5 Reasons I Love Homeschooling My Kids
Every day is a new adventure at our house, full of learning, laughter, and a little squabbling too. Homeschooling has been on the news a lot lately, even making it into Newsweek magazine in a positive article. Homeschooling is thriving across the nation, growing at 15% annually. More parents than ever are looking for an alternative to the public school system. Yet considering homeschooling can be scary. I know. I was in your shoes a year ago. We began homeschooling Ethan last march and have learned a whole lot through the process. There have been moments of sheer frustration and moments of joyous triumph. Overall, it has been an amazing and life-changing experience. Here are the top 5 reasons I love homeschooling my kids:
1. They Get a Solid, Well-Rounded Education
Academics are hugely important to me, and as a homeschooling mother and teacher I have the ability to make sure that my kids are learning everything. I want them to be familiar with all the classics of children’s literature. By the time they graduate high school, I want them to have a grasp on the best classics of the English language and to be able to discuss them intelligently. Reading is a vital part of every day in our house. We’re making our way through more books than we ever would have had time to read together otherwise. Not only are they learning, but we’re bonding and making memories too.
We study history and science with a passion. Math is practiced daily and each of the kids is at least a year above their grade-level. Foreign language, music theory, art, geography, religion, life-skills and more fill our days. I want the kids to have the best possible education, something they won’t get at our local public schools and something that can be tricky with our mobile-military lifestyle. Did I mention that I tailor our curriculum after the best prep-schools in the US? It’s true. We may not live in New York City or be able to afford to send each of the kids to a $40,000 per year prep-school, but we can teach them the same subjects and do the same projects at home. The Internet provides amazing connections and resources. Why shouldn’t my kids have the best education available?
Our curriculum has vision and focus, and also room to explore the children’s current interests. We do more hands-on-activities and go on more field-trips than any school I know of. I want the children to gain a solid, well-rounded education. I want them to have a grasp on the world around them and to be thoroughly prepared for college and real-life. Our version of homeschooling is a lot more academic and rigorous than some, but it suits us well.
2. Each Child’s Education is Tailored for His or Her Level and Learning Style.
Alex is an auditory learner who can hear anything and remember it months or years later. She quotes books we read months ago! For her, I’ve discovered that reading aloud really helps her retain information. This is an awesome tool! Ethan, on the other hand, is a visual learner. He has to be shown exactly what to do numerous times before he grasps something new, but once he has it down he’s great. Because we have freedom and flexibility, I can tailor how I teach to best suit each child. They learn more this way.
Homeschooling allows us to teach each child at his or her own level as well. Alex’s classmates are in first grade, but she’s cruising through second grade with flying colors. In public school, she was frequently in trouble for talking because she was so bored. She was simply not challenged. At home, I can make sure that there is a constant challenge. When things get dull, I shake them up a bit. She loves a challenge and is always rising to meet it.
Ethan also does well working at his own pace. He too was in trouble in school largely because he wasn’t challenged. While his peers are in preschool this year, Ethan is doing first grade work and is excelling. He reads with ease and has a true gift with numbers. Homeschooling gives us this flexibility. By tailoring curriculum to a child’s academic level, not their age, they can excel at their own pace. It works really well for us!
3. We Can Focus on Academics!
My neighbor has a sweet third grade son. He’s one of the best kids I know, yet instead of worrying about learning he’s worried about having a girlfriend, because everyone in his class is obsessed with who is going out with whom. The kids at the park talk constantly about “dating,” despite the fact that they’re in elementary school. Homeschooling allows my children to have an actual childhood that involves playing, exploring their passions, and learning. Boyfriends, drugs, sex, alcohol, and political agendas are not a part of our educational life. This lets us spend more time learning.
When Alex is much older, we’ll discuss boyfriends and those other issues. However, there’s no real place for that in elementary school. This is the time for kids to develop a basis for their education. This is time for laying down educational building blocks. It’s not the time to worry about which boys like her and which don’t and what the other girls are wearing. I’d much rather she gains a solid understanding of multiplication. Which will serve her better in the long run?
I also don’t have to worry about perverse teachers such as those recently on the news from Los Angeles. I don’t have to worry about school shootings or abductions. I don’t have to worry about bullying or cliques. That is simply not part of our life. How nice is that?
4. Our Family is Closer Than Ever.
I was once one of those parents who enjoyed sending the kids to school because it gave me free time. I wasn’t all that thrilled at the prospect of being together 24/7. What happened? I learned to truly enjoy my children. I learned to have more patience than I ever thought possible. I learned to listen to them and to love spending time with them.
Now, I can’t imagine not being with them. What amount of free time would be worth missing those triumphant smiles when they master a new skill? What amount of free time would be worth missing cuddling and reading a classic novel? None. Our family is closer than ever. I enjoy my children more than I ever did before. That is a true gift.
5. The Kids are Thriving!
Each of my children is thriving in their own way. This makes me so happy I can scarcely express it in words.
Alexandria discovers more each day about who she is and what she likes. She has become an accomplished piano player and tears through chapter books like they’re going out of style. She’s an excellent writer and a sweet little girl. She’s up for any adventure and loves going out into the world and pursuing her interests. As homeschoolers, the world is our classroom. When something new and interesting tickles her fancy, we go out and learn about it.
Ethan is a smart, studious little boy who has emerged from a cocoon of behavioral issues into an inquisitive, intelligent, and interested young man. This transformation has been spectacular. He still has issues, but we’re moving forward.
Derek is a ball of energy, but learning so much. He knows all of his letter names and sounds and is learning to write them too. Because of the freedom and flexibility homeschooling offers, I can make sure that Derek gets all the active play and exercise he needs to focus. Between lessons, we take long breaks for play and running around outside. Once the energy is out, he’s ready to curl up in my lap to read or steady himself at the table for some cutting practice.
Bella is a smart little cookie too, always ready to try new things and copy the older kids. She gets up at the table too and wants to “do school.” I let her color and participate just as much as she can.
Yes, there are moments when it’s hard. There are days when I don’t really feel like it. Then I look at how far we’ve come and the great times we’ve had. Each child is learning in the way that comes easiest and most naturally to them. They are smart, polite, creative, and capable children. I am thankful for this opportunity. I am happy that we have the resources available to provide them with this education. It has been the journey of a lifetime.
Related articles
- Watch Out, Fashionistas! Homeschooling is Now the Hip Thing to Do!
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Watch Out, Fashionistas! Homeschooling is Now the Hip Thing to Do! :-)
Watch out, fashionistas! Homeschooling is now the fashionable thing to do. I came across a cool article today about “Why Urban, Educated Parents are Turning to DIY Education” and couldn’t help but sharing:
I remember when my mom homeschooled us, there was very little support. It wasn’t the mainstream thing to do and people could be pretty critical. Today? There are several million successful homeschoolers in the United States and this number grows by 15% yearly. Chances are you know someone who is homeschooling their children. With the Internet and local support, homeschooling is not only easy, it’s a vibrant opportunity for families to grow and learn together.
It’s refreshing to know that more people like us are choosing to educate their own children. We’re not the stereotypical homeschoolers: rural, blue-collar, very religious, etc. Most aren’t. We’re highly educated professionals who live in the 13th largest city in the US. We’re modern parents who realize that factory-style, one-size-fits-all-education doesn’t fit our kids.
What do you think of this trend?
Great News on the Homefront! Ethan has Graduated from Behavioral Therapy!
We got some great news yesterday. Ethan has officially graduated from behavioral therapy! If you know our story, you know this is a huge deal.
Ethan has always had behavioral issues and has been to one specialist after another trying to figure out what’s wrong. He was sulky and had frequent intense tantrums. He disliked people and cried most of the time. Autism was ruled out. Two therapists diagnosed him with “social anxiety disorder” and the school board said a special-ed preschool program would be the best thing for him. I enrolled him while Hubby was deployed and believed it would “fix” his problems.
