If I had a dollar for every time someone said, “If you didn’t homeschool your kids, you would have more time for”… They always finish that sentence with something that serves them, or something that they thought was more worthwhile. I quit my Tae Kwon Do training when the instructor outright told me to put my kids back in school so I could spend more time volunteering at the center. I have stopped speaking to “friends” who told me homeschooling came in between our relationships. I have had to tell relatives that they their comments were selfish. Sometimes, even I … Continue reading →

In a past article on the Cons of Homeschooling, I responded to stereotypes that people see as cons of homeschooling and also mentioned some of my own ideas about possible cons of homeschooling. I mentioned problems such as parental capability, responsibility, financial, life circumstance issues, and the attitudes of others. There is another major con that I would also like to mention. It is lack of consistency. I am not saying that homeschoolers are by nature inconsistent with their children. What I am saying is that each homeschooler is so focused on their own children, that we can be inconsistent … Continue reading →

I just read a six page diatribe on another website where the author basically said “homeschooling did not work for me, it may not work for you.” I found the article sad and disheartening, not because the author poked holes in the benefits of homeschooling, but because all of the reasons she gave were firmly rooted in many of the stereotypes that homeschoolers fight so hard against. I mostly disappointed because if a homeschooler validates the stereotypes than opponents will feel vindicated. Fortunately most people who are considering homeschooling are investigators. If they come across this article, they will see … Continue reading →

In a time of mass failure of standardized tests, and children finishing high school unable to read or do college level math, it seems that schools are spending more time and money worried about behavior and tracking kids than actually teaching them anything. In a case of innovation gone awry, a school district in Sutter California has mandated that students wear radio frequency badge/transmitters so the school can keep track of the children. The badges show the name and grade of the student along with a wireless transmitter that beans their ID number to a teacher’s handheld computer when the … Continue reading →

Homeschoolers, especially homeschooling parents experience a wide range of emotions. Some of these emotions come from within; others are a result of outside experiences. Some are very good. Others are not so great. Still, in the end, the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies homeschooling is often well worth it. While I cannot speak for all homeschoolers, here is what it feels like to be a homeschooler: Fear: Am I doing the right thing? Will I ruin my kids? Fear of failure is perfectly healthy and probably a good thing to keep parents actively on their toes and every vigilant about learning … Continue reading →

We homeschoolers love to point out the academic progress of our kids, and how high they score on academic tests. Since we have an easy time pinpointing their areas of genius, we love to revel in them finding their callings at an early age. These accomplishments definitely make homeschooling worth the struggle… and there is struggle involved. It is the little moments, however that make all the work of homeschooling well worth it. I think it was a moment with my son’s Sunday school teacher that helped me know for a fact that I was on the right track. We … Continue reading →

I have always said that although we are Christians, we don’t homeschool for religious reasons. We homeschool because to send our children to our local public school would be akin to educational neglect in our minds. We homeschool because we have some gifted children whose needs would not be met. We homeschool because when we were first looking at the school, the teacher told me, “Oh no, the kids never handle books because they might wear them out.” However, being Christians, religion is not absent from our homeschooling. In fact, I would say it’s an integral part of our day. … Continue reading →

I was asked recently on another blog about home schooling more than one child. While it has been covered in the home schooling blog before, I thought I’d share some insight on home schooling five, and some practical tips on how we manage. Although I think most who normally read this blog know this, by way of reintroduction, I have five kids. While I still maintain that preschool is optional, most of my younger children want to at least read every day. So I will say that I’m home schooling three preschoolers, one gifted first grader and one third grader. … Continue reading →

In the current trend of homeschooling, it seems I’m meeting more and more people who are planning on homeschooling just through preschool and kindergarten. They take their little preschoolers to the park, and to gymnastics classes and then say that their homeschooling. In fact, I would go so far as to say that homeschooling your preschooler is in vogue. But really, as the child grows older, some of these parents have no intention of continuing homeschooling. I have to be honest and say that it kind of makes me giggle. I’ve talked to two moms just this week who felt … Continue reading →