Homeschooling: Real Time Experience

I came across a website called eNotes and a discussion was going on about:  Homeschooling: Are you for it or against it? Why?


I suppose we all have had the privilege of reading the comments below and they are especially fantastic when they come from public school teachers and administrators.  I do have an issue when the only debate for NOT homeschooling is socialization.


Some of the comments were

I have known home schooled children who excelled socially, but they were involved in church groups and club sports which helped them with socialization.  I have also known home schooled students who were practically shut off from the rest of the world, and they have struggled mightily to adapt to the real world.

I am neither for it nor against it.  I have chosen not to homeschool my children because I think they (especially the older) need to socialize in a way that would be hard to provide in a home school setting.  In that sense, then, I am against it.

Homeschooling - properly done- is one of the most effective educational programs. It has produced scientists, philosophers, and teachers with amazing stories to tell the world. However, homeschooling is all about organization, detail, consistency, and ongoing data collection. This is not for typical lazy and whiny parent that us teachers encounter at least twice every year of our career. This is work cut for a champ. I basically completed my doctorate in education and there is no way I would home-school my child.Why? Because I canNOT do it However, if I were organized, patient, and less critical of my own kid I would definitely do it. 100% for sure     ---this coming FROM a teacher?

Too often children who are homeschooled not only are denied the opportunity to develop social skills, they often develop a false sense of superiority because the parent--who generally is not an educator-- has instilled in the child how "special" he/she is. More often than not, home schooling is a tragic mistake which ultimately will negatively impact the child's emotional and intellectual development.

Needless-to-say, it goes on. 


I had to write my reply:


As a homeschool teacher/mother....a lot of your statements misrepresent what homeschooling is about.

Homeschooling is

1. a relationship - family, sibling to sibling, extended family, friends

(debunk for "socialization")

2. a personal, imitate curriculum/education - the curriculum is tailor-made to the student (not to the teacher)

Our curriculum for next year:

http://motherofaction.blogspot.com/2012/04/our-homeschool-curriculum-for-2012-2013.html

3. Freedom in learning - like someone mentioned above, homeschooling is a great eduation when done right. Are there bad homeschool teachers?? Yes. Are there bad public school teachers? Yes. Actually more since the ratio is greater.

4. Accountability - parent(s) who decide to homeschool their children are making a decision to be accountable for their education... it's not lightly taken or made.

(It does take some organizational skills) --- but patience and critical comments? Talking to #7 --- Not all homeschool teachers are GIFTED with patience. Frankly, I would think a public school teacher would NEED more PATIENCE, ORGANIZATION to teach 20-30 kids who are NOT their own children.

5. Socialization is such a medieval word these days to homechool teachers.

Where to get socialization:

a. siblings

b. parents

c. friends (yes, homeschool kids have friends)

d. co-ops

e. church activities

f. homeschool organized sports (yes, they can compete in organized sports -even in Texas)

g. ministries - we have been going to a NURSING HOME ministry every week

f. camps

Shall I go on??

6. Education of the homeschool parent - Now, I get a little perturbed when teachers (of any kind) say a homeschool teacher cannot teach without a degree.
(Bollocks)

If you research (just a tad) you'd find that a parent who homeschooled their children (not a fluke homeschool teacher) and the teacher had a High School diploma only compared to a homeschool teacher with a higher education -- the homeschool student did just AS WELL (maybe a few points under) as the homeschool teacher with a degree did with their student(s). AND, AND far better than their counterparts in a public school setting.

a. Homeschool Scores vs Public School Test Scores:http://suite101.com/article/homeschool-test-scores-vs-public-school-test-scores-a373750

b. Homeschool Advantage:http://www.nheri.org/research/nheri-news/careful-study-finds-homeschool-advantage.html

You can go on and research and you'll always find that homeschooling is more productive for any student 
who has parents who are serious about their children's education.

(So, no. A homeschool parent/teacher does not need a Doctorate in Education to teach.)

7. As for being less socially immature -- I am going out on a limb and say that you mean he or she is NOT in tune with what the world is doing/teaching. Actually, as a homeschool parent this is a KEY reason to homeschool.

(Didn't you hear about the 10 boys in English class watching Porn & masterbating WHILE IN CLASS?? ---was that teacher teaching and/or keeping the environment safe for others?) Sadly this might be an extreme example, but lets face it ---it's not far behind elsewhere in a public school setting.

8. Colleges and Universities are WAKING up and actually looking for and recruiting homeschoolers. They just are that MORE prepared for college.

Homeschoolers EXCEL in College:

http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000017.asp

Finally, as a homeschool mom/teacher....

It's my right as a parent to decide what kind of education my sons will receive. I just wish more parents understood that...yet, they are lied into thinking there is nothing better out there. Personally, I think ALL parents know that's what is best for their own children, but homeschooling is WORK, SWEAT, and a HUGE COMMITMENT.

And they want none of it.




I am not sure if it's right to respond to a teacher's forum, but in this case, sometimes a little of real time experience is necessary for discussion.  

7 comments

PARENTING GONE WRONG

                         

Great commentary on the issues of child's spirit.   A bus monitor was brutally verbally attacked by middle schoolers on a bus.


What is happening to our CHILDREN??


These children have NO CONCEPT OF RIGHT OR WRONG!!


No mercy, no remorse.

Money doesn't FIX this problem.

Ways to HELP our children:

• Pray with them
• Talk with them
• Spend time with them
• Read SCRIPTURE with them
• Love them
• Be with them
• Meet with them ONE ON ONE
• FEED their spirit & soul
• Play with them
• Volunteer with them
• LIMIT electronics time (games/videos/TV)
• Know our children's Friends
• Know what they are LEARNING in school
• Know where they are at, when they should be back

Take responsibility for OUR OWN CHILDREN!  They need to learn personal responsibility. This is ridiculous.  Unnerving. Upsetting. 

MARK 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. 

Mark 12:31  And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

We can only fool ourselves, but this is truth....our children are NOT being taught this in schools and PARENTS are dropping the Ball.  It's Parenting Gone Wrong.

Is this our future??

2 comments

Movie Night At Our House

We wanted to have the church homeschool group over and other members of our church family come in and enjoy an evening with us.  We decided to have a Pool/Movie Night Theme fellowship.

First, the families arrived around 4 PM and onward for the pool party.  We had quite a number arrive and they all had fun...by the time 5:30 PM arrived we were trying to get the kiddos out and dried up for a quick bite to eat.  

After some sandwiches, chips, and fresh veggies, my  husband graciously put together about 25 bags of freshly popped popcorn and we put them into big brown individual bags for the kiddos. The kids got into a line starting in the kitchen to receive their popcorn, drink, and candy.

We watched the movie, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.  It was such a great night and I do think everyone enjoyed themselves!!

I pray we can host another Fellowship Night again before it starts to get really busy in the Fall. ;)

Here are some pictures to enjoy!!  Thanks for stopping by...

Parents chatting while kiddos enjoyed the movie.

We had a blast with so many children!

Our boy enjoying a juice during the movie.

0 comments

Bible Bee Kick-Off & Fellowship!

We had a wonderful evening last night at our very first Bible Bee Kick-Off and Fellowship.

It was held at the FEAST building and is where the local National Bible Bee will be hosting at.  After the first week of materials and trying to understand the meat of what the Bible Bee is, it was a good start for learning and receiving tips for the coming weeks before the day of the Bible Bee!!

Some tips were given by a sweet young woman who has been participating in the Bible Bee for all four years...and another young man who has been to Nationals twice!

I was pleasantly surprised to see fellow church goers from my church arrive!! So we have a good portion of Leon Valley Baptist Church-Goers in the competition!!  Great study buddies and more fellowships in the future I can see!!

As you can view in the pictures above, the children (who wanted to try) were able to do a mock trial of how the Oral Test will be like during the Bible Bee.

