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As a mother of a nearly-4-year-old, I am constantly getting questioned about what I am planning to do for school for him. Now, I know that it’s still a bit early for everyone to be so concerned (and really, why is it everyone so interested anyway?) but with the beginning of the school year looming closer and closer for many, it seems that I get this question from friends, family and even strangers at the grocery store!
And my answer to them all is..
Homeschool.
The responses I get are mostly that I am crazy; insane for wanting to take on this outrageous task all by myself.
I really want to know; is schooling at home really so crazy??
I know so many, including both my sisters-in-law, that homeschool their kids and they are pretty dang normal! Why is it such a huge deal to people that I plan to school at home?
My main reason for wanting to teach my children at home is because I believe I can give them an education fit for their unique, individual needs. In public schools and many private schools, ratios are stretched and each child is not given the direct attention that they need. (Now, please do not take offense! I am absolutely not saying anything bad about those that send their children to schools like these; I am purely stating my own personal reasons for choosing homeschooling for my kids.) I am excited to give each of my children the focused education that they need while also spending invaluable time with them, watching them grow and learn every day, through each discovery. I have always wanted to be a teacher and now I get to be, with the best possible students!
This Fall, in just a few very short weeks (exact date tbd), I will begin my homeschooling adventures with my first-born. Cohen is just as excited as I am and cannot wait for us to start school together! I love that he is so anxious to learn and I look forward to the time that I will get to spend with him, helping him begin his journey through learning.
I know that he is still young so we are not going to be doing a lot of schooling but we are going to start with phonics/pre-reading skills. I will be using The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading. This book includes short, 10-15 minute lessons that teach all the necessary skills and foundations for reading. I will be honest; I am a bit nervous about homeschooling but I think that this book will be a great introduction to both Cohen and myself!
I also plan to continue through the Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum that I reviewed about a year ago. We went through most of it but he loved it so much that I want to do this along side our reading ‘work’. I think it will be more helpful now anyway, to go back through the letters and also bring some fun activities into the mix!
Overall, I am confident in my decision to start homeschooling.. I think that regardless of what people think, for right now, schooling my little ones at home is what is best for us (it might change in the future; who knows..)! We will just have to wait and see how it goes!
So what do you think?? Do you think that schooling at home is crazy?
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Kudos to you! I’ve been really interested in homeschooling for the last year, but I’m not ready to take the plunge. My kids are fortunate to go to a Montessori school with a small teacher to child ratio. I wish I knew more about Montessori myself so I could homeschool them. I have several friends who do it and they love it. Please keep us posted on your journey.
I think absolutely you are the best educator for your child! Our public schools are not what they should be and not what they used to be…not to say they are all bad, and certainly many a fine student can come out of them, and while homeschooling may not be for every parent or every kid,, I think a parent who wants to teach their own child, well, that gets all my support!
Good luck to you! You will be great! You will have fun!
I wanted to homeschool so bad. My daughter has never been in preschool/daycare none of that. I started her out when she was 3 and it went just fine. We loved it. But now we’re dealing with getting an evaluation and diagnosis from her psychologist. We’re pretty sure she has bipolar. So at this point I can no longer handle it. I don’t have the patience for her.
We have her enrolled on ABCmouse.com and it’s AMAZING!!! I recommend it for a little backup plan. The kids can get on there a few times a week and do school at their level. It’s pretty amazing.
Avery starts kindergarten in September and I honestly can’t wait.
I may choose to homeschool my son though. We will most likely skip preschool with him too and just do stuff at home. But I’m not sure if it will go on from there or not.
I wish you the best of luck! It is rewarding, but for us, just wouldn’t work out!
I don’t think it’s crazy at all! I personally can’t do it, because I NEED them to go out and be taught by others, but if I thought my kids would do great at homeschooling, I would consider it.
I think its a GREAT idea and plan on homeschooling my children as well (although my oldest just turned two lol). I nannied for a family of five (now they are a family with eight kids) kids back when I was in college that homeschooled and fell in love with it. Here in California you can homeschool with a charter school which gives you the benifit of help from a master teacher AND funding for materials, feild trips, and the arts (gymnastics, piano exc). I seriously have mapped out what I want my kids to learn by the time they graduate because I’m a dork like that and so excited. The only thing I plan to do differently is preschool. I will probably enroll both my kids in a preschool part time program just to expose them to children their own age while they are young. After that, I’m sure they will have plenty of time for making friends at our other activities.
