years ago, and the only laws for home schooling was that you had to name your school and send in the form saying you were homeschooling and having the kids tested every year.

As others have said, there is an overwhelming amount of info available online and from your library. There are so many different ways to homeschool also. Don't be afraid to switch around your curriculum or methods if something isn't working. And realize that your kids will each learn differently too, so one method might work for one and not another child. That's one of the joys of home schooling, you can choose what works best for you and your kids.

[bigsweetie]

I love this thread.

My DD is 2.5 and i'm researching the possibility of home schooling her. Unfortunately, my family isn't very supportive. I'm not sure how successful i'd be if they were badmouthing it to my DD all the time. I'm not sure what to do.

Did anyone here have trouble convincing their family about the positives of HS?

Also, when my DD starts homeschooling, my youngest will be about 2, how did/do you manage to keep up with a toddler, and still give your HS student/child the attention they need for school? Just wondering how you juggle that??

[justmeagain]

Originally Posted by bigsweetie I love this thread. My DD is 2.5 and i'm researching the possibility of home schooling her. Unfortunately, my family isn't very supportive. I'm not sure how successful i'd be if they were badmouthing it to my DD all the time. I'm not sure what to do. Did anyone here have trouble convincing their family about the positives of HS?

I'm in the same boat......no support either and they are against it. I could really care less though......she is my DD and I have to do what I feel best for her regardless of what/how others think.

[qponqueen]

I home-schooled my Aspergers boy through the tough middle-school years because the other kids were so mean to him. Florida is very lax. I never once was checked on. I was kind of lazy, as I knew that my boy was a self-learner. I dropped him off at the library for an hour each day and he just read anything he chose to read. Then he also spent an hour each day watching educational TV such as National Geographic or History channel.....his choice, as long as he was learning something. Then he spent about 3 hours per day on a Virtual school with Algrebra and something else (I forgot what). I also felt that the most important thing I could teach a boy like him was self-help skills. He learned to do laundry, cook, balance a checkbook, learned about credit, and other bills and to read an electric meter do a tax return and every day stuff like that. I put him back in school when he was high-school age, and he graduated last year on the high honor-roll.