Thoughts on homeschooling?

Homeschooling is not for everyone, but neither is public or private school.

We personally chose homeschooling for our children. Both myself and my children have enjoyed it much more than I would ever have imagined- especially once I got out of the "school at home" mindset (of sitting in little desks between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.). It is great, because both of my children that are school age have different learning styles, and they work at their own pace- they are "ahead" in some areas and taking a bit longer to grasp some concepts, but the good thing is we can take the time to make sure it is completely grasped before moving on, ensuring they have a good foundation and are not being set up for failure later.

I know many, MANY homeschoolers. Most are normal children. There are some weird homeschoolers, but there are also weird children in public and private schools- I certainly had experience with them when I was in school myself. I attended public school, and I was- and still am, to an extent- painfully shy. My children have never been to school and are MUCH more outgoing than their father (another product of public school) and I. School is not the only- and is certainly not the best- place to socialize. My children have been in church, playgroups, community activities, Scouts, 4-H, various programs, baseball, basketball, camp, co-op classes. They socialize more than I ever did sitting in a public school building. There is a wide variety of people, as well- Christians of various denominations, Native Americans, Buddhists, Atheists, Jewish...there are Asian people and white people and black people and Spanish people and multi-racial people...there are rich and poor and there are one parent families, two parent families, children being raised by grandparents. Some are well mannered and some are not- just as in the real world. They are not hidden from anything.

Try it- it is not a permanent commitment when you start. You can opt for public school later if necessary.

Definitely look for a homeschool association in your area. It is a great resource for parents and children alike- they can give insight into the various methods and materials that they have used and what worked and did not work for them for your consideration when choosing what will be best for your child. We have a homeschool association that offers spelling bees, science fairs, sports, book clubs, honor society, etc. as well as co-op classes, field trips, and social activities such as an ice cream party, game day, etc.

I (Personally) hate it.... I think homeschooling is horrible.... You have no friends, no social life, no life in general! People will tell you that "It's so great, and wonderful!"....That homeschool kids can do everything, if not more than public school kids! However I beg to differ, I've studied many homeschooling kids, I started when I started realizing why my life was so misreable....And I saw that the reason why alot of homeschoolers (I'm not saying all, but the ones I studied) didn't really know any other way! I'm sorry, I truly am to other homeschoolers, and I wouldn't want to change their outlook on homeschooling, and if they love it! Great! But I'm not naive, I thought I had a normal teenage life, I was so happy! I thought I had friends, and a great social life.... But I woke up one day! And realized! I was living in a lie! I was trying so hard to convince myself that I was living a great life, and that there was hope.... I'm sorry, but I was tired of at looking at the hope, knowing I wasn't going to reach it.... And again, I'm sorry, but I really refuse to think of someone I see a couple times a week for a few hours a friend, when they have a whole other life, and I'm just a little speck to them.... I think homeschooling has so many great things.... Unfortunately, I know the downsides.... I really hope when I go back to school next year, I can deal with the outlook of life I've had from homeschooling.... =)

I think homeschooling or any type of schooling is what you make of it. Your daughter can grow up to be very social, if she's so inclined, either going to school or being homeschooled. If you were to isolate your daughter and carefully screen all friends, acquaintances, etc and only allow her to interact with other homeschoolers, relatives or members of your church, of course as she grows older she will be naive. She may still be social, but she may have adjustment issues as an adult. You could do this if you homeschool your daughter or send her to a school, particularly a small religious one. But there is nothing saying you have to do that. You could enroll your daughter in community sports and activities and avoid that isolation.

If there is one thing that I think homeschooling families and kids need to be careful of, it's ego. I can think of some homeschooling parents who present their kids as if they were just perfect. They are the best at martial arts, singing, the most social and every employer in town is lined up at their front door begging them to work for them. Ugh. People who really do excel don't have to post it around town (or YA) Your daughter sounds gifted, but there is more to a well rounded person than a strong intellect. There is social and physical intelligence. If you homeschool her, encourage her to develop those sides to her personality. Get her into activities, like soccer or dance, with other kids her age. Be certain she doesn't look down her nose at those kids who aren't as intellectual as she is. Remember that when she gets to MIT, most of the student body won't have been homeschooled. It isn't the only way to go and she should understand that it doesn't make anyone better or worse if they homeschooled or went to school. Arrogance is a turn off. It'll get in the way in the adult world.

