tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post3612200715104911665..comments2024-03-05T11:36:50.299-05:00Comments on Stand and Deliver: Home school or public school: What if you don't like either option?Rixahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07908864785513937876noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-63895470177682319852012-06-19T23:00:13.482-04:002012-06-19T23:00:13.482-04:00Hi Rixa, I'm curious as to whether you enrolle...Hi Rixa, I'm curious as to whether you enrolled Zari. The A&E program is very good, and they've never given me grief for pulling the kids out to travel (Harmony missed the field trip to the zoo because she was busy exploring Sequoia National Forest...and saw a bear in the wild!) I hope you find an answer that works for your family.Annnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-22390745906936178762012-02-18T22:38:32.343-05:002012-02-18T22:38:32.343-05:00Good luck with your decision...it is a difficult o...Good luck with your decision...it is a difficult one. I homeschool my 6 (soon to be 7) children, and while I think it is the better of the two choices available to me, I don't think it's ideal. If we lived close enough to a Montessori or Charlotte Mason school, that would be my first choice.<br />Anyway, I just thought I would comment on the "weird" awkward home-schooled kids thing. I direct a homeschool co-op in our community, and the thing that I have really noticed about that is that the most common scenario is that the family is homeschooling *because* the child is awkward. I counted up the other day, and approx. 30% of our families in the co-op (we have about 40 families participating) have at least one child with high-functioning autism - which can definitely manifest as "weird" and "awkward". In other families, well to be blunt...their parents are weird, and the kids are like their parents. In families where autism spectrum is not an issue, and the parents are reasonably normal, so are the children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-88261505838800462062012-02-17T22:47:26.669-05:002012-02-17T22:47:26.669-05:00look into john taylor gatto. Read his books, liste...look into john taylor gatto. Read his books, listen to audio. Then make a decision.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-74603609922103076782012-02-10T20:15:23.141-05:002012-02-10T20:15:23.141-05:00I think the computer ate my last comment--trying a...I think the computer ate my last comment--trying again! <br />With regards to homeschooling, you may find it doesn't add as much to your workload as you are imagining. Honestly, by the time you deal with getting a child ready for school, school paperwork, meetings, and fundraising, and of course homework--school takes a lot of time and effort on the part of mom--with the disadvantage that you don't get to choose which directions your efforts go in. And as you pointed out, it takes vast amounts of a student's time, and doesn't use it very efficiently. For me, not wanting to mold my family's life around school schedules and requirements plays a big part in my decision to homeschool. <br />As others have pointed out, you don't have to make a long-term decision right now. Kindergarten is super easy to do at home, and with a bright child you can probably accomplish in about 4 hours a week what the public school would accomplish in 7 hours per day each week. One thing I have done is sought out one or two families with a similar range of children and similar educational philosophy, and planned one class together on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. We've done history, Spanish, and science this way. It gives my kids a chance to interact on a regular basis with a small group of friends, and gives mom some much-needed support as well. I like this system better than the larger co-ops, at least for young kids. We've also done larger group classes with other homeschoolers--choir, P.E., gymnastics, etc.<br />Honestly, I've never found an educational situation that I thought was ideal--partly because I think it would vary depending on the student. I'm intrigued by the model that has students attend classes 2 or 3 days per week, working at home the rest of the time. I've seen a few charter schools that follow this model. And I was tempted by the Mandarin immersion program in the next town over--but we would have had to move to get into it. I've found most of the things I want for my kids I can find or create. A few things (like Mandarin immersion) I have to be content to dream about for now.<br /><br />--SarahSarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14264793471581720644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-19169043869037478782012-02-08T21:38:26.829-05:002012-02-08T21:38:26.829-05:00The school across the street is now used for some ...The school across the street is now used for some kind of pre-K speech therapy or special needs program, so unfortunately it's not an option.Rixahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908864785513937876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-7460675142145139392012-02-08T15:59:06.509-05:002012-02-08T15:59:06.509-05:00I haven't read all of the comments, so perhaps...I haven't read all of the comments, so perhaps this has already been suggested, but if you like the school across the street, can you pay to attend? In Texas, we can send our children to other districts' schools as long as we pay for it (it's about $3200/year, the same as what the school gets per student from a city's tax base).