Homeschooling Discussion & Experiences #1

[Shanti]

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 :-)

Boomba, I never suggested that I was 'hell bent' on not doing every part of the curriculum. I just don't necessarily agree with every part of a curriculum that a government school may teach, kwim? I have no idea what I will teach, how or when, my DD doesnt need to go to school or HS until 2013 anyway. Yes there are many important aspects of curriculums which are important of course, for sure!! BUT there are other ways to HS not just sticking to a curriculum. If I was going to teach the same curriculum to my child that the local schools were teaching then I would probably just send her to school right?

Girls need to be outside playing and climbing trees too.

I agree we need our mummy time, and that is why I think 'gosh can i do this?' but as I said, taking it one year at a time would be a very important first step don't you agree? If I do go ahead..... and school is never cancelled out as an option.

I love my kids, like we all do, very much, and want to be around them as much as possible. Yes they can annoy me at times, don't they all?!? BUT there are plenty of other ways for me to have 'me' time..... yoga at night, weekends shopping alone, babysitters etc......

I am really happy for you that your DS is thriving in his environment that is what it is all about

[boomba]

You have not opened a can of worms and no one is attacking just bringing up different perspectives :-) and maybe I am working things out for myself t hs or not;-)

Sorry you just seem to keep going back to not teaching certain things and I thought this was your basis to home school

As for the girls need to climb trees too that is true but they also have better fine motor skills and hearing than buys hence why they tend to do things quicker and learn a little better at school a great book is raising boys which explains this in detail!

[Phteven]

Albert Enstein was HS'd and so was Alexander Graham Bell (invented the telephone), creative people is what HSing can bring about too.

Albert Einstein was born over 100 years ago - at a time when homeschooling for the first years of education was the norm and then he attended school at the same age as his contemporaries (those who could afford it).

[Shanti]

Gosh I have a few pistols aimed in my direction right now don't I? All for wanting to look into HS my kids

It's ok though, it's going against mainstream and that always attracts attention.

[Shanti]

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.

I don't agree, where there is a will there is a way. That's a really pessimistic attitude sorry.

[Heaven]

Even if you home school you have to be registered though right? And you have to meet certain standards. So they are going to be learning everything they need to. And research seems to show that HS are usually achieving at or above their grade level at school.

http://images.collegeathome.com.s3.a...domination.jpg

[Phteven]

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.

I wish my boys had got this memo because sometimes I wish they were a just a tiny bit more squashed
I have no idea where the concept that children spend 6 hours a day chained to a desk comes from. When I'm at school reading the students seem to be in continuos(sp) motion.

[Shanti]

Even if you home school you have to be registered though right? And you have to meet certain standards. So they are going to be learning everything they need to. And research seems to show that HS are usually achieving at or above their grade level at school.

http://images.collegeathome.com.s3.a...domination.jpg

Yep that's right Heaven thanks for that link to that vid too I haven't seen that one

And you don't have to teach to any curriculum either.... a curriculum is in place for schools because it has to have some sort of 'standard' doesn't it? And I can understand that, thats how they have to run and operate it. But HS'ing is very different in terms of approaches to learning and super flexible.

[Phteven]

I don't agree, where there is a will there is a way. That's a really pessimistic attitude sorry.

Of course but why make someone fight for something that could come easily with a well rounded education?

[*Efjay*]

Im thinking I will *need* to HS my two older boys. They are both on the Autism Spectrum & struggle at school. My oldest especially, He is in yr 4 & falling behind due to his behaviours at school. He is not a naughty kid, he simply isn't coping & is doing all he can to avoid the situation.

I asked just yesterday, will he be repeated when we get to the end of the year? NO they no longer repeat kids. So that means he will continue to struggle year after year. He hates school with a passion.
My 2nd oldest does ok at school most of the time, but hates going also. So if 1 was to not go then both would not go. I couldn't fight with them every morning about that.

[Shanti]

Of course but why make someone fight for something that could come easily with a well rounded education?

Yes and that's what Homeschooling can provide too I don't know why you are trying to convince me otherwise?

[Shanti]

Im thinking I will *need* to HS my two older boys. They are both on the Autism Spectrum & struggle at school. My oldest especially, He is in yr 4 & falling behind due to his behaviours at school. He is not a naughty kid, he simply isn't coping & is doing all he can to avoid the situation.

