Homeschool: Month 3
We are officially a homeschooling family now. The decision wasn’t easy, especially since I respect the principal at my daughter’s zoned school, and I truly believe the teachers were competent and caring.
I also knew I’d have to face a lot of puzzled moms—“Oh my Gawd! What HAPPENED?!”—as well as my own feeling that I was making a radical decision for my child which might dramatically alter her “normalness.” Whatever that means.
My husband, Matthew, writes about this today at FirstThings.com:
Opting out of the public education system feels a bit like jumping off a moving train. As you tumble down the side of the embankment and struggle to gain your footing, passengers on the still-moving train crane their necks and crowd to the windows to stare at you with wide eyes and slack jaws.
They jumped? What are they, nuts? This train is so nice.
As the locomotive puffs into the distance—it must, after all, keep to its schedule—you dust yourself off and begin to plot the rest of your journey on foot. Suddenly you realize you are alone in the wilderness. “Oh boy,” you think. “Maybe we’ve made a terrible mistake.” Then it hits you: The air smells great out here. The landscape, previously just a wooshing blur in the train’s window, is suddenly alive with colors and sounds.
So far, yes, homeschooling is an unqualified success. My daughter, 7, is healthier —mentally, emotionally, and physically. She actually eats her lunch now and spends at least two hours outside each day, unless the weather is dreadful and we can only bear an hour. We check on our blue heron friend who lives in the cemetery across the way. Then, we walk over to the brook to search for the skittish muskrat. We wave to “George,” the one-winged goose. We stare into the pond until the fish, settled so still on the bottom, suddenly become clear to our adjusting eyes; for a quick glance, their camouflage is too successful. It takes patience. And time.
But we can do it. We have jumped off the train.
I always wanted to be a governess like those I read about in my 18th and 19th century British literature classes. Now, I feel like one.
My daughter’s academic skills, especially in math, have leaped forward. We do daily editing exercises, brain twisters, handwriting, traditional grammar, and yes, the drill work—spelling, vocabulary, and math problems. LOTS of math problems.
We also learn about the ancient world and look at maps of Mesopotamia and Egypt. She knows the location of all 50 states and their capitals. She knows why we have seasons and weather. We studied the parts of a cell yesterday. Best of all, my daughter can curl up in her chair by the sunny window and get buried in her latest novel series. She reads about 250 pages a day of her own choice reading, outside of her school “work.” She tries out magic tricks. She makes potholders. Or engagement rings out of Hershey’s kisses and pipe cleaners (see below).
We go ice skating on Friday mornings, and we attend a monthly homeschool meeting where my daughter says her memorized poem in front of a crowd of 50+ parents and children. Oh yeah. And we also go to the grocery store and pick up Daddy’s dry cleaning.
My daughter still has playdates. Still plays soccer. And, she’s made a bunch of new friends through two homeschool networks in our area.
Is it perfect? No. Does my daughter whine about math problems? Yes. Are there days I don’t feel like teaching a new grammar lesson and nights I don’t feel like checking workbooks and planning? Sure. But it’s better for all of us. So much better. Is it for every family? Every kid? No.
In fact, our other daughter, 5, who has Down syndrome, remains in the school system. She, in stark contrast to her sister, truly thrives in school. Her biggest leaps come after a particularly good week at school. God bless her teachers and therapists. We don’t know for sure what we’ll do with the three year old when his time comes. For the next two years, at least, he’s home with us.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Have you had any irresistible urges to occupy the Capitol Building, or recall your Governor?
May '10
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Congratulations Ursula! I have a professional interest in learning more about what you are using for curricula. Are you relying on a pre-set program or forging your own way? Thx.
May '10
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Wonderful post, Ursula! May I ask what motivated you to take this step?
May '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
I'd love to do home schooling but I will work during the day and my wife, being deaf, tells me that she doesn't feel that she can educate my daughter. So I guess I will have to make a lot of money to afford private school.
Mar '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Welcome Ursula! We started homeschooling our older son for several reasons related to his spina bifida. His success as a homeschooler proved so obvious that we pulled his younger brother (by three years) out of public school too.
I now have two boys, 13 and 9, respectively, that are learning Latin together.
Edited on January 27, 2012 at 10:46pmJan '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Good for you! But don't forget languages - I suggest the whole family learns Chinese.
Mar '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Granted I am biased considering I was homeschooled but I am pretty much in Neil Bortz camp on public schools. I don't usually bring it up because most people find it offensive. However, if you can afford it one is insane to send their kids to a public school. Either save and send them to a private school or teach them yourselves. Granted it is a lot more stressful to teach at home but way better results in the long run.
Edited on January 27, 2012 at 10:29pmMar '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Kudos, Ursula!
I am a second-generation home schooler, and I don't find it stressful in the slightest. I spend less time *teaching* than my friends spend driving carpool. Done right, it is *such* a pleasure. Done wrong...
If anyone is interested, I gave an amusing (and yet tip-filled) talk that I am happy to email. Just send me a private message with your email address.
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Now that you're teaching, don't forget to award yourself tenure, health insurance and a pension!
Mar '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Homeschooling isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It can be difficult at times and it requires sacrifice. If you are a workaholic and spend your free time rubbing your first two shillings together, don't bother. My boys do between two and four hours of schoolwork a day and far exceed what they were learning in public school.
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Hi Trace! After much research, I settled on my own curricula. I am using the best things I'd come across in my own teaching career as well as several new things recommended on various homeschool/education sites. That said, if I was juggling more than one student, I might go with a pre-set program. I've heard of at least two that seem successful (and similar to what I've chosen anyway).
Mar '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Now there is a poll we should run: what percentage of Ricochet parents home school?
Mar '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
By the way, the two to four hours mentioned above is the same amount of time my wife and I spent with them reviewing the lessons they brought home from public school. We figured that if we had to spend the time anyway...
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
I would love to add Chinese, frankly. I may fold that in next year. We will definitely do Latin, like Mr. Marvinson's sons.
Apr '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Great to hear from you, Ursula. Congratulations and good luck.
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Hi Daniel. Well, I'd been intrigued with it for a long time. Then, I met a few impressive moms, dads, and children in the homeschooling community -- all met through Ricochet contacts, I might add! Also, my daughter was having lots of emotional ups and downs in Sept. and Oct. They were puzzling to us and troubling, to say the least. These episodes have completely disappeared. Probably caused mostly by lack of sleep and a lot of rushing around. Anyway, that helped me get close to the decision, but a lot -- a LOT -- of research and reading and observing (of schooled and homeschooled children) led to the actual move.
Aug '10
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Congrats , it was probably harder ten or so years ago when we did it with one of ours, but Calvert came through with great programs. The level of learning has to be kept a secret because the public schools would close out of shame alone. ( well those unionists are probably shameless)
Great anecdote, friends of ours who were career diplomats, moving about ever 3 years, got the Nebraska system , developed long ago for ranch families for their kids.
Well, both the kids ended at Yale, full scholarships, the girl had perfect board scores. Home schooling is the best education a family can get.
Edited on January 27, 2012 at 10:57pmDec '10
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
From Common Sense 101: Lessons from G.K. Chesterton:
I so admire your choice, Ursula. Godspeed.
Nov '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
They probably didn't spend much more than that on actual academic work at school anyway -- once you count in recess, lunch, random interruptions or activities, walking the hallways from one place to another, transition times, time waiting for the teacher to get organized, time spent waiting for everyone to figure things out and finish their work...
Kudos to all you homeschooling parents. It's not for everyone, but if you can it is so worth it.
Nov '11
Re: Homeschool: Month 3
Or were homeschooled ourselves.