A question about homeschooling

[Mum&bubs]

Just curious for those out there who home school their kids (or ones that plan to do it when they are older) just WHY you do it?

What benefits do you think your children will achieve?

What are the pros/cons of homeschooling?

Was having a discussion about homeschooling with DF this afternoon so I am very interested in learning more about it- not that I will be home schooling my girls but still very interested :)

Thanks.

[Susan Mac]

We are thinking about homeschooling, but are far from decided yet.

My reasons are:

I don't like the format of school. I think there is too much social conditioning.

I like the idea of having some control over what my child is learning. I believe the education of children is the responsibility of the parent, be it homeschooling or conventional schooling.

I like the idea of being able to tailor the learning program to suit current interests, or skill levels that don't fit with the curriculum.

School can be done in a couple of hours instead of 6 1/2 then we can have family time.


If we decide we do want to homeschool I will only do it if there are other homeschooling families in the area to network with, and I wouldn't do it if we don't end up being able to have any more children (we have one so far, want four).

[Rainbowbrite]

All the same reasons as Susan Mac :)

Also adding, the system does not work, its an outdated concept. There are WAY too many children per class.

[Mum&bubs]

All the same reasons as Susan Mac :)

Also adding, the system does not work, its an outdated concept. There are WAY too many children per class.

I think that too! I was saying to DF that home schooling would be good because you are one on one, not one of 30! (or more!)

[Ffrenchknickers]

Hi!

I love talking about homeschooling:smiliedance: My son has benefitted SOOO much from it this year....I would love to chat more about it, just have to go make lunch, I will be back:D

[Ffrenchknickers]

OK, back.

My DS went to school last year (year one)and SOOO much about it didnt feel righ to us. We felt like we were losing him to the system IYKWIM. This year with homeschool we feel like we have our little boy back:hugs: I think homeschooling is wonderful, even just in the early school years.

I feel like I have gotten to know Toby so well through teaching him and watching him learn and seeing how he reacts to things.....all things that I really didnt get to see last year (despite being up at the school nearly everyday for reading/maths/swimming/art....lol) I can't really explain it very well but it has just been an amazing year and it just feels so right for our family.

We didn't like the fact that at school he was doing most of his learning from the 20 other children in his class...at this age we want him to be learning from us not other children!! He was also so tired and stressed from the long days at school that we very rarely had any nice time with him IYKWIM.....he had sooo much homework to do every night which he wsa too tired to do.

Toby has never had a problem socially...I really dont agree with the whole "what about socialisation" arguement....that is what your family is for! I will never believe that school will teach them the social skills that we desire our kids to have. The social "skils" he picked up from school were deinfately not ones that we choose him to learn;) Toby has heaps of friends and goes to heaps of activites.....even just going to the shops there is a chance for learning. We are part of a very large homeschooling group and Toby goes to Drama classes, swimming, sports, organic gardening etc etc.

The other thing we found is that school is getting soooo competitive, there was always some competition within the classroom going....and the same kids were always the winners. Because of large class numbers the attention is given to those at the top and those at the "bottom"...all those average kids in the middle tend to get overlooked a little:( (This is certainly not going to be true of every schoolroom though but I imagine that it would be quite easy to fall into this trap as a teacher of so many children.)

The school he went to last year ws actually a great school and the teacher was lovely...there was just not enough of her to go around.

Anyway, I could go on and on haha....the reason I point out all the negative things about our school year last year is to tell you that all these things have been overcome through homeschooling! As I said, we feel like we have our little boy back! At 5, 6, 7,8 years old they are still so little and innocent, we feel like we now have more time to instill the values/behaviours etc in him that WE want him to have. He and his brother have formed such a nice friendship this year too and Toby has had the chance to spend time with his baby sister also. I love what is happening with my children through keeping them all at home, I love it so much.

As has already been said,you can get your schooling done in a couple of hours which IMO is much more suited to young childrens' attention span. There is also the real opportunity to cater their curriculum to your child's personal interests. In school they seem to really focus on the subjects that each child is not doing so well in where at home we can really focus on the positives, the subjects they are interested in and good at which makes more sense to me.

I will get you the link to a group that is in Brissie....they are a homeschooling playgroup - they have children below schoolage who are planning on homeschooling....be back in a sec


hahaha, sorry for the novel.....:rolleyes:

[Ffrenchknickers]

Here 'tis...
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/homeoflearningplaygroup/

:)

HTH

[Mum&bubs]

Thanks for that, off to read now!

[Ffrenchknickers]

There is also this thread here on bubhub which has quite alot of replies.

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=58010&highlight=homeschool

I was also going to say that if you are undecided, you definateyhave nothing to lose through trying it out....if it doesnt work out you can always send them to school after...and you'll have the bonus of spending that extra year with your lil ones at home:hugs:

[chameleon]

I was homeschooled (in highschool) and I think it was the best decision Mum made.

I was always very good at school and had heaps of friends.. which was kind of the problem really, because I was far too distracted. I followed them and did whatever they did. If they didn't like art, then I didn't like art. If they forgot their homework I'd pretend to forget mine. I had no mind of my own and the minute I was pulled out of school I suddenly realised I had my own ideas and opinions and got a lot more confidence.

DH always picks on me saying that I'm shy because of homeschool, which isn't really true. I am still a bit shy but I used to be a lot worse!

At first it was hard, but that was more because of my age. I think if I had've started in primary it would've seemed more natural. It wasn't as structured and Mum always said, "learning doesn't have to be within the hours of 9-3" so I became more inquisitve started to enjoy doing research... even on weekends sometimes:laughing:

And I know everyone worries about socialisation:rolleyes: Mum used to get attacked about it all the time... but we did do other things and activities outside the house so we still made friends. I don't have as many friends as I used to but I have a few close friends which is all I need.

The biggest downfall for me was some people weren't very supportive and always argued with Mum. They liked to really quiz us on what we were learning and made comments about how "it must be nice to stay in your pj's all day"... a bit like the SAHM comments I get now:laughing:

I would LOVE to homeschool DD but DH doesn't like the idea:gloomy:

(Good on you Ffrenchstar!:yelclap: )

[Ffrenchknickers]

Thanks for sharing Chameleon, it is always encouraging to hear stories from adults who were homeschooled and survived hahaha!:smiliedance:


I was always very good at school and had heaps of friends.. which was kind of the problem really, because I was far too distracted. I followed them and did whatever they did. If they didn't like art, then I didn't like art. If they forgot their homework I'd pretend to forget mine. I had no mind of my own and the minute I was pulled out of school I suddenly realised I had my own ideas and opinions and got a lot more confidence

This describes my DS1 to a tee! Even at age 7 I can see that is what he is like, he is sooo social etc etc.

Again, thanks for sharing:hugs:

[~J'dore~]

We're giving it a go:yes: For pretty much all the same reasons that have alreadly been mentioned.

I think that our kids are going to have the best education because their curriculum will be planned and taught by those that know and love them best:thumbsup: