Alright, I’ve done a lot of considering home school.
I want to do it. I really think I could. I know my second oldest says he really wants to. Of course, He also wants 8 kids and to home school is own children. We know home educated kids.
However, I’m nervous. I’ve researched this until my nose bleeds. I’ve actually encouraged others to start their journey. I can list pros and cons. Ok, I can list pros because my list for cons can be talked away.
Why can I not make the leap into home schooling?
I am afraid of making a wrong choice for my kids. Right now I can blame the school for bad things that happen. If my child fails I can blame someone else. If my kids do something wrong? Blame the school
Of course, I have a son with Asperger’s and while they are looking at the fact that he might not need special classes soon I fear that he might. Plus, THis same boy does not want to home school. He likes the treats from speech when he does as he should. He likes to get things when he stays on Green for behavior. He knows I think that his reward is that he get an E. His reward is when the teacher congrads him on a job well done. I don’t think kids need ribbons or small trinkets for things they should do normally. In that, I am not a fun Mom.
Of course, My biggest reason for not attempting to home school? I think for me to do it I would need to make my own curriculum. I can’t really afford to buy any. I have seen all sorts of things online. I probably could print more than enough. Plus, My home is a library. That brings me to I have no confidence. I really don’t think my spouse thinks I could do it.
There. There it is. I don’t think he thinks I’m organized enough. I don’t think he feels I have the time to dedicate to them. I don’t think he is for it. Yes, He says we should do it when they are older and near middle school. He thinks it would be easier when they are older. I think it would be easier now. I can even count Cub Scouts as schooling! I can read with them. I think elementary age is easier.
Now, Since I’m not home schooling, I am part of the PTA. In this case, I think people at the school would hate to lose a dedicated mother. Even when I cause problems I am at least involved.
How do I leap into a big unknown? Should I? Would YOU?
September 23, 2007 at 12:03 am
Hi! I stumbled upon your blog through the wordpress tags. It’s actually the first time I’ve ever browsed blogs through the tags.
Reading this has really made me want to reach out to you, I don’t know why. I suppose, probably for the same reason that you encourage other people to homeschool – you really do think it could work. And even without knowing you, I think you can do it, too. How can I say that? Because you’ve taken the time to research it, and you’ve made the attempt to discover what would be best for your children – and that concern for your kids (more than any other skill) will make you a good homeschooler.
I’m a homeschooling mom as well. And though I’ve been teaching our 7 year old since pre-school, I have had to ease into it bit-by-bit. Pre-K was lots of crafts and the alphabet. K was one large workbook from walmart with letters, numbers, and basic skills. 1st grade was math, reading, spelling, handwriting and a few random science and history lessons. Finally this year we will have a full-curriculum. Finally, this year I feel like I have it all together, and not just pieces of it mostly together.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money. I know soo many other homeschooling families, and everybody has something different. There’s a wealth of resources on the internet, and like you said there’s the library, cub scouts, and other outside activities. If you really want to, you can do it. You may have to prove it to your husband (I do), but you can do it.
I used to have a blog dedicated only to homeschool: bringinggoodhome.blogspot.com — which is still up, but then I just started blogging about school along with everything else on my main blog: bringinggoodhome@wordpress.com. You can peruse anything you want to. You can email me with any question you want, or ask for recommended resources, or whatever. I don’t mind.
Good luck and God bless.
September 24, 2007 at 4:49 am
It does seem like a huge and scary undertaking especially since your children love going to school so much. Maybe someday they will dislike school and that will make your decision easier.
November 12, 2007 at 7:04 am
My wife and I have homeschooled for seven years now. It certainly is a commitment. Sometimes you can find the curriculum you need on Ebay and that certainly is less expensive. Sometimes if you get involved in a homeschool group they have libraries and pool resources.
Another helpful website is Home School Legal Defense Association – http://www.hslda.org. I hope this helps!