We are ending our sixth year of homeschooling. For the first 1-2 years, I waffled between scheduled and notsomuch scheduled when it came to academics. If not for all our moving, I might have tried to find a schedule that worked until I gave up. Instead, I threw my hands up and said “He’s ahead–I’m not gonna worry about it”.
But we’ve entered a new phase of life…
This was said to me recently when another parent learned that we homeschool. How does this idea even still exist? No, I mean, seriously. Are people STILL so ignorant that they believe homeschooling a child will render them incapable of functioning in society???
Continue reading “I feel strongly that children need to grow up and function in society.”
That’s right, y’all. All of our horribly unsocialized homeschoolers won the Spirit Award for the STATE level Science Olympiad this time–beating out 48 other middle schools (since the spirit award was giving to one team across both Class A and Class AA) in displaying exemplary sportsmanship… OUR FIRST YEAR THERE!
And thank GAWD because it saved us from BigGuy insisting we leave the whole shindig…
If you have a kid that functions better at school than they do at home, this is the phrase that will make you believe not only that you CAN’T homeschool, but that you SHOULDN’T–for your child’s sake (and maybe yours). I hear this a lot… about how “kids need structure”. I don’t disagree with the concept although I may have a different perspective on how that manifests in real life. My son and I do NOT function without structure. Seriously. Train wreck.
Structure: “something arranged in a definite pattern of organization” (thank you, Merriam-Webster online). So how do you create this when you homeschool?
So, there was an interesting topic recently in a homeschool forum and somewhere along the way, a friend posted:
My mom is a recruiter, and has tried to find jobs for people with PhD’s before, because they can’t even find work in their field. It’s sobering. “Doing what you love” is great, but doesn’t always pay the bills.
It occurred to me that people have a misconception about what “do what you love” means…
Continue reading “What they love” vs. “what feeds their soul”
BigGuy is not what most people imagine when they think of someone with Asperger’s. They see my personable and extroverted kid who likes an audience and think I’m out of my mind because “THAT’S not Asperger’s”.
Oh contraire… but it is–I assure you. Not all kids with Asperger’s are the silent, introverted, cannot-look-you-in-the-eye type. Meet my guy… Continue reading How we handle Asperger’s Syndrome
So, here’s the thing: mean girls and bullies exist everywhere. If you think that those of us that homeschool are trying to shelter our kids from this stuff (or if you’re considering homeschooling in hopes of eternally avoiding it)… guess again. Continue reading Mean girls and bullies exist in homeschooling, too
During my Master’s in teaching, I had to review a lot of research that didn’t sit well with me. Often, my classmates and I would exclaim “No wonder what we’re doing isn’t working! The research says it won’t!” Or we would ask “If the research says this, then why is public policy doing the opposite?” We were told that we–the new, untenured teachers–would have to be the change the system needed.
The current teachers in the schools are laughing right now at the idea of a new, untenured teacher attempting to change culture and policy in a school… Continue reading Challenges in educating (all of) our kids
I love homeschooling
No rush to wake up early
Just snuggles in bed
Girly loves, love, loves, LUUUUURRRRRVES the Magic Cabin catalog. Me, too. Inasmuch as our family has tried to phase out “Santa” for more reality-based ideas about the December holidays, Girly will have none of it. She wants to believe in Santa and there’s really no way to gently let her down; and I will not shatter that illusion in a disturbing manner. Continue reading My kids did a LOT of writing today
Educated Adventures 