Home Schooling?

Kudos to you for already thinking about your daughter's education. This is and will be the most important decision you make on her behalf.

You'll be happy to know, contrary to popular belief, homeschooling is a viable educational option. If you do your research well, you will find overwhelming evidence that homeschooling is growing and thriving nationwide because it works. More and more families are discovering that through homeschooling, their children are achieving both academically AND socially.

Those not knowlegeable on the topic don't understand that all children are homeschooled to some extent. Isn't it true that they are naturally learning from you as they develop and nurtured in your care? Isn't it true that as the child grows up, the parents are also teaching them social skills at home and establishing rules and values as well?

Homeschooling done well integrates homelife, social experiences in and out of the home and education/curriculum to help bring about a well-rounded person. Because of the nature of homeschooling, you can begin now with your daughter, as you determine which types of games, and activities to introduce her to. Make your daily experiences at home and abroad educational moments, so that when she is pre-school/Kindergarten age she'll be ready to explore any curriculum you choose to use.

Overwhelmingly, statistics continue to show homeschooled students are far exceeding their non-homeschooled counterparts in all areas of academics. See:http://www.homeschool.com/articles/SuccessStories/default...

The constant arguments against homeschooling are often mischaracterized by those who have no understanding of the homeschool movement. Contrary to popular belief, whether a parent is comfortable teaching upper level math/science courses, there now more opportunities available to families. Outside organizations are now seeing the viability of homeschooling and its now proven successes, and are catering to this growing market.

Now more than ever before local community colleges and universities offer high school level science and math programs to homeschoolers. Many local zoos, the Science museum, art museums, many area nature centers, and more offer curriculum/classes and programs geared toward homeschoolers.

Many of these very colleges and universities are also eager to recruit these same students and have designed specific "early graduation" programs where these students can test out of "school" and begin college.

In addition to outside suppport from many organizations, homeschooling is well established now in most areas, and there are ample homeschool co-ops (groups of families pooling resources to hire a tutor, teacher, get a coach for a team sport or split cost on classes at a community college for example) to choose from. These groups serve as a wonderful resource for rounding out your home education experience and to give your children yet more "socialization" opportunities.

There are also ample parent support groups, which are more social organizations in nature, and provide families access to theaters, theater/museum field trips, actual travel abroad or missionary activities, volunteer opportunities etc. and at a discount because of the group rates given to the support group.

The variety of curriculum now available is incredible. Some programs are "accredited" which means they are approved by your state's education department and fulfill all state reqirements. There are also several organizations that can help you become "accredited" if you choose to design your own curriculum, and they will assign someone to monitor your child's progress and help you to file appropriate papers etc. to your school district throughout the year.

Some public school districts also offer homeschooling programs, but if you go this route, you will be considered a "charter school" and therefore working directly with your superintendent rather than independently or with an accrediting service of your choosing.

There are so many options. It is great to start researching now. Find a workshop in your area so you can learn more about what's available near you. I'd start with www.hslda.org first. Here you can find out your state's requirements, and be directed toward where to find a co-op in your area etc.

Good luck! Have fun! Find out for yourself if this is for you.

H.-
Good for you for thinking about this so early on! You have pleanty of time to inform yourself and make a well educated decision.
I am the president of a parent support group in Waconia - Students Educated Lovingly At Home (SELAH). We meet monthly to discuss a topic related to home schooling and chat about our successes and troubles. The members of our group are all required to volunteer in some way by offering a field trip or other event for the children in our group.
I have 5 children and the oldest is finishing 2nd grade and the youngest is 5 months old. I was a teacher before I was at home and new that this was where my heart was.
My advice is to read as much as you can about homeschooling...both for it and against it. It is a wonderful thing, but is a huge committment. Talk to as many people as you can and you'll be surprised to find out how many homeschoolers there are out there!
There is a state organization for Christian home schoolers (MACHE) and they have a great website. They put on a fabulous convention once a year and it is going to be in St. Paul next spring. I would highly recommend attending that to get a feel for what this thing called home schooling is really all about. My husband and I go each year and love it!
Something non-home schoolers will immediately say is, how are you going to teach them advanced math and sciences? Remember, that is not how it begins. It begins with learning colors, shapes, numbers and letters. I would imagine you are already showing your baby books with all these things in them. Many people home school for elementary school and then transition into either middle school or high school. It is not a committment you have to make for 12 years. Take it one year at a time and see how the Lord leads your family.
Finally, don't let people discourage you about the socialization of your child. You need to decide what socialization means to you and how you want that to happen. I know a lot of home schooled children and none of them are social dim-wits who cannot interact with others. Infact, I would argue they get along with others much better than traditionally schooled children and know how to play with children older and younger than they are as well as carry on conversations with adults.
If you have further questions, or would like to attend one of our support group meetings in the future please respond back to me.
Good luck!
Blessings!
H. :)

I'm Another homeschooling mom who loves it. I was also homeschooled and am a certified teacher. Start networking as you can, take your time. It is awesome...but not necessarily for everyone.
A.

