Memo: Top 10 Reasons to Criminalize Homeschooling

Memo: Top 10 Reasons to Criminalize Homeschooling

In an effort to increase the public drumbeat for criminalizing homeschooling, a memo has been distributed containing the top 10 reasons why public schooling is better than homeschooling. Here is an excerpt from that memo:

Most parents were educated in the under funded public school system, and so are not smart enough to homeschool their own children.

Children who receive one-on-one homeschooling will learn more than others, giving them an unfair advantage in the marketplace. This is undemocratic.

How can children learn to defend themselves unless they have to fight off bullies on a daily basis?

Ridicule from other children is important to the socialization process.

Children in public schools can get more practice “Just Saying No” to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.

Fluorescent lighting may have significant health benefits.

Publicly asking permission to go to the bathroom teaches young people their place in society.

The fashion industry depends upon the peer pressure that only public schools can generate.

Public schools foster cultural literacy, passing on important traditions like the singing of “Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg…”

Homeschooled children may not learn important office career skills, like how to sit still for six hours straight.

Preping your Homeschool Teen for Higher Education

You may be tempted as a homeschool mom to ignore the academic world beyond your front door, however if you have a homeschool teen please don’t give in to this temptation!

My homeschool teen and I just arrived back from a lovely trip to Boston to allow her to take some rigorous classes at MIT(Massachusettes Institute of Technology). While I pride myself on providing a challenging academic program at home, it was lovely to see my hard work validated and for her to gain experience in a highly diverse academic environment.

This experience required that she find her way on a fairly large college campus and be mentally engaged in several academic topics covered in several classes during the week. On our arrival, my daughter may have felt slightly overwhelmed and little short on confidence that she could do it, however to her surprise she found her way, learned something new, and met new friends. She is now more confident than ever that she is ready for college and life beyond.

I encourageyou, as a homeschool parent, to make every attempt to find micro-expriences such as these to give your student a boost of confidence for their academic future!

Homeschooling, Laziness, Boredom, and Acheivement

I’ve recently discovered something about homeschooling. My child can at once appear lazy and bored, yet be fully engaged in the learning process.

Now, I know what you’re thinking; “that kid’s got her fooled”. Say what you will, but think about what I’m saying. Kids don’t always “look” engaged when in reality… they are. Case in point, my daughter was listening to music and making a “click click” noise repetatively on the computer. I looked at her and thought, uggh, why isn’t she doing something productive. Almost as if she had read my mind she takes off her headphones and jumps up and down enthusiastically… apparently she finally achieved first grade status as a Japanese student. You mean that “click click” blob I was looking at was learning Japanese??

Hmmm… you mean learning can take place not at a desk with a workbook? Perhaps, it can take place where and when you least expect it and horrors, without my help?!

I’ve had to get used to this type of thing, but its a nice thing to get used to… Kids learn in their own ways, and when you give them time and space to explore… you never know what will happen!

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

The Future of Education

My 4th Grader is a Great Teacher!

Now, this may not seem a likely topic for a homeschool mom, but it is the most fitting one. If you have read any of my earlier post you know that I was really trying to be “scheduled” this year. Well, the Maxwells suggested something I’d never thought of before; schedule time for the kids to teach each other. I wasn’t sure how this would work for me since my children are pretty far apart in ages, but I thought I’d give it a go.

I decided to schedule my 4th grade daughter a 30-minute time slot where she would teach her 4-year old brother phonics three times per week. I figured it would be reinforcement for her and for him a bit of fun with sister at the very least. Actually, what has happened is that my little boy has learned numbers, letters, handwriting, colors, math, and beginning reading skills all from his very serious 4th grade teacher. I was not expecting her to take the job so seriously. She expects him to pay attention and do homework! I have been pleasantly amazed! I’ve even purchased additional phonics supplies based on her very professional suggestions.
“Mom, he needs more practice on his colors. Can you buy a game for him?”
How could a good homeschool mom say no to that?

I must say that this arrangement has given me the free time I need to have one-on-one time with my high-school daughter without worrying about the where-abouts of my 4-year old! Not to mention, that my 4 year old has learned oodles from his very motivated big sister. Also, my 4th grader’s reading has improved by leaps and bounds since she is reviewing those basic phonics concepts daily! Eureka!
Now, this is why I homeschool!

Are You New to Homeschooling?

In an earlier post I talked about my Notebook idea. Well, I chucked the work-boxes all-together. Its just tooo many boxes for me to buy. Instead, I am using Homeschool Easy Records lesson planning/transcript/school records software, and it is working fabulously! I have version 2, and it was just what I was looking for. I create assignment sheets for each child that spans a 2-week time period using the Homeschool Easy Records Software. I print them out every other Sunday. This software allows me to enter new lesson plans anytime, bump up or down lessons when we take the odd “mental health day”, and create a basic transcript for my teen with the click of a button.

