| I won't lie to you- home schooling can be difficult. | | | | end to look forward to. If we have something |
| But the result is so worth the effort. Many | | | | else to do, we cancel school for the day. We can |
| children struggle in school, and many parents | | | | always make it up on Friday! If we want to go on |
| struggle with what to do about it. One alternative | | | | vacation we just take our books with us. We |
| is to home school your child. Home schooling | | | | have shorter lessons on vacation, but it's still |
| allows your child to learn at his or her own pace. | | | | more fun to do math In Orlando from the |
| You can use traditional school grades as a guide, | | | | balcony of the condo overlooking the pool! |
| but if your child is really struggling, slow down a | | | | Since we home school, we almost never have |
| bit. By the same token, if he's getting all the | | | | homework. My boys have friend who spend |
| subject matter with little or no effort, bump him | | | | hours every night doing homework! That cuts into |
| up a notch. | | | | family time a little too much for me. That, in fact, |
| When you home school, your child's education | | | | is the very reason I pulled my oldest some out of |
| rests on your shoulders. That in itself is incredibly | | | | traditional school after the fifth grade- too much |
| overwhelming at times. I home school my two | | | | homework. I was already spending two to four |
| boys- 8th grade and kindergarten- and I don't | | | | hours a night helping him, why not just do all the |
| even have a college degree! So what makes me | | | | teaching? Now we have more time to do other |
| so qualified? I love my boys. I have their best | | | | things. |
| interests in mind at all times. I don't have to | | | | One of the biggest arguments I hear against |
| worry about any other kids- only my two. | | | | home schooling is the socialization issue. Well, let |
| As a home school teacher, I have sacrificed a lot. | | | | me tell you, it's a crock. My boys have lots of |
| Mostly a social life. My kids are with me most all | | | | friends. Good friends that I know well and I know |
| of the time. And, let me tell you, I am not one of | | | | their parents. I know who my kids are hanging |
| those people who just loves to be with her kids | | | | out and what they do all day. I know when |
| all the time. No- I say too much of a good thing is | | | | they're upset. I get to see the joy (and relief) on |
| not always good. So I have to make a little more | | | | their faces when they do a great job. |
| of an effort to get out a bit. I've just started | | | | With my little guy, I get to help him learn to read. |
| back to work- evenings- and it kind of feels like | | | | He will be five in a few weeks and is just starting |
| my quiet time. I'm loving it. | | | | the first grade Hooked on Phonics reading |
| Another thing that I've given up is my dining | | | | program. Just because he can. Some of his |
| room. Now, this may sound strange, but that's | | | | friends that are a year older are learning their |
| where we have school. I know you're supposed | | | | colors and letters and letter sounds. Fine for |
| to have a dedicated space for school, but until I | | | | them, but I can do better for my kid. |
| hit the jackpot and can afford a bigger house, the | | | | One of the most important things I try to teach |
| dining room it is. I think I am borderline OCD | | | | my boys is that they don't have to know all the |
| sometimes. Things should just be put in their | | | | answers- just how to find them. In traditional |
| proper place so you can find them later. This | | | | schools, they were taught to memorize subject |
| reeks havoc on me and my dining room | | | | matter to pass a test. Now, I try to make sure |
| sometimes! | | | | they "get" it. Some things we go over very fast, |
| But there are tons of benefits to home schooling. | | | | other things we take our time on. It all depends |
| You can set your own hours. We decided we | | | | on where he is at that moment. |
| wanted to take every Friday off. So we have | | | | Home schooling is a drastic choice. It's all or |
| school from Monday to Thursday. As long as we | | | | nothing on some days. But it's wonderful and |
| still get our work done and a minimum number of | | | | rewarding and terrifying and trying. But it's always |
| school days in- we shoot for 140 days per year-it | | | | for the best interest of MY child. |
| works great. My boys always have a long week | | | | |