OT Homeschooling...

Karlee, I chose NOT to homeschool my kids because I figured we could do *much* better academics at home...through the computer, etc...but what my kids REALLY needed that I could NOT give them at home was the social experience of being in "The Herd" and dealing with lots of people, many of whom don't love or even like you. (we never did Day Care, so they didn't get it then). This is something you have to know how to deal with if you want to live and work in the world, even if you only go there once in a while... So they learned to be part of the Large Experience AND we supplement the academics at home. Sarajane

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I home schooled my son in first grade, and had a very hard time because an established routine does not come naturally or normally to me. And then I was plagued with guilt because my son had an unusual learning pattern. It took him a very long time to become verbal in speaking, and he couldn't learn reading at all, nor could he the next year in school. Four months (over summer) after they wanted to keep him back, he became the best reader in his whole grade.

My step son is now being home school. His mother claims health reasons, but he never has health problems here. I believe her reasons for home schooling are to restrict what he learns, which is the worst possible reason to home school. All of a sudden he's going from flirting with Ds to all As and Bs, though he's spending only half the time (or less) on it. I do not believe he learning as much as he should be, even if he is learning what's on the test.

I am also concerned about social aspect. He is very large for his age, and somewhat behind socially -- a bad combination. And his mother is a disciplinarian and bully, so that he is inclined to obey rather than think for himself, which again would be moderated somewhat by normal socializing and a little rebelling. My worries have increased since he broke another kids arm. Mom is a black belt who think martial arts if for kick someones ass -- very contrary to martial arts philosophy. He's a good kid and maturing inspite of his mother.

And my brother is home schooling his kids. He wants his kids to be wary/suspicious of government, and his wife wants them to learn her brand of "Christianity" and morals, and nothing else.

These are the instances I know most fully, but I also know successful example, though from a greater distance.

Tina

I've homeschooled DD for two years. We joined a homeschooling coop and she gets way more socialization than I ever did at that age. DD is nearly a grade and a half ahead of her peers, gets along famously with everyone - kids and adults. She studies two hours three times a week, plus full day field trips once a week. Some kids do well this way. Mine happens to be one of them, and I don't regret a single minute of it. We don't have a super structured schedule, but instead use teachable moments as they come. If we hadn't joined the homeschooling coop, we wouldn't have access to science equipment or other curriculum which we can't afford. For sports, there are always community teams, and since we're military, we have all those things at our disposal as well. The resources are there, you just have to look for them. I don't mean to step on anyone's toes, but the socialization argument against homeschooling just doesn't fly with me, because I've successfully worked that out, and so can anyone else who truely wants to homeschool. If anyone wants to discuss it with me off group, they're more than welcome. I love to talk about education.

I'm interested to know how old your daughter is? And are you at all concerned about the inability to teach her at the higher grade levels? I can sort of understand homeschooling for the elementary years, but the secondary school years could prove quite difficult.

take care, L>I've homeschooled DD for two years. We joined a homeschooling coop and she gets way

Vancouver Island, bc.ca :) (remove 'nospam' to reply) See samples of my work at:

The whole issue about homeschooling is doing some serious thinking about why you want to homeschool...and are you willing and able to provide your child with a solid schooling experience . Will they thrive in homeschool? Will you be able to balance the homeschooling with activitys that provide experiences in dealing with other people? I want to homeschool Meg. I dont like public schools for so many reasons. However, since I have social phobia and even taking her to the playground by myself is a trial I think its in her best interests to go to a more traditional school. She is a very social creature! I may rethink that later, nothing is written in stone. The socialization argument is bogus... we send our kids to school to be educated... at least in theory! :-) Diana

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Regina" :

]couldn't believe how many boys were labeled ADD and were ]sedated to keep them calm. I very strongly believe most don't need the ]drugs, they need to be climbing trees.

AMEN! my son was bored to tears in school. he read WAY beyond grade level, and no one could answer his questions fast enough. but the teacher refused to put him in her "accelerated" reading group because he wouldn't sit still - and he couldn't sit still - he was BORED. when a seven-year-old is bored, trouble is not far behind.

after six months of fighting with the school system, they got the results of the state-wide testing back and i got a phone call. "we don't think your son belongs here. he should be over at the school where they have the GATE program." well, DUH!

so i take him to have him tested. he has an IQ over 140. but the !@#!%@#$!@ psychologist wanted him medicated to keep him "calm", even though the MD said he was NOT hyperactive - just incredibly intelligent and curious.

i ripped strips off the woman, believe me!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

Regina,

I do not at all doubt your experiences and observations. But I also do not doubt the experiences and observations of myself and others. As far as school taking less time in one to one teaching, my own experience as a student was that I learn from students as well as the teacher, rather than that others distracted from my learning process. Also, I am one of those people who ask, What of the social aspect?, and having home schooled I DO have a clue what it's all about.

Tina

Its a lovely theory. Ever watch "Jay Walking" on the Leno show and see regular people having real difficulty naming three presidents living or dead? Sarajane

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Tina,

I never said that one can't learn from other students, I was talking about the physical time that is wasted in school. In our homeschool group we have many co-ops where kids work together on science projects, robotics, history, etc. And kids are learning from the other kids. In our homeschooling are able to concentrate on whatever we are working on without worrying that the

45 min. class time will be over, therefore we can get much more done without distractions.

