Category Archives: Homeschoooling

Homeschoooling, humor

I know you are a good homeschooler but…

Leave a comment

Tell me, have you heard something similar? Where someone you know starts off on how you are a great homeschooler but on the whole they are against it because of the bad homeschooling parents. You educate yourself on teaching and are bright but what about the others? You know, the ones that don’t make sure their kids learn anything or they lock their kids in the basement;). Or better yet can’t read or do any figurin’;).

I had this happen a lot over VBS. I served with a teacher who said she used to teach homeschoolers and she kind of felt that who does it or the kids’ progress needed to be regulated. When I got further details come to find out she didn’t teach “homeschoolers”. She was teaching at a charter school (read public school) that was an independent study program for kids that were already basically bombing out.

I also have been hearing about parents that weren’t making sure their kids did any work. Or left them at home alone while the mom went to work. Or parents that don’t like doing anything with their kids.

Well, I had an epiphany moment. I was talking about the Rachel L ruling with a lawyer friend of mine (who is pro-homeschooling) and the comeback for all these arguments hit me.

Parents who don’t like their kids and don’t want to teach them won’t homeschool! It is too hard. Those parents are going to be the first ones in line for the public school.

Now will there be exceptions, sure. But those exceptions to all parenting rules already exist. Parents who are going to lock their kids in the basement and neglect them are already breaking the law. They aren’t using the out of “homeschooling” to get away with anything;).

headlines, Homeschoooling

California Homeschoolers Breathe Easy

Leave a comment

Now I am not one of those people who panicked about homeschooling in California after the initial ruling in the Rachel L case but I am now breathing easier. The Appeals Court in California that initially released the controversial ruling that forbade homeschooling had vacated their ruling. They then heard from various effected parties.

Well, the ruling is out and it is just as we homeschoolers orginally said. Taken from CHN’s site:

Today’s court ruling held that (1) California statutes permit home schooling as a species of private school education; and (2) the statutory permission to home school may constitutionally be overridden in order to protect the safety of a child who has been declared a dependent. Homeschooling, therefore, remains a legal educational option in California.

So it is over and the Nerdfamily doesn’t have to move;). Go read up more at CHN and HSLDA.

child rearing, Homeschoooling

The First Key to Homeschooling and Not Losing It

Leave a comment

Ok, so that may be a broad statement but I think it may be true. One of the most common reasons I hear parents say they couldn’t homeschool is that their kids would drive them crazy (I even heard this from public school teachers). I smile and say that I must be lucky.

Well, I realized what they are referring to is a societal problem. Silicon Valley Moms had an article, G’Head, Hurl those Insults, Doesn’t Bother Me, that talked about learning to ignore what your kids say when they are venting. Then it hit me, parents are trained to accept their kids treating them like dirt. Well, most homeschooling parents I know don’t! Now I have a few strong willed kids and we go head to head, don’t get me wrong. But, they don’t yell at me (without a severe punishment), don’t hit and don’t disregard my instructions with regularity. These things have been known to happen but they are dealt with and it definitely isn’t the norm.

What is the secret? Raise you kids to be people that you would care to be around. Set expectations and consequences for when those expectations aren’t met (and that will happen). Many parents demand that their kids respect their teachers and friends in ways they don’t expect their kids to respect them or their siblings. The truth is that those kids may tow the line a bit but they may not really respect anyone and then they grow up to be parents who have to vent to each other and on their kids.

But, then I wonder in the words of Dr. Phil, “How’s that working for you”. Then I here disturbing thing like this (from the same article),

And in fact an added bonus is after we have an episode, which with Donovan often culminates in a punch to the gut (he punching me, don’t get your panties in a wad), I get spontaneous hugs and kisses, proclamations of love and “I’m speaking to you mommy” and “I’m your friend mommy,” a lot of love thrown my way.

