I was at playgroup today. I ran into a woman I know somewhat who I haven't seen in awhile. Her daughter just turned 4 and will be starting school in September (I won't even start on how I feel about 4 year olds going to school). She asked if Elijah would be starting soon and I said no we're homeschooling. She was silent for a bit and then said "do you have teaching background." I said "no" Then she started saying well are you buying a curriculum, well you have to don't you, do you have someone supervising it, blah, blah blah. I didn't really know what to say, I just said that we aren't doing any set curriculum because none of them are what I'm looking for and that we'll be learning in different ways as we go along. She stopped talking to me then and went to talk to someone else. I'm not unschooling per se because I don't agree with everything but I am much closer to unschooling than school at home. So how do you deal with people's questions?
"Do you have a teaching background?"
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I would answer "Yes I have a teaching background." and left it at that. Or I would've countered with "Do you have a mothering background ? How do you know you aren't going to screw up your child with your lack of mothering skills ?" I can be nasty when provoked.
I taught my children to eat without throwing their food. I taught them to walk. I taught them to talk properly. I taught them to tie their shoes. I taught them about sharp objects and running. I taught them not to bite mommy while she's nursing. I taught them to brush their teeth before bed. I have been teaching them since birth.
I taught my children to eat without throwing their food. I taught them to walk. I taught them to talk properly. I taught them to tie their shoes. I taught them about sharp objects and running. I taught them not to bite mommy while she's nursing. I taught them to brush their teeth before bed. I have been teaching them since birth.
I *have* a teaching background and that is what makes me want to HS! <shudder>
I hate hate hate that assupmtion that parents are only qualified to raise their own children til age five (or whatever it is now) and then *BAM* we all magicially must turn into bungling idiots and send our children off to the nearest institution to take over, no matter what their credentials are or how bad their record is or what we think of them as people, etc.
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: Whatever.
This lady obviously had a huge problem minding her own bussiness.
I have not gotten a negative HSing comment in ages, but if it happens again, I am ready to point out the fact the reguardless of the parent's education level, HSed children come out across the board much higher than schooled children in every area of education. It really makes it seem like a bad, uneducated decision to actually send your DC away to "be educated" to the very place (school) that has been proven over and over to be THE worst place to get an education!
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I hate hate hate that assupmtion that parents are only qualified to raise their own children til age five (or whatever it is now) and then *BAM* we all magicially must turn into bungling idiots and send our children off to the nearest institution to take over, no matter what their credentials are or how bad their record is or what we think of them as people, etc.
This lady obviously had a huge problem minding her own bussiness.
I have not gotten a negative HSing comment in ages, but if it happens again, I am ready to point out the fact the reguardless of the parent's education level, HSed children come out across the board much higher than schooled children in every area of education. It really makes it seem like a bad, uneducated decision to actually send your DC away to "be educated" to the very place (school) that has been proven over and over to be THE worst place to get an education!
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At the age of your DS (and still) I am still emphasizing (with people I don't know well) that my children were/are very young. Your DS is only 3 after all--- no where near mandatory school age.
I think you have it pretty easy, I know your DS is *very* smart, so you can honestly say, "Do you really think someone else would do better?" :LOL DD was tested for early kinder (we use the homeschool support) and they said that only kids who are Sept B-days usually pass--- she ended up not taking all the test because they stopped her when it was obviuos she would pass, encouraged us to put her in early and said there wasn't really anything they could do with her in kinder anyway
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So, you can always refer to that.
I think you have it pretty easy, I know your DS is *very* smart, so you can honestly say, "Do you really think someone else would do better?" :LOL DD was tested for early kinder (we use the homeschool support) and they said that only kids who are Sept B-days usually pass--- she ended up not taking all the test because they stopped her when it was obviuos she would pass, encouraged us to put her in early and said there wasn't really anything they could do with her in kinder anyway
You could counter that a teaching degree prepares one for teaching a classroom of children. There is a lot of classroom management, lesson plan writing, testing methods, etc. involved that you, as a homeschooling parent, won't need. (Even teachers agree with this!)
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As for the necessity of boxed curriculum, learn to speak "educational-ese" and respond with something like, "We're utilizing an individualized program tailored to our child's strengths and interests, which includes many hands-on activities and real life experiences." (Rephrase that to fit your needs
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When you "talk the talk" people take you more seriously.
As for the necessity of boxed curriculum, learn to speak "educational-ese" and respond with something like, "We're utilizing an individualized program tailored to our child's strengths and interests, which includes many hands-on activities and real life experiences." (Rephrase that to fit your needs
When you "talk the talk" people take you more seriously.
