tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post3090573223816961158..comments2024-03-19T00:15:10.156-07:00Comments on Bloom: Friday Forum: Alternative Schooling Options (Part Two--Home School)Bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15483990252015813307noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-46872767506163928822013-05-22T04:47:32.757-07:002013-05-22T04:47:32.757-07:00Hello,
AWESOME!! your post is really mind blowing...Hello,<br /><br />AWESOME!! your post is really mind blowing it is so much informative for each and everyone, I Like home school paragraph very much its very useful for me in my home.<br /><br />Thanks For Post<br />-------------------<br /><a href="http://www.writerightindia.com" rel="nofollow">Handwriting Classes</a><br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06007992088905520127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-23478418562349030652010-05-02T22:48:35.493-07:002010-05-02T22:48:35.493-07:00Having the freedom to MOVE around the house works ...Having the freedom to MOVE around the house works best for us. <br /><br />Most of our core work is done at the kitchen table, but if a kiddo is having trouble concentrating, they move to the library room, or a desk upstairs.<br /><br />And if they want to do their "cozy reading" time curled up in a bean bag near the heater vent, they are free to do that too.<br /><br />PS.<br />I love you too, Mary!The Shumway Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14003262568236532280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-7296317567944011322010-04-28T09:14:11.068-07:002010-04-28T09:14:11.068-07:00Wonderful and inspiring! Thank you thank you thank...Wonderful and inspiring! Thank you thank you thank you!Mrs. Blimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052642841712667134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-21262660201490998692010-04-28T06:06:28.971-07:002010-04-28T06:06:28.971-07:00Question: Do you have a dedicated space for 's...Question: Do you have a dedicated space for 'school' or does it just happen in all of the normal gathering areas of your home. Is it helpful to have a 'school space' separate from the kitchen and family room?Astynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10205225961524540907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-64529947776309268732010-04-26T14:57:10.646-07:002010-04-26T14:57:10.646-07:00wendy! you are my hero!! you were my hero as a 5 y...wendy! you are my hero!! you were my hero as a 5 year old little girl and now my hero all over again as i read about your life as a mother. i loved your post and only wish i could visit you and see your family in action. i love your perspective, your humor and your "keeping it real" attitude! Love to you and your family. <br /><br />m. baird porterMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06758904027521241058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-5657447463132444272010-04-25T20:55:43.177-07:002010-04-25T20:55:43.177-07:00i just discovered your blog today, and i LOVE it!!...i just discovered your blog today, and i LOVE it!!! can't wait to catch up on some of your past posts, and read it weekly. just thought i would say hi:)Tamara Jacobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10406846681441413787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-78209460864325747832010-04-25T18:28:37.220-07:002010-04-25T18:28:37.220-07:00Wendy! THANK YOU SO MUCH for this amazing post! Yo...Wendy! THANK YOU SO MUCH for this amazing post! You are amazing! I am so inspired by all the mommas I know that home school. I felt so much peace about our decision to home school as I read this post. <br /><br />I was dreading the home school option when I first started looking into schooling options for our son (almost 4), but now I'm just excited and feel so much peace about it! At first I felt like we HAD to home school, like I was being forced (because our public schools are horrible! and I didn't feel good about testing him to get into a loads-of-homework-crazy-rigorous-conditioning-for-Ivy-League school). Now I feel like I GET to home school. And as I've been teaching him things at home and seeing his progression, I get so excited. He's learning things and I get to see him grasp these things - it awesome. I know it won't be sunshine and lollipops all the time, but as I was reading this post I had a vision of what our life will be like: a house of learning and fun with amazingly abundant field-trips. I love learning and it's cool that I'll continue to learn as I teach my children and they will (hopefully) love learning too (did that make sense). <br /><br />Also, another mom I talk to a lot said that she has been amazed at how much she has learned in the process. She feels like she has developed so many talents that she never thought she had just as she been teaching her children. That makes me so excited! (how many times have I said the word excited?). I, too, have felt like I might be too selfish to do this, but it sounds like (from all the moms I've talked to and emailed) that I'm going to get a lot out of it too (not the reason I'm doing it, OF COURSE, but ya know, that's pretty cool). <br /><br />I'm not sure how long we'll do home school (I guess it depends on how long we live in the city and other things), but the idea of doing it through 8th grade doesn't scare me anymore. One step at a time, right? <br /><br />Thanks again! The more I research home school the more it just feels right and the more peace I feel about it. It may be hard, but parenting is hard and it's so rewarding!<br /><br />And that's another looooong comment brought to you by Abbie:) I love Bloom!Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10674890158799253076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-6693686893259555292010-04-25T17:20:40.791-07:002010-04-25T17:20:40.791-07:00i loved reading this and appreciated the candor, i...i loved reading this and appreciated the candor, insight and vision shared by this amazing mama!<br />we started homeschooling our (now) 10 yr old daughter this year and have not regretted it once. it has been the most incredible decision; such a fit for our family. as wendy shared, there is something indescribably special about sharing all of life with our children; those we are given for such a short time to raise, train up, disciple and nurture. time passes so quickly!