Need Advice on Home Schooling

I don't have personal experience with this (expecting my first one any day now) but I think there are home school networks you can join to bring kids together who are in the same situation, especially for field trips and such (just do a google search). You could also enroll them in afternoon or weekend groups "after school" like sports, art, dance, etc. where they are in classes with other kids if you feel like they need more social experiences. I don't know what to say about eventually transitioning to a more traditional school setting, except that you may need to do some research about finding schools with small classroom sizes to start with so they can still get personalized attention...

I have been a public school teacher and recently switched over to being an independent study teacher. If you go through and independent school such as CAVA (do a search for California Virtual Academies)they have monthly activities planned. I know that there are socials and monthly field trips planned through the school. I think it's great that you are going to home school, just get them involved with parks and rec and join community events and that will do wonders for the social aspects. Good luck

Go through the K-12 CAVA program! We found it last year and it's a wonderful program! Your Mom won't have to make any lesson plans they are made for you all she has to do is guide the kids and just make learning fun for them. Let me know what you think once you check it out!

Catherine,

In general I am very opposed to home schooling because a lot of parents are just not very well educated and don't understand all the things a school provides. However, I think your case is different, because I think your mother will be able to provide what they need. Social activities should not be so hard, as Denise said--perhaps you can find ballet or other dance classes, swimming, gymnastics, Scouts, plus art classes, science classes, and in the summer, in our area, there are camps of all descriptions.

The only thing I would say is that when the caring parents pull their kids out of school, schools go downhill. I kept my son in public school and provided him with extras after school and during the summers that I knew public schools couldn't provide (and frankly, private schools don't provide either).

Take care,

E.

I don't know what the rules are here in California but in Oregon the kids are allowed to sign up for after school sports and other activities. There are home-schooling networks out there, you just have to do a little footwork to find them. =) Not to mention things like martial arts, gymnastics, etc. that are year round through the park systems.

Think about it, the kids at school have to sit for hours doing schoolwork, not talking...so will your kids. When school is out you can arrange for them to play for a few hours with the kids that do go to school. There is plenty of time for socialization! Personally with the resources you have at hand I think you will do just fine! Good luck.

Catherine-

Bravo to you for investing the time to learn more about this! I have 5 kids, the oldest two are homeschooled, the others will be too when they are that age. You just never know what type of kids are in other schools, private or not. Other parents allowed things we wouldn't dream of for our kids so we changed. My daughters are very social. I keep them involved in ballet, Girl Scouts, gymnastics, church activities, etc. We socialize with other Home School moms & kids. State of CA pays for extracurricular lessons (some). This year, my 7th grader will be taking horseback riding lessons (yikes). My other will be in gymnastics more often. We have friends over like everyone else. But, we can get our work done by 12 if we hustle, then have the rest of the day to do stuff. When we went camping in May, they got their work done early so we only had to take 1 subject with us. We can go places while other kids are in school and not have to compete with so many crowds. I have loved the experience. Now, ask me again when all 5 are in school!!!!

I wish you and your family the best.

D.

There are a lot of homeschooling grps out there to get involved in for support and group activities. you can share resources and they can make friends that way. But i would'nt worry too much about it while they are young; it does avoid some of the less than great aspects of "socializing" such as bullies and the like. at least until they get a little older.
Good luck to you!

I am going into my 8th year of homeschooling and it has been such a blessing for us. Many women here have given you some basic ideas but I need to clarify a few things.

One mom said charter schools keep costs minimal. That is not necessarily true. There are two types of charters. The first is a public charter - where you get paid by the state to enroll in public school education at home. Usually you pick out the curriculum. Most public charters require your supplies/books to be non religeous. They agree to pay a certain amount to you every year for books, supplies (or even classes from an approved vendor list). I think the typical amount in the bay area is somewhere around $1,500- $2,000. Many moms choose classes, supplies, music lessons, and books that go way over that amount, and this money just helps them out a bit. I'm pretty sure most of the charters allow you to keep consummables (like art supplies and such) bought with the money, but non consumables, like computers or hard bound non consumable books, will have to be given back when you are done with them or leave the charter. These charters also require you to check in with a guidance counselor at regular intervals to show samples and get feedback. Sometimes this is done in your home or sometimes you will go somewhere else. A few that come to mind is BASIS or CONNECTING WATERS.

The second type of Charter is a private charter. These are typically run through a church. Usually YOU pay the charter to be part of their "school". Typically they will ask you to turn in samples and an attendance sheet once a quarter. They act as your umbrella over you. For example, if the state/social services ever wanted to challenge you or your homeschooling, they would have to go to them - they are your "school". These charters don't help you pay for any books or classes, but they usually organize classes for their members at a minimal fee. They should also have park days. Some will expect you to offer to run a class or help in some way to contribute to the group as a whole. A few that come to mind is HARVEST ACADEMY or CELEBRATION ACADEMY (Livermore).

