Home Is Where the School Is

Thanks JJ for posting a link to a story in my local paper! I have to share it as well now, because the author, Gregory J. Millman, just made so many great points.

Home Is Where the School Is

Here are four things that stood out for me:

It’s hard to generalize about home-schoolers, but if there’s one thing we know, it’s that we are changing the world, or at least the world of education choices. Others, though, see us as either misguided or threatening — and probably cheered last month’s California appeals court ruling that all children in the state must be taught by credentialed teachers.

I remember excitedly telling someone a couple of years ago that I was going to homeschool, and he looked at me funny and said, “Is that legal?” That’s when I realized that not everyone shared my enthusiasm.

But “home-schooling” is a misnomer, really. Most of it doesn’t even take place at home, and the schooling has little in common with what goes on in school.

We once made a playdate with another homeschooling family, and we had to schedule it 3 weeks out before we could find a date where we were both available. We have activities, classes, field trips, and fun scheduled at least 4 days of the week. It is such a relief when we have a quiet day together at home. Our experience is typical, from what I have observed of other homeschooling families I know. We all laugh that homeschooling doesn’t happen at home. My husband and I joke that we are basically providing our kids with an a la carte private education.

Though we first tried to teach the children what the official curriculum standards said they ought to be learning in school, we soon realized that this only made sense in the context of a school. So we scrapped dry textbooks and workbooks and found more interesting ways for our children to learn.

This is the key to homeschooling. I think most of us start out trying to re-create, even loosely, school at home. We are worried about keeping our kids “on grade level” and covering all the content and subjects that the schools cover. Then, as we talk to others and observe our own and others’ kids, we begin to understand Millman’s statement. The term “grade level” that was so important when our kids were in school is irrelevant in homeschooling. People who believe education happens in a building, separated from the world, segregated by age, led by experts, just don’t get why we aren’t worried.

The results? Studies have shown that home-schooled children outperform the conventionally schooled not only on standardized academic tests but also on tests of social skills. This, I believe, isn’t because home-schoolers do things better than schools do them but because we do better things than schools do.

Yes! What could be better than customizing an educational approach for each of our children based on what works for them? And that isn’t as hard as it may sound. We learn an amazing amount from everyday life. We have more time together and opportunities to explain and work with our children. We see immediately whether something is working or not working and can adjust our methods on the fly.

According to the article, “Gregory J. Millman is co-author, with Martine Millman, of ‘Homeschooling: A Family’s Journey,’ to be published in August.” I’m looking forward to reading it.

March 22, 2008 | Filed Under Homeschool Issues | 6 Comments 

Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers

Shez over at Homeschooled Twins has posted the inaugural edition of the

Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers

Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers.

She has posted links to a bunch of neat stuff, including my “Amen” post regarding the importance of free play to children’s brain development.

Thanks Shez!

March 19, 2008 | Filed Under Homeschool Issues | 2 Comments 

I’m 44, not 50 (not that there’s anything wrong with that)…

… so AARP needs to fix their database. Not only am I not “fully eligible,” I’m not even a little bit eligible. I’d like to say “not even close” to eligible, but I guess I am getting pretty close. But they didn’t need to remind me. I’m well aware of my age thankyouverymuch.

My sister said she was telling “the guy at the deli” that I got a letter from AARP. He laughed and said he just got one too and he was born the same year as I was. I guess they’re just trying to pique our interest? Or maybe they’re just dumb.

March 19, 2008 | Filed Under Rants, Moods and Attitude | 5 Comments 

AARP? (edited)

OMG! As if discovering the other day that I need reading glasses weren’t bad enough…

Today in the mail, I received a lovely letter from AARP. You know, the American Association of Retired Persons, that AARP. The letter states:

Our records show that you haven’t yet registered for the benefits of AARP membership, even though you are fully eligible.

It goes on to say:

As a member, you’ll have the resources and information you need to get the most out of life over 50.

Waaaaaaah! What a way to ruin my day.

Ward Cleaver thinks I should send in the form so we can get discounts on stuff. I was thinking I might hit him, but I figured if I did that, he might haul off and kick me with this:

Big Foot

Quick Update:  It just occurred to me that those of you who read me on your feeds can’t see the sidebar where I have my age listed.  I’m only 44, so receiving this letter was a bit of a surprise.

March 15, 2008 | Filed Under Rants, Moods and Attitude | 3 Comments 

The Educational Experiment

One of my newly found unschooling blogs Unschool Days has a new post up today about justifying unschooling to those who don’t. It’s a great read. Someone suggested that she shouldn’t use her child for an educational experiment, and this post is her rebuttal. Here’s a titillating tidbit to entice you to read it:

If education is an experiment, then we as unschoolers are in fact the control group. For we are raising our children outside of the experimental treatment called public schooling.

It really is hard to respond thoughtfully to a topic that causes defensive posturing from both sides. People make the decision that works for them, and really nobody should have to defend their choice to others who have chosen differently. But alas, I hear it often. Fortunately for us though, nobody has suggested that we leave town.

By the way, while you are over there, be sure to read her “Decision to Unschool” story.

March 10, 2008 | Filed Under Homeschool Issues | Leave a Comment 

Happy Daylight Saving Time

In honor of losing an hour of sleep last night, I have chosen a new theme for my blog.   Maybe someday I’ll figure out how to get my rainbow over the lake photo to show instead of a coffee cup.  Since I don’t drink coffee, it doesn’t really fit me.  Now if it were a can of Diet Coke, that’d be a different story…

March 9, 2008 | Filed Under Fun Stuff | 2 Comments 

Dangerous Things

A little side conversation has started in my last post where Debra at From Skilled Hands posted a link to a TED video about 5 dangerous things you should let your kids do.

One of the 5 things is drive a car. That is the only one in the list that I (partially) disagreed with. Feel free to read why here.

Anyway, Debra’s response was something about not letting her kids drive tractors until they could reach the pedals and I just had to post this picture for her. I’m thinking this isn’t exactly what she meant.

Tractorman

You see, I’m paranoid about my kids’ safety, but apparently my concern is a little uneven!

March 7, 2008 | Filed Under Parenting | 6 Comments