Homeschooling Discussion & Experiences #1

[Shanti]

I have a friend who is a teacher, and she says the homeschool kids she's seen (who have transferred to mainstream schooling) were ahead of everyone academically, but most definitely behind socially.

I'm a terrible fence sitter lol

Sterla, thats' very true that HS kids when entering mainstream settings, will most likely be ahead of the others their own age because they have been exposed to 'life' more.... than kids who are in the classroom every day. Behind socially? I can't see how that would have happened.... perhaps if they are by nature extremely shy perhaps? and/or their parents kept them at home too much and never ventured out????

We are going to homeschool, well, I call it Home Educate and are very excited about it and it's possibilities for our kids!!!! More spare time for them to learn sports, music etc, follow their own interests etc..... socially? My 3yr old has NEVER been to school (obviously) but is one of the most socialised kids you'd ever meet!!! She can talk to anyone, old people, young kids, anyone and have the best conversations she amazes me!!

I believe school would not be such a good thing for my 3 year old, let alone any of my kids. For many reasons. My 3 year old is highly spirited and opinionated, and loud and asks LOTS of questions and I fear school would dampen her spirits and teachers would tell her to 'stop talking and sit quietly' and find her annoying if she asks too many q's etc and talks to other kids because she's like me she's a chatterbox and that's a great quality to have!!!! Sooooo for that reason we are home educating ALSO it's a HUGE LIFESTYLE decision for us

We will take it one year at a time. And having more kids? We plan on 1-2 more but we don't see how that will interfere with our children's natural learning anyway, as we won't be doing a lot of bookwork. More natural learning! Excursions to museums, zoo's etc.... that type of thing.

See I went to public school and I thought I turned out fine too but since reading the last few months about Home education, it's made me realise just how much I did lose my love of learning..... I never enjoyed school besides the social aspects of it which weren't lots anyway as teachers would tell me 'you aren't here to socialise, stop talking R!"
It's only now that I'm 30yrs old that I feel I have found my love of learning again these last few years!!!!!!!!!!! I think school stole that from me. I was forced to learn crap I didn't want to learn (yet).

I suggested it to my DH back in March and he said "I think it's a fantastic idea!" I was so happy to hear him say that as I thought he would have been more like the opposite as 2 years ago he only wanted PRIVATE schooling for our kids but I never did want that..... but he is all for home education which is awesome. Has made the decision easier that's for sure!! We have even told a few close friends about it and so far everyone has been quite supportive!!

Be interesting telling my Mum as she's a primary school teacher BUT it's from what she's told me about the schools these days that's influenced my decisions ALOT actually!! She hates being a teacher & tells me how stressed these little kids in her classes are these days..... NAPLAN testing for 8 year olds???? C'MON.....