Other than Charters, there is another way to homeschool, and that is by declaring yourself as a private school, and every October 15th, filing your paperwork online with the state.(takes about 10 minutes). YOU are in control of the entire enchilada. You don't pay anyone and no one pays you. You plan and pay for your own curriculum, your choice is endless, no one tells you what you can or can't do. You keep your own records, and you don't have to test or turn in samples to anyone. You don't have anyone coming into your home to check on you. You should keep good records if you choose this route, because if the state ever questions your schooling activities,they come directly to you, since you say you are 'THE' school. If you choose this option, you should absolutely sign up with HSLDA. For 100 bucks a year, they are homeschool lawyers who will defend you free of any legal fees, if you ever get questioned or sued by the state or social services. Dont worry, this is EXTREMELY RARE. Signing your self up as your own private school may sound scary but it isn't really. One thing I would suggest is don't go shopping and things like that with your kids during normal school hours-it makes you look like you are not schooling, and people who are against homeschooling can look for excuses to turn you in. Stay on good terms with neighbors for the same reasons.

I have been filing as my own school the whole time. I do belong to "loops", groups of homeschoolers who set up a yahoo online support group (typically free of charge) where people organize park days and classes. I keep attendance records on each child in my own DAILY BINDER, along with a check off sheet of what was done for the day, log of books read(by child), feild trips taken, and extra currilcular activities.
Children's daily work goes into each child's binder. At the end of the year I pull one sample per month from each subject and I archive them in my attic, with attendace sheets, book logs, etc.

To get myself on track with what to teach when, I bought the book "The Well Trained Mind" By Susan Bauer and Jessie Wise.(Your library might have it too). Another good book "100 Top Curriculum Picks" by Kathy Duffy. My personal curriculum favorites of all time are Spell to Write and Read by Wanda Sanseri (teaching reading, phonics, spelling and writing), Cursive First,(penmanship) English series by Rod and Staff Publishers, Story of the World(History) and Chalkdust for upper 5+ math.

There are several ways to find other schoolers. One is to put an ad in the paper that you want to start a homeschool playgroup. Another is to check "yahoo groups" online for homeschooling in your area. A third is to call the local churches. A fourth is to do a google search on statewide support groups.California Homeschool Network is one. Also lookup A to Z homeschooling. The California Homeschool Network can tell you more about homeschool requirements and how to file.

Lastly, I want to make one more comment. Another mom said she wouldn't homeschool for the fact that when you pull your kids out of the public schools, the schools go downhill. The last time I checked, the public schools were way past downhill, they were in the toilet! Even after TONS of money poured into the state by the LOTTERY. What a joke.

Sacrificing the well being and good of her own child for the sake of a degenerate social system is a bazarr thought process and not only lacks wisdom but motherly instinct, in my humble opinion. As a homeowner, my property taxes fund the public school system, regardless of weather my children participate in that system on not. The way I see it, the public school system gets my money AND has a reduced class size which benefits them either way. It gives more money and more teacher time per child to the system.

There are well behaved and misbehaving children in every walk of life, but on average, homeschoolers outshine and outperform public kids on many levels. There are many published statistics to proove that homeschoolers have better college scores, are more likely to read a newspaper, and are more likely to vote and get politically involved, more likely to accept a broader age range of freinds, just to name a few.

So that's my 5 cents! Many blessings to you. Do keep in touch if you have any homeschool questions,

Warmly,
Gail

Dear Catherine,
I think that since you have a wonderful teacher to home school them they will likely be fine.
Especially since you are concerned about socialization.
The kids I've known who were homeschooled were either very solitary and awkward around other kids or they had no comprehension of sharing and taking turns whether in our neighborhood or on public playgrounds. They had been isolated to an extent that they just had no grasp of how to deal with children outside of their solitary world. And some of them were mean. One kid took a knife and chopped up their trampoline and blamed it on my son. We weren't even in town so his mom knew better. But I never let my son go there after that.
One boy I knew was a complete recluse and his only friend was my son who was 8 years younger. He had no peers his own age. He volunteered at animal shelters and was a great kid. He was high school age but he didn't have a single kid his own age to call a friend. It made me sad for him.
I'm not saying home schooling is bad, but the socialization is so very important. Have your kids involved in sports leagues, dance, trips to museums....anything to keep them around other children.
I think home schooling is great for some children but learning the drill at school isn't so bad either.
I know you'll make the right choice and expose your kids to other children.

