10. We're training her to like isolation so that she can be an astroaunt.
9. Socialization ? We're Democrats !
8. Don't worry. We get together with other kids twice a week so she can learn how to spit on them and treat them disrespectfully.
7. We do Unit Studies on Socialization, and also Hair Washing, Clothes Folding, and other completely redundant subjects.
6. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. I was mentally planning her week of Fencing, Art, Unit Study Coop, Field Trip Coop, Writing Classes, Strategy Lab and soccer. What were you saying about socialization?
5. If I could get her to stop planning so many group sleep overs and playdates, I'd be able to convince her to socialize!
4. Huh?
3. Please, just for a change, ask me about college, okay?
2. Squeak, dive under the nearest object, peek out, and mutter "who are you and what do you want?"
And the NUMBER ONE ANSWER you can use when people ask about socialization.....
1. Oh, I know what you mean! That's why we're homeschooling, for the socialization!"
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Questions that people REALLY ask kids about homeschooling with sample answers we have thought of giving !
Have you ever noticed that even the most intelligent seeming humans are capable of asking extremely stupid questions about home/unschooling? Although I am always too polite to retaliate, the following answers always run through my mind when I hear the following questions:
Do your parents make you homeschool?
*Yes, they do. In my heart of hearts, I really *want* to spend 6 hours a day in a stuffy classroom filled with stupid people, listening to a rude and irrational teacher rant incessantly.
Do you have any friends?
*No, I'm a misanthrope sociopath who would rather die a thousand deaths than be socialized normally.
How do you meet people?
*I have found that painting myself blue and running through the streets screaming is a very effective way to meet people.
Do you get graded?
*Grades are determined each semester by a coin toss.
How do you know what to do without a teacher telling you?
*I visit the library and pick books at random. Those books then become my curriculum for that semester. Last semester, I studied alternative physics, macamre, tomato growing, and plot flaws in Star Trek the Next Generation episodes.
How do you remember to work without a teacher nagging you?
*I bribe myself. Whenever I finish a homework assignment, I give myself a gold star or a cookie.
Is homeschooling legal?
*No. In fact, you could even be arrested for aiding and abbeting a criminal just by talking to me!
Or .......
*Yes. The government wants as many of us smartaleck, self motivating brats out of their high schools as possible.
Do you like homeschooling?
*Not particularly. I tolerate homeschooling only because the alternative is so horrendous.
Are you going to homeschool your kids?
*Certainly! In fact, my children will undergo an accelerated education, so that they are ready for college classes by the age of 10.
You must be pretty smart to homeschool, huh?
*Actually, my intelligence level is below normal. I have simply aquired an immense vocabulary through memorization, which often fools humans into believing that I am more intelligent than I actually am.
Do your parents make you homeschool?
*Yes, they do. In my heart of hearts, I really *want* to spend 6 hours a day in a stuffy classroom filled with stupid people, listening to a rude and irrational teacher rant incessantly.
Do you have any friends?
*No, I'm a misanthrope sociopath who would rather die a thousand deaths than be socialized normally.
How do you meet people?
*I have found that painting myself blue and running through the streets screaming is a very effective way to meet people.
Do you get graded?
*Grades are determined each semester by a coin toss.
How do you know what to do without a teacher telling you?
*I visit the library and pick books at random. Those books then become my curriculum for that semester. Last semester, I studied alternative physics, macamre, tomato growing, and plot flaws in Star Trek the Next Generation episodes.
How do you remember to work without a teacher nagging you?
*I bribe myself. Whenever I finish a homework assignment, I give myself a gold star or a cookie.
Is homeschooling legal?
*No. In fact, you could even be arrested for aiding and abbeting a criminal just by talking to me!
Or .......
*Yes. The government wants as many of us smartaleck, self motivating brats out of their high schools as possible.
Do you like homeschooling?
*Not particularly. I tolerate homeschooling only because the alternative is so horrendous.
