*** Homeschool List ***

[Mermaid02]

It seems like I am in the same boat as a lot of others! We have also decided to homeschool DS6 next year. DH is "cautiously optomistic". Poor DS has had a rough go this year and it has recently came to a breaking point. He started having anxiety attacks at school and breaking out in hives during the phoenics tests. In kindergarten! He is such a different person at school, so withdrawn. At home he is happy go lucky and SO TALKATIVE! He really had seemed to have lost his spirit for a while there. We went ahead and cut him back to half day from full day, and have been homeschooling for an hour in the afternoon. We get so much done in that hour! Things have been awesome, we have our little guy back. But the school wants to hold him back, not because he is academically behind, but because he is "emotionally immature". I think the classroom environment just doesn't work for him for whatever reason. But yeah, I can absolutely see the upcoming grief I am going to be getting from friends, family, neighbors.... Already one neighbor told me she would never homeschool because she wanted her kids to have a quality education!

Good luck and God Bless to all!!

My son also has school related anxiety. It's heart breaking really.

A quality education... what a joke, my son was just pushed through last year... he got NOTHING out of it. His teacher this year is better- excellent in fact, but we can't take her with us next year.

 

[DawnM]

Well, not necessarily. What I have found out, through hs moms who are facing this, is that if you choose correspondence school through an accredited program OR if you do a homeschool charter (if your state has them), you can transfer all your coursework. It just has to have been through an accredited school.

Dawn

Wow! That's really interesting! It does make that decision during 8th grade pivotal, doesn't it?

 

[graygables]

Well, not necessarily. What I have found out, through hs moms who are facing this, is that if you choose correspondence school through an accredited program OR if you do a homeschool charter (if your state has them), you can transfer all your coursework. It just has to have been through an accredited school.

Dawn

In our district, if you are not enrolled IN our district in the 8th grade, you cannot be in the advanced math track. You cannot test nor transfer in, it is the DUMBEST thing ever. We won't be doing it.

 

[Blackunicorn]

I envy you that you made your decision Teacups!! I'm struggling.... I really want to do it but I KNOW everyone in my life will tell me that it can't be done. I have to find the strength and resolution to stand up to all of them. Was your children's father supportive of you from the beginning... my dh won't be. His answer will be something along the lines of "kids go to school" period.

I'm sorry that you're having a hard time. The fact is, there's a chance that you won't ever get support from the people around you. My in-laws are both retired teachers, and they were horrified. My husband wasn't very supportive, but easily pushed in the right direction. (Okay, I guess I can be bossy.) After eight years, my mother-in-law tries to be supportive. She says things like, "I'm glad you homeschool, they're such bright kids. Are you going to put them in school next year?" But at least she's trying. I don't talk to my father-in-law if I can help it, though. I have been very lucky to find a wonderful support group with which we fit very well.

It can be very hard, especially if you don't have support. If your family won't support you, it's important to find it elsewhere. I will tell you that I am so glad we homeschool. My kids are intelligent, interesting, reasonably well-mannered, and enjoy learning. Every time we walk into a museum or watch an educational program or they check out a book I thank my lucky stars! We're building life-long learners. I think that's an unparallelled gift! Learning for learning's sake...how decadent!

 

[wvdislover]

Well, I did it. Today, I turned in my letter of intent to the school board and the school principal that I am planning on taking my DD10 out of school in 2 weeks to start homeschooling her. I know we're doing the right thing. DD has ADHD, Asperger's, SID, autistic tendencies, auditory processing issues, and anxiety issues. We've left her in school as long as we could, as she has been receiving special ed help and was receiving OT services, but we know now that she's going to be much better off here at home. At school, kids have been calling her names or just not talking to her. She has no friends at school. Shouldn't 5th grade girls be getting phone calls from friends or be invited over to friends' houses? My DD doesn't. I feel so sorry for her--she wants to go play with other girls, but none of the girls from school really seem to care about her. Fortunately, she does have friends at church, some of whom also homeschool. I'm ready to just focus on those people. You know, it's been a great day of retrospect and quite the emotional rollercoaster. While I know we're doing the right thing with her, it's hard thinking about the great things we had to look forward to in school (things I've been excited about her getting to do (awards day, end of the fifth grade field trips, etc) that aren't going to happen now. I'm trying to focus, though, on all the really cool things we are going to get to do now. We're planning on going on our own field trip with a good friend from church this spring! We can vacation when we want (to a degree...my other DD6 is still in school, but does very well in school and can afford to miss more than DD10). We haven't told her yet when this is actually happening, but she does know it will be soon. We'll probably tell her next week. So, here I am, excited, scared, more excited. I think it's going to work. I think it's going to be a good thing. So to those of you who haven't been able to take the plunge, go for it! I did. And it feels pretty good.

