Home Schooling and Our Kids

Daily Events of Home Schooling: lesssons

Today, like everyday, we get the kids up and running with breakfast. I can see resistance growing in their eyes. They are growling at their food and at each other. We pushed them into gathering their materials, which will be used for today's assignments. Excuses, as to why they can not do one thing or the other mount, are quickly put to rest.

Open discussions about what is expected ensues; finally the kids settle into their routine. Three hours of "Core" course work, then alternative educational exercises to follow. The oldest works on her English and Language Arts, The middle child works on her Math, and the youngest on his ABC's and his reading. Once these assigned tasks are done, then we go to writing essays and reporting exercises.

Not Getting Caught In A "RUT", With Lessons:

Daily, we change subject sets to give some variety to their learning agenda. This way they are not bored and they can plan assignments and catch up on outstanding assignments. We have given extra assignments, to the oldest two children, which are typically written essays and short stories. We spread these extra assignments over a week or two week period. This allows for the children to use these assignments, in they are bored or waiting for their time on the computer.

A Question of Whether to Join a Satellite Course Or Go It Alone:

When we started, a couple of years ago, we joined a private schooling program that offered "off-site" or satellite program. At first knowing that we had an independent testing and record keeping authority, worked well with us and our schedules. However, we found that we could not get as involved with other materials. The scheduled lessons were fixed and the kids testing were graded by our sending testing answers, to the school. Grades were awarded by the private school, then sent back to us, for us to review the information with the kids.

This year, we decided to take matters into our own hands. We reside in a state that allows us to register as a private school, to decide the curriculum and to decide the materials covered. We chose to use this to become closer to our children's educational needs. Thus far, we found that the kids have expressed, their enjoyment in our methods of educating them over public schooling.

Home Schooling or Public Schooling?

In one assignment, We decided to have our children write an essay, as to which they preferred: Home Schooling or Public Schooling." We gave them a week time frame, to complete the assignment. We also told them that no matter their preferences, they were not to worry about getting in trouble for their opinions, nor should they worry about hurting any one's feelings.

(Believe me, they took our instruction to heart and blasted us on a couple of issues. But, by them doing so, we were confident they were being honest.)

Overwhelmingly, the consensus was that they enjoyed Home Schooling, over Public Schooling. Their reasons, ranged from sleeping in late, staying up later, having a given amount of work required daily, and that they can visit the kitchen when ever they wanted. Among all of the reasons cited, by the kids which caught our attention was the limited distractions the distractions of other kids passing notes. Distractions due to teachers aimlessly wondering around them while tests or assignments are being done.