Questions for home schoolers

[mommy212]

Well my Ds just turned 2, so while the question of schooling is still a little while off. I am just wanting to ask some questions of home schooling parents about a few things.

First of all, do most HSers have a college education, or lots of ECE experience? If someone with my qualifications wanted to teach my child, I'd be very uncertain about that, but I have always been more of a self-taught kind of person, and learn what I want to learn through books and research. Would you feel good HSing your children if you did not have qualifications you would want a tutor/teacher to have? How long (what grade) would you consider teaching your child at home, and when if ever do you consider sending them to an outside school?

Also, I have a big respect for certain extras in his education- namely, music and foreign languages. I could teach string instrument basics, but he would need a teacher for more in-depth studies of it, or any other instrument. I learn my instrument at school, and I am wondering if you parents teach your kids an instrument on your own, or hire a tutor in your home, take them to classes? As far as foreign language, I consider it very important for him to learn 1 or 2 along the way. I speak some spanish, and am working on making that better for the sake of teaching it to him, since it is very useful to know these days, but I also want him to learn French or another language at some point. While this is probably not for a while, I am just wondering about it now while we think about HS options. Do you hire a tutor in your home, or is there another way? If any of you do both of these (music+language lessons) for one or more children, does it end up costing a fortune?

Finally, I have a job that is very flexible, but one I would still need to keep. Does anyone else HS part-time? I am thinking of working 3 or 4 days, HS 3 or 4 days. On days I am working, I would hope to find a nice SAHP to care for him at home and maybe continue his HS on those days. If I can't find a SAHP to HS and care for him, for 3 or 4 days a week he would not be learning- so would the other 3 or 4 days of HSing be enough to keep him on track with learning?

Thanks for any advice and comments.

[greenmagick]

I am just starting on this journey so take my opinion with that in mind:)  I am also coming from a mostly unschooling perspective

I dont see why a degree or parents education matters at all.  Personally I think learning is a part of life, it never stops.  I dont think people need to be "taught" as much as giving the resources to learn.  For things like instruments etc yes, I would do classes or even a tutor.  That can be for anything a child wants to get more in depth with

Hsing 3 or 4 days a week, well again, I dont do school at home but if I did, I would see NO reason you couldnt cover WAY more than traditional schools in 2-3 days a week.  There is no reason to stick to a "school schedule" 

[cappuccinosmom]

The neat thing about homeschooling is that you can arrange it to suit your child's needs, and yours.

So if you want to lean very heavily on arts and music, using tutors and classes, go right ahead. :)  To be perfectly honest, whether we schooled at home or in a traditional school, language and music, done *right* would cost some money if I couldn't do it myself.  My experience with public highschool music and language programs was pitiful.  I learned music and languages in other settings.  Also, especially for languages there are sooooo many options, online tutoring and software, that you should be able to find something that is both useful and affordable.

Re: Degrees...I'm a highschool graduate with some post-hs technical training and a lot of preschool/kindgergarten teaching experience.  I am not worried at all about my lack of credentials in teaching my children.  My main goal is to teach them *how* to learn, and to provide them with resources.  This is not actually a very difficult task.  To satisfy dh's need for order and accountability, we use our state cyberschool.  It provides everything we need, curriculum, equipment, and testing.  I do the teaching.  It's been perfect for us.  And I know that we are doing well because the two children that I am teaching this year (2nd and 4th grade) are each two years ahead of their age peers in grade, and have upper-middleschool and highschool level vocabulary and reading comprehension.  Degree: not necessary.

At this point, we have every intention of homeschooling through highschool.  As the children get into highschool, they may be taking outside courses in a variety of venues, depending on their interests.  If we stick with the cyber school, they will be taking most of their classes in a live, online classroom setting, with teachers other than myself. And again, there are so many resources available, even free resources, that I am not concerned about the day that they stump me with a question, lol.  No, *I* can't teach calculus, but I don't need to send them to a public school in order for them to learn it--there are a myriad options out there which are compatible with homeschooling.

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by mommy212 

First of all, do most HSers have a college education, or lots of ECE experience?

I can't speak to "most", but I have 1 year college, my husband 3.  That's plenty for our state qualifications.  I think Education degrees or studies in that field are unnecessary for homeschooling.

Would you feel good HSing your children if you did not have qualifications you would want a tutor/teacher to have?

I'm pretty confident that together (between me, my husband and our community) we can learn what they need to know. My kids and I can learn together.  I don't buy in to the traditional "all-knowing-teacher/empty-vessel-student" arrangement.  It's no trouble to say to my girls, "You know, I don't really know the answer to that one.  Let's find out."  I have done so, many, many times already.  But I will tell you, I know 10,000 times more about sharks, whales and dinosaurs than I did 3 years ago!