 

[teacups]

Well, I did it. Today, I turned in my letter of intent to the school board and the school principal that I am planning on taking my DD10 out of school in 2 weeks to start homeschooling her.

Good for you!!!! And for your daughter!

 

[Ellester]

Well, I did it. Today, I turned in my letter of intent to the school board and the school principal that I am planning on taking my DD10 out of school in 2 weeks to start homeschooling her. I know we're doing the right thing. DD has ADHD, Asperger's, SID, autistic tendencies, auditory processing issues, and anxiety issues. We've left her in school as long as we could, as she has been receiving special ed help and was receiving OT services, but we know now that she's going to be much better off here at home. At school, kids have been calling her names or just not talking to her. She has no friends at school. Shouldn't 5th grade girls be getting phone calls from friends or be invited over to friends' houses? My DD doesn't. I feel so sorry for her--she wants to go play with other girls, but none of the girls from school really seem to care about her. Fortunately, she does have friends at church, some of whom also homeschool. I'm ready to just focus on those people. You know, it's been a great day of retrospect and quite the emotional rollercoaster. While I know we're doing the right thing with her, it's hard thinking about the great things we had to look forward to in school (things I've been excited about her getting to do (awards day, end of the fifth grade field trips, etc) that aren't going to happen now. I'm trying to focus, though, on all the really cool things we are going to get to do now. We're planning on going on our own field trip with a good friend from church this spring! We can vacation when we want (to a degree...my other DD6 is still in school, but does very well in school and can afford to miss more than DD10). We haven't told her yet when this is actually happening, but she does know it will be soon. We'll probably tell her next week. So, here I am, excited, scared, more excited. I think it's going to work. I think it's going to be a good thing. So to those of you who haven't been able to take the plunge, go for it! I did. And it feels pretty good.

Congratulations! It's a big step, but I know you won't regret it. Expect some lingering withdrawal. I personally had a bit of a problem watching the other kids go back to school the first year we HS'ed. I though how dd would miss the excitement of the first day, new clothes & lunch box, etc. Then I thought about how quickly that fades and the seemingly endless march of days begins in late September in PS! Be sure to plan some fun day trips and enjoy visiting places with NO crowds!

 

[graygables]

Congratulations! It's a big step, but I know you won't regret it. Expect some lingering withdrawal. I personally had a bit of a problem watching the other kids go back to school the first year we HS'ed. I though how dd would miss the excitement of the first day, new clothes & lunch box, etc. Then I thought about how quickly that fades and the seemingly endless march of days begins in late September in PS! Be sure to plan some fun day trips and enjoy visiting places with NO crowds!

I have a friend who has a "Neener Neener Day" the first day of public school. She and her kids go to the zoo or a park for a picnic or somewhere totally fun that none of the PS kids can do b/c they're in a classroom. She says they just say "Neener Neener" and go have fun!

 

[sha_lyn]

yep...We've had a "'not back to school" day at the park with friends

 

[Mermaid02]

Interesting... my son saw that I had inquired about some homeschool material and said he didn't want me to homeschool him. Said he would just "slack off"

 

[meandtheguys2]

Poor kid. I suspect he has been accused of that, and it has added to his anxiety.

 

[Mermaid02]

Poor kid. I suspect he has been accused of that, and it has added to his anxiety.

Oh, I'm sure he has... maybe some of it is "slacking" but according to his psychiatrist... his diagnoses are multiple and complex and we/he have no idea what he has control over. I really don't think he is lazy... He drew a picture one day and it was this scribbled confusing- I don't know what and I had an "a ha!" moment.... all I could think of is THAT is what inside his head looks like... thoughts all over the place, crowding each other and bouncing off each other... entangling in each other.....

