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Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/22/2010 10:28:33 PM
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enter_address_here
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Actually, my daughter is 5, hasn't started kindergarten yet.
My wife and I are contemplating homeschooling her, my wife was homeschooled until High School. There is no question that she will learn more at home, but I'm worried that she might miss a lot of great, or at least constructive, social interaction with other kids
The problem is, Elisa just simply isn't the type to sit quietly and listen to a teacher, or do an assignment for a long time, she is 5 and not used to it.
I want it to be her choice, and she wants to go, but I feel she will change her mind in a couple months, if not weeks.
My wife says, we should just homeschool, and that the school board or something might hassle us once we are on the radar and fully enrolled, is there anything to worry about if we decide to unenroll her in a couple months?
I mean, she is worried they will hound us about curriculum and ask to see workbooks or something, but it will be avoided completely if we simply never enroll her.
Anty thoughts...
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/22/2010 11:01:21 PM
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garsyt
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IF you want to homeschool then I would say go for it now. HOWEVER if you do enroll her and she changes her mind and you decide to pull her out than kindergarten would be the time and likely the easiest grade to do so in.
BUT your child might surprise you. The school might surprise you. In kindergarten, contrary to popular belief, kids are not made to sit still for long periods of time. There is a lot of movement happening in kindergarten classrooms. Depending on the homeschooling regulations in your state, I highly doubt you'll have a whole lot of opposition if you do decide to pull her out. Quite honestly, now days they have a TON of bigger problems, mostly budget related to worry too much about one child being pulled out to homeschool.
Blessings,
Garsy
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/23/2010 12:13:36 AM
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theprincessbuttercup
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I have many friends who homeschool, and none of them have ever been hassled by a school or school board. So hopefully that wouldn't be a problem. I am tempted to ask you to expound on your certainty that your child will learn more at home, but I will refrain (since I am a teacher).
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/23/2010 1:06:46 AM
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enter_address_here
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I simply mean that I can teach my daughter much more one on one in private then a teacher trying to keep up with a large group of kids. I don't mean to say that teachers are not good, i simply mean the curriculum is large and it's hard to get each kid all the attention they need when there are so many kids.
I also know my daughter much better and knows when she needs a break or when she is losing interest and it is time to stop.
< Message edited by enter_address_here -- 7/23/2010 1:25:34 AM >
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/23/2010 1:30:06 AM
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theprincessbuttercup
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I think that homeschooling would be an excellent way to begin schooling. My DS probably would have benefited from that. He was not yet ready for the structure of a classroom, loose as it was at that age. And there is something to be said for one-on-one attention. Do you have any homeschool groups in your area? And if you are involved in a church with a good children's ministry, your DD won't miss out on socialization.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/23/2010 4:12:33 AM
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manda59
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quote:
ORIGINAL: enter_address_here
The problem is, Elisa just simply isn't the type to sit quietly and listen to a teacher, or do an assignment for a long time, she is 5 and not used to it.
How do you know that she won't do this, for a teacher?
What "type" do you think does do this?
How many 5 yr olds do you think *are* used to it?
Are you absolutely sure of how the school (that your daughter would go to) operates for that age group?
At that age, my children went to state school (your public school) here in the UK. I *also* taught them at home as I had done before the started school. It all melded together really well.
The schools they went to were brilliant - only short periods of sitting and listening, short assignments to match attention spans, and "chill out" times/naps on cushions/beanbags.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/23/2010 7:11:33 AM
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JuliaHop
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Have you prayed about your school decision? If you and your wife feel that you should homeschool then it is your decision not your daughters. Your dd has no school experiences, so she really doesn't know whether or not she wants to go to school.
Unless you are in a highly regulated/anti homeschool state you shouldn't face any hassles if you choose to homeschool after your dd starts school. Not knowing your wifes age, she might have been homeschooled in the day when it was not technically legal and families did have more problems with schools.
The HSLDA web site has a listing of the homeschool requirements for each state. They are a wonderful resource.
