Home Schooling

Kat and I are considering homeschooling for Hazel. She may only be 20 days old but it is never to early for us to research our options.

Does anyone on ncka have experience homeschooling in California?

Kat and I are considering homeschooling for Hazel. She may only be 20 days old but it is never to early for us to research our options.

Does anyone on ncka have experience homeschooling in California?

PM e2g. Shark Bait turned out OK. 

Yeah, that Nathan character is a fairly nice guy!

My wife has home schooled all 6 of ours. Still have three girls home schooling. Feel free to have Kat give Carrie a call... 530-637-5658 she loves to help others start. Her opinion is, I worked hard to get them so why would I send them away for most of the day... my kids my job... you won't regret it...

Plus you can control much of the content.

We home schooled our two boys.  Reasons why;
Public school was cutting too many programs like music and art.
Teachers were incredibly rude to the kids.  Any child will rise up to the expectations of the adults put over them.  If the teacher treats a child like a juvenile delinquent, he will do his best to meet your expectation.  On the other hand, treat a child with respect and dignity and they will meet your expectations there too.
The peer pressure was stupidly condoned.  To fight or even risk life over a pair of tennis shoes, a gold chain, or any other token of wealth or status is crazy.
We were spending more time on homework, trying to figure out just what the teacher told them that day, than we ended up spending homeschooling!!!  Amazing but true.

We did a co-op sort of homeschooling with a few other families.  How cool is it to have a lobbyist for the beef industry teaching government, a nuclear physicist teaching science, an artist and writer teaching english and art?  Most teachers have no real world experience, coming out of college and right into a class room.  We took field trips and saw a shuttle launch, went to Italy and toured the museums, volunteer work in Africa, etc. 

They raised livestock and planted gardens.  Not just the usual stuff, we worked with another family and developed a new type of banana tree that was under 12' tall and would produce fruit while being grown inside like a house plant.  They kept the records and logs for it all.  A real biology experience. 

They took piano lessons, I joined them with Karate lessons, we would ski in the winter for PE, Grandma taught them German and I taught them French.  They signed up for competition soccer leagues, I coached them in baseball leagues, they both learned to drive a stick shift by age 12. 

Both earned scholarships to private universities and are married, have children of their own and have successful jobs.  Both have traveled all over the world, the oldest on his third passport because of running out of room, now lives in New Zealand. 
 

I had to do it all over, I'd home school. 

My wife Robin and I home schooled both our sons until high school.  At that point they went to a local private prep school.  Robin had a teaching credential and worked in the schools for awhile, and knew she wanted something different. 

Both kids were able to pursue their passions while learning stuff along the way.  My older son Josh was always fascinated with computer technology and is currently a Junior in college.  He is in the middle of an awesome paid internship with Intuit and his project is patent pending.

Nathan was most interested in music and physical stuff.  He plays the piano and violin.  Sings chamber music in his school choir and is a level 10 gymnast.  Sometimes he gets lucky and shoots a few fish 

I bring up all this stuff, because if you are sitting in a classroom from 8-3, there is not a lot of time to pursue what you care about.  A few hours of concentrated focus can easily cover a days worth of material.  Both boys entered the high school testing way above average in everything.

Most importantly, when you bring up home schooling to your friends and family, I bet at least one will say, "what about socialization?"  Most of the home schooled kids I have met are polite, friendly, and out going.  More so than "normal" school kids.  They have friends, have activities etc.  Someone will point out the one introvert who is home schooled while failing to mention all the kids who suffer through each day of public school feeling like an outcast. 

let me know if you are interested, there is network out there with resources and assistance.

I grew up with a blend of public school, private school, and home school.  I got more out of the 3 years of home school (grade 6-8) than any of my other years in terms of academics.  We have our 6 year old in a private school that goes up to 2nd grade, after that we haven't decided which route we'll take.  I have heard great things about several of the charter schools in our area, we are learning more about that process.

My kids are in school, after-school programs, or daycare from 8am to 530pm Monday-Friday because my wife & I have to work. It sucks, but what can I do about it? We hardly make enough to buy groceries, so I can't comprehend HOW we'd have the time/money to homeschool our children...otherwise, I would probably consider it as an option.

Home schooling is an option if there isn't an acceptable public or private school available.  Fortunately, my kids go to a great public school with engaged parents and teachers, an active music and arts program, a garden (complete with wine grapes and hops, because why not?), a full compliment of sports programs, a forest and afterschool and summer programs.  It wouldn't happen without parent involvement and support of the long serving administration.