 

[mykidsintow]

We homeschool! My son is 1st grade, 2nd yr homeschooling. My daughter is 4, but doing K work in her first year participating. We are active in a local homeschooling group for field trips and activities, but all schooling is done my DH and myself (no co-ops, etc).

We are surrounded by unsupportive scrooge family members. My mom has learned to accept my choices, but keeps opinions to herself. My other relatives poopoo it every chance they get. Its abnoxious, but I don't really care. We have an awsome homeschooling group that is very supportive! I told my aunt once that she didn't do such a wonderful job with her kids, so why is she telling me what to do with mine? (oops). My son has some ADHD behaviors and severe food alergies. My daughter is special needs (physical challenges), and immune supressed).

We just returned Thurs from 2.5 weeks in FL. We started at Disney and then went to see friends/family. Everyone asked about our schooling and I said "Oh we went to Manatee park and did a unit on Manatee and wildlife! We took a boat tour and went home to study more on dolphins". Blah, we didn't do much follow-up aside from some websites, but I know my kids will remember far better than the kids with pictures in the classroom! We did keep up with Math while away (my son struggles with math).

Count us in!

 

[DawnM]

Welcome Beth.

My MIL still doesn't know we are back to homeschooling! There are some things that are just better left unsaid sometimes.

I was a public school teacher for 16 years, so people get really about why I wouldn't put them in school!

I even missed our last family reunion on my Dad's side because 2 of my aunts are adament that it is their job to convince me to put the kids in school (both are elem. teachers). I just didn't feel like dealing with it.

Dawn

We homeschool! My son is 1st grade, 2nd yr homeschooling. My daughter is 4, but doing K work in her first year participating. We are active in a local homeschooling group for field trips and activities, but all schooling is done my DH and myself (no co-ops, etc).

We are surrounded by unsupportive scrooge family members. My mom has learned to accept my choices, but keeps opinions to herself. My other relatives poopoo it every chance they get. Its abnoxious, but I don't really care. We have an awsome homeschooling group that is very supportive! I told my aunt once that she didn't do such a wonderful job with her kids, so why is she telling me what to do with mine? (oops). My son has some ADHD behaviors and severe food alergies. My daughter is special needs (physical challenges), and immune supressed).

We just returned Thurs from 2.5 weeks in FL. We started at Disney and then went to see friends/family. Everyone asked about our schooling and I said "Oh we went to Manatee park and did a unit on Manatee and wildlife! We took a boat tour and went home to study more on dolphins". Blah, we didn't do much follow-up aside from some websites, but I know my kids will remember far better than the kids with pictures in the classroom! We did keep up with Math while away (my son struggles with math).

Count us in!

 

[lori1043]

Welcome Beth.

My MIL still doesn't know we are back to homeschooling! There are some things that are just better left unsaid sometimes.

I was a public school teacher for 16 years, so people get really about why I wouldn't put them in school!


Dawn

I think the fact that you homeschool but previously was a PS teacher says a LOT!(was that grammatically correct?? )

I had slack from parents in the beginnning but , now that they ahve seen what we do and have done, it shuts them up.
On another note, my aunt/godmother, told me the other day that, "I guess you need ot put them back in school , and it is good that you tried homeschooling but I guess there comes a time... ". This, after telling her, by mistake ,mind you, that we had only done about 6 days of school in February due to vacation, my BIL dying, and my dad in the hospital last week.
I told her , like I needed to , that we started in July and will end a bit later in May this year. That this was a perk of homeschooling-more time with grandparents(the kids were with my MIL while I was with my dad). She is a grandparent so I hope that hit her in a nice but "phooey on you!" kind of way!

Lori

 

[mykidsintow]

My inlaws don't talk about it to our faces. After all aren't thinks much better behind ones back? (couldn't find a smiley with a big bloody knife)

My mom just nods an smiles. She has learned over the last 32 yrs that I am going to do what I want anyway.

The ongoing negative comments typically come from my aunt (lives a mile from us and is a retired public school teacher). We won't get into her kids and their stunningly bad grades

We just took 3 weeks off for vacation.... so? We only took 3 days off at Christmas and your kids got 3 weeks! We took only a day off at Thanksgiving and you were out all week! Yah so what? We are behind, who cares? I didn't know there were such defned timelines! Oh my my aunt swears I must complete the yrs curriculum with the school system for end of the year testing. Shhhh we won't tell her we aren't testing.