I then hole-punch these assignment sheets and place them at the front of their homeschool notebooks. For the record, each child has 2 notebooks – with tabbed dividers for each class. One HOME – homeschool notebook (for all the classes I teach at home), and one Co-Op Notebook for any lessons taught in their Co-Op. Its sooo wonderful to tell them to just grab their notebook, and I can instantly see what they have completed- or not, as the case may be!

Well, this is what has worked for us. I pray that your organization efforts are just as fruitful and successful!

The Importance of Friendship and Support

As I went through a small homeschool and personal crisis, I was incredibly blessed to have some very good friends to support me. They prayed with me, cried with me, and cared for me. I can’t tell how much that can help you through some of life’s rough spots.

When you homeschool, you are essentially, at times, an island unto yourself. It can get a bit overwhelming and discouraging when you are faced with daunting task after task; day after day after day. However, for me it has been the friendship of more experienced homeschoolers that has made the difference in my life.

Just the other day, I was at a very dear friend’s house until 6am just talking and praying in agreement. What a wonderful way to start the new year! I also have wonderful friends at my coop. We chit chat and share our experiences. This time of fellowship alone has saved me from so many mistakes and kept me pointed in the right direction when I started to drift. I am also apart of a daytime bible study called CBS. These women are prayer warriors! I thank God for them because they are truly blessing my life in a profound way.

If you are a homeschooler, who has not had an opportunity to fellowship with other like-minded homeschoolers. I encourage to open your heart and embrace a new friend. You might be just what she and you needed!

Transcript Boot Camp Coming to Williamsburg!

Transcript Boot Camp on DVD
A Special Training Seminar for Parents of Home-Educated High Students!

Now you can attend Transcript Boot Camp here in Williamsburg! Get your teens involved, and learn how to produce credible, professional high school transcripts that will be respected.

The class has a $6 suggested donation per family for the entire series- dads, grandparents, everyone in your family is welcome to come! Classes will be held at the Williamsburg Christian Church in their sanctuary, starting at 11 am., and are scheduled to be 1 hour long.

Session 1, September 8th — Diplomas, Accreditation, Graduation, Forms & Format, Academic History

Session 2, September 15th — Grades, Carnegie Units, Textbook Equivalency & Time Logs

Section 3, September 22nd — Curriculum Tips, Class Rank, Grade Point Average & Weighted Grades

Session 4, September 29th — Extracurricular Activities, Test Scores, Privileged Information, Vital Attachments, Portfolios & Resumes

Children will need to be supervised. We are opening up our classes to participants of this event. If you need child care for your child, you can choose the Montessori class for the youngest ones or art for elementary students- standard class fees apply. Preregistration for those classes is essential. Middle school and high school students should watch the tapes with you or work quietly by themselves.

http://www.homeschooltranscripts.com/Home.aspx

Click this link to find more about Transcript bootcamp and it’s creator.

You can sign up in the calendar section of this group- https://www.homeschool-life.com/va/wcc/. For your convenience, You can even pay by paypal after signing up!

Getting Organized…

Well, at this point in the year, I really begin thinking about how I will organize my upcoming homeschool year. I ordered Managers of Their Homes, and I am devouring Teri’s great advice on scheduling for the homeschool family. I also had the good fortune to stumble upon Sue Patrick’s Workbox system and now I’m really trying to figure out how I can combine Teri’s schedule and Sue’s workbox to make something perfect for me.
What I like about Teri’s scheduling is that I can see just how much I have to get done in a glance, and my kids are not constantly asking me what comes next; they can see for themselves and work independently. I love that she schedules in time for the kids to play with each other and personal time for herself (what’s that?). I don’t like the finality of the Maxwell schedule however. Maybe I won’t FEEL like Math at 9am on Tuesday? Maybe, just once, I’d rather do English with my 10yr old at 9am on Tuesday. Then what?
Which brings me to what I like about the Workbox system. I love the “neat-i-ness” of it. The neat clear boxes on the “neat” rolling cart, your child just goes from box to box during the day until they have completed all 12 boxes. Yes, 12 boxes! Each child must have 12 clear boxes on a rolling cart containing the day’s lessons and activities, including boxes that allow for games and enrichment activities that always seem to slip through the cracks during normal school days. I love that the kids “check-in” to school each day via “neat” little paper pockets and laminated “school cards”. Nice. What I don’t like is that with 3 children that means I’d have to have 3 rolling carts with a total of 36 of those little boxes! Please… I barely have room for the kids in my school room.
So now, here’s what I’m thinking will work best for me, perhaps a book shelf with 4 clear containers for each child.
container 1 (daily work for home – English, math, music, etc), container 2 (Co-op Work- work that must be completed for our weekly coop- science, rhetoric, spanish,etc), container 3 (CBS – work that must be completed for weekly bible study), and container 4 (Enrichment Activities and Games). Next, I will have a schedule that allots time for School+a box number only but doesn’t assign a particular subject at a particular time – when a child sees “School” and a box number on their schedule they will know to go to their assigned box/container and pull out their assignments for the day and do them in the order that pleases them.
Okay, I’ll post pictures when I get this all set-up. What do you all think? Genius or disaster?