How long does it take to deschool?

[sheandaru]

I think we've finally decided to take my oldest out of ps and homeschool him and his brothers. He's currently in first grade and has been in Montessouri since he was 15 months.

My question is this: how long will it take for him to deschool/decompress? Will the summer "break" be long enough to establish our own daily rhythm?

The only thing I fear most is my dh's college schedule changing the rhythm. His schedule changes every semester and it may interfere with any routines we esablish.

Does anyone have any experience with homeschooling with one parent in college?

Wow, that was a lot more questions than I originally planned!

[imalwaysreading]

I have to say we have the WORST as far as scheduling practices go, and I love homeschooling for that reason. So, even though one parent is in college, I firmly believe you can tailor your schooling to fit that.

We pulled our son out of public school 8th grade one month ago. He did start math about 2 weeks after because we have a certain agenda for that, but he's been doing reading on his own and that's about it. His de-schooling is gradual, and he needs it.

Right now, he's visiting family. But, I can honestly say when he returns in about 3 weeks, he'll be ready to have a school-time/schedule per se.

Each child is different and I've been told it's obvious when they're ready, and that is true! Some kids take 2 weeks, some take 6 months, maybe more.

Good luck!

[halfpintwil]

When I took my oldest two out of school to home educate, they had just finished 2nd and K, and the summer was enough for them - they are both in college now. It will really depend upon the child though, but I think that at their ages and if they haven't had any major issues in school that the summer should be long enough.
Dawn

[Jenlaana]

I think it depends on the amount of trauma that each child incurs in school. My 11 yr old (at the time) son had a lot of school 'trauma' where they had him hating to write because they were always focused on how bad his writing was, and hating math because he didnt want to write out his math problems, etc.

For us, we did some fun "schoolish" activities. Crossword puzzles about different countries, web games with a "learning" philosophy behind them, and a lot of trips to the library where he would find books to read. From those activities I got enough for my portfolio for the school records, and other than that, I just let him play from about March until August. We still have some rough patches, but we work through them. That was a year ago and my son is still not completely 'deschooled'. I don't know if he will ever be, completely.

[MamaPam]

It seems like I read somewhere 1 week for every year they had been in school. Alot of it depends on your child's school experience and personality. I think over the summer would be pleanty of time.

-Pam

[chaos_pie]

I took my ds out of ps in the middle of 1st grade. I felt like it took about 9 mo to see self-directed learning. After about 6 weeks my son was NOTICEABLY more relaxed and easier to be around.

[CharlieBrown]

Originally Posted by MamaPam

It seems like I read somewhere 1 week for every year they had been in school. Alot of it depends on your child's school experience and personality. I think over the summer would be pleanty of time.

-Pam

at a home schooling 101 workshop, i was told 1 month for every year in school which is what we are doing and needing. it is a gradual thing and takes time.