Comments on: The Secret to Your Well-Run Homeschool

By: Sherri Godat

Sherri Godat — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 20:03:16 +0000

In reply to Sara Dennis. Thank you! I don't have the cleanest house which is a struggle since I have OCD however the kids are only young once the mess will always need cleaning. We have a small home so organization is a must! Although it doesn't always look organized with science experiments and craft projects in various stages of completion. We will get there maybe one day lol .

By: Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 15:34:51 +0000

In reply to Sherri Godat. It sounds like you're doing a wonderful job homeschooling your grandkids, Sherri! :)

By: Sherri Godat

Sherri Godat — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 02:55:30 +0000

I am a grandmother homeschooling two of my grandchildren. They came for a couple weeks visit and six months later are still here with no idea if or when they will go home. They missed 2 years of school. I did not want them labeled. So we decided to homeschool them. They are 8 and 11 years. Overall our year, our first year, is going well. We still have some schedule glitches to work out especially since I also have a son in his senior year in public school, and my husband works shift rotations, one week on days, then nights, then graves. We found a curriculum that keeps the children interested and I also added the Prairie Primer as something really relaxed and fun.
We also have a few behavioral issues that we are working on. When these show up we like to take nature hikes to work off steam. I want them to enjoy learning. If they want to learn a craft we take time to learn, if they want to explore a topic more in depth we take the time to do that. I do my best to allow them to follow their interests. I am also trying to be on top of the curriculum in order to ensure that if they go home and are put back in public school they will be at or above their grade level.

By: Sami

Sami — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 03:25:39 +0000

We have been homeschooling for a little over a year. I looked at the options in our school district and they weren’t that good. I also looked into the curriculums that they are teaching in those schools and I didn’t agree with it. We have our good days, most of them are still bad because he is a strong willed child and I’m still learning how to work with and discipline him correctly. I don’t want to give up though, I have been reading some of the teachings of Charlotte Mason and it has given me more courage. So I guess the main reason I want him to have much more relaxed childhood, where learning doesn’t take 6 hours a day. He can do his learning in a couple of hours tops (he’s 6) and then he is free to explore nature and creature all he wants to.

By: Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 14:01:43 +0000

In reply to Brooke Winfree. That's awesome, Brooke! I am so thrilled you found a detailed answer to why you're homeschooling. Knowing why you're homeschooling not only helps when you hit the rough spots, but it also helps to guide your curriculum choices through the years. Welcome to homeschooling! :)

By: Brooke Winfree

Brooke Winfree — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 06:29:26 +0000

I started homeschooling because we moved into an area with a failing school. However, prior to moving, we had become very frustrated and disappointed in the public school system. Common Core was a disaster. My child was going to school with other children that had no morals or values even at a very young age. I decided that even though it was going to be tough homeschooling with my 2 and 1 year olds in tow, I was going to do it anyway!! I have pondered my answer to your question for a long time now. What is my “why”? I think I can honestly say that my why is because the failing school systems are not good enough for my child. Education is very important to me. But another BIG reason is because I wanted learning to be FUN!! Public schools now days have sucked all fun out of learning. I also wanted to instill good, Christian morals and values in my child. So now instead of not being sure why I was homeschooling, I just discovered not only 1 reason but 3 very important reasons. Thank you for asking this question. We have been homeschooling for 2 months now and I would be lying if I said it was easy. I never feel like I am doing enough but I have come to terms with the fact that the first year of homeschooling is alot of trial and error and it will take a little while to work out all of the kinks.

By: Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 13:51:52 +0000

In reply to Laura. My pleasure! :)

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 15:29:53 +0000

In reply to Sara Dennis. Love this advice! I think i will print it and keep it close by, seriously, Thank you!

By: Tracey

Tracey — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 22:28:39 +0000

I pulled my year 8 daughter out of school because of bullying. We have kept up with English language and maths and are adding English Literature and Biology. She wants to be a Karate sensei, I am trying to get her to broaden that out to fitness trainer. She has a brown belt in karate and is already a sempai, (assistant teacher) but she needs a broader focus.

Your advice is awesome.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 20:04:28 +0000

Hey there! First, can I say I love your site! I’ve found so many useful tips here.

As for your question, I have been homeschooling my 3 yr old and 1 yr old since last year. After originally trying to recreate school at home which only met resistance, I adopted a much more child led approach (I think it would probably qualify as relaxed homeschooling). Basically, my kids get to play, but if they bring me a book to read we read it, if they’re curious about something we look it up, and at various points I ask them “what do you want to learn about today” and give them some options. (of course, if they pick something different, as long as it’s vaguely educational, it’s ok with me). My goals are both an excellent education and training my children to make their own (good) decisions in learning and life. In my experience, I’ve learned that intrinsic interest just isn’t there if someone else forces you to learn a particular subject :/

I don’t know if we’ll get to homeschool “for real” once they hit public school age as I don’t know if we can afford it, but for now it’s fun (and it’s working). I hope it’s setting them up to have a good attitude for the rest of their life 🙂