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Ever since I got the bug in my brain to proceed with this blog and a website, ideas have been rolling around in my brain as if it were a ship in rough seas. I’m asking your help in calming the waters, so to speak, by letting us know what you most need from Parent at the Helm. Remember, while I’m a die-hard homeschool advocate, we want to be of help to ALL parents desiring to support their children’s learning at home. In other words, don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re not a home educator!
Are you interested in information on how children learn? Learning styles? Resources? Encouragement? Answers to specific questions? News on the state of American education? Guest bloggers? Online learning? How to rekindle your child’s natural love of learning? Frugal living? Working at home? One-on-one consulting? Plain ol’ encouragement from Grandma Linda? Please, however, don’t ask for my idea of good lesson plans or the “perfect curriculum” – I don’t know your unique little kiddos!
I’ve only been out of that rat race mentioned in a previous post for two weeks now and, I have to say, I feel like a new woman – it’s amazing! Back “then,” I’d sleep until the alarm went off at 5:45 am and have to force myself out of bed. During the first week of my new-found freedom I slept pretty late (for me – it’s all relative, I know) but felt good when I woke. This week, I’ve slept like a log, been waking up any time between 5:00 and 5:30 WITHOUT AN ALARM, and the creative juices as well as the thought processes are working like they used to. My friends, PERSONAL FREEDOM IS AN AMAZING BLESSING! I’m so glad to have reclaimed it. More importantly, I wish a goodly dose of it for you and your children.
Looking back, losing my personal freedom was a slow process. Sure, at first it felt funny to dance to the schedule of someone else’s needs, but like the poor ol’ lobster in the pot, I really didn’t feel the water getting warmer…and warmer…and warmer, and got used to it. I didn’t necessarily like it, but I got used to it. Within six months I was living for Fridays, loathing Mondays, and looking forward to having two whole weeks of my life to do as I wished each year. (Whee-ha!) What had originally felt funny was eventually accepted as “normal.” And it was done in exchange for a (false) sense of security offered in the form of a regular inflow of money and very decent health insurance. How ironic. I needed the decent health insurance because all that “normalcy” was killing my health!
The same thing happens with school attendance. At first, it feels funny that your kiddo isn’t home all day but then you slowly get used to it. Within about six months everyone is looking forward to Fridays to spend a little time together as family. Then there’s summer vacation. (Whee-ha!) Slowly, slowly, it’s all accepted as “normal.” And it’s done in exchange for a (false) sense of security offered in the form of education experts teaching your child what s/he needs to know to be a functioning adult. How ironic. The education experts are needed because all that “normalcy” is killing the kiddos’ natural desire to learn.
Grab a little, grab a lot. Personal freedom is an amazing blessing.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Link to this page
Thanks for the blog and asking for what we need! I need facts and data. I am trying to convince hubby that homeschooling is the way to go, and we are almost there, but as a couple we war with evidence. My feelings and thoughts, and others opinions, just aren't enough…I demand the same from him so I can't complain.
So, if you come across them, I would love to see stats and studies related to education and learning-all kinds!
Hi, Mama,
If you could give a bit more detail on the type of facts and data you seek, that would be helpful.
As you've probably discovered, hard facts and data on homeschooling are hard to come by. Regulated at the state level, each state has its own reporting requirements, and some have none. Many are (understandably) leery of researchers and simply don't participate in such activities. OTOH, both states and the federal government employ an army of researchers and produce a lot more numbers and stats.
Quoting from one of my books, The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child, "Anecdotal evidence suggests that a homeschooling trial period is often an acceptable approach with a doubting spouse. 'Let's try it for [insert as many years as you think you can get away with], dear. We'll then revisit the decision when the trial period is over.' (It has been reported that this works best when accompanied by a tray of warm chocolate chip cookies.)
"A trial period gives you and your children time not only to get comfortable with homeschooling but also to gently increase your spouse's understanding. Dinner can be a time of sharing the day's activities and relating what was learned that day. During the course of a trial year, your spouse can participate in weekend and vacation field trips, read bedtime stories, share his skills and hobbies with the kids, attend evening support-group activities, and meet other homeschoolers. All the while you can help him feel as great a part of the homeschooling experience as possible, by keeping him posted on your activities and soliciting advice and support. Just as you will sprinkle your home with books for your children to pick up, choice books and newspaper and magazine articles about homeschooling can be left around the house for your spouse. (Bathrooms are popular strategic locations.)
"'At first, the biggest hurdle to overcome was convincing my husband that this was something I could do,' says Karen Bigalke. 'Even though I felt homeschooling was the choice to make, it is hard to do if your spouse is not behind you. Once we got going, though, and the children progressed and surpassed expectations, the hurdle faded away.'"
Let me know what you have in mind. All best, Grandma Linda
Thanks Linda,
BTW my son is almost 4, and can't enroll in school intil Fall 2011 so I have time yet to keep educating him at home, and convince hubby to just continue that.
I am looking for long term outcomes (college and job market) and comparisons with public schooled kids in different grades. I have found some, but they seemed to be small samplings, self selected samplings, data extrapolated from surveys, etc.
I am pretty sure the hard numbers and longitudinal studies I am looking for simply are not available, but would appreciate your posting anything new you come across.