I have recently decided to be a stay at home mom and am now considering homeschooling my three children (3rd - 6th grade). I homeschooled last semester, but I was also attending college full time. As you could imagine, things didn't go quite well. I was struggling between home, school, and homeschool and didn't accomplish much school work with the children. In January, I put the children in a private christian school, which we all love, but we can't really afford the cost of a full school year next year. I refuse to put my children in the local public school, tried it and it was BAD!

So now, I am reconsidering homeschooling my children again. I feel that I would have the time and dedication to do a better job, but I want to make sure I do it right!

I am looking for helpful opinions and suggestions to possibly homeschool my children. Such as schedules, curriculi, websites, books, videos, games, etc.

Plus, I would like to hear from homeschoolers to know how they make it all work.

Any opposing homeschooling.......tell me your opinion too.

Thank everyone for your help.

God Loves You!!

Jesushelper76

That is sick that, that kind of sh-- is happening in public schools. There should be zero tolerance for that. It disgusts me to hear about stuff like that. The worse I have seen in public school. I had a teacher grab me by the arm forcefully and would not let me go. Also one time I had to stay in at lunch for my asthma medication. The substitute teacher asked me what I was doing. I said taking my medication. He grabbed me by the face. Pushed me down on to the chair and started to yell at me. I seen another teacher grab a student by the neck. Another one used a ruler. Those are my personal experiances. Oh, and a gang of people crowding me and cornering me and beating the shi- out of me. At the same time even with these personal experiances. I think it is important for children and teens to learn how to deal with these situations and grow and learn from them. I feel if certain people did not experiance some rough experiances maybe the person I have become today would be different.


I do understand your point, and I want to say I wish you and your children the best at homeschooling. Each parent and each school is different. I just pray to God when My boy is old enough to start school that he will have good experiances and not bad ones.

Joe

whiteladybug2002

I think that we all have our bad experiences at school from our own childhood and yes we survived, but kids now day have more to worry with then we did. Kids are starting drugs younger and younger or alcohol, I don't even want to get on sex!! I don't want my child to try a drug, because her friends were doing it, and her become a 15 yr old addict. That is everyday life for kids were I live.

Meth, crack, cocaine, prositution, alcohol, etc is accepted among alot of teens now days and I don't want my children to accept that for themselves or their friends. Public school teachers can't watch all the children in school, it is impossible!! Too many students and too little teachers!

Plus I am super overprotective!! I was a married mom at 17 yrs old and had tried alot of things I shouldn't have!! I did not finish HS and didn't go to college until I was 22 yrs old. I suffered hard till now to make up for the mistakes I made in my teens and I don't want my children to suffer for theirs........not when I can prevent it!! So I monitor everything with my children.....tv, computer, phone calls, friends, etc! And the kids like it!! Well for now atleast. They enjoy knowing that I am watching. But my children are also educated, by me, about drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. I think that they would make the right choices if I wasn't looking, but they still need parental guidance!!

gogosean

I will not coment about ADHD becuase it is considered a medical condition and I am not a doctor, but I will comment on how keeping the medical documentation can work in your favor quite a bit.

I used to tutor in a College Access Program, called CAPS.
It was for people with learning disabilities. They got accomodations galore, like free tutoring , open book exams, untimed exam times and some even went to college for free from private grants.

The whole point of this is email is to deny any expertise in ADHD on my part, but at the same time, letting you know that this should be a part of the college application process.

If your child falls behind, there are some very good options, because even people without ADHD fall behind. There are college courses taught at a high school level. They will not count towards the college GPA, but they have to be tested out of and might be required for your student. So what? No big deal.

As far as home school and socialization goes, your chidlren might be schocked at how other children lead their lives. I went to parochial schools all my life and begged to attend a public school. When I did, it was just shocking. I could fill the Library of Congress with all the stories, but I want to finish this email.

Outside of culture shock, there is plenty of research to back up the following statement. The way a child interacts socially is mostly a function of thier care givers. Good news for you!!!! Bad new for the kids shooting up under the stairs.

Some home school mothers and fathers join forces and literally home school en masse.

Good Luck!!!!!!

whiteladybug2002

Thank you gogosean for your comments and suggestions about ADHD.