     If I were to pay a stranger, I would expect them to demonstrate that they know the material.  References would be necessary, but I don't need to see a degree or something like that.

How long (what grade) would you consider teaching your child at home, and when if ever do you consider sending them to an outside school?

Until college.  Never.  (But, we'll see, won't we?)

I learn my instrument at school, and I am wondering if you parents teach your kids an instrument on your own, or hire a tutor in your home, take them to classes?

My girls are young, 6.5 and 4.5, so for now we learn guitar at home, when they want.  So far it's just plucking and strumming randomly and making up words to sing along.  I know, not most parents' idea of a proper lesson, but we have fun.  I anticipate taking guitar lessons at some point.

Do you hire a tutor in your home, or is there another way?

For now we read some Spanish books at home.  I am not a fluent speaker, not by a long shot, but I know enough to speak and read diligently.  I also speak some German (languages were a favorite of mine in school).  So far we are just reading books and we might happen to talk about the grammar or rules of pronunciation if there is a question.  My beginning reader likes the fact that in these languages the pronunciation is predictable.  Libraries have enough material that if you know some Spanish you could muddle your way until it makes sense to find a tutor.  (You might learn it better yourself by that time!)

If any of you do both of these (music+language lessons) for one or more children, does it end up costing a fortune?

Or gymnastics, or riding or swimming lessons, tools and materials for birdhouses, guidebooks, binoculars, maybe a microscope or a telescope......yikes!  Yes, it does!

 Does anyone else HS part-time?  Specifically, no.  But my husband and I play tag team and are often working through all 7 days a week.  This started not because of homeschooling but because I didn't want to send the girls to daycare.  I work 1 or 2 days each week, my husband about 5.

If I can't find a SAHP to HS and care for him, for 3 or 4 days a week he would not be learning- so would the other 3 or 4 days of HSing be enough to keep him on track with learning?  

I'm not sure what the child care arrangements would be, but it is a mistake to think that kids would not be "learning" unless they are sat down to be schooled.  Even if you meant "not being taught", still homeschooling can be year-round so it wouldn't matter whether he doesn't get 5 days a week of actual instruction.  The beauty of homeschooling is that kids have the luxury of time to explore and process information before being crammed with the next thing.  At our house, "homeschooling" is 24/7.  

Thanks for any advice and comments.

In Washington, there are no rules pertaining to the amount of time spent homeschooling.  You are free to make it fit your needs.

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by mommy212 

Well my Ds just turned 2, so while the question of schooling is still a little while off. I am just wanting to ask some questions of home schooling parents about a few things.

First of all, do most HSers have a college education, or lots of ECE experience? If someone with my qualifications wanted to teach my child, I'd be very uncertain about that, but I have always been more of a self-taught kind of person, and learn what I want to learn through books and research. Would you feel good HSing your children if you did not have qualifications you would want a tutor/teacher to have? How long (what grade) would you consider teaching your child at home, and when if ever do you consider sending them to an outside school?

.

I have a masters degree in a technical field (not education related at all). I am confident hs-ing my DS. However, I have done lots of tutoring, being a teaching-assistant, and leading classes (children and adults). My SIL did not complete high school. Her homeschooled DD graduated high school last fall and so far has completed one year of community college, getting excellent grades. My SIL's approach to education is different, and she uses a different curriculum style, but it seemed to work for her DD. She uses a well-guided curriculum that pretty much tells you everything you need to say or do. I use kind of the opposite approach, just something that gives me materials and a schedule to work with loosely. I think it doesn't matter if you don't have a degree in education, and it may even help to not have one, as you won't have preformed opinions of how someone "ought to learn". Just follow what your child needs, and you as the mom know that better than anyone else.

Originally Posted by mommy212 

Also, I have a big respect for certain extras in his education- namely, music and foreign languages. I could teach string instrument basics, but he would need a teacher for more in-depth studies of it, or any other instrument. I learn my instrument at school, and I am wondering if you parents teach your kids an instrument on your own, or hire a tutor in your home, take them to classes? As far as foreign language, I consider it very important for him to learn 1 or 2 along the way. I speak some spanish, and am working on making that better for the sake of teaching it to him, since it is very useful to know these days, but I also want him to learn French or another language at some point.