So it is just me or does that sound like Battered Wife Syndrome? The other thing is, haven’t we settled the matter that venting on someone isn’t a healthy way to deal with anger? So maybe you should teach your kids how to handle their anger instead of you learning how to handle their anger.

I guess this is just the basis of why I can homeschool my kids with out losing my mind (though some days 6 hours alone sounds great to me too).

Homeschoooling, house management

How I Schedule

Leave a comment

Heart of the Matter has asked how we schedule. I have a confession, I don’t do any firm scheduling but I have zones of schooling. But that is the beauty of homeschooling, you can form it to whatever works for you. So what do I actually do? Every season is different but lets work through this last academic year. We can’t just look at school schedules without looking at life a little broader.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: We do book work from about 11-12. Then we read together from 12:30-1, finish book work or do projects from 4:30-5:30.
Tuesday: NerdBug has choir in the morning and we are all at church until lunch. Book work about 4:30-5:30.
Thursday: NerdBug goes to the homeschooling room and does some book work and plays games from 9-11am. Then he finishes us book work from 4:30-5:30.
Friday: Sometimes we skip all real school to go play at the park or go do something fun.

So that is all I do! I keep it really laid back and try to just bring learning into life! What do you do?

child rearing, headlines, Homeschoooling

Kindergarten is a War Zone

Leave a comment

Kindergarten is the easy grade to try out public school, right? The kids are to young to really corrupt each other and kindergarten teachers are sweet people who love little kids (why else would they choose to chase them), right? Not so much.

So here is our first situation. First imagine an adorable 5 year old boy (and I do me cute!) who has some discipline problems so mom takes him to outside doctors (as recommended by the principal) and they start the process to get him officially diagnosed with Aspberger’s. Some 5 year old boys can have discipline problems to begin with but pile on Aspberger’s and I am sure it can be rough. But how rough would it have to be for a teacher to pull this kid up in front of the class, have every student say what they don’t like about him and then vote as to whether they want to keep him in the class. That is exactly what what Wendy Barton did in Florida.

If that isn’t bad enough here is the second situation. So your five year old comes home and complains that his teacher doesn’t like him and that he kids don’t either. While your child is saying all this you are getting progress reports that are well mixed in the good marks and the bad. The teacher says sometimes your child is disruptive and can’t keep his hands to himself. But when you ask the teacher if you should set up a “behavior plan” with the teacher she says she doesn’t have time. So it must not be that big of a deal. Well, many times you would say that the kid is being to sensitive to limited correction and isn’t really reading the situation properly. Well, what if that kid started acting out at home? The parents of Gabriel Ross decided to send a tape recorder in his pocket to see what is really going on. The results were shocking.

What they heard over four hours of tape shocked them. Woodward can be heard telling Gabriel that he had “tortured and tormented” her and other teachers all year.

“I’ve been more than nice to you all year long and you’ve been ignorant, selfish, self-absorbed, the whole thing! I’m done!” Woodward says to Gabriel on the tape. She continues: “Something needs to be done because you are pathetic! If me saying these words to you hurt, I hope it does because you’re hurting everyone else around you.”

Gabriel can be heard crying on the tape.

Now I am hearing some people say this is evidence of a bad school system and that is why you should homeschool. I am looking at it a little differently. Apparently all the training these teachers got didn’t prepare them to actually deal with kids. I think this should be empowering to any parent who has ever doubted that they can teach their own kids. Do you think the home environment will be healthier than this? Now, I am not saying that all teachers are like this because they aren’t. But, all the training can’t be the end all and be all to teaching your child so have a little faith in yourself, your intelligence and your love. You can do it!

Technorati Tags: Alex Barton, Gabriel Ross

child rearing, Homeschoooling

Are You Striving for Merely Average?

Leave a comment

While many people in my area would never in a million years homeschool, a lot of them want to say how great it is that I do. Then they give you the reasons that they can’t do it with their kids. So I am going to start address those reasons here. Let me preface all this with while I think it would be great for our society, I don’t think everyone needs to homeschool. But people start talking like they feel guilty and have to justify their decision. They are not my kids, it is none of my business! But, if you are going to use these silly reasons I need to start addressing them.

