Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Tea and Conversation
 4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Subject Topic: Making the decision Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
Posted: May 21 2010 at 12:22pm | IP Logged Quote MamaFence

If you read my intro post, you know we're not actively homeschooling yet. Here's more about me and my decision making...or lack-thereof, so far.

Ever since we were married, we've talked about the possibility of hs-ing. If we lived in our first "home" state, we absolutely would hs due to poor choices around us. We don't live there now. We're in-between states, now, actually (moving in 6 weeks).

When we move, my oldest will be ready for 1st grade. While I've been happy with her education at the public school so far, my husband and I are also pretty sure that she hasn't gotten as much as she deserves from her education. She's advanced, and the last I spoke with her teacher, nearly at the level of top 1st graders at this point in the year on some standards.

In my heart, I would love to homeschool. I love the idea of homeschooling. I'm terrified of the reality: the paper-work, the possible run-ins with authorities, the "what-if's".

What has helped you make the decision and encouraged you go ahead and homeschool? I think I could some help here, and help in having the conversation with my husband. For some reason I just don't know where he stands on it lately, since we've spent the last year with DD in public school.
Back to Top View MamaFence's Profile Search for other posts by MamaFence
 
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
Posted: May 21 2010 at 12:31pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

First of all realize.. it's not a forever decision.. you CAN put a child back into public schools. So no worries.. if you don't like it or it stresses everyone out too much.. you don't have to keep doing it.

Second, it's really not going to be any harder than all the time you spend with her schooling anyway. Most of what you're dealing with is really "fear of the unknown" and that always makes everything seem much worse than it really is.

One of the best things you could do is look up a homeschooling group local to where you're moving and have a chance to talk with the people who are already dealing with the same regulations and personnel etc that you'd be dealing with. Then it will be what you really need to do and how things really work.. not just imaginings of what it might be.

You hear about the rare bad incidences not the majority of experience.. just like bad news travels fastest.. you're more likely to hear the bad stories than the good ones.. because the good ones attract no attention.

__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
Back to Top View JodieLyn's Profile Search for other posts by JodieLyn
 
Angie Mc
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400
Posted: May 21 2010 at 1:13pm | IP Logged Quote Angie Mc

It's good to have you here!

When my first child was young, someone, somewhere said to me something like, "Homeschooling may not be for everyone, but it is for anyone who wants to give it a try." That stuck with me and I translated it...If God is calling me to homeschool, then He will give me the grace and support I need. I know this may sound simplistic but it so true.

Once I was able to say that I wanted to do this, then the question was, can I do this. I honestly believe that the vast majority of families can homeschool, assuming they have a desire and are willing to work hard and find support.

From there, the key is to give yourself and your family adequate time to find your groove...find your way...see homeschooling as a learning process with it's own learning curve. For us, it helped to see homeschooling as part of our way of life...not just an imitation of school in our home.

You might find some encouragement and moments of "I can do that!" by reading this topic of what principles have helped some homeschooling mom to be confident and happy in their work. From there, you might want to figure out what your strengths are...what you like to do best...and we can brainstorm ways of how that can look at home for you.

God bless you during this time of discernment . Praying for you and your family.

Love,

__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
Back to Top View Angie Mc's Profile Search for other posts by Angie Mc Visit Angie Mc's Homepage
 
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
Posted: May 21 2010 at 1:36pm | IP Logged Quote Becky Parker

Jodie and Angie have given you wonderful advice! Two more things come to mind that might help. As far as the "run ins with authorities" it really doesn't happen as often as you might think. And, you can be members of Homeschool Legal Defense which offers some protection "just in case". They will also help you to understand the homeschooling laws of your state, what is required and what really isn't. Actually, some states don't require much of anything (like Michigan ) so it's very easy to homeschool.

Second, try to get to a homeschool conference. My first year of homeschooling a friend took me and I just remember being so amazed about how organized and professional the whole thing was. And the number of people there! I didn't realize how many people actually homeschooled! I don't think I even bought anything (I was too overwhelmed!) but it was reassuring that this was a large, organized group of people who have their children's best interest in mind.

Another thing is to be a member of this forum - always so helpful. But also, read some homeschool blogs to get an idea of other homeschooler's days. Remember, you'll usually be reading about the good days though. We all have bad days so don't let it get you down if it all looks too perfect. Most people like to keep things pretty positive on their blogs (like me!).

