Homeschooling: Freeper Needs Guidance on *Effective* and *Proven* Programs

quesney | quesney

[quesney]

I'm looking into effective, *proven* home schooling programs and curricula as I come across ongoing reports on the many failings of the US school system. I have an eye toward a future family w/kids, but have a limited budget to pay for private school.

Can expert Freepers out there advise me on the best home schooling programs, curricula, support groups and testing programs out there? I could also use any advice on the U.S. states most receptive to and supportive of home schooling programs.

I'd really appreciate the help, especially from homeschooling parents.

[cgk]

Thanks! I thought so, but wanted to be sure. :)

[Mama25]

I should post some of the notes that my children receive from their teachers and adminstrative staff at their public school. You could correct the grammar of your cohorts, too. You will need a large supply of red pens.

[Theo]

I feel sorry for your home-schooled children

Awe, shoot. Just leave. Your cliched ignorance of homeschooling is tiring.

I'm sure the kind of kids you teach would ridicule homeschooled kids. Like teacher, like student. Ignorance is "cool" nowadays, hm?

[deaconjim]

Question: When your child is sick, do you take him/her to a doctor or someone who practices homeopathic medicine?

I usually handle it myself. If I do take them to a doctor, I choose the doctor, and I make sure it is a doctor that is competent. I don't have that much control with the school system.

When you have a legal problem, do you represent yourself in court?

On several occasions, I have quite successfully done so. If I do use an attorney, I make sure it is one that is competent.

If your basement is flooding because of a leak, do you try to fix it yourself or call a plumber?

As a matter of fact, I would fix it myself. The only time I have ever hired a plumber, it took me several days to fix the mess he made. I'll never make that mistake again.

Teachers are professionals too!

You teach how many hours a day? How many years did you train to be a teacher? I'm a parent 24 hours a day, and I've spent my entire life preparing for the job. In spite of my government school education, I have managed to become quite competent in my ability to teach my kids to learn. I am as much of a professional as any teacher.

For those who have no other options, government schools are just slightly better than nothing. If a parent can send their kids to (carefully selected) private schools, that can be a step up. I homeschool my kids because it gives my kids the best education available to them.

The arrogance of the "teaching profession" is further evidence that homeschooling is the right thing to do. Far too many teachers feel that they are not only more qualified to teach my kids than I, they also feel that they are more qualified to decide what my kids are going to learn.

[Mama25]

Yes, and it's time that they started acting like professionals and being held accountable for what they produce.

If I feel that my doctor, lawyer or plumber has done a poor job on my teeth, my case or my pipes, I fire him or her and hire someone else.

I only wish I could do that with the incompetent teachers I have hired with my tax dollars.

School choice now!

[hsmomx3]

Your kids know how to bully quite well, then. Little good govt. schooling has done them. Most homeschooled kids get along with others regardless of their school association.

[Homeschoolmom]

"The kind of kids I've taught would quickly identify him as an outsider at your community's high school football game and probably give him a "noogie" on the top of his head for lacking in social skills."

The kinds of "social skills" learned at our public schools are not ones that I would want my child emulating. Indeed, your "social skills" could use some help, too, since insults are so easy for you. (Your Borat comment only goes to show that if this is what our teachers are modeling, I'd rather be the model of good behavior myself.) My children see others as individuals and strive to show repsect to everyone.

Walk down your local ps hallway and tell me what behavior you see that you'd want your child to emulate.

[Mama25]

You know, it's probably not meandog's fault. This is what the universities and professional teaching organizations tell their students and members. When my children had to be enrolled in public school, the teachers were pleasantly surprised to find that much of what they had believed about homeschooled kids was simply not true.

Maybe the NEA made meandog rabid.

[Oberon]

I feel sorry for your home-schooled children.

You should meet them before you pass judgment.

[sitetest]

Dear meandog,

"Send him to the prep school--unless you want him to end up with the redeeming social skills of Borat!"

* chuckle *

It's from folks like you that the stereotype of the ignorant, biased, bigoted, incompetent public school teacher is drawn.