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For God so loved the World, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/23/2010 8:57:33 AM
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stellaluna
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While kindergarten was an enormous waste of time for me, I did homeschool for awhile and did not have the same learning opportunities that I would have had in public school. I never did catch up.
Also, I don't know of a single public school that expects kids to sit quietly and listen until at least middle school, and even then it's not usually in all classes.
And I usually agree with Garsy, so I'll be quiet now.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/23/2010 9:10:26 PM
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igsie
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I want to chime in here even though I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said!
Students are not expected to sit for long periods of time and teachers use a variety of activities and teaching methods to keep things clipping along at a decent rate of speed to keep the children interested and involved . This is necessary anyway, to meet the needs of the ADD/ADHD children in our schools. But the rest of the children benefit, as well.
Try the school! Many classrooms these days are student centered, and not so much teacher centered anymore. The kids are contributors and participators; everyone has something to add to the others.
How about this for a comparison!! It is like a rich, delicious vegetable soup--the variety of vegetables adds to the soup, and it is so much more delicious that just a one-ingredient soup!
If school doesn't work out for your daughter after giving it enough time to really know, then pull her out. Maybe it will take the entire school year to really know, and you can wait to pull her out before the following school year. If you do pull her out in the middle of the year and if it is not because of the teacher that you pull your daughter out, please make sure the teacher knows that! Be sensitive that this could be hurtful to the teacher. But it doesn't have to be, if you handle it right!!!!
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 12:41:58 AM
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deermousie
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quote:
ORIGINAL: enter_address_here
There is no question that she will learn more at home, but I'm worried that she might miss a lot of great, or at least constructive, social interaction with other kids
I am a California credentialed teacher who homeschooled our child through high school. When I taught in public school, I did a lot of crowd management and teaching to the lowest level of the class so all would pass (the principle insisted). Some of the social interaction was kids being bullied or socially-aligning themselves with the bully to protect themselves. When you have a class of 30-40 kids, the teacher can't keep a finger on every pulse of what's happening.
OTOH, kids at home align themselves socially with their parents, the mature people who love them enough to crawl across broken glass for them. That's not at all like a bully. Socially, I am convinced kids are far better off with the adults who love them and are teaching them how to respond to life in a way they've already proven works. Bullies don't teach healthy social skills.
You can join a homeschool group and go on playdays and fieldtrips and so on. My kid took writing classes with another mom, and I taught my specialty to all the kids in the homeschool group. My kid got crafts, museums, homeschool competitions of all kinds, field trips, debate, soccer, science classes with labs (frog dissection) and prowling the woods for protozoa and fungus. They had parties and lots of social interaction.
quote:
The problem is, Elisa just simply isn't the type to sit quietly and listen to a teacher, or do an assignment for a long time, she is 5 and not used to it.
The Russians don't put their kids in school until they are 8, and seem to do fine. My mother didn't go to school until she was 8, too, and she caught up to her age group in less than a year in spite of the fact she wasn't an English speaker. In homeschooling, your kid can progress at her own pace.
quote:
I want it to be her choice, and she wants to go, but I feel she will change her mind in a couple months, if not weeks.
She's 5 and incompetent to choose. You choose what is best for her according to what you know about her (I mean incompetent in the legal sense, not that there's anything wrong with her).
quote:
My wife says, we should just homeschool, and that the school board or something might hassle us once we are on the radar and fully enrolled, is there anything to worry about if we decide to unenroll her in a couple months?
I think it's easier if the school system never sees her, as some schools will make illegal threats. Definitely you want to belong to HSLDA. When the school system sent us a questionaire about our kids, I threw it in the trash.
quote:
I mean, she is worried they will hound us about curriculum and ask to see workbooks or something, but it will be avoided completely if we simply never enroll her.
Some places do this. Contact HSLDA and find out what the deal is in your state and go by that.
By definition, the average public schoolkid's education rates at 50%. Across the board, homeschoolers rate at 86%. Better education, better socialization, and better life. To have them be in a secular system that is hostile to God violates raising your children in the reverential awe and discipline in the Lord and giving to Caesar what is Caesar's - God gave that child to you, not the government.
