Adventure to Homeschooling Part 3: Concerns...

there are a few things I've learned just in this very short time

that people have concerns with homeschooling families.

i'm going to attempt to address some of these even though we haven't started yet!

1.  Socialization

well, let me remind you that my kids are each one of 4.

they learn socialization on a daily basis.

they learn to share, take turns, compromise, problem solving, tuning someone out in order to concentrate,

working as a team, etc. ,etc.

all these things that they would need to get from 'socialization' they get at home.

many people don't realize how far homeschooling has come in recent years unless you really look into it.

there are so many groups/organizations to join that my only issue is deciding which ones!

these groups do field trips, activities, etc, together,

which gives kids the chance to meet other children and make friends

(in a much better environment than school i might add ).

not to mention that when you throw in church and sports,

my kids are hardly what you'd determine would be social outcasts or socially awkward.

those days are in the homescooling past,

it really is a whole new world.

2. being 'under' educated

once again, i'm going to say,

homeschooling is so different than it looked when i was a kid.

there are SO (TOO) many curriculum choices out there.

many walk you through step by step,

with a laid out plan of how and what to teach.

that being said there is an UNSCHOOLING movement amongst some homeschooling families.

i , however, don't know  a single family that does their schooling this way,

nor do i agree with it.

my kids will be taught every subject they would get at school,

but with a hands-on, one-on-one advantage.

yes, there is plenty i don't know or remember,

but the resources out there to help are plentiful!

there are also online academies or DVDs kids can watch someone else teach them, send in their work, and it comes back graded!

this would be especially helpful in the higher up subjects!

so yes, we are covering our bases,

they will not have gaps in their education...

it should also be known that the most prestigious of universities actually seek out homeschooled kids.

their work ethic, testing scores and community involvement generally far exceeds that of a child in the public school system.

if i wanted i could link those statistics...

but i'm tired and need to get my dishes done...

which , irionically, brings me to the next...

3. laziness

once again,

i think some people automatically picture the 'unschoolers' method when they think of homeschoolers as lazy.

my kids will still have a bed time,

a wake up time, a 'school' time, a chore time, etc.

yes, we'll have a more lax schedule,

but that doesn't mean they will sit around in their pjs all day after getting up at 10.

i'll confess this may be an area i really have to buckle down on.

while i LOVE (yes, seriously) making schedules/charts,

the implementing them is slightly different.

but i want my kids to learn self-discipline,

and they will!

it's actually much more rewarding than public school!

my kids will know,

upon waking,

that if they get right on the work,

they have the whole day ahead of them.

i am going to even attempt to set up a system,

where if they have been disciplined all week, Fridays are set aside for field trips.

it's called an incentive program ;)

so, any other concerns?

i will happily address them!

let me know by leaving a comment!

part 4 will be about our personal 'plan'...

God Bless,

Mandy

Adventure to Homeschooling Part 2 : more whys...

eta: since many have asked, yes, we are waiting until next fall to start homeschooling.  they will finish this year out in their current school.


okay,

like i need more of a reason than God saying

"DO IT!".

but there are a few more...

 1. my son is behind in math.

the curriculum in place a few years ago was so screwed up i heard his teachers complain about it.

the majority of his 4th grade class is struggling, all because of some faulty curriculum.

i hate that he comes home at the end of the day, after 6 hours in school,

only to spend an hour doing homework,

in which i usually have to 'reteach' him the stuff he should have learned in class.

i want to clarify something:

I do not blame the teachers.

they do not get to choose their curriculum, they have 25 + kids,

all with different learning styles,

and i do not in any way blame them.

we have been blessed with some great teachers in the public school system,

but the truth is that they have their hands tied in many ways.

 plus the fact that I have good kids(at school at least : D), kids that are not problem, loud, crazy kids,

they tend to get overlooked when it comes to getting special attention.

and neither one of the two oldest kids are the type to raise their hands and say they need the help.

my oldest 2 children are also kinesthetic learners.

they do not absorb as much through auditory learning,

which is how the public school system is set up.

monkey #3 would do fabulous in the public school system, because he does learn this way.but i believe i can mold a curriculum around my kids according to their style learning,

not the other way around.