<br />thank you for this great post ... love this blog! =)emilyhttp://home2learn.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-17502601654142943952010-04-25T09:05:04.722-07:002010-04-25T09:05:04.722-07:00loved this post...we are a home school family...I ...loved this post...we are a home school family...I read A Well Trained Mind...and it changed my life!<br /><br />We school using the classical approach...and absolutely love it!<br /><br />thanks for letting her share the wisdom that her life has given to her!Between You and Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05020503571549401779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-44233956582763609942010-04-23T21:26:26.384-07:002010-04-23T21:26:26.384-07:00Well, even though I never plan on homeschooling an...Well, even though I never plan on homeschooling any of my kids (I'm another one of those selfish moms) I do appreciate your post. You really cleared up a lot of questions I had about homeschooling and why I feel so negative about it. And I really like that you give your kids the option of going to high school.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07672402302672101292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-65444813395103686772010-04-23T16:52:49.011-07:002010-04-23T16:52:49.011-07:00While I don't think homeschooling is the right...While I don't think homeschooling is the right choice for every family, I have to say that we have had so much fun (and a few tears) homeschooling our 2 sons. We started our journey when thye were in 3rd and 5th grade. They are now 16 and 18 and I look back without any regrets. <br /><br />They are both, happy, social, well adjusted, compassionate human beings. They are this way not just because we home schooled but primarily because we valued these things in our home.Janahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16279417406114358713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-43659553228175375052010-04-23T16:37:53.039-07:002010-04-23T16:37:53.039-07:00Very good post, and very helpful for anyone lookin...Very good post, and very helpful for anyone looking to home school. <br /><br />I honestly think the first decision has to come back to YOU as the mother. Do you know, or at least have a good idea of who you really are? I think if you know your limits and what you can and can't handle, making such a big decision would be much easier. I know for me, personally, I would fail at homeschooling. I know I wouldn't follow through, even if I tried really really hard, I wouldn't be able to handle all what homeschooling entails. So by knowing this, I can save myself the sorrow and grief of setting myself up for a failure. I admire any one who home schools and Wendy you do it AMAZING! But I think it comes down to really knowing what YOU, as an individual, mother, wife, neighbor (so forth) can handle.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05244270576403119862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-18146394821910274342010-04-23T16:13:10.470-07:002010-04-23T16:13:10.470-07:00Kudos to you Wendy. Homeschooling is something th...Kudos to you Wendy. Homeschooling is something that we have been forced to consider since our recent move. I have always been opposed to it, but I have to admit that recent events have led me to change my opinion. I'm still not sure that it's right for me or my daughter yet, but I am considering it. I do think that it's a very individual choice and the well-being of everyone in the family needs to be taken into consideration. <br /><br />I also think that we need to be careful here. This is such an individual choice. What may work for one family could be a disaster for another. One need not feel guilty for sending her children to public school. I think we're all trying to do our best and our "best" is all we can ask of ourselves.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00717004905179035733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-5575075810853002772010-04-23T11:50:04.008-07:002010-04-23T11:50:04.008-07:00I totally identify with Joan...As I've comment...I totally identify with Joan...As I've commented before, I have a first-grader struggling in public school who is not feeling validated enough at school which has led to some disruptive attention seeking, and because there are no charter school around I feel like home school is the only other choice. But I feel so selfish because I really need that break from this overly dramatic and full-of-life child. I feel like I can give more of myself when she gets home from school because I had that time for me...like to shower and get dressed during the other child's naps, reading a book, and much calmer grocery shopping with only one child in tow. And I REALLY like being able to have the bonding time with my other child during the day.<br /><br />Once, though, last month, when she was not really sick but just getting over something (and had to wait had 24 hours before going back) I knew this child would go crazy without a schedule. So I did one. I did one day of home school. And you know what? It was amazing. My child was engaged and busy and felt loved. Her behavior was appropriate. And when "school" was over she was done with me, went off to play by herself and I could make dinner pretty easily. And she got ready for bed without a fight too, when that time came. It was an uplifting day for us both.<br /><br />So what have I learned? I still am not ready to commit to full-time home school, I'm still not wanting to give up my day time--yes that sounds really bad. But it's something I am seeing that I can do if I really think it through. (I realize, though, that every home school day wouldn't always be so perfect.) And I know it doesn't have to be an all or nothing. I struggle with the idea of doing both public school and home school since kids are maxed out at the end of the day. But here is what I am thinking...<br /><br />I am planning on doing a trial run during part of the summer. Maybe she just needs that extra attention and learning for a few months and then she'll be better adjusted to being a part of a large class. Maybe her teacher next year will be just what she needs. I can just take it a few months at a time.Nicole Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09104282871602988961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-31552822900033654602010-04-23T09:39:22.596-07:002010-04-23T09:39:22.596-07:00Very inspiring. But I feel exhausted just thinking...Very inspiring. But I feel exhausted just thinking about it! Talk about super mom!Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06185246138945654755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-43269862802647663152010-04-23T08:42:25.095-07:002010-04-23T08:42:25.095-07:00Wow, what great insights. Thank you SO much for s...Wow, what great insights. Thank you SO much for sharing, Wendy!! I think all of us want these benefits for our children. How we achieve them, is of course, different for every family.<br /><br />I am seriously considering homeschooling my children (ages 3 and 1). I think it is something we all consider as we think about the best interests of our children. <br /><br />I also teach part time for an online public school - which is also a home school in that the instruction is given by the parent in the home. Our school provides the curriculum for FREE as well as teacher support if you need it. It's perfect for families just starting the home school journey. The children are required to attend the end of level testing (spring CRTs that all the local public schools give) - that's the public school part of the exchange. (if you're interested, and you live in Utah, you can check it out at www.washonline.org)<br /><br />We have many families who only have 1 child enrolled in our school (pulled from the local public school for many of the same reasons stated in this post). The nice thing is - you choose which courses you want to teach your child. There are no requirements for "what you must teach your child" (giving the teacher/mother, ALL of the control - isn't that another reason we choose to homeschool? We can somewhat control what our children learn and are exposed to) <br /><br />I think as we consider each of our children individually - we realize that ALL of their needs are different. One might really thrive in the public school setting, while another might need to be home schooled. I also think this would be a lot more manageable for me since I don't have to keep all of my children home for school, just the one(s) that need that extra support/comfort/freedom/etc.<br /><br />Thanks Bloom for starting this discussion on our schooling options!Michelle's Messageshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17535123376873575717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-88039671488825082562010-04-23T08:33:17.463-07:002010-04-23T08:33:17.463-07:00Wendy, thanks for sharing your experience. It soun...Wendy, thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like you are doing a beautiful job of homeschooling your children! You are right about sacrificing pretty much your own life in order to do it right. Unfortunately, I've seen the other side of homeschooling. Several of my relatives undertook that responsibility and were completely overwhelmed. Let's just say it wasn't a positive experience for anyone involved. <br /><br />I've read the book you suggested by Susan Wise Bauer and it is inspiring. But what I love about her is that she suggests that we don't have to do either public school or homeschooling; we can do a little of both. And, that's what I plan to do. We'll be sending our oldest, Anders, to Kindergarten next year, but we plan on supplementing his education with lots of learning at home! I love public schools (I think they're the bedrock of a true democracy). And I also love the idea of my children having many wonderful teachers. Anders attended an amazing preschool this year and we've both learned so much from his very wise and experienced teacher, Ms. Kim. Both of our lives have been enriched by being part of the preschool community. <br /><br />oh, and I have to add that Anders is always the first to go and make friends at the playground, too. So, I don't think that behavior only applies to home schooled kids!Lindy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03201182895528835178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-56651334178994191272010-04-23T08:00:46.038-07:002010-04-23T08:00:46.038-07:00Wendy, I admire you. Wow. I am in awe of what you ...Wendy, I admire you. Wow. I am in awe of what you accomplish with your children. Well done. <br />I feel like homeschooling is such an inspiring, bond creating, adventure and I see the many benefits of the program. But quite honestly, I just don't feel like I could do it. Not that I'm not smart enough or capable but I'm just too selfish, I think? I feel awful admitting that but I just don't know that I could devote every waking hour to my children and still maintain my own sanity. <br />I have seriously considered homeschooling during middle school years (worst years of my life!) but other than that I feel like I would lose it on so many levels if I had all my children home all the time. <br />I sincerely admire you for jumping into homeschooling headfirst. It's impressive and inspiring. I'm interested in reading the book you recommended but I'm afraid I might like it?! haha. <br />Anyway, after all my ramblings: thank you again for shedding light on this subject. You're a rare woman to give every ounce of yourself to your children like you do.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01492629476225188410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-13095214496443190992010-04-23T06:43:10.176-07:002010-04-23T06:43:10.176-07:00This was so great to read! It answered a lot of t...This was so great to read! It answered a lot of the questions I had--this is something I've been thinking about as our oldest child is turning 5.Rachaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17296225105026623275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314654863949920054.post-5765905172786489012010-04-23T04:30:36.980-07:002010-04-23T04:30:36.980-07:00Thankyou for such a great post.
What a inspiring l...Thankyou for such a great post.<br />What a inspiring lady you are Wendy.. 6 kids all homeschooled... you should get a medal!<br />I thought about homeschooling for a while, but decided it wasn't for me. Instead we moved house to a nicer area with a small rural school and my 2 girls that are currently attending are flourishing.<br />But I'm glad I did the research into homeschooling first as it gave me a better understanding of the system and what I can do if the situation ever changes.Vickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03404795780122015039noreply@blogger.com