We got a whole lot more than we bargained for… and not in a good way. Ethan’s behavior didn’t get better. It got so much worse. He because violent. His tantrums explored into screaming, hitting, biting disasters that were so bad, we had to restrain him until he calmed down. He acted out to get attention nearly every day at school, disobeying, throwing fits, and even hitting and kicking his teachers. I was called to the principle’s office several times a week. Things were out of control and we didn’t understand why. I was so embarrassed and mortified. We don’t ever allow behavior like this at home. What happened to my son? The disaster came to a heated head last March when I got a very, very bad call from school. Ethan had been put in time out for misbehaving and had managed to get across the classroom and stick a paper clip in an electrical outlet, severely burning his arm and starting an electrical fire. Oh. My. Goodness. I could not believe what I was hearing and rushed to his school. Not only did the teacher not take responsibility, but she said it was “both of our faults” this happened. I expected him to be safe at school. This wasn’t the case.
After much debate, my husband and I decided to pull him out and homeschool him. I honestly wasn’t so hot on the idea. Ethan’s time at school was a break for me and I wasn’t too keen on giving that up. Still, what choice was there really? We started homeschooling in March and got his pediatrician involved with his behavioral outbursts. She had never before seen a child like him and referred us out into town. We thought we’d continue homeschooling until Fall and re-enroll him in public school. Perhaps in that time we could “fix” him.
We began seeing a great therapist at Behavioral Pediatrics in April or May. Therapy helped almost immediately and both Ethan’s therapist and I was huge improvements the longer he was out of that school. We were doing therapy 6 times a month for quite some time and worked through so many behavioral issues. After initial issues, homeschooling Ethan became easier and easier. He knew he couldn’t get away with that bad behavior at home and instead focused his energy on learning. There were set-backs along the way. However, the child blossomed and started to discover who he was and the amazing things he was capable of. He did so well, we decided to continue homeschooling. We both found a balance and learned so much along the way.
Yesterday was Ethan’s last day in therapy. He was excited to bring a book to read to his therapist and also brought her a story he wrote and a page of addition he accomplished. She was so impressed with him! This Ethan was an entirely different child from the troubled young man who walked through her door months before. This Ethan doesn’t act out much at all, and if he does he’s able to get his behavior under control without it turning into a full-blown outburst. This Ethan is proud to express himself and his intelligence. He doesn’t hide behind poor behavior and try to get attention in negative ways. This Ethan is friendly, talkative, and happy.
“This is the hard part,” she said. “I hate to say goodbye. Ethan, there’s nothing more I can do for you. You’re doing so great. I am so proud of you. Your mom can call me if anything comes up, but I don’t think it will. You are doing so amazing, Ethan.” To me she said, “There couldn’t have been a better choice for you to make than to homeschool him. Homeschooling is the perfect match for Ethan.”
It’s hard to say goodbye to someone we’ve enjoyed confiding in so much. Ethan has transformed in the last year. Not only behavior wise, but academically. I found an ornament he “signed” last Christmas (2010) and you could sort of make out an E and nothing else. Now he’s writing stories in neat handwriting and spelling most things correctly. He’s reading everything and is a little math whiz. We are so incredibly happy with the changes we’ve seen.
Not every day is easy. Sometimes I fantasize about sending the kids to elementary school and having the day completely to my self. Then I realize how amazingly far we’ve come. It’s hard work and some days are really frustrating, but the results are astounding. We could not have made a better decision than to homeschool Ethan. I hope he continues to grow and develop into a smart, well-rounded, and behaved man. One day I’ll tell him his story. I wonder what he’ll think.
Did You Know That Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are Homeschoolers?
Did you know that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie homeschool their 6 children?
Image via Wikipedia
According to a recent article on TheCelebrityCafe.com, they do! How cool is that? Check it out for yourself:
Criticized for letting her kids globe-trot with her rather than attend traditional schools, Jolie says her kids are much better off being homeschooled. She says the modern-day education system is a mess. She enlists the helps of private tutors and claims her methods are far more educational than anything the kids could get in the public school system: She says the kids get school done quickly so they can all head out and explore. “Instead of tomfoolery in the classroom,” Jolie says, “I’d rather them go to a musuem and learn to play guitar and read and pick a book they love.”
Check it out: http://www.christianpost.com/news/angelina-jolie-brad-pitt-snub-modern-education-opt-to-home-school-50901/
I 100% agree with Angelina Jolie and am so excited that such an influential celebrity is homeschooling her kids! That is awesome when it comes to gaining acceptance for homeschoolers. I think this story is really inspirational. Hopefully it can inspire parents who are considering homechooling but are hesitant to take the leap to test the waters. Parents really can give their children a top-notch education.
What do you think of Jolie and Pitt’s decision to homeschool their 6 children?
Making Time For Me While Teaching 4 Kids and Running a Household… Is It Even Possible?
Derek and a "gift" flower
When my two older kids were in public school, I spent a good part of each morning at the gym. I lost my baby weight and was in great shape. There really wasn’t much to do in the morning besides workout and chat with the ladies while Bella rested in her car seat and Derek played in the play area. Then, things changed. Ethan’s school situation needed to be addressed immediately. When we started homeschooling, my mornings could no longer be devoted to working out. Keeping Alex at home as well was an amazing decision and has made us very happy, but I did lose something in return. I went from working out 4-5 times a week to working out at home only when I found time. The results were nothing to be proud of.
We are 4 months into homeschooling all 4 kids now and love it. However, I have been very unhappy about one thing. Most of the weight I fought so hard to lose last year has crept back on. I hate it. I don’t like the way I look or the way my clothes fit. Yet, how’s it possible to workout and teach the kids at the same time, not to mention write in the evenings and run a household? If I don’t workout in the morning, I’m too tired by the time night comes around. If I exercise in the evening, I don’t feel like I’m teaching the kids long enough.
Last week, I decided I had to figure something out. Things needed to change. I promised myself I’d take classes at the gym twice a week. I needed to find a way to make time for me. We headed to the gym on Tuesday and it went well, then Thursday too. This week I did some heavy-duty circuit training twice, plus lots of extra walking. I’m sore and the scale hasn’t budged yet, but I’m really proud of myself for getting out there and trying again. It would be much easier to throw in the towel.
What’s the compromise? Gym class starts at 9:15, and if I let the kids play outside we can be back by 10:30. That’s still 1 1/2 hours of lost time. Therefore, school starts later and ends later. This was perhaps most challenging for Ethan, whose disorders cause him to be obsessed with following a strict schedule. He wasn’t happy to try something different in the least. Today was the 4th time, though, and he was much more accepting. We started school at 10:30 and we until 2:30, taking a break only for lunch. He was tired and ready for his nap, but we both felt accomplished.
So far, the older kids are enjoying our morning excursions. We walk to the gym and pass through three playgrounds on the way. If we leave early enough, we can play before gym class as well as on the way home. They’re getting more exercise too. Bella is more than ready for her nap when we get home, which leaves us with uninterrupted school time. Nice!
I’m finding it really challenging to fulfill multiple roles, that of the healthy and in-shape young woman I want to be and a devoted teacher whose children are getting a fulfilling and well-rounded education. It will take some work but I know it’ll be worth it. Plus, Alex is allowed to work out with me and that counts as PE, right? Hopefully if she sees me trying to be healthy she will do so as well as she grows up. Now, if only Bella would be more cooperative and not cry the entire time. It’s going to take some work to lose the weight again, but I’m going to give it all my effort. A happier mama makes a much better mama.
What do you do to balance “Me Time” and homeschooling?