Well, the ones who ask me assume that we have no contact with civilization. When I list the many opportunities that my kids have to be with others they are surprised. My kids have relationships with people of all ages (like in the real world) instead of being forced to be with 200 kids in the same age. Last year we had to cut back on activities because it was getting too hectic on all of us.

I really don't care to start a debate, it's just that I am very passionate about homeschooling and many people just cannot get outside of the lie that formal education is the only way to learn or socialize.

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Regina" :

]Good for you for sticking up for your son and your conviction.

thanks. i probably would have home-schooled them, if i hadn't had to work full time.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

Note, however, that your DOCTOR was not the one saying he was "hyperactive". Anyone who thinks their child is being inaccurately "labeled" by the school system absolutely should go and get a medical evaluation. Armed with that, you can fight the administration much more effectively.

Celine

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@mindspring.com (Lee S. Billings) :

]Note, however, that your DOCTOR was not the one saying he was "hyperactive". ]Anyone who thinks their child is being inaccurately "labeled" by the school ]system absolutely should go and get a medical evaluation. Armed with that, you ]can fight the administration much more effectively.

absolutely.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Bill of Rights - Void where prohibited by Law.Regime Change in 2004 - The life you save may be your own.

I disagree with that analysis. If *all* you want is for your kids to get an education, then there is no reason to do anything OTHER than homeschooling, where they will (presumably) have the teacher's undivided attention and a program tailored to their individual needs. However, as has been pointed out upthread, the other primary benefit of group schooling is that it serves as a microcosm of the outside world, where you will have to get along with lots of different people, some of whom are really dumb and some of whom you will actively dislike (or vice versa).

My public-school experiences ranged from neutral to pretty damn unpleasant, but I can't see how I would have been any better off in isolation.

Celine

Good for you for sticking up for your son and your conviction.

Regina

I did not thrive in school. Back in the 50's and 60's we did not know all that we do now about ADD and learning disorders, all which I have. It was considered tha I was incorrigible and stupid, and lazy. To this day, I do not do or understand advanced math well and abstract concepts are difficult. I was also bore to tears. I do not now why it wasn' decided that I should be learning a trade as opposed to doing al this class time filled with stuff i din;t care about .... the 3rd time I repeated 7th grade was the last time I went to school as we know it. I lived with my grandmother and was not pushed to go back to school, once I quit. I would sit in those classes and I just NEVER could understand some of the things I was supposed to. Even when I was sent to a private school. But I am a voracious reader and almost all my free time was spent at the main public library devouring everything in sight. I taught myself music and many other things. I found for myself, many learning opportunities and challenges. I am very glad that I was never medicated for restlessness. I am just about as much of a free spirit, as a person can get, and I never stop learning, Learning is a habit and a passion, curiosity is what I am about. Eventually, thoughout my life I have taken classes in whatever I wished, and have always done mediocre. It is when I learn by myself that I REALLY digest what is set before me and absorb it. And i think I have many more interests than other people I grew up with and am more curious and much more open to new things. Our socialization always happened for me, when my neighbor friends were out of school and on weekends. I do not feel like having not gone thru a public high school squelch ny social things. I did attend public high school for about 3 months .... I was a very odd looking little girl and was highly abused by alot of my peers. Having the ability to avoid the bullies and the teachers that did not understand me and picked on me most mercilessly, was a gift. I know quite a few young people here in Las Vegas that were home schooled. They don;t seem the worst for it. I do understand that some kids might be better off in an environment where they would learn rapidly. I wasn't one of them. Rainbow

Thank you, Sarajane, As a public high school teacher I can tell you that the best predicter of student achievement is parent involvement -- period!

BJ

I guess I am luckier than most. My grandmother, by whom I as raised, ran a business in which I was constantly involved and interate in. Once I left school behind I was immersed in the daily operation with adults and the public, and ome work. Back in the 50's when i was raised, we didn't have the knowledge of all the things we do now, in regards to slow learners and ADD. i widh we had ... my personal experience would have been better if someone had understood. Rainbow

Regina, I perhaps did not make myself clear about the socialization thing. It is of course possible to get wonderful socialization through homeschool activities. We do a lot of home-school activities here although my kids go to public school too, because while we have great music and art and educational opportunities right here, we do not have 500-1000 people. At school there is a semi-protected (but not parental) space and an an opportunity to learn Grace in the Herd, or Public Bearing. How to get along in crowds of people, how to wait and fill your time effectively tho others are not on your level at the same time, patience, how to deal with the expectations of those who are not your mommy and daddy........these are public/group endurance issues that people need to learn to function in the world at large effectively. Sarajane

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You are welcome BJ! My DH and I go to every single parent teacher conference there is, and together. Many teachers were amazed that a) we were both there, and b) that we came in spite of no big problems--meaning, we didn't "Have To" deal with it but still did. My children's school experience is important to us even when failure is not part of the picture. We support achievement as well as pay attention to problems. Sarajane

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