Are you going to homeschool your kids?
*Certainly! In fact, my children will undergo an accelerated education, so that they are ready for college classes by the age of 10.
You must be pretty smart to homeschool, huh?
*Actually, my intelligence level is below normal. I have simply aquired an immense vocabulary through memorization, which often fools humans into believing that I am more intelligent than I actually am.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Homeschool Humor from Kellie in CA
This is so funny ! It comes from Kellie in CA, a homeschooling mother.
I overheard my 7 year old daughter talking to the neighbor girl. The neighbor girl was telling my daughter that she didn't have to go to school that day because of parent-teacher conferences. My daughter asked her what that meant and the neighbor girl explained it was when her Mom talked to her teacher. "Oh, we have that in home schooling too," replied my daughter. I was a bit puzzled until my daughter added, "My Mom talks to herself all the time."
I overheard my 7 year old daughter talking to the neighbor girl. The neighbor girl was telling my daughter that she didn't have to go to school that day because of parent-teacher conferences. My daughter asked her what that meant and the neighbor girl explained it was when her Mom talked to her teacher. "Oh, we have that in home schooling too," replied my daughter. I was a bit puzzled until my daughter added, "My Mom talks to herself all the time."
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Pros and Cons of Homeschooling by Cindy Downes
I found this wonderful pro/con list of homeschooling on the net. It is by a veteran HSer. Remember, the pros and cons isn't a "one size fits all" but you might find some aspects you can relate to !
Someone recently asked me to give my honest pro and con of homeschooling. After twenty six years in the homeschool world, here is my answer:
The cons include:
1. Homeschooling doesn't guarantee that your children will ace every course, have no problems, get into an elite college on scholarship, obtain a high-paying job, get married and have their life turn out perfect.
2. Homeschooling is a lot of work and takes most of your free time even if you are eclectic or use unit studies. Children take time!
3. You will endure a lot of pressure from the world, your family and friends, AND yourself that will make you think you are "ruining" your kids.
4. You will have bad days. It can be real frustrating to spend time preparing lessons and getting equipment together only to have a "bad" day or a child who doesn't seem like he is learning. Every homeschool mom will tell you there will be days (or even weeks at a time) when you will feel like nothing is going right.
5. Even though you can homeschool cheaper than sending them to private school, it still costs money to provide an excellent education at home. You WILL have to sacrifice in other areas of the family budget in order to have the money you need to homeschool.
6. You kids will most likely go through periods of time, both during their homeschool life and after, when they wish they were not homeschooled. You (the parents) must be the one who makes the decision and sticks with it. That takes a lot of determination.
If you allow God to take control, and you do the best you can, and forgive yourself on the bad days, the pros include:
1. Your child WILL receive a better education in the areas that are most important to him. By homeschooling, you are able to focus your child's education on courses & activities that will help him do what interests him instead of doing what everyone else is doing.
2. Your child WILL learn to think for himself and be self-educating which will help him throughout his adult life. Even though he won't learn "everything he needs to know," by the time he graduates, he will know how to find the answers for himself, something not likely to happen in a regular school.
3. You can arrange your school day around your spouse's schedule so that everyone has quality time together, creating special family memories that your child will never forget. Most homeschooled families become very close. And, even if he becomes a prodigal son, he will think back on these times and remember what life is like in a loving and caring home. Eventually, he will tire of the "world outside" and will come back home.
4. YOUR character traits and behaviors WILL show up in your children. As you are training your child, you will also be training you. It will make YOU a better person!
5. You child will eventually tell you that they were glad that you homeschooled them for a variety of reasons. Their reasons change as they mature and have families of their own.
6. When you are all done homeschooling, you will know that you have done the best job you could have done for your child. You will have prepared them the best you could and given your child what they need to go out into the world.
Someone recently asked me to give my honest pro and con of homeschooling. After twenty six years in the homeschool world, here is my answer:
The cons include:
1. Homeschooling doesn't guarantee that your children will ace every course, have no problems, get into an elite college on scholarship, obtain a high-paying job, get married and have their life turn out perfect.
