How Many of You Home School?

Hello, I'm a sahm to four wonderful children. I am currently home-schooling two of the four, my 10yr dd and my 6yr ds. I began my home-school journey by reading some really great books that I highly recommend. "Miseducation: Preschoolers at Risk" by D. Elkind was the first I read, and "For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. I had worked for a long time in Early Childhood Education and was working on my degree in ECE when I began to realize that I really didn't want for my children what I was seeing in my work experience and also what I had experienced in public school myself. So many years and many curriculum changes later I have finally found our niche. Currently I use an online curriculum guide for our lesson plans and I am looking for some extra curricular activities for my kids. My dd is enrolled in an archery group for home-schoolers and is interested in acting, dancing and music. My son is a little more introverted and is content with being at home and just having his siblings, cousin and best friend around to play with. I would have to say that home-schooling, for us, has been a beautiful journey. It takes time, patience and persistence and is completely worth the effort!

Hi, I am a sahm and homeshool my children, the oldest being 5. We had him signed up and paid for in a private school for kindergarten, and also my daughter. But then I started researching homeschooling, plus my best friend homeschools, and realized what a disadvanage it is for any child, especially at a young age, to be shipped off to an "institution" for 1/2 the day or more. There are so many advantages to homeschool, and if you stay home with the kids then there are many more. This road is a little harder to stay on, but it is so worth it when you get to be the first to see your child learning something new! It is such a wonderful feeling to see that you had taught them what they know! I am so blessed by God to be able to have this opportunity!
I have now more friends that homeschool that I met though our co-op. So it is great and so absoulutly worth it!
But don't take just my word, research statistics, safety, etc on the topic. And if you are a believer, then pray on it. That is how I knew that this is what I am supposed to do. God bless!

Hi A.,
How did I come to deciding on homeschool? God was preparing me as I stuggled greatly putting my two children in school. I kept asking myself, "Wait a minute, these are my kids and why do I have to send them to a school if I really don't want too.?" We moved from our home to a home out in the country 10 years ago and the school we put them in was absolutely a shocker. My first grader stopped eating and would cry at night not wanting to go back. As her teacher said, "She is the brightest and smartest student in the class." My daughter who is a 4.0 student in highschool now got all her work done and was totally bored and my son was struggling being at that school also. It was a fairly large school but parents were not welcomed here. I was the ONLY parent to show up for field day because at the previous school parents all came on that day and helped and had fun with their kids and everyone ele. Parents weren't invited to field day at this school and I know why. As I watched, the gym teacher screamed at all the children in a very harsh mean way. I was shocked! I knew that was not the school my children were going to stay at. I homeschooled them the next year and continued. Two of them are in highschool now and not homeschooled anymore. You take it year by year to see what is best for you and your children.
We belonged to the homeschool group which is fairly large where we live and in the city where we came from. My children were always busy doing something, sports, art classes, music, swimming, gym class, etc. Yes, All with homeschooled kids. The myth of lack of socialization is such a laugh!
You only get your little children for so many years... Cherish those times. Teaching them when they are little is such a joy! If you don't find joy in it, then truly search out the best possible place where your child will be loved and can have fun learning at the same time!!!:) One more thing...Don't be too h*** o* yourself. Have fun teaching that little one. No one will every love your child as much as you do. You don't want to miss out on those precious little years. Blessings

Hi A.,

We are a Home Schooling family of 6 (4 students). We started out in Public School and I had one son come home crying everyday being abused mentally by a couple teachers. He struggled until Christmas Break of 5th grade. He never went back. He is our oldest, we pulled the other two out after the year was over and our youngest was never exposed to PS.

Our oldest is almost 18 and has blossomed into a very nice young man. He couldn't read when we pulled him out and he now studies Computer programming.

I would recommend joining a local support group and also www.hslda.org is worth the piece of mind.
For our house, HSing is our school. We love it as a family and learn so much together everyday.

I would be happy to answer questions for you if you need. Please feel free to ask.

A.,

My daughter is 12, and I have kept home with me always. I believe I know more about life and making good choices than other children her age (whatever it may be).

Schools are geared toward, doing whatever the group agrees on. So when you have a strong child, they will lead their group. Not so much what I am looking for in education.

We have always been involved with homeschooling co-ops.

Whatever you decide for your child's future, I would keep her home while she is still young. Who better for her to learn about life with.

Any questions, shoot me an email.

Hi there! My oldest child is only 4 but we're going to homeschool! We do fun things at home for "preschool" but I'm not into pushing a child to sit and "do school" too soon. I'm going to do kindergarten when she is 6. I love the idea of having my kids home with me. I love being the one who influences their moods, decisions, and learning the most. Even if not homeschooled through high school, I believe starting kids out this way gives them an advantage in life! Good luck with your decision.

Hi A., just so you don't feel rushed, and have to go ahead and enroll her while you make your decision.... kindergarten is not mandatory in all states.

I suggest you take the time starting right now to research as much as you can.

Start w/ the law (the HSLDA site is great) then once you know the law accurately,

learn about the different styles of homeschooling (just google methods of homeschooling or something like that) You may see a specific style you KNOW will fit your family... or you may want to start w/ the eclectic style until you find what works... just trying different things. Every family is different!

Get on homeschooling bulletin boards and on here and ask questions.. any questions you come across.

Attend a homeschoolers convention or a curriculum fair. There is one coming to Lansing on May 2nd - 3rd. There are many classes offered (MANY) and they also have many curriculum vendors set up so you can see their stuff hands on and check it out and ask them questions. If you don't want to attend the classes... you can go there just for a few hours to "shop" the vendor booths w/out paying the conference registration fee. There's another in Midland this month (maybe this weekend?) I forget when? Put on through a homeschool group there. They offer free new to homeschooling classes. I don't think they have curric. vendors there though? You can find alot out online too.

Something I just recently learned, is that homeschooling children can take non-core curriculum subjects at the public school (music, art, gym, band, drivers ed.)

Hope this helps you some!
H.