Anyone else homeschool?

[DisneyMom5]

We've been homeschooling for 3.5 years.
This is the first big trip we have planned while homeschooling, and it has been nice not to have to plan around the school calendar.
Just wanted to know if there were any others out there.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Yes, I homeschool my two children as well!

 

[TammyNC]

I homeschool my two children-DD-11 & DS-9. It is very rewarding for us and a nice perk is not having to schedule vacations around a calendar. Although I have to remind them of this when we are schooling and the other kids around have time off.

 

[Buckleybunch]

I really admire parents that can homeschool.
I don't know if I could do that on many levels. My parents so called Homeschooled me when I was in 10th grade, however it was more lke here is your school work get it done.

I just don't know if I could help them, and I don't know if they would learn enough.

However Sincerly I admire parents that do it.

Linda

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I home schooled my son for 1 year. I am a former teacher and it just wasn't a good fit for us. My son is ADD with dyslexia and he does better with other adults because he is too comfortable with me.

Lori

 

[DisneyMom5]

Linda - I am taking it one day at a time!
I am only schooling my 2 oldest right now, but next year I will be adding a kindergartner into the mix. He is a handful!
But, we really love homeschooling. I think it is a "do it or don't" kind of thing...if you really want to do it, you overcome the obstacles, and if the obstacles are too daunting, you pick another form of schooling and get as involved as you can with your child's school.
There are a TON of resources today for parents to choose from.
This is what's best for my kids right now, and if in the future I decide to do differently, I'll take that one day at a time too.

 

[Buckleybunch]

Sarah,

I guess if I lived in an area that I didn't like the schools, that would be different. We live in a little town- and my sil works at the school. Shelby's class will graduate with appox 48 kids. Which I know 75%of them. The twins will have a bigger class if it stays how it is now, and that will be around 60, and Noahs has only about 45 right now.

Oh the school knows who I am. lol

I had it out with the band teacher. He told 7th graders they had to be in the high school pep band, and would flunk them if they missed unless they died. I talked to him about it, and then the next day he mention something to the class what we had discussed, so then I went to the principal.
I have no problems with the 7th graders being in the pep band if they want too.. But at 7th grade it shouldn't be mandotary.

 

[TammyNC]

We also take it one day/year at a time. Our main reason for homeschooling was for my DS. He has Auditory Processing Problems and was having a very difficult time in school. They couldn't adjust the learning style and I understood that. We only brought him home to begin with and sent DD on to PS last year. After about 6 weeks I decided that I felt I could handle them both and gave her the option. She decided she wanted to give it a try and they both have no desire to go back to PS right now.

I enjoy getting to watch them learn new things each day. Now don't get me wrong each day is not great and we do need time away from each other. Thankfully DH understands that.

 

[Buckleybunch]

Auditory Processing Problems - please explain that.. I think that is what one of the twins have.

 

[randall.nelson@mchsi]

I am a homeschooling mother of 6 children. I noticed the ages of your children were exactly the ages of mine------10 years ago. We have had a few trips to DW, and it was great to go on our own schedule. In fact, a couple of years ago, when my eldest was "dual enrolled" at our local university, I forgot a couple of times. We had an annual church campout conflict and something else...It was a drag!!!!Now, he is a full time student, and my next eldest is dual enrolled. I remember better now, but it is hard to throw that into the mix. We love homeschooling and I guess I am a veteran if you have any questions. We were always ready to incorporate EPCOT stuff into learning days. Nice to talk to y'all about this. What a nice way to meet new friends.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Linda - Don't you just hate those teachers who think their class is the most important one at the school?

Randall.nelson - So you took your kids to WDW when they were little? Any helpful hints? Most families going are smaller.
Our youngest 2 will be in the dbl stroller. Glad it's not supposed to be crowded!

 

[randall.nelson@mchsi]

Oh yes we did!!!! The first trip was when we only had two children. We have always gone off season, and almost ALWAYS had a double stoller. I think we did not know what to do with ourselves on the first trip without it!!!!! We had a couple of trips w/o one because our baby was 9 when the new baby came...two years ago He is tons of fun!! My advice is to go off season and pick hotels that are fun to walk around and explore. That helps when you go back for naps or brreaks. Our favorite was the FW cabins, or camping. FW has so many fun things for the children to do. Lots of places to sit and rock while the older ones run and play. You can also get in many Fantasyland rides if you are there the last hour the park is open. You can walk right on some of the rides. HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[randall.nelson@mchsi]

Oh, I forgot...where are you staying? It is more expensive for us large families. That is one reason we camped sometimes. Well, that and the children love it. I like camping, but I love some of the deluxe hotels

 

[dturner]

I homeschool DS (7). We started at PS in Kindgergarten and it didn't go very well for us, DS is a fast learner and strong headed and he was so bored that I thought teaching him at home would be better. I just love Homeschooling, like most of you already said, it's nice not to have to plan vacations around a school schedule.