I asked just yesterday, will he be repeated when we get to the end of the year? NO they no longer repeat kids. So that means he will continue to struggle year after year. He hates school with a passion.
My 2nd oldest does ok at school most of the time, but hates going also. So if 1 was to not go then both would not go. I couldn't fight with them every morning about that.

Sorry to hear that Efjay. Unfortunately it's not uncommon for kids to struggle at school as it's generally a 'one size fits most' approach as the teachers simply don't have the time to be one-on-one with those kids that need extra help in some areas..... it's not the teachers fault. It's the way the system is designed. My Mum is a teacher of grade 3 and I have heard it all.....

I'm sure you will be able to help them with HS, even if it's just for a year then you send them back to school? You will find after just 1 year of HS they will probably learn ALOT more and have that time to catch up.....

[Lenny]

I have no idea what I will teach, how or when, my DD doesnt need to go to school or HS until 2013 anyway

My DS one year older than your DD and he won't be starting school until 2014 (the year he turns 6). Why does she have to start next year at 4?

[*Efjay*]

I have been thinking Homeschool since about midway through his first year. Im playing out the rest of this term before I talk more seriously about it with DH. After all I have 5 kids, 3 with autism. Its not going to be easy. BUT neither is the sending my son to school to be miserable & a distraction to others.

You know, last term we had out parent/teacher interviews & his teacher had NOTHING to show me. All she could tell me was she didn't know what to do with him & hasn't the time for him. I put in a formal request to change his class this term. He is doing a little better so I thought but yesterday they told me he is still a problem. Its heart breaking.

[blessedatlast]

Of course but why make someone fight for something that could come easily with a well rounded education?

Many kids don't get this properly though anyway, they slip through the cracks due to the number of kids and the time they have to share.. For many kids school is a struggle.

There is a difference between 'natural learning' (unschooling) and home schooling...I have met many un schoolers and none of their kids are held back in anyway.. They are all intelligent articulate children that have the opportunity to expand on activities they love while being in an environment that is unrushed and nurturing.. These kids have a blast on home school camps where parents are able to share information and the children are exposed to different experiences and 'socialisation'.. I would love to un school however as a single parent I am not sure how I could at this stage, I'll have to work..

Children are sponges. They learn. They ask questions, you just assist them to find the answers and with the internet that is so easy! There are so many learning programs on the net too.. I think if you want to keep them home, do it and re assess every year. It's easier to put them the system than it is to take them out.. I can add you to a couple of FB groups if you want? Also, what about a steiner or motessori school if you want them at school, but not mainstream?

[*Efjay*]

My DS one year older than your DD and he won't be starting school until 2014 (the year he turns 6). Why does she have to start next year at 4?

Different states have different names for things. QLD Prep is the first year of big school & kindy is preschool.
NSW Kindy is the first year of big school & preschool & preschool.

My 3yr old who is 4 in november will go to Kindy next year. He doesn't have too though.

[Heaven]

You know, last term we had out parent/teacher interviews & his teacher had NOTHING to show me. All she could tell me was she didn't know what to do with him & hasn't the time for him.

Oh that is heartbreaking Efjay Big

[Shanti]

My DS one year older than your DD and he won't be starting school until 2014 (the year he turns 6). Why does she have to start next year at 4?

You're right Lenny, she doesn't 'have to' go to school then, it's just a guide.... she'll have just turned 5 the year 2014 if she starts then, she would be ready enough in 'school terms' however for me, to HS her, I would slowly start some sort of HS that year anyway but it would be very relaxed. I could even start her the following year 2015 and she would be fine too, as I said, there is no rush I think.... I meant as in her peers born the same year will be starting in 2014, as in if we go 'mainstream'..... as I said in a previous post, I am not 100% sure what I will do at this stage, but I'm very strongly leaning towards HS.....

We already homeschool now don't we? Each and every one of us? Well, I do. I am already teaching my kids at home. We talk about the sky, the birds, the trees and what they need in order to grow etc.... I'm a very involved parent and use every opportunity as a chance for my child to learn. She asks so many q's a day, why not?