Derek at the Youth Activity Center Playground
Alex Plays after Gym Class
Bella colors with chalk before heading into the gym
Bella is silly on the walk home
Can Parents Successfully Teach Their Own Children?
Can Parents Successfully Teach Their Own Children?
“I could never teach my own child. He doesn’t listen to me!” You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve heard this complaint. Long before I ever considered teaching my kids, I often heard “Someone else can always teach your child better.” I used to believe that too. Is there any truth to these claims? Not really. If you’re willing to learn to speak your child’s learning language and make a commitment to educating your child, the opportunities are limitless.
Can parents successfully teach their own children? Absolutely. We teach our children from the second they are born. In those first weeks of life, we teach our children what love is all about. We teach them that they are safe and protected and that we’ll be there to care for their every need. As they grow, we teach them words and letters, shapes and colors. We teach them right from wrong and about the world around them. We teach them about social interaction and inter-personal relationships. Every moment of their life, they are absorbing information and we are their personal tutor whether we like it or not. This process doesn’t end when they turn 5 and enter Kindergarten. You are your child’s first and finest teacher, no matter which educational method you choose, no matter your political or religious beliefs, or the color of your skin. Make the most of it.
It’s not just humans who teach their own young. Take a look at the animal world. A mother lioness teaches her youngsters how to hunt. A mother elephant teaches her baby to survive. No matter where you look, you’ll find examples of parents successfully teaching their offspring. It’s basic nature.
When parents run into difficulty teaching their child, it’s often because they speak different learning languages. What does that mean? Everyone learns in a different way. Some people are very visual and learn best if they can look at pictures, charts, and examples. That’s how I learn. I can remember anything if I can see it or read about it. Some people, like my son Ethan, are aural and can memorize and recall vast amounts of information they hear. Learning songs work tremendously well for him. Other people are verbal, physical, logical, social, solitary, or a combination of all of the above. There is no right mix of educational styles, and people can have more than one style.
Here is a learning style quiz from Scholastic to help you figure out your child’s learning language: http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/836-learning-styles-quiz
If you want to speak your child’s language, learn his learning style. It’ll reduce endless frustration and misunderstandings and will improve his academic achievement. Learning is definitely not one-size-fits-all, and it’s perfectly natural if you and your child have different learning styles.
Perhaps you are a visual learner like me. You learn new information by reading and looking at graphs. Your son, however, isn’t grasping his new math concepts and you’re at your wit’s end. Why can’t he just read the explanation and comprehend things like you do? It turns out, he’s a kinesthetic learner. He learns by doing and touching. While he can’t stand to sit still and study, he easily understands the same concepts if he can learn it through hands-on activities. Instead of teaching him fractions on a chalkboard or paper, get out some blocks or other fun, colorful manipulatives. Learn to read him and help him learn the way he learns best.
Look at it this way: You speak Chinese and your son speaks Italian. No matter how many times you explain a concept to him in Chinese, he won’t understand it. You don’t speak the same language! You both feel so frustrated and disappointed. One day, you realize that if you learned to speak Italian you might get along a whole lot better. You take a few classes and the next time you meet, you engage your son in Italian. Bravo! His eyes light up and he understands you. What a difference it makes to speak your child’s language!
Also keep in mind that a child’s preferred learning style may change as he gets older and matures mentally. This is perfectly normal. It’s great to help your kids learn in many different ways. Just don’t pressure them to learn “your” way or the ”right” way if it’s causing conflict. Certainly teach the subject, just find a different way of teaching it.
Parents as Educators
Parents have been educating their children since the dawn of time. In early societies, men taught their sons how to hunt and protect their tribes while women taught their daughters how to cook and care for their families. In our fabulous American history, pioneers taught their children everything from reading and arithmetic to how to build a cabin, hunt for food, and survive off the land. In every culture across every land, parents teach their children.
As a parent, no one cares more for your child than you do. Not only did you give this child life, but they are a lifelong investment. It’s not a school-year-long commitment. Having a child is a commitment for life. You know your child better than any teacher ever will. There is nothing more natural than teaching your child!
According to statistics, home educators are doing something right. Homeschoolers perform better across the board than both public and private school students. Colleges are recruiting them. Also, studies show that there’s no difference in a student’s total reading, math, and language score if their parent was a certified teacher. You do not have to be a trained and certified teacher to successfully teach your child!
For more info on these studies, check out: http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200410250.asp
There’s Always Room For Improvement
Not everyone starts out knowing exactly how to be a rock-your-socks-off-amazing teacher and parent. Children don’t come with an owner’s manual explaining how to best communicate with them. There’s always room for improvement. There are so many books and educational resources out there. If you don’t know how to engage your child academically or to play with them, there’s never a better time to learn. Learn about educational and developmental milestones and what you can do to help your child succeed. Provide a safe, fun, and educational home environment where learning toys, books, and games are available.
Envision the type of parent and educator you want to be. Compare this to where you are today. What do you need to change? If you spend too much time on the computer or watching television and wish you spent that time playing outside and bonding with the kids, turn off the technology. What sort of memories do you want your children to have? Will they remember the amazing game of backyard soccer and the kitchen-table volcano experiment, or will they remember you sitting there on the sofa watching the Kardashians?
One great thing about being human is that we’re always evolving. There is always room for self-improvement. I’m a huge proponent of lifelong education. If you want to learn to be a better teacher, take a few classes or go back to school and earn your degree. Check out some books from the library or load them to your e-reader. The Internet also offers countless new ideas.
Yes, You Can!
Teaching your own children may seem like a daunting idea, but it’s seriously one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. If you don’t have the tools, get them. Educate yourself. Muster the strength to follow the path less traveled. You really can do it.
Your journey won’t be without challenges and moments of frustration. There will be times when you wonder if you made the right choices and if you’re doing anything right at all. Relax. It’s okay. You’re doing great. There will be disagreements and perhaps even tears here or there, and that’s fine. We’re human and humans aren’t perfect. Rise up and overcome. Make tomorrow better.
Whether you homeschool or not, you are your child’s first and finest teacher. Make the most of the moments you have together. They won’t be young for long. Give them your all, and they won’t help but bloom.
20 Great Reasons You Homeschool
I borrowed this from another blog because I thought it was so cute, and true too!
Link: http://intolerantfox.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/i-can-read-a-homeschooling-report/
How the Heck Do You Teach 4 Kids Anyway?
When people hear that we homeschool, we usually get one of three reactions. The first is, “What the heck is wrong with you? Are you sane?” Next comes,”Oh my Gosh! How do you possibly teach four kids at different levels?” And finally, “Oh, you’re home. You must not be busy. Can you watch my kid while I do such and such?” You can imagine the answer to the third choice. While there are families that successfully homeschool far larger broods than ours, here’s how we manage the madness.
Is teaching 4 kids of different ages easy? No. Is it impossible? No again. It’s challenging and a ton of fun. There is seriously never a dull moment in our house. What exactly goes on? A whole lot. There’s a lot of planning and prep-work, patience and perseverance involved.
For your viewing pleasure, here’s an average school day in our modest châteaux. While I recorded our day in pictures largely for our records, there’s a lot you can learn from how other families conduct their school day. Welcome to today:
8:00-8:30- All kids are playing and watching cartoons, eating breakfast and causing mayhem and destruction.
;-)
8:30-9:30- Story Circle (All 4 kids involved). We introduced this week’s topic, space, and discussed astronomy, the solar system, the sun, planets, small bodies like comets, the Milky Way, etc. We recited “Starlight, Starbright,” “Hey Diddle, Diddle,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and read lots of space-themed books. To end story time, we played a space travel game. One kid got to be the sun, and the others were planets orbiting the sun. We also pretended to be astronauts traveling through the solar system and remarked on the various planets and stars we saw, reinforcing the information we just read about. Fun!