First of all I have to say that I really do admire people that can homeschool their children and actually do well.

But, you need to be sure that you are willing to commit all the way.

My cousins were homeschooled - sort of. My aunt took them out when they were in first and second grades (they're a year apart) but my cousins ended up spending a total of, maybe, 20 days of the year doing school work.

My older cousin stopped schooling when he was 14.
The younger one continued off and on and ended up graduating, only because she had a friend (who went to public school) who would come over and do her work for her. My cousins were NEVER educated beyond a 9th grade level - and you can definitely tell.

We also had a next-door neighbor who homeschooled her children - all 5 of them. They are all wonderful, kind and extremely well educated.

Their mother was very strict with their schooling. They had a seperate area of the house that they used for schooling - completely closed off from the rest of the house. They would go there in the morning at 8 and they would have a full school day - reading, math, lunch in the lunch area and they even went outside twice a day for recess.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that for some people (like me - I'm too attached to my solo grocery shopping and time without my kids ~ I'd lose my mind!) there is no other way than public school, for some it definitely should be that way. For others, they can thrive in a homeschool environment.

Just keep an eye on her and her needs and you may find out that when she is older, she wants nothing to do with homeschooling. Do not let anyone discourage you from it ~ in the end it's your decision and your family.

Since you're asking about this now when your daughter is so young, I'd HIGHLY recommend any books written by Glenn Doman. One title, for example, is How To Multiply Your Baby's Intelligence. This really goes well with the Suzuki philosophy. (Suzuki is the man who developed Talent Education for very young children. He's the reason why you'll see some VERY small violins out there at times.) So, of course, I would also recommend having her be exposed to music early on, even if it's only listening. You do have lots of time before your daughter is old enough to go through "schooling" at the age when most people do it, but there's SO much to get excited about now. Just a quick statistic that I remembered: most of your child's brain cells (synapses, etc.) will be developed by age 6. That means, by the time most kids start school, the majority of their learning is done. There's something to ponder. :) Have fun!

Hello H.,

My kids are 3 and 10 months and I'm planning on homeschooling too. Don't let anyone discourage you. Look for a homeschooling group near you and join it when the time comes. I know a few families that homeschool and I want the same for my kids.

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

H.,

You've already gotten several responses as to why homeschooling is a good option, and I think you will find that if you google homeschooling, you'll get a ton of information--probably more than you want. So I will just share my experience. We are a homeschooling family with four kids: 13, 11, 8 and 5. The 13-year-old is working on her high school diploma through a correspondence/online school that is fully accredited (that's how we handled the problem of higher math, etc). I try to focus on reading when they are young, because I think if you can read well and comprehend what you read, you can learn about anything--history, science, etc. It makes them very independent, which is what you want when you're the one teaching them! I also work from home as a freelance writer, and when projects are coming in like crazy I rely on their independence quite a bit.

If you decide to homeschool, you will meet people who "unschool" and also people who follow a very strict schedule. We fall somewhere in between, I think. Music lessons and daily practice are a major part of our school day. We also do math and Language Arts every day. Three of the four are involved in the Young Shakespeare Players here in Madison. My advice is to find out about the various methods of homeschooling as well as what materials are available. I know some people have said your child is too young for you to think about this, but I disagree. There is an overwhelming amount of information about homeschooling out there, and it is nice to work through the information overload before you begin! Also, if you plan to homeschool, you will see that there is not a magic age or moment when you suddenly begin. You tune in to when your child is ready to learn, and you know her interests and strengths better than anyone else. Also, the socialization thing is not really an issue if you just make sure you get involved in some regular group activity, of which there are many. For us, Young Shakespeare Players and Suzuki violin provide tons of group experiences. And, because we don't have school taking up our whole day, we have more time and space to process the ups and downs of that social interaction together.

The downside: My kids seem to eat constantly, and they are never away long enough to get the house clean--my kind of clean, I mean, not the same thing as what the kids mean by "clean." And the kitchen table is usually full of math manipulatives.

G.

It is a good idea to attend the MACHE conference...it may have already happened. I used Sonlight curriculum when the children were young, because Sonlight is literature based. It gives students a love for reading. I am also joined to HBEAA. That is a accrediting agency. I would google HBEAA and MACHE and get the information you need to contact them.

