Hey Angie, I'm not sure if this is appropriate, but I just wanted to say to your point of homeschooling being a thankless job, it definitely is now; but as someone who was home-schooled and LOVED it I can say that you'll probably reap the rewards in your children's adulthood. I have thanked my mom for homeschooling me on probably a weekly basis since the beginning of college. I attended and subsequently graduated from a state college after being home-school since the first grade and I have to say I found the transition easier than most of my classmates. Again, this might not be appropriate, I'm neither a parent nor a teacher so I don't really have a leg to stand on here, but I would bet that your kids will thank you. It was one of the best parts of my childhood and instilled both a love of learning and an independent work ethic that every boss I've ever had has praised and I always say "you can thank my mom for that, she home-schooled me".
I was homeschooled from sixth grade until I graduated with my ged at 16. It was an amazing experience, and I loved the freedom it gave me to be able to get a job and to learn my own way. I do have one thing to say, especially if you plan on homeschooling older kids. KEEP EVERY PIECE OF WORK THEY DO! Get a filing cabinet, a binder, a dresser drawer, anything! I’m applying to college now and because my mom didn’t keep much of my high school work, it’s making it very hard to show them my transcript. If your child is in eighth or ninth grade, start keeping one for them, they will thank you. I’m the oldest child and the only one my mom has homeschooled in the higher grades, plus my state has very few regulations when it comes to that stuff so she genuinely didn’t think of keeping my things, but it’s more important than you might think.
"What makes you think you can home school your kids?" I would ask the question, what makes a stranger, who doesn't know our family, my child's strength, weaknesses, their personality, their hopes and dreams and also our families ideology think that they can teach my kids? Teachers may have a diploma or degree of some sort, that doesn't mean they are able to find out what stage every individual in their class is at or what their passions are. Also, all teachers have to abide by the curriculum and don't have a lot of freedom to stray off it in order to meet their students' needs. All reasons I believe life learning has much more value than being stuck in school.
Who is here in 2020? The main reason I chose to homeschool was to avoid the 'new abnormal' in the public schools. Yikes. Also because I always wanted to homeschool and saw this as a perfect opportunity. We live in small town where the kids walk to school and it's very quaint, cozy and community oriented so even though I always wanted to, I never saw the need....until now!
About the thankless job, it's kind of funny, my 5 year old seems to never remember where she learns all this stuff. She always says she just always knew it all or something. I'm like yeah ok lol.
GREAT video!! I experienced pretty much everything you mentioned. We also switched stuff around almost every year. Did traditional homeschooling, tried some on-line stuff (not best for us), supplemental classes outside when they got older, and ended in a hybrid high school (3 days at school, 2 days at home). One daughter graduated in May and got into every college to which she applied and my other is a senior now. In the end, the blessings FAR outweighed any negatives. Good job Angie!!
Hey angie, I am a teacher in germany and I had to lough out loud when you talk about that thankless job. I can absolutely understand. It's part of my daily life... p.s. I like the thought of homeschooling, but it's forbidden in germany. (Please excuse my bad english 🙈)
Excellent list of pros and cons. The ability to customize my child’s education is probably one of the biggest reasons we homeschool. That and flexibility!! Thanks for sharing ❤️
This list was spot on! Homeschool Mom of three years here. Wouldn’t change it for the world but it is definitely the most difficult thing I have ever done. I love making a mission statement to hang on my schoolroom wall to help me remember why I am doing this when I have a tough day. Love your videos Angie. ❤️
I struggle with the idea of homeschooling. My husband had a pretty standard experience in school and I sometimes think my kids would benefit from it, but then most of me thinks it's rubbish. I experienced massive anxiety, depression, bullying, difficulties learning, etc. It felt like being on survivor. 😂 I also don't know if I'd have the stamina for it. Currently home with my 21 month old and 4 month old and it is ROUGH! 😅
If homeschool is really on your heart then I'd say try making a list of your reasons for/against the idea. It can definitely be challenging, but I've never heard anyone upset about at least trying! Definitely take the time to really watch & get to know your children, I'm talking their innate personality, interests, learning styles, etc. The better you understand them the easier it will be to capture their attention, guide & offer them truly personal learning experiences! (Whether you home educate or not in the end.) You're at a great point for this considering their ages, especially your 21 month old 👍 Young and honest 😆
Maybe look into combining the two? I know there's a vlogging family here on TH-cam who has the majority of their children partially homeschooled, partially in public system
My daughter started to struggle in private school and lose her confidence. If she is struggling on something than we don't move on where school is not like that. I love that she can get up and spend time with God. There are some bad days but the good far out away them. Love your channel
Thank you for sharing. This is my third year of homeschooling but only my second for my younger two (we brought our oldest home before middle school as our Guinea pig). I still have rough days where I second guess whether I’m cut out for it but God keeps reassuring me that this is what he wants. Hearing someone who has done this longer say that they still those moments makes me feel a little better. I guess just knowing that I’m not alone gives me a little more confidence to keep pushing forward. Thanks for being honest!
Anyone who is able to homeschool is so lucky to have that choice and I do believe for many kids it is the best option. at the end of the day, of course, it is not an option for many families. I am currently working as an educator in a school that serves predominantly low income students. We have such limited resources -- not enough desks or chairs for students, limited text books, poor infrastructure etc. It is just so unfair that my students do not have access to the same quality of education -- I wish it were different because going to a school without adequate resources truly impacts the students ability to learn.
Homeschooling 3 girls, 6, 5, and 3. I totally agree, most of the pressure is in our heads. I think I might feel more pressured if I lived in a state that had alot of homeschool rules, and checked in on us alot, here in Arkansas, we don't currently have to have the school system Lord over us, anymore, and we have alot of freedom. Years ago, homeschool kids in our state did have to do standardized testing, not sure if it was every year or every other year, but thank goodness they don't have to do that anymore. That being said, I do find myself thinking about, what if something happened to me, what would my husband do, or if I got sick, or had terrible morning sickness like you did, what would I do, finding that balance between being prepared and fear. I love that song by Francesca Batestelli (spelling?) "fear you don't own me," "good bye fear, you will never be welcome here." I can't create the homeschool experience I want for my children, if I'm managed by fear. #goodbyefear
First of Amelia saying no was great! Second I would love to homeschool my daughter but have not found a way as a single mother. I really do miss my kiddo and she has asked to be homeschooled. I do homeschool kinda of May through September since she was behind. Now it's just habit and allows us to bond over her favorite subjects. Love your family Angie!
I appreciate your authenticity, Angie. Thank you for all of the information you share in regards to home schooling. Keeping it real is so important. Continued prayers for safety. ❤️☀️🌸🦋
I noticed the bus in my neighborhood ran at 6:40 and school doesn’t dismiss until 2:50 then a bus ride home. That is almost 9 hours a day. I feel like that is way to much for small children. Our schools teach to test and it drives me crazy. I love the individual education my son is getting. In a months time he is already ready fairly well, telling time, and doing simple addition. He wouldn’t be there in our public school. My daughter graduated from public school and did well but I’m so loving homeschool so much more.
Thanks for this video Angie. I homeschooled my older two children for 5 years and was experiencing be burnout so we put them in public last year. This year I am homeschooling my younger two children and really missing having my older kids home. They have expressed the desire to come back home, but my fears of jumping back in on my daughters first year of middle school has been so intimidating. I have been praying hard for God to lead us in the direction he wants our family to go. This pros and cons list just gave me the reminder of my thoughts and feelings during our first few years.
Thank you so much for this video! I love how personable you are and interesting to listen to! There are several youtubers Ive watched long term and have gotten tired of, but you never get old! (I just found this channel, but I love This Gathered Nest) keep up the great work!
We are very much enjoying our first year of homeschooling. Honestly, our biggest pro is the flexibility. We just got back from a 9-day vacation to California which is almost 2000 miles away from us and didn't have to worry about them being absent from school. I also love seeing them develop. When they were in public school I felt like they were spending their "best" hours at school. When they got home they were tired and grumpy. I don't dislike public school and it's possible they could go back - but for now we are enjoying where we are.
I love learning more about home schooling. I once considered it but we recently moved into an amazing school zone with fabulous teachers. Also, my eldest son and I butt heads a lot that I feel it wouldn’t be as productive for him to stay home. I wish I could
One reason to consider homeschooling is imagine the bonding time you get with your child. You can’t get that when they are gone 8 hours a day five days a week. They are being shaped and molded by whoever is teaching them and the kids they are around. Homeschooling gives your child one on one attention and they don’t get lost in the crowd of 30 kids to a classroom. Freedom to control your schedule....