9:30-10:00- Bella: Morning nap!
Derek: Colored pictures of the sun and a rocket, then colored the moon and stars. He insisted we hang up his amazing art right away. He played in the playroom after this.
Alex and Ethan: Both children colored and practiced reading a book called “Our Solar System.” They also listened to Classical Conversations Memory Work Week 7 in the background. This week’s memory work includes: History (Hinduism), Latin (Noun endings 3rd declension), Geography (Indus River), Science (How do animals reproduce), Grammer (Prepositions in-ne), and Math (13 times 13 table). Ethan is very, very good at memorizing his skip counting facts!
10:00-10:30- Derek: Practiced tracing “I am Derek” and played color matching game with mom
Alex: “French for Kids” Unit 6– En Voyage. She reviewed previous vocabulary, learned how to say things she does and does not like to do, and practiced counting up to 20 in French.
Ethan: Writing/ tracing practice. His practice words this week are space, planets, sun, stars, moon, astronaut, and galaxy.
10:30-11:00- Bella: Up from nap time! She joined in the fun, dancing to nursery rhymes. She surprised me by clapping when I sang “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands” for her. Hooray! She also cuddled while I read to her and Derek. Bella spent time playing in the playroom and being held as well.
Alex: She practiced the same space vocabulary words as Ethan, but wrote hers in cursive. Her cursive is improving daily and she can read cursive now! Woohoo! She also re-wrote a paragraph about the solar system, capitalizing proper nouns and adding punctuation. Next, she completed Horizon’s Phonics and Reading Lesson 48, a review of all contractions. To end this time period, miss Alex enjoyed some solitary reading in the living room. This, of course, turned into read-to-the-pesky-three-year-old-brother-time.
Ethan: He watched the Hooked on Phonics First Grade Unit 1 Intro, followed by Lesson One (-ch, -sh words). He then practiced reading the same words in his booklet. He also read a story called “Chad and Liz Set Up Shop.” Next, he tackled his Spectrum Reading K curriculum and practiced letter recognition and writing.
Derek: Derek enjoyed some reading time with mom and later with Alex. He also enjoyed being quizzed on his letter names and sounds. Derek spent a lot of time playing too.
11:00-12:00- Math Hour!
Alex: Alex chose to do math on www.Time4Learning.com today and learned all about addition and subtraction strategies. She completed several lessons, including a quiz. Next, she finished Lessons 82 (shapes) and 83 (counting by 200′s) from her Horizon’s text.
Ethan: Brainquest Kindergarten kept Ethan busy with worksheets on money counting and telling time. These are new concepts for him and require a lot of coaching. We’re getting there! We practiced naming coins and correctly labeling their value, as well as counting by 1′s, 5′s, and 10′s. After this, Ethan enjoyed some solitary reading time and some puzzles.
Derek: Derek worked on his Brainquest Preschool book, tracing the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 and circling corresponding groups of objects. We practiced counting to 20 together. Last, Derek enjoyed some puzzles.
Bella: Bella enjoyed some play time and puzzles. She loves puzzles!
12:00-12:30- Walk and outside play time. Time to enjoy some Florida sun and take advantage of the playground!
12:30-1:00- Lunch
1:00-2:00- Derek, Bella, and Ethan went upstairs to take rests. Yeah!
Alex: Free time on the computer and Ipad (she played a variety of geography, space, and French vocab games). After being denied her request to bring the Ipad in her room for “privacy,” she played with her toys. Ah peace.
2:00-2:30- Derek, Bella, and Ethan are still resting.
Alex: Completed social studies unit, “Families Live in Neighborhoods” while I continued to clean up the day’s messes.
2:30-3:30- Bella gets up from nap time and needs some lovin.’
Alex constructed a model of the solar system out of construction paper and cardboard. It turned out pretty awesome!
Our school day is officially over! Woot woot! Does this mean it’s time for some rest? Unfortunately, no. There’s still more fun to be had. There are games to play and books to read, messes to clean and neighborhood kids to play with at the park. Ethan also had Social Skills Therapy. Whew! This was one busy, fun, productive, and crazy day. On to tomorrow!
New Concordia University Study Confirms the Benefits of Homeschooling
Derek works hard on his pre-k tracing curriculum
Good news for the homeschooling community: Yet another study confirms the academic benefits of homeschooling! A recent study by Concordia University and Mount Allison University found that structured, curriculum-based homeschooling gives kids an academic edge.
The study examined the standardized test results of children ages 5-10 years old and assessed their reading, writing, and math skills (etc). Homeschooled students had superior test scores on all subjects. Concordia Department of Education professor Sandra Martin-Chang contributes this advantage to several factors, including more time spent on core subjects( reading, writing, math), smaller class sizes, and individualized instruction. Maternal education levels and family income did not affect the results, as homeschooled students of various socioeconomic backgrounds and parental education brackets performed spectacularly well.
Unfortunately for the unschoolers, they didn’t perform as well as either traditionally homeschooled children or public school kids. Children taught in a structured environment rocked the socks off of the tests and left their unschooled peers in the dust. Unschoolers did not exhibit the achievements associated with homeschooling.
We are a very structured, curriculum based homeschooling family and have seen first-hand how the kids thrive with personalized attention. It’s awesome to be able to work at their speed and push them to the fullest extent of their abilities. I know quite a few families who prefer not to follow a schedule, but it really does work for us. I don’t think we could do the unschooling thing. I’m far too academic for that. I love textbooks and workbooks (as well as all sorts of projects, programs, outings, and hands-on-activities to make them exciting!).
Although the study was pretty small, the results are still pretty great . It’s always nice to see studies prove what we already know: homeschooling is awesome! Kudos to all you homeschoolers out there! You are giving your kids an awesome start to life. Bravo/ Brava!
Resources:
Structured Homeschooling Gets an A+: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-09-homeschooling.html
High Marks For Homeschooling, A Small Study Finds: http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/15/high-marks-for-home-schooling-a-small-study-finds/
Related articles
- New study confirms homeschoolers outperform public schoolers and unschoolers (homeschoolcommunity.wordpress.com)
- Homeschool, but Not Unschool, Superior to Public School (reason.com)
- Home-schooled students keeping up with school-taught peers: Study (canada.com)
Homeschool Classes at the Jacksonville Zoo!
Alex had a blast at her first homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. There were at least a dozen other kids in her class (ages 5-6). Today’s classes were Fur, Feathers, and Scales, Animal Friends, and Animal Families. Each was 45-minutes long and full of great learning experiences. She’s been talking nonstop about the great things she learned, the animal experiences she had, and the kids she met. We can’t wait till next month!
In Fur, Feathers, and Scales, Alex learned about different animal body coverings, discussed the five classes of backboned animals, and talked about major characteristics of vertebrates. Alex describes her class in her own words: “We learned that if you touch a slimy animal, it won’t be good because the slime protects it. The animals we learned about in this class all have backbones.”
“ Fur is on mammals sometimes, but not every single mammal cause we are mammals and don’t have fur. Fur protects some mammals and keeps them warm. We met a bunny with fur. Its name was Coco.”
“Also, water slides off of feathers so that the body of the bird doesn’t get wet. We got to see a collard dove and got to touch it. I can’t remember its name. The feathers were white and the collar was black. It was beautiful and really soft. ”
“When we talked about scales, we got to touch a snake. It was a nice snake and it was red with spots. It was a really long snake. Snakes have scales. Some scales are rough and some scales are smooth. The snake we touched had smooth scales.”