My son is really intelligent, but alittle hard to handle sometimes. He can be singing a song, picking his nose, fighting with his sister, and writing a story while I am trying to teach him how to multiply and you know what..........he gets it!! I wish I was that multitaskable! lol

NowWhat

I just wanted to ask if you had checked into an online academy? Some friends did that with their kids. I am not sure what the cost is - but each child would get there own computer and materials. They would set you up with extra activities so your kids can meet other homeschooled kids.
Like I said, I am not sure of the cost - but it is an option.

whiteladybug2002

I have looked into online schooling, but I didn't like somethings about that.

1) Cost is alittle high

2) Kids staring at computer all day instead of interacting with other real people

3) They have a somewhat strict curriculum that doesn't give much time for anything other than what they are teaching. Ex.. if I wanted my children to learn about all the Presidents, there would be no time because of their curriculum.

Online schooling is a good alternative for some people, but I have my above reasons against it. Thank you for the opinion though!!

NowWhat

I am glad that you have checked it out. I applaud you for taking on this task. I only have one child and the thought of homeschooling - not plesant. We would probably kill each other. So if you can do it - I think that is great.

I was also thinking about resources last night and thought about the teacher supply stores or education stores. The one by us is called the school box (or something like that). You don't have to be a teacher to shop there - but they have all kinds of things available.
I am sure you have come across these - but thought I would put it out there.

Jeanna Wolfe

I graduated from a homeschool I only went my last two years of high school . I am 25 years old and trying to get into a college to further my education. The problem is now the school is closed and I can't find my transcripts for those two years. That means I can't get into college until either someone finds my transcripts or I have to take a GED ! Which really upsets me because I have a diploma! So if your kids are interested in going to college which I'm sure they are , I would definately check into if this school is accredited. I asked the pastor over my school if I would be able to get into college and he said,"yes". Well now I'm really upset because I can't ! So I would make sure the school is gonna be open for a while and make sure the colleges in your area are going to accept the credits. In all actuality though, I would not recomend it for anyone , just from experience.

De Maria

ADHD?

I'm no expert. But I know one couple whose child was expelled from public school because of a case of ADHD. It was a God send for them. They took the rest of their children out of public school and home schooled all three. As it has been recounted to me, they can't figure out why their son was labeled.

Perhaps all he needed was the extra personal attention, understanding and love that only parents can provide.

Good for you.

Same here. We considered it for our four, but there is no way we could afford it.

My wife and I have homeschooled (primarily she) two children cradle through high school. Neither wanted to attend college, although one of them is reconsidering and may attend college next year. If so, she is well prepared to do so. The other is in ministry in Australia.

My two younger ones are still in home school.

How did we do it? On a shoe string.

Materials

We purchased used books from Catholic Schools, private schools, used bookstores and libraries.
We purchased inexpensive workbooks and curriculums from Walmart, used bookstores and other homeschoolers.

Our state dictates what curriculum we must teach at a minimum. Essentially the three r's plus civics. We added religion, history, science and electives to that basic curriculum.

Kitchen table. Library in garage.

Schedules

We were pretty strict, initially. We would all wake up at 5am and go to communion service or early Mass. That is part of their religion since each service includes a Bible reading plus many prayers.

Our Church was 15 minutes away so we included prayer on the way over. And trivia games on the way home. You can find these at any Walmart or supermarket. At least here in the US.

We would come home and prepare breakfast. If old enough, the children assist with the cooking. Otherwise they assist with the cleaning and preparing the table.

Then the curriculum, one hour for each subject. Break for lunch. continue until two. Then out to play.

We're not quite as strict anymore.

Now we wake up about 7. Go to mass at 9. Come back and eat breakfast. Then school starts. The children should be through by 2 or 3.

On the other hand. After 15 years of homeschooling, we've seen quite a bit of different styles. We were lucky enough that our next door neighbors were also homeschoolers. They more layed back then we are now. They'd start school about after lunch. But their children were academically gifted. They learned to play several instruments and their son has received a full scholarship to a prestigious university.

Or maybe we did it wrong? Who knows. All I care is that my children have grown up to be responsible adults who love God.

My own sister is homeschooling now.

She began home schooling because the teachers complained that my niece always finished her work quickly and then talked to the other students. They therefore considered her disruptive. But instead of advancing her, the teachers felt that they should recommend ridlin (is that how its spelled?).

She's a single parent. She basically assigns homework when she comes home in the evening. Then checks the homework when she comes home the next evening.

Her child is very intelligent and has no trouble grasping ideas simply by reading them herself.

Oh and there are help groups. On Wednesdays, my children attend "Holy House". Basically a group of Catholic homeschoolers who band together to share their knowledge with our children.