Anyways, I think its great you’re planning on doing this! Lots of mommas can relate!
I love the letter of the week! We used it with 2 of our kids for pre-school. I feel envious of moms who manage a home, and homeschooling. I have not been able to find that balance in my life as I have soooo many things going on at one time. A very wise homeschooling mother of 6 once warned me not to try and juggle homeschooling with lots of other things. It takes a full devotion.
I hear the same comments and I answer honestly! We love it and stand behind it!
Not crazy at all.
I was homeschooled from 4th – 12th grade and I’m so grateful! We just started our second year of homeschooling today (1st grade and Kindergarten) and I love it!
I don’t think home schooling is crazy at all. I was homeschooled from 3rd grade straight until college and I drastically preferred it to public school. My mom kept us highly engaged in every topic and I still vividly remember the lesson plans I did my first year. I want to homeschool my son too, but for now my SO is against it. He is only 18mo old so there is still time to win his dad over.
I hope it works good for you and Jerry
I thought about it,and i really want the best for Carter but we have a very hard time getting along…i HAVE to have him go to school. i do plan on being very involved,keeping him in preschool for 2yrs and hopefully a charter school after that
I don’t think homeschooling is crazy. I think it takes A LOT of work and effort to do it properly though. I also think that a lot of the kids who are homeschooled do not get the best education because their parents did not put in the kind of work and effort needed to give it to them. I do not plan on homeschooling. I went to public school and I feel that there are many experiences that my children will not receive if I homeschool them. BUT I respect everybody’s choice to do what is right for their family and I admire the moms who can homeschool properly.
I was homeschooled until 8th grade then went to a private school where I finished high school in 3 years (didn’t have enough credits left to complete to have a senior year so just added the few I needed to my jr. year!). I plan to homeschool my 2 year old and now 4 month old….
We homeschool our kids and have for six years. It’s not that I have a preblom with public or private school. But I do believe we must pray and do what is best for our children. The schools that were available to us were not the best for our children. I will pray for you in your first year of homeschooling.
So I ve been thinking about this post for a couple days now. No I don’t think you are crazy. I think it’s a very individual choice. Instead I will try to explain why I don’t think it works for us. Naps don’t last long enough is maybe my easiest answer. Today While reading with the four year and helping the seven year old with workbook phonics, the twenty month old is freaking out that they are not included. Twenty minutes of this is fine (which is what we have been trying to do this summer) but I could not imagine being able to get everyone the attention they personally need to be fully rounded academically. And personally I am okay with that and like spending time with the baby! We also like our small private school so that helps. Every year and every child I believe you decide what is best for them, not you. I also think that the moment you stop questioning the decisions you make as a parent is the moment you are being complaisant about being the best parent you can be.
I do respect your choice and think it is very admirable to want to homeschool. I personally was a kindergarten teacher before I decided to stay at home with my kids. Although I think homeschooling is a great option for some families, I don’t think it is the best choice for all families. I think you just have to look at your family and truly make the commitment. I do think it is sad that public schools have such a bad rap, especially since there are so many quality adminstrators and educators out there doing everything for their students (including taking time away from their family to help their students).
As long as you can give your kids quality time with other kids, most likely with the people you already know that do homeschooling, and have fun field trips.
Personally teaching is a crazy journey. I am a high school art teacher and love the challenges. With little ones the challenges are so different. If you ever need some great ideas for art projects let me know!
Was also thinking did you see this site http://www.everythinghomeschooling.com/
Not crazy AT ALL! But being able to manage two other youngins at home while you teach him? You’re super woman
I wish I had the patience to teach my own child. Other kids, sure. Mine? Nope!
I suppose it might seem crazy to some but I’ve loved having my children with me through the years. I KNOW my 20 year old and my 17 year old. When my 17 year old son calls me he always ends his calls with “I love you”. We are close and I credit homeschooling because we’re together almost all the time.