 

[tw1nsmom]

tammync,
I would also like to hear more about your experience with auditory processing problems. My son (3 1/2) has a developmental delay and his teachers suspect that he may have an auditory processing problem. His skills are inconsistant (knows his colors and number, etc, but doesn't always seem to know what is being asked of him when testing those skills). They say he's too young to be tested for this, so we are just keeping an eye on things. What was your experience when your son was younger? When did you receive a diagnosis?

 

[DisneyMom5]

randall.nelson - We are staying at FW Cabins!
Last year I had ordered the planning video to get some points at MyPoints, and noticed that the only thing that would hold us (didn't know about DVC type stuff) was the cabins, so when I went to book our vacation, that's where I headed.
Hadn't thought of getting two rooms somewhere.
I think we will be spoiled by the full kitchen, though.
We got the kids stay and play free deal through visa, so we only have to pay for one of the five.
dd turns 10 in March, so that will never happen again.
Thanks for all the encouragement!
P.S. - this is as close to camping as I get, lol.

 

[randall.nelson@mchsi]

We loved the cabins. We stayed there one time in either late Feb or early March...after the kid's basketball season. They were so roomy, and the kitchen and grill were great!!!We enjoy getting a golf cart. They can be expensive, but they are a blast!
What kind of points did you get from my points? I do that, too. You are going at a great time in my book

 

[peg2001]

Homeschooling DD7 and will add DD4 when the time comes. We just started in November so we are newbies. Our main reason is that our DD was not a good fit for the "lockstep" method of mass schooling. Homeschooling is a RELIEF, believe it or not, much less stressful for the whole family. DD is thriving, happy, excited about learning, and her reading has improved at least one grade level since we started (2 months ago!). Amazing since we are taking a very relaxed eclectic approach.

I, personally, had a lot of difficulty with the control the school tried to impose on our family. We felt there had to be a better way and we found it.

Vacationing on our own schedule is just the icing on the cake.

Peggy

 

[Disney Doll]

Just out of uirosity, when you home school, do you have to report anything to the Board of Education as far as your child's progress etc? Do they ever have to take standardized testing to make sure they are keeping up to their grade level?

 

[sha_lyn]

This is our 3rd yr of HSing. The kids are 14 DS who is 9th grade and 6 DD who is 1st.

We started HS'ing after having problems for 3 yrs with the ele DS was attending. His first yrs of school were great. Then we moved and things slowly started going down hill. After some research I found that at that time 81% of the kids from that Ele qualified for remedial or special ed in middle and high school. The school was that far behind in teaching the basic concepts. I won't go into the long details... but their answer was to insist that any kid that had low test scores, needed to be put on Ritalin. Even with the Ped. backing me up they insisted and that's when I began researching.


Disney Doll ... That answer varies greatly depending on the state. In some states you don't report anything at all. In others the regulations are so strict that you must be supervised by a religious school.

In Ga we send in a yearly Declaration of Intent to Homeschool. We also send in monthly attendance reports and must have 180 days of "school" each year. We are to write a yearly evaluation,and keep it on our records. We do not send it in to anyone but must produce it if requested.We also have to do standardized testing in 3,6 and 9 grades.


We are using
American School for DS.
For DD I'm using Saxon Math, Hooked on Phonics, Bob books and a health work book. We also use lots of educational games (board and computer).
Both kids are also using Power Glide Spanish (DS is using the full version, DD the Jr) and we are in a science co-op using The Jason Project.

We were using Calvert K for DD last yr but it was not a good fit for her. The math was too easy and the way they teach reading just does not work for her
I've actually finally found a curriculum that I like for DD. It is The Tanglewood School I will be ordering their history and liturature in a few weeks. I will like stick with Saxon Math (Tanglewood uses a different math in the lower grades but then switches to Saxon) for 2nd but will order the rest of their subjects for 2nd this summer.