Six vital things all homeschoolers must have/do

[SpiderMum]

I recently participated in a comment debate on a friend's FB page over the topic of homeschooling....and was informed by someone who does not homeschool, never has homeschooled or been homeschooled, and didn't actually know any homeschoolers that in order to homeschool properly one must have/do the following 6 things (posted for your amusement):

1. Keep a clean and NEAT house.  No clutter or mess at all.

2. Have desks for the children to work at.

3. have a daily schedule and get up EARLY like every other school child.

4. And I quote: "mom needs to cook nutritious meals, like our state specifically requires in schools, not pizza rolls"

5. Physical activity daily, like at school.

6. A designated lunch & break time daily, not when "the phone rings & mom want to go chat".

I swear I about laughed my butt off at all of this!  Really...my house MUST be spotless?  My child has to sit at a desk?  We have to get up at 7am and since when are school lunches so healthy?  Last time I checked there were fast food places in the highschools here!  We don't ever do anything active?  And we have to eat at a specific time each day?

As a homeschool grad I can tell you right now we had a cluttered home, books everywhere, etc.  I didn't ever work at a desk.  I got up when I was rested and our schedule changed as needed.  My mum cooked because she was there to do so...I'd had a pizza roll till I was an adult.  I played outside all the time.  And I ate when I was hungry....even while doing school!

[Jenivere]

Originally Posted by SpiderMum 

I recently participated in a comment debate on a friend's FB page over the topic of homeschooling....and was informed by someone who does not homeschool, never has homeschooled or been homeschooled, and didn't actually know any homeschoolers that in order to homeschool properly one must have/do the following 6 things (posted for your amusement):

1. Keep a clean and NEAT house.  No clutter or mess at all.

Well the downstairs looks pretty nice right now but otherwise no. 

2. Have desks for the children to work at.

We use our kitchen table some, our floor a lot, a blanket on the grass when it's warm, our kitchen counter, our couch...

3. have a daily schedule and get up EARLY like every other school child.

Umm, no.

4. And I quote: "mom needs to cook nutritious meals, like our state specifically requires in schools, not pizza rolls"

My meals are typically healthier. 

5. Physical activity daily, like at school.

Nothing planned but they sure get a lot  of movement in! 

6. A designated lunch & break time daily, not when "the phone rings & mom want to go chat".

Baloney! 

I swear I about laughed my butt off at all of this!  Really...my house MUST be spotless?  My child has to sit at a desk?  We have to get up at 7am and since when are school lunches so healthy?  Last time I checked there were fast food places in the highschools here!  We don't ever do anything active?  And we have to eat at a specific time each day?

As a homeschool grad I can tell you right now we had a cluttered home, books everywhere, etc.  I didn't ever work at a desk.  I got up when I was rested and our schedule changed as needed.  My mum cooked because she was there to do so...I'd had a pizza roll till I was an adult.  I played outside all the time.  And I ate when I was hungry....even while doing school!

That is what? 2 out of 4? My children are doomed!

[elisheva]

Oh, cr*p. I'm doing it ALL WRONG!!!!!! Following PP's example and adding my own comments to the quote.

Originally Posted by SpiderMum 

I recently participated in a comment debate on a friend's FB page over the topic of homeschooling....and was informed by someone who does not homeschool, never has homeschooled or been homeschooled, and didn't actually know any homeschoolers that in order to homeschool properly one must have/do the following 6 things (posted for your amusement):

1. Keep a clean and NEAT house.  No clutter or mess at all.

Whatever. I wouldn't *lick* my floors, but I pick up non-sticky food off them all the time and eat it. Clutter says you are using your stuff and not just storing it. I think.

2. Have desks for the children to work at.

Ok, workspace is important. The floor. The dining room table. The deck.

3. have a daily schedule and get up EARLY like every other school child.

WHATEVER. They get up early right now because they're preschoolers. I'm sooo looking forward to when they will sleep in.

4. And I quote: "mom needs to cook nutritious meals, like our state specifically requires in schools, not pizza rolls"

Really? I love me some pizza rolls. I had them all.the.time at school growing up!!! 

5. Physical activity daily, like at school.

Like the one semester of gym I had to take in high school?

6. A designated lunch & break time daily, not when "the phone rings & mom want to go chat".

What kids actually let their mom talk on the phone??? Seriously. If I want to escape, I go TO THE COMPUTER. I can yell at them at the same time!!

I swear I about laughed my butt off at all of this!  Really...my house MUST be spotless?  My child has to sit at a desk?  We have to get up at 7am and since when are school lunches so healthy?  Last time I checked there were fast food places in the highschools here!  We don't ever do anything active?  And we have to eat at a specific time each day?

