Serious negatives to homeschooling?

[lisaann]

So sorry you had to endure that scrutiny and criticism. :hug It makes me feel a bit embarrassed by my collegues in the profession. A parent has to do what is right for their kids. I'm so glad homeschooling was such a great experience for you and your kids!

Lisa kuddos to you for keeping a Christian presense in the schools. :thumb

[EmmieAZ]

EmmieAZ, is there any update on your situation?

I've been teaching public school for going on 11 years now. I've always thought that homeschooled kids have an advantage over just about any kid that comes out of public school. If for no other reason, the teacher/student ratio can't be beat!

Parent wishes trump grandparent wishes in this department.

anyway, just my $0.02.


:wave
Wow! I haven't been on RR in nearly a week and I come back to this! Thanks so much to everyone for all of the input.

As far as an update, there really isn't any to report. I have sent a packet of articles related to homeschooling, virtually absent of anything negative, to my Dad. We'll see what he says after reading it - if he actually does. I know that I don't need his support, but I would appreciate it if he would at least take a moment to try and see where I am coming from on this.

My husband is starting to come around to the idea to - thank you Lord!!! He still says that he doesn't think it is a good idea for highschool b/c he feels that they would be missing out on things. But, that is a long way off so we will cross that bridge when we get there. And who knows, maybe we won't even be here when that time rolls around:yay

On that note that DH has agreed to let me try Kinder with my DD next year I have mixed feelings. First and foremost I feel excited. Almost giddy about not having to "give up" my baby to a school next year. I'm excited about building our relationship and helping grow DD's and DS's sibling relationship as well. On the other hand I am scared as heck. Can I do this? I'm worried about not being motivated enough to get up and go in the mornings. It will definitely be a change in our daily routine. I have been home with her since she was born, but when you don't have school age kids there isn't any formal schooling that has to be done - just loving and playing and keeping up with life. I get nervous when thinking about adding something as huge as her education to that plate.
How do you ladies switch from Mom to teacher Mom each morning? It doesn't seem to be as easy to switch roles when you are at home as compared to working outside the home. If your job is outside the home, you get up, get ready, leave, and work. No home-type distractions - laundry, answering emails, etc.
Well, I will be praying hard over the next 10 months or so that God will prepare me in every aspect if this is what He is calling me to do. Even with all of the anxiety, I feel a sense of peace about this. But sometimes it's hard to determine if that is because it is God's will, or if I am relieved about not sending DD off to school next year.:pray

[Kathe]

:wave
My husband is starting to come around to the idea to - thank you Lord!!! He still says that he doesn't think it is a good idea for highschool b/c he feels that they would be missing out on things. But, that is a long way off so we will cross that bridge when we get there. And who knows, maybe we won't even be here when that time rolls around:yay


From a mom who recently graduated 4 teens from high school here is a list of things your kids will be missing out on by not going to public high school:

-rampant drug use by most of their friends and peers
-being forced to prepare a report on why evolution is true and God is a crock
-being forced to learn about every other religion our there but denied being able to hear about Christianity
-being told that they are the only ones in the entire school who hasn't had sex and how stupid they are because it's so fun
-constant peer pressure about drugs, alcohol and sex
-skipping school cause it's the cool thing to do
-did I say constant peer pressure about everything?
-dressing in designed clothes or else
-not having their own brand new car when they turn 16
-getting invited to parties where the parents handed out beer (because kids are going to drink anyway so they might as well do it under our supervision)
-being taught that homosexuality is normal and going through classes to teach them that they might be homosexual also
-political correctness gone terribly wrong
-getting bombarded with clubs "homosexuals, wiccans, etc)
-filth being played on the school radio station

I'm sure I missed some. You can be sure that our 2 youngest will be homeschooled at the way through. They will not be subjected to the stuff that our older kids were. It was terribly painful for us all.

Kathe

[Wally]

Helpful hint: #1

Homeschooling works best when you have some structure. You need a daily schedule, as well as a school year calendar. The schedule helps you allocate your day, allows for work, study, meals, with objectives and extra catch up time. You should only need about a half day normally. Your year schedule is for planning trips, testing, counting school days, and setting goals.

Helpful hint #2 Discipline yourself to follow Hint #1. Once you get it flowing alot of the stress disappears. It's not that hard and make sure you talk to other Homeschoolers, they'll have experience and tips and will ENCOURAGE you. Go for it! :thumb

[lisaann]

Remember also that you are not sending them to 'school' because you have already decided that they don't do a good job............why would you want to copy their ways at home? This is your school, do it your way! Granted you need to cover certain topics, and follow your states guidelines, but as long as the material get's covered have fun doing it. If you aren't a get-up-first-thing-in-the-morning-and-go type of family then don't. :yay Do school when it suits you. We almost never get started around here before 10:00am. :madgrin Once we get started I do have a schedule that we stick to and we are still done by 1:00 pm. I am currently schooling a 6yo and an 8yo.