I watch both your channels, lovely to see Miss Amelia 😁. I don’t have kids and live in a country that homeschooling would be a tiny minority (and heavily prescribed if that route is chosen), but I am fascinated by the concept. As someone who during my school years (a LONG time ago), hated school and was bullied, I wish this had been an option for me, though I know my Mum would not have gone that route even if it had been available (due to lack of confidence). I watch this though because you do such an amazing job, truly. You can see that your kids want to learn, each in their own ways, and what you’re doing is obviously working for them. Rosie is really able to make herself clearly understood, Noah was clearly very proud of his achievements and Jonah is wonderful, so cheeky, so young (so not so much into his lessons), but clearly takes in what he is taught and the older girls, so motivated to learn. I love watching your vlogs and being part of your family, watching them all flourish as they grow. You should be very proud of yourself, not just of them. Can you imagine what it will be like when the twins are ready for school too! 😁
I love this video and your channel, I just started homeschooling in August and we are still trying to find a good rhythm, my daughter is autistic and she is definitely enjoying being home-schooled, we started off with virtual school but I'm looking into something more hands on for the coming up year if you have any advice that would be great!
What I’m learning in my homeschool journey is it’s not about what I want. I know that God has called me to do this, and that conviction keeps me going. There are many days I struggle and emotionally want to give up. The one thing I don’t think people realize is homeschool is a huge sacrifice for families. I’m not saying it’s better one way or the other but it’s not a selfish decision. It’s HARD and it’s work. Although the fruit is always worth the struggle and I hope to someday say I love it, but at this time I can’t say it’s always joy.
This is such a great video- thank you for posting it! After homeschooling for 9 years, we put everyone in school for two years, had another baby, and then pulled the three middles out to homeschool this year. Then I had another morning like this morning. Thankless job indeed! But I think your idea of writing out your reasons why and referring back to them is a really great idea. :)
Yayy I'm so happy you uploaded this! About to watch it! I was literally going to ask you if you could do a video on why homeschooling is a good option/myths of home schooled children because I have 2 kiddos a almost 3 year old and a 1 year old and watching your videos about homeschooling is making me more and more want to do it! But I wanted to know more from your standpoint. Thank you so much!!!
I love how you thought sooooooo far in the future, and were able to come to such a brilliant conclusion!!!! I am so happy to have this thought to hold when I needzzzz a break
Hi Angie! Thanks for the video! We homeschooled for 4 years and decided this year to put our kids in a charter school because our fourth child was starting school and I just was afraid I wouldn't be able to school 4 kids. Things have been really going good at the charter school so far but I'm definitely really torn about it. They're learning a lot of things and I definitely have more time to work on the house and spend time with our fifth child but part of me definitely wishes they were home. Definitely pros and cons to both homeschooling and kids going to school. I'm hoping eventually that we will go back to homeschooling but my husband likes them going to school. I think a lot of it is because he saw how stressed and overwhelmed I was home schooling and trying to do everything else and he didn't want that but at the same time there's so many good things about homeschooling too!! Hope your school year continues to go well! Glad you guys are okay from the storm!
Can you do a video of the differences in homeschool /unschool etc ... my twins are only 1 but I’m really wanting as much info as I can get as early as I can 😬... love your family
I am curious to when you make time to clean your beautiful home? I am homeschooling now with quarantine, but I always wanted to try homeschooling my children ages 6, 3, and I have a 6 month old baby. I barely have time to do the day to day cleanups.
Hey Angie! I'm a HUGE fan! I was wondering if you might consider doing a video about how to start homeschooling or where you can begin? I'm clueless but extremely interested!
Loved the video- I loved school but it's really interesting to hear why it's not the best. Can I ask which kids are home schooling this year? Think I missed it!
Angela: Regarding your travels with your family, you don't have to worry about scheduling your vacations around a school's schedule. Many schools do not allow family vacations during the school year citing the states' mandatory attendance laws. For example, here in Pennsylvania, where I live at, children have to be in school for 180 days a year. Many school consider taking trips during the school year an unexcused absence. And the teachers won't assign make-up work either. Some parents say that it's much cheaper for them to take a vacation during the school then during the summer and the school holidays. Little do the know, they are actually breaking the law. Schools have to enforce their attendance policies or else parents will get themselves in some really serious legal trouble. Six years ago, there was a guy here in suburban Philadelphia who took his two kids out of school to Boston because he was running in the Boston Marathon. He then received a letter from the school's principal saying that was an unexcused absence. He defending his actions by saying that his kids learned more in the five days that they were in Boston instead of just sitting inside of a classroom. Good luck to you in your homeschooling Angela.
Our family just made the plunge to homeschool yesterday. It was their last day in the public school. Several reasons you mentioned apply to us as well; however, did you ever consider another factor in regards to other children when deciding to homeschool - like bullying and exposure to other behavior or terms from other children?
Ashley Chou That was our reason why we homeschool. Couldn’t believe how horrible some kindergarten kids’ behavior can be. Our daughter was bullied by a boy in her class for a year. It took us 5 months to figure out what caused her behavior to change and then she opened up. The private school had no bullying policy and other than saying the right things, did little to treat the issue.
Ashley Chou for many reasons we started homeschooling but one is the biggest deciding factors was other kids behaviors. My son in kindergarten had very disturbing things happen to him by and said to him by other kindergarteners. He went to a very small school ( around 100) kids and I expected it be a small country school with cute little country kids. The total opposite! We love homeschooling tho and it was the best decision!
@@rapidfallsfarm It is so unfortunate what happens in the school and so much more goes unnoticed. Bullying and exposure to verbal and physical abuse is one if our biggest concerns due to experience of their public school years. My oldest falls more victim to both, my youngest seems to have more resilience to it. However, resilient or not, it is unhealthy and nothing our kids should be experiencing! I always contemplated homeschool since before my oldest started a mom and totally class and subsequently preschool for 3 y/o. Each then did preschool for 4 y/o, then young fives kindergarten, then kindergarten and so on to now 1st and 4th grade. We had many issues with school in MI and would toss around the idea of homeschool; after moving to NYC and trying public school here for about two weeks - the decision was sealed! I am excited for this amazing and unique journey of honeschooling and so are my boys!
Definitely, people always say "what about socialization?" with homeschooling, but socialization is one of the reasons I like to homeschool! Homeschooling socialization is better.
Great information. I've been asked "Did you use to be a teacher?" Or "Why do you think you can teach your children better than going to public school?"
I have a dual reason for homeschooling. Maybe 3 reasons🤔. My oldest daughter gets sick a lot in the winter months. And because she could only miss a maximum of 10 days without a doctor's excuse I ran the risk of being arrested. Some of thos days were because she got her menses at 9 and it came with a lot of pain for her that made her male teachers uncomfortable and I would get calls to "please please come get her". Secondly she was bullied by other girls to the point where she would fake sick during the times that are outside her normal season of sickness. I always planned on homeschooling my son but I thought I'd have a few years to go before I had to quit working fulltime. 🤷🏾♀️
Do homeschooled kids do standardised exams etc? Because aren't they needed to apply for college/courses later on? I have no experience of homeschool and live in the U.K so don't know if it works differently! Just genuinely intrigued- not a dig!
I have a hard time juggling 3 different grades and I'm on the fence of which one is better. School is the biggest stressor in my life. I never wanted to be a teacher and I hated school growing up. I never imagined I'd be the one having to teach my kids.
Could you explain what the difference is to you actually picking out your own curriculum to go off on versus like a virtual school? I do not homeschool, but feel as my kids get older it will be an option for us. Here in Florida there is a Florida virtual public school system that is free from k-12. I am trying to understand what my best options would be.
As someone getting there degree in elementary special education, I am curious on other people’s thoughts on this topic. Can there be a civil discussion in the comments of the pros and cons? I would love to hear from others on why children should or should not be homeschooled.
Eryn May I’m also getting my degree in Elementary Education & I currently work for my local school district as a paraeducator. I don’t have children yet but would like to toy with the idea of homeschooling children someday when I do have them. There’s pros & cons to both. Each family & each child is different. For me, I’m a fan of year round schooling. For the district I’m in, that won’t be possible unless all of our buildings were air conditioned. I’m also of the belief that kids don’t need to be in school more than four or five hours a day. On the other hand, children can get the services they need from typical schools. Some children also do better around other kids & with teachers whom they’re not related to.