Her second class was called Animal Friends. She learned about pet animals, farm animals, and wild animals (including zoo animals). The class discussed why animals are important to people, the benefits of pets, and animal products. They talked about why wild animals don’t make good pets and that it is good to protect and respect wild animals. Alex says, “The teacher gave us a quiz and put out animals, and we had to guess what type of animal it was. There was a chicken from a farm. She also put out a snake as a wild animal and some other animals too.”
“We also learned about zoo animals, like we learned that the zoo animals are tamed. Wild animals are not tamed.”
The last class was Animal Families. She learned that animals are living things and talked about the characteristics of living things. The class matched baby animals to their parents and learned that some animals hatch from eggs while others do not. She also learned about animal conservation. Alex says, “Some baby animals come from eggs, but not all eggs have baby animals inside. Not just chickens lay eggs. Other kinds of birds lay eggs too and crocodiles do too.”
“All the animals we talked about were living things. Living things move, eat, and have a place to live. Some animals, when they’re first born, take care of themselves. Others have mothers and fathers taking care of them.”
“The teachers brought in an owl. The owl was a small owl. It was brown and white. It just sat on her arm and it looked at each kid. I liked the owl because owls are hard to find in nature cause they only come out at night. They also brought in a chinchilla. It had a tail and it was really cute. It was black and it was hard to see its eyes. I liked the chinchilla because it was tame and it’s an herbivore.”
I asked Alex if she likes being homeschooled, and she replied, “Yes! Absolutely, because you get to have more field trips than public school. You also don’t have to hear lots of noisy kids on the bus and you get to take classes at the zoo and other places!”
We were very happy with our Jacksonville Zoo class experience and are very happy that we signed up for the entire year’s offerings. At $3 per class ($9 for all three), it’s an awesome deal. The other kids and I spent the 3 hours of class time exploring the zoo. This was an easy and entertaining way to tie in our jungle theme! There’s always so much to do and see there. It never gets boring. It was Bella’s first time walking at the zoo and she had so much fun. She’s been napping for several hours now! What a great day.
16-month-old Isabella explores the zoo
The kids check out the giant anteater mama and baby
Bella chats with her BFF
In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle!
The Boys With Their Rainmakers
This week’s preschool/ kindergarten theme is the jungle. Alex has her first homeschool class at the Jacksonville Zoo this Wednesday, and since the younger kids and I will be spending several hours waiting there for her I thought it would be great to make it educational and relevant. We’re learning all about habitats, African animals, Africa, and more. We have lots of fun crafts lined up, a dozen or so related books from the library, and tons of finger plays. The kids are sure to have a roaring good time. 
Here’s the Preschool/ Kindergarten Lesson Plan I put together for this week:
Preschool/ Kindergarten Jungle Lesson Plan
Here are all of the related fingerplays and crafts, compiled from online searches:
Jungle Preschool Theme Activities
Today we started school with Story Circle. All of the kids were actively involved. We’re starting school a bit earlier to involve everyone in circle time. I was just doing it with the boys, but Alex wanted to be involved too. We discussed what a jungle is and what sorts of animals we might find in a jungle. We talked about different habitats in Africa and what makes up a habitat. We also read three great books today. One of them, “Walking Through the Jungle” is in both French and English so we got a double lesson there! We also had way too much fun with three new finger plays:
1. The Elephant Goes
This is the way the elephant goes
With a curly trunk instead of a nose
The rhino all hairy and fat
Has a sharp horn in place of a hat
The hippo with his mouth so wide
Let’s see what’s inside
The wiggley snake upon the ground
Crawls along without a sound
But monkey see, monkey do
The funniest animal I ever knew!
Note: Make actions for each animal (swing arms like elephant nose, put hands on head for rhino’s hat, etc)
2. I Went to the Jungle One Day
(Sung To: “London Bridge”)
I went to the jungle one-day, jungle one day, jungle one-day
I saw a monkey on the way and this is what he said, “oh-oh-oh-oh”
I went to the jungle one-day, jungle one day, jungle one-day
I saw a lion on the way and this is what he said, “roar”
went to the jungle one-day, jungle one day, jungle one-day
I saw a snake on the way and this is what he said, “hiss”
3. Do You Know the Jungle Animals
(Sung to: “The Muffin Man”)
Do you know the slimy snake, the slimy snake, the slimy snake
Oh do you know the slimy snake that lives deep in the jungle?
Do you know the chimpanzee, the chimpanzee, the chimpanzee
Oh do you know the chimpanzee that lives deep in the jungle?
Do you know the wildebeest, the wildebeest, the wildebeest
Oh do you know the wildebeest that lives deep in the jungle?
Do you know the crocodile, the crocodile, the crocodile
Oh do you know the crocodile that lives deep in the jungle?
Do you know the mountain lion, the mountain lion, the mountain lion
Oh do you know the mountain lion that lives deep in the jungle?
Monday's Exciting Reading Selection
We sang each of the fingerplays a handful of times. I lead the first time through. By the last “performance,” the kids noisily and happily sing along, romping around the story mat and pretending to be various jungle animals. Even 16-month-old Bella loves Story Circle!
Bella dances to the beat of our fun fingerplays... you're never too young to learn!
We slid into our regular school day at 9 am. Alex began her Classical Conversations Memory Work (Week 5) and the boys colored pictures of monkies and elephants. We next made rainmakers out of tp rolls, construction paper, rice, yarn, and lots of glue. The boys loved them! Derek ran around the house making lots of “music” while Ethan read aloud from “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”
To incorporate the jungle theme into reading/ phonics time, Ethan practiced writing the word “jungle” and reading different animal names. I put up African animal flashcards all around the dining room and the boys loved that. Alex got a little jungle themed work during French time, practicing the names of some African animals in French and coloring a related worksheet.
Alex studies her animals in French
During math, Ethan and I created a graph of the animals we found in “Walking Through the Jungle.” It was colorful and fun!
Ethan's Animal Graph
We got a ton of schoolwork accomplished today, plus spiced it up with a little jungle fun. There was plenty of math, reading, phonics, and language study that had nothing to do with jungles, too. We like to add a bit of hands-on learning, fun, and creativity to our days to stave of boredom. Nothing kills the love of learning as quickly as boredom (on my part and theirs!). We danced. We sang. We ran around outside and got out the wiggles. We learned new math concepts and practiced new vocabulary. Four little brains were thoroughly stimulated this morning!
Ethan, my kindergartener, had so much fun today that he proclaimed, “I loved today! Can we do today again tomorrow?” Now that’s a compliment every homeschooling mama wants to hear.
What Does It Mean To Learn?
~ Learning ~
Written By Jennifer Melville
Learning is a moment of pure magic.
It’s the second a child discovers he is capable of more than he ever imagined, that his hands can create and make better, destroy or change.
It’s that spark of accomplishment glimmering in his eye when he finally laces that last bead,
The brilliant smile that brightens his face as he proudly displays his paint-splattered masterpiece.
Learning is that look of concentration that means he’s trying his hardest, the look of fierce determination proclaiming he’ll do anything to achieve his goal.
Learning happens every moment. It never ceases, never rests.
Learning happens as naturally as he breathes.
Each sight, sound, and touch, every scent and taste is fresh and exciting.
Every new discovery reveals a hidden passageway. Every new book begins a new adventure. His mind bursts with dinosaurs and pirates, sail boats and far off lands. No movie nor book can compare to his limitless imagination.
Nothing will stop him because you’re there to hold his hand. With you by his side, his possibilities are boundless.
Learning cannot be contained within the walls of a room nor the shores of a continent. It cannot be contained within a bottle or packaged “one-size-fits-all.” It is desired by all yet cannot be defined.
It’s a shapeless, airy sprite, incapable of capture yet available to all whom desire it.
Learning is the greatest gift of God to man, and of man to child.
It cannot be stolen away or outgrown. It never fades or goes out of style.