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I tell them "No that but that didn't stop the public high school from hireing me to teach." (seriously, fresh out of high school I was teaching remedial 10-11th graders, many of them with limited english skill. I was thier only link between learning and taking up space. I was thier translator/communicator of ideas. no I had no trainign in that either. I was hired to help teach science (under a real teacher but i did most of the work in some of the classes) and during study hal I usually worked with them on reading comprehension which is why they were failing science. not for lack of science skills. had no training there either.
another comeback I use often is", "no but I can get the same teachers manuals your kids teachers read from"
another comeback I use often is", "no but I can get the same teachers manuals your kids teachers read from"
From a different perspective - I do have a teaching background and when people ask I try NOT to tell them. I don't think my teaching degree has helped me at all when it comes to teaching my children. In fact, I think that it has been more problematic because sometimes I get too caught up in the beginning, middle, and end of a lesson. I get blinders and focus too much on the lesson and not enough on the child. I am working on that. I am also afraid that by saying I do, others will be discouraged to try and I truly think that anyone that wants to can.
We also do not use a set curriculum, but make one as we go. By the way teachers are mandated by the school as to which curriculum they use. We do far more lesson planning than they do. They just write it down and get reviewed on it. I thought writing full lesson plans was stupid then and I still think so. And you will notice that if you meet a seasoned teacher, she/he no longer writes full lesson plans but more like outlines with overall goals - very similar to what we do.
Unfortunately, society has done a very good job convincing people that teaching is a profession. This was done for pay reasons and I agree that people teaching our future generations disearve praise and a salary commensurate with job they do. However, I think in the zeal to push the "professionalism" of the job, we have also convinced people that teaching / mentoring their own children is something beyond their comprehension and understanding. We systematically seperate child and parent in the educational realm. Sometimes I think it is reassuring to parents to believe that the schools are doing something that they can't because that is the only way they can justify turning their kids over five days a week, 180 days.
If you love your child(ren) and focus on helping them learn to better themselves, you are the best teacher that they could ever have. And since you homeschool now - you are a teacher.
We also do not use a set curriculum, but make one as we go. By the way teachers are mandated by the school as to which curriculum they use. We do far more lesson planning than they do. They just write it down and get reviewed on it. I thought writing full lesson plans was stupid then and I still think so. And you will notice that if you meet a seasoned teacher, she/he no longer writes full lesson plans but more like outlines with overall goals - very similar to what we do.
Unfortunately, society has done a very good job convincing people that teaching is a profession. This was done for pay reasons and I agree that people teaching our future generations disearve praise and a salary commensurate with job they do. However, I think in the zeal to push the "professionalism" of the job, we have also convinced people that teaching / mentoring their own children is something beyond their comprehension and understanding. We systematically seperate child and parent in the educational realm. Sometimes I think it is reassuring to parents to believe that the schools are doing something that they can't because that is the only way they can justify turning their kids over five days a week, 180 days.
If you love your child(ren) and focus on helping them learn to better themselves, you are the best teacher that they could ever have. And since you homeschool now - you are a teacher.
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Heavenly,
thank you for posting this thread, since it addresses one of those "scenarios in my head" that hasn't happened yet. I'm all over what Jen123 suggested ("yes, I have a teaching background"). It's sort of like the "Is your child sleeping through the night yet?" question which used to annoy me until I decided I'd rather lie to people and say 'yes' so they'd shutup already
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the great thing is, you're not lying by saying, "yes." you are a teacher, healer, therapist, coach, mentor....you could really stop a conversation with a long list like that
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and WOW, thank you Brenoi for your amazing post on this topic...I think I'll print that and put it up on my wall.
thank you for posting this thread, since it addresses one of those "scenarios in my head" that hasn't happened yet. I'm all over what Jen123 suggested ("yes, I have a teaching background"). It's sort of like the "Is your child sleeping through the night yet?" question which used to annoy me until I decided I'd rather lie to people and say 'yes' so they'd shutup already
the great thing is, you're not lying by saying, "yes." you are a teacher, healer, therapist, coach, mentor....you could really stop a conversation with a long list like that
and WOW, thank you Brenoi for your amazing post on this topic...I think I'll print that and put it up on my wall.
Quote:
'Thank you for posting the above.
Teachers do deserve real pay and recognition. But the *system* has pigeon holed so many into teaching for the test (I live in FL where the FCAT is in the news 24/7) that *outsiders* look at teachers as holding the only key to your child's future success in education and life. As if one test will grant you success (that being a steady job with insurance and a new car. Ha Ha if it were that easy!)KWIM.
