We don't - my DW was really keen to try it, but I wasn't so keen. I think it's an awesome idea, but I just don't think we had a lifestyle that was suited to it - I work full time plus overtime, and DW is pretty busy with three children. I think if circumstances were different, we might very well have gone down the path, though, because both DW and I had terrible experiences at school.
I thought that i would homeschool when my first child was born, but i never did go ahead with it.
There is a home education association that is a wealth of information. From what i remember, they do have a curiculum and the kids associate with other home schooled children thru excursions and such.
Emma- my DS has just been diagnosed with DAMP (Deficits inAttention, Motor Control and Perceptual Abilities) and a feature of this condition is that he requires a lot of repetition and one on one attention to learn effectively.
He is in Grade 1 this year, Prep last year and at almost 6 he is prob at the reading(letter recognition)/writing level of a 3 year old. He cannot concentrate in a classroom situation. Even if he could concentrate, his motor skills are so very underdeveloped that every day he is falling further and further behind. The long-term prognosis for these kids is very dark with academic failure, low self-esteem, depression and aggression being commonly experienced. The doctor has warned us that a diagnosis of Autism could be a possibility in the future due to 'developmental drift'.
We are unable to access Special Ed at the school because we don't have a diagnosis of Autism right now.
The way I see it, homeschooling is my only choice if I want my boy to be educated and keep his self-esteem in tact. I'm at home with DD and we're planning to have another baby next year. Due to our financial situation, we don't plan for me to work for the next 6 or so years (if ever) so it's not as if homeschooling is going to be a financial sacrifice.
Prior to his diagnosis, homeschooling is not something I would have considered but now it makes perfect sense. It's a little daunting- I know that it increases the pressure and time-constraints on me and I'm prob going to get stressed and exhausted blah, blah, blah. But a few years of that compared to the possibility of DS going through any of that other stuff...I think I'll find the motivation to keep going
"We are unable to access Special Ed at the school because we don't have a diagnosis of Autism right now."
ARGH!! This makes me so ANGRY! Apart from the fact that the diagnosis you have been given *should* qualify him for special ed, what difference does a label make anyway when he clearly needs some extra help?! Gee, I thought schools were all about, y'know, helping kids learn etc? How disappointing.
I'm considering homeschooling for DD (it's a bit early but it's always good to think about it I guess) so I'll be watching this topic too! I'm sure there must be a bunch of homeschooling mamas and dadas around bb!
Schools are about helping kids learn but sadly we don't control the funds the govt does. There is a lot of pointless red tape surrounding extra funding for special needs children which drives teachers crazy as all we want is what's best for the children.
V-Love so nice to see you hon, hope everything is going well with you and bubs I have a dream about home schooling too but with a group of other like minded families... 5 would be perfect than each mum/dad could take the kids one day a week each and it'd be kinda like going to school but not iykwim... Of course this is a dream and can't imagine it really working out that way! Good luck with it, is there a home schooling section on BB? If not maybe the mods could create one?
A family at playgroup have home schooled all 6 of their children. I know they gone through a lot of programs and have settled on the distant ed structure. I can ask them some more questions or for their contact details if you like. PM me if you are interested
We are also at the decision making stage. So far we have ruled out local private and steiner . My DH is really keen to homeschool but I am not so confident. His idea is he stay home and I go to work. I love the ideas and philosophy behind natural learning and am reading the Unschooling Handbook at the moment.
I ma surprised there aren't as many others on BB that are homeschooling. Maybe they are elsewhere!!
DS#1 is nearly 4.5 years old and DH and I have made the firm decision to homeschool. I'm not doing a "strict" preschool program with him - rather allowing him to learn as we go about our day-to-day life! Already he can count to 100 with minimal help (usually just needs reminders at the 10s but counts all the in between numbers), he can spell his name and recognizes all his letters and he is starting to ask me to read EVERYTHING - signs and instructions and such - that he comes across throughout our day. I will start him on a more structured "school" day the year he turns six unless he shows MAJOR interest before then. We have MANY friends (both here and in the states) who home school and we are very pleased with the results we have seen with them and feel it is the best way to educate our children. I will watch this thread with interest and it would be AWESOME if the mods started a designated home school section!!!
There is a LOT of information available online as well as ways to contact home schooling groups that meet in your area. I've looked them up and will contact them as soon as my life settles down a bit. DS#2 has been going through a serious teething phase and now both boys have been sick so life is a little out of control at the moment!
It would be neat if we could all share ideas and thoughts!!
Reply With Quote
Registered User
Homeschoolers???
V-Love so nice to see you hon, hope everything is going well with you and bubs
I have a dream about home schooling too but with a group of other like minded families... 5 would be perfect than each mum/dad could take the kids one day a week each and it'd be kinda like going to school but not iykwim... Of course this is a dream and can't imagine it really working out that way! Good luck with it, is there a home schooling section on BB? If not maybe the mods could create one?
. My DH is really keen to homeschool but I am not so confident. His idea is he stay home and I go to work. I love the ideas and philosophy behind natural learning and am reading the Unschooling Handbook at the moment.
Bookmarks