Comments on: How do you feel about home schooling?

By: wolfkiss

wolfkiss — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:27:40 +0000

I home school my 17 year old son since he was 8 years old. Home schooling isn’t for everyone and I do not promote it. It has worked for my son. I was able to focus on the areas he was interested in. He learns better from hands on learning.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 03:52:47 +0000

I want to preface my answer my saying that I do have the utmost respect for teachers, and plan to teach at the university level after I complete my M.A. program. However… many people have remarked that most parents are not capable of teaching their children, and that public school teachers are uniquely qualified to do so. While this would be true in some cases, it really isn’t in all cases. One of my mom’s friends is a private school teacher (1st grade), and she has told me that her school only requires an A.A. (!) to teach. This means that there are teachers there, responsible for a child’s education, who have gone to school approximately 2 years more than parents, and who more than likely have not specialized in anything, but rather finished a general education program. Furthermore, when this same friend was going to school for her B.A., I frequently did her homework for her - and I was 14. Oh, and I was “unschooled” from K-12th grade. So essentially, an unschooled 14 year old could do better work than a 20-something year old college graduate in charge of a classroom. Although many teachers are uniquely qualified to teach, letters after a person’s name does not mean they know any more than the parents of a child.

By: B-Rad

B-Rad — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:21:17 +0000

Do whats right, get your son a better education. Get him home schooled.
I wish I could, I would do anything to be in his shoes right now.

By: choo-choo

choo-choo — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:42:47 +0000

If your child is already excited about learning, then start teaching him! My parents started teaching my little brother how to read at age 3.

I have been homeschooled all my life. Homeschoolers have 1)flexibility, 2)more learning options, 3)a protection from being around a chaos of kids. If you homeschool your child, he will be able to explore what he is interested in, and learn things that are his level.

Of course, depending on what he likes, you will want to put him in a sport, debate club, etc. when he is older.

If you are wondering what your going to teach him with, how you are going to teach him, etc. there are tons of books and catalogues out there to help you with just that!

By: learn4fun

learn4fun — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:42:28 +0000

I have home schooled all my life! I love it, my whole family loves it. I have six siblings we have all been home schooled all are lives, except now my oldest brother is in collage.
We have 1. been closer as a family
2. have been able to have so many advantages in schooling. For example I can do extra learning on stuff I enjoy, you can have your son go slower or faster on schoolwork depending on if he really has the stuff down or needs extra work on something. And he can study quietly with out a bunch of kids next to you ( something which will really be a help when he gets older and does harder stuff).
3. You can give him the love, attention, and care that the teacher cannot
4. You can use library books and interesting games to teach him instead of just using boring textbooks. Why you can get off boring text books completly if you want too. And that really makes learning more fun.

I love homeschooling, and I still have lots of friends! We are in a homeschool chess club at our library right now, there are homeschool classes and groups you and your son can participate in. So don’t think if your son is home schooled he will be ” socially out”

But some good things about public schooling are
1. He can see his friends every single day
2. You can work or be more relaxed during the day while he is at school.
3. And you usually don’t have to cook lunch for to many people.

By: sparrow

sparrow — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:38:23 +0000

An isolated home school environment puts a student at a great disadvantage. Here’s why. Some people who home school their own children are not qualified teachers. In turn they have limited teaching strategies, experience, training, exposure to constant professional development opportunities, courses and conferences.

It’s not advantageous for a child to be in the company of their parent all day. It is extremely important for a child to be exposed to a peer group during important years of cognitive development since the brain is creating neural pathways and becomes hardwired in our early twenties. There is a good article from TIME about what the brain and how it works which may help you to decide what you want to expose your child to when he/she is at a certain age.

Home schooling only paves the way for individual learning, which is only one type of learning strategy in a plethora of methods that are used to ensure a student gets the most holistic cognitive and social development. Cooperative learning strategies (debates, jigsaws etc.) are just a few methods that teachers use to help a student gain essential social strategies and tools. Most importantly, school provides a opportunity for children to gain a sense of community as well as develop conflict-managment and teamwork skills while having the opportunity to form invaluabe peer relationships.

If they are not exposed to this, then they are acquiring knowledge in a more limited capacity. As much as you can try, a home school environment does not expose a child to the variety of peers, experiences and opportunities that a school provides. A child needs to develop a sense of “self” separate then their identity as their parent’s child. This can only really be nurtured in a school environment.

I think it’s great that you are researching this so early in your child’s life. Good luck. Hope this adds insight.

By: mommabear

mommabear — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:41:33 +0000

I think that is wonderful. I can remember my first daughter at 23mo. She knew her ABC’s, shapes, colors and count to at least 10. My children will never go into daycare if I can help it. I love being at home and teaching them new things everyday.
It sounds like your son maybe gifted! Have you given that a thought? He may get board in public school.
I just started homeschooling this week! OH! it’s great. We had fun and I’m looking forward to next week!!

By: HAy

HAy — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:46:38 +0000

Well in general I think home schooling is ok for some but others need more social interaction. When they are really young like 4, 5 ,6 & 7 they are learning how to interact with other kids in a postitive way. I would say regular school because interaction with peers is really important.

By: hsingmomma

hsingmomma — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:53:14 +0000

you are getting a lot of good advice here - both pros and some cons to consider. I think the bottom line is to decide what level of commitment you are willing to devote to it, and to see that your child does get good socialization. There are families that suck at homeschooling and social skills, and there are families that are great at both… and ones at all levels in between.
I love homeschooling most days! I had to be able to see my weaknesses as a teacher and be able to get help for my kids in areas that I couldn’t help them in. I also have to learn to be confident in what I am good at. I love them like no other teacher can, so that gives me a good leg up right there.
good luck on making your decision!!

By: KrysBlackwell

KrysBlackwell — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:56:24 +0000

Home schooling is a GREAT way to go, if you have the time to be your son’s teacher. I’ve been homeschooled for the past 10 or so years, so maybe I’m a little prejudiced, but the interaction and values that children get from learning from and with their parents can’t be replaced. It’s a lot more hands-on for mothers and fathers, but very rewarding.