I am a teacher in a different country and I specialise in a certain method of education. Having had a mainstream education it would probably be the last option for us. Our education styles are similar to the u.s but maybe we have lager class sizes? 22-30 children per teacher. My reasons would have nothing to do with how good a teacher is or anything, I just feel that as much as you try, its hard to get each childs individual needs met. I also feel like the school day is very long with not enough breaks. My ideal for schooling would be the method I'm trained in, individual teaching and very small classes with a number of teachers but it costs a lot. Homeschool isn't necessarily the second best option to me, I'd like the freedom it brings, really finding a plan to suit each child, I always find children who are homeschooled to be very confident and adapt well to new situations. We'd still have extra curricular activities and join a homeschool group so lots of room for socialisation and real life.
Here in uk , homeschooling is not as popular(probably cause of worklife) I have a feeling that the educational system NEEDS a big change ! Because really many teachers are great! Its disgusting to me that they get underpaid and also students really need to be able to be more flexible , so yh that's my opinion,
I'm in college now I've never been home school but whenever there is someone is a little bit odd whether it be in college, at work, or even sometime in high school (I went to two bcuz parents were military) people would say that they must've been home schooled. Like if you're a bit socially awkward people will almost instinctively think you're home schooled whether you are or aren't. Do you maybe have some adult friends who were home schooled that you could talk to about what they think of the long term affects of it were? Especially with people saying its not what you know its who you know because information is at your finger tips yadayada. Do you think them as adults now would agree or disagree etc?
It would be interesting to hear from Kennedy and Shelby the pros and cons. I personally would never choose tohomeschool my kids, even though I love to spend time with my daughter. But the question I would have ask myself when the kids are older and out of the house is did I did the best to make them became who they really are. If you expose your kids to only you and your family and friends they never experience anything different. Don't you worry about that?
maria fraticelli Yes this is exactly how I think about it. Besides that homeschooling is illegal in my country so it’s not even an option. It’s each to their own but personally I don’t think it’s good for older children to be home almost all the time.
maria fraticelli I homeschool my two sons and I am my 16 yo sisters guardian. She goes to public school and I can tell you for certain- that is one of the thoughts that MADE me homeschool. My sons have MANY different influences in their life, between homeschool groups, friends who’s have kids, and kids in our neighborhood, the difference is that they are mostly positive this way. In schools and on the bus there are many bad influences and peer pressure, my kids will eventually experience these things, but hopefully giving them this time to learn and grow independently will have given them the confidence to be able to handle the peer pressure in a mature fashion.
This has to be the most commonly asked 'homeschool' question 😅 It seems you're really asking about socialization? Consider the classroom environment & then consider spending days living. Homeschooling is really about living. You go to the store, to the park, to a zoo or museum. Children are VERY exposed to new & different ideas & people on a daily basis because they are living, everyday, with family and the world around them. This is something a classroom can't offer. Spending so many hours in one room with a definded group of 'peers', your same age & general social/economic status, isn't actually a very enriching experience 😌 I think we need a new term for 'homeschool' because so many people immediately associate it with staying home all day. A highly controlled environment, just like school buildings. It really doesn't need to be the same at all!
Also, I just noticed that you said, "...make them become who they are." I don't think we 'make' our children into anything...? We are responsible for providing opportunities & guidance, not for trying to mold them into who we think they are. I do believe this is a common school mentality though 😢 Children don't need to be forced to grow & learn; they do it naturally!! Imo, learning from home offers a much better opportunity for children to grow up to be themselves.
With special needs kids they need to be in a actual school with all the services they get its wonderful! And not everyone has 7 kids so with that said they need to socialize thats huge!
I'd love to homeschool my kids. Especially since my son has chronic health issues, but my husband and I both have to work full time. Do you know anyone that homeschools while working outside the home full time?
My question not so much as socialization. Cause I know you can put you kids in extra curriculum . So they do get socialization with friends etc. My concern would be. Although now a days parents worry about bullying and other influences your child might face. That concern can still occur with homeschooling. For example say Kennedy and Shelby get older to go to high school. If they are sent to high school or say they homeschool till they're ready to go to college. My concern is would the girls be adapt to handle life. I know that might sound stupid. Angie and CR would have equipped them to handle life. But although they are being educated they have socialization skills. It's still a kinda cocoon. I also understand from my experience from high school to college is a wake up call. I don't know it's a genuine question im not trying to be hateful or mean xx
I think the transition from high school to college is REALLY hard! When you go from school to college the change is so big that it's very difficult to adapt. At school, you had a specific routine you had to follow, a lot of rules and guidelines, extra help & makeup tests...College doesn't have most of that! The thing is, in a homeschool situation, kids are able to be given more independence as they're able to handle it; so, for example, a 15-year-old probably doesn't need a schedule laid out for them anymore. Instead, they know what they need to do and are expected to get it done. That is much more closely aligned with the university atmosphere than the high school environment! Homeschooled kids do great when making the move from learning at home to learning at college because it's largely the same system, there are just more people involved, lol.
A Daily Life Well that answer part of my question. So thank you. But what about life situation and influences? Like bullying, drugs, abuse, crime etc are they not cocoon that way? In their own safe haven ? Xx
Well, being in a safe place doesn't mean not knowing about tough subjects. One of the things a lot of homeschool families love is being able to teach their children to have authentic self-confidence, how to value themselves highly, so they're able to stand up to people who treat them badly. When a child values their own opinions more than those of other children, they carry that lesson with them as they grow up; it's hard to influence someone to be self-destructive when they care about themselves more than someone else's acceptance. It's always important to discuss things like bullying, crime, etc like you said! But, we don't have to physically experience those things to recognize/understand them. There's so much news about it, TH-cam videos and such, that it's easy to provide examples for a child on what to look for & be careful of. Of course, that doesn't mean no one will have a hard time with those issues, but the same can be said of children going through those things at school every day. Many of them haven't learned how to cope & sadly, many never do at all!
A Daily Life Thanks for taking your time to make me see your side. Instead of getting offended at my question. See when Angie talks about home schooling. It gives me a comforting sense. I'm single but if down the future I do have kids . Angie gives me hope that home schooling can be a option. I like the idea of giving your child independence and teaching them at a young age to how to do things independently might that be studying,work etc. I also believe children need to learn in their own pace and get quality time one on one. Which you sometimes you don't get at school xx
That's so true! Homeschooling does offer a lot of opportunities that a classroom just can't make available; I hope you'll be able to make whatever decision is best when the time comes!! Living & learning are definitely too important to make an uneducated or quick decision about ✌
Are you still friends with any childhood friends? I know I'm not. I made most of my friends in my early - mid 20s. Even as a kid, most of my friends were from outside school, some were neighbours, others I met through drama. This is something I think of too btw when I think of homeschool so don't think I'm coming across snotty 🙂
It probably depends on where you live but homeschooling is such a growing community there is plenty of groups where I live. You get together with other homeschoolers and that's where they make friends and do activities when other kids are in school.
+clothy cloth I am still friends with the four girls I was best friends with in Kindergarten. And I am now 35. Most people have a hard time making friends as adults.
Just a random off topic question but do you let the girls go to bed at night with the Amber teething necklace on? I like to keep it on my baby 24/7 but my husband says absolutely not, what do you guys do?
someone had commented there is a TH-cam family who does partial homeschooling and partial public school. Does anyone know where this can be found or do this as well? I hadn't heard of this before and would like to see more about that
I know some people locally to me that do this. You need to find a local hybrid homeschooling school. They go to this school 2 days a week and you homeschool the rest of the week.
Unschooling is a type of homeschool that is very student led, the student gets to learn whatever they are interested in that day. It usually includes a lot of access to books, activities, games, and experiences.
We really considered homeschool our twins but I really feel like I’m a better mom to them when I get the daily break. 1 twin has autism and fairly severe ADHD and he’s exhausting. Having 4 hrs after school to fit play, homework, chore, dinner, and showers is really hard though.
Hats off to you mama, knowing our limits is important and yes half day for kindergarten should be brought back. Up in Canada I was in a half day kindergarten, last year which that occurred.