In the homeschool group we were in, nearly all the kids are now in college and doing well, and one just graduated from the Air Force Academy. Your local high school probably has a horrendous drop out rate and the graduates aren't as well-educated as the homeschooled ones are, speaking by averages.
Warning: homeschooling is a terrific burden, so to speak, as it really ties up the mom. She could use your help around the house and all the emotional support you can give her. The well-educated, moral, solid citizen your child is likely to grow up to be makes the investment gilt-edged! 
Oh, and you don't have to be a credentialed teacher to teach your kid; that's nonsense. If you taught your kid to talk (a very high level function) and half-way dress herself, you can be an excellent teacher. People with emotional problems or who are unstable shouldn't try, but everyone else should be pretty much fine. I'm credentialed, but I couldn't teach your kid as well as you because you love her and would do anything for her and I would just be the hired help.
God bless you guys.
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People died to give you the Bible in your language.
Read it. Eat it. Dwell in it. Rightly divide it. Live it.
Laugh, dance, praise your God, and go read some more. And God bless you.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 1:14:09 PM
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theprincessbuttercup
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There is a homeschool forum on this site that I would be willing to bet has some wonderful resources and support on it. I am a proud public school teacher and both my kids have gleaned wonderful benefits from being a part of public schools, so I don't know much about it other than what my friends who homeschool say. And as I said, none of them have ever been hounded by nosy public schools. You know your daughter best. There is nothing wrong with homeschooling - it can be a wonderful way for a child to have an education....just like public school can.
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Jude 24, 25
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 5:32:33 PM
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daughter_of_faith
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We are moving DS (age 7) to homeschooling this year. I haven't informed the district yet; however, I will do within the next couple of weeks (so he isn't reported as "truant").
The homeschool folder here is very supportive and has lots of good advice. As others have mentioned HSLDA is also very helpful as it outlines what various states require. I would encourage you to check it out, discuss it as a married couple, and pray about the decision.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 5:55:27 PM
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1redfern
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quote:
ORIGINAL: enter_address_here
My wife says, we should just homeschool, and that the school board or something might hassle us once we are on the radar and fully enrolled, is there anything to worry about if we decide to unenroll her in a couple months?
Your wife brings up an excellent point here. It would be easier to start with homeschooling and then move on to a different type of schooling if necessary.
I wouldn't worry about socialization for a homeschooled child, even if it's an only child. Unless you lock your child in a closet, she is being socialized. The only difference is that when she is homeschooled, you and your wife have more control over HOW she is being socialized than you would if she were public or private schooled.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 8:07:17 PM
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theprincessbuttercup
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Not to be nosy, but do I live in a bubble? Where are all these schools that are trying to stamp out home-schooling? I don't normally say much about this, but since it is the public and private school support folder, I have always felt relatively safe being a public school person here, so I am a little confused.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 10:33:08 PM
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1redfern
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I'm not saying that the schools would necessarily try to stop her or really say anything about the decision to homeschool. Just saying that I can see where it would be easier from that standpoint to start off homeschooling. I used the public school system and I am very thankful to them for the education that my children received. However, as we all know, when it comes to educating children there is no one-size-fits-all. I could be wrong, but I don't think the OP posted here just so he could encouragement to public (or private) school his daughter. It seems to me that he was asking for what was best overall for his family.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 10:44:01 PM
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stellaluna
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quote:
ORIGINAL: theprincessbuttercup
Not to be nosy, but do I live in a bubble? Where are all these schools that are trying to stamp out home-schooling? I don't normally say much about this, but since it is the public and private school support folder, I have always felt relatively safe being a public school person here, so I am a little confused.
I don't think they exist. I think it's some weird homeschooling idea that gets perpetuated by other homeschoolers.
If the OP wanted encouragement to homeschool, he would have posted in that folder, right?
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/24/2010 10:56:59 PM
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Sideways
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quote:
ORIGINAL: theprincessbuttercup
Not to be nosy, but do I live in a bubble? Where are all these schools that are trying to stamp out home-schooling? I don't normally say much about this, but since it is the public and private school support folder, I have always felt relatively safe being a public school person here, so I am a little confused.
