12/18/2000

Homeschooling - Part 2

Readers continue to share their knowledge and curiosity about homeschooling, offering information about many avenues to curriculum materials, accountability and socialization. Thank you to everyone who has offered their experiences with this complex undertaking! (Also, see Part 1.)

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I am the mother of a homeschooled 13-year-old and 6 older children who went through the traditional public school system.

In my 13-year-old's case, the decision to try homeschooling came about when she was in the third grade. Although she was emotionally unhappy in school (and bored with the curriculum), we made her finish out the year so she wouldn't develop a "drop-out" mentality. She had never been thriving in that environment, due to extreme shyness, a hearing loss and visual problems. She excelled at her schoolwork but was very unhappy. I tried working with the teachers, the principal and the school psychologist, but none of these things made much difference. Her first year of school, she never spoke to the teacher once. The second year, she began responding verbally to her teacher about halfway through the year. At this point the principal decided she no longer had a problem and discontinued extra services and the assistance of the "planning and placement team".

During third grade my older daughter suggested that we give homeschooling a try. She had begun homeschooling her 4-year-old son, who is a sociable child and academically on grade level or above when compared to his traditionally schooled friends.

I was terrified at first. I didn't know how to begin, where to locate curriculum, how to find out whether what I could offer her would at least keep her up to the traditional standards of each grade level. I didn't know what sort of records I needed to keep or how we would fare at a "Portfolio Review." In addition to those concerns, there was the dreaded "S" word: Socialization! We live in an isolated neighborhood and my daughter's shyness virtually paralyzed her when in the company of anyone outside her family. How could we address that issue?

My older daughter suggested that I find a support group and contact the Connecticut Home Educators Association (C.H.E.A.) for help. Talking to others who are also exploring educational alternatives is extremely helpful. C.H.E.A. also publishes a monthly newsletter called" Hearthnotes" at www.cthomeschoolers.com. The newsletter has information on support groups, legal requirements, etc. There is also a good online newsletter available for free via email: This newsletter contains extensive listings of field trips, classes in widely varied areas of interest and much more.

Our daughter loves homeschooling! We've found a math curriculum that works well for her, thank to suggestions from another C.H.E.A. member. She's beginning pre-algebra this year, learning physics and chemistry with the help of many books and a lab I've set up with equipment I've purchased at "science stores" with my educator's discount. She is taking Latin with a teacher I learned about in Hearthnotes, plus lessons in piano, ballet, tap and jazz dancing. She participates in classes, field trips and other organized homeschool activities, such as swimming and bowling.

What about the "S" word? She will always be shy, but with the day to day pressure of dealing with public school no longer a factor, she is much more relaxed and interactive in social situations. She even orders for herself in restaurants now, which is great progress for her. The whole thing is working out far better than I had imagined, so I anticipate continuing this course through high school and steering her in the direction of college.

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Home schooling is fine if the parent or person doing the instruction has at least finished high school. One of my former students who left school in grade eight is home schooling her high school student. This is not right. The state does not seem to be monitoring these situations.

I find it difficult to agree that people who lack a sufficient education are able to teach. However, there are many parents with background and education that are doing a super job, one that the public schools lack time and funds to give.

It certainly takes dedication and a follow through attitude to home school.

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We used the American School Curriculum out of Chicago. Inexpensive and high quality. When it came to advanced subjects like trigonometry, just a few sessions with a tutor to supplement the curriculum did the trick.

The opportunities for a quality homeschool education in Connecticut are extensive. There are so many resources available to supplement the basic curriculum. Museums, volunteer opportunities, hands on activity and work opportunities all lend themselves to an excellent education based at home.

Homeschool cooperative activity helps with the "socialization" aspects as well. Small homeschool groups can get together for sports, field trips, even proms if they want them. Our group did it all and then some, but with the added advantage of quality one-on-one attention that can only come with lower adult- student ratios that are inherent in a homeschool environment.

We shared a homeschool group with several other families, and as parents, took turns supervising the study sessions so we could homeschool even while both parents in the households maintained full-time employment.

Six to eight young people per adult is very manageable. The students are given clear direction by their parents for the day's expectations, and then a facilitator can supervise activities and be available to answer questions and give direction when a student gets stuck. It worked for us. It can work for any family that is serious about quality education for their family.

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You might like to add The Uncommon School to your list of links for families interested in homeschooling. The URL is www.uncommonschool.org and the email address is uncommonschool@snet.net.

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Home schooling is a way of life for us. We want our children educated and will simply use the best possible means to do so. We feel parents should be responsible for all aspects of their children's lives. I allow others to help in this enormous endeavor, but as a parent I am the one held totally responsible until my child is able to make decisions on his or her own. I do not give up my rights as a parent or my child's rights at anytime to anyone. We make informed decisions based on what is best for us at the time.

There is no right or wrong here.

My children have been home schooled since the age of five. Two of them are currently in a public middle school and seem to be enjoying it. At this point in their lives the decision to is up to them. We will intervene only if a problem arises. They may leave the public school at any time.

Our youngest child is still schooling at home. We purchase our own materials from catalogs and use suggestions from other home schoolers. Our public library is heavily used and most times gives us the option of previewing a book before buying it. When we approached the State Board of Education for assistance in other areas of schooling, such as art and music, we were told that the state does not believe in "cafeteria style schooling". In other words we can send our children to public or private school or home school, but we cannot pick and choose the best of each and combine them. Sad but true.

As far as home schooling for high school, it is simply a task of educating yourself and the child at the same time. If that doesn't work, tutors are an option. Other home schoolers are used as tutors or high school students or other parents. Some colleges offer classes for children who are having problems in specific subject areas. Sometimes text books come with educational support. Saxon Math, for instance, gives a toll free number for help with Algebra, Physics, Calculus and Chemistry. I think what we're all trying to do as parents is to education our children as best we can by any means we can find. We are responsible for providing opportunities for education but the child is ultimately responsible for his or her own education. This is the truest meaning of home schooling.

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.