Same for me. My daughter is Autistic/ADHD and drains me, but she is in 2nd grade and hates school. She gets pulled out of class constantly for all her actual education. I'm very uncertain what is right.
Samantha Norton that’s so hard! So far my boys love school. Their school has a sped program I’m really pleased with. C is fully integrated into the classroom and the sped teacher comes into the classroom to help him. The reg ed teacher is also required to make accommodations for him in the classroom and she has 20 yrs experience in special education. We moved here 6 mo ago- where we’re from did sped differently and idk if I would have put him in school there.
We are in our 4th year of homeschooling and now my girls (twins) are in their 9th grade year. Do you plan on homeschooling through high school? How do you handle thinking about the high school things, like prom, football games, etc. I’m still praying about the last few years (junior/senior) so they can experience that. Also, how do you keep your kids involved with friends. We live in a rural area where a homeschooling community is scarce.
Ok. As for prom, and football games and such. All of my kids were (finishing up final student this year) homeschooled thru high school. Two oldest went to three proms; and if there was a local game they wanted to go to-they went. My younger two have been able to take long trips with us that offered way more opportunities than sitting in a classroom would as well. Neither one had a desire to attend a prom. I have been asked this question for over 25 yrs. Keeping those activities in perspective is the best way to not worry or fret over them. I have often asked people if they only went to school (PS/PS and otherwise) b/cuz of prom. Their faces-when they realized their answer (no) -was priceless. And all of my adult children have done very well for themselves in the “real” world. In fact, when they attended college they were shocked at how unprepared and disinterested most of the PS students were. With all the resources out there and the huge homeschool based co-ops/groups; there shouldn’t be a problem finding activities the student enjoys. Hth.
Although I’m currently studying to become a teacher and I don’t have children, I am very interested in homeschooling. I am from a country where homeschooling is illegal (so please excuse my language skills cause English isn’t my mother tongue and the kids are not at risk bc I’m not going to teach English ;-)) but sometimes even though I totally understand the reasoning behind that, I wonder if for some kids this might not be the best solution. In Germany there are required curriculums for every year and subject (I suppose similar to most other countries). So my question is: How do you teach your kids subjects like math or physics, which is required to get the Abitur in Germany (degree that qualifies for University)? I read in the comments that some homeschoolers attend high school classes, some other external supplemental classes or on-line courses but I can’t really imagine how this works. But I think this is mainly bc schools are different where I’m from. In German schools the kids are grouped in classes which pretty much remain the same for the whole time in primary school (4 years) and then again in secondary school (5 to 7 years). So the kids are surrounded by the same classmates for a long time, which would make it difficult to just attend some classes over limited periods. But nevertheless it is pretty much unlikely to get the opportunity of teaching your own kids at home here in Germany, as I stated before I am very interested in this topic, as I don’t always like the way schools are organized here. Mainly bc as some comments mentioned before the kids are very much restricted in choosing the stuff they want to learn and that can lower their motivation. Also I remember that for me it was really hard (especially as a teen) to engage in the lessons since mostly I was too afraid to give the wrong answer and have the others laugh at me or calling me dumb. Besides that it also hurts my grades immensely. So for years school wasn’t really fun… I can only imagine this might not be as difficult for homeschooled kids so for some students it might be a better solution. Greetings from Germany!
US high schools are like college where you have different classmates depending on the class. You also have separate levels like average and advanced. Most people only home-school for the early years as it is possible for the average adult to teach.
*A way to make the children appreciative and even more interested in their education is by showing them two examples of actual people: people who haven’t gotten a decent education and didn’t appreciate the importance of being educated thus had really unstable jobs that don’t pay well so they can’t buy necessities or things that they want even as a result (so for them children, telling them ‘ imagine your favorite toy, and now imagine not being able to buy it because you didn’t make sure to have a good education, so you can’t pay for it, because a good education helps ensures you have a good job with which you can buy what you need and want) ‘; the other example can be of children who are geniuses or children who are not geniuses but do study well and have great grades as a result (this might make the children interested in being more like those) . But you probably already shown them such examples. (And yes, some might argue that teaching children that they can buy all they need and want doesn’t help with the minimalism cause, and while I am aware of the importance of minimalism, as I am a minimalist myself, however, teaching them about minimalism and all the issues related to consumerism can be introduced later when they’re around 14 or so- after they finished their very basic education.)*
*_so I should walk down the street and point at a poor homeless person and say to my kid: ' look this might happen to you if you do not do well in school?' like this person is worth less than others?_*
*_wouldn't it be better to say 'look do you see that person over there? be good in school get a good education so you can help him and make the world a better place!' because we are all equally important and we need to love each other and help each other._*
*Freundin, you’re sick. Because I didn’t say anything about pointing at a person, you rude, soulless person. When I mentioned my example, I thought that people who read my comment would have the self respect and dignity to think of a respectful example to showcase how people’s livelihood in most cases does depend on a person’s level of education. The example I was personally thinking of was to have a child look at a video on the internet at home that shows the kind of different lives people have that are related to their education. (I am aware some people can have the highest of degrees and still end up homeless, but a child doesn’t have to know this yet). And yes, having good grades got nothing to do with intelligence, after all, you rude and sick person thought of a disrespectful example (which shows your stupidity, and lack of intelligence) instead of having the self-respect to give a respectful example about what I said. Your lack of misunderstanding is your problem; not mine, Freundin*
The curriculum you choose will keep going up and getting more challenging. If they are passing the grade level then you know they are getting the information they are supposed to be getting.
Kids often get a more customized education (meaning they get to learn in their learning style and at their pace so they don't miss things) when homeschooled. No type of school will ever teach you everything you need to know. That's why focusing on a love of learning for life is so valuable. As for college, I was very loosely homeschooled through my high school years due to parent illness. I had the most difficulty with school out of my siblings, yet I got to college and had no problem at all transitioning or excelling.
Because as a homeschool parent you are seeing exactly what your child is learning and retaining. We follow a cirriculum for each grade level and give the kids one on one attention. Compare homeschooled children sat scores to public school. The numbers are shocking, homeschoolers are better equipped for college.
How can you just trust your kids are getting enough education simply because you send them to school? They might get the checkboxes or the pieces of paper, but does that ensure life success? Just because you're putting responsibility on other people doesn't ensure anything.
For my kids they are around to their peers 3-5 days a week plus around a variety of different adults so it's not really an issue unless you don't get out much.
I've actually found the complete opposite, I've always known children who are taught from home to be very confident and well adapting to different environments.
Hey Angie, I'm not sure if this is appropriate, but I just wanted to say to your point of homeschooling being a thankless job, it definitely is now; but as someone who was home-schooled and LOVED it I can say that you'll probably reap the rewards in your children's adulthood. I have thanked my mom for homeschooling me on probably a weekly basis since the beginning of college. I attended and subsequently graduated from a state college after being home-school since the first grade and I have to say I found the transition easier than most of my classmates. Again, this might not be appropriate, I'm neither a parent nor a teacher so I don't really have a leg to stand on here, but I would bet that your kids will thank you. It was one of the best parts of my childhood and instilled both a love of learning and an independent work ethic that every boss I've ever had has praised and I always say "you can thank my mom for that, she home-schooled me".
I was homeschooled from sixth grade until I graduated with my ged at 16. It was an amazing experience, and I loved the freedom it gave me to be able to get a job and to learn my own way. I do have one thing to say, especially if you plan on homeschooling older kids. KEEP EVERY PIECE OF WORK THEY DO! Get a filing cabinet, a binder, a dresser drawer, anything! I’m applying to college now and because my mom didn’t keep much of my high school work, it’s making it very hard to show them my transcript. If your child is in eighth or ninth grade, start keeping one for them, they will thank you. I’m the oldest child and the only one my mom has homeschooled in the higher grades, plus my state has very few regulations when it comes to that stuff so she genuinely didn’t think of keeping my things, but it’s more important than you might think.
"What makes you think you can home school your kids?" I would ask the question, what makes a stranger, who doesn't know our family, my child's strength, weaknesses, their personality, their hopes and dreams and also our families ideology think that they can teach my kids? Teachers may have a diploma or degree of some sort, that doesn't mean they are able to find out what stage every individual in their class is at or what their passions are. Also, all teachers have to abide by the curriculum and don't have a lot of freedom to stray off it in order to meet their students' needs. All reasons I believe life learning has much more value than being stuck in school.
