Homeschool Anyone??

[davidmu39]

Just wondering how many other ODT folks homeschool their kids and why? We gave up a lot several years ago (cable, satellite etc) so my wife could become a stay at home mom and homeschool our kids for many reasons... Didn't like the, for the most part, liberal education that is being taught, didn't want or kids labeled "ADD or ADHD" and medicated, etc. We incorporate everything into our homeschool...gardening, hunting, fishing, shooting, everything we can think of. Anyone else??

 

[SMLEshooter]

We home school our two boys for a whole slew of reasons... This is our first year, and you're right about incorporating everything into it. Project based learning incorporates all the basics such as math, reading, science, etc..

 

[Shrek926]

My wife and I wish we could get our kids out of Government schools.

 

[MissesC]

If you know the right people, you can get your kids into PRIVATE school.

 

[CCW]

My 10, 11 and 12 year old children have never been programmed by the government and have been HS'd since day one. It was a tough decision to give up the wife's salary but the ability for her to focus on their education was priceless. My kids love learning and and as long as my wife stays 100% dedicated to it, there is nothing I would rather her do. Pass me your info and maybe our wives can learn a thing or two from each other.

Next, dont let any of the social robots here discourage you with all the ignorant jargon about "socialization" skills. Most HS'd kids socialize at a much more mature and "adult like" rate, which should be encouraging. There is one type of socialization that I do not want for my kids and that is one of "entitled children and teens who live solely to be cool". Of course, behavior is molded and fashioned in the home but being around 2500 other children, a large portion of which have no healthy socialization or solid parenting, is not supportive to a family who teaches honor, respect and dignity. I certainly understand that some families don't have the choice but education is not a place we wanted to sacrifice since we only get one chance.

We use several forms of curriculums for different subjects including A'Beka. One my wife recently found is called "Supercharged Science" and it is all project based. My wife is ranting and raving over it because my kids are more into history than anything, so some of the other subjects, including science, get a snarl. Not anymore. Every day I come home, there is a new experiment, project or something that they have done that teaches the in depth explanations of most all science. Everything from homemade compasses to static electric generators and more. We also shoot, hunt, fish, build, drive (tractors, ATV's, etc).

To the new homeschool dad; Your kids will stay a WHOLE lot healthier than they did in public schools (if they ever caught public sicknesses that were going around).

Finally, one of the last and most important things I wanted to share was that it is IMPERATIVE to be supportive of your wife as well as encouraging her to get out with her girl-friends. Staying at home, and never enjoying outside life can be detrimental for your wife.......and everyone around her. I literally have to chase my wife off from time to time because she is always planning the next lesson, grading work; and then cleaning, cooking, etc.

As you can tell, this is a passionate subject for me and I will be glad to answer anything from our journey thus far. I think the up and coming teen years are going to be a challenge but I feel as if they have developed a solid respect and maturity so hopefully they will not be "super" problematic. Of course, they understand the word "consequences".

 

[TimCrowe]

We sent our daughter to private school for 2 years and from then on its been home school. I would check into a good Christian co-op program along with the home schooling.
we use abecca academy for home school.

 

[cheddar_bob]

My 10, 11 and 12 year old children have never been programmed by the government and have been HS'd since day one. It was a tough decision to give up her salary but the ability for her to focus on their education is priceless. My kids love learning and and as long as my wife stays 100% dedicated to it, there is nothing I would rather her do. Pass me your info and maybe our wives can learn a thing or two from each other.

PS, dont let any of the school robots here discourage you with all the ignorant crap about "socialization" skills.

Couldn't agree with you more Chris. My friend home schools his 3 beautiful daughters and they are all "social butterflies". There are other ways to have them interact with others, and in their case travel ball and swim team. Some of the local churches in his area offer some home school classes such as choir, band and other group based activities.

 

[CCW]

Couldn't agree with you more Chris. My friend home schools his 3 beautiful daughters and they are all "social butterflies". There are other ways to have them interact with others, and in their case travel ball and swim team. Some of the local churches in his area offer some home school classes such as choir, band and other group based activities.

Yes, forgot about music. My boys take clarinet lessons (they don't care for it) and my daughter takes piano lessons (she loves it). That has given the wife a chance to meet even more moms that she has connected with.

 

[Traderman2011]

This is awesome! My wife and I just started talking about this over the weekend, and she's looking into it deeply right now. I'd also appreciate everyone's input and suggestions for what you've used and what worked well and also what didn't please. Thanks OP for the thread!

 

[thorn]

My personal belief is that the public school system is about socialization more than education. Playing well with others, and dealing with those who do NOT play well with others, are really the only lessons carried forward from twelve years of indoctrination. Obey and Consume ftw!

I find it offensive that a government that embraces violence as a final solution to real-world problems shuns the exercise of same within our education system. Sometimes, people don't take you seriously until you call em a sonofa***** and/or punch em in the mouth; once you speak their language, you can then begin to reason.

/rant off