Quote:
Originally posted by NinjaPoodle
ZTAMich,
How do you feel about being home schooled? Did you enjoy it? Were you with siblings or by yourself? What do you feel are the pros and cons of home schooling? Why were you home schooled as opposed to public or private? Are you in a rural area or city or suburb?
I want to know because this is a route I'm thinking of taking when I have kids. (and secular private schools also)
NP
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NP,
Was going to PM you but perhaps my opinions/experiences will help others as well.
I was home schooled for 3 quarters of 4th grade in a Long Island Suburb. The Christian school I had attended since K was low in attendance and became too expensive for my parent to afford. Low in attendance is an understatement, the previous year I was one of THREE third graders. My parents were lucky that the elem school's curriculum (accelerated christian education) was able to be used for Home Schooling and I had an ok transition. However, I think as far as my progress academically, I would say that I didn't make any great advances beyond the levels I was at when I started 4th grade. I was ready for 5th grade yes but ready not above and beyond. The work for ACE was leveled to some extent but I was able to complete as much work in a year as I could handle so by 4th grade I was doing much harder Math & English work which got very hard for me and discouraging. This is where my mom went to our local public elem. school and got me workbooks for 4th grade for those two subjects. This helped my motivation a little bit and got me ready for the format of work in 5th grade. I didn't go bakwards but I didn't keep rolling forward either.
Being at home all day became boring and I resented leaving my school a bit. There was a homeschoolers group in my area and every Friday we got together at a church for some group instruction, church songs/story and socializing. We did a field trip every month or so. One mom taught French in her home to a bunch of us. My parents definetly tried to have the year be successful for my social and academic growth. They knew I would be going to public school for 5th grade, so I think I got away with a lot of laziness. I remember days where I didn't 'go to school' till mid afternoon. Plus my mom had a young toddler also in the house. Not being the only child after 7 years was difficult for me too at times, in addition to staying at home for school all day.
So I've experienced all kinds of things in my educational career! All three, private, home school & public had pros and cons. I had parents who had being teachers in their earlier careers as my teachers but I think they knew I was their child first and did what was best for me in the long run, not just for that academic year. There's a family of 6 kids (maybe more) at our church in Florida and they are ALL homeschooled. Here super organization and discipline is involved whereas my situation was a lot more relaxed. But it fit the times. I think that's a huge pro with homeschooling. Parents know their children and are a natural teacher or at least can prove a lot of insight into how their child should be taught. My mom and I have always been close and I think this year of me being home helped in that area as well.
Sorry this got to be so long. Please ask if you have any other questions!