With so many new people on board, I thought I would ask if anyone is homeschooling? I am on my second year. We are completing grade 4 (my children are ages 8 and 10). I would love to hear from anyone who is also homeschooling.
Yvonne

By Conni on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - 07:24 am:

Yvonne, I just went to my first ABeka book display yesterday. I am seriously considering using the K4-DVD program with Blake beginning in the Fall.

If the school district will allow my oldest ds to enroll part time- I will use the DVD program with him too next yr. He is really wanting to. He is also wanting to play football tho- so wish me luck getting him that all taken care of!

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - 09:22 am:

Most schools allow dual enrollment so your kids can participate in sports.
I use A-Beka but not the dvds. So far I have not felt the need for them though they are a consideration once we get in higher grades.

By Hlgmom on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - 01:22 pm:

At what age did you all start...it is something I have thought about- still awhile to go though!

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - 02:56 pm:

We started last year when we had issues with the school system. We started with grade 3 and have just completed grade 4. I wish I did it sooner! We complete our day in 3-4 hours and have afternoons to play. No more stressful hours of homework each night, no more bullies, and best of all no more learning all year just to take a test (FCAT).

By Yjja123 on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 08:06 pm:

bumping up

By Unschoolmom on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 09:24 pm:

We homeschool...Our style is unschooling as you might have guessed by my nickname.

By Nicki on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 10:28 pm:

My daughter is still quite young, but we are considering homeschool as well. I am so glad there are other homeschoolers here, and am quite happy to hear such positive feedback about your experiences!
Nicki

By Annie2 on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 10:46 pm:

Yvonne, what do you mean by "no more learning all year just to take a test" ? (FCAT)

Just curious, since my kids are in the FL public school system.

By Yjja123 on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 09:01 am:

Well, they spend the year "teaching" them to take the test. A great deal of homework is sent home which is really work they should do during the day but they can't because they are learning how to take FCAT. It seems the whole year revolves around that test. That test counts as everything (which is why I feel like this). My daughter had straight A's all year long but failed FCAT. They were discussing failing her simply because of the test results. Fail a child on honor roll? I think not.
Some school districts are better than others. It seems like a lot of pressure is put on both the teachers and the children. Pass the FCAT you pass the grade. Pass the FCAT you keep your job.

By Karefl on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 07:51 pm:

I'm homeschooling in FL too. We've done it since the beginning. This year we're doing 7th & 3rd grade work. I've NEVER had to deal with the FCAT! I hear my friends talk about it & it keeps me homeschooling. My favorite question...."How long are you going to keep homeschooling?" My new answer.."Several colleges have distance learning programs!" LOL

By Unschoolmom on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 08:21 am:

LOL Karri! That question, grrrrr. Most people seem to think my kids will be going back by high school. Gosh, that's the worst time to send them IMO. Just when they're going through so many changes, want to take more resposibility, work maybe or explore interests...And they think I'm going to stick them in a box for a few years? Bah, let the kids get on with their life!

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 10:02 am:

unschoolmom... I assume you plan on continuing
the unschool method through highschool? If so, what do you do about transcripts for college? I am using A Beka because my kids want to go to college. I am keeping somewhat to the scope/sequence of regular school which is supposed to be easier (for report cards and transcripts) down the road. I do not intend on sending them back to public school but who knows what the future will bring.

By Unschoolmom on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 10:59 am:

There are quite a few ways to get into many colleges without a transcript. Many have admissions policies for homeschoolers and may ask for a portfolio. Some require writing a test like the SAT and an interview. Many kids start classes in community colleges at 16 and that gives them some advantage and college credits. Or a kid could just wait a couple of years and then apply as a mature student. Not all universities are as open as some but I'm sure that will be quite a bit different 10 years down the road when my kids may (or may not) want to attend. But even Harvard is actively recruiting homeschoolers now and many are interested in kids with unconventional educations becuase they add to a more diverse student body and are often curious, self - disciplined learners.

I know quite a few unschoolers (through the internet) who have kids that are going to or have gone to college.

By Karefl on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 11:19 pm:

I've heard through my homeschool group leader that colleges in FL HAVE to take your homeschooled (in FL) student as long as you have met the state graduation requirements. Do you belong to FPEA? They can probably help you with that question. Are you going to convention in May?
Karrie

By Yjja123 on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 01:14 pm:

Karrie I do not know if the above post is for me or for unschoolmom. I know my kids will have the states graduation requirements because we follow A Beka which has a similar scope. My question was to unschoolmom. I wondered if she planned on her kids attending college and if so how. The way I understand unschooling you are not following any curriculum and thus would not meet the states requirements. If that is the case, I wonder how you could be accepted into college. Perhaps I am misunderstanding the unschool methods?

By Unschoolmom on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 10:57 am:

Yvonne - Oh. If you mean will my kids have a provincial high school diploma (we're in Canada)if they stay with unschooling then it's no. They'd have to either attend school or take correspondences courses for that. They may choose to do either of those things but I don't think that's likely.

As for getting in college (if they choose, I'm putting some money away in case but it's up to them) there are quite a few different ways to do that without a prov. diploma as I mentioned in my last post. And keeping in mind that it will at least a decade before my kids attend a college I'm sure there will be many, many more colleges that have admission stadards tailor made for Hser's without diplomas.

By Imamommyx4 on Monday, March 28, 2005 - 10:49 am:

I homeschooled my youngest ds through 10, 11, and 12th grades. I was afraid he would drop out if I didn't. He has ADD and high school got so frustrating for him.

Now I have 4 you dd and I always thought that I would homeschool her from the beginning. But I enrolled her in the mother's day out program at our church for 2 days a week and she absolutley loves it. She LOVES going to school and playing with her friends. She's a very gregarious little girl and well liked by everybody.

So it's a tough decision for us at this point. She wants to go to school, but there is so much about the public school system that I do NOT care for. But either way, it's not the end of the world. If I start her in school, I can always change my mind and pull her out and vice versa.