Posted on 11/16/2006 7:13:57 AM PST by 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.
Yes, our town has several "Friday Schools". They teach everything from Art to Chemistry. The programs and resources available to hs'ers are wonderful!
The average non-boarding private school tuition is about $4K, well within the means of a job at McDonalds serving hamburgers. Additionally, there are scholarships to many schools...teachers are extremely more qualified than parents in the education of children (especially if the child is gifted or talented). Here is some information about private school tuition choices if you desire click here
Many hs'es who could afford private school still choose to homeschool. I don't hs simply because it's a last choice. It was and has always been our first choice in the education of our children.
I'm not someone who believes that it's "wrong" to send a child to public or private school, but neither do I believe those institutions are superior to homeschooling. Homeschoolers have proven themselves to be capable of outperforming most public and private schools. Homeschooling is just as much a legitimate choice as a private school. The added bonus of knowing my children, and being the primary influence in their lives is just icing on the cake. :-)
I disagree with you.
Someone working at McD's is not going to work there to pay for tuition and most couples have more than one child.
Please forgive me, but if "qualified" teachers are the answer, then why are so many kids failing and why are so many kids not able to read by 3rd grade?
I think you have to look at this as openly as possible. Parents know what is best for their kids, not teachers or anyone else.
Are you a qualified teacher? Just wondering.
"The average non-boarding private school tuition is about $4K"
In Maryland?!
I have been told that some private Catholic schools in Phoenix charge over $10k per child.
I'm extremely grateful for all of these helpful responses -- keep 'em coming. This is such a great forum. Thank you!!
Regarding teacher qualification -- studies have shown that the homeschooling environment produces better results. The average homeschooled child scores on the 75th percentile on standardized tests (where by definition the average student in the US is 50th %ile.) Even if many parents feels ill-equipped, they can learn to teach their children and given them a supportive environment ESPECIALLY up through 6th grade. Having children who simply love to read and learn at this level puts them ahead of the game, irrespective of whether the latest teaching trends were used. (We typically had to turn off the main power to our kids' rooms at night to get them to put down their books and go to sleep!)
In my mind socialization is even more important and, contrary to claims by the NEA, it is the homeschooled kids who are far more socially adapted to life in the real world, (which is usually not age segregated!) One of our eldest's college profs turned one day and said, "You were home schooled, weren't you?" and then rattled off a list of observations that supported his conclusion: less affected by peer pressure, very free and comfortable interaction with professors, inquiring mind, etc. A very revealing interaction.
Mrs.. Moose says:
As a mother, and a homeschooling one at that, I respectfully disagree. Our children need their moms! Especially in this day and age where children are going up way to fast (thanks to their peers who we can't choose for them when they are in school public or private). Children need mom to be there in the morning and be there when they come home from school (if they go to school).
The beauty of homeschooling is being able to choose the education your child receives, choose their peers/friends, choose the activities they are involved in, etc. I realize that many teachers do not believe that parents can teach their own, but we can, we are in large numbers, and we do a wonderful job! I am part of a homeschooling charter school and I could introduce you to many parents who are very successful. Further, I KNOW that teachers do not parent the children in their care--and are not supposed to! Children need parents much more than they need teachers!
Lest you believe I am being too controlling of my children, try seeing that I am being a parent who isn't afraid to lead my children, protect their childhood, and educate their head, heart and hands in the best way I know how. Far superior to any school choices we have here.
As for homeschooling methods I personally recommend Waldorf Education which educates the child through his head (thinking), his heart (feeling) and his hands (doing). We focus on nature, art, beauty of the world around us. We explore topics from learning our letters to Physics with our thinking, our feelings and our doing. We don't limit education to a desk and paper, but bring in the world to our learning. Children educated through Waldorf have a love of learning and a strong ability to continue learning throughout their whole life, and they know where to find what they want to learn! For more information on Waldorf Homeschooling you can visit my website: www.therapeutichomeshcooling.org, and these others www.live-education.com www.christopherushomeschool.org
Thanks for letting Mrs. MooseDung put in her two cents!
Earlier this year, the homeschoolers here put together a thread with suggestions and advice on curriculum. You might find something there you like. Here's the link:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1657398/posts
San Antonio Texas and the surrounding area is a "Mecca" for home schooling. You can look at the wesite http://www.homeschoolfeast.com/.
When I came to the DFW area I was shocked about the multiple factions here without much cooperation.
If a kid doesn't know how to read before they get to school, they're already way behind. As Gatto says, it takes about 30 hours to teach someone to read. Might as well spend that 30 hours when they're 3, 4, or 5 years old than have the schools waste 3000 hours on it.
As a homeschool grad, married to another homeschool grad, I totally agree.
Perhaps...it's arguable. However, your average professional teacher is terribly handicapped by his or her teaching environment, and by strict limits on his or her ability to impose classroom discipline. On top of that, the professional teacher, no matter how gifted, trained, and motivated, is a hireling. When parents teach their children, both the parent and the child understand that it's not just a job.
I believe these points swing the balance of excellence toward homeschooling, and I suspect (though I have no statistics readily at hand) that on average the results of homeschooling bear out this belief.
That said, some private schools can meet or exceed the results of a good homeschooling environment. Choose carefully.
I used phonics with my kids and all of them were reading before their fifth birthday!
The problem in govt. schools is that they no longer use phonics.
Studies also show that while homeschooling may have merits for some kids, most children do not get what they need to excel in a "real world" environment. Parents, being parents, cannot be objective and unbiased about academic performance. They have not been schooled in certain educational theory (Madaline Hunter, Piaget, Gagne`, Gardner, Renzulli, etc., etc.). It is also a proven fact that gifted and talented students do better in homogeneous groupings because they are peer challenged and will strive to excel.
I'm not saying that you can't do a good job with your homeschooling methods, what I am saying is that private schools (and certain public schools) will do a better job.
tapestry of grace is a good one.
"Studies also show that while homeschooling may have merits for some kids, most children do not get what they need to excel in a "real world" environment"
Now this sounds like typical liberal thinktank stuff.
Homeschooled kids are in the real world. They are out and about attending field trips, plays, you name it.
Are you a teacher?
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