Am I doing enough?

When we're homeschooling our children we often have questions. "Are we doing enough?" is the biggest question most homeschooling parents have! Now I don't know what you're doing in your house, behind closed doors, but I'm sure if you're out seeking, you're doing your best.

There are general principles in schooling. Mostly, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Science, and History. Your child's grade/age level is another facet in knowing what to teach them at what time. All curriculum out on the market, through Amazon or the source website themselves, have all those resources built in. You can use the whole of one, or mismatch according to what you like best and your child's learning style.

If you are reporting to your local PS (public school) they should provide you with a homeschool packet. They should provide you with all of their PS requirements and within the means of the law you have to comply or they can unfortunately tell you not to homeschool your child. HSLDA can provide you with inexpensive representation for any issues that might come your way in homeschooling. You can claim religious exemption (whether you're religious or not) and then you are free to teach your child however you want.

When reporting to the schools we have submit samples and affidavits and portfolios and all that stuff to prove they're learning what they're supposed to. In either way you choose to "report" your child's schooling you can take advantage of the PS's resources. You can take your child there to have testing, take certain classes, participate in music, sports and the like. Although if doing religious exemption they frown on that largely, it is a contradiction to utilize their resources and yet "ignore" their input otherwise. However, by law you have the right to use it because you're still paying the taxes even though your child doesn't go to their school. The logical reason why they don't like it is because they do not receive the money for your child and therefore have to absorb the expense themselves for your child's participation in their resources. Reporting to PS and showing the intent of having your child participate in certain resources provides them with state funding.

So are you doing enough? Is your child learning at their grade/age level? Are they struggling to keep up? Are they exceeding your expectations? Any of these could be a part of the dialogue that runs through your head. No one can tell you you're not doing enough without knowing you, your child or your situation. If you're doing your best and striving for them to be as on track, as any other child their age or situation, then you're doing enough.

When it comes to homeschooling our children, having their education and best interests at heart are the key.

Socializing your homeschooled children

We were at a volleyball tournament for the 5th graders. Every elementary school in the school district has more than one team and we have a week's tournament. I was talking with a public school elementary teacher today. She was asking about my daughter's school. I told her which team she was on and also mentioned that she was homeschooled. The look on her face was, well, typical. Astonished that I would homeschool my child and have the nerve to mention it at all. What is wrong with her? She didn't ask that, but she did ask me was she socialized enough.

My daughter socialized? No way! She's locked in a tower with only bread and water throughout the school year and I don't let her talk to anyone outside the family! Didn't you know that's how all homeschooled children are!?!

HAHAHA! No that wasn't my answer! I answered that my children are very much socialized, possibly more so than the public school children. She didn't comment further on that part of it so I didn't continue. But we did have a great and wonderful talk about why I homeschool and our structure and the like. The conversation was very nice and pleasant. She seemed confident that I wasn't some lunatic.

But if she were to ask I would tell her that I believe homeschooled children are more socialized because they have the opportunity to interact and communicate with children of all ages and adults that don't always treat them as "little" children. I know most of my peers do not treat my children as though they have to be coddled. By that I mean that in public school the teachers really have to mind themselves so they don't offend a child so much that it steps of the parents toes or the school systems. But out in the un-institutionalized world of homeschool people are people. My children are children, but not in the sense that everyone treats them as such. They are seen as responsible. I am complimented and thanked often when we're out in public for having such behaved and respectful children. Not that they always are, but more often than not they are.

So as for homeschoolers being socialized. Well yes. I don't live in the boonies where my closest neighbors are the bears and birds. I live in a very nice community. And hey, my daughter was there in the public school volleyball tournament wasn't she? Having friends and making more. Knowing a little less than half of the children there from church alone. That was fun to see them.

The average public school child does not socialize much with any other age group other than their own til high school and then it's not all that often. They interact with adults that are constantly correcting them and being only their authority figures instead of their mentors and leaders and confidants.
Homeschoolers are more ready for society when it comes along than the average child in public school.

Spring flings out of cabin fever

It's getting warm outside. The sun is shining more, the birds are singing, the flowers are coming up out of the ground. Time to take your homeschooler out for walks. Time to nature walk. Get a bird book. Each state has one. Barnes and Nobles has them. Not real cheap though. Usually you can find one cheaper through the Amazon link on Applemama. Get a book to help you identify flowers too. Lots of homeschool science curriculums have that included in your studies. In Sonlight Curriculum 3rd grade Science has them learning all about plants and animals. Great stuff.

I've been so ready for this nicer weather. Here in PA we've had a pretty bad winter. Although not as bad as others I've heard. We acquired another rabbit and duck today. Owning animals is a great opportunity to build your child's character in so many ways. They learn to care about another life other than their own and also learn to manage responsibilities.

Feel blessed and free that you have the right to homeschool. Germany and Sweden are fighting for their rights. They are being imprisoned for do so. We may have to answer to the public school system, we may have the ability to just write a letter of our intention to homeschool under religious exemption, but either way, we have the freedom to do so. There are no laws that say we cannot homeschool our children. I know Virginia is reviewing their laws of religious exemption. Pennsylvania is deliberating their laws on the same, but nothing is iron-clad that we can't claim it.

Call it a blessing to be able to homeschool. Our children are our legacies and we must do our best by them. If the public school system is not meeting the needs of your child then you have that option to homeschool. I know quite a few people who have wonderfully intelligent children who just aren't learning to their full potential in the public school. The public schools can only do but so much with the multiple learning styles they have in children. And not every teacher can cater to every learning style. A teacher is as good as their imagination. And who knows your child better than you do?