2. Homeschooling is a lot of work and takes most of your free time even if you are eclectic or use unit studies. Children take time!
3. You will endure a lot of pressure from the world, your family and friends, AND yourself that will make you think you are "ruining" your kids.
4. You will have bad days. It can be real frustrating to spend time preparing lessons and getting equipment together only to have a "bad" day or a child who doesn't seem like he is learning. Every homeschool mom will tell you there will be days (or even weeks at a time) when you will feel like nothing is going right.
5. Even though you can homeschool cheaper than sending them to private school, it still costs money to provide an excellent education at home. You WILL have to sacrifice in other areas of the family budget in order to have the money you need to homeschool.
6. You kids will most likely go through periods of time, both during their homeschool life and after, when they wish they were not homeschooled. You (the parents) must be the one who makes the decision and sticks with it. That takes a lot of determination.
If you allow God to take control, and you do the best you can, and forgive yourself on the bad days, the pros include:
1. Your child WILL receive a better education in the areas that are most important to him. By homeschooling, you are able to focus your child's education on courses & activities that will help him do what interests him instead of doing what everyone else is doing.
2. Your child WILL learn to think for himself and be self-educating which will help him throughout his adult life. Even though he won't learn "everything he needs to know," by the time he graduates, he will know how to find the answers for himself, something not likely to happen in a regular school.
3. You can arrange your school day around your spouse's schedule so that everyone has quality time together, creating special family memories that your child will never forget. Most homeschooled families become very close. And, even if he becomes a prodigal son, he will think back on these times and remember what life is like in a loving and caring home. Eventually, he will tire of the "world outside" and will come back home.
4. YOUR character traits and behaviors WILL show up in your children. As you are training your child, you will also be training you. It will make YOU a better person!
5. You child will eventually tell you that they were glad that you homeschooled them for a variety of reasons. Their reasons change as they mature and have families of their own.
6. When you are all done homeschooling, you will know that you have done the best job you could have done for your child. You will have prepared them the best you could and given your child what they need to go out into the world.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Offically done with curriculum !
This past week has been an intense week of "tying up loose ends." Shayna finished her Nathan Hale project for the living wax museum, her lapbook and the contents, her unit study on decimals (math), a review book on the Ameican Revolution that I got her in Philadelphia, the last chapter of Story of our World ...... Yesterday, around lunchtime, she was "officially done" with the "school work" she needed to complete this year ! Yahooo ! What a great feeling !
To celebrate, I told her she could sleep late today ! As a family, we do all wake up to see Don (my husband) off to work every day ! He usually leaves around 7:30 - 8:00 so this isn't bad. It is a good ritual also, because it gets Shayna off to a good start. She hates not saying goodbye to dad in the morning.
So - what are we going to do in the next few weeks.
1. Pack for Emerson. I began this earlier this week. Shayna is ALMOST packed up. Name tags are almost on everything. I need to make a "list" for her and get it all together. Pack for Shayna to go to Grandma Mary and George's House. Shayna needs a 2nd bag, since she is spending a week with Grandma Mary and George before Emerson begins. (when I am in Tulsa at Usborne National Convention)
2. Field Trips ! We have 3 field trips scheduled to go on. This will be awesome fun !
3. Author's Party & Living Wax Musuem - we are having our culiminating activities for both these groups in the next 2 weeks.
4. PLAYING, PLAYING and more PLAYING ! Although we play all the time "while doing school" and in "daily life" I am sure that Shayna will create new ideas, things and games to play !
I am sure the next 2 weeks will fly by ! I can't imagine now how I will have enough time to pull everything together...but I will !
It feels so good to "officially" be done with her "fourth grade school year" !
