LisaDS88
10-04-2005, 08:06 PM
I've noticed there are a lot of parents on here that homeschool their kids. I just wanted to give some encouragement and/or reassurance for those of you who have decided to homeschool their kids or are thinking about doing it. I was homeschooled my entire life (I'm 22 now) except for one semester in my junior year of high school when I went to public school. The main thing I learned from going to school was how thankful I was that I didn't spend the earlier parts of my life in school. It was such a WASTE of time. I was locked in a building all day with people I didn't really want to be friends with anyway. I felt like I had a better social life when I didn't go to school. Not to mention, it was full of nothing but busy work, and I hardly learned anything (I was in advanced classes at a "good" public school, too). Honestly, it probably took us 2 weeks in class at school to learn what I did at home in 2 hours. I used a curriculum through a Christian school in Illinois. Most of it was correspondence, so I had to send in work to the school, and they would grade it and send me a report card. But even that was too strict sometimes, and I think I could have done better without it. My mom helped/taught me until about 7th grade. Then, I did everything on my own after that, including teaching myself algebra. I did get a private math tutor for algebra II and chemistry to help make the learning process easier. Just about all text books are 100% self-explanatory, so if you can read and have a little patience, you can teach yourself pretty much anything.
Basically, your child's education will depend on how much effort and time you want to devote to teaching your child....not whether or not you have a degree in teaching or some other special qualification. Just get some good text books covering a wide variety of subjects, come up with some "lesson plans" or schedules to go through the books, and do a lot of "hands on" learning like taking field trips to the museum or science experiments in the backyard. If you can afford it, sign your kids up in local sports like baseball or soccer; or music or art lessons. (That's a good way for them to meet friends, too). If they are teenagers, I HIGHLY recommend them getting a part-time job. I got my first job handing out skates at an ice rink when I was 11. Nothing teaches you more about how the world works than getting a job. (Plus, it's another way to meet new friends.) If they are nearing the end of high school, get the Princeton Review book on how to prepare for the SAT test. The most that college applications require from homeschooled kids is a list of subjects they studied and their SAT or ACT scores. I got into a major university with no problem.
Basically there are three points I would suggest:
1. Make sure your child studies and/or participates in a wide variety of subjects like math, science, history, English, grammar, foreign language, music, art, sports, and life skills (i.e. making meals, balancing check books, paying bills, getting the oil changed in your car.....yes, they will need to know that one day)
2. Decide if they might want to go to college in the future and begin preparing for the SAT or ACT test. It is mostly vocabulary, reading, and some very basic math.
3. Make SURE they have enough of a social life and have some continuing friendships (i.e not just a homeschool group activity once a month where they are with kids they hardly know). They need friends to spend time with on a regular basis. Most homeschool groups or youth groups get together once a week or month. They can be fun "social events," but make sure your child has "real friends" to do things with outside of big group activities. Interacting with people and developing lasting friendships is something to learn as well....no matter what age you are.
Basically, your child's education will depend on how much effort and time you want to devote to teaching your child....not whether or not you have a degree in teaching or some other special qualification. Just get some good text books covering a wide variety of subjects, come up with some "lesson plans" or schedules to go through the books, and do a lot of "hands on" learning like taking field trips to the museum or science experiments in the backyard. If you can afford it, sign your kids up in local sports like baseball or soccer; or music or art lessons. (That's a good way for them to meet friends, too). If they are teenagers, I HIGHLY recommend them getting a part-time job. I got my first job handing out skates at an ice rink when I was 11. Nothing teaches you more about how the world works than getting a job. (Plus, it's another way to meet new friends.) If they are nearing the end of high school, get the Princeton Review book on how to prepare for the SAT test. The most that college applications require from homeschooled kids is a list of subjects they studied and their SAT or ACT scores. I got into a major university with no problem.
Basically there are three points I would suggest:
1. Make sure your child studies and/or participates in a wide variety of subjects like math, science, history, English, grammar, foreign language, music, art, sports, and life skills (i.e. making meals, balancing check books, paying bills, getting the oil changed in your car.....yes, they will need to know that one day)
2. Decide if they might want to go to college in the future and begin preparing for the SAT or ACT test. It is mostly vocabulary, reading, and some very basic math.
3. Make SURE they have enough of a social life and have some continuing friendships (i.e not just a homeschool group activity once a month where they are with kids they hardly know). They need friends to spend time with on a regular basis. Most homeschool groups or youth groups get together once a week or month. They can be fun "social events," but make sure your child has "real friends" to do things with outside of big group activities. Interacting with people and developing lasting friendships is something to learn as well....no matter what age you are.