It does not discriminate by wealth or race or creed. Any who want it may have it, and there’s always enough to go around. The cup of knowledge runeth over.
Learning is a connection between parent and child, a force stronger than blood. Not even death can take away the knowledge a parent bestows upon his beloved child. A good education is the greatest gift ever granted.
To learn is to be alive. To learn is to be human and to uncover the mysteries and splendor of life.
It never ends nor does it fail. It can only make one stronger.
Learning is what makes this life worthwhile.
Knowledge is the ultimate expression of love.
Top 5 Reasons Why Homeschooling is Bad (Warning: Extreme Sarcasm Ahead!)
Image via Wikipedia
With the homeschooling movement growing 15% each year and social acceptance blossoming, some educators are on the offensive. They scream about the “socialization problem” and the lack-of-credentials held by home educators. They demand that higher regulations and restrictions be imposed immediately and that the homeschooling steam train be brought to a screeching halt. To help them out a bit, here are the top 5 reasons why homeschooling is bad. This list is for any parent considering homeschooling as well as those who have been doing it for years. (DISCLAIMER: You’re about to enter an extreme sarcasm zone. Nothing you are about to read should be taken seriously. )
You Have To Spend a Lot of Time With Your Kids
If you don’t enjoy spending time with your kids, homeschooling is not for you. Who in their right mind wants to spend so many hours a day watching their child learn, discover, and grow? Who wants to deal with that same child through every struggle and difficulty? The terror! Outsourcing childcare from the earliest days of life is simply what we do nowadays. School hours are parent time, blissful hours of child-free time in some cases and hectic hours of work-madness in others. Regardless, the fewer hours a day you spend with your children, the higher your sanity levels. So what if you miss those little milestones and memories. It’s not like they grow up too fast or anything.
Your Kids Will Be Smarter Than Their Peers
Survival of the fittest ended with industrialization and equality is the American way. Who gives parents the right to give their child an academic head-up on their competition? If American kids are failing academically, yours should be too. Sure, the Chinese are learning math and English practically from the cradle, but that won’t impact your baby in any way, shape, or form. You don’t want your child to feel un-cool, now do you? It’s not fair to provide your beloved junior with all of your resources. If their peers aren’t learning Latin, French, and physics, yours shouldn’t be either. It’s just not right to make your child stand out to the college admittance officers at that Ivy League School. Imagine how much it’ll hurt your neighbor’s feelings when their slacker-son doesn’t get in as well.
Your Kid Won’ Be Attending Cool Keg Parties
You just don’t see homeschooled teens partying all night at unsupervised, beer-infused keg fests. Those homeschooling parents are simply too involved in their kid’s lives. These helicopter parents are suffocating their children’s growing identity. It takes too much effort to infuse morals in wild pre-teens and teens. These poor kids are probably dragged to church on Sundays too. There should be a law against that. We should just let our kids be kids, no matter what the consequences. They’ll have so many great memories, forever preserved on Facebook for the viewing pleasure of their college admittance officers and future employers.
You Have To Put In A Lot of Time and Effort
We’re all busy. Work is insane, life is crazy, and the primetime hours are packed with delectable television programming. Who wants to spend sacred moments planning lesson plans and researching curriculum? Who wants to maintain a portfolio of their child’s scribble-scrabble, let alone an attendance record? It’s much better to ship our offspring off to school every day and not think twice about it. Who cares if they won’t start learning a foreign language until high school? It’s America. We speak English. Who cares if their math skills are minimal and can’t compete in the world market? That’s what calculators are for. Who really wants to spend the time and effort investing in their child’s future if someone else can do it for them? I’m just saying… “me time” is for me. Sure, my children’s school years are a relatively small percentage of my total life and are pretty important, but I can’t afford to miss this season’s TV lineup!
Your Kids Will Turn Out “Weird”
Now, you don’t want your child to be different, do you? Doesn’t everyone want their teenie-bopper daughter to be boy crazy and name-brand obsessed, living in a techno-world of texting and moral-free, parent-ignoring bliss? Every boy should know the fine arts of wedgie-giving and locker-room potty mouthing. Every young teen should be fluent in the finer-points of sluttiness and human sexuality. Who wouldn’t want their kid smoking pot and skipping class? Who wouldn’t want their kid to experience bullies first-hand and stumble through cliques and peer pressure during their formative years? Depriving your child from these rights-of-teenage passage is simply inhumane.
DISCLAIMER: In case you missed it above, this article in no way reflects the author’s true beliefs about homeschooling. It should be read as a satire.
Ten Apples Up On Top! This Week’s Pre-School Theme: Apples!
Derek is Excited For This Week's Theme!
Our pre-school/ kindergarten theme this week is apples. Don’t apples make you think of Fall? Crisp Red Delicious apples fresh from Washington, cool air, and sweaters put me in the Autumn mood. We won’t be wearing sweaters any time soon in Florida, but we will be learning a lot about different types of apples, apple trees, plant growth, harvest, and more.
A fun and challenging part about teaching multiple grade levels is incorporating different ability-levels into a common theme that everyone can enjoy. Here are our goals for today:
Tuesday
THEME: Apples
Circle Discussion: Apple Trees
-Types of apples (red, yellow, green) (Red Delicious, Fuji, McIntosh, Cameo, Rome Beauty, etc)
-Apples have been around since ancient times
-Apple trees grow in orchards and ripen in the fall; Apple trees may live more than 100 years
-Read about harvest and plant growth from “What Your Kindergartener Needs to Know “
-An apple tree may live for more than one hundred years, but a mature tree revisits the same seasonal cycle year after year. In summer tiny buds appear on the branches. The buds develop and grow a protective covering in the fall. During the winter the buds are dormant, protected from the cold by a fuzzy coat. In the spring buds explode into green leaves and little flower buds appear. Insects pollinate the apples flowers, which give way to developing apples. Every apple contains seeds that can begin the process again. Use the poster to reinforce these concepts (From Scholastic website).
Literacy Activities: Read “10 Apples Up On Top,” Tracing A’s for Derek, A-word Word Search for Ethan. The Letter of the week is A.
Songs and Fingerplays: Apple Theme
All Around The Apple Tree
Sung to: “Mulberry Bush”
Here we go round the apple tree, the apple tree, the apple tree
Here we go around the apple tree
On a frosty morning.
This is the way we climb the ladder
-pick the apples
-wash the apples
-peel the apples
-cook the apples
Ten Red Apples
(Both hands high) Ten red apples grow on a tree
(Dangle one hand and then the other) Five for you and five for me.
(Shake body) Let us shake the tree just so
(Hands fall) And ten red apples will fall below
(Count ea. finger) 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.
Apple Poem
Apples big,
Apples small.
Guess what?
I like them all.
Art: Color Apple Tree Pictures
Number Sense: Workbooks and IXL.com
Large Motor Skills: “Apple Picking” and “Apple Balancing Fun”
For apple picking, see dramatic play.
Apple Balancing Fun: Balance beanbags on head to simulate apple balancing from book “Ten Apples Up On Top.” This can be done in circle time.
Fine Motor Development: Writing/ Tracing- See art and literacy sections
Dramatic Play: Pretend Farm
Pretend Apple Picking:
Wake Up! We’re going apple picking today! (Yawn, stretch, pretend to hope out of bed)
Let’s drive to the farm. (Pretend to steer car).
Get your basket. (Pretend to get basket).
Wow! Look at all the apples! Let’s pick some! (Pick apples off tree)
Put them in your basket. (Bend down, place in basket)
These apples are really high! Let’s climb! (Pretend to climb tree)
Wow! Our basket is really full! (Pretend to lift heavy basket)
Let’s pay for our apples. (Pretend to give money).
Let’s drive home, that was fun! (Pretend to steer car).
