Why Do You Homeschool?

The decision to home school or not is very personal. It is different for every family. Sometimes it is because your child has very special needs that you know the school can not or will not want to try and meet. Sometimes it is because you already are not happy with what you know about your school district. Many people H/S for religious reasons, and can't afford private school. One of my reasons was I did not want to use drugs for attn. issues with my son. I knew that would be pushed on us. My son is not hyper, just not real focused. I felt that I could work with that better than a teacher with 30 kids could. I CAN give a 10-15 break between subjects. I CAN let him learn his phonics, to a tape, while he's hanging upside down on the chair, IF I choose.

Hook up with a group in your area, and talk to other mothers.
REMEMBER.....You CAN try it for a year or two, if it's not working....go back to school. This isn't a contract written in concrete. When people ask you, "Are you going to do this thru high school?", you just smile and say, "One year at a time, thank you."

I home schooled my daughter through high school and my son through elementary school. I never thought I would do it, but things happened and it worked out well. I pulled my daughter from public school after 6th grade, I felt her spirit was being crushed, she didn't feel the teachers cared and had issues with kids misbehaving around her. We put her in a private school as well as my youngest (I didn't want him exposed to some things i knew were happening at our local school). They used ACE curriculum, which I found out I could do on my own. I attended a Home School conference and visited a home school group. We signed up through Novi Christian School's umbrella program for home schooling. They Handled curriculum and kept records. We also joined a local home school group that provided socializing and class time with other home schoolers. My daughter graduated, had a ceremony at the school and was valedictorian. Her college had awarded many of their top scholarships to home schoolers ( she was one of them). My son transferred to public school in 6th grade and fit in seamlessly. I hope this helps your decision. Barb K

For many various reasons. I started hsing my ds(15) last May because he was falling behind because of boredom. He is very intelligent and felt he knew most of what was being taught. I found support groups on Yahoo that helped in my decision. It is wonderful because he is able to work at his speed, not the other 30-45 kids in his class. He will be starting college classes next January. I have been hsing my dd(10) since January. She has learned so much in the last month that would normally have a few months in a class and she truthfully still wouldn't have understood anything she had "learned". She struggles with her comprehension so needs much more one on one explanation. Something that disturbs me is that the teachers are under so much pressure now that they can not give the students the time if they have a question. Both of my children have experienced a teacher telling them they should have listened the first time when they had a question about what they had to do. I also really enjoy this time with my children. They grow up so quickly and I do not want their childhood to be 6-7 hours sitting in a class and then another 2-3 hours of homework when we can accomplish so much more in half the time, then they can have time to be KIDS!! Please join us tomorrow at the V-day party and bring your kids. They will meet so many new friends and have a blast! I asked my dd if she misses school and she said she never even thinks about it! She LOVES being home!

Oh boy, that is a loaded question. There are so many reasons. What the reasons are now arent really why we started. I love the fact that i am raisng my kids rather than a system, a system i dont believe works for all. I can tailor my childrens education to what their needs are. I love that we are not controled by a schedule that holds down all of society. I can give my kids the christian education that they wouldnt get even in a christain school.
I feel they excel above their age, because they have my one on one attention, instead of one teacher with 30 students.
Most days it is rewarding and the list could go on for a long time of rewards. Some days it is overwhelming and thinking of starting out can be overwhelming. Get yourself connected so you know the laws and have support on a daily basis. Dont get caught up in all the curriculms, just wait and start at the library. I would also start with setting a schedule(routine) of what you are expecting out of a day. Soome days we get our routines and bible devotions done and i call it a day. We will go outside and have picnic. Things i feel are living life. Do you want your child to have life skills, i dont feel they learn them in school, but you can teach them at home. My kids cook, clean and do many things they wouldnt learn at school. People say what about socialization, that is a farce. Get yourself connected and you will be turning down play dates. Us as a family feel we would rather our kids look to us at home for who they want to be with rather than always wanting to be socializing outside the home. What do you want for your kids.
I hope this helps some of your questions concerning homeschool, even when your in the midst of it, you still can question your decision.
A great legal website is www.HSLDA.com they have all the laws and yearly membership to protect your rights.
Goodsearch homeschooling and you can find millions of homeschooling websites.
Best Wishes