Originally Posted by Brenoi Unfortunately, society has done a very good job convincing people that teaching is a profession. This was done for pay reasons and I agree that people teaching our future generations disearve praise and a salary commensurate with job they do. However, I think in the zeal to push the "professionalism" of the job, we have also convinced people that teaching / mentoring their own children is something beyond their comprehension and understanding. We systematically seperate child and parent in the educational realm. Sometimes I think it is reassuring to parents to believe that the schools are doing something that they can't because that is the only way they can justify turning their kids over five days a week, 180 days. |
Teachers do deserve real pay and recognition. But the *system* has pigeon holed so many into teaching for the test (I live in FL where the FCAT is in the news 24/7) that *outsiders* look at teachers as holding the only key to your child's future success in education and life. As if one test will grant you success (that being a steady job with insurance and a new car. Ha Ha if it were that easy!)KWIM.
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I always reply "yes" because I have done lots of teaching in my life! Some of it has been in schools and that is what people usually want to hear. It is silly, because I also find that my teaching experience can get in the way of creating a really good day for learning with my children.
The older my children get (4, 6 and 8) the less I talk about hs'ing to people. I give short answers and then change the subject. When I first started hs'ing, I was eager to share how wonderful it was, now I am just tired of the doubting and questions. After all, when someone else tells me what work they do I don't immediately ask if they are qualified for it and question the value of the work they have chosen for themselves. I am really tired of it and don't talk about it much unless people are genuinely interested. Why bother? I have enough stress in my life without that nonsense.
The older my children get (4, 6 and 8) the less I talk about hs'ing to people. I give short answers and then change the subject. When I first started hs'ing, I was eager to share how wonderful it was, now I am just tired of the doubting and questions. After all, when someone else tells me what work they do I don't immediately ask if they are qualified for it and question the value of the work they have chosen for themselves. I am really tired of it and don't talk about it much unless people are genuinely interested. Why bother? I have enough stress in my life without that nonsense.
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Quote:
ITA, Faith!
I have worked for thirty-two years now in schools, public and private, preschool to twelfth grade. I have worked in every aspect of the schools, health room to office to classroom to stockroom to aid to teacher. I have worked on the West Coast and on the East Coast and abroad. I have worked in the classrooms of my siblings and my children.
When I finally finished my credential work five years ago, --although I already suspected--, I knew how silly the whole "teaching background" crock was. Most of the things I learned in student teaching was "housekeeping", i.e., how to set up a classroom for efficiency; most of these ideas are highly subjective, as my education professors felt the teacher's desk should be out of the way, whereas I now work in a school in which the teacher's desk is highly prominent.
Another crock in student teaching was setting up homework. My first student teaching assignment I dropped early since I really did not like the master teacher to whom I was assigned, and she did not like me (can't please everyone). She gave a homework packet to second graders on Monday and it was due on Friday morning. I felt that second graders, especially hers, were too immature to take something home and then pace their progress for four nights and remember to bring in it all in -finished-on an assigned day. FURTHERMORE, none of the subject matter she sent home in the homework had anything to do with the instruction she had going on in the classroom. She claimed to be very organized, but her room was a mess and she counld never find anything in her cabinets. FURTHERMORE, she was absent two to three days every single week, so I was also working with a substitute teacher many times! I paid over one thousand dollars to a State University for this experience!
My second student teaching assignment was with a teacher whose educational background was similar to mine, so we got along fine. However we both clashed in many areas with the University Supervisor who came out weekly to check on my progress.
My third and last student teaching assignment was in the summer time with a teacher who was absent about once a week, but I was able to handle the class well, and I did all of the science, math, and art.
So much for "teaching background". CRAP - all of it!
Much of "Educational" training is politics.
A homeschooling mother/instructor paced the "curriculum" for his/her child. If a child is having problems with reading, then the parent spends as much time as is necessary to help the child over this hurdle. If your child is having trouble holding a pencil and making proper letter formation, then perhaps you can take a while to practice this. Perhaps one or both of the parents had the same problem with reading or writing or holding a pencil as some of these learning patterns are hereditary, so who would be better to teach this child than the parent of this child who him/herself had struggled and conquered the problem.
OTOH, if a child fully understands adding and subtracting, carrying and borrowing (trading?) completely, then go ahead and start the times tables! These are fun! Why wait until the end of second or third grade if your child is ready. In the public schools, they have the State Standards (in CA), and this tells the schools when to teach what.
If you ever read the history about how and why the public schools were established in this country, you will know that schooling has not conquered illiteracy. Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Banneker, all were educated at home or taught by tutors at home AFTER their parents taught them to read and write. George Washington had only one year of schooling, and wrote a book when he was fifteen.
As a teacher, I have, yes, a "teaching background"; however, I never let my teaching background get in the way of helping my children to learn to read, write, and do arithmetic.
| I *have* a teaching background and that is what makes me want to HS! <shudder>
|
I have worked for thirty-two years now in schools, public and private, preschool to twelfth grade. I have worked in every aspect of the schools, health room to office to classroom to stockroom to aid to teacher. I have worked on the West Coast and on the East Coast and abroad. I have worked in the classrooms of my siblings and my children.