Science and Discovery: Learn About Apple Trees and Farms (circle time)
As you can see, many of these important developmental goals overlap. We should have a really fun day ahead of us. Later this week, we look forward to some apple tasting experiments and baking an apple pie. This week will be a blast!
What are some of your favorite Fall learning activities?
Top 10 Famous Homeschoolers
Image via Wikipedia
How do homeschooled children turn out as adults, anyway? Do they know how to interact in society and hold jobs? According to a survey conducted by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, over 74% of home-educated adults ages 18-24 have taken college courses, as opposed to 46% of the general US population. Homeschoolers are found in every occupation and are generally more active in their communities, with 71% of homeschooled adults participating in ongoing community service as compared to 37% of their same-age, non-homeschooled compatriots. If you’re still not convinced that a homeschooler can grow up to be successful, here are a few famous homeschoolers who just might change your mind. I’m sure you’ve heard of a few of them.
You don’t get much more famous than this. George Washington was tutored by his father until his father’s death, then taught at home by his mother. Without Washington’s strong leadership, the American Revolution may not have ended with the same results. He also played a large role in the crafting of the US Constitution. Washington was our first—and one of our most famous—Presidents. You really can’t do much better than that.
Like most children of his time, Thomas Jefferson was also homeschooled. He went on to become the Third President of the United States. Among his many great accomplishments, we wrote the Declaration of Independence, doubled the size of the United States by sealing the Louisiana Purchase, and served as an ambassador, Secretary of State, and Vice President as well as President. Not only was he homeschooled, but his thoughts, experiences, and teachings inspired the modern Thomas Jefferson Education philosophy popular in homeschooling communities (http://www.tjed.org/).
Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was our exuberant 26th president. He was also the first American to win a Nobel Peace Prize in any field. Roosevelt was homeschooled by his parents and tutors and was well known for his solid grasp of geography, history, biology, French, and German. He was accepted to and graduated from Harvard University. Before he was President, he served as Governor of New York, Vice President, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. How’s that for a résumé?
Roosevelt was one of the Presidents commemorated on Mount Rushmore. The other’s were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. What do all these men have in common apart from being great Presidents of the US? Not one of them was formally educated as a child. They were all self-educated and/ or taught at home. In other words, they were all homeschooled!
Author Mark Twain
“Don’t let school interfere with your education,” Mark Twain once famously stated. Curious statement, don’t you think? Mark Twain received very little education and what he did receive he got at home. Due to the informal-structure of his education, he could be considered an “unschooler.” Still, he went on to become a writer so famous that we still read his works today. “Huckleberry Finn” is one of his most famous novels.
Chief Justice, US Supreme Court– John Marshall
John Marshall was homeschooled before attending one year at Campbell Academy. He later attended William & Mary College, where he studied law. Marshall was elected to his state legislature in 1782, became Richmond’s most respected appellate attorney, influenced the ratification of the US Constitution, served as a Minister to France, was elected to Congress, served as Secretary of State for John Adams, and was then appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the US in 1801. Marshall had an amazing 60-year public service career.
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie’s family was extremely poor and he received very little formal education, but his family’s love of books and learning instilled in the immigrant boy a love for education that continued throughout his life. He did not suffer for lack of schooling. In fact, Carnegie went on to own the Carnegie Steel Company, which produced ¼ of all the steel in the US in 1900. He sold his company to US Steel in 1901 for a huge amount of money in his time: $250 million. He wrote numerous books and invested his fortune in the creation of Carnegie Hall, numerous libraries, and the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
General Douglas McArthur was one of the most famous military commanders in American history. Part of a military family who moved from one post to the next frequently, his mother taught him math, reading, and writing. He did attend West Texas Military Academy for a time as well. McArthur went on to graduate from West Point and led soldiers into combat in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. He received a Medal of Honor and had a spectacular military career.
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was born a slave and was adopted by his owners, who continued raising him after the Civil War. Although they were too poor to afford any formal education, they did homeschool him. They taught him to read. With this knowledge, Carver discovered the world around him. He once said, “I wanted to know every strange stone, flower, insect, bird, or beast.” He later left home for a formal education and attended a series of schools before graduating from Minneapolis High School. He became the first black student at Iowa State Agricultural College and later their first black faculty member. Carver became a famous scientist and promoted growing alternative crops to poor farmers instead of cotton, such as peanuts.
Venus and Serena Williams
Did you know what Venus and Serena Williams were both homeschooled? They don’t seem too bad off, now do they? They’ve won multiple tennis championships, including wins at Wimbledon in 2001 and 2000. As of 2011, these high-achieving sisters had 22 Grand Slam Titles between them. They are two amazing ladies (in this list, I’m counting them as one unit of homeschooling awesomeness).
Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning was homeschooled from second grade through eighth grade and loved it because it gave her so much freedom to pursue her acting career. She chose to attend high school for the “high school experience.” She has starred in multiple movies, including “I Am Sam” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”
This list is by no means comprehensive. There are many, many more famous homeschoolers. For a great list, check out: Famous Homeschoolers: http://www.famoushomeschoolers.net/
Resources:
Homeschooling Grows Up: http://www.hslda.org/research/ray2003/default.asp
Short School Days+ Hands-On-Learning+ No Standardized Tests= World’s Best Education?
Image via Wikipedia
What comes to mind when you think of Finland? For many people, not much. Finland is not a giant player in the world market and doesn’t have many news-worthy controversies to grace our television screens in the US. I’m Finnish (maiden name: Sarkkinen) and when I think of the land of my ancestors I think of peacefulness, social order, cold weather, close families, and blonde hair. I’ve noticed something interesting in the past month or so, though. Several large media organizations have mentioned how awesome the Finnish educational system is and how the failing American school system could learn a thing or two from our Finnish friends.
Finland’s schools consistently earn some of the top rankings in the world. In 2006, Finnish students topped world charts in science and reading. They came in second in math to South Korea. Their rankings were at the top of the list for many years before that, and remain at the top today. Finland transformed a poor educational system in the 1970s to one of the best in the world today. What’s most interesting (or concerning) about this? Their strategy is exactly the opposite of what we’re doing in the US.
Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about Finland: Out of 7,000 applications to primary school programs, only 10% of applicants are accepted. Since the 1980s, every Finnish teacher has been required to obtain a master’s degree before teaching. While teaching, Finnish teachers continue to take high-level professional development courses. Teaching is a highly prestigious and respected profession in Finland. The US could learn something from this! Finnish teachers are well-prepared for the classroom through many years of rigorous education and training and are paid very well too. The state pays for their education too! Did you know that a career in teaching beats out a career in medicine as the most competitive field in Finland?
The Finnish school system is dramatically different from the American version. According to the UK Guardian, Finnish children don’t start school until they’re 7-years-old and there’s no pressure on them to do anything academic-related before then. While American schools are cutting recess, Finnish school days are short and interspersed with active time running around outside and even sledding. Play and hands-on learning are an integral part to the learning process. Every child gets a free lunch and a free education through college. Class sizes are small and teachers keep the same group of students through elementary school. This is awesome, because it allows teachers to truly get to know student’s needs and get to know their families. Teachers work very closely with parents.
Another unique difference is that Finland abolished standardized testing in the 1980s. Can you imagine if American teachers could spend more time teaching useful information that they are passionate about rather than teaching for tests? The results could be amazing. Empowering great teachers leads to great results. Finland transformed from a highly centralized and failing system that put a lot of value on testing to a localized system in which highly trained teachers design their own challenging curriculum around national standards. Teachers are extensively prepared for this job and are well funded. Classes are small and well-equipped. Rather than sitting and listening to a teacher lecture for 50 minutes, students walk around, work in small groups, rotate through workshops, ask their teacher questions, and research. Independence and active learning are vital parts of this educational system and help students learn to learn productively, solve problems, and evaluate and improve their work. Teachers work hard to engage students in research and inquiry. Teachers also meet together weekly to develop challenging curriculum, create lesson plans, and put together great related learning materials.
