Homeschooling Discussion & Experiences #1

[Heaven]

Maybe some schools are like that but the one my boys go to isn't. I'm so impressed by the quality of education my boys get at the local primary. They learn so many interesting things that I have no idea about and TBH I think there is something to be said for guiding students down certain pathways instead of always expecting them to decide what to learn about.

That is great! I am a bit worried I won't have a choice of school though and will just have to send DD to whichever one is in our zone We are moving in a couple of weeks so I'm not familiar with the schools there yet but I am hoping it's a good one.

I love the idea of a really tiny country school like 50 kids!!!!!! I think that'd have so many advantages.

I would love that. I started school at a small school with 40 kids and it was fabulous. Like a big family.

[Shanti]

All parts if the ciriculum are very important and should be taught, so make sure you dont leave any out.

Sorry Boomba I don't necessarily agree that all parts of the curriculum are necessary but thats JMO.

My DH had a customer in our print shop the other week and she was a mum of an 8yr old girl and her teacher had asked her to make up a magazine like Cleo or something like Dolly you know those mags? And it was for sex education....... ummmm..... yeah.... and this mum was very stressed about her daughter having to do this to get graded for that class....an 8yr old? I can think if better ways to teach sex education. JMO!

[Shanti]

Socialisation happens outside of schools too...... think about when you take your kids to the doctors or the grocery store or the neighbours you talk to? Your children are socialising with PEOPLE (not just kids their own age year) ALL THE TIME EVERYWHERE.

I am a very social mum and my kids are too so there is no probs there!! So I don't see why I would send my kids to school for the 'socialisation' aspect at all

[Heaven]

In Finland the average age a child starts school is 7yrs, maybe 8yrs I think? and they have one of the best education systems in the world!! I think kids are rushed into school and education too fast these days. I say let kids be kids.

I think the same. I wish school started later here, I would feel more comfortable with it. My DD1 will not have turned 5 before she starts prep. I feel like that is too young. I do think there is some value in schools in teaching kids to work in a group and get along with others and listen to other adults that are not parents, etc, but I feel like she has a long time to learn that and it isn't as important as being with her parents at such a young age.

[Heaven]

Also, the opportunities for 'natural learning' when you HS really appeal to me too. I have been reading about that. And if I do mainstream school then I will be trying to incorporate alot of that in our family to compliment it anyway.

[Shanti]

It is such a hard decision to make, hence why I started this thread. The more I read about HS the more I am convinced we should at least try it.... given that I am lucky to be in a position to do so. But I can't stand those people that 'doubt' you just because you're 'just a mum' and not a trained teacher or anything.

I have my children's best interests at heart, I am their Mum and can offer them such a nurturing, stimulating, encouraging, warm environment in which to learn which simply cannot be given in a school environment due to the ratio of students to teachers and the simple fact that any teacher is not that students mum or dad.

For us, it's also considering the bonding of our family as a whole unit. How best can we maximise time spent as a family? How can our kids get a chance to grow together without being separated most of the week/year? That's the big questions we have been asking ourselves
I feel my kids would be missing out on each other if one went off to school. I really do. But that's me. I also feel my child is not designed to sit at a desk for up to 6hrs a day and expect to be quiet and listen when all they want to do is RUN, play and be active kids. I think childhood is already too short these days.

I thought I might attract some BB HSers which is why I started this thread to attract them.

[Heaven]

I feel my kids would be missing out on each other if one went off to school. I really do. But that's me. I also feel my child is not designed to sit at a desk for up to 6hrs a day and expect to be quiet and listen when all they want to do is RUN, play and be active kids. I think childhood is already too short these days.

I love that. I feel the same. I am wondering what it will be like for my DDs when DD1 goes to kindy. They are very close and with eachother playing and cuddling all day. I hope DD2 is not too sad.

[Phteven]

Sorry Boomba I don't necessarily agree that all parts of the curriculum are necessary but thats JMO.

I can think if better ways to teach sex education. JMO!

The thing you have the issue with the the teaching method (making a magazine) not the curriculum (sex ed) but TBH I can see how making a magazine would be a great way to start a conversation about the media and all the related issues.

The thing with the curriculum is that it offers opportunity. You mightn't like algebra and you mightn't agree that it's applied to life every day but by offering algebra schools provide students who are interested in such things a platform upon which to build if they choose. By not offering algebra a school would effectively be closing off endeavours in a whole host of areas. Engineering, building, medicine, science...... pretty much anything offered at university other than Arts and Law.

