Hopefully this will help answer some of the more common questions I get about homeschooling.
Q. What about socialization or socializing? Won't your kids turn out weird?
A. My kids have plenty of time for socializing, probably more so than kids that go to school. Madeline is involved in ballet, gymnastics, swimming, Sunday School, GEMS, 2 different coop's and doesn't have any homework! She also enjoys talking with people of all ages. Duncan is not afraid to go up to anyone and ask them to play. He enjoys playing with kids of all ages.
Q. What is a Coop?
A. Coop is short for cooperative. Basically it's a group of people coming together to help teach the children. There are several types. We have been involved in a few over the years. One of the coop's Madeline participates in is what I call a "drop off". I drop her off for a paid class with other homeschoolers. This is more of a classroom setting and involves actual teachers. Another type we have been involved in includes the parents more. There are classes but parents take turns teaching them to reduce their cost. This is a little less expensive than the drop off classes. The third type we participate in is more social in nature. We meet at parks for playtime, go on field trips, have Lego club, do science experiments, that sort of thing. Parents take turns hosting these events. We have met some really good friends from this last type of group.
Q. I could NEVER do that/ you must be so patient!
A. We all do things we don't think we can do when we're properly motivated. I really think what people mean when they make this exclamation is - how do you find time to yourself? How do you keep the house clean? Do you ever get a break? Simple answer is my house isn't spotless and my husband takes charge of the kids a lot when he's home giving me a break. We make it work. Also, I would not consider myself an overall patient person. I loose my temper at times and school does not always go smoothly. I do have a 3 year old after all. He likes to interrupt a lot.
Q. Why?
A. That's a loaded question and is different for everyone. We chose to homeschool because Madeline is advanced. If she were in school she would have just finished up Kindergarten this past year but was doing 2nd grade level work. At home we are able to work with her at her level. She can work on 3rd grade math at the same time she is doing 1st grade writing and 6th grade reading if need be. We also don't like some of the things taught in public school and private school is so expensive.
Q. When will you put her/them in school?
A. college? high school? never? We just don't know. We don't feel an overwhelming need to ever put the kids in school at this point. Madeline has already shown interest in staying home until college. That sounds good to me.
Q. Do you report to anyone? Who keeps track of you? Do they have to take tests?
A. In IL we do not have to report to anyone and no one "keeps track" of us. We also do not have to take standardized tests of any sort. We do have to teach the same subjects that the kids would have in school. Homeschoolers are considered a private school thus we have to abide by the same rules a private school has to. Each state is different with various laws. Some states are simple like IL, while others have quite extreme monitoring laws. Not monitoring does not mean that we don't educate our children. Everyone I have met is very conscientious in teaching their children. We can go so much more in depth in our educating than the kids would ever get in school.
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