Good for you on making this dicision. My husband and I also made the decision to Homeschool our children before we were even pregnant! Our families BOTH criticized us and my favorite comment has to be from my parents. They thought we were saying by putting us in school they made a mistake! LOL. Yeah thats what it was......(sarcasm) You will have alot of criticism and you will get alot of people saying Don't worry about it she is still young. Well before you know it she will be a walking and talking sponge wanting to KNOW things and you don't have a clue what to teach her. I know I was there with my son. He was 2 and we started flashcards with him. he knows letter recognition very well!! He is 4 now and is actually starting the 1st grade in the fall!!! CRAZY. But I still have people tell me to just let him be a kid and don't force him. I am by NO means forcing him. he asks to play school. he asks to play the learning games. he wants to learn!!! Why should I be the one holding him back. I love the tip one mom gave about making your home a learning environment. That is the best thing you can do right now. With her being so young you don't have all the toys built up that are just toys. You can actually make a decision about what ones to keep and what goes. If it has no educational value then pass it on. Read as many books as you can on homeschooling. There is a really good one a friend loaned me. It is Homeschooling Questions and Answers. Go to any local Homeschool conventions BUT stay OUT of the exhibit hall unless you plan to only go in to find a book on HOW to get started. Do NOT worry about curriculums right now. This will overwhelm you and you may just give up. I almost did. It was crazy how many choices are out there. My son was only 2 when we went to our first convention. There are TONS of websites and online support groups out there. Just type in Homeschooling. Get organized now. Decide where you want to store all the things you buy for teaching her. Except for Toys. Unless you have specific ones for school time only. Decide where you want to hold school time. At the dining table, in a classroom setting (NOT neccessary) or just where ever you want to set aside learning time. You could even do this on your couch!! Read to her. Even now. Read anything and everything. my son could talk at a year old. He could speak full sentences, asked questions, and understood what we were saying to him. We always have talked to him like he is an adult. We don't baby talk. But we also don't tell him EVERYTHING. He does not NEED to know HOW baby #3 got into Mommy's tummy other than God put her there! LOL. But we do answer all his questions and we make sure he is satisfyed with the answer. Well I hope these tips help. I am still starting out myself. I got a later start than you. I listened to the people who said Don't worry about it you have time. Well TIME ran out when he got so smart. I still have people tell me not to teach him. I don't see that as an option. He is learning things Good and Bad all day and the only way to make sure its MOSTLY good is to teach him. If you want to talk more feel free to send me a message. I have been given Tons of tips and have not had the time you have to put them into action. OK laterz. J. in Iowa

I have taught in public and private schools and now I teach my own children in our home. Don't ever buy into that whole "their not socialized" thing. That is not even true! See if there are other mother's in your chuch who homeschool. They can give you curriculum ideas. Find out the laws in your state and what paper work you will end up having to do. Attend a home schooling conference. There you will find alot about what is out their for you.

I love home schooling!

I was homeschooled most of my life and there are many ways around it. Depending on religious background and how strict you want the carricular. I am originally from california and out there the public schools offer a homeschool program or you can always purchase the books and things through bookstores. There is also a school called abeka. It is based out of southern florida. It is a christian school but very highly recommended. I hope some of this helps. I would do some internet research for your options in wisconsin.

Hi H.,

I think homeschooling is a big responsibility and there are prons & cons to homeschooling. I have a few friends who were home schooled from K to 12th grade and also friends who were just homeschooled from K to 8th grade. I would say all but one of my home school friends had issues adjusting to high school or college life/classes. The biggest issue I saw was interacting with others, they seemed very sheltered and had a hard time making/approaching friends. After a few years they finally adjusted but it was a struggle.

On the other hand all my friends homeschooled are the most polite and nicest people I have ever met. They pretty much are carbon copies of the parents; beliefs, ideas and manners. (Which could be good and bad... as long as you are a good parent it will work out well for you).

Here are a few websites that has tons of information and could help you make a good list of what you would need to do to get started.

wisconsin homeschooling legal info you will need to know:
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/wilegal/Legal_Informati...

homeschooling 101
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/gettingstarted/p/homesc...

another homeschool web page, with curriculum ideas;
http://www.homeschoolcentral.com/

This website looks to have some great informations. I personally would never be able to homeshcool, I would never be able to keep a good homeschool schedule. Hope this helps the discussion along.

Hello H.,

I don't know where you live, but I teach dance classes for the Racine homeschool group. They have enrichment classses (like gym, spanish, art, science, etc) once a week and then there are also smaller groups that study subjects in people's homes. Their website is:
www.homeschool-life.com/wi/rahs/?public=1 - 22k
I give a lot of credit to the families that homeschool. It is a huge commitment and a lot of work. So, if you decide to do it you would want a good support network. I originally thought I might homeschool my kids, but in the last year I have discovered that my 5 year old behaves much better at preschool in a structured setting then he does for me. You are smart to explore your options now. Before you know it, your little one will be ready for kindergarten. Good luck!!