As a homeschool grad I can tell you right now we had a cluttered home, books everywhere, etc.  I didn't ever work at a desk.  I got up when I was rested and our schedule changed as needed.  My mum cooked because she was there to do so...I'd had a pizza roll till I was an adult.  I played outside all the time.  And I ate when I was hungry....even while doing school!

[octobermom]

 **SNORT ** 

 

1. Keep a clean and NEAT house. No clutter or mess at all. 

  Well my home stays "clean" I don't hide in shame if the door bell rings part of our moring rountinue includes some hoem cleaning time.. But umm we do a LOT here clutter happens

 

2. Have desks for the children to work at.

Why? We work at the kitchen table, the computer, the couch, out side, at restraunts, in the park, on top of beds, in the car...

 

3. have a daily schedule and get up EARLY like every other school child.

HA HA I think NOT I consider my self a sctructured HS. I create  lesson plans the night before and I follow through with them the next day and we do have a rountimnue to our days BUT. We start around 1-1.5 hours after my DD wakes up.. I HATED the battles of getting my DD up at 6am and trying to get her off to school by 7:15 the fights UGG! SOOO much easier and more productive allowing her body to wake naturally.  We do have a bed time I set her up to hav a decent wake time and shes knows the rules that we finish the day.. SO if shes  decided to stay up too late sleep in till noon then the  natural conquence might mean were still working when her friends come home from PS around 2-3pm.. SO far its not been an issue. We average a 9am start time.

 

4. And I quote: "mom needs to cook nutritious meals, like our state specifically requires in schools, not pizza rolls"

 BAA  HA HA HA! Apprently shes has NOT seen a school menu lately. Our meals are relaxed I'm just as likely to have a pizza day and a sprouted grains and organic Tofu day LOL but I know the ingredients I know I might make sure shes got a great balanced breakfast adn dinner if we pop a pizza in for Lunch. My child isn't rushed to eat . Her school had then on a 6 minute eatting time limit!

 

5. Physical activity daily, like at school.

 They have physical activity daily at school? DD school did PE ONCE a week they did have recess daily but LOTS of kids lost  part or all sine its was the techers "only" discipline method.. and it was a total of 20 mintues in the morning and maybe another 10 around lunch time.. My HS kid finishes her schooling around noon most days (1pm is been our latest) we do parks shes plays out side we  do big movement games she gets inthe "PE time just fine thanks!

 

6. A designated lunch & break time daily, not when "the phone rings & mom want to go chat".

 This one I do KINDA see the point of.  but most HS do find that pattern and do just fine and one of the HUGE advantages to HS is we don't need to be diticated completely by the clock..

Deanna

[cappuccinosmom]

lol.  Particularly hilarious as I went to public schools.

They were *filthy* and the food was *garbage* and this was a "good" school in a solidly middle-class area.  Puh-lease. 

The person kind of skipped over the whole issue of education entirely.  This is all surface stuff, and irrelevant.

[jojobean]

WOWZERS!

1. Keep a clean and NEAT house. No clutter or mess at all. 

  I have come to the conclusion that this ould only be possible for me if I took large quantities of some drug that would allow me to never sleep.  BUT since I am NOT doing that, my house is cluttered.  I am alright with this though.  I keep things clean, and my house isn't a biohazard.

 

2. Have desks for the children to work at.

What?  I don't get this at all.  We learn everywhere!

 

3. have a daily schedule and get up EARLY like every other school child.

Um.  This.sounds.awful.     Why?  What is the point of this?  This sounds like me before I had kids.   Dd and I get up early, but Ds gets up around 9 and that works well.
 

4. And I quote: "mom needs to cook nutritious meals, like our state specifically requires in schools, not pizza rolls"

 This one I try to do whole-heartedly, my Ds is really sensitive to certain foods and he just burns through any reserves.
  But in a pinch I have been known to serve pizza rolls.  :)

5. Physical activity daily, like at school.

 Jumping on the bed counts, right?

 

6. A designated lunch & break time daily, not when "the phone rings & mom want to go chat".

 Newp.  We learn all day so we live life and break whenever  (although to echo a pp, I really don't see how anyone can get on the phone and chat with kiddos running around lol.  I actually have to schedule "phone dates" with family and friends!)

[tammyw]

What I'd love to know is why the heck is this person posting about homeschooling when she has absolutely NO affiliation with it in the first place? Seriously, what gives her the right/desire/whatever? So strange!

[elisheva]

Originally Posted by tammyw 

What I'd love to know is why the heck is this person posting about homeschooling when she has absolutely NO affiliation with it in the first place? Seriously, what gives her the right/desire/whatever? So strange!

