Well, things have changed around here since December 23rd when I posted my last bloggie. I applied for the private school for the one child and the application was rejected because my husband and I don't attend church regularly and that is a policy of the school. Sorry, we are not just going to go "traditional" to appease someone else so our child can attend a school.
Then, we decided to test the 2 who were in public school and we found out they are going NOWHERE. As a matter of fact, they have REGRESSED. Both of them have struggled with reading. They have been in Title I with a reading specialist all last semester and they have been doing some other specialized reading tasks with their teachers. I am not going to say what grade level they are reading at. I will only say it is WAAAAAY below their chronological level. It is a grade level below where they were when they stopped homeschooling in Dec. 2006. These 2 children are way too distracted when there are other kids in the room goofing off, other activities going on, things to anticipate like recess, bullies, other kids being disciplined, etc.
On the other hand, one of my other children who came out of public school to homeschool 4 years ago was 2 years below grade level in reading when he came out of public school. Now he is testing a grade level ahead! This means he has gone up 6 grade levels in 4 years of homeschooling. We just need to work on a couple of small things and he will probably go up 2 more grade levels by August 2009.
Long story short.. all 7 kids will be homeschooling. Long story short... I have been vindicated. Long story short... I guess everyone realizes I know what the heck I am doing now.
Thank you to all of you who commented before. After seeing results in my own household, I am convinced that homeschool is THE only way for our children. I have one child who is going to graduate at 16 this year. She has been operating 4 years ahead of grade level since 7th grade. I have one child who is a bit below grade level and is 18 and the only reason he is operating below grade level is because he refused to do what he was supposed to. For the most part, he received the exact same instruction as the one who is 4 grade levels ahead. I have one other one who is 10 and is about 1 grade level ahead and possibly a bit more in some areas. When that one attended public school last, her teacher begged us not to take her out because she was helping the teacher by doing one on one tutoring with the kids who were struggling in her own grade and classroom. So, she was already a teacher at age 7. LOL
The sad part is that our schools could revamp and offer mastery based instruction by providing each student with a customized and computerized program. They could put the focus on ACADEMICS instead of sports, music, library, field trips, socializing, extras, etc. I am not saying these other things are wrong or even bad. But they should be extra-curricular and kids should have their focus on academics while in the classroom, not on the extras. I could say much more about how public schools could improve, but I will save that for another bloggie.
Of course, our reasons for homeschooling exceed the academic considerations. We also came out of this whole experience, truly exploring this issue with an open mind, knowing that homeschooling is emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically superior for our children as well. Once again, that is another post.
Comments (12)
good luck with your homeschooling :)
That is a handful, homeschooling 7 of them! But I know what you mean about exploring all the options. I have done different things for all my kids, depending on their individual needs. We have done private Christian school, homeschooling, and public school, and all have been what they needed at various times in their lives, for various reasons.
@Kristenmomof3 - Thank you! It will be a challenge with all the hours I work from home, but after the test results I am getting; I am finding that the independent work my homeschooled kids are doing are definitely getting us where we need to go. ;)
@musicmom60 - Same here. I think the only purpose public school served though, was to prove that it is inferior to what I provide here at home. I guess, though, that it served a purpose in vindicating me in the eyes of the naysayers. (mainly my husband's ex) ;)
Ouch! As a librarian, I was stung by your comment lumping library in with other extra curriculars. If the library program is done correctly, it ENHANCES learning, not competes with it. I'm not naive enough to think that every library program is well run, but dismissing library as not important may be leaving your child out of opportunities to learn how to learn more and better. Library instruction is about equiping individuals to learn for a lifetime, not just for an assignment.
Ok, off my soapbox now.....
well i'm happy for you!!!!you can do it it will be a lot of work but you CAN do it
@brokenbindings2 - I do believe library is awesome and important. I LOVED the library as a kid and worked in one for 4.5 years. ;) I mean, that with kids who are easily distracted.. if they know they have library that day or PE or music or art or media or whatever, that is all they are thinking about in class is the extra they WILL be doing later in the day (which is pretty much every day in ps). Here at home, I can keep them focused on academics and not even tell them if something "extra" is planned in the afternoon til time to go. ;)
@javamommy - Thanks for the encouragment. There is definitely no choice when it comes to that! We have seen the results of the optional choices.
Sounds like you've made a well informed decision.
God bless!
I'm glad it has worked out for you to be vindicated.
My feeling is that education is worthless, in and of itself, so asking "where is the best place to educate my child" is the wrong question... That's what makes it hard for me to respond.
Also, my experience (smoking pot at the bus stop, being molested by neighbors, having suicidal friends, being beat up in the locker room, inflamed with lust by science teachers) doesn't really allow me to feel "neutral" about ANY institutional setting.
As I told my old schoolmate when he asked an opinion:
I can do this as a math equation:
Should my daughter be out of my sight?
Answer:
1. Is she packin' heat?
2. Is it loaded?
3. Does she know how to use it?
If no
Then
No.
:)
@LaurieAnnP - I had similar experiences. wow... like the math equation.
Joan
That is such a sad sad thing about public schools! I know my sons had a terrible time in high school up here...the elective subjects were garbage...no use to anyone. Just a waste of time and money for the teacher to teach it. I really admire you for putting your children first and taking on the homeschooling. It's a definite commitment and major challenge with so many kids. You go, girl!!
Hopefully, your post will also encourage others who are going thru what you did. Take care and God bless you!
I have been doing this homeschooling thing for 20 years now... and have 18 to go. I am soooo TIRED. Lately there have been times when I have wondered if I should put the kids in school. Thank you for setting me straight. Someone once said, the worst day in homeschool is better than the best day in a public school. That may not be totally true, but even when I mess up, I know I am doing the right thing. I cannot imagine having 7 kids at the same time, but hang in there. You will be blessed.