Pray pray pray. My husband and I made a commitment to pray every night before we fell asleep. Sometimes holding hands and saying an Our Father was all we could do, but it was still prayer. Our concern was mostly for our quiet ds and whether or not he would have any friends. The summer before we started homeschooling, we met two homeschooling families, both with boys his age. It has been a wonderful thing.

God will guide you, just submit your will to His and pray a novena to St. Joseph that your husband does the same. As long as you two are on the same page, it will work out.

__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
Back to Top View Becky Parker's Profile Search for other posts by Becky Parker
 
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
Posted: May 21 2010 at 5:31pm | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

When I was making my decision to homeschool, it all seemed overwhelming.

Then I realized I had already taught my children so many things... speaking English (not an easy thing!), potty training (ditto), safety rules... homeschooling was just a natural extension of that.

Is every day super great? Of course not. We have good days and bad days, just like with everything else.

We go by the "one day at a time" philosophy.
Whenever someone asks me how long I plan to homeschool, I always say we just take things one day at at time. That keeps me from stressing over the "what ifs" and   "how will I teach calculus in eight years" .

It's not easy to be at home all the time with your children. But there are so many sweet moments... times when I was so glad that I was together with my child and got to see her read her first little book or watch him first make the connection of place values in math. Those "wow!" and "aha!" moments are ones that I would not trade. They make all the rough patches worth wading through.

And, I don't know-- there is just a different sense of time with homeschooling. Our days belong to us... all the wonder, all the learning, all the problems, all the laughter... it's all right here, in our home. That is a blessing all by itself.



__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)


SQUILT Music Appreciation
Back to Top View SeaStar's Profile Search for other posts by SeaStar
 
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
Posted: May 22 2010 at 11:20am | IP Logged Quote SallyT

What everyone else says is true: it doesn't have to be a forever decision. We began homeschooling seven years ago, when our oldest was 9, and the good advice which our state-mandated umbrella school (well, it was one of several state-mandated options!) gave us was to try it for two years before deciding things weren't working. Of course one doesn't have to give it that long, but in our experience it was helpful to be reminded to look at "successes" and "failures" in a broader context than that of a bad day, a bad week, a bad month. Even seasoned classroom teachers have periods of time when things don't fly, and school systems implement whole curricula which turn out to be disasters, which is useful to remember when a day at home seems like a total loss. (which in reality it probably isn't).

In seven years and two states, we have never -- knock wood -- had a run-in with authorities of any kind, and the paperwork has honestly not been any more onerous than keeping up with the children's school schedules and work was before we homeschooled. In fact, I find it far less onerous and easier to maintain.

There's no end of online resources to help with this -- we use a program called Homeschool Reporting.com to record grades, attendance, extracurricular activities, etc. It prints out transcripts -- we just used this feature in our application to the University of Dallas's summer Arete program for high-schoolers (accepted -- yay!) -- and even has a modest lesson-plan feature.

We now have a rising senior, a rising 7th grader, a rising 3rd grader, and a rising 1st grader all at home, which is . . . interesting . . . some days. I guess if someone asked me, I might still say I was taking it one day at a time, but at this stage I really think -- barring unforeseen circumstances -- we're in it for the long haul. I do love seeing one child learn to read, another child take off with math, another child consumed with a love for history, and one child, as if overnight, shifting into the kind of high-gear that suddenly means she LIKES reading and talking about things like Darwin's Black Box, or O Pioneers, and has ideas about where she wants to be in the future. Being that intimately involved in all those processes, even though I can't really take credit for making them happen. Even though I've now seen four people learn to read, for example, it still seems like an utter mystery . . .

Godspeed you in your decisionmaking.

Sally

__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
Back to Top View SallyT's Profile Search for other posts by SallyT Visit SallyT's Homepage
 
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
Posted: May 22 2010 at 11:24am | IP Logged Quote SallyT

Oh, and what made us decide to homeschool in the first place? We got sick of telling ourselves that an "okay" education was enough. And we realized that virtually everything of substance that our children knew while they were in school was something they had learned at home. Our oldest daughter's teachers used to thank us for sending her to school with knowledge to share with everyone else, and nice though they were, and flattered though we were, we eventually decided that this middleman was really taking up too much of our valuable time.