Good luck. I think if you keep those things in mind, homeschooling your daughter will be great.

I am a homeschooled 14 year old girl. I am very social and very bright. I play 3 musical instrunents and I am fluent in Spanish, Japanese and Italian. I am in 8th grade and am in several advanced classes, including algebra 2, advanced language arts, general science, world history and Bible. My local community college has special homeschool classes also. I play volleyball and softball too :) Check out my homeschool curriculum. It's called Switched on Schoolhouse by Alpha Omega Publications. They also have a variety of curriculum for younger children. It's called horizons, also by A.O.P.

Ive been homeschooling my now 14 year old daughter since she was 8 years old. She is extremely social and very talented musically. I have no doubt that homeschooling was the best choice for us. As for homeschooling being more challenging/labor intensive for the parent, it depends entirely on you. You can purchase curriculum which you then supervise or you can start from scratch and build your own, Ive done both....last year we bought curriculum because my daughter started high school, we hated it and this year we have gone back to me building curriculum for her.

I didnt have a child so that I could hand her off to other people to raise for 12 years of her childhood. They are only ours for such a short time before we have to let them go out into the world.

I am homeschooled at the moment until May because I am graduating early. In homeschooling you can push your kids to do more and more and more school work. its self-paced and everything and its amazing; I may not have as many friends but I don't have as much drama. I have an amazing best friend

Try going through CWCS (Connecting Waters Charter School) its an amazing school k-12 with amazing people in it. You should ask your daughter when she gets in junior high or high school if she wants to continue homeschooling if you go through it because its always good to let her try public to see if she likes homeschooling still.

Homeschooling is actually quite nice but just don't force your daughter to be shy or to stay cooped up in your house because thats a bad idea thats how my mother and father did with my brother and now the only way he makes friends is if his wife talks to someone and forces him to talk but he is getting better. just make sure she makes friends to hang out with.

charter schools are a good option and many of them don't cost anything or not a lot.

there is also many options for homeschooling past the traditional books and paper set. in most places they have homeschooling associations which you should get in contact with if you want to look into it better.

one of the newer options for home schooling is actually computer schooling where most of it is done online with real teachers that they have access to. they even now can get a diploma from the state and no longer have to get their GED as internet schooling has become a very popular thing for those who don't or cannot send their children to regular school.

So you havea 4-5 year old who hasn't had any opportunity to learn the basic social skills you'd expect of an older 2 year old? (transferring trust to another adult who isn't a close family member, being part of a group, taking turns, being able to interact with people who she may not particularly like and who don't share her values and interests and intellectual capacity...)

I would send her to school, at least until she's caught up. Like you say, you can always challenge her academically at home. Socially? She's going to be _incredibly_ challenged in school - she will be _years_ behind. This is not something you can teach her, simply because if you are there she is not learning it.

Or you could introduce her to group situations, trusting other adults, and so on in another way. "Anything like that" will do. It doesn't _have_ to be school. Making a few nice little homeschooled friends with you as the adult looking after her certainly won't do it, though.

I am also a little surprised that there are no private schools who offer funding for children who are as bright as you say your daughter is and can't afford to go. Did your research include asking them this? If not, go do it.

I would get her into a preschool _now_ and see how she copes. If she instantly transfers trust to the teacher and joins in with the class routine, then she doesn't have a problem. If she doesn't, then the last thing she needs is to carry on being enabled not to grow up just because she's clever. Being able to read and write is the least important thing that kids learn in preschool and early school.

in homeschooling she would have more of a chance to be ahead i know when i was in public school i had kids holding me back i love home school i just moved out of my school last year and i realized i was ahead of what they were teaching me

Home schooled kids are dumb and never learn social skills.