Our American schools have a lot to learn from the Finns. First and foremost, teachers need a whole lot more respect. Have you ever hear the saying, “Those who can’t do, teach?” That mindset has simply got to go. We need to train our teachers better and to pay them more, so that high-achieving individuals are attracted to the field. In Florida, the starting salary for a new teacher is around $22,000. Not many college graduates are willing to work for that little money. I couldn’t pay for my children’s daycare on that salary, let alone pay for a house and food. Now, imagine if the starting salary were $60,000? Imagine if teaching were given more respect? Our schools would be transformed.
Next, we need less emphasis on testing. No Child Left Behind, although well meaning, has turned our schools into a nightmarish place where teachers must teach kids only what they need to know in order to pass state testing. There isn’t time to grow passionate learners or for teachers to design lessons about things they are truly passionate about. Many schools are cutting out recess and other free time to focus on testing. Rather than making sure no child gets left behind, this legislation has ensured that the entire country gets left behind.
This is the exact opposite of what Finland has done and may be a contributing factor to why America’s schools are doing so poorly. We need to change and we need to do it now.
In what ways do you think the American educational system needs to change to be more competitive?
Related Articles:
“Finland’s Schools Flourish in Freedom and Flexibility.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/05/finland-schools-curriculum-teaching
“Why Do Finland’s Schools Get the Best Results?” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8601207.stm
“West Virginia Learns Finland’s Most Honorable Profession: Teacher.” http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/29/education.wv.finland/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1
National Education Association: “What We Can Learn From Finland’s Successful School Reform.” http://www.nea.org/home/40991.htm
“How Finland Reached the Top of Educational Rankings.” http://neatoday.org/2010/10/07/how-finland-reached-the-top-of-the-educational-rankings/
Related articles
- Lessons from Finland (thewesternexperience.com)
- Extra lessons at Free Schools: Is cramming more teaching in a good idea? (mattpearson.org)
- US vs. Finland… Again (downes.ca)
- Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful? (smithsonianmag.com)
- How Finland became an educational leader (salon.com)
But…. What About Socialization?
Where did the idea come from that homeschooled kids are socially incapable misfits who can’t play with other children or properly interact in society? It’s a sad stereotype, and one that is blatantly false. Yet the stereotype lives. “But…. What about socialization?” a well-meaning neighbor asks, a look of concern and pity on her face. “Aren’t you worried that your child won’t know how to… fit in?”
Let’s take a look at this word: socialization. According to Dictionary.com, socialization is “a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.” Let’s examine this closely. Someone who is socialized is on a journey of self-discovery, learning about what is and is not acceptable behavior and what is expected out of them. Socialization is everything we teach our children from the moment they are born: how to share, when to say please and thank you, not to push and bite, how to wait in line patiently, etc. Socialization occurs every time we’re at the playground and we teach our children how to share space and play equipment with other kids, how to speak kindly with others, and how to be considerate even when others are not. Socialization occurs when we’re at the grocery store and teach our children not to run through the aisles, throw produce, push past people, or yell and shriek. Socialization occurs when we take our children to the library and teach them to sit quietly during story time, to treat books with care, and to be quiet and considerate. In other words, socialization occurs every second of every day.
Another common definition of socialization is “visiting and hanging out with friends.” I don’t know where the idea came from that socialization can only occur within the confines of a schoolroom. Yes, socialization does occur there, but it is limited. I want my children to laugh, talk, and make friends. Yet, this didn’t really happen in public school. In fact, Alex was in trouble nearly every day for talking! There’s not that much time apart from recess where kids can freely talk and visit. Even during lunch, Alex was frequently told to stop talking (she’s a big talker, I have to admit) and eat. It’s not like she had much time to visit. She did work with other kids on projects, but purely social time was rare.
Homeschooled children socialize every single day. They play with children at the playground. They have friends over and go to their houses as well. They play and talk with children at classes and museums. They have many friends at their homeschool groups and co-ops, where they not only get to work on projects with others but also have time to forge lasting friendships. They have friends in their neighborhoods and friends in their clubs. There’s no shortage of kids to interact with. Alex in particular has developed much closer relationships with children outside of public school than she ever did in school! A bonus is that, as parents, we get to know her friends and her friends’ families. I think this will be particularly helpful when Alex is a middle-schooler and a teen. I want to know a bit about her friends. I want to know what influences are affecting my daughter. I will never try to control her group of friends, but I do want to be more than on oblivious bystander. In this world of drugs, alcohol, and vice, wouldn’t you?
We have a large family, so my kids always have each other to hang out with too. We have lessons on acceptance, team-work, and consideration every single day. There aren’t too many “alone moments” in our house! My kids have awesome relationships with each other. When we started homeschooling in the early summer, I noticed that the kids really started getting along better. They learned to work together better and accept each other’s differences a whole lot more than they did before. Whereas they “tolerated” each other before, they’re now great friends. The kids also socialize every time we leave the house. They socialize with people in the real world daily, at the grocery store, the bank, the mall, the farmer’s market. They learn to politely interact with people of all ages. They learn how the world around them works and what their place in the world might be. Isn’t that what socialization is all about?
Back to that definition, a socialized person develops a personal identity. I think homeschooled children truly have an advantage here. When figuring out who they are, a homeschooled child is free to truly be themselves and follow their passions. They don’t have to dress in a particular way or try to impress the cool kids. Girls don’t have to choose between being pretty and being smart. My daughter is really into math and science now and I dread the day someone makes fun of her for this. I avoided those topics in school because I wanted to part of the in-crowd. I regret that now. Even though I was at the top of my class, I acted “dumb” and “blonde” to be cool. I do not want that for my girls! I don’t want them to be bullied or made fun of for their passions and beliefs. Sure, this could still happen, but it’s much less likely. Bullying is a huge problem in American schools. Turn on the news and it’s likely you’ll hear about a case of bullying that led to a suicide. Tragedies like this happen much too frequently. Even when it’s not that extreme, bullying does severe damage to a child’s growing sense of self. That is not the type of socialization I want for my kids.
I have met more than one homeschooled child who was introverted or who was socially inept. But do you know what? I’ve met more than one public-schooled child who fits those same descriptions. Some people are naturally introverted and/or awkward! That’s life. I do not see droves of children coming out of public schools with impeccable manners either, able to politely interact with people of all ages. Neither public schooling nor homeschooling are the definitive answer to creating well-socialized and respectable citizens. What it comes down to is this: parents. Good socialization depends on good parents (or guardians). Parents who are involved in their child’s life and development and teach them what it means to be a considerate, involved, and moral citizens will likely end up with a great kid regardless of their schooling choices. Parents who are uninvolved in their child’s life may not have such good results. Children who end up as criminals, drug addicts, gang members, or alcoholics were “socialized” too, you know. I don’t care if you homeschool, unschool, public school, or choose private schooling: Parental involvement is everything. What type of socialization is your child getting? What outside influences have affected him or her today? Do you know?
What are you doing in your life right now to socialize your child? How are you helping him or her develop their unique sense of self and become an educated, caring, and capable citizen of tomorrow?
PS:
One of the best books I’ve read on this topic is The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole. This book is packed with great examples and statistics and refutes all of the most common misconceptions regarding homeschooled children and socialization. Whether you have questions about socialization or have family members who do, this is an awesome read. You can find it at your local library like I did, or check it out at amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/Well-Adjusted-Child-Social-Benefits-Homeschooling/dp/1600651070/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b).
