Is there truth behind the assertion that home schooled kids have more opportunities to interact with kids of all ages? This contrasts with public and private schools that group kids together by age, generally speaking. Looking at my kids experience with socializing, they have been involved with a gym group, dance lessons, soccer teams, religious education, piano lessons, and scouts. The kids are grouped with kids of the same age in most of these activities. Why? Often kids of similar ages may have similar abilities. Kids also seem to gravitate towards kids their own age. Having younger kids exposed to kids that significantly older may bring about an education that parents may frown upon. Having kids hang out with younger kids seems to be alright, although they will most likely be at different social developmental stages.
My take on this is that it sound good when home schoolers talk about how their children are exposed to kids of all ages. What happens in reality will vary by family. In my kids experience, they are usually grouped with other kids their ages in home school groups and they seem to like that. I will say that my kids interact with adults better than I did at their age. That's what happens when you're around adults much more of the time than other kids.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
It's not all bad
Just to be contrary to my previous posts, I want to discuss some of the joys that I had while homeschooling my two elementary aged sons for nearly a year. Seeing my kids every day and spending time together was wonderful at times. I homeschooled my kids shortly after separated from my former wife. Being able to see my two, favorite kids in the world every day was awesome. Was that better for the kids to be homeschooled by me, their dad, rather than going to school with their peers for those nine months? It's hard to say. From a selfish point of view, I'm glad that we had the time together.
Taking field trips with the kids is also a lot of fun. During those nine months, we went to the natural history museum, the aquarium, a couple childrens' museums, an organized nature outing, an apple orchard, an art museum, bike trails, the library, walks through nature and the zoo. We also shared fun weekly activities such as a roller skating group where I skated with the kids, a swim and gym group where I played dodgeball with the kids and battled with foam swords on the playground. Sounds like a lot of fun, eh?
I also enjoyed bring the kids to a weekly gym group where I helped teach some of the classes and volunteer in running the "mock" school. We met many nice folks, a few of which I'm still friends with two years later.
There were difficult parts of the homeschooling experience. I had very little curriculum to work with so I struggled at times to put together the book work that kept the kids interest all day. It also gets kind of lonely with just me and the kids without other kids and adults around. It was a mixed experience. If I had to do it again, I would, especially if there was no way of getting the kids in public school with their peers.
Taking field trips with the kids is also a lot of fun. During those nine months, we went to the natural history museum, the aquarium, a couple childrens' museums, an organized nature outing, an apple orchard, an art museum, bike trails, the library, walks through nature and the zoo. We also shared fun weekly activities such as a roller skating group where I skated with the kids, a swim and gym group where I played dodgeball with the kids and battled with foam swords on the playground. Sounds like a lot of fun, eh?
I also enjoyed bring the kids to a weekly gym group where I helped teach some of the classes and volunteer in running the "mock" school. We met many nice folks, a few of which I'm still friends with two years later.
There were difficult parts of the homeschooling experience. I had very little curriculum to work with so I struggled at times to put together the book work that kept the kids interest all day. It also gets kind of lonely with just me and the kids without other kids and adults around. It was a mixed experience. If I had to do it again, I would, especially if there was no way of getting the kids in public school with their peers.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Socialization (Myth or no?)
A friend told me that writing when I do not field inspired is more important then writing when I am inspired. Today is one of those days.
The most common argument against homeschooling is the lack of socialization that kids receive. While there is some truth to this argument for many homeschooled children, this issue is more complex than one might think. Some homeschooling websites argue than their kids are better socialized than public school kids. Is this just a matter of perspective? I say, no. Much of this has to do with how parents (or whoever they put in charge of their kids) plan the kids weekly schedule, how social the kids are, and where they live (near other kids or out in the country).
Our kids attend a number of activities outside the house such as soccer, ballet, a gym group, swimming, scouts, religious education at church, tennis, and piano lessons. Some of these activities are with other homeschoolers and some are with school kids. While our kids participate in a variety of activities, there are some missing pieces. Public school kids spend up to five days a week together, in different classes, with kids their age, in classrooms and on the playground. In public schools, there's a good chance that kids can meet other kids in their neighborhood. In my experience, our kids may see the same kids once or twice a week for a few hours at most. Their time is all structured, unless we get together with the kids outside of the organized activities (which rarely happens).
