How did you know: Homeschooling

[Deepcallstodeep]

Thank you all for the posts, sisters... it's encouraging. I am full of doubts... mostly about my own abilities and discipline. But I'm gonna keep praying.

See, I have this feeling that the Lord pushes us out of our comfort zones all the time, in order for us to grow in Him, and for Him to keep teaching us to rely on Him and not our own strength. Homeschooling would definitely push me out of my comfort zone. I never dreamed I'd even be thinking about it

Thank you all for the time you've given to respond with your experiences and thoughts.

Yeah funmudder, you were soooo overreacting to pull your son out of school. Second grade? A gun? :eek:

On a more serious note though, it's not just the worldly educational agenda/"indoctrination" we have to worry about anymore... it's our kids' lives, self-esteem...everything.

[topekaclark]

We use Abeka. When I started to home school last year, alot of church friends used Abeka and showed me the curriculum. It seems more advance than ps curriculum but our dd did good with it. She was a year behind when I pulled her out, homeschooling has a lot of positives.

Just wish I did this with the oldest.

[Leialoha]

Hope,

there are so many options out there, it can be actually overwhelming! Here is what I think works well: try to figure out how your kids would LOVE to learn. Some kids love textbooks and workbooks and the day being the same each day. Some kids like to learn with real books (novels) and usborne books, and hands-on projects. Some kids like to learn by parent guided but child-interest driven research type projects.

Then, after you determined that, see if you could actually remain sane by teaching your kids that way. Find a happy medium.

Now, figure out what is the thing that you most want your kids to learn.

For example, here are my main goals for my kids education. Although my curriculum, subjects, and process may change, these things have remained constant for 5 years and will until I see God wanting me to change them:

1. I want my kids to learn and have modeled that serving Jesus Christ and emulating Him in their service to others (strong character) is more important than acedemics. The character traits should come from a humble and submissive heart, not from my using behavior modification.

2. I want my kids to be excellent communicators both verbally and written form. I want them to be able to express their questions, thoughts, ideas, and principles critically and creatively.

3. I want my kids to have a strong understanding of the history of the world, including the history shown in the bible, and not know a bunch of facts but understand the cause and effect and what that tells us about man's relationship with God.

4. I want my kids to have a lifelong love of learning, know how to independently aquire knowledge, and have the self-discipline to work hard at learning that which God would require them to learn....or simply something that they have an interest in. A good teacher is one who becomes less significant and needed by the student.

5. Lastly, I want my kids to be able to critically look at the world around them (including mathmatics or even social issues) and be able to break down complex issues calmly and carefully work toward the solution.


Now, I frequently assess the classes, curriculum, activites and see if these things are helping us attain this goal or are working against it or if it is a waste of time. I have been known to drop a curriculum in the middle of the year if I find that we are not really gaining anything of significance -- but for the most part I have been happy with what I have used.

(again, sorry for the book! I'm very passionate about homeschooling!)

Perhaps something there may help?

[HSmomto4]

I did my research. I knew what was taught in the public schools and I knew I didn't want that taught to my kids. I had one in a Christian school and I knew it was just as bad socially there. Kids were already having boy friends/girl friends and the cattiness of the kids was terrible! I didn't want my daughter turning out like that. I knew I wanted all my girls to grow up and be Godly women even if it meant being "different" from the world and their friends. It was more important to me for them to follow Christ and have those values than it was for them to be popular in school and have proms and dances and football games.

[Hope]

Thanks everyone, SUPER advice.

Leialoha, I really appreciated your goals, that sort of gives me a framework to start from. Actually your goals are EXACTLY what I want for my kids too. Have you ever used Abekka? I like the flashy coloring of the books. THe history or social studies looks like something I, myself, would really enjoy. I think if I like it, I can teach it! It looks so much more interesting than the dry old school books we used to work from. I have thought about Saxon math for my daughter (the artist) because she would have manipulatives to work with. Any thoughts ...?

Thanks so much!

Hope

[HSmomto4]

I like Abeka for the first couple of years and then it is the pits. We use it till 2nd grade and then change to Rod and Staff English, Saxon or Math-U-See for Math, SOTW for History, Spelling workout for Spelling and when they start writing we use Writing Strands. I love Rod and Staff!! It is hard and old fashioned, but it is great!! I can't stand Abekas history or science, they need to trash them and start over after 2nd grade. We read real books for reading and science is very hands on with lots of experiments and family involvement. It's one thing to read about history and science, it is another to live it and put your hands in it!

[Hope]

I like Abeka for the first couple of years and then it is the pits. We use it till 2nd grade and then change to Rod and Staff English, Saxon or Math-U-See for Math, SOTW for History, Spelling workout for Spelling and when they start writing we use Writing Strands. I love Rod and Staff!! It is hard and old fashioned, but it is great!! I can't stand Abekas history or science, they need to trash them and start over after 2nd grade. We read real books for reading and science is very hands on with lots of experiments and family involvement. It's one thing to read about history and science, it is another to live it and put your hands in it!

What does SOTW stand for?
What do use for history and science?

Thanks!

Hope

[topekaclark]

Question:

I used Abkea with my 2nd grader last year, we really didn't focus much on History or science due to the fact we worked intensely on phonics.

I'm getting ready to home school a 6th grader this year, I order Abeka for her curriculums because I was familiar with it.

My question is compare to other curriculums, is Abeka different? What all do you use and why? Comparing cost for textbooks/workbooks (which Abeka can get expensive)?


Thanks:thumb

Kellie

[adam423]

I just started homeschooling in March. I knew it was time when my 12 year old daughter came home from school reading a book that was required by her English teacher. This book has a very detailed sex scene in it!!

I don't want my 12 year old to have those images in her mind. And that was just the beginning. I pulled her out in the third semester and my son won't be going back in Sept. He's two years younger and will be coming into that class with those same types of books.

I would rather have my children know that evolution is a theory...not a fact. I'd rather my children hear about sex from me..when I think they are mature enough. So many more reasons.

What I quickly learned though...that the homeschool curriculms are so much more advanced that what my kids are learning in school. I'm working with my daughter on sentencnes structure and she didn't even know what an adverb was...she was in 7th grade!

I know what my kids are learning now, what pace is good for them, and they are loving having more of me!

[mikalikat]

I homeschooled my oldest for 3-4th grades when the school insisted she be on Ritalin in Kindergarten and by second grade, was a human trainwreck--couldn't write, read, NOTHING. I flushed the pills down the toilet on the last day of second grade, three months into homeschooling for third grade she'd mastered long division and was reading like a pro, a year after her last day of second grade she'd gained 25 lbs. from being off the Ritalin and having her tonsils out. Today, she's a beautiful, intelligent senior in high school. Still has trouble processing some things, but we have worked out ways around that.

My 3 year old will be home schooled. My oldest daughter's science teacher had them watch Star Wars and have them write down two examples of the 29 principles of physics by watching this movie. He didn't like my pointing out that there are no physics in SPECIAL EFFECTS!!!!! Just one example of the public school system that sends chills up my spine. Among other reasons, Alison will be homeschooled.