 2. probably the main reason for homeschooling though, is this:

 i want my kids to have a heart for home.

i want them to learn that things like family, character, and Biblical values

are the by far the most important thing.

i already feel the pull.

the separation.

the "but they said this".

"but I'm the only one who doesn't"

"i hate my brothers and sister".

etc.

is this normal?

absolutely.

do i want to raise drones that don't think or act for themselves?

no.

but i do want what Daddy and I believe to be their main source of influence.

they WILL get it somewhere,

wouldn't it be better from us than from a peer?

  I heard a fantastic quote

“If we continue to send our children to Caesar for their education, we need to stop being surprised when they come home as Romans.”

-Voddie Baucham

i want my kids to have a BIBLICAL worldview.

 

 

3. i want to protect my kids from harm.

i'm always a little shocked when people say

 "you can't protect your kids from everything"

"aren't you a little over protective?"

" your kids are sheltered".

etc, etc.

really?

 

because if is not my job to PROTECT my kids than what the heck is?

 

yes, i know they have to be 'introduced' to the world at some point.

 

yes, i know they will see *that* somewhere along the road.

 

yes, they have to grow up sometime.

 

but guess what?

right now they are

CHILDREN.

 

i will decide when and how my kids get introduced to the CRAP of the world.

and my husband i will equip them in how to deal with these things.

i certainly don't think that throwing them to the wolves would serve them well.

but arming them with 'weapons' and allowing them jaunts into the forest a little at a time will be much more effective.

 

so if you say my kids are sheltered, don't be surprised when my response is

"THANK YOU".

because it means I'm doing something right.

it means i'm doing my job.

 

  so those are basically my reasons why.

i will address the concerns that people have about homeschoolers in the next post...

 

God Bless,

Mandy

 

if you missed my first two posts in this series
see intro :
A NEW ADVENTURE

and
Part 1: why

Adventure to Homeschooling Part 1: Why?

why oh why would i do something like this?

how much time do you have? ;)

the short answer of this is that I felt the Lord calling me to.

i had never planned to homeschool.

in the beginning when honey and i first started our family,

he mentioned it.

i think i laughed.

i felt no inclination at all.

growing up in the public schools i had wonderful experiences and i loved school.

i wanted that for my children too,

and since we couldn't afford private, which would have been ideal,

public school was the obvious choice.

we have never had a horrible experience with our children in public school.

i want to say that outloud!

we have been blessed with some fantastic teachers & good friends .

then a few months back,

this crazy idea of homeschooling kept popping up in my head.

now i had always admired parents that homeschooled,

i just knew that with my strong willed kids &

my own impatience that i could never.

but the idea nagged, and i didn't know why.

it certainly was not coming from my own heart.

i did what any great mom would do...

i ignored it.

i buried the idea in the sand box, way down deep.

i watered it in with thoughts like  " I can't teach my own kids, what about phonics and long division?!

what about my 'free time?

what about returning to photography after the kids are in school?

what about the fact that i sometimes don't even *like* my children (despite the fact that i love them dearly)?

what about that oldest monkey who i can barely get to brush his teeth when asked?"

God was so not calling me to this.

no siree.

only guess what?

He was.

I begged, pleaded and cried for him to write in lightning on the ground a yes or no.

being slightly more passionate regarding that NO.

He didn't.

so i kept researching, read blogs, curriculum choices, asking advice from anyone i could think of.

( by the way a huge thanks to all who i pestered and willingly shared!)

and a peace started to grow in my heart .

slowly at first,

then fully.

i knew this was what God was calling me to do.

and now it felt right.

(this doesn't mean i'm not still scared out of my wits)

when i evaluated the reasons why i didn't want to,

each and every one of them was a selfish one.

so i threw those out in favor of serving the Lord and my children with my whole heart.

feel free to join me while i share my heart in this series...

reasons Why Part 2 coming next...

God Bless,
Mandy