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-47028566048918958262012-02-03T16:08:34.894-05:002012-02-03T16:08:34.894-05:00There are so many comments I can't read them a...There are so many comments I can't read them all, but: studies have shown that the students who do best in public school are the ones whose parents are involved. If you go the public school route, take time to be involved in your daughter's classroom, and to talk to her at home about what she's doing in school and educate her about things she's not learning in school. It can work just as well as other options (says a staunch unschooler).Bethhttp://www.nerdydoula.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-58114060341435653472012-02-03T15:51:18.681-05:002012-02-03T15:51:18.681-05:00I have a friend who has found a way to get the bes...I have a friend who has found a way to get the best of both worlds. her kids have transitioned back and forth between home and public school depending on their needs at the time. they have been very successful, and it has been a terrific decision for their family.Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703334707738126703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-91572305667770748892012-01-31T23:22:49.268-05:002012-01-31T23:22:49.268-05:00Is there a preschool that you could put her in rig...Is there a preschool that you could put her in right now? You said she needed something more, and this would give her something. It would also provide a transition to school if that is what you decide since your only option is full day Kindergarten. It's hard to go from staying at home all day to full day school, so getting her some part-time schooling right now will be really helpful. It would also allow you and her to get a feel for what school will be like. I had the same struggles with my son who is now in 1st grade. We opted for school and he is doing well, though I am concerned that he is not being challenged academically in a couple subjects. I am continually working with the school to make sure his needs are met, but he is making friends and happy so far. We would homeschool if he needed that, but I hope to make school work for as long as possible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-37302065486518385332012-01-29T20:41:53.391-05:002012-01-29T20:41:53.391-05:00Rixa, I thought of another thing after our phone c...Rixa, I thought of another thing after our phone convo. It's that chartered or private schools might demand you vaccinate your kids. Our public schools don't like it if children are not vaccinated, but they can do little about it as it is not state mandated (nor should they be!), but a friend from our ward wanted to send her kid to a private school and they turned her away because she refused to vaccinate. TTL and good luck!LisaJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09522420008436130132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-63768036887106650192012-01-28T22:39:14.747-05:002012-01-28T22:39:14.747-05:00Whatever you choose, remember that it is in no way...Whatever you choose, remember that it is in no way a permanent one. Whether you choose to send her to public school or homeschool you can later decide the the other option was better for her and make the switch. You (and she) aren't tied to her schooling choice for the next 13 years.Deena Blumenfeld RYT, RPYT, LCCEhttp://www.shininglightprenatal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-33954873795797276392012-01-27T19:53:23.014-05:002012-01-27T19:53:23.014-05:00I had the saaaame problem. my oldest child is abou...I had the saaaame problem. my oldest child is about to turn six and she would be in her second year of schooling if I sent her to school. I was so undecided, I even enrolled her in junior kindergarten, but then changed my mind in the fortnight before school started. <br /><br />I have some reading recommendations for you that really helped me: #1 "The Homeschooling Book of Answers : The 88 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices" truly an excellent book that will give you so much more confidence for homeschooling. #2, everything John Holt wrote. "how children learn", "how children fail" I think he wrote like at least five or six books on the subject of education. his books really gave me the information I needed to make the decision not to engage my kids in "Early childhood education" programs. <br /><br />Im still undecided as to whether I will always homeschool, but so far I am 100% sure that I made the right choice to not put my kids into kindergarten.<br /><br />this is coming from a woman who lives in a small rural town in canada with very few other homeschoolers, and only one other unschooling family. it's really quite rewarding to watch your children learn from life.amy cahoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05758700957091652134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-83906592612860729002012-01-26T19:45:38.255-05:002012-01-26T19:45:38.255-05:00Perhaps investigating some unschooling outdoor lea...Perhaps investigating some unschooling outdoor learning<br />groups in your area could turn something up?