[Shanti]

Yeah Heaven I guess you could just at least try it? Then you'll know if it's right for her or not?

It scares the jeepers out of me though to think that I could be in control of my child's learning but then I remember that children are so capable of being in charge of their own learning if given the chance. HS is more about child directed learning too, not so much being told what to do all day every day I guess. I would see myself more as her 'guide' and 'resources' and she lets me know what and how she wants to learn things, kwim? Children are so hungry to learn if not forced to learn certain things and too early. JMO.

I'm just doing a lot of thinking out loud here too..... for those who send their kids to school and are happy with that that is so great, I think school is for some kids and not for others perhaps?

[Shanti]

The thing you have the issue with the the teaching method (making a magazine) not the curriculum (sex ed) but TBH I can see how making a magazine would be a great way to start a conversation about the media and all the related issues.

The thing with the curriculum is that it offers opportunity. You mightn't like algebra and you mightn't agree that it's applied to life every day but by offering algebra schools provide students who are interested in such things a platform upon which to build if they choose. By not offering algebra a school would effectively be closing off endeavours in a whole host of areas. Engineering, building, medicine, science...... pretty much anything offered at university other than Arts and Law.

I do agree with you Onyx, I'm not saying curriculums are bad at all. And yes algebra is very important in terms of some future careers etc. But basic maths and general maths is far more suitable to 'real life' iykwim?

[Phteven]

I'm just doing a lot of thinking out loud here too..... for those who send their kids to school and are happy with that that is so great, I think school is for some kids and not for others perhaps?

TBH unless a child has significant learning difficulties i think that school is for some parents but not for others.

[Heaven]

I came across this video I thought was good too so thought I'd share: No Agenda Homeschool - The Runaway Train - YouTube!

[Phteven]

I do agree with you Onyx, I'm not saying curriculums are bad at all. And yes algebra is very important in terms of some future careers etc. But basic maths and general maths is far more suitable to 'real life' iykwim?

Isn't part of 'real life' having a job and hopefully a fulfilling career? And since we can't predict what careers our children will want IMO it's best to do everything we can to ensure that as many careers are open to them as possible.

[Heaven]

Isn't part of 'real life' having a job and hopefully a fulfilling career? And since we can't predict what careers our children will want IMO it's best to do everything we can to ensure that as many careers are open to them as possible.

I assume that if Shanti taught basic maths and found that her DD was in fact really in to maths then she would go into it more, not say 'no I don't think maths is important'.

[boomba]

Not starting a war of words but just cause you don't think it's necessary what your your dd loves it? Or decides later in she wants to do something that needs some part of the ciriculim you thought wasn't necessary? Can I ask why you are really hell bent on not teaching everything? If your child loves learning wouldn't you want to teach them everything? sorry I am gunienelly interested.

look I totally agree school seems to squash individual spirits especially boys as its built into them to be out playing and climbing trees and not sitting still. But to be honest I really love it when DS is at school as much as miss him I know the teacher is giving him the stimulation he needs and I would go mental having him at me all the time. And like sara I want more kids and don't think I would be able to do it :-)

I would love to have the patience to homeschool as being with my babies everyday would be fun! But mummy needs her time too :-)

[Shanti]

Isn't part of 'real life' having a job and hopefully a fulfilling career? And since we can't predict what careers our children will want IMO it's best to do everything we can to ensure that as many careers are open to them as possible.

Yes that was exactly the governments intentions when schools were invented but is it necessarily the best thing for every child? The industrialisation times was when schools were invented so that parents could work and children were taken care of and given an education at the same time. HS has ALWAYS been around. it's just that schools became the mainstream around that time.....

What I love about HS is that the child has more time to follow their natural interests and to pursue those, that is how true learning can happen and how true careers can be formed too who says you have to go to school to be successful in life? Albert Enstein was HS'd and so was Alexander Graham Bell (invented the telephone), creative people is what HSing can bring about too.

Oh dear I have opened a can of worms in this thread!! Again, I am NOT against schools whatsoever and one day my child may just go to one!

[Phteven]

I assume that if Shanti taught basic maths and found that her DD was in fact really in to maths then she would go into it more, not say 'no I don't think maths is important'.

Someone mightn't be into basic maths at all but they might be into architecture. The problem is that without advanced maths they can't really calculate things like load so the path to architecture would be closed.

[Ginger]

a good school teacher will let their students pursue their own individual interests further too. schools are a lot more dynamic and vibrant than they were when we were at school.