Some people assume they are experts on education simply because they went to school. They have expertise in "schooling", but not in education.

[newcastlemama]

Funny! What makes a desk better than a kitchen table I wonder? Is this person providing desks for homework time, super clean house, and nutritious meals for her kids? Answering the phone during homework time?

My list would say:

Mama must love her kids and want the best for them.

[MamaScout]

Hilarious!

[Savoir Faire]

The children must each bring money to the kitchen everyday, just like school. They must put it in their pocket and stand in an orderly line.

Mom must wear a hairnet. Must give children option of two different cartons of milk. MUST OFFER MILK IN CARTONS.

Children must then, once lunch is finished, line up at the back door until mom lets them outside for supervised "recess."

[SpiderMum]

Originally Posted by tammyw 

What I'd love to know is why the heck is this person posting about homeschooling when she has absolutely NO affiliation with it in the first place? Seriously, what gives her the right/desire/whatever? So strange!

Apparently she posted this "lovely article on FB:  http://www.examiner.com/brooklyn-parenting-in-new-york/homeschooling-is-a-bad-idea

A friend reposted it saying she thought it was horribly biased and ridiculous.  The other girl then commented that she thought it was "very balanced" and "well researched" (really?!).  Those of us with actual experience replied with our 2 cents and actual experiences from our lives.  Having been homeschooled ourselves we found it ridiculous that she would try to tell us what our lives had been like.  She claims to have known some HSers who were "freaks" and nobody wanted to hang out with.  Okay...sure.  Then she posted these 6 things (actually she posted them as 1,2,3,4,4, and % lol).  Mind you this person also says that kids NEED to go to daycare so they can learn to share and "be read to everyday". 

[tammyw]

That article is HORRIBLE!!!

<quote>

Homeschooling was originally thought to be a good idea, but recently it has become the subject of late-night comics. Now, it is mostly frowned upon for all but severely disabled children or those otherwise unable to attend school for whatever reason.

</quote>

 

WHAT THE HECK? Seriously, who are the people who actually have these ridiculous ideas? Please!

[SpiderMum]

Originally Posted by tammyw 

That article is HORRIBLE!!!

<quote>

Homeschooling was originally thought to be a good idea, but recently it has become the subject of late-night comics. Now, it is mostly frowned upon for all but severely disabled children or those otherwise unable to attend school for whatever reason.

</quote>

 

WHAT THE HECK? Seriously, who are the people who actually have these ridiculous ideas? Please!

Because if a late-night comic jokes about it must be bad! 

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by SpiderMum 

Originally Posted by tammyw 

What I'd love to know is why the heck is this person posting about homeschooling when she has absolutely NO affiliation with it in the first place? Seriously, what gives her the right/desire/whatever? So strange!

Apparently she posted this "lovely article on FB:  http://www.examiner.com/brooklyn-parenting-in-new-york/homeschooling-is-a-bad-idea

A friend reposted it saying she thought it was horribly biased and ridiculous.  The other girl then commented that she thought it was "very balanced" and "well researched" (really?!).  Those of us with actual experience replied with our 2 cents and actual experiences from our lives.  Having been homeschooled ourselves we found it ridiculous that she would try to tell us what our lives had been like.  She claims to have known some HSers who were "freaks" and nobody wanted to hang out with.  Okay...sure.  Then she posted these 6 things (actually she posted them as 1,2,3,4,4, and % lol).  Mind you this person also says that kids NEED to go to daycare so they can learn to share and "be read to everyday". 

1,2,3,4,4,% while trying to make the point that other people's educations are faulty? Hmm, is that irony or just sad?

I'm tempted to come up with and equally absurd, stereotyped, list of stuff people should do before they send their kids to public school. But I can't think of anything that wouldn't be vicious.

[Aeress]

My kids asked for desks and guess what, they never sit at them!

So, if homeschoolers must have clean and uncluttered homes, what is she saying about those who don't?

What a nutter!

Today my 8 year old asked, "Did people really cut down the rainforest? How could they do that? Isn't that illegal? Why did that happen?

My 8 year old made banana bread all by herself (I helped put the muffins in the oven etc).

And no, I am not a registered dietician or a scientist- yet we still found a way to make very tasty and healthy bread and we discussed some mega topics concerning environmental and social justice.

[inky leeuhhh]

good grief!

[moominmamma]

I can see reasons why some of these things are important in school. We do not live our homeschooled lives this way at all. My comments interspersed.
 