Who is here in 2020? The main reason I chose to homeschool was to avoid the 'new abnormal' in the public schools. Yikes. Also because I always wanted to homeschool and saw this as a perfect opportunity. We live in small town where the kids walk to school and it's very quaint, cozy and community oriented so even though I always wanted to, I never saw the need....until now!
I homeschooled my son 25 years ago. We did it from a Christian perspective and we both loved it. A byproduct was learning material I missed in school.
About the thankless job, it's kind of funny, my 5 year old seems to never remember where she learns all this stuff. She always says she just always knew it all or something. I'm like yeah ok lol.
GREAT video!! I experienced pretty much everything you mentioned. We also switched stuff around almost every year. Did traditional homeschooling, tried some on-line stuff (not best for us), supplemental classes outside when they got older, and ended in a hybrid high school (3 days at school, 2 days at home). One daughter graduated in May and got into every college to which she applied and my other is a senior now. In the end, the blessings FAR outweighed any negatives. Good job Angie!!
Hey angie, I am a teacher in germany and I had to lough out loud when you talk about that thankless job. I can absolutely understand. It's part of my daily life... p.s. I like the thought of homeschooling, but it's forbidden in germany. (Please excuse my bad english 🙈)
Excellent list of pros and cons. The ability to customize my child’s education is probably one of the biggest reasons we homeschool. That and flexibility!! Thanks for sharing ❤️
This list was spot on! Homeschool Mom of three years here. Wouldn’t change it for the world but it is definitely the most difficult thing I have ever done. I love making a mission statement to hang on my schoolroom wall to help me remember why I am doing this when I have a tough day. Love your videos Angie. ❤️
I struggle with the idea of homeschooling. My husband had a pretty standard experience in school and I sometimes think my kids would benefit from it, but then most of me thinks it's rubbish. I experienced massive anxiety, depression, bullying, difficulties learning, etc. It felt like being on survivor. 😂 I also don't know if I'd have the stamina for it. Currently home with my 21 month old and 4 month old and it is ROUGH! 😅
If homeschool is really on your heart then I'd say try making a list of your reasons for/against the idea. It can definitely be challenging, but I've never heard anyone upset about at least trying! Definitely take the time to really watch & get to know your children, I'm talking their innate personality, interests, learning styles, etc. The better you understand them the easier it will be to capture their attention, guide & offer them truly personal learning experiences! (Whether you home educate or not in the end.) You're at a great point for this considering their ages, especially your 21 month old 👍 Young and honest 😆
Maybe look into combining the two? I know there's a vlogging family here on TH-cam who has the majority of their children partially homeschooled, partially in public system
My husband and I both had good experiences in school, but we still believe homeschooling can be better.
My daughter started to struggle in private school and lose her confidence. If she is struggling on something than we don't move on where school is not like that. I love that she can get up and spend time with God. There are some bad days but the good far out away them. Love your channel
Thank you for sharing. This is my third year of homeschooling but only my second for my younger two (we brought our oldest home before middle school as our Guinea pig). I still have rough days where I second guess whether I’m cut out for it but God keeps reassuring me that this is what he wants. Hearing someone who has done this longer say that they still those moments makes me feel a little better. I guess just knowing that I’m not alone gives me a little more confidence to keep pushing forward. Thanks for being honest!
Anyone who is able to homeschool is so lucky to have that choice and I do believe for many kids it is the best option. at the end of the day, of course, it is not an option for many families. I am currently working as an educator in a school that serves predominantly low income students. We have such limited resources -- not enough desks or chairs for students, limited text books, poor infrastructure etc. It is just so unfair that my students do not have access to the same quality of education -- I wish it were different because going to a school without adequate resources truly impacts the students ability to learn.
Thank you for sharing!!!! I am a homeschooler!!! 🙌 it was so encouraging!!!’
When do you recommend starting to look into homeschool materials etc. Like what age should your child be when you start
Homeschooling 3 girls, 6, 5, and 3. I totally agree, most of the pressure is in our heads. I think I might feel more pressured if I lived in a state that had alot of homeschool rules, and checked in on us alot, here in Arkansas, we don't currently have to have the school system Lord over us, anymore, and we have alot of freedom. Years ago, homeschool kids in our state did have to do standardized testing, not sure if it was every year or every other year, but thank goodness they don't have to do that anymore.
That being said, I do find myself thinking about, what if something happened to me, what would my husband do, or if I got sick, or had terrible morning sickness like you did, what would I do, finding that balance between being prepared and fear. I love that song by Francesca Batestelli (spelling?) "fear you don't own me," "good bye fear, you will never be welcome here." I can't create the homeschool experience I want for my children, if I'm managed by fear. #goodbyefear
"I cannot stand another minute with that lady" haha! A break is definitely needed by the end of each school day. I agree with everything on this list.
First of Amelia saying no was great! Second I would love to homeschool my daughter but have not found a way as a single mother. I really do miss my kiddo and she has asked to be homeschooled. I do homeschool kinda of May through September since she was behind. Now it's just habit and allows us to bond over her favorite subjects.
Love your family Angie!
I appreciate your authenticity, Angie. Thank you for all of the information you share in regards to home schooling.
Keeping it real is so important. Continued prayers for safety.
❤️☀️🌸🦋
You are so blessed to be able to spend such quality time with your kids! Your very blessed and your doing such an amazing job! Thanks for sharing!
I noticed the bus in my neighborhood ran at 6:40 and school doesn’t dismiss until 2:50 then a bus ride home. That is almost 9 hours a day. I feel like that is way to much for small children. Our schools teach to test and it drives me crazy. I love the individual education my son is getting. In a months time he is already ready fairly well, telling time, and doing simple addition. He wouldn’t be there in our public school. My daughter graduated from public school and did well but I’m so loving homeschool so much more.
Thanks for this video Angie. I homeschooled my older two children for 5 years and was experiencing be burnout so we put them in public last year. This year I am homeschooling my younger two children and really missing having my older kids home. They have expressed the desire to come back home, but my fears of jumping back in on my daughters first year of middle school has been so intimidating. I have been praying hard for God to lead us in the direction he wants our family to go. This pros and cons list just gave me the reminder of my thoughts and feelings during our first few years.
This was great ... you really know how to express what a lot of us want to say and don’t know how 💛
Life-long and experiential learning are really important for us, too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Angela!
Thank you so much for this video! I love how personable you are and interesting to listen to! There are several youtubers Ive watched long term and have gotten tired of, but you never get old! (I just found this channel, but I love This Gathered Nest) keep up the great work!
We ve been home educating for nearly 3 years, I run a Facebook page, it's called 'learning together at home' come find us!
We are very much enjoying our first year of homeschooling. Honestly, our biggest pro is the flexibility. We just got back from a 9-day vacation to California which is almost 2000 miles away from us and didn't have to worry about them being absent from school. I also love seeing them develop. When they were in public school I felt like they were spending their "best" hours at school. When they got home they were tired and grumpy. I don't dislike public school and it's possible they could go back - but for now we are enjoying where we are.
I love learning more about home schooling. I once considered it but we recently moved into an amazing school zone with fabulous teachers. Also, my eldest son and I butt heads a lot that I feel it wouldn’t be as productive for him to stay home. I wish I could
One reason to consider homeschooling is imagine the bonding time you get with your child. You can’t get that when they are gone 8 hours a day five days a week. They are being shaped and molded by whoever is teaching them and the kids they are around. Homeschooling gives your child one on one attention and they don’t get lost in the crowd of 30 kids to a classroom. Freedom to control your schedule....
Looking forward to seeing “Vlogging with Toddlers” bloopers!
I watch both your channels, lovely to see Miss Amelia 😁. I don’t have kids and live in a country that homeschooling would be a tiny minority (and heavily prescribed if that route is chosen), but I am fascinated by the concept. As someone who during my school years (a LONG time ago), hated school and was bullied, I wish this had been an option for me, though I know my Mum would not have gone that route even if it had been available (due to lack of confidence). I watch this though because you do such an amazing job, truly. You can see that your kids want to learn, each in their own ways, and what you’re doing is obviously working for them. Rosie is really able to make herself clearly understood, Noah was clearly very proud of his achievements and Jonah is wonderful, so cheeky, so young (so not so much into his lessons), but clearly takes in what he is taught and the older girls, so motivated to learn. I love watching your vlogs and being part of your family, watching them all flourish as they grow. You should be very proud of yourself, not just of them. Can you imagine what it will be like when the twins are ready for school too! 😁
Any videos you make is fine with me! So grateful for them 🙏💕
I love this video and your channel, I just started homeschooling in August and we are still trying to find a good rhythm, my daughter is autistic and she is definitely enjoying being home-schooled, we started off with virtual school but I'm looking into something more hands on for the coming up year if you have any advice that would be great!