Having been born late in the year, if my son starts at the prep school in the fall, he won't yet be quite 13 years old. Why in the world would the administration of this school invite a young boy to come to a school where most of the other students will be a year and a half or more older than him? Perhaps the answer is that when he met with the current principal, the immediate past principal, and the rector, they were impressed with his social maturity, his ability to carry on an intelligent conversation, and his social grace.

In that these men have, between them, nearly a century of teaching experience, and have actually met my son, I think that I'll go with their assessment of my homeschooled son over your assessment, based in ignorance and mired in bigotry.


sitetest

[NoLongerWatchingFraudcastNews]

Welcome to the world of homeschooling. No one cares about your child's education more than you. No one will educate your child better than you.

K12.com is a great place to start investigating homeschool. Their homeschool method was the brainchild of Dr. Bill Bennett. It follows what Dr. Bennett lays out in his book The Educated Child. It is built on the Core Knowledge philosophy of E.D.Hirsch (author of the series that begins with What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know.)

Many states have partnered with K12 to offer tuition free, public virtual schools. You homeschool under the guidance of a teacher to whom you are assigned. As far as I know, the following states offer this option: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Ohio, Washington, Wisconsin, and Virginia (Agora Cyber Charter Academy). Kansas, Minnesota and Utah may also offer options. Check out their website to verify if you live in an area that is fortunate enough to offer this option

[deaconjim]

Isn't it pathetic to watch "professionals" who are facing the reality that they are fast becoming obsolete? It's almost like watching the MSM in its dying days.

[SE Mom]

I homeschooled my son for a couple of years in middle school...in the early 90's. I wanted a non-religious curriculum and chose Calvert- it was superb for both of us. Lesson plans were excellent and the material was excellent- particularly the English and History. One thing I REALLY liked was they included basic Latin as part of the courses..

http://www.calvertschool.org/engine/content.do

[Red Boots]

The kind of kids I've taught would quickly identify him as an outsider at your community's high school football game and probably give him a "noogie" on the top of his head for lacking in social skill

Boy, these are skills I use everyday on the job ! I mean, how would one ever advance if one didn't know how to ridicule and physically abuse those who aren't part of the "in" crowd.

[what's up]

your community's high school football game and probably give him a "noogie" on the top of his head for lacking in social skills

Wow...are you really a teacher?

Are you sure you're not one of the kids?

[Mama25]

AmblesideOnline is an excellent low cost choice for homeschoolers. We loved this program and still use elements of it, even though my children are now enrolled in a small rural public school. (Thank God for schools in small towns!)

http://www.amblesideonline.org

Ambleside is a rich educational plan that incorporates Bible study, Nature Study and observation, Picture Study (art appreciation), Composer Study (classical music appreciation), Folk Songs and Hymns. Shakespeare and Plutarch's Lives are also covered.

From the home page:

Welcome to Ambleside Online, a free curriculum designed to be as close as possible to the curriculum that Charlotte Mason used in her own PNEU schools. Our goal is to be true to Charlotte Mason's high literary standards. Ambleside Online uses the highest quality books and costs no more than the cost of texts. The curriculum uses as many free online books as possible, and there is no cost to use this information or join the support group.

I strongly encourage you to check this site out. I also encourage you to google the term "Charlotte Mason" for background info on her method and theory of education, as Ambleside will make more sense if you have a grasp of the method used. The cmason at yahoogroups is an excellent resource for this as well:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cmason/

[Texas_shutterbug]

Calvert is a bit more expensive, but I recommend it to any new homeschooler who needs a boost in confidence.

If you like the school at home method and can afford it and want to stick with Calvert, fine. Otherwise, I don't recommend any "programs." I prefer a la carte!

[Texas_shutterbug]

As a teacher, I believe you are ill informed and biased against homeschooled. Homeschooling is an excellent option, and with a large family, we've utilized public and private schools as well as homeschooled. My homeschooled kids have been my happiest and most well adjusted, even if I do think they're all great. :)

[Texas_shutterbug]

Yes, I see the errors. I was in a hurry, and didn't proofread.