I actually home schooled mine and he loved it but as with anything keeping them around other children is very important. Make sure to join a group for the as well as for you and it will be a wonderful experience.
I don’t think home schooling is crazy. I do believe it is a lot of work, but what part of parenting isn’t a lot of work. There are definitely some huge advantages to schooling at home
I’m homeschooling my 4 1/2 yr old and honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s no better teacher out there for your own children. you are able to take subjects and expand on them like no classroom can and remember, your classroom isn’t just your house, it’s everywhere. I teach my daughter in the car, at the supermarket, at the park, at Disney, at Seaworld, in the backyard, everywhere! I am a firm believer that children learn better through living rather than drilling. My daughter is actually far ahead of where she should be and I know it has to do with the fact that I’m her teacher and she learns through her everyday activities rather than only at school. Peoples biggest worries is the socialization, and that’s not a problem as long as you make sure to have your child in some other sort of group or class somewhere. My daughter has tons of friends that we’ve made through my mom’s group since she was weeks old and she also goes to gymnastics weekly as well. I’ve read in many articles that home schooled children are actually better socialized than school children since they learn to socialize with all ages, younger to adults while those in school concentrate on socializing mostly with their peers. If you’re a stay at home parent, then you should consider giving your children the best teacher, yourself. I’m so glad you’ve decided to go that route.
i also plan to homeschool. i am thinking about getting a degree in education as well to help foster the appropriate tools to make them successful!
I would love to be able to homeschool. I thnk this is a great thing youre doing
I’ve homeschooled my children for almost 12 years now. You can probably guess I don’t think you’re crazy.lol. I think it’s very worth it. It is hard work but it pays off in the end. I think public school can work for some people but personally, I recommend homeschooling for everyone that can. I personally had some horrid public school experiences and I know that contributes to my opinion.
I have also sent my oldest child and my third child to public school briefly. My third also attended speech therapy at a public school once a week. That’s a rare situation but it gave me a really good reminder as to why I’d much rather homeschool my children. I did NOT like what I saw going on at that school during the day.
Besides that I played Bunco for years with a group of public school secretaries, a public school librarian and others employed in really “good” school districts. As the mother of one of those ladies used to say to me- that was a huge shot in the arm for me. She used to call it a Peyton Place if that gives you any idea about the stuff that used to go on there.
I say not only are you NOT crazy but you are probably doing the absolute best thing that could possibly be done for your children. Good for you. GREAT for them.
I hope it’s going well for you! I have no problem with people who homeschool…as long as they don’t put people down who choose to send their kids to public school or act like anyone who went to public school has been turned into a robot or something. Seriously, I’ve been incredibly insulted by people’s facebook posts who apparently don’t think about other people’s feelings. I’m sure that it goes both ways, though, and I sincerely hope you and your children have a great experience with homeschooling!
I think if a person is able to teach at home than they should with all the scary things that happen in the world today, just my opinion. All the things that a child learns at school can be taught at home with a person who is willing to do it. My mom done it with my youngest, out of seven kids, brother and sister and they both went to collage and now are very productive adults and my Mom didn’t even graduate from high school, however she is very smart.
I wish that I had the will to homeschool! I try so hard with my 3 year old and it just isn’t working. I worry about him falling behind and I’m always trying for fun things to teach him in a way that isn’t so schooly.
I really want to home school my children at some point. I really need to start looking into it more.
I hope the homeschooling is going well for you all! I wouldn’t be able to do it, but everyone is different.
I respect what you are doing and don’t think you are crazy. Each person should do what they feel is right for their child and family. That being said, I personally think public school is a better choice. I have always felt that I learn just as much from my peers and interactions with the teacher and other students than just the teacher. I have been deeply inspired by many teachers I have had and I gain from class discussion. I want my children to get inspiration from someone other than me. I have also had some terrible experiences in public school and while I certainly don’t wish some of those experiences on my kids I think that it helped prepare me for the real world. I think homeschooling can be wonderful for some kids though and as long as you are getting them involved in activities with other kids then they aren’t necessarily missing out on anything and are potentially gaining a lot from one on one attention. For me one on one attention isn’t always better.