OT- Why do you home school?

[laceemouse]

We have homeschool sports teams. They play all of the local private Christian schools and even smaller public schools (and often win!) My oldest daughter ran on the homeschool track team last year.

We also have homeschool dances, a homecoming dance, and a HUGE prom (they sell 800 or so tickets and have it in downtown Dallas.) The difference is that the dances are highly supervised by caring parents. There is a strict dress code. Only appropriate music is played. AND.....kids who are not dancing appropriately are asked to LEAVE!

Go to your local high school dance and see all of the grinding (basically s*x with clothes on) and then tell us how important "socializing" is in the public school!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I enjoyed reading everyone's responses on why they homeschool. We are starting up at the end of August for the first time and we're very excited. I already signed up with our local homeschool group( they always have so many activities going on) Every tuesday in May and June we all meet at the local field and play kickball and softball. We'll be getting together for many field trips throughout the school year. They also have a bowling league going on through the winter. And i'm in the middle of signing up with a co op group, that will take place every friday from october 2-december 11. Then starting back up again in March again for another 2 months.
My dd9 is struggling in school, which is why I started looking into homeschooling in the first place. But once I did and realized all it had to offer and how great it would be for us, I wanted to HS all 3 of my kids. A Plus with that is that I work nights, I leave for work 2 minutes after they get off the school bus 4 times a week. On those days, i'm only seeing them for the hour that we're getting ready in the morning and the 2 minutes before I leave for work. I'm sure it's going to work great for us.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Thought I would chime in with my reason to homeschool.

We started out with our first dd in public school. I am a certified teacher and believed wholeheartedly in the public school system. My dd did really well in school and I enjoyed teaching and being home with her after school. DD was tested into the gifted program in 2nd grade and loved her AIg teacher. She attended the school I taught in that was located in a more inner city area. In fourth grade DD moved to our neighborhood school and I transfered to teach there. This school was one of the tip schools in the area. I believe this is where things started going astray.

Her fourth grade teacher couldn't handle that she breezed through her schoolwork far ahead of her classmates. She had never been a trouble maker and all of a sudden she was getting in trouble daily. Come to find out the teacher was teasing her in front of the whole class. Principal stepped in and things were "better". I quit teaching after that year and became a SAHM. I had just had another DD a year prior and wanted to be home with her.

DD1 went to middle school in 6th grade and I continued to stay home with DD2. She was doing well in middle school although she was breezing through even though she was in classes that had only gifted students in it. At the end of the year I was reviewing what she had done in reading class and all they did was read from a grade level basal and 3 books she read in 3rd grade. Gifted programs are supposed to teach 2 levels about their peers education.

During DD1's 6th grade year, DD2 was 3 and she started reading. We decided we would start working with her on kindergarten material and see how it went. Well, she did great! So, after long talks we didn't send DD1 back to middle school the next year.

We are just finishing up our 2nd year. DD1 is now 14 and is finishing up 9th grade. In the past 2 years she has studied Biology, Marine Biology, pre-algebra, algebra, American History, American lit, spanish, art history, grammar, latin roots and had time to pursue her interests in art. DD2 who is now 5 is finishing up 1st grade. She is blowing through reading and math and loves to learn about the environment.

We belong to a few homeschool groups that do play dates, field trips, co-ops, prom, graduation and all that is needed for "social" activity. I receive lots of comments on how mature my children are and have never had a problem with them actiing correctly in a social setting. I love being with my children (not that those who don't hs don't) and enjoy watching them learn.

Homeschooling is a very personal decision. I respect everyone's choice in how their children learn. There may be a time when my daughters will have to go back to public school. I hope not, but you never know. I hope I have instilled in them the same respect of others.

 

[tinkerlisa]

I wanted to homeschool for this main reason:

The schools are overcrowded as it is. I kept thinking how is my son going to learn anything if the teacher has to teach 25 students?

The 2 reasons why I am NOT homeschooling are

1)When my older son started Kindergarten, I had just had my younger son. I felt that I wouldn't be able to devote enough time to my older son and teaching him. This is the MAIN reason i don't do it.

2)He is so used to school and his friends, that I would hate to take him out of that environment. He enjoys going to school and doing the work. I don't want him being upset with me.

The school he goes to is a very good school. We have been lucky with his teachers for the past 2 years(he is in 1st grade). Right now, his teacher makes sure she spends time with each child individually as well as all together. And if they need extra help, she gives it to them and she has ALWAYS made sure that the parents are just as involved in the curriculum.

My one concern was that my son is very smart. He reads at a 3rd grade level and I don't want him to be bored. The school takes care of that. They adjust the curriculum according to how fast/slow each child learns. My son does things that other kids in his class don't do because he learns so fast.

 

[Poohbug]

I just have to write and thank all of you for your interesting responses to the OP's question.

I have been contemplating homeschooling my children in the future and I am trying to get some research done now. Over the summer I am planning on taking just 45 minutes a day with the boys as "school time" and see how things go. Right now my oldest is having a tough time understanding math concepts-maybe some one-on-one time will help him.

 

[Leajess99]

What about sports games, like soccer, football, lacrosse, etc... (kids love their high school games). Their social experience, I have noticed several homeschool children not have the same social skills as public school children. Being in the high school band (the spring band trip, football games, competitions, etc...) a wonderful experience for kids. The about activites are just as important as school work is.

There are sports outside of schools. I know a couple of families that homeschool and socially their children are more advanced than many of the public school kids. As for band, many schools are giving up their bands so it is not much of an option either plus if the child wants to play an instrument than there are outside sources for that as well.

 

[Nicolepa]

Third, dh had an argument with the Principal. The Principal claimed that by enrolling a child in public school you give up any right to make decisions about the child.

I think this line of thinking happens more than we'd like to admit. I have been told several times by the staff at my sons school that "You don't need to know that", "That's none of your business" etc.

To that I say excuse me, you want me to be involved in his education but you don't want to give me the information I need for him to be sucessful?

My daughter is in the gifted program and goes to a different school and our experience with her has been much different. For this reason (and many others) my son will be homeschooled next year and my daughter will remain in her gifted program.