The first one is this fear that their kids will not be “normal” or fit in. What does that even mean? I have heard that academically they would be very advanced so they could no longer fit in with their peers. How is this a problem people? So people want their kids to just be “normal”? Isn’t that the same thing as average? Average, the median, a C? You want to make sure that your kids can play all the social manipulation games to survive in a children’s society? That is all your hopes and dreams are for your kids?

To me this is a mentality that “I will sell out my kids future so they can have more friends today”. Talk about shortsighted. My children are very bright but they get along with many types of people. But even at almost 7 and 5, my kids are already losing patience with some issues that are considered normal for their age group. Things like when kids “decide” one day that they like 1 kid but you can’t talk to that other kid. So my kids can’t play that game, yes I am a failure as a parent;). Just imagine how great the world would be if we all refused to play.

I don’t think there is a single parent who would admit that average is all they hope for but I wonder if that is truly what they mean. The soap box if being put away for the afternoon;).

Update: Here are a couple (not all) of the definitions of Normal from Dictionary.com.
-the average or mean: Production may fall below normal.
-the standard or type.

carnivals, Homeschoooling

Carnival of Homeschooling

Leave a comment

Welcome to the 120th Carnival of Homeschooling and come on into our home. I am sorry I am running late but I had women’s retreat this weekend and choir and Bible Study today. So sorry. Let me drop my purse and Bible, just make yourself comfortable and ignore the mess;).

Yes, your kids are more than welcome. They can play here with the others in the playroom. Maybe Sarah’s kids from over at Small World can show their wonderful creativity like they did At the Carnival.

Oh did you see the bookshelves and the computer? It is great to have such a learning nook. Kerry over at 10 O’Clock Scholar is sharing a great Geography and Science Combined Unit. Barbara Frank is sharing a great project when she asks, Is There a Young Writer in Your House? Tiffany at the Natural Family Living Blog does a book review on Finding Your Child’s Strength. One of my favorite sites, Let’s Play Math, is sharing Math Games by Kids that has lots of great Math resources. Homeschool Buzz Reviews asks us if we are looking for a break from your serious reading? Check out our review of the entertaining classic graphic novel Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. The Reluctant Homeschooler has recently switched from using textbooks to using biographies with her 16 year old so now he is asking, “Why do I have to learn all that?“.

Let’s go in the kitchen and get a cup of coffee and a snack. Oh, over on the island is the crafting center. ChristineMM at The Thinking Mother is Playing with Needle Felting. sharing how she and her two boys have been enjoying doing daily needle felting which qualifies for ‘homeschool art class’.

I love my kitchen too. I am blessed to have so much space in here but it gets messy. Let’s look in at Ship Full O’Pirates. Jenny is sharing some wisdom on Galley Duty.

Take a seat at the kitchen table so we can listen to some of the wonderful people who are willing to give us advice and pointers. Michelle over at Organically Inclined starts the conversation with Attachment Parenting and the Independent Teen. Have you ever asked, My child won’t do craft activities- what now? If so, Melitsa at Play-Activities.com has some answers. Terri at Cricket’s Corner shares The Rite of the Hanger for those times that you realize your kids are growing up. Renae at Life Nurturing Education looks at life and the kids with Looking at the Future. A Mountain Homeschool deals with an issue we all deal with in Birthday Parties (and that whole “gift” thing). Life Without School says children need trust …. and they need mentors, guides, and facilitators in Healthy Mentorship. The Upside Down World wants advice on what to do when mom is the one who doesn’t want to do school work in Homeschooling Blahs.