I admit I was feeling like a horrible mother this am. I was not looking forward to getting back in the swing of things after our Florida travels and overall schooling hiatus. I was thinking we were on week 14 (we sonlight). 14?! Thats pretty bad.... Then I opened everything up and was happy we began week 19! Yaay me! Ok so its still behind public school, but we didn't start until the end of Sept. I also plan to go on into the summer. We camp a lot and I love getting out our school work at a picnic table in the middle of nowhere! Its so liberating!!!

I know I am babbling. Its been an emotional day for me. Maybe I just need a

 

[Praise2Him]

We didn't start homeschooling until 8th grade (now in 11th grade), and the one thing that surprised/shocked me the most when we began was HOW MANY homeschooling moms are former teachers - including ME! What does that say about our schools? (And I taught in a Christian school)

My DD17 has already said that she intends to homeschool her children, and I'm so happy!

Oh, and don't worry about completing the whole year's curriculum, especially at your kids' ages. The majority of 'regular' school teachers don't finish the whole book either!

 

[DawnM]

My guess is that in those 6 days you did as much or more than their teachers would have done with 20 days in the classroom!

I am a firm believer too in teaching kids when they are ready to learn it! No sense in forcing things they are not ready for! It comes so much easier when they are ready.

Dawn

I think the fact that you homeschool but previously was a PS teacher says a LOT!(was that grammatically correct?? )

I had slack from parents in the beginnning but , now that they ahve seen what we do and have done, it shuts them up.
On another note, my aunt/godmother, told me the other day that, "I guess you need ot put them back in school , and it is good that you tried homeschooling but I guess there comes a time... ". This, after telling her, by mistake ,mind you, that we had only done about 6 days of school in February due to vacation, my BIL dying, and my dad in the hospital last week.
I told her , like I needed to , that we started in July and will end a bit later in May this year. That this was a perk of homeschooling-more time with grandparents(the kids were with my MIL while I was with my dad). She is a grandparent so I hope that hit her in a nice but "phooey on you!" kind of way!

Lori

 

[lori1043]

Thanks Dawn!

We are going to put down our 2 EPCOT days as school days too because we used all that info from before going(EPCOT Unit studies)-the CM's in the countries thought it was cool in most of them. The ones in Japan seemed most impressed! They LOVED that my kids went up and said, "konnichiwa!" and "arigato" after signing thier passports, etc. The CM in the American Adventure was telling me she moved down there b/c of religious convictions her family and friends/co workers did not agree with where they lived before(somewhere up north) and she is going to homeschool when she had kids. Her and her hubby wanted to move where more Christians possibly were-unsure but that was what she was getting at(she mentioned the bible belt). She says it was nice to talk to us b/c there are SO many different religious backgrounds that come to WDW, that it was nice to talk to a fellow Christian and a homeschooler. She was nervous for offending but I told her we are in agreement on that so she could. That was before finding out all that other stuff.

I got off on a tangent but lemmee tell ya-the PS can't use EPCOT as a school day unless they live nearby and have a field trip there!

I almost did Sonlight and being behind on Sonlight is like no big deal-THAT is a crazy involved lots of reading LOTs of reading curriculum. This is my 3rd year HS'ing and I used to stress over not finishing our Abeka-until I remembered my school days and how many text books we never saw the end of-and how many my DD10 did not finish in PS in K and 1st a few years back. PLUS Abeka teaches on test days and I do not!

Lori

 

[tnmomof4]

I almost did Sonlight and being behind on Sonlight is like no big deal-THAT is a crazy involved lots of reading LOTs of reading curriculum. This is my 3rd year HS'ing and I used to stress over not finishing our Abeka-until I remembered my school days and how many text books we never saw the end of-and how many my DD10 did not finish in PS in K and 1st a few years back. PLUS Abeka teaches on test days and I do not!Lori

My boys are in 4th and 5th grade. I am using all Abeka, and I am really, really stressing about how far behind we are. It took me a long time to decide to homeschool. When I did it was already September 1. Then I ordered the books. It took them 2 weeks to come in so we started towards the end of the third week in September.

In order to finish we have to do school work until August. I know it is my fault, but I still worry about it.