I was home schooled as a child from the 5th grade on. So here is my 2 cents. Definitely get them involved in extracurricular activities both with home school groups and just regular groups. Regardless, there may be times when it gets difficult for them socially as it is with every kid, but they may blame it on being home schooled. I remember being in Jr. High and hanging out with the youth group at church, they all attended the same school and unfortunately the only thing 13 year old girls talked about was the boys at school, the teachers at school and I felt so left out. So I think if you get them into activities that draw kids from a larger base it can help eliminate that issue. As for the pp I remember I wanted to take auto shop at the school and California would not allow me. The theory was "if you are not a full time student they don't make any money off of you." I doubt it is any better today. Good luck in all your endeavors. You have very lucky kids!

you could sign your daughters up with a city league team like t-ball, softball, soccer, swimming, etc....they will meet a lot of kids their ages that live around you. And you can meet other parents that are homeschooling their children and set up picnics or trips to the zoo or waterpark.

I home schooled my children from 3rd grade through 12th grade. They are both in College and doing great. They were never super star brains, but average students. I have always been part of a home school group, where kids get together once a week for PE, field trips and classes taught by parents, science fairs, yearbooks, school pictures and even graduations. That was how interaction with other students was available and beneficial. All the kids are home schooled, so they feel like they are all doing the same sort of thing, and nobody is odd. There are many was to home school. You can go independent, or you can go through a charter school or independent study program. Which ever way you decide to go, you are already set with a teacher to teach the curriculum. That is a blessing! I am not sure what town you are in, but the Heritage Homeschoolers of solano county is what we belonged to. Most towns have something within a 30 mile radius. Research the internet for groups in your area.
If you want more info. feel free to contact me. ____@____.com
E. D.

My sister-n-law homeschooled most of her 7 kids at one point and had a great experience. Now in our county there is a big network of homeschooling. She had met up with others where her kids would go to their house to learn spanish, and some would come over where she would teach english/history. She also has a big network through her church and keeping the kids involved in youth group for social activities. My suggestion would be to also set up classes, such as art, dance, etc. elsewhere so they are interacting with other kids and then make sure to set up a playdate once a week or so too. I applaud you. I'm a mom of soon to be 4. My oldest will be going into 1st and 2nd grade and I have them in public school which I've ran into several things i'm not happy about nor ready for them to be introduced to and am contemplating private school though we have not a lot of extra money. Home Schooling seems daunting, but safe...aaaahh decisions, decisions. Good luck!

We homeschooled this year for the first time for similar reasons, our public school we are assigned to is not very good, all of the other schools are impossible to transfer to and we just couldn't afford to keep our son in private school any longer. He just finished the first grade this year and we loved it. As for the social aspects of homeschooling I don't think you will have to worry about it. We have our son in multiple activities that allow him to socialize and have fun with other kids. He plays T-ball, soccer and goes to art and science classes that are designed for homeschoolers. We also get involved in other community activities as well. Between all of that plus our family and friends he is very well socialized. In fact I think he gets a better quality of socializing instead of the usual playground socializing which can often times get roudy or emotionally hard for young kids if there isn't proper supervision. With my son I feel confident that he is getting a broader sense of socializing with others. He gets to spend more time with his sister, his cousins as well older and younger children in his art and science classes. He knows how to interact with adults and elderly adults too which is really great! Once out of school we are let out into the real world, the school system is so segregated by age that most kids don't know how to interact that well with others outside of their peer group. I think you will find that in todays time with our very plentiful bay area your children will benefit greatly by the loving, guided, one on one attention they will get if homeschooled. Good luck!

There are so many home schooling networks out there that you should not have any problems with keeping your girls social. In addition to other home schoolers, there is always church, recreational sports, dance classes, girls scouts, etc. You may want to look into a home school charter in your area. These are sometimes called non-site based charter schools. A charter school means that your costs to home school are minimal. Charter schools are public schools and are funded through the state like other public schools, so that pays for your curriculum, supplies and such. The other benefits are an instant network of other kids, and support of credentialled (sp?) teachers that have experience with various situations to come along side you and your mom to help give your girls the best possible education. Sometimes these schools also offer a few on-site classes for groups of kids. Usually these are subjects that parents may have trouble with like foreign languages.

Another possibility in the Fresno area is Sierra Charter School. You can check it out at www.sierracharter.org. It is a great school that offers parent choice in curriculum, one-on-one attention, massive parental involvement (in class as well as out) and is WASC accredited as well as a Certified Charter School. You may like it and it may be a good chance to escape the 'not great' local school, but still offer your girls a classroom full of peers.

Good luck with your journey!

OMG Catherine!! How did I miss this one?

I want to hear the specifics about what happened, but meantime, I vote no. (Nothing against your mom.) If you want more details of my opinion, write or call me. I've been at the computer too long today and need to leave, and maybe take a shower.

Aren't there any charter schools in Fresno? I'm all for charter schools, even though I'm sure they're not all wonderful either.

Charter school!