Wow that has given us so much to think about but there are so many to talk to we have to keep moving. Let’s go sit in the living room and hear all the blood stirring political and insightful philosophical talk. HappyCampers at Reese’s View of the World start us off with a poignant Saturday Quote. Then Alasandra of Alasandra’s Blog Awards is talking about The Harassment of Homeschoolers Continues At The American Chronicle. Rational Jenn mentions something. Oh, In Case You Haven’t Seen This Yet includes some excerpts from an op-ed entitled “Your Child Is Not State Property,” and directly challenges the idea that homeschooling parents and children should be monitored by the state. Remember, THEY work for US! :o) Then Findings gives us Socialized Homeschooling in which she discusses the different alternatives available for establishing a social life for my children as homeschoolers. Cristina at Home Spun Juggling continues her series “You can learn a lot from watching animals” with A Tick to Ride. Theresa at Olin gives us another reason to homeschool with Coming to A School Near You. Then Henry Cate at Why Homeschool also gives us Yet Another Reason to Homeschool – Help Stop a Pandemic. Then Learning at Home reminds us that sometimes we are Getting MORE than we paid for in some cases. A Family Runs Through It give us Comment Love where she is seeking advice to jerks who leave her anti-homeschooling comments. Then Dawn Adams presents Day by Day Discoveries: If it Looks Too Good to be True… posted at Day by Day Discoveries talking about K-12 Free.

Oh, that group over in the garage, they are getting ready to take their learning out into the world. Bookworms and Tea Lovers is telling us how to get the most out of Visiting Museums with Children. Brain Blog has provided us with 2 essays that were submitted by homeschoolers in Florida with Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Prevention. Jennifer of Diary of 1 shares The Child’s Spring Book. It tells us how to make a ziplock-bag-book full of the specimens of spring! My Domestic Church offers us If you build it, they will come! It is all about their homeschool soccer league. Peakmore Academy shares all about Science Fair and more! The Sojourner says Sometimes You Just Gotta Have Fun With Your Kids! She says that sometimes you need to just “play” with your kids like she did at the county fair!

Thanks so much for coming over and hanging out with me! Next week Principled Discovery will be hosting this wonderful carnival. Go over to BlogCarnival and get your entry in before Monday night at 6pm (pacific). If you like this carnival please use what ever social bookmarking (Stumble, Digg, etc) you participate in so we can share this with others. Now go visiting and comment on their blogs about what a great job they all have done!

Technorati Tags: Homeschooling, Carnival of Homeschooling

Homeschoooling

How We Got Started Homeschooling

Leave a comment

I often say the thing that got me started on the idea of homeschooling was attending public school and knowing kids at private schools. But I am not sure if that is totally true. I think it was watching my younger siblings starting school while I was still in high school. I started seeing all the negative things that started as early as kindergarten and paralleled that with my corrupting high school experience and it got me thinking about why we were in school. My brother was a severe asthmatic so at one point early in his school career my mother pulled him out to do a long term, parent directed schooling through the district. With just this change I saw amazing differences in both his intellect and personality. Then we he went back to school I saw him go from very advanced back to normal.

That was it for me. Then looking at my own schooling I realized how the herding mentality held me back as a student and I already knew the social issues that were bad (obviously I was and am a nerd). Then I was blessed to meet someone likeminded. NerdDad had seen the negatives in his own schooling career and decided he wouldn’t want to put his children in it either.

We both wanted 4 kids, the wife to stay home and to homeschool. That is part of what got me interested in him;). Now I don’t want you to think we were the kids left behind and we are bitter we couldn’t read. We were kind of the opposite. Self teachers who never felt nurtured. It was obvious that we weren’t in an environment that loved learning (except for a few teachers and their classes) and the school wasn’t really caring on developing our character. We were the kids who would have been better left alone in the library for a few years. Now we do know the kids left behind and the schools didn’t serve them either. So we decided the schools don’t serve anyone other than the government, for the most part.

Once we got married we began educating ourselves on homeschooling. Then obviously we had kids. I loved the classical theory and The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. So here we are just a couple years in but completely committed to homeschooling!