some good news

[Blindfaith]

There's a lot of co-ops also for homeschooled kids.  Let's take the most popular subject here, Science for instance .  If Science (or any other subject) is not your forte, you sign up for a co-op, which has maybe up to a dozen kids in each class.  Someone who is dynamite in Science will teach the kids, while you teach whatever your specialty is.  It doesn't have to be difficult, it could be arts/crafts, or even watching the other little ones while brother or sister are getting taught.

The swimming pools in our area had homeschool day each week, where the kids could go swimming at a discounted price, without it being a public swim.

The skating rink did the same thing.  There's so many activities, clubs and different types of co-ops, there's no way the kids could be bored.

Here's another stat:  3 hours of homeschooling = 6 hours of public education.  It's because of that 1 on 1 time.  Again, not the teachers fault.

Do a web search for Homeschooling Conventions in your state Tami.  You'll be amazed and blown away by everything that's offered out there now. 

 

[Morat]

Doesn't the lack of certifications and standards bother you? How do you know your children are getting a decent education?

How do you know you're qualified? If your friend teaching science is?

How do you get any independent, objective, assesment of how good an education you're giving your kids?

 

[Blindfaith]

How do you know your children are getting a decent education?

That's what scared me half to death going into it.  Wondering if I was doing the right thing for my daughter.  Which leads me to this;

There's checks and balances throughout the year Morat.  I took a course at the college out here and kept myself updated throughout the year. 

The curriculum that you buy for your child is so easy to understand and follow.  As far as the coops are concerned, any homeschooling mom or dad will be keeping track of the assignments, test scores and comprehension in any given subject.  The things my daughter was learning there, my other daughter who was in jr. high at the time was learning at the same time.  There's quite a difference if you get a good coop.

I kept records of my daughter's assignments (grades), and gave her tests on the subjects (units or chapters) weekly.  These too were kept in the records book.  If/when they go back to a public/private school, these records are given to the school district to determine where they're placed. 

Each state (I believe) differs.  In this state, the child (whatever grade) needs to take an end-of-the-year assessment test.  It can be administered with a certified teacher, a place such as Sylvan Learning Center, or the test can be ordered, done at home, and mailed in for a certified individual to assess, correct, grade and report back to you.  If the child shows no improvement, learning, comprehension, etc., the state required them to go back to public school, or private.  If the test is fine, no problem.

It's very difficult for a child to learn nothing while be homeschooled.  You'd literally have to do nothing 4 out of 5 days per week not to get an education out of it.

Homeschooling isn't as scary or as bad a word as it use to be.  I don't think the old stigma attached to it is valid anymore.

I hope this answered some of your questions Morat

 

[Auntie]

Can I brag a little?

I bought my grandson(the one being homeschooled) a "Leap Frog" Globe for Christmas, because he wanted to learn geography. I got a report today, he can tell you the names of every country, every continent, and he can tell you the names of all the States and their Capitals. He is 6 years old. Not bad for a homeschooled kid.

 

[Tami]

Sounds like a smart kid, Auntie.

 

[Aurelius]

I was homeschooled from the age of 3 (which is when I learned to read) until the age of 5 (which is when I learned to play chess.)

From the ages of 5-8 I attended a Montessori school, which I absolutely loved.

My mother homeschooled me for a while when we moved interstate, and eventually I was sent into the public school system. From there I went to university. Later, I returned to the public school system as a student teacher. Much later, I returned to my old Montessori school as a teacher's aide.

Of the two, I prefer the Montessori system (my old Montessori school offered the International Baccalaureate for high school students) while recognising its limitations. My Montessori years provided me with a head start to my education, providing me with an automatic advantage over my peers.

Although I found my time as a student teacher in the public school system tremendously draining and tedious, I was still impressed by the high level of education that our public school students continue to receive here in Australia.

And I speak as one of them.