https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:15:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school/page/2#post-120913 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:47:25 +0000 PBandBaseball 120913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From speaking with several friends who were homeschooled for various lengths of time, I think the key is to be involved in a co-op or other community of homeschoolers. Every person I know who was home schooled is very successful both socially and in their careers.</p> <p>We are not necessarily planning on homeschooling but I would do it if we felt it was the best option for our children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120906 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:43:44 +0000 Grace 120906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I couldn't do it. I'd be so worried about whether they were learning enough and my patience would probably go all to hell. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120892 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:31:13 +0000 MamaMoose 120892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, it's not for us. We have a lot of teachers on both sides of our family and I have a great respect for what they do. My husband and I both graduated from a top university and we're pretty smart people but I still would not feel qualified to teach my children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120857 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:02:01 +0000 purrpletulips 120857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I have talked about this, if we could financially I would homeschool. However, we live in an area where homeschoolers have a great support system including field trips, sports teams, etc so the children still get socialization outside of the classroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120759 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:52:47 +0000 Andrea 120759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, this isn't an option that we would consider. We are happy with the public and private school options in our area so we will just go with one of those. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120746 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:42:38 +0000 shinystraps 120746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am really surprised by the judgmental comments on this thread. It seems as though people find it ok to be so judgey because homeschooling is a minority lifestyle. That's not really fair. </p> <p>The two most common arguments on here as to why homeschooling parents are "egotistical" or why homeschooling is "irresponsible," to quote some of the posters, are academics and socialization. I would encourage you to research how homeschooled children do academically and I think most people will be shocked with the facts. </p> <p>As for the socialization argument.... it's fascinating to see this argument when as a nation, we are dealing with bullying in such huge proportions.</p> <p>Public school may be best for my kids, or it may be private school, or it may be homeschooling - or it may be some combination over their childhoods. I don't know yet, I'm still working on the "sustaining a pregnancy" part. But I hope whatever decisions we someday make, that I will be tolerant and gracious towards people who may make a different decision than me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120685 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:01:26 +0000 looch 120685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think there are some very well thought out arguments both for and against home schooling in this thread, but I do think it is important, esp. for those who live in areas with high property taxes, to look at the spend per student as well as the individual situation of the family. A lot of money is spent on teacher salary and benefits and some teachers really need to be moved out of the classroom but aren't because of tenure. Some children are victims of bullying and the administration isn't able to do anything to stop it, so homeschooling suddenly becomes an option. </p> <p>As with anything related to parenting, I am holding off on making a final decision until my child is finished with school. I just can't predict what he will face and how we will handle it right now...and just because the child was okay in first grade, doesn't mean the same will hold true in sixth grade. That being said, we will absolutely supplement his education as studies have shown that the United States ranks far below where it should in the world education rankings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120662 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:15:48 +0000 cupcakemama 120662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@eeh: I would highly doubt 9 minutes a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120661 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:13:04 +0000 cupcakemama 120661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a teacher. I teach 1 subject and it took me several years to feel on top of that one subject. That's after a Mathematics degree and education qualifications. I think it is supremely egotistical for a parent to think that they have the skills, knowledge and training to replicate the job that 6 or 7 teachers do each year. For those looking to home school, what's your advanced calculus like? Or will you skip that part? I am not meaning to come across as snippy but when you choose to home school you are saying that you have the skills to teach the entire curriculum. Just my 2 cents worth.</p> <p>@Sweet T: That is a really broad generalisation that I don't feel is appropriate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-120655 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:03:25 +0000 BSB 120655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I doubt it. I'm fine with public school. If that was bad, I might consider private school. I don't think I could handle home schooling my kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119634 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:04:52 +0000 Mrs. Pen 119634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@eeh: 100% agreed. I worked for only a year in an elementary school and it solidified my decision. If I am not able to homeschool right away, then I think I would consider Montessori. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119527 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:02:03 +0000 eeh 119527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is something I think about all the time and we are very seriously considering it for our children in the future. As a teacher, I've spent a lot of time in the public school setting and it just plain scares me. There are SO many issues that are counterproductive to children learning. I read a study once where an average, middle of the road student (not high, not low, not bad..just average) gets 9 minutes of one on one time with the teacher a WEEK!!! As a teacher, I can completely see how that's true because so much of my time is taken up by dealing with behavior issues, helping the struggling students, administrative tasks, etc. </p> <p>Not only that..I think our public school system is incredibly inefficient. So much time is wasted lining up, walking down the hall, getting drinks, going to the restroom, waiting for others to finish their work, etc. Homeschooling is much more efficient and allows WAY more time for outside learning in the form of extracurricular activities as well as time for play which is equally important in my book. </p> <p>Also, any time something curriculum based isn't working in a public school setting there has to be a committee involved and typically a subcommittee and meetings and polls and data and this, that, and the other. With homeschooling if something isn't working for my child/ren all I have to do is discuss it with my husband and find a more suitable alternative. </p> <p>People always argue the socialization issue or argue that homeschooled kids are "freaks" but honestly..go to any public school and you will see just as many "odd" kids there as you would in any homeschool environment. Some kids are just different and that's not going to change based on where they do their learning. </p> <p>Also, kids in the public school setting rarely learn how to interact with people that aren't their own age. Sure, they interact with the teacher, principal, etc. but most of the social learning comes from their peers. With homeschooling I hope to provide many opportunities for my kids to interact with other kids of all ages as well as adults. I don't really care if my child learns how to successfully interact with another 9 year old because they're only nine for 12 months. I care far more about their ability to look a grown-up in the eye and have an intelligent, informed conversation and that's something that can only come from experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119526 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:01:59 +0000 mamabolt 119526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I probably won't homeschool our kids, because we pay a fortune in property taxes to live in an amazing school district. I think for some parents/kids, it's a great thing, but not for everyone. One girl I am friends with on FB homeschools her two oldest, mainly because she lives separately from her husband due to his job and wants to be able to travel back and forth to see him freely. She's constantly posting things about how far ahead the kids are based on whatever list of assignements they have completed, but then the next day is complaining that they are not remembering what they just learned or posting that she has a headache/is tired/whatever so school is cancelled that day. It makes me mad because they do get funding from the state we live in, so my taxes are helping pay for her kids questionable education. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119518 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:50:49 +0000 shinystraps 119518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was homeschooled and the socialization argument always makes me laugh. I not only emerged "unscathed" socially, but until I took a new job recently, worked full-time in a field where I spoke to audiences of 5 to 2,000 on a consistent basis. </p> <p>I find that most people's ideas of homeschooling are based on not knowing anything about it. For example, my grandma (mom's mom) is a teacher and was vehemently against homeschooling the whole time my mom was teaching us.</p> <p>After I graduated college with honors, my brother joined the nuclear physics program in the Navy, and my older sister is homeschooling her kids, my grandma not only is positive towards it, but actually told my sister that she is glad she is homeschooling!</p> <p>On the other hand, one of my best friends was homeschooled in a very strict family and she had a very negative experience. I think homeschooling is like anything else - there is good and bad. I do believe that if you're going to do it, you have to really commit... my husband's mom homeschooled him for a couple of years and really didn't do much schoolwork. That's not fair to kids. </p> <p>Will I homeschool my kids? I honestly don't know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119449 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:57:03 +0000 lilteacherbee 119449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babynumber1: I completely agree with you. I am confident in my ability to homeschool our kids as I'm a teacher myself and I'm certified to teach K-6 as well as preschool. BUT I don't think I'd ever do it.</p> <p>In SOME cases, homeschooling is the best choice. However, as a teacher, I think school goes beyond academics in preparing kids for "real life" (ie socialization). The kids I knew personally when we were growing up were homeschooled in a way that completely sheltered them and many of them rebelled as teenagers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119441 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:40:03 +0000 Sweet T 119441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: oh, absolutely! I had fantastic experiences with 95% of my teachers and don't want to keep LO from experiencing so much with the mentality that "something could happen." It's scary but I know it's not the norm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119432 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:34:14 +0000 mrbee 119432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sweet T: I agree that stuff is scary! But I do think it's important to note that the vast majority of teachers don't abuse their students... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119431 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:33:12 +0000 sulli301 119431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. I have a lot of respect for teachers &amp; the training that they go through. I also think the socialization is so important! I know that homeschool parents can do lots of activities as a group, which is good, but still not for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119429 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:31:42 +0000 Sweet T 119429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always said I would never homeschool my kids. I think the socialization aspect of school is so important. Kids have to learn how to interact with their peers and they can't stay stuck under mommy and daddy forever. We're an army family and I think it's even more important that my son attends school. Moving all of the time means he'll need to make new friends in each place. I think learning to socialize in school will prepare him for this.</p> <p>However, after hearing about all of the teachers who have been arrested for abusing their students, I have to admit I've considered homeschooling my son. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119408 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:16:56 +0000 mrbee 119408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan on heavily supplementing my child's education, so I guess that's a form of home schooling.</p> <p>I think it's part of a parent's job to be involved with their kids' education. But as one poster pointed out above, not every parent is equipped to do that. I've noticed that with kids with higher IQs, they are often fairly self-directed so they tend to thrive in home schooling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119395 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:04:18 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 119395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@miss-spunkin: People say that to me too! Once I got to high school I was a cheerleader and senior class president and everyone was like "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WERE HOMESCHOOLED!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119393 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:03:48 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 119393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@miss-spunkin @mrsdaredevil Y'all definitely said it better than I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119388 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:00:40 +0000 Mrs. Pen 119388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsdaredevil: that was one of my favorite things - I loved sleeping in! And spending only a few hours a day on school work was awesome. We'd have the rest of the day to do whatever we wanted.<br /> I'm so glad to have found a fellow homeschooled bee! I'm glad you loved it too. Socializing was NEVER an issue for me either. And most people are shocked to find out I was homeschooled, "You're so... normal." they'd say. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119377 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:56:47 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 119377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Navy_Mommy: I am from Washington State. I do think there are a lot of homeschoolers here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119361 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:48:11 +0000 Navy_Mommy 119361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends, really.</p> <p>I know there are some communities that have a HUGE support system for home schooled kids (and their parents) and if I lived in a community like that I would definitely consider it.</p> <p>My biggest thing is that being in public school (mainly elementary school) definitely held me back. I had a teacher who called me a liar when I claimed to have read The BFG in just a few hours in the third grade (I've always been a fast reader). It was horrible for me. Once you get to high school and have different levels of classes I think it would be less likely to happen.</p> <p>I know there's a Navy Base in Washington state that has a HUGE support system for people who choose to homeschool since they don't have the best schools. Basically if you know you're good at reading but suck at math you can trade kids with another parent who's great at math but sucks at reading for part of the day. And they all do recess/gym class together. If we got stationed there I would definitely homeschool! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119359 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:47:36 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 119359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was homeschooled for ten years and I had an incredible experience--and lots of friends!<br /> I couldn't imagine my childhood NOT being homeschooled. I was so close to my siblings, we only did school for three hours a day, and everything was super hands on. By the time I went to public school (9th grade) I was far beyond my peers, and I ended up skipping up to the 10th grade after two weeks. I graduated when I was barely 17.</p> <p>We were a part of a homeschool co-op. Once a week we would meet with a bunch of other homeschool families and children our own age and take fun classes. The ones I remember were dissection (loved that class), sewing, advanced sports, photography, etc. I made tons of friends through that and I am still in contact with many of them.</p> <p>My family was also very involved in our rather large church. There were TONS of kids in my Sunday School classes that I got to socialize and hang out with. Even though I was homeschooled, I went to plenty of birthday parties and little girl sleepovers. :)</p> <p>Learning to socialize, learning to share, and learning to be a good friend were never struggles for me.</p> <p>As Miss Spunkin said, you are allowed to participate in any of the sports/activities in your school district when you are homeschooled. In elementary I took up band and choir, and in Jr. high and high school I was a cheerleader, ran track and played soccer. I graduated my high school as valedictorian of my class.</p> <p>I would absolutely 100% homeschool my children if I felt like it was right for my family at the time. I don't want to commit to anything now because I just don't know where we will be 5 or 6 years from now!