When I finally finished my credential work five years ago, --although I already suspected--, I knew how silly the whole "teaching background" crock was. Most of the things I learned in student teaching was "housekeeping", i.e., how to set up a classroom for efficiency; most of these ideas are highly subjective, as my education professors felt the teacher's desk should be out of the way, whereas I now work in a school in which the teacher's desk is highly prominent.
Another crock in student teaching was setting up homework. My first student teaching assignment I dropped early since I really did not like the master teacher to whom I was assigned, and she did not like me (can't please everyone). She gave a homework packet to second graders on Monday and it was due on Friday morning. I felt that second graders, especially hers, were too immature to take something home and then pace their progress for four nights and remember to bring in it all in -finished-on an assigned day. FURTHERMORE, none of the subject matter she sent home in the homework had anything to do with the instruction she had going on in the classroom. She claimed to be very organized, but her room was a mess and she counld never find anything in her cabinets. FURTHERMORE, she was absent two to three days every single week, so I was also working with a substitute teacher many times! I paid over one thousand dollars to a State University for this experience!
My second student teaching assignment was with a teacher whose educational background was similar to mine, so we got along fine. However we both clashed in many areas with the University Supervisor who came out weekly to check on my progress.
My third and last student teaching assignment was in the summer time with a teacher who was absent about once a week, but I was able to handle the class well, and I did all of the science, math, and art.
So much for "teaching background". CRAP - all of it!
Much of "Educational" training is politics.
A homeschooling mother/instructor paced the "curriculum" for his/her child. If a child is having problems with reading, then the parent spends as much time as is necessary to help the child over this hurdle. If your child is having trouble holding a pencil and making proper letter formation, then perhaps you can take a while to practice this. Perhaps one or both of the parents had the same problem with reading or writing or holding a pencil as some of these learning patterns are hereditary, so who would be better to teach this child than the parent of this child who him/herself had struggled and conquered the problem.
OTOH, if a child fully understands adding and subtracting, carrying and borrowing (trading?) completely, then go ahead and start the times tables! These are fun! Why wait until the end of second or third grade if your child is ready. In the public schools, they have the State Standards (in CA), and this tells the schools when to teach what.
If you ever read the history about how and why the public schools were established in this country, you will know that schooling has not conquered illiteracy. Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Banneker, all were educated at home or taught by tutors at home AFTER their parents taught them to read and write. George Washington had only one year of schooling, and wrote a book when he was fifteen.
As a teacher, I have, yes, a "teaching background"; however, I never let my teaching background get in the way of helping my children to learn to read, write, and do arithmetic.
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Quote:
DH says he doesn't believe in the three R's (reading, riting & rithmatic), he believes in a RAW education (reading, arithmatic and writing) and why would he trust a system that can't even SPELL to teach them. lol
| As a teacher, I have, yes, a "teaching background"; however, I never let my teaching background get in the way of helping my children to learn to read, write, and do arithmetic. |
I have a teaching background, and early in the piece I used to say so when asked. Then I started to realise that people would give that, "Well, that's reassuring" look, and I realised I was doing every other homeschooler (who didn't have some sort of teaching degree behind them) a HUGE disservice. So, now I say, "I don't need one, and neither would you!". If people already know I have a teaching masters, I make a point of saying that a substantial number of homeschooling parents are teachers and principals, and well, what does that say about the state of our schools (I'm in Australia)??? That usually stumps a lot of people.
Although my teaching background (I have a Grad.Dip.Ed in Vacational Education and Training (basically teaching adults) and a Masters in Education specialising in early childhood development) have taught me so many things about how the brain works and how people learn, I sometimes wish I didn't have those degrees, because once people realise I have them they stop asking about why I have chosen to homeschool. They assume I just think I can do better than the schools and they definately DON'T want to hear my opinion on the school system (because their kids are in the school system). If I weren't a "qualified" teacher, I know they'd ask all sorts of questions and then maybe I'd get a chance to share what I've learned through sites like this and homeschooling lists (and NOT from my degrees, LOL)...
Although my teaching background (I have a Grad.Dip.Ed in Vacational Education and Training (basically teaching adults) and a Masters in Education specialising in early childhood development) have taught me so many things about how the brain works and how people learn, I sometimes wish I didn't have those degrees, because once people realise I have them they stop asking about why I have chosen to homeschool. They assume I just think I can do better than the schools and they definately DON'T want to hear my opinion on the school system (because their kids are in the school system). If I weren't a "qualified" teacher, I know they'd ask all sorts of questions and then maybe I'd get a chance to share what I've learned through sites like this and homeschooling lists (and NOT from my degrees, LOL)...
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ITA
Originally Posted by Eris Vacational Education sounds like unschooling.
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ITA
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