Search Results for: blog what does it feel like to be a homeschooler

Summer Camps for Homeschoolers

The school year is almost done, and summer is coming! Families who homeschool might choose to spread their school year throughout the year, or they might choose to take the summer off. However, kids never stop learning, and summer is a wonderful time to take advantage of learning opportunities that appear annually without fail. We call them summer camps, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There are day camps, overnight camps, thematic camps, academic camps, or run around in the woods sorts of camps. There are camps for everyone, but are there camps that suit homeschoolers? What should … Continue reading →

Interviews with Homeschoolers: Karen Loutzenhiser, Part Two

Karen Loutzenhizer, a homeschool mom from Utah, was kind enough to join me earlier to share some of her experiences. Here is the rest of our conversation. Karen, what are some of your other philosophies in regards to education? I really believe that we underestimate kids. Instead of just focusing on the pet topics so commonly taught to children, I attempt to open up all kinds of topics and present them in a kid-friendly, understandable format to my kids (all age 9 and under). We study chemistry and the periodic table, the Hittite people, and Monet–not just recycling and ancient … Continue reading →

Fighting Feelings of Failure

Moms love their kids. The love is such that a mom is constantly concerned with her child’s well being. A mom feels a vested interest in every part of her child’s life. When a mom takes on the task of homeschooling she takes on a greater responsibility that is pure joy yet is not without pain. When we go through dark times we often feel we are alone. We also begin the dangerous road of comparing ourselves to other moms who appear to have it together. This causes feelings of failure and temptations to leave homeschooling behind. When our house … Continue reading →

Is Testing Homeschoolers Really a Bad Idea?

A recent Washington Post article promotes homeschool testing as a way to tame this huge “sleeping giant”. To ease the fears of public school students and to protect students from “well-meaning but inexperienced parents” It seems the general public wants to put more restrictions on homeschoolers regardless of how successful we are. The article profiles author, associated professor at Indiana University, and former high school teacher Robert Kunzman and his book “Write These laws on Your Children: Inside the World of Conservative Christian Homeschooling”. The author was allowed into the homes of six homeschoolers across the country so he could … Continue reading →

Teachers vs. Homeschoolers, an analogy

Is it really necessary for teachers and homeschoolers to be at such odds? I spent some time at the Teacher Revised blog this week as writer Jesse Scaccia found it necessary to write a series of articles about homeschooling. Article number 1, The case against homeschooling poked lightheartedly about the flaws of homeschooling. Both point 10 and point 1 clearly stated that homeschoolers were nerds. This blog post was a bad idea and homeschoolers made it a point to say so. The hundreds of angry, insulted, and hurt comments made that clear… not to mention the dozens of blog posts … Continue reading →

Homeschoolers Shouldn’t Fret over College

My subscription to the Homescholar Record came to day and it carried great news. It was filled with statistics and information that reveal homeschoolers are loved by colleges and therefore homeschoolers should not worry about college entry. Some of the important points made in the newsletter are: Academic preparation: Regardless of what others believe, colleges feel that homeschoolers ARE academically prepared for college. Not only do colleges see homeschooelers as academically prepared, but they also know how to gain additional knowledge they need. Socialization: Just because a homeschooler’s ‘socailization’ does not look like what others think it should. Homeschooled college … Continue reading →

Homeschoolers at a distinct disadvantage?

This was the title of an op-ed opinion written by an A/P English language teacher after the homeschooler-Pasco County meeting mentioned last week that few homeschoolers actually attended. “Trust us” was the message loud and clear from the parents attending the Hernando County School District’s outreach meeting to homeschoolers. We know what is best for our children. Unfortunately, when confronted with some “facts” concerning the success of home schooling for high school age children their response was not academic concern, but complete denial. Silly me, I thought these parents were truly concerned with excellence in education. Someone was in denial … Continue reading →

Why Do Homeschoolers Speak Negatively of Schools?

After reading a statement that said many homeschoolers speak negatively of schools, I had to stop and search within myself about the truth in that statement. It is a true and unfortunate fact that some homeschoolers can be quite vocal about their disdain or discomfort with public schools. I can also understand that it disturbs many people, especially educators when they hear homeschoolers speak negatively of schools. However, it is generalizing to say that many homeschoolers are negative towards schools. From someone who felt that my only option was to take my kids out of school, I can only say … Continue reading →

Why Can’t all Homeschoolers Get Along?

There’s nothing about a group of homeschooling mom’s getting together to discuss homeschooling their kids. Often it is a source of encouragement and a much needed time of connection with people who are like minded. Sometimes however, such meetings can get contentious. Not all homeschoolers see eye to eye. This is of course, because there are many different types of homeschoolers. Classical homeschoolers with a regimented college bound course, can be dismissive of unschoolers, who let their children lead the way, whether it means college or not. Textbook-based homeschoolers, feel that Charlotte Mason type homeschoolers are missing out on technical … Continue reading →

What Does it Feel Like to be a Homeschooler?

Homeschoolers, especially homeschooling parents experience a wide range of emotions. Some of these emotions come from within; others are a result of outside experiences. Some are very good. Others are not so great. Still, in the end, the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies homeschooling is often well worth it. While I cannot speak for all homeschoolers, here is what it feels like to be a homeschooler: Fear: Am I doing the right thing? Will I ruin my kids? Fear of failure is perfectly healthy and probably a good thing to keep parents actively on their toes and every vigilant about learning … Continue reading →