Sally

__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
Back to Top View SallyT's Profile Search for other posts by SallyT Visit SallyT's Homepage
 
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
Posted: May 22 2010 at 12:12pm | IP Logged Quote MamaFence

Thank you all so much!

Sally, your second reply really hits home for me. Aside from some good mysterious encouragement in my daughter's reading, I can't really say *what* this year in school has taught her.

And then I keep thinking about how much I love to teach them things and do fun things with them...and how much potential there is for learning outside a classroom.

I am feeling really pulled to homeschool. I need to take the time to talk more with my husband about it (which is tricky right now, as he's already "moved" to our new state across the country and is in intense job-training).
Back to Top View MamaFence's Profile Search for other posts by MamaFence
 
Barbara C.
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: July 11 2007
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 882
Posted: May 22 2010 at 2:56pm | IP Logged Quote Barbara C.

And remember...technically you only have to do as well academically as your local public school. Anything more is icing on the cake.

And with a first grader you really don't need to do more than an hour or so of formal work...that's as much time as many parents spend helping their schooled kids in second or third grade do homework every night. The earlier you start the less pressure there is.

__________________
Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
Back to Top View Barbara C.'s Profile Search for other posts by Barbara C. Visit Barbara C.'s Homepage
 
SallyT
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Aug 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2489
Posted: May 28 2010 at 4:45pm | IP Logged Quote SallyT

Having begun with a 9-year-old who had spent four years in school, I'll add that it is MUCH easier to begin homeschooling a child who has not spent that many years in school. Our first year, the oldest was 9/4th grade, and the next one down was almost 6 and doing kindergarten. Even though he had spent several years in preschool and one in "Reception," (the English version of kindergarten), he was far more open to having me do things with him, and the adjustment to a homeschooling life was far easier.

Personality differences account for some of the difference in their responses (and the oldest is now very glad to be homeschooled, but boy, at the time . . . ), but the longer a child spends in school, the more of a transition you face if you decide later to homeschool. It can be done, of course, and often is, quite successfully, but if you do feel pulled to homeschool, I think it's probably easier to try it now and later transition into school than vice versa.

Just some more food for thought . . .

Sally

__________________
Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
Back to Top View SallyT's Profile Search for other posts by SallyT Visit SallyT's Homepage
 
mama2many
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: May 28 2010
Location: Georgia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 186
Posted: May 28 2010 at 8:10pm | IP Logged Quote mama2many

You know my feeling for you on this one!!
Back to Top View mama2many's Profile Search for other posts by mama2many Visit mama2many's Homepage
 
Veronika
Forum Rookie
Forum Rookie
Avatar

Joined: April 23 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 57
Posted: May 29 2010 at 7:14pm | IP Logged Quote Veronika

I consider myself to have been in the very same situation at the beginning of this school year. Now, we are homeschooling our oldest daughter (15/9th grade) and are enjoying her process so much that we've decided to bring the rest home in September. What was the final straw for MY husband? It had to be the offensive book that my first grade girls were expected to read in our public school. I was crushed. We loved our little elementary school, I had gone there myself! The administration prided itself on promoting tolerance and harmony among those who have chosen alternative lifestyles and had no intention of altering their progressive program. Please, keep your eyes open. Be aware that public school systems have a tolerance policy for everyone but conservative catholic families. My husband had seen enough and finally decided to give in and let me give homeschooling a try. I'm so excited! I have alot of questions, of course, and I'm not sure that I'll be the perfect teacher, but I promise you I'll do a better job educating my dear ones than the public school that they were in! Pray for courage and discernment. You can do this.   Especially ask Pope John Paul II, he truly came through for us. I'll be praying for you as well!

__________________
Veronika
devoted wife and Apostolate of Holy Motherhood Mom of 5 precious children: daughter '94, son '96, son '98, and twin daughters '02...
and one little girl in heaven
Back to Top View Veronika's Profile Search for other posts by Veronika
 
MamaFence
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: May 19 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
Posted: May 29 2010 at 7:18pm | IP Logged Quote MamaFence

Thank you all. The replies are so helpful. I'll keep you posted. :D
Back to Top View MamaFence's Profile Search for other posts by MamaFence
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com