</p> <p>Edit: I want to also add that all four of my siblings are advanced academically due to being homeschooled. I think you are free from a lot of distractions when you are homeschooled, and ALL of your time is spent learning (unlike public school where I think a good three hours of every day is wasted). We were well-rested and never sleep deprived. My mom knew and understood each of our learning styles, so we were able to learn in a way that made sense for each of us (visual, logical, physial, verbal, etc.) If we "got" something, we never had to wait for a classroom to catch up with us.</p> <p>Just my experience and my two cents. Thought I would share! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119358 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:46:13 +0000 volksgirl64 119358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do it simply because I make more money and our lifestyle wouldn't afford it. Plus, I don't think either DH or I would be good home school teachers, and he is a teacher!<br /> DH &amp; I are very traditional and believe that children need to be in school and have that structure. But we realize that not everyone agrees.<br /> My brother &amp; SIL have 8 children and every single one is home schooled. My SIL realized that she can not teach them advanced subjects so they go to a group thing 1-2x per week to focus solely on science &amp; math with other home school families. Their kids are wonderful, well-behaved children who are very intelligent (I'm not biased...) and do not seem to suffer in any way. The oldest is 15 and started attending high school this year. As far as I can tell, he likes it and didn't have issues adjusting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119356 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:44:42 +0000 Mrs. Pen 119356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babynumber1: I'm not mad and don't take this the wrong way, but yes you sounded a little judgy and obviously don't know all the facts about homeschooling and seem to be basing your experience off of one homeschooling family you know.</p> <p>I will admit there are many families who homeschool who probably shouldn't; who are not intentional about allowing their children to meet other kids/families, learn societal manners and graces, etc. BUT they are more an exception to the rule.</p> <p>I was homeschooled my entire life. Yup, from preschool to 12th grade. No, I didn't love it all the time, but most kids hate public school too. But I am so glad I was homeschooled now. I was protected from things a first grader doesn't need to know, but that does't mean I grew up a dunce. Obviously there is a time and place for that knowledge, but being homeschooled gave my parents the ability to control when I was immersed in certain things, and gave them the ability to explain it to me on their terms. When it came time for me to learn about sex, drinking etc, I learned about it the way they wanted me to and that shaped my entire view on it. </p> <p>As for the academic part - my parents don't have college degrees either but they were more than equipped to teach us. Homeschooling fosters independence. They taught us up to the point where we started doing and learning the material on our own. By middle school, I could easily work through a textbook by myself, and my parents would just check my work at the end of the day. It really require little involvement for them unless I was struggling. When I did struggle with math, my older brother helped me and at one point they hired a math tutor. I was allowed the same academic help as someone in public school.</p> <p>It made academics more fun too. My parents loved incorporating hands-on learning. We took a lot of field trips, instead of the typical math, science, english, history etc EVERY DAY we were allowed to focus on what we wanted to learn. It was really only once we got to high school that we HAD to do all the subjects, but we had learned all the other things through field trips or on our own volition anyway.<br /> I graduated high school with a 3.7 GPA and college with a 3.3 GPA, in no way did it make me ill-equipped academically</p> <p>As for socially - I have always had a lot of friends. We were a part of several homeschooling groups/co-ops in the past where I met other kids and we took classes together taught by our parents. We also were really active in our church and I met a lot of people there. Homeschooled kids are also able to participate in any school event in their district, so I was in sports when I was younger too and met a lot of people that way. I got my first job at 16 and made even more friends there. </p> <p>I would definitely consider homeschooling my kids. At this point, I'm planning on it. But I am open to something else since I know I want to go back to work so we can buy a house, which would make it nearly impossible for me to homeschool. </p> <p>I think homeschooling is a really great thing and it doesn't take a masters degree to do it right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119321 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:25:14 +0000 calsmom 119321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would home school if we really had to, but I want our kiddos to be immersed into the school setting. Also, I want to be a working woman which would not allow for home schooling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-home-school#post-119320 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:25:01 +0000 Minnie_Girl 119320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On my mom's side of the family, my siblings and I were actually the only ones to go entirely through public school. All of my cousins have been at least partially home schooled. One set of cousins home schools until around middle grade, when the kids have the option of continuing independent study or enrolling in the public school (they've all chosen to go to public school). One of those cousins is now attending Yale. </p> <p>Another set of cousins also home schools until around HS, but that aunt isn't a great teacher. One of my teenage cousins can hardly read. </p> <p>The idea that kids aren't socialized through home schooling is ridiculous. I've never met a poorly adjusted home schooler. (Just some quirky ones, lol) Poor home schooling boils down to the fact that a lot of parents aren't cut out for the job, and shouldn't be taking that huge responsibility on. </p> <p>I'll probably put my kids in public school...ideally, an excellent public school or private school. I HATED school and want my kids to have a good experience, but I really value the work that educators do. </p>