My kids are in school, after-school programs, or daycare from 8am to 530pm Monday-Friday because my wife & I have to work. It sucks, but what can I do about it? We hardly make enough to buy groceries, so I can't comprehend HOW we'd have the time/money to homeschool our children...otherwise, I would probably consider it as an option.

you would be amazed at the financial hardships some folks put up with to home school.  It is a big decision.  If your current situation works, great.  For many the public or private school options just don't fit and they turn themselves inside out to make it work.  One common misconception is that the majority of home schooled do it for religious reasons.  While that is a big reason for many, mostly it is a realization that the existing school system is a lousy fit for your child. Academically, socially or spiritually. 

Robin currently teaches a group of home schooled junior high and high school students in Spanish, Math and a few other subjects a few days a week.  She also tutors kids in Math.  The current public system is great if your kid is 'getting it' and pretty good if they are 'not getting it.'  The trouble comes from the vast majority that 'sorta get it.'  They get passing grades but have no mastery of the skill.  So they get lost later when that skill is required.  The current system has no way for these kids to catch up so once lost, they stay lost.

Eugene -

I have always admired you and Robin for your commitment to education and kids. I have seen it from both sides as a former school teacher, but will admit that the  home- schooled kids I have known were ahead of the average public school kid. Not every parent is a good candidate to teach, but many are. Financial issues are the main concern. What you didn't mention is that after Nathan went to High School, he went to underwater home-school with Fuzz, Stu, Big Jim and others. Now that should be banned. Poor little rochfish never had a chance. 

scott

What you didn't mention is that after Nathan went to High School, he went to underwater home-school with Fuzz, Stu, Big Jim and others. Now that should be banned. Poor little rochfish never had a chance. 

scott

actually Nathan was supposed to help me put up Christmas lights on Saturday.  He told me Fuzz would be there, and how much he learns from him and the others each time.  So I gave in.  Oh the lumps we take as parents 

Seriously though, I do want to make clear that I am not denigrating pubic school teachers, the system itself is the issue.   30+ kids?  Something has to give

O' the things we discuss when the weather turns bad...  I learned years ago...never talk about four things at a dinner party.... politics, religion, sex or (charter) schools.

Quick background check here. I am an educator for over 23 years. Before that a zookeeper and park ranger. I have taught K through 8th. I am now going on 17 years as a K-8, K-5 principal. In addition, I am an adjunct professor at the local university grad school. I have been a charter school director at one of the top 1-2% scoring schools in California and wrote my disseratation, " A Delphi Study of the Trends or Events That Will Influence the Future of California Charter School", 2004. I am currently serving as principal at a great K-5 with a stellar reputation for a wonderful community school. Now with that I said, my father would say that and some change will get me a cup of coffee.  or

In my opinion, we are blessed to have so many educational options for our children. Each child is unique and not every school fits each student and their needs, although we in public education are charge to do so. Private, charter, home, independent, magnet, conventional, etc... does not make one a better choice by name alone. My advice is to talk to the administration and see what each school offers. Then talk to parents and see if the walk matches the talk. I know of many broken promises of schools of choice. Be involved.

Personally, we have incrediable local public schools for my children. Our local high schools are some of the best in the state. It is not about what a teacher teaches, but rather do they take responsiblity for learning. Our local high schools AP classes passing rates on the AP assessments are much higher than the local "prep" charter high school (although the charter has a higher API score..be careful many charters have screening processes built in so they may get the "better" student, but do not come through to get them ready for college as well and as promised).

Professionally, the K-5 where I am principal accepts all, teaches all, inspires and respects all students. We offer programs despite budget cuts that few schools do. We offer K-5 GATE classes (most start in 4th) We offer band, choir and yes, violins (I have even purchased 1/2 size for those who are ready at a young age). One year I talked a mom in starting a 1st grader, because the boy had so much in him and we wanted to explore his gifts and talents. We have sports and play against other elementary schools like cross country, soccer and basketball, to name a few. We offer intervention for all students, that is to say we have tutoring, small group reteaching groups and even groups to challenge the student advanced. I am extremely proud of my staff. We are not perfect; however, last year when when one of our teachers passed away, the staff rallied behind not only their own students, but supported each other and those students from that class.  Our API is climbing each year and I give the credit to the dedicated staff. I jumped out of the charter/choice arena as I wanted to see if one could apply what we did at the innovative top performing charter at a convention public school. I have learned the only thing that keeps us back is ourselves and the lack of time to do it all.

As for home school, my wife (a public school teacher)  home schooled our last when he was in K as we did not align with the local K teacher. We put him back in the local public school in first where that school has continued to help him flourish. I have many friends who have home schooled. Some with great success and some failures. Not all children work well with their parents. The big concern I have had over the years with home schooling is many parents do not have the skill set to teach advance concepts/classes or higher thinking skills. Teaching is truly a science and an art. Our classes are over 30 and yet an exceptional teacher, like at our school, still get outstanding results with all their students. We have some teachers who are always top scoring in the county each year because they are relational and their craft inspires all students. Cheers to a great teacher!

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