<br />Do you have a local attachment parenting group or forum where<br />you could ask about options for zari?<br /><br />Or I suggest perhaps.... You could move to my nook<br />of new England where the education choices are full of <br />options! There are 4 major colleges round here where you<br />and your love could apply for proffesorships...<br /><br />Just sayin. =)Erinhttp://erinnewmanlong.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-11819296857945280232012-01-26T00:52:52.663-05:002012-01-26T00:52:52.663-05:00Try different options for Zari and see what seems ...Try different options for Zari and see what seems to click for her. <br /><br />Some kids do just fine in public school. For others, it's not a good fit. For some, homeschooling is the perfect fit, yet not for others. Same for private schools of various approaches. The question is to find what works for YOUR family.<br /><br />My eldest started in public school kindergarten but it didn't seem a good fit for her (despite a terrific teacher), and I hated all the time used on testing.<br /><br />Homeschool was considered, but she expressed very clearly that she did NOT want her parents to be her teachers. Some kids just really need you to be their parents only.<br /><br />Ultimately we found a small Waldorf-inspired school that was a very good fit for her. Challenged her in many ways but gave many opportunities for creativity and imagination. And she emerged with an enthusiasm and spark for learning that she observed was mostly missing in her public school friends at high school.<br /><br />The rest of my kids are continuing with this and it's been a very good fit for each of them. I found having other teachers gave them much richness in their lives, even as we supplemented school at home in an informal way.<br /><br />Full-time homeschooling works for some but I see strengths and weaknesses to it. Part-time homeschooling works for many people and seems to bring the best of both worlds in many ways. Others get together with like-minded parents and put together a small private or charter school if nothing is available locally. That has worked well for us personally (we didn't create the school but we've been instrumental in helping it survive).<br /><br />Experiment and see what seems to work best for Zari and the rest of your family. It's okay not to have all the answers right away. You'll find your path.Well-Rounded Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04129621631406155340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-91539975841345987002012-01-24T22:38:39.657-05:002012-01-24T22:38:39.657-05:00I just stumbled upon this site, but wanted to shar...I just stumbled upon this site, but wanted to share that I struggled in the same way. I had actually hoped to find a Montessori school, but we live in a rural community and did not have that option. We decided to try homeschooling, starting with kindergarden at 4 1/2, just in case she or I did not take to it :-). It has turned out to be a most incredible experience. My children are incredibly gifted, and teaching them at home has allowed us to move at their pace (which is essentially as fast as I want to go!) We can go deep where we want to go deep, and focus on things they are truly interested in while still covering all the bases. They retain SO MUCH MORE when instruction is hands-on, one on one. As homeschoolers, we are planning on dual enrolling in a university like Regent when they are in 11th grade, so that their last 2 years of High school will also count as thier first 2 years of college. Ask any college professor, and homeschoolers are often the most engaged, enjoyable, studious kids they have in class. <br /><br />All that said, the most important benefit I've found is actually getting to KNOW my children as they grow up. Not just at the dinner table or in front of the TV. Not just outward answers but distnace at the heart level. I get to do life with them through their growing process, and they get to share their hearts with me... I LOVE that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-76632625385967827582012-01-24T22:04:45.267-05:002012-01-24T22:04:45.267-05:00I used to tutor professionally and had several stu...I used to tutor professionally and had several students that were homeschooled. Basically the deal was that I showed up and did the school four days a week for 3 hrs. The parents took them on outings, and we coordinated. The kids were in a nice home daycare/preschool for two days a week as well for socialization. <br /><br />This worked well for the kids through 2nd grade or so when the decision was made to put them in a local charter school. This also worked as kindergarten is not mandatory in CA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-90620721805757570552012-01-24T21:37:04.475-05:002012-01-24T21:37:04.475-05:00I look forward to hearing what you decide, Rixa. ...I look forward to hearing what you decide, Rixa. I too, have done a whole collection of public, part time public and homeschool and now have all four of my kid at home. No situation is truly perfect and the balance is finding something that will work specifically for your family. <br /><br />I decided to move away from the public system because of many of the reasons you list and I didn't like how much (all) control I lost over my children's exposure to pop culture by being in school. <br /> <br />Like so many have suggested, you could organize a co-op homeschool or do some part time nursery schooling. There is so much pressure at age five to head off to kindergarden. You can easily wait another year before you make a decision and find other avenues for Zari to learn from others and socialize.