Comments on: 10 Reasons Why We Home School

By: pre-kindergarten curriculum

pre-kindergarten curriculum — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:18:49 +0000

While we’re discussing the
Rey’s A Point » 10 Reasons Why We Home School, matter, Friends, let me emphasize again the importance of looking into home schooling now. This is not the public school system you attended. Things have changed. Make the move if you can now to get your child started in home schooling. And, if possible carry this on to the 4th grade.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:04:27 +0000

Thanks Janet!

By: Janet

Janet — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:58:21 +0000

I’m a teacher and technically homeschooling takes away from my bread and butter. That being said, I understand why some parents opt to do this and even support that decision. The only thing I think is that if it is done, that there be a pure effort on the parent’s part to fill that social gap, whether that be enrolling students in a class, support or camp. Just so they don’t miss that vital part of growing up, warts and all, and regret it later.

By: Natasha

Natasha — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:03:17 +0000

this is all great stuff. thank you for sharing. does it cost a lot to place them in these programs? do u pay less school taxes by home schooling? do you have access to some of the public school system benefits? like speech therapy or stuff like that? Just curious how that all plays out.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:29:07 +0000

Hey Natasha! This is Rey’s wife. I noticed Rey missed the question about music. Our kids also love music. My degree is in music performance so I definitely want them to be exposed to as many musical opportunities as possible. We have found that there are numerous ways to get your children involved with music outside of school. Our son takes violin lessons at a local music school. The school also has choirs for 1-3 and 4-8 grade voices and an orchestra for the upper grades. They have numerous drama and music camps throughout the summer for all ages. We also have a community kids theater that performs one musical a year. I’m sure there are even more opportunities out there that we have yet to find. I find out about new programs all the time while surfing the web.

By: Rey

Rey — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:41:28 +0000

Hey Natasha:

These are great questions. I think it is important for kids to socialize so we get them involved in various activities throughout the week.

During the Spring and Fall, my son is part of a soccer team where the entire league is made up of home schoolers, public schoolers and private schoolers. One day a week, he is part of a group that meets at the library to do some crafts, watch movies, play video games and read books and do group reports together. Of course he’s also part of a kid’s club one night a week, and he’s got Sunday School on Sundays. Another two days of the week he’s part of a gym and exercise group in the local YMCA, made up of home schoolers and occasional public schoolers. There’s a friend that home schools that we get together with and have the kids play. And also, there’s the neighborhood kids (who go to public school) that he plays with after school.

My daughter, having different interests, is going to be doing some things that are different. She likes swimming so we get put her in the local YMCA to be part of a class that plays together in the water (she doesn’t know how to swim yet, so it’s fun and helpful). She’s also going to be doing ballet with a bunch of other girls from various schooling methodologies.

I also have to be honest and say that I think that social situations have to take into consideration your child’s personality (something that we often forget). Being social isn’t learned by being placed in a social environment; introverts tend to remain introverted. So I’ve noticed that my eldest can play with other kids but a lot of his games are in a totally other realm (big on Star Wars, for example) whereas his sister is all about hanging out in groups and playing whatever the group think decides to play. It’s totally genuine and wild, but makes finding a single socializing model difficult, which I think public school (not private school) tends to do.

By: Natasha

Natasha — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:17:46 +0000

Ray,

Thanks for this. Now that i have my first little one around, rob and I have been discussing the good and bad of homeschooling. I am leaning towards it quite a bit… but my biggest fear is the lack of socialization… a very important part of growing up. If you cant relate or communicate with others then any education is pretty much null and void in my eye.

What kinds of things do you do to keep your children active socially with other kids their age? Do they play sports? How does that work with the school system? can they play on a school team? What about band or chorus? My kid LOVES music… and I have such fond memories of singing in chorus during elementary school and high school….and even college. Are they friends with kids in their public school system?

Thanks again for writing this… would love your comments back on my questions.