To celebrate, I told her she could sleep late today ! As a family, we do all wake up to see Don (my husband) off to work every day ! He usually leaves around 7:30 - 8:00 so this isn't bad. It is a good ritual also, because it gets Shayna off to a good start. She hates not saying goodbye to dad in the morning.
So - what are we going to do in the next few weeks.
1. Pack for Emerson. I began this earlier this week. Shayna is ALMOST packed up. Name tags are almost on everything. I need to make a "list" for her and get it all together. Pack for Shayna to go to Grandma Mary and George's House. Shayna needs a 2nd bag, since she is spending a week with Grandma Mary and George before Emerson begins. (when I am in Tulsa at Usborne National Convention)
2. Field Trips ! We have 3 field trips scheduled to go on. This will be awesome fun !
3. Author's Party & Living Wax Musuem - we are having our culiminating activities for both these groups in the next 2 weeks.
4. PLAYING, PLAYING and more PLAYING ! Although we play all the time "while doing school" and in "daily life" I am sure that Shayna will create new ideas, things and games to play !
I am sure the next 2 weeks will fly by ! I can't imagine now how I will have enough time to pull everything together...but I will !
It feels so good to "officially" be done with her "fourth grade school year" !
Thursday, May 25, 2006
A Place Where Kids Can THINK and HAVE FUN !
"Everyone is born with genius, but most people only keep it a few minutes. "
~ Edgard Varese
US (French Born) composer
1883 - 1965
For the last "school year" every other Thursday a group of local homeschoolers have been getting together to give their brains a good workout. Most people would glance in and say, only they are only playing games. However, that is NOT the case.
A group of parents formed our "Strategy Lab". In Strategy Lab, we guide the children through different types of thinking games and reasoning, thinking, verbal type of problem solving activities. It has been a marvelous success. If you ask any of the children in our group what there kids thought, I feel confident they would say how much they loved strategy lab.
The "games" the children play are either independent, 2 person or group games. They rotate through the games every 20 minutes or so so they get a variety and work different parts of their brain. The children are in limited and carefully chosen "mixed age groups" so that they can help one another get to that "next level">
The team activities provides creative problem-solving opportunities. It’s all about creativity, an often overlooked element in the growth and development of many students. Kids are rewarded "points" for how they apply their knowledge, skills and talents, and not for coming up with the right answer. The children work in teams so they learn cooperation and respect for the ideas of others. They evaluate ideas and make decisions on their own, gaining greater self-confidence and increased self-esteem along the way. Some of these activities include verbal reasoning, thinking outside the box, problem solving, construting objects etc...
Personally, I know Shayna is very sad today is the last day of Strategy Lab for the "year." She can't wait to begin again in September ! It is her favorite part of the week !
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Akeelah and the Bee
Yesterday afternoon, I took Shayna and three other HSing friends to an early afternoon movie of Akeelah and the Bee. My understanding is that this is Starbucks Entertainment's first movie. Either way, we had four children ages 6 - 10 inspired to START PREPARING for next years spelling bee. This is an inspirational movie starting Keke Palmer (Akeelah) . This precocious eleven-year-old girl, Akeelah Anderson, from south Los Angeles, is discovered to have a talent for words. In spite of the objections of her mother Wanda, Akeelah enters a spelling contest. Her gift takes her to compete in the National Spelling Bee, the most famous competition of its kind in the world. On the way, she is helped by a forthright, mysterious teacher, Dr. Larabee, and other members of her community.
What a GREAT movie. It is the type of movie you can be SAFE bringing your children to. Although there is some language that Shayna is forbidden to use, it was used in proper context to show / share what Akeelah's life was in Southern LA.
Shayna and her friends are all planning on starting to practice for the Scripts National Spelling Bee. They realize that many homeschoolers participate in the Bee and in the past there have been homeschoolers who have won the bee.
The 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee will be happening on May 31 and June 1st. ESPN will show the earlier rounds of competition. The final rounds of competition will be broadcasted on Thursday, June 1st on ABC from 8 pm - 10 pm.
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