Hello Everyone.
James M Sandbrook
Hello,
my name is James Sandbrook, and I have just started Homeschooling
my 2 daughters Tracy(10) and Rachel(8), I have been reading the messages
sent here for awhile and I have finally decided to start Homeschooling.
It also seems a good time to say "Hello" to you all.
Everyone I have talked to about Homeschooling says it is hard, anyone
want
to comment????
Does anyone have any wise advice? :-)
All the best to everyone on this mailing list,
from us here in Tokoroa,
New Zealand.
glaspey
James:
You wrote: Everyone I have talked to about Homeschooling says it is
hard, anyone want to comment?
years. I'd say homeschooling is like raising children. At times it is
very discouraging and difficult, but there are enough encouraging good
days and wonderful times with your children that you would miss out on
otherwise, that it makes it all worthwhile. One good day is worth a
thousand bad ones. Good luck in your efforts. The best advice anyone can
give you really is: Enjoy yourself! If you're not enjoying doing it,
they certainly won't enjoy it either. Life is an adventure and so is
education -- share it together!
Sally.
James M Sandbrook
Hello Sally and family,
Thank you very much for the kind and friendly advice.
We have started homschooling and already we have a had a few difficult
moments, but we have had a lot of fun as well.
Both girls are very keen to get 'stuck' in to studys and they both love
to experiment (they got this from me).
We are always trying to find out how something does what it does etc
You are right about enjoying ourselves, a happy home is a good place to
start learning in.
All the best from us and keep up the good work with your own family.
James and family.
James M Sandbrook
Tom Watson from Liverpool, England wrote:
>Hi James,
>Glad to hear from you. As you can see we do not always have a lot of action
>on this ist so it is good to start some dialogue!
We are glad to hear from you as well.
>Me and my wife have homeschooled for 8 yrs now (I think its 8) and found
>that it IS hard at times. There are frustrations abut things that do not go
>smoothly. Fears that our kids are not learning. Lies that come to our minds
>that say they would be better off in public (State run) schools. But when
>we stop and look at things objectiviely we say "What in life does NOT have
>frustrations, fears and mind battles?" Everything I have ever tried that
>has been of value has these things associated with them. Our oldest
>daughter graduated from homeschooling and she was doing EXTREMELY poor in
>public school. Unless you are severly hindered from homeschooling (a
>variety of reasons why one would) I would say you should do it.
I am pleased to email with people who have homeschooled for longer than
I
have, then I can get advice and information from people who have learnt
about
homeschooling and all that is involved.
I don't have any real problem with wanting my girls to go to a public
school, I
just pulled them out of a public school and I was very pleased to do so.
Tracy (10) friends seemed to only be interested in 'boys' and the latest
'soaps' that were on T.V., and 'gossip' etc
Rachel(8) was sorely neglected by the teachers.
Rachel was kept in the junier class at school for nearly 2 years. I
asked her
teacher why, and she said it was because Rachel was very good at helping
the
new entrants (5 year olds) and this teacher wanted Rachel to stay in her
class
(learning nothing she hadn't already learnt) as a babysitter.
This was one of the first things that put me of the school.
I had to go 'over' the teachers head and talk with the headmaster to
finally
get Rachel up to a class for her age group, and Rachel has finally
started to
catch up with her age level since she left school.
I had a few more complaints about the school, these were just a few.
> Does anyone have any wise advice? :-)
Don't quit! I'm a preacher and I have a saying that applies to
homeschooling: "Keep on, Keepin' on!". I am not sure if that is truly
wise
but it works!
I would have to say you are right :-)
We have only just started homeschooling, but I would find it hard to
'give up'
because of the positive results from both my girls.
Thanks for the helpful advice Tom and keep up the good work!
Jody & Scott Arnold family
At 02:40 AM 3/22/97 -0800, James M Sandbrook wrote:
>Everyone I have talked to about Homeschooling says it is hard, anyone
>want
>to comment????
>
>Does anyone have any wise advice? :-)
>
Hi James,
I've been homeschooling for years--my oldest is 15, and I agree with
Sally. Homeschooling is a lot like parenting. There's both good days and
bad days, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
The most important advice I give new h-sers is to relax. And
definitely don't compare your family with other families. Each family is
different, and what works for one often doesn't work for another.
I have found it very helpful to write briefly each evening (we're
talking 5 minutes here) of the "educational" highlights of each day. I
especially note any spontaneous happenings that fall into curriculum-type
categories. This is vital for us because we're pretty close to unschoolers
so we don't do a lot of bookwork, so I need to be aware of the nonbookwork
learning that is happening. But I think it is helpful for any family
because homeschooling is so much more than schoolwork, and it is easy to
overlook really important things that are happening.
Then when anxiety strikes and I think, "Are they really learning
anything?" I can look back on my notes and see all that is happening and be
reassured (usually!).
I think of homeschooling as a wonderful adventure that we get to
share with our kids--it's really a privilege.
jody
*******************
The Arnold Family: Scott, Jody, Vjera, Luke, Hope, Thad, and Simon.
Lane County, Oregon
E-mail: jo...@efn.org
Interested in homeschooling? Check out: http://www.efn.org/~light
*******************
George Blake
> At 02:40 AM 3/22/97 -0800, James M Sandbrook wrote:
>
> >Everyone I have talked to about Homeschooling says it is hard, anyone
> >want
> >to comment????
> >
> >Does anyone have any wise advice? :-)
It is scary at first. My wife and I recommend that people who are afraid in
the beginning should use Alpha Omega workbooks, since it gives you a
structure and tangible proof (the completed work books) that you are
getting somewhere. After the first year though people start to get
comfortable and start using either other curriculums, the library, or
continue with the workbooks.
Also, go to the library and read allot about homeschooling. You will then
find out it is not as difficult as you might think.
Subscribe to a homeschooling magazine. We like "The Teaching Home." For a
sample copy call 503-253-9633. Also find out about your State Homeschool
Association. Subscribe to your State newsletters.
And, it is very helpful to belong to a local support group or two.
What you are going to find out is homeschooling is a way of life. It is not
something we do from just during some "class time." This is probably the
most difficult concept that we have to get across when we are talking with
Government Schoolers.
I could go on, but that's long enough for one message. Ask any specific
questions and I'm sure there are lots of us that would be happy to answer
you.
--------
George Blake aa...@niia.net
American Association of Psychiatric Technicians, Inc. 219-879-2911
...Certifying Mental Health Workers Nationwide... 800-391-7589
336 Johnson Road, Michigan City, Indiana 46360 Fax 219-879-1887
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Jody & Scott Arnold family
At 10:07 AM 3/26/97 -0600, George Blake wrote:
<SNIP>
>What you are going to find out is homeschooling is a way of life. It is not
>something we do from just during some "class time." This is probably the
>most difficult concept that we have to get across when we are talking with
>Government Schoolers.
I REALLY agree that homeschooling is a way of life. When people ask, "But
what do you DO?" I can tell them what "schoolwork" we do, but then I have to
say, but that's just a small part of the learning that goes on. There's so
much more that is hard to describe but is very important.