Here is a link for getting started homeschooling:
http://www.youcanhomeschool.org/starthere/default.asp?bhcp=1

This is HSLDA's (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) hompage. It has a ton of links to help you and you can even find your state through a link on the left:
http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

Talk to other homeschoolers about what worked for them and what didnt. Keep an eye on the homeschooling threads here. Those who have gone before you can really help you weed out what will work and what won't, what is a waste of time and what is worth it.
I will post a few links to things we have used and liked to help you get started looking at things. Hopefully others will also link products and ideas that have worked for them as well.

When I first started homeschooling my son in K we used Five In A Row which is a very sweet, gentle way to get them started in school. It covers every topic except Phonics and Math:
http://www.fiarhq.com/

We use Saxon Math:
http://saxonhomeschool.harcourtachieve.com/en-US/saxonhomeschool.htm?MSCSProfile=DCCDF22EB27065BE87 3E77100669B211888D12A68FB730AB8D3A39C2A94887E1F502 A810E6F37012844A2DBE0BFD01BFF0BFE4EBC2AF9567F0544B 19E2C9D581C2D232146B2FDB900CE972C7DC197D1571C10029 BCF024D6187A647D82A19704F0D7B5A19CD8A476BA85834D9A 2A27A719B05B1571F898A8FC1CBC1E9523C266&UserPref=culture%5Een-US%7CCurrencyCode%5EUSDen-US

Others here use Math U See which is also a very popular program:
http://www.mathusee.com/

I used Sing, Spell, Read and Write for beginning phonics and wasent too crazy about it. I think it would work well for an accelerated reader but that wasent the case with my ds. :fear Hopefully others here have programs that they liked and can recommend. We are using Learning Language Arts Through Literature now with much more success.

Learning styles:
http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/FAQ/Styles.html

Awsome catalog for homeschool curriculum and products with good descriptions and good prices, contact them and ask for a catalog:
rainbowresource.com

[ninesixteen]

Anyone from California who home schooled a High Schooler? I was curious how they did on the CAHSEE Exam.

[imfree]

I thought of a "downside" Not enough bookshelves or wall space to house the bookshelves......:lol2http://www.aimoo.com/forum/images/messageicon/library.gifhttp://www.aimoo.com/forum/images/messageicon/library.gifhttp://www.aimoo.com/forum/images/messageicon/library.gifhttp://www.aimoo.com/forum/images/messageicon/library.gifhttp://www.aimoo.com/forum/images/messageicon/library.gifhttp://www.aimoo.com/forum/images/messageicon/library.gifhttp://www.aimoo.com/forum/images/messageicon/library.gif

AMEN, AMEN!!!!! :lol2

The only downside? I guess my teenage son has given me some grief...he's very, very strong-willed and given to disobedience....but God's will always wins out. :thumb Still though, the benefits are too numerous to list.

[RRuth]

:
How do you ladies switch from Mom to teacher Mom each morning?

We don't. Home schoolers are mom's/teachers 24/7

Most home schoolers will turn EVERY situation into a LEARNING experience. :thumb

Ruth

[hapimom98]

The biggest negative I've found and encountered is from other Christians who insist our kids are supposed to be the "salt" in the public schools :rolleyes
Children are not little missionaries. :gaah While it's wonderful when a child can show Jesus to another, it's not their job or purpose for being at school :tsk

This is one of the reasons we haven't started homeschooling yet, because my husband believes this....the light and salt thing.

I don't feel like you should place that burden on a child.....but I will pray that the Lord will change his mind, or mine.

Good points!

[firstoftwelve]

:thumbKindergarden is not very time consuming when it's just one child.
You'll be surprised that you get through your 2 or 3 worksheets and think, is that it????
Just have a great time being together and do it on your own time. We never get started first thing in the morning. Im just not a morning person.
right now I actually wait until after lunch, put the baby down for his nap and then do school with the other two. Then I have them go have a rest time, during which they often do their reading or handwriting. Things I don't have to be with them directly for. and I have some time to myself then too.

As someone else said, this isn't "school" teach them in the way that works best for you and your children. some kids may learn their numbers best by digging up worms. Ex: find 2 worms and put them in this bucket. Now find 3 worms and put them in this bucket. Now put them together on this plate, how many worms do you have all together???:thinking:hat

LOl obviously i have boys but you see my point. You get to be creative in making learning fun and work best for your child.

D.