I've heard a few stories about some nitwit admin who gave a potential home school parent some bad information, and it gets blown up into a massive conspiracy against homeschooling. Sort of how one stupid waiter makes a comment towards a woman breastfeeding in a restaurant and suddenly all of society is trying to shove breastfeeding women back into the bathroom to nurse.
I think there are individual cases that do exist where some principal is anti-homeschooling and tries to make life difficult for someone, but all you have to do is politely inform the person of your legal rights and the drama ends there.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/25/2010 7:32:45 AM
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ta_mosquito
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Moving from Public & Private School Support to Parenting.
Thanks!
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/25/2010 12:47:00 PM
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BelleWeather
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quote:
ORIGINAL: deermousie
quote:
ORIGINAL: enter_address_here
The problem is, Elisa just simply isn't the type to sit quietly and listen to a teacher, or do an assignment for a long time, she is 5 and not used to it.
The Russians don't put their kids in school until they are 8, and seem to do fine. My mother didn't go to school until she was 8, too, and she caught up to her age group in less than a year in spite of the fact she wasn't an English speaker. In homeschooling, your kid can progress at her own pace.
The Russian public school system doesn't exactly operate that way.
There are state-sponsored day schools for 1-3 year old---mostly unstructured play, music, art and color, health and hygiene, sponsored meals, basic alphabet, reading, language and mathematics---all the children are observed, tested for special placement in
subject-specific kindergartens.
Second form kindergarten schools for 4-7 year old---structured sports and open play, directed art projects, age-specific reading, mathematics, science and language lessons and classes---again, all children are tested through the year on their progress and affinities.
Many children go on to regular Third form schools (like a standard elementary school in the U.S.). The difference is that their reading, math, science and language skills are more advanced, and children that show proficiencies are placed in schools that expand on those talents.
I showed an aptitude in foreign languages (French, English, Greek), mathematics, gymnastics and dance in day-school. I was placed in a kindergarten that specialized in the liberal arts. From there I was accepted into a Third Form school for the arts, an arts boarding school (high school age) and received a dance scholarship to college.
The education system in Russia is a hold-over from the former Soviet structure. It was retained and expanded on because of its efficiency and national standards.
_____________________________
Jessica Rabbit: You don't know how hard it is being a woman looking the way I do.
Eddie Valiant: You don't know how hard it is being a man looking at a woman looking the way you do.
Jessica Rabbit: I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/25/2010 6:25:26 PM
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TXRedhead
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
quote:
ORIGINAL: theprincessbuttercup
Not to be nosy, but do I live in a bubble? Where are all these schools that are trying to stamp out home-schooling? I don't normally say much about this, but since it is the public and private school support folder, I have always felt relatively safe being a public school person here, so I am a little confused.
I don't think they exist. I think it's some weird homeschooling idea that gets perpetuated by other homeschoolers.
If the OP wanted encouragement to homeschool, he would have posted in that folder, right?
Actually, they DO exist. I don't personally think there are tons of them, but I've seen enough people in homeschooling who've had to go to ridiculous lengths to prove they're not doing something detrimental to their children by homeschooling. I know of one woman who has to appear in court every 6 months because their district keeps bringing them up on charges of truancy, despite having all the paperwork in front of them that they do, in fact, homeschool and are doing it legally. She'll be moving to another state soon, so she's gone for what should be the last time to defend themselves against the district.
I will say, though, that I believe they're rare and much depends on the state. Some states are very homeschool friendly; I happen to live in one of the best in that regard. Others are more rigid. Ultimately, I think it just comes down to being that person who hits on that one power hungry imbecile in a district who was in a bad mood on a particular day. Our school district is actually very hospitable to homeschooling and even encourages the people who do it. A district near us even allows homeschoolers to participate in their sports programs, at least on the elementary level.
So, yes, these schools exist, but most are certainly not out to get us homeschoolers. And I say this as a former professional school teacher who taught in public and private schools and now homeschools. I personally see the benefits and negatives of them all.