F. in Burlington

I just started HSing my kids a couple of months ago and we are having a blast. It's so nice to know where they are and what they are doing. It's reassuring to know that they are actually learning and aren't being bullied. I also don't want my kids learning things from other kids that they don't need to know. The times that I was visiting the classes it seemed like the teachers were spending more time dealing with misbehaved kids than teaching. My daughter was in K and my son in Preschool. It drove me crazy to not know what they were learning or doing. You don't really know how well they are doing until the few times per year that you have conferences and then they can tell you what they are struggling on. I'd rather know earlier so we can work on it.
Your daughter is young and lots of things may change between now and then so keep your options open to work with your family and schedule. There are lots of HSing groups and playgroups. Go on yahoo groups and look up homeschooling groups in your area.
Best Wishes,
J.
Mom to 4, ages 5, 4, 4, and 2. Awaiting the arrival of a 7 year old and probably more through adoptions :o)

Hi H.!
I think that thinking ahead to your child's education is WONDERFUL! You are being smart parents!
I would talk to as many people as you can that have homeschooled. That way you can get an INFORMED point of view,
not just an opinion based on limited experience with education at home.
There are a few things you can do to get started....first of all, MUSIC! You can do this at home but I would also recommend a program like Kindermusic. You can start this at ANY time.
As far as preschool and kindergarten I would go for "Sing, Spell Read and Write". It's a wonderful program.
Another poster mentioned a homeschool group and I think that is a great way to see what other people use for curriculum. Also, you can go on scheduled educational trips as a group and often they have books and other resources that you can share.
The beauty of homeschooling today is that you can work in conjunction with the pubic schools and benefit from sports, band, choir, any classes or extracurricular activities, and, when highschool approaches, you can do post secondary at a college.
I am going to homeschool for at least elementary school and then go from there....
Good luck to you in whatever you decide!

5 months is a little young to start worrying about "schooling", so make homeschooling your way of life. Make your home a place of learning. Read to your child, find the learning in every situation. Show your daughter that you love to try new things, and that learning is fun!

Homeschooling Mom of 4!

First I would have to ask why you are thinking of homeschooling? It's definitaly not for everyone. If it is because of certain idealogical beliefs there are many private schools out there to meet your beliefs. It is important to remember school is not just about education it is also about socialization and children learning how to respond to children who are different than them (with your help). It is also for them to learn to respond to authority figures other than you and your husband. You also have to think about if you (or your husband) will be able to provide the same amount of education and training that a teacher has. There are a few different curriculum packages out there for homeschoolers, I am sure some of the other responses will let you know that info. It is very hard to think about sending your 4.5 mo old out into the world without you, but things will change once she gets closer to that point. Keep an open mind and know that part of our job is to teach them how to deal with things that we are not comfortable with ourselves.

You will be teaching your child all along. Homeschooling has already started. Just keep going and when the child is of school age tell the authorities what you are doing.

There are lots of co-ops and organizations that can help with details, but it is not any more complicated than what you are already doing.

I think the child's personality and learning style should be a factor in your ultimate decision so you need to give it some time to see how your daughter's personality and temperament develop. You will also need to determine what her academic needs are and whether you can meet them. My kids are extremely social and wouldn't be happy in a home school setting. We have neighbors who are home schooled so my kids are familiar with the concept and routine. They are also talented in math and I am not; I could not meet their academic math needs. Congratulations on your new baby.

i think that it is a great idea, but im thinking about making that decision myself so it will be good to read your answers. my son is 17 months.

i think it is good because you can kinda control the kind of information they are getting... especially if you are a believer in God and creation vs evolution.

anyway, good question

I agree that at 4.5 months it's a bit early to worry about schooling options, but I think before you make a decision you have to ask yourself why you are considering homeschooling.

There's a lot more that children learn from "going to school" than just social interaction that is missed by children who are homeschooled, including independence and the chance to make choices - wrong and right - without a parent over their shoulder. This kind of decision making and independence is imperative to a child's ability to grow up and succeed.

Consider also what you can and cannot reasonably educate your child about. Are you planning on committing to 12 years of schooling? If so, do you have the background and education to teach your child calculus, history, chemistry, etc...? Will you be able to expose your child to different areas - technology, design, art, music - so that she has the chance to explore what it is she wants to do with her life? Where her talents lie?

I'm not against homeschooling per se, but I think many parents jump in without considering everything that goes into a child's education and whether or not they can honestly provide guidance and quality education in a variety of areas. Generally speaking the answer is "no", because none of us is skilled in all the subjects/areas in which a child can be exposed to in a school setting. And by not letting your child "go to school" you're depriving her of something she'll need later in life - the ability to function without her parents managing her every move.

L.

I was homeschooled and loved it. My husband and I plan to homeschool our children. You have a long ways to go before you get to the point of homeschooling but you might want to check out your community. Where we live the county has a homeschool group. It has grown a lot since I was homeschooled but they even have volleyball, football, and soccer teams and they play against private schools in the area. When I was in school they had book fairs every year so you could sell or buy the books.