The bible student will first walk in and state their full name and what version of the Bible their verses are from.


There will be two judges:  One to measure the correctness of the verses and the other to be the timer.
A student will have 10 minute to say 20/25 cards. Points are gathered in the end.


For example:

My name is Ethan S., KJV

The TIMER then says the reference, and then the student says,

2 Timothy 2: 16-17 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in

righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly

furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

Just some of the tips they gave:

What is Bible Bee??

• It's a time for family devotions.
• To have a foundation in God's Word
• (Scriptures) A guide to everyday life

The great thing about both my older to boys doing the Bible Bee together is that they can during the time before the competition is to help each other to remember verses, to cross quiz one another, for encouragement, and guidance.


Pearls of Wisdom:

• Memorize about 25 cards. Know them. -Start off with one or two, but study them in comprehensive form. Don't just study one at a time till perfection, go through them out and throughout the summer months.

• Do your Sword Study.  There's no way around it.  There will be a written test where you'll have one hour to complete...it will cover your verses and the material in your Sword Study, to include cross references.

• Take time per day to review your verses, the young man recommended about an hour.

• Have someone else (your sibling, friend, Mom or Dad) quiz you for your verses.  *It's one thing to do it yourself, it's another when you have someone else counting your mistakes and/or perfection. :)

There are two parts to the Competition.

1. Written Test- about 200 questions, comprehensive, and multiple choice.
2. Oral Test - a contest will have to say about 20 of the 25 cards to a judge in 10 mins.  

Total score  600 for the written, 300 for the oral = 900 total score.

**KNOW YOUR VERSES AND SWORD STUDY!!**

Well, we are off to a great start! I pray that we shall continue as fervent as in the beginning as to the end until competition!!! 

1 comments

Answers in Genesis & Apolegetics for the Family: It's important.

I value AnswersinGenesis.org.   I was first introduced to Answers in Genesis many years ago and we have used their materials since and enjoy the Answers magazine.


With a open discussion on Facebook and after viewing Collision - The Movie (Christopher Hitchens Vs. Douglass Wilson). This 30 movie movie is about two worldview points: one Christian and one Anti-theology.  I distinct disagreement I have with Douglass Wilson was when he said that we should not take the bible literal, otherwise, the discussion overall between the two men was interesting.


It got me thinking about how we would like to teach our children in our faith for the years to come.  It's always a constant reminder these days with all the horror we are witnesses to...whether in the schools, society, or government. 


We cannot live and pretend that we are better than anyone else. Yes, as a Christian, we are SAVED BY GRACE-- no doubt about that, but we are not to be cruel or come across prideful.  Yes, we should live and shine our light (God gives us through Salvation), but we should do so as humble Servants of Christ.


The thing that fascinates me are the people who are so adamantly against God.  If you research their background thoroughly,  you'll find where they were done wrong early on in their lives... spiritually and mentally. Like for example, Christopher Hitchen's grandfather was a strict Baptist preacher. Why did he not inherit his grandfather's beliefs? 


Christopher's father knew and SAW the downfall of not living by what you SAY you believe.  The Hitchens family lost their inheritance in one generation and lost it forever.  


For our own family...we do not want this. To help we do:


1. Pray
2. Read our Bibles
3. Family Devotions
4. Act on our Faith, everyday.
5. Attend a local church for fellowship and encouragement.


So as a homeschool Christian mother/family, we want to live this Christian life and as Voddie Baucham would say... make it a Mmlti-generational family of beliefs & values.




I wanted to share what we'll be using in the Fall for part of our Bible studies.


The Answers Book for Kids (Complete Set) 

Plus, The New Answers Books 1-3 (with the DVDs to go along with them).  

Right now we are studying in 2 Timothy for the Bible Bee Competition in August, it's just how our family is trying to keep our faith and give it to the next generation and so on.

If you have a great Apologetics curriculum, book, or DVD you think is an excellent resource, please make a comment below and have a link or details. Thank you!!

3 comments