Search Results for: blog do homeschoolers need regulations to tell them what to teach

The Real Problem with Homeschooling

I’ve only been homeschooling for a few years. . .my oldest is in third grade. But like all homeschoolers, I’ve heard my fair share of objections. I’m either unqualified (because you know, colors, numbers and shapes are so hard to master) or my children will be behind socially. I’ve pretty much accepted the fact that we’re misfits and I’m okay with that on a personal level. However, it has always bothered me on a more philosophical level. I mean, we live in a society that is pretty much “live and let live.” No one wants to be told how to … Continue reading →

Ask a Homeschooling Blogger: Why Are You So Against Government Involvement Part 2

Note: As I have explained in my previous blog this morning, I have received an e-mail that I think articulates the opinions of many who do not home school and don’t understand why those of us who do might see government intervention as a bad thing. I generally ignore these letters because they are often riddled with poor language and have clearly not been thought out. For the original question in part, please see the first blog. This is a continuation of my response. Those Who “Claim to Homeschool” Every so often, we hear of a news story about a … Continue reading →

Educational Neglect due to Homeschooling?

Were you aware that informing a school of your intent to homeschool and withdrawing your children from school is educational neglect? Neither was I, but that’s apparently the case in Moberly, Mo. Oh, and by the way, if your children are being intimidated, harassed, threatened, and physically attacked, it’s okay. As long as you leave your children in that environment to continue living this way, and don’t make a fuss about it continuing, you’re safe. If I was Anita Nicoli I would have pulled my children out of the school sooner than she did as well as file charges, but … Continue reading →

What Homeschoolers Should Know About the Universal PK Agenda

If you don’t know it, Universal PK is a push towards creating free, publicly funded preschools. In other words it’s public school for preschool aged kids. Doesn’t sound too bad right? The NEA loves to tout research on how kids who go to a good preschool tend to earn about $2000 more per year than kids who didn’t and all of these other benefits that kids who don’t go to preschool miss out on. But behind the Universal PK agenda, is a push towards lowering compulsory attendance laws. Fundamentally, the message to parents is: ‘You can’t do this. You’re not … Continue reading →

The Homeschooling Blog Week in Review: September 3 to September 10

As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been an absentee blogger. Our schedule has changed for the fall and adjusting always takes some time. Nonetheless, if you’re behind in your home school reading, I have a whole bunch of great blogs for you. So grab your cup of coffee, sit down, and start reading! September 3 Will Homeschooling Regulations Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect? Opponents to home schooling will often to point to the few but very tragic cases where parents have kept their kids home from school in order to hide abuse that is going on in the home. Some say … Continue reading →

The Lemonade Stand

Yesterday, my children (along with a buddy) did their very first lemonade stand. I realize that lemonade is just about to go out of season but really, we had been meaning to do it all summer and just never got to it. Everyone over the age of four was involved in the lemonade stand and really, it was a pretty big hit. We sold out all of our ingredients and at the very end had to turn people away. . .and we were only out there for about an hour. The experience though, got me thinking about what a great … Continue reading →

What Is Your Teaching Style?

A few days ago, I talked about why I felt it was important to identify your teaching style. I think new homeschoolers should really spend some time thinking through their philosophy of education. During their first year of teaching, I think new homeschoolers would do well to consider how they like teaching best. Today I’m going to describe the four teaching styles. Formal Authority Formal authority teachers feel like it is their job to illuminate the content for their students. Their job is to teach the content and the student’s job is to receive it. Teachers who have this type … Continue reading →

Do You Know Your Teaching Style?

My principal used to call me a controlled chaos teacher. That’s not a technical term for a teaching style but he used it to describe the sense that my classroom was always noisy, always busy, students were always up sharpening pencils and talking. . .but everyone was on task. I was very comfortable with noise, and group activities, and kids up and I taught much better that way. In fact, even as a home schooling mom, I don’t do workbooks (except for math), and there is a certain level of controlled chaos in my home. But that’s just me. Teaching … Continue reading →

Do Homeschoolers Need Regulations to Tell Them What to Teach?

For the past few days I’ve been talking about whether or not homeschoolers need more regulations. I have to be honest and say that this question always cracks me up a little. The thought that all common sense goes out the window when we decide to homeschool floors me. I don’t need the state to help know how to dress my children appropriately for the weather, I don’t need the state to tell me how to feed my kids, I don’t need the state to help me figure out how to teach colors, or numbers or anything like that but … Continue reading →

Will More Homeschooling Regulations Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect?

My short answer to this is no, more homeschooling regulations will not prevent child abuse and neglect. In fact, I would suggest that regulating the homeschooler is a useless means of telling whether or not a child has been abused. I’ll explain why in a minute. But first, let’s talk about how prevalent abuse is among homeschoolers. The short answer to that is ‘not very.’ It is sad when we hear about a case of child abuse and we hear that the children were home schooled and someone says, “If only they had been in school–we may have recognized it … Continue reading →