What I’m learning in my homeschool
journey is it’s not about what I want. I know that God has called me to do this, and that conviction keeps me going. There are many days I struggle and emotionally want to give up. The one thing I don’t think people realize is homeschool is a huge sacrifice for families. I’m not saying it’s better one way or the other but it’s not a selfish decision. It’s HARD and it’s work. Although the fruit is always worth the struggle and I hope to someday say I love it, but at this time I can’t say it’s always joy.
Tina Pearce yes! Love this!
This is such a great video- thank you for posting it! After homeschooling for 9 years, we put everyone in school for two years, had another baby, and then pulled the three middles out to homeschool this year. Then I had another morning like this morning. Thankless job indeed! But I think your idea of writing out your reasons why and referring back to them is a really great idea. :)
Yayy I'm so happy you uploaded this! About to watch it! I was literally going to ask you if you could do a video on why homeschooling is a good option/myths of home schooled children because I have 2 kiddos a almost 3 year old and a 1 year old and watching your videos about homeschooling is making me more and more want to do it! But I wanted to know more from your standpoint. Thank you so much!!!
I love how you thought sooooooo far in the future, and were able to come to such a brilliant conclusion!!!!
I am so happy to have this thought to hold when I needzzzz a break
I missed your videos on this channel always excited to see your home schooling videos !
Hi Angie! Thanks for the video! We homeschooled for 4 years and decided this year to put our kids in a charter school because our fourth child was starting school and I just was afraid I wouldn't be able to school 4 kids. Things have been really going good at the charter school so far but I'm definitely really torn about it. They're learning a lot of things and I definitely have more time to work on the house and spend time with our fifth child but part of me definitely wishes they were home. Definitely pros and cons to both homeschooling and kids going to school. I'm hoping eventually that we will go back to homeschooling but my husband likes them going to school. I think a lot of it is because he saw how stressed and overwhelmed I was home schooling and trying to do everything else and he didn't want that but at the same time there's so many good things about homeschooling too!! Hope your school year continues to go well! Glad you guys are okay from the storm!
Love this! Like you, my main goal for my kids is to love learning and to be lifelong learners ❤️
Can you do a video of the differences in homeschool /unschool etc ... my twins are only 1 but I’m really wanting as much info as I can get as early as I can 😬... love your family
You are already homeschooling. Just continue on. Throw in some numbers and letters in a year or 2.
Everything you said! 🙌🏻 Especially the time apart that we all need occasionally. 🙈
I am curious to when you make time to clean your beautiful home? I am homeschooling now with quarantine, but I always wanted to try homeschooling my children ages 6, 3, and I have a 6 month old baby. I barely have time to do the day to day cleanups.
Oh my- where is your head board from??? LOVE!
Hey Angie! I'm a HUGE fan! I was wondering if you might consider doing a video about how to start homeschooling or where you can begin? I'm clueless but extremely interested!
I really hope I do an Awesome Job @ this I’m excited to see where this Takes us ❤️
Loved the video- I loved school but it's really interesting to hear why it's not the best. Can I ask which kids are home schooling this year? Think I missed it!
Angela: Regarding your travels with your family, you don't have to worry about scheduling your vacations around a school's schedule.
Many schools do not allow family vacations during the school year citing the states' mandatory attendance laws. For example, here in Pennsylvania, where I live at, children have to be in school for 180 days a year. Many school consider taking trips during the school year an unexcused absence. And the teachers won't assign make-up work either. Some parents say that it's much cheaper for them to take a vacation during the school then during the summer and the school holidays. Little do the know, they are actually breaking the law. Schools have to enforce their attendance policies or else parents will get themselves in some really serious legal trouble.
Six years ago, there was a guy here in suburban Philadelphia who took his two kids out of school to Boston because he was running in the Boston Marathon. He then received a letter from the school's principal saying that was an unexcused absence. He defending his actions by saying that his kids learned more in the five days that they were in Boston instead of just sitting inside of a classroom.
Good luck to you in your homeschooling Angela.
I think that will be tough for me. I am prone to anxiety and self doubt. I would need to learn how to handle outsider’s opinions. Thanks for this.
Our family just made the plunge to homeschool yesterday. It was their last day in the public school. Several reasons you mentioned apply to us as well; however, did you ever consider another factor in regards to other children when deciding to homeschool - like bullying and exposure to other behavior or terms from other children?
Ashley Chou That was our reason why we homeschool. Couldn’t believe how horrible some kindergarten kids’ behavior can be. Our daughter was bullied by a boy in her class for a year. It took us 5 months to figure out what caused her behavior to change and then she opened up. The private school had no bullying policy and other than saying the right things, did little to treat the issue.
Ashley Chou for many reasons we started homeschooling but one is the biggest deciding factors was other kids behaviors. My son in kindergarten had very disturbing things happen to him by and said to him by other kindergarteners. He went to a very small school ( around 100) kids and I expected it be a small country school with cute little country kids. The total opposite! We love homeschooling tho and it was the best decision!
@@rapidfallsfarm It is so unfortunate what happens in the school and so much more goes unnoticed. Bullying and exposure to verbal and physical abuse is one if our biggest concerns due to experience of their public school years. My oldest falls more victim to both, my youngest seems to have more resilience to it. However, resilient or not, it is unhealthy and nothing our kids should be experiencing! I always contemplated homeschool since before my oldest started a mom and totally class and subsequently preschool for 3 y/o. Each then did preschool for 4 y/o, then young fives kindergarten, then kindergarten and so on to now 1st and 4th grade. We had many issues with school in MI and would toss around the idea of homeschool; after moving to NYC and trying public school here for about two weeks - the decision was sealed! I am excited for this amazing and unique journey of honeschooling and so are my boys!
Definitely, people always say "what about socialization?" with homeschooling, but socialization is one of the reasons I like to homeschool! Homeschooling socialization is better.
Homebirth Homeschool Homestead Agreed!!
Yep ... totally agree with all the pros and cons x
I absolutely love your shirt! ❤️
Great information. I've been asked "Did you use to be a teacher?" Or "Why do you think you can teach your children better than going to public school?"
Thank you for this video!
Love both of your channels 😀
I have a dual reason for homeschooling. Maybe 3 reasons🤔. My oldest daughter gets sick a lot in the winter months. And because she could only miss a maximum of 10 days without a doctor's excuse I ran the risk of being arrested. Some of thos days were because she got her menses at 9 and it came with a lot of pain for her that made her male teachers uncomfortable and I would get calls to "please please come get her". Secondly she was bullied by other girls to the point where she would fake sick during the times that are outside her normal season of sickness. I always planned on homeschooling my son but I thought I'd have a few years to go before I had to quit working fulltime. 🤷🏾♀️
Only 3 reasons? I have an uncountable number of reasons.
Can you do a "Day in my life" vlog/video?
You are truly inspirational
I love these videos!
Love your channel and your family
Do homeschooled kids do standardised exams etc? Because aren't they needed to apply for college/courses later on? I have no experience of homeschool and live in the U.K so don't know if it works differently! Just genuinely intrigued- not a dig!
In the USA they still take state exams (yearly, I think) and can take the ACT/SAT if they want to apply for college.
It depends on the state. Some states require it (every year or every three years), others do not require any testing at all.
9th grade and up matters, that's all.
I don't know if it's the lip injections are still holding up or if it's just the lipstick but they look great in this video!
Angela: Do you have any videos that talk more about why you decided to homeschool your kids? I like to listen to them.
I have a hard time juggling 3 different grades and I'm on the fence of which one is better. School is the biggest stressor in my life. I never wanted to be a teacher and I hated school growing up. I never imagined I'd be the one having to teach my kids.
Could you do a video on how much time you spend on homeschooling you do each day? :)
Could you explain what the difference is to you actually picking out your own curriculum to go off on versus like a virtual school? I do not homeschool, but feel as my kids get older it will be an option for us. Here in Florida there is a Florida virtual public school system that is free from k-12. I am trying to understand what my best options would be.