We are doing piano and Spanish. While I know Spanish reasonably well, I intend to do French in a few years, and I don't know much French at all. There are plenty of curricula that don't require you to know the language. However, if you want to start first with the language you know, it might be easier to start that way. You probably don't need to educate yourself ahead of time...refresh yourself and learn with your child as you go. As far as piano, we are using a good introductory curriculum that is pretty much taught right out of the book. I can do some basic piano and keyboard. But at some point if he progresses far enough and needs more than I can give him, there are plenty of piano teachers who take students one at a time. We'll cross that bridge if we ever come to it.

We are not doing part-timing, but especially in the early years...it can be done. We go lightly every day...and I can see how if I needed to, we could just go more intensely on fewer days. It could be done. There's also the option of drop-off co-op type arrangements with other homeschooling parents. I urge you to check around your area for local hsing groups (some of them have yahoo groups formed for communication) that could give you more info on your local options.
Edited by KimPM - 8/26/11 at 4:15pm

[AAK]

I don't think you need a degree.  You do need a bit of confidence, but you can take that one year at a time.  I do have a master's degree.  But, it isn't in teaching.  From what I understand, teaching degrees focus a lot on classroom mangagement.  That is useful in a school setting, but not in a home setting.  If my child needs to be at home, I have no problem homeschooling throughout high school.  I have found so many resources for things I don't know well--I know that I could continue to homeschool throughout high school.  Currently though, my oldest is planning on attending high school and doing running start at our local community college.  There is no "plan" for my other two--we are seeing how it goes. 

Regarding specific subject concerns you have:  Music--I do outsource this.  My kids learn piano from a local teacher.  When they went to public school, they still took piano from this teacher.  The music education in our (my local) schools was very "shallow" -- I could/can/would teach that aspect myself.  But, I want them to know an instrument well and we chose piano.  Foreign language:  I speak some French and some Spanish--not enough to 'teach' the language.  So for the early years, we have used plenty of videos/CDs/role play to expose them to the language.  (not that we watch a ton of tv!)  My oldest is using Rosetta Stone this year for Spanish and I plan on finding a conversational type tutor/group when she gets a bit more Spanish under her belt.  She has always been very interested in languages and has taken some "classes" for homeschoolers for Spanish.  They were the worst classes ever.  Most kids didn't really want to learn the material so the teacher never moved forward.  She also took a Spanish immersion camp one summer.  It was day camp style and completely awesome.  It was really far away though so we haven't repeated it.  

TIME:  You don't need more than 3 or 4 days for the early grades.  We typically spend 4 days with school and the 5th is field trip day.  For the younger kids though, there is only a couple hours of "school" in the mornings.  As my oldest has taken on harder classes, she has also become a more independent learner.  She checks in regularly, we go over the lessons, and she does the rest.  So, I think if I only had 3 days available to her, that would be fine.  She would probably do some work on the other days, but she would do so independently and it wouldn't be a full days worth.  

Good luck!

Amy

[onlyzombiecat]

Originally Posted by mommy212 

Well my Ds just turned 2, so while the question of schooling is still a little while off. I am just wanting to ask some questions of home schooling parents about a few things.

First of all, do most HSers have a college education, or lots of ECE experience? If someone with my qualifications wanted to teach my child, I'd be very uncertain about that, but I have always been more of a self-taught kind of person, and learn what I want to learn through books and research. Would you feel good HSing your children if you did not have qualifications you would want a tutor/teacher to have? How long (what grade) would you consider teaching your child at home, and when if ever do you consider sending them to an outside school?

Also, I have a big respect for certain extras in his education- namely, music and foreign languages. I could teach string instrument basics, but he would need a teacher for more in-depth studies of it, or any other instrument. I learn my instrument at school, and I am wondering if you parents teach your kids an instrument on your own, or hire a tutor in your home, take them to classes? As far as foreign language, I consider it very important for him to learn 1 or 2 along the way. I speak some spanish, and am working on making that better for the sake of teaching it to him, since it is very useful to know these days, but I also want him to learn French or another language at some point. While this is probably not for a while, I am just wondering about it now while we think about HS options. Do you hire a tutor in your home, or is there another way? If any of you do both of these (music+language lessons) for one or more children, does it end up costing a fortune?

Finally, I have a job that is very flexible, but one I would still need to keep. Does anyone else HS part-time? I am thinking of working 3 or 4 days, HS 3 or 4 days. On days I am working, I would hope to find a nice SAHP to care for him at home and maybe continue his HS on those days. If I can't find a SAHP to HS and care for him, for 3 or 4 days a week he would not be learning- so would the other 3 or 4 days of HSing be enough to keep him on track with learning?

Thanks for any advice and comments.