Originally Posted by SpiderMum 

1. Keep a clean and NEAT house.  No clutter or mess at all.

Why? In my experience a certain amount of clutter breeds inspiration and creativity -- and efficiency. At schools, yes, clutter can be a problem. When you don't live in the space, and you're sharing one room with 25 other people, clutter can produce chaos. When you live in the space you know where things are even if there's clutter. And it's more efficient to leave the loom in the living room so that the kids can work on it whenever they get the chance than to spend 10 minutes a day collapsing it and tucking it away and then getting it out and set up again. Things that are out get used. Leaving things out gives more time for using them.

2. Have desks for the children to work at.

Likely important in a school, where kids have no ownership over or responsibility for communal space. In this case having a desk assigned gives one a tiny postage stamp of personal space. At home, common sense and common space are more than sufficient. And far preferable in terms of encouraging co-operation and family responsibility.

3. have a daily schedule and get up EARLY like every other school child.

Why? Getting up later gives my kids considerably more time with their dad in the evenings. If they were up by 6:30, they'd have to go to bed so early that they'd only see their dad for an hour or two a day at most. Getting up at 9:30 gives them from 6:30 to 11:00 pm every evening as part of a complete family, one which includes dh. Family time is one of the huge boons to homeschooling, IMO.

4. And I quote: "mom needs to cook nutritious meals, like our state specifically requires in schools, not pizza rolls"

Perhaps the state should run compulsory child-feeding programs through the summers lest parents fail to meet state standards during June and July. 

I'm pretty sure our lunches far outweigh school lunches for nutritional value. But I don't cook them. My kids do. My 14-year-old bakes a mean loaf of bread, cooks lovely stuffed baked potatos, pastas and sauces -- basil and tomato sandwiches are his specialty. My 7-year-old can make soup from scratch using fresh ingredients from the garden and the farmer's market. My 12-year-old can cook anything; she's nomming down a bruschetta, basil and mozza grilled panini just now. 

Nutritious meals are just about good parenting, aren't they? For years schools have served crap. Now some are putting effort into serving something a little more like what decent parents would choose. Seems to me that the focus on healthy school lunches is about schools trying to better approximate a caring home environment rather than an institution.

5. Physical activity daily, like at school.

Same deal as meals. This is just good parenting, isn't it? And schools enforcing daily physical activity ... that's just trying to remediate the tendency to have kids sitting at desks all day long, which is an institutional issue. I think that #2, #3 and #5 are actually at odds with each other. If you don't enforce desk work from an early hour all day long, you don't have to remediate the inactivity.

6. A designated lunch & break time daily, not when "the phone rings & mom want to go chat".

Personally I prefer break time to occur when the kids need it, not at a designated time at all. That quote is dripping with judgment and condescension. 

Miranda

[SpiderMum]

And a note on meals at school: Kids often bring their own bagged lunches from home!  The school could serve the healthiest food on the planet and that would not mean the kids would eat it...in fact...it'd probably make it less likely.  Not only because so many kids shy away from "healthy stuff" but because in order to have better food, they'd need better ingredients, and that means the lunches would cost more and make less likely that poorer families could afford them.  Ultimately a homeschooling family has the same right as any other family to give their child whatever they want to eat.  There is also the fact that so many schools have vending and soda machines....not to mention the highschools that have actual fast food places inside.   My 15-year-old cousin recently tried Chick-Fil-A for the first time at school.  At another local highschool the students walk across an extremely busy highway to get food at McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC.

[zebra15]

1. Keep a clean and NEAT house.  No clutter or mess at all.

has this woman ever been in a school room? good heavens some of them are messy messy messy....

2. Have desks for the children to work at.

classrooms around here have budget cuts and students work at TABLES with chairs, many times they are banquet type tables with 4-6 students per table *gasp*

3. have a daily schedule and get up EARLY like every other school child.

due to lack of funding we have block schedules for high school and late start classes. Kids can start at noon time or *gasp* again go during the evening.

4. And I quote: "mom needs to cook nutritious meals, like our state specifically requires in schools, not pizza rolls"

this mom does not have the culinary arts ability to produce a meal of the school lunch quality.  I'm not sure I want to learn either.

5. Physical activity daily, like at school.

Physical activity like walking in straight lines, sitting at tables, raising your hand.  I think we have that covered.

6. A designated lunch & break time daily, not when "the phone rings & mom want to go chat". 

Actually the phone rings quite often in the classroom. The front office calls about attendance issues, kids going home, parent callling so there are many many interruptions in the school day.  Also lunch and break time rotates based on the 'six day' schedule for some k-8 schools so its not really designated.

*Gosh that was a fun game... who wants to play next?