Will you do a review on TGTB?
Angie with glasses! 😆👍🌹
As someone getting there degree in elementary special education, I am curious on other people’s thoughts on this topic. Can there be a civil discussion in the comments of the pros and cons? I would love to hear from others on why children should or should not be homeschooled.
Eryn May I’m also getting my degree in Elementary Education & I currently work for my local school district as a paraeducator. I don’t have children yet but would like to toy with the idea of homeschooling children someday when I do have them. There’s pros & cons to both. Each family & each child is different. For me, I’m a fan of year round schooling. For the district I’m in, that won’t be possible unless all of our buildings were air conditioned. I’m also of the belief that kids don’t need to be in school more than four or five hours a day. On the other hand, children can get the services they need from typical schools. Some children also do better around other kids & with teachers whom they’re not related to.
I am a teacher in a different country and I specialise in a certain method of education. Having had a mainstream education it would probably
be the last option for us. Our education styles are similar to the u.s but maybe we have lager class sizes? 22-30 children per teacher. My reasons would have nothing to do with how good a teacher is or anything, I just feel that as much as you try, its hard to get each childs individual needs met. I also feel like the school day is very long with not enough breaks. My ideal for schooling would be the method I'm trained in, individual teaching and very small classes with a number of teachers but it costs a lot. Homeschool isn't necessarily the second best option to me, I'd like the freedom it brings, really finding a plan to suit each child, I always find children who are homeschooled to be very confident and adapt well to new situations. We'd still have extra curricular activities and join a homeschool group so lots of room for socialisation and real life.
Here in uk , homeschooling is not as popular(probably cause of worklife) I have a feeling that the educational system NEEDS a big change ! Because really many teachers are great! Its disgusting to me that they get underpaid and also students really need to be able to be more flexible , so yh that's my opinion,
I'm in college now I've never been home school but whenever there is someone is a little bit odd whether it be in college, at work, or even sometime in high school (I went to two bcuz parents were military) people would say that they must've been home schooled. Like if you're a bit socially awkward people will almost instinctively think you're home schooled whether you are or aren't. Do you maybe have some adult friends who were home schooled that you could talk to about what they think of the long term affects of it were? Especially with people saying its not what you know its who you know because information is at your finger tips yadayada. Do you think them as adults now would agree or disagree etc?
It would be interesting to hear from Kennedy and Shelby the pros and cons. I personally would never choose tohomeschool my kids, even though I love to spend time with my daughter. But the question I would have ask myself when the kids are older and out of the house is did I did the best to make them became who they really are. If you expose your kids to only you and your family and friends they never experience anything different. Don't you worry about that?
maria fraticelli Yes this is exactly how I think about it. Besides that homeschooling is illegal in my country so it’s not even an option.
It’s each to their own but personally I don’t think it’s good for older children to be home almost all the time.
maria fraticelli I homeschool my two sons and I am my 16 yo sisters guardian. She goes to public school and I can tell you for certain- that is one of the thoughts that MADE me homeschool. My sons have MANY different influences in their life, between homeschool groups, friends who’s have kids, and kids in our neighborhood, the difference is that they are mostly positive this way. In schools and on the bus there are many bad influences and peer pressure, my kids will eventually experience these things, but hopefully giving them this time to learn and grow independently will have given them the confidence to be able to handle the peer pressure in a mature fashion.
Ashley V totally agree! I feel like school in general is survival of the fittest. 😂 Atleast that was my experience of it.
This has to be the most commonly asked 'homeschool' question 😅 It seems you're really asking about socialization? Consider the classroom environment & then consider spending days living. Homeschooling is really about living. You go to the store, to the park, to a zoo or museum. Children are VERY exposed to new & different ideas & people on a daily basis because they are living, everyday, with family and the world around them. This is something a classroom can't offer. Spending so many hours in one room with a definded group of 'peers', your same age & general social/economic status, isn't actually a very enriching experience 😌
I think we need a new term for 'homeschool' because so many people immediately associate it with staying home all day. A highly controlled environment, just like school buildings. It really doesn't need to be the same at all!
Also, I just noticed that you said, "...make them become who they are." I don't think we 'make' our children into anything...? We are responsible for providing opportunities & guidance, not for trying to mold them into who we think they are. I do believe this is a common school mentality though 😢 Children don't need to be forced to grow & learn; they do it naturally!!
Imo, learning from home offers a much better opportunity for children to grow up to be themselves.
With special needs kids they need to be in a actual school with all the services they get its wonderful! And not everyone has 7 kids so with that said they need to socialize thats huge!
I'd love to homeschool my kids. Especially since my son has chronic health issues, but my husband and I both have to work full time. Do you know anyone that homeschools while working outside the home full time?
My question not so much as socialization. Cause I know you can put you kids in extra curriculum . So they do get socialization with friends etc. My concern would be. Although now a days parents worry about bullying and other influences your child might face. That concern can still occur with homeschooling. For example say Kennedy and Shelby get older to go to high school. If they are sent to high school or say they homeschool till they're ready to go to college. My concern is would the girls be adapt to handle life. I know that might sound stupid. Angie and CR would have equipped them to handle life. But although they are being educated they have socialization skills. It's still a kinda cocoon. I also understand from my experience from high school to college is a wake up call. I don't know it's a genuine question im not trying to be hateful or mean xx
I think the transition from high school to college is REALLY hard! When you go from school to college the change is so big that it's very difficult to adapt. At school, you had a specific routine you had to follow, a lot of rules and guidelines, extra help & makeup tests...College doesn't have most of that!
The thing is, in a homeschool situation, kids are able to be given more independence as they're able to handle it; so, for example, a 15-year-old probably doesn't need a schedule laid out for them anymore. Instead, they know what they need to do and are expected to get it done. That is much more closely aligned with the university atmosphere than the high school environment! Homeschooled kids do great when making the move from learning at home to learning at college because it's largely the same system, there are just more people involved, lol.
A Daily Life Well that answer part of my question. So thank you. But what about life situation and influences? Like bullying, drugs, abuse, crime etc are they not cocoon that way? In their own safe haven ? Xx
Well, being in a safe place doesn't mean not knowing about tough subjects. One of the things a lot of homeschool families love is being able to teach their children to have authentic self-confidence, how to value themselves highly, so they're able to stand up to people who treat them badly. When a child values their own opinions more than those of other children, they carry that lesson with them as they grow up; it's hard to influence someone to be self-destructive when they care about themselves more than someone else's acceptance.
It's always important to discuss things like bullying, crime, etc like you said! But, we don't have to physically experience those things to recognize/understand them. There's so much news about it, TH-cam videos and such, that it's easy to provide examples for a child on what to look for & be careful of.
Of course, that doesn't mean no one will have a hard time with those issues, but the same can be said of children going through those things at school every day. Many of them haven't learned how to cope & sadly, many never do at all!
A Daily Life Thanks for taking your time to make me see your side. Instead of getting offended at my question. See when Angie talks about home schooling. It gives me a comforting sense. I'm single but if down the future I do have kids . Angie gives me hope that home schooling can be a option. I like the idea of giving your child independence and teaching them at a young age to how to do things independently might that be studying,work etc. I also believe children need to learn in their own pace and get quality time one on one. Which you sometimes you don't get at school xx
That's so true! Homeschooling does offer a lot of opportunities that a classroom just can't make available; I hope you'll be able to make whatever decision is best when the time comes!! Living & learning are definitely too important to make an uneducated or quick decision about ✌
Dont u worry that your kids wont find enough Friends?
I wish you all the best :)
Are you still friends with any childhood friends? I know I'm not. I made most of my friends in my early - mid 20s. Even as a kid, most of my friends were from outside school, some were neighbours, others I met through drama. This is something I think of too btw when I think of homeschool so don't think I'm coming across snotty 🙂
It probably depends on where you live but homeschooling is such a growing community there is plenty of groups where I live. You get together with other homeschoolers and that's where they make friends and do activities when other kids are in school.
Homeschoolers are able to male friends without a school, are the kids from the school able to make friends, if they are not in school anymore?
+clothy cloth I am still friends with the four girls I was best friends with in Kindergarten. And I am now 35. Most people have a hard time making friends as adults.
Just a random off topic question but do you let the girls go to bed at night with the Amber teething necklace on? I like to keep it on my baby 24/7 but my husband says absolutely not, what do you guys do?
