Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group HomeSchooling

I wondered, since so many of us spend our days at home, how many are homeschooling their children? We got started a few months ago and we're loving the freedom and atmosphere that it provides.

Leigh :)

We've been at it for 8 years now. We have 4 children, so it started out like a one-room school. Today, we are much more relaxed. My goal was to help my children learn how to learn. What an adventure!!

When AS flared its ugly head, homeschooling was the one constant in our lives. Mom had to have help getting out of bed and getting dressed, but she could still help with Algebra. And my kids have learned to be compassionate and big words like Ankylosing Spondylitis.

I have been around long enough to see the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is no such thing as a one size fits all education. Homeschooling is one option that works very well, but is not right for every family. We tried it, and it fits just right!

I am heavily involved in my state's homeschooling organization and would be glad to share what information I have if anyone is interested.


Hugs,

Cindy

We homeschool here. I love it. It's a challenge at times but I am glad I'm putting things in Anna's head instead. I had one go throught the system (she started homeschooling in 11th grade) and I can see a difference.

My school age children are 5 and 6 1/2. They both started school this past August. I had taught them what I thought was alot myself, but at times they didn't want to learn, they wanted to play. Once they started school, I couldn't believe how much they learned and how fast they learned it. They listen to their teachers much better than they listen to me. I think the environment had alot to do with it. They did whatever all the other kids were doing. They were in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. My one in Pre-K took an end of the year test that is for Kindergarteners and he not only had the highest score in his class, but had a higher score than some of the Kindergarteneres!!!! And my one in K was right up there in the top group!!!! I am sooooo proud of them. I know they would never have learned so much here at home. A friend of mine had 2 daughters 11 months apart and could only get the oldest into headstart at the school so she enlisted the youngest in home bound headstart. She isn't teaching her herself, a teacher comes to her house. She can really tell a difference in what they have learned. The one in school is much more ready for Kindergarten. So, as you can tell, home schooling wouldn't be good in her case and I don't believe it would be in mine either.

My cousin was home schooled and she doesn't know how to react around alot of people. She starts to hypervenilate (did I spell that right?) just going to walmart if it is too crowded. She had no friends other than me. She never dated until she met a guy at church and is now unhappily married to him. She and I think it would have been much better if she had went to school and learned to deal with people, problems, and peer pressure.

I also know 2 teenagers who have been home schooled by their mother since they were in grade school and they love it. They love the freedom, they are very smart, the only problem is that the girl is 17 and has never had a boyfriend. She doesnt' get to associate with anyone her age. But if you asked her which she wanted to do, she would say home school. So I guess it just depends on the personality of the kids.

Amanda

But you, personally, don't have any experience with it?

I deal with this kind of attitude all the time. Kids do learn a lot from their peers. Walk down the halls in any high school and ask yourself if this is what you want your children to learn. Our experience with the schools wasn't as pleasant after the children got out of elementary school. Even most teachers don't think it's the ideal learning environment for a child. There are many different ways to homeschool and it should never mean that the child's socialization skills should be sacrificed.

Children have a natural curiosity and love of learning. Let them play...they learn more while playing than while sitting bored in a classroom.

Do you really think that a stranger is better able to teach your child than you are? Who will care more about the outcome of that learning experience?

Which is more important? The social aspects of dating at 17 or an educational foundation to build the rest of your life upon?

I would just like to add that "experience with peers" isn't all it's cracked up to be :P

Homeschool vs. the system is a very individual choice and takes a lot of investigation, and it does, in fact, depend on the personality of the kids. (But I think personally I would rather have been homeschooled.)

I would like to add/respectfully disagree that the emphasis should NOT be on "getting a boyfriend"! I personally have NEVER had a boyfrend and now I'm 26. I thank God for that every day! I wasn't pregnant at 16 like so many of my classmates and friends were, among other things. The boyfriend comes AFTER the education, if at all!!!

Rox
http://www.geocities.com/artisan1998.geo/index.html

Edited by Rox on 06/11/02 06:10 PM (server time).

Hi Leigh
I've no experience of home schooling myself and don't know anyone who has. I did however at one time consider it as a short term measure for my son, who is now 13. Matthew has ADHD and when we lived in Canada in his 2nd last yr of elementary he had an exceptionally awful teacher, who did not understand my sons needs at all. Matthew had a miserable six months with this teacher and had the teacher not taken sick leave then I was prepared to home school Matthew for the remainder of that term. I had no idea how to go about it, but at that time it would have been the only option for my son.......so I agree in that home schooling is the best option for some kids.....but with the right school and teacher.....it can work that way too.

I've had a look at your website and I admire you for what you are doing, and taking a stand when your kids needed you to......well done!!

Take care
Jackie

Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels, but their magic sparkles in nature.

I have 3 sons, one of whom I home schooled back when it was UNheard of--practically. I had to fight everyone with this idea. The next year, being a wimp, I let him go back to public school, and before the first week was out, he was begging to be at home again. He was ADD, which was only found out through my preservering the one year I did teach him at home. Good did come from our experience.

As for the child who is timid after home schooling, I know of a situation which was worsened in the public schools but when the parents brought the child home to learn, she blossomed. She is now in college and doing much better. Her parents had tried everything, but nothing worked till they brought her home to learn with them. They had also tried private schooling, which didn't work with her.

I applaud all of you who are home schooling. I think it's a step you'll never regret, for however long you continue with it. Nationally, if testing means anything, the ones who are home schooled genereally come out way ahead of the rest of the class when their schooling is over.

GA Susan

Jackie: That's interesting because my son Matthew is also ADHD. He'll be 16 this september and is staying with his father this year and going to a private school for boys. He had so many problems in public because the teachers just never seemed to have time to give him the individual attention he needed. It was easier to medicate than to deal with the interuptions in a class with 30 other kids.

Susan: Thanks for the cheer! I think the studies are now reporting that homeschooled kids have an average ranking at between the 80th and 95th percentiles nationwide.

Rox: I was a member of that "caved to peer-pressure", "sweet sixteen and pregnant" demographic. I gave up college and a career for something that I wasn't ready for. It's so great that you've been able to put your education first!

Laura: How old is Anna now? I've also noticed such a change in attitude in such a SHORT time!

Cindy: I'd be very interested in any thoughts you might have on "college-bound"?



This is not a decision that we came to lightly, nor should anyone. It takes a lot of time and patience and love and understanding. Anyone considering homeschooling should first take into consideration the needs of the individual child.

Leigh :)

HI! I DONT HAVE PERSON EXPERANCE WITH THIS, I NEVER DID, BUT MY OLDEST DAUGHTER STARTED HOME SCHOOLING HER KIDS THIS WILL BE 3RD YEAR. MOSTLY BECAUSE MY GRANDSON IS ADHD AND ALWAYS IN TROUBLE AT SCHOOL. THEY HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF THIS NOR DO THEY CARE. EVEN KIDS MEDICATED CANNOT SIT FOR HOURS IN CLASSROOM. I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER GRANDCHILD, MY OTHER DAUGHTERS SON, WHO SHE IS HOMESCHOOLING. YES HE IS ADHD TOO! YOU CAN BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF FOR GIVING A CHANCE. MY DAUGHTER HAS MET A LOT OF OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS AND THEY HAVE A GREAT NETWORK OF KIDS AND PARENTS. MY GRANDKIDS HAVE ALOT OF FRIENDS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SO THEY ARENT LACKING IN ANYTHING. PLUS I DONT BLAME ANYONE FOR WANTING TO HOME SCHOOL THE WAY SCHOOLS ARE TODAY. YOUR DOING GOOD!

TAKE CARE
CONNIE