Search Results for: blog why i homeschool an answer for kaye

“Behind” Is a Relative Term in Homeschooling

Has anyone ever been surprised at how “behind” your child seems to be? This has happened to me a few times actually. . .always in reference to my preschool aged children and always in reference to learning how to read. I have mentioned before that we don’t do preschool formally. While I consider reading literature to the children (all of them–even the two year olds) a necessary task on my daily agenda. I don’t consider teaching them their alphabet, teaching them their numbers, or teaching them letter sounds necessary until about age 5 or 6. Sometimes, they just learn them … Continue reading →

A Homeschooling Support System

For us the decision to homeschool was an easy one. I happen to go to a church where almost all the members of the church (it’s a small church) live within a two block radius of each other. Not only that but almost everyone homeschools. So I live within walking distance of a whole bunch of other homeschoolers. You’d think we’d get together all the time, but the truth is we don’t. We have different aged children, some moms have teenagers and others of us have preschoolers, and to meet their needs we’ve tended to go in different directions. But … Continue reading →

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 →

14 Year Old Plotting Columbine-Like Attack Was Homeschooled

Surely you’ve read the news reports and maybe it’s just me, but the idea that this kid was home schooled sticks out like a sore thumb. How did he get all those weapons? Sure enough, as stories of the news surfaced, reactions to the stories popped up: “See, I knew there was a reason I thought home schooling was stupid.” “This kid wouldn’t have had an opportunity to do the planning and get those weapons if he were in public school. Someone would catch something.” “Plain and simple, home schooling is a bad idea. Rather than teaching kids how to … Continue reading →

Homeschool Criticism and Support

I received some email questions this past weekend from a student who is researching homeschooling. This student had some very good and informed questions, and so I thought I would present some of his questions here, with my answers. The first questions involve my decision to homeschool. The next question set of questions involve criticism and support. What kinds/types of criticism have your family had because of homeschooling? I cannot say that my family and I have had direct, in your face, criticism because of our homeschooling. There are however, always the annoying “questions” that are definitely critical of homeschooling. … Continue reading →

What Made You Decide to Homeschool?

I received some email questions this weekend from a student who is researching homeschooling. This student had some very good, and informed questions, and so I thought I would present some of his questions here, with my answers. The first questions involve my decision to homeschool. 1. When was the instance you chose to homeschool? I can’t say there was an ah-ha moment that prompted my to homeschool. The decision instead from a long and slow period of self education as well as life circumstances. I first became aware of homeschooling when I recovering from the birth of my first … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Just How Do You Do It?

The question reads: I don’t know how you survive as a homeschooling mom with 5 children under the age of 7! How do you ever get out? How do you give everyone enough attention? How can you keep your house clean or attend to your husband? I only have one and am completely overwhelmed. Seriously—just how do you do it? I chuckle as I read this question because I promise you that if you saw my house with books stacked high in places that are NOT the bookshelf—that would answer at least part of your question. I almost didn’t respond … Continue reading →

Why Homeschool?

Why homeschool, especially since you’re a single parent? This is a question asked by almost every person I’ve ever told that we homeschool. The reasons I give, and the reasons another homeschooler gives may be as different as night and day, though there are usually some that match. It all depends on what our priorities are, whether it be religion, family, education, sports, etc. This isn’t even mentioning all the divisions in each of these, which is why you will get a lot of different answers to the same “simple” question. Why homeschool? The answers I give to that question … Continue reading →

Ask a Food Blogger: How Do You Create a Menu Plan?

I’m excited to answer my first food blogger question: I know I would eat healthier and we’d eat more meals at home if I had a weekly menu plan. But how do you go about creating one? You are correct on both counts: menu plans will help you eat healthier, stick to certain goals, and it will decrease the likelihood that you have to get take out for lack of preparation. One thing that can help with menu preparation is recipe software. Most recipe software has grocery list features as well as menu planning features. I have written before about … Continue reading →