Why risk the strangulation hazard?
Literally everything you said I agree with! This is exactly why we're homeschooling 😍
What is your daily schedule like? Thanks
Love this video. Can you do a video on how you grade and keep grades? Also question, were you homeschooled?
Yes, she was homeschooled. She mentioned about this somewhere in her channel.
someone had commented there is a TH-cam family who does partial homeschooling and partial public school. Does anyone know where this can be found or do this as well? I hadn't heard of this before and would like to see more about that
I know some people locally to me that do this. You need to find a local hybrid homeschooling school. They go to this school 2 days a week and you homeschool the rest of the week.
What’s the difference between homeschooling and unschooling? I’ve always been a little confused on what unschooling is.
Unschooling is a type of homeschool that is very student led, the student gets to learn whatever they are interested in that day. It usually includes a lot of access to books, activities, games, and experiences.
Emma Phillips thank you!
We really considered homeschool our twins but I really feel like I’m a better mom to them when I get the daily break. 1 twin has autism and fairly severe ADHD and he’s exhausting. Having 4 hrs after school to fit play, homework, chore, dinner, and showers is really hard though.
I do wish kindergarten was only 1/2 day.
Hats off to you mama, knowing our limits is important and yes half day for kindergarten should be brought back. Up in Canada I was in a half day kindergarten, last year which that occurred.
Same for me. My daughter is Autistic/ADHD and drains me, but she is in 2nd grade and hates school. She gets pulled out of class constantly for all her actual education. I'm very uncertain what is right.
Samantha Norton that’s so hard! So far my boys love school. Their school has a sped program I’m really pleased with. C is fully integrated into the classroom and the sped teacher comes into the classroom to help him. The reg ed teacher is also required to make accommodations for him in the classroom and she has 20 yrs experience in special education. We moved here 6 mo ago- where we’re from did sped differently and idk if I would have put him in school there.
Thanks
pro:you can fucking do anything
con:none
We are in our 4th year of homeschooling and now my girls (twins) are in their 9th grade year. Do you plan on homeschooling through high school? How do you handle thinking about the high school things, like prom, football games, etc. I’m still praying about the last few years (junior/senior) so they can experience that. Also, how do you keep your kids involved with friends. We live in a rural area where a homeschooling community is scarce.
Ok. As for prom, and football games and such. All of my kids were (finishing up final student this year) homeschooled thru high school. Two oldest went to three proms; and if there was a local game they wanted to go to-they went. My younger two have been able to take long trips with us that offered way more opportunities than sitting in a classroom would as well. Neither one had a desire to attend a prom. I have been asked this question for over 25 yrs. Keeping those activities in perspective is the best way to not worry or fret over them. I have often asked people if they only went to school (PS/PS and otherwise) b/cuz of prom. Their faces-when they realized their answer (no) -was priceless. And all of my adult children have done very well for themselves in the “real” world. In fact, when they attended college they were shocked at how unprepared and disinterested most of the PS students were. With all the resources out there and the huge homeschool based co-ops/groups; there shouldn’t be a problem finding activities the student enjoys. Hth.
IMovie 🤩🤩🤩
Although I’m currently studying to become a teacher and I don’t have children, I am very interested in homeschooling. I am from a country where homeschooling is illegal (so please excuse my language skills cause English isn’t my mother tongue and the kids are not at risk bc I’m not going to teach English ;-)) but sometimes even though I totally understand the reasoning behind that, I wonder if for some kids this might not be the best solution. In Germany there are required curriculums for every year and subject (I suppose similar to most other countries). So my question is: How do you teach your kids subjects like math or physics, which is required to get the Abitur in Germany (degree that qualifies for University)?
I read in the comments that some homeschoolers attend high school classes, some other external supplemental classes or on-line courses but I can’t really imagine how this works. But I think this is mainly bc schools are different where I’m from. In German schools the kids are grouped in classes which pretty much remain the same for the whole time in primary school (4 years) and then again in secondary school (5 to 7 years). So the kids are surrounded by the same classmates for a long time, which would make it difficult to just attend some classes over limited periods.
But nevertheless it is pretty much unlikely to get the opportunity of teaching your own kids at home here in Germany, as I stated before I am very interested in this topic, as I don’t always like the way schools are organized here. Mainly bc as some comments mentioned before the kids are very much restricted in choosing the stuff they want to learn and that can lower their motivation. Also I remember that for me it was really hard (especially as a teen) to engage in the lessons since mostly I was too afraid to give the wrong answer and have the others laugh at me or calling me dumb. Besides that it also hurts my grades immensely. So for years school wasn’t really fun… I can only imagine this might not be as difficult for homeschooled kids so for some students it might be a better solution.
Greetings from Germany!
US high schools are like college where you have different classmates depending on the class. You also have separate levels like average and advanced. Most people only home-school for the early years as it is possible for the average adult to teach.
*A way to make the children appreciative and even more interested in their education is by showing them two examples of actual people: people who haven’t gotten a decent education and didn’t appreciate the importance of being educated thus had really unstable jobs that don’t pay well so they can’t buy necessities or things that they want even as a result (so for them children, telling them ‘ imagine your favorite toy, and now imagine not being able to buy it because you didn’t make sure to have a good education, so you can’t pay for it, because a good education helps ensures you have a good job with which you can buy what you need and want) ‘; the other example can be of children who are geniuses or children who are not geniuses but do study well and have great grades as a result (this might make the children interested in being more like those) . But you probably already shown them such examples. (And yes, some might argue that teaching children that they can buy all they need and want doesn’t help with the minimalism cause, and while I am aware of the importance of minimalism, as I am a minimalist myself, however, teaching them about minimalism and all the issues related to consumerism can be introduced later when they’re around 14 or so- after they finished their very basic education.)*
*_so I should walk down the street and point at a poor homeless person and say to my kid: ' look this might happen to you if you do not do well in school?' like this person is worth less than others?_*
*_wouldn't it be better to say 'look do you see that person over there? be good in school get a good education so you can help him and make the world a better place!' because we are all equally important and we need to love each other and help each other._*
also: getting good grates has nothing to do with intelligence. you just need to learn things by heart and participate in a lesson. that is all.
*Freundin, you’re sick. Because I didn’t say anything about pointing at a person, you rude, soulless person. When I mentioned my example, I thought that people who read my comment would have the self respect and dignity to think of a respectful example to showcase how people’s livelihood in most cases does depend on a person’s level of education. The example I was personally thinking of was to have a child look at a video on the internet at home that shows the kind of different lives people have that are related to their education. (I am aware some people can have the highest of degrees and still end up homeless, but a child doesn’t have to know this yet). And yes, having good grades got nothing to do with intelligence, after all, you rude and sick person thought of a disrespectful example (which shows your stupidity, and lack of intelligence) instead of having the self-respect to give a respectful example about what I said. Your lack of misunderstanding is your problem; not mine, Freundin*
How do you know the kids are getting enough education? How does it affect them if they decide going to college?
The curriculum you choose will keep going up and getting more challenging. If they are passing the grade level then you know they are getting the information they are supposed to be getting.
Kids often get a more customized education (meaning they get to learn in their learning style and at their pace so they don't miss things) when homeschooled. No type of school will ever teach you everything you need to know. That's why focusing on a love of learning for life is so valuable.
As for college, I was very loosely homeschooled through my high school years due to parent illness. I had the most difficulty with school out of my siblings, yet I got to college and had no problem at all transitioning or excelling.
Because as a homeschool parent you are seeing exactly what your child is learning and retaining. We follow a cirriculum for each grade level and give the kids one on one attention. Compare homeschooled children sat scores to public school. The numbers are shocking, homeschoolers are better equipped for college.
How can you just trust your kids are getting enough education simply because you send them to school? They might get the checkboxes or the pieces of paper, but does that ensure life success? Just because you're putting responsibility on other people doesn't ensure anything.
With homeschooling I’ve seen the biggest con of many not socializing. Most kids are also shy. How do parents work when you homeschool?
For my kids they are around to their peers 3-5 days a week plus around a variety of different adults so it's not really an issue unless you don't get out much.
I've actually found the complete opposite, I've always known children who are taught from home to be very confident and well adapting to different environments.
My homeschooled kids aren't shy. I stay home. I've heard some moms work or work from home, but it sounds hard.