Some parents that homeschool do a better job at socializing their kids than others. It takes a lot more work to micromanage the kids social life on top of micromanaging their academics. Young children learn just as much through social interactions as they do academics. My suggestion is that parents who aren't very social would be better off putting their kids in public school so their kids get a chance to learn how to get along with others and make friends. These are skills that will last a life time. You can be the smartest person in the world, but that won't do you much good if you can't get along with others.
The most common argument against homeschooling is the lack of socialization that kids receive. While there is some truth to this argument for many homeschooled children, this issue is more complex than one might think. Some homeschooling websites argue than their kids are better socialized than public school kids. Is this just a matter of perspective? I say, no. Much of this has to do with how parents (or whoever they put in charge of their kids) plan the kids weekly schedule, how social the kids are, and where they live (near other kids or out in the country).
Our kids attend a number of activities outside the house such as soccer, ballet, a gym group, swimming, scouts, religious education at church, tennis, and piano lessons. Some of these activities are with other homeschoolers and some are with school kids. While our kids participate in a variety of activities, there are some missing pieces. Public school kids spend up to five days a week together, in different classes, with kids their age, in classrooms and on the playground. In public schools, there's a good chance that kids can meet other kids in their neighborhood. In my experience, our kids may see the same kids once or twice a week for a few hours at most. Their time is all structured, unless we get together with the kids outside of the organized activities (which rarely happens).
Some parents that homeschool do a better job at socializing their kids than others. It takes a lot more work to micromanage the kids social life on top of micromanaging their academics. Young children learn just as much through social interactions as they do academics. My suggestion is that parents who aren't very social would be better off putting their kids in public school so their kids get a chance to learn how to get along with others and make friends. These are skills that will last a life time. You can be the smartest person in the world, but that won't do you much good if you can't get along with others.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Homeschooling without parents
Who's responsibility is to to administer homeschooling? Some people that I spoke to say that it is the parents' responsibility. There's a certain logic to that. I might want to stay home with my kids to teach them and share my values and love with them. Most parents, specifically mothers, do the homeschooling. What I've come to find out is that in states like Illinois, anyone can do the homeschooling. It doesn't have to be a parent. it can be a relative, or someone off the street. It seems to me that if I want a stranger, or someone other than a parent doing the homeschooling, then the kids should just go to school (yes, that's my answer to most homeschool problems).
The reason that I write about this particular subject is that I am in a position where I may be unemployed in two weeks. My intention is to continue looking for a job until I can find another full-time position. Another way that I could use my time while unemployed is to spend extra time with my kids and teach them a couple days a week. That way, I can get a good idea of the curriculum, that their mother picked out, is like. I could also work on creating an integrating social activities into the boys lives (something they miss out on since they aren't in school). The problem is that my former wife, who promised (in court) to work with me and the kid's homeschooling, refuses see the benefit of having me, the kids' dad, deeply involved in the kid's education. I'd have more involvement with the kids education if they were in school. At the least the teachers and administrators wouldn't be biased against me and prevent me from being involved in kids education.
I'm ranting. I have no answers right now. Using homeschooling to micro-manage and control the kids lives and prevent their father from being an integral part of the process is wrong!
The reason that I write about this particular subject is that I am in a position where I may be unemployed in two weeks. My intention is to continue looking for a job until I can find another full-time position. Another way that I could use my time while unemployed is to spend extra time with my kids and teach them a couple days a week. That way, I can get a good idea of the curriculum, that their mother picked out, is like. I could also work on creating an integrating social activities into the boys lives (something they miss out on since they aren't in school). The problem is that my former wife, who promised (in court) to work with me and the kid's homeschooling, refuses see the benefit of having me, the kids' dad, deeply involved in the kid's education. I'd have more involvement with the kids education if they were in school. At the least the teachers and administrators wouldn't be biased against me and prevent me from being involved in kids education.
I'm ranting. I have no answers right now. Using homeschooling to micro-manage and control the kids lives and prevent their father from being an integral part of the process is wrong!
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