I do have a college degree. It is not in education though.  I don't think it is necessary to have particular educational qualifications to homeschool your child. I think having the ability to learn and find resources is very helpful.

My dd is 11 years old and has always been homeschooled. I'm willing to do it until she completes high school. If she really wants to try something else we might. There are other options such as virtual school.

If I wanted my dd to learn something I did not know I would find a curriculum for it or someone else to teach her.  That might not be a formal paid tutor but maybe a grandparent or friend who has special knowledge or skills. I don't see it as a problem. I don't think I have to be her sole teacher for everything just because we choose to homeschool.

About hs only 3-4 days- I wouldn't stress about this at all. I wouldn't call it part time either if your child is not in a school the other days. I think you will find your child will learn plenty in 4 days a week... and learning doesn't happen just during public school hours or because you tell your child to learn something.

We do not actively school 7 days a week at our house. We aim for 5 days a week and take our weekends off just like the schools do. We don't do 6 hours of school every single day. We homeschool year round but plenty of people do not and that is fine too.You'll find what works best for your child and family.

[bandgeek]

Originally Posted by mommy212 

Well my Ds just turned 2, so while the question of schooling is still a little while off. I am just wanting to ask some questions of home schooling parents about a few things.

First of all, do most HSers have a college education, or lots of ECE experience? If someone with my qualifications wanted to teach my child, I'd be very uncertain about that, but I have always been more of a self-taught kind of person, and learn what I want to learn through books and research. Would you feel good HSing your children if you did not have qualifications you would want a tutor/teacher to have? How long (what grade) would you consider teaching your child at home, and when if ever do you consider sending them to an outside school?

I just have a high school education.  I feel perfectly comfortable teaching my children.  I may not have a lot of "formal" education, but I am well-read and consider myself to be very intelligent.  At least, intelligent enough to teach my children.  Also, I feel a lot of what homeschooling is about is teaching your children how to learn on their own.  A high school-age child can certainly excel in math beyond what you can teach him.  He can learn from a book, going on-line, signing up for college courses, ect.

Also, I have a big respect for certain extras in his education- namely, music and foreign languages. I could teach string instrument basics, but he would need a teacher for more in-depth studies of it, or any other instrument. I learn my instrument at school, and I am wondering if you parents teach your kids an instrument on your own, or hire a tutor in your home, take them to classes? As far as foreign language, I consider it very important for him to learn 1 or 2 along the way. I speak some spanish, and am working on making that better for the sake of teaching it to him, since it is very useful to know these days, but I also want him to learn French or another language at some point. While this is probably not for a while, I am just wondering about it now while we think about HS options. Do you hire a tutor in your home, or is there another way? If any of you do both of these (music+language lessons) for one or more children, does it end up costing a fortune?

I will teach my kids in the beginning.  If they excel in an area and I find I cannot further their education myself, I will consider private lessons.  For foreign languages, well I intend to learn right along with them!  One reason I don't like public school in the states is because they wait until high school to introduce foreign languages.  I took two years of spanish and I can only understand a little.  I certainly can't speak it.  One of my main goals in life is to become fluent in several languages.  Teaching my children seems the perfect opportunity to learn myself!

Finally, I have a job that is very flexible, but one I would still need to keep. Does anyone else HS part-time? I am thinking of working 3 or 4 days, HS 3 or 4 days. On days I am working, I would hope to find a nice SAHP to care for him at home and maybe continue his HS on those days. If I can't find a SAHP to HS and care for him, for 3 or 4 days a week he would not be learning- so would the other 3 or 4 days of HSing be enough to keep him on track with learning?

I work 30 hours a week at a daycare.  I work 6:30-12:30.  I homeschool from 1:30-4, with a little bit in the evening as well (typing and computer, maybe an educational video, and we *always* read before bed!).  If you school year-round, there's no reason you couldn't school part of the week and still fit everything in.

Thanks for any advice and comments.

Bolded. :)

[greenmagick]

well and to add on the foreign language part...I took 9 years of spanish in school...three in gradeschool, 4 years of honors in highschool (some of which were college credits) and a semester in college....yeah, cant speak it.  I remember bits and pieces but am nowhere NEAR fluent and I had very good grades in it.  It was just all memorization, didnt actually learn the language

[Dar]

I have a BA in education and an MA in anthropology. I think the latter has been much more useful to me in my homeschooling than the former.

My daughter tested into advanced level Russian and French classes when she started college. She took French at our local community colleges and state university during her sophomore and senior years in high school, and got a scholarship to live in Russia during her junior year. She's majoring in Russian. I speak exactly two words of Russian.