<br /><br />I believe children choose kindergarden at this age, if left to make the decision themselves, because everywhere they go folks ask them if they are excited about school. The idea of saying they are not going is completely foreign to them.<br /><br />A whole day at school is also very long for those who have stayed home up until this age.<br />You can use tutors, and other small group learning opportunities that you find along the way so that you do not have to do all the educating.<br /><br />Best of luck in your decision.<br />ErinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-30860992855130677532012-01-24T17:17:09.789-05:002012-01-24T17:17:09.789-05:00I think that Zari deserves a chance to spread her ...I think that Zari deserves a chance to spread her wings a bit and learn from people in the outside world. Will it be ideal? Perhaps not. But neither would a homeschool situation. She deserves a chance to meet more of her peers and figure out some things for herself. I would not be too worried about the "bad" things (sex, drugs, etc.) in kindergarten!!! Teach her to think for herself and trust her. I think she will flourish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-43741199223659121642012-01-24T02:01:28.342-05:002012-01-24T02:01:28.342-05:00If there were a charter school, or a Montessori sc...If there were a charter school, or a Montessori school, or something like that, it would be quite likely that she would be with her peers throughout her schooling as well. I went to a small junior high, where all my classes were with the same group, and I loved it. I made such deeper friendships there than in high school, where I had more classmates.Kelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09270189372994253642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-203705594446539742012-01-23T23:26:56.734-05:002012-01-23T23:26:56.734-05:00After agonizing over this decision, we chose publi...After agonizing over this decision, we chose public school. My daughter is in first grade and is happy every single day. She asks to go to school on the weekends. She has plenty of time to play at school, and she has plenty of time to play at home since I purposely have not signed her up for any extra-curricular activities other than piano. So when we're home she plays with her brother and sister. She enjoys doing her little homework worksheets. <br />So maybe she'll like school like my daughter has. Maybe I'll make a different choice down the road if I see any behaviors etc... that I don't like. But for now, it's been great.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18131329061258803210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-87320680181929268012012-01-23T22:41:42.175-05:002012-01-23T22:41:42.175-05:00I am so happy you wrote this post and I just spent...I am so happy you wrote this post and I just spent the last half hour re-reading it and the comments. Please please do a follow-up with what you've decided and how you came to that decision!<br /><br />I feel the same way you do - I don't agree with the structure and lack of freedom that the public schools give and feel ambivalent about homeschooling. I know I'm a ways off, but I do think about it and what I want to offer my daughter when that time comes.<br /><br />You are a caring mama and will make the right decision for you and your babies! **hugs**Desireehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17783433189150911236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-7233006405410340662012-01-23T10:11:27.748-05:002012-01-23T10:11:27.748-05:00Youll be surprised to hear me say send her to kind...Youll be surprised to hear me say send her to kindergarten! You can always bring her back home. You can also take her home everyday at lunch and be registered as part time homeschooler. <br /><br />As a veteran homeschooler whose own antsy lil boys are now in 1st n 2nd grade at the local school, and a 5th and 8th grader and 3 year old homeschooling, it does notruinyour day very much, rather creates a new rhythm. <br /><br />Im more and more into littles going to school and bigs being home than vice versa--and this from a huge fan of Ray and Dorothy Moore!<br /><br />For us, this school has been a cheerful happy experience all round. The boys are proud of their art and gym and music and the homework has been manageable and easy.<br /><br />Check it out. Dont agonize. Try it for a few weeks. Might be a really nice experience. If its sucky or mediocre you can bring her back home!