However, as to the OP, I would suggest researching homeschooling in your state and in your local area. Are there homeschool groups nearby? Do you have access to extracurricular activities in your area? Does you child have relatively easy access to other kids in the neighborhood, church, a homeschool group, etc.? If the answer to those questions is 'yes,' then I'd recommend giving homeschooling a 'go' from the start. However, if the answer is 'no,' then I would recommend researching your local school to see what it's like; if it seems like a positive atmosphere and gets strong positive reviews from the parents there, you might give that a shot instead.
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/25/2010 7:57:19 PM
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3cappuccinosmom
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The school district we're in right now has been very difficult with homeschoolers. We aren't facing that because we're in a state cyberschool, but others have.
I would say it is probably easier to start out homeschooling than to go into the public system, and then have to convince your local school district that your child is not "dropping out" or truant. 
Leaving that aside, for the OP: I actually PM'd you while this post was still in the public school forum, as I didn't want to get into it there.
If socialization is your big concern, please understand that we homeschoolers are not all anti-social cave dwellers.  Not even most of us are.  I have met only one homeschooling family that fit the stereotype of "wierd" in that regard, and in their case it was obvious that homeschooling was a symptom of their issues, not a cause. The parents were weird. They had weird ideas. They deliberately cut themselves off as a family from relationships with others, and they let their children essentially go feral. However, I have met far more brilliantly sociable homeschoolers, who were confident in any kind of social setting and successfully integrated into "the real world" after graduating from homeschooling. In both cases it wasn't the form of schooling that made the difference, but the parents. The same holds true for public schooling. In my three years in public highschools, I met plenty of peers who'd managed to get almost all the way through public school and still be poorly "socialized". 
If "socialization" is a priority for you, as parents there are plenty of opportunities to give your child to socialize, if you choose to use them, and if you teach your child in the home how to relate well to others. We are a very home-centered family, and even so there has been no lack of opportunity for our children to relate to peers (co-ops, gym, same-age neighbors, church) as well as to people of a variety of ages in a variety of social situations.
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The Ballad of Bad Biruk
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RE: Taking child out of school to homeschool - 7/25/2010 7:57:20 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 1938
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quote:
I am a California credentialed teacher who homeschooled our child through high school. When I taught in public school, I did a lot of crowd management and teaching to the lowest level of the class so all would pass (the principle insisted). Some of the social interaction was kids being bullied or socially-aligning themselves with the bully to protect themselves. When you have a class of 30-40 kids, the teacher can't keep a finger on every pulse of what's happening.
Okay - this is another point that drives me bonkers! Yes in some areas there are classrooms of 30+ children BUT that is not everywhere and that is what is being insinuated here.
In the schools in my area, Kindergarten aged children start in a classroom of no more than 23 children. All day kindergarten classrooms are not to have any more than 21 children. Half day kindergarten classrooms typically have less than that. Also in our school has an aide for the half day teacher and an aide that floats between the two full day kindergartens. AND our district works with a local college that needs a place for teaching students to do their practicums.
I'm sure that this story is different all over the country.
That said Homeschooling is a great option - I did it myself for a time.
IF it were me, I'd do my homework. Talk to parents in the district you are currently in. ASK questions that you'd like answers too. If possible go and visit a kindergarten classroom in the school your child will attend. Also google your school district and look up as much information as possible - good and bad!
When my eldest was entering school, because I did my homework and KNEW what things were like in this district we were living in and I KNEW I couldn't in good conscious send my child to school in that district. When we were looking to build a home and move we looked specifically in one area for land. We KNEW where we wanted to be, because, again I did my homework and went and visited the school in advance. Then the district kinda took us for a ride for a little bit, closing a school, opening another, closing yet another and opening another and then redistricting everyone - but I just knew that everything would be great, because I knew WHO to talk to to get the information I needed. You have to be willing to do a little investigative work before making a decision.
Blessings,
Garsy
_____________________________
"And I usually agree with Garsy, so I'll be quiet now." Stellaluna - July 2010
My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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