<br /><br />Also there may be nursery/preschool/daycare type places that have young 5s programs etc. Not free, but u might have the option of less hours<br /><br />Good Luck! Been there. Love u all!Housefairyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158143680987249710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-10029239928928239652012-01-23T02:51:33.057-05:002012-01-23T02:51:33.057-05:00I'm going to homeschool part-time. My child wi...I'm going to homeschool part-time. My child will be attending public school (we have an alright one, actually) from K-2 at least. There is an option for k-12 online school after that point, but that will also be her decision if she'd like to try it. Until that point in time, I will use a few hours after public school to help educate her, mostly in things she is already interested in- such as art,but I will try to to help with concepts she might be struggling with at school as well. I'm currently homeschooling her for pre-k (I bought an oak meadow curriculum for that, but it was worthless; a philosophical handbook, a wrong-headed one at that!) and it is a great deal of work to piece together lesson plans. I could not do this, be a mother to my kids, and WORK, so we must either use an online public curriculum to make sure she gets the high-level of education or public school with a great deal of back-up and support. Homeschooling has become very popular. And for people with a great deal of resources, it is an okay choice. Most of the kids I meet who are fully educated at home, however, are lacking in areas that might or might not be a problem later. I'm not willing to risk that with my children, and I believe they deserves the broadest set of opportunities we can give them. For our situation, that involves using the public school system.E. B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12162227067543973587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-86392274695297247172012-01-22T17:42:57.916-05:002012-01-22T17:42:57.916-05:00I had the same challenge... my son started Kinderg...I had the same challenge... my son started Kindergarten last fall, 7 days after the birth of our 3rd child. I had been planning to homeschool, but my husband thought that would be too much stress on top of a new baby and our 17 month old, so off to Kindergarten he went. (He also really wanted to attend school with his church friends). Our school district has all day Kindergarten as well, but a 4 day school week. I was able to arrange for my son to only attend Kindergarten on Tuesday and Thursday each week. He gets the interaction with other kids, he gets to participate in P.E., go to the library with his friends, and have music time at school as well as his daily school work, and he is assigned extra homework for the 2 days each week that he misses. (The entire day of "extra" homework amounts to no more than 5 worksheets.) We have "homeschool" on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, dedicated time where we complete his homework, read stories and play games. It has worked well for our family. The biggest advantage to it (for me) is that my son is out of the house for 8 hours twice a week, and my now almost two year-old has really thrived being the oldest child for 2 days a week.AmberLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18128643724431390899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20642800.post-90769707956698058312012-01-22T12:08:03.185-05:002012-01-22T12:08:03.185-05:00A lot of the above comments have suggested that yo...A lot of the above comments have suggested that you wait a year before making a decision, since Kindergarten is generally not mandatory, but the sentence in your post that really stuck out for me was when you mentioned that Zari seems to need more than she's currently getting. My daughter will be 4 in May, and is "supposed" to start kindergarten - full-day - this September. She, too, wants more than she's currently getting at home, particularly socially. She adores other children and craves time playing with others and building friendships but I am very, very wary of putting her in public school for a variety of reasons. <br /><br />What really creates a struggle for me is that, as uncomfortable as I may be with the current system and as many cons as there may be to putting her in public school, I feel very strongly that her own wants and desires should factor very heavily in the choices that my husband and I make for her. <br /><br />Our plan, such as it is, for the coming year is to keep her home and make a concerted effort to arrange playdates and homeschooling group gatherings several days every week. It will likely mean that we burn a lot of gas and spend a lot of time in the car - which seems a little ridiculous considering we live a block and a half from the elementary school - but it seems to be the right choice for this year. Next year, though...perhaps we'll choose differently. We're trying to take the AP-principled approach: we'll do what works so long as it works for everyone, and if it stops working, we'll make a change.darlene mcleodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10388221011175331452noreply@blogger.com