School part 2

A few months ago I wrote a post giving reason why we are considering to homeschool our children next year.  My plan had been to do a follow up with reasons we wouldn't homeschool.  Always the procrastinator....even when I don't mean to be.  And though we are pretty sure we have made a decision things can change.  We don't know what the future holds.  So here we go...

First and foremost, it is A LOT of work.  I'm sure rewarding.  But a lot of work.  I feel like I have tons to do now as it is.  And I try to dodge that when I can.  The kids education can't be dodged.  So why not let a professional handle the work of initially teaching the concepts.  Let me be clear, it's not all on the teachers.  We wouldn't be disengaged.  We would follow up on homework, communicate with the teacher if we have a problem, and seek tutors if one of the kids needs extra help.  If we have a problem with a specific teacher that isn't being resolved to will touch base with the administration.  We aren't ones to just assume the teacher is the problem...we would likely give the benefit of the doubt several times before feeling the need to take extra measures. Seriously, we love teachers!

Cost.  Nothing is free.  Public schools are bending over backwards to get money from their state and the federal government.  The curricula we are looking at for our kids is going to cost some money.  With that said, homeschooling is much cheaper than sending them to a private school, but public school would not come directly out of our pockets.  I know taxes and such, we will have to pay that anyway but nothing more.  We are living on an extremely tight budget.  With homeschooling, we would likely spend more money on food too.  My kids like to snack and snack and snack.

Quiet.  I love my children.  And even when they are loud and full of energy, I'm not too bothered.  I love being around my kids.  I realize there are people who truly need a break to recharge so they can be an effective parent for the rest of the day.  I am NOT saying that those people do not love their kids or they don't love being around their kids, but I don't need that recharge quite like others do.  However, I do have days like this!!!   Not to mention, one or two of my kids have been in preschool five days a week for the past two years.  So I might need a daily recharge, and I'm not aware of it.  But I can appreciate my house when it's quiet.  I don't love it for too long, but every so often when I have that rare day that Simon takes his nap while the other two are in school...It is nice.  And I don't feel guilty that I enjoy it.  So sending the kids to school would keep the volume down in the house most of the day.  Big Plus!

Productive.  Let's beat the dead horse a little more, shall we?  I am not a good housekeeper.  When the kids are at school I will have more opportunities to try and keep the house tidy.  I know my kids are in school now, but there is lots of driving involved.  By the time we are home and fed it's time to start putting coat on again.  So attending school there will be no driving because they would ride the bus, and  they have longer days.  Which means more time the kids are out of the house and not destroying it.

Teachers.  I like I said earlier we love teachers.  I have several friends that are teachers.  I believe that most teachers genuinely care for their students and want every last one of them to succeed.  They passionately want to help mold the future generations to be better than our current.  Even with their hands tied, many teachers have adapted and are very creative to try to make a fun learning environment for their students.  The experience we have had so far with the kids' teachers have been wonderful.  Communication has remained open to help sort out any issues that kid needs to over come.  They have been able to help reinforce (emotional management, specifically) within a different environment.  The teachers have been able to recognize behavior that might not arise at home.  They have helped Chris and I to hold the kids accountable for their actions.

Schools have more resources than I do in my home.  Materials could be supplemented, but some might be a little more difficult to have readily available in our home.

Confidence.  I worry about my ability to run a homeschool.  My bad habits will affect the quality of our school if I don't fix them quickly.  I'm afraid the lack of organization and my ability to procrastinate EVERYTHING is pushing pro level and will bite me in the arse causing the kids' education to suffer.  Also, figuring out my teaching style, my kids' learning style, and how to make the two work well together.  I'm not even sure where to begin to determine either one of those things. And how will I know if I'm right?

So far the kids really like school.  So why mess with good thing?

It's a little sad to think of some of the thing I loved that they will miss out on.  Pageants, assemblies, riding a bus, yearbooks, pep rallies, fundraisers, proms, homecoming, band competitions.  Homeschools have supplemented many of these things in some way.  And often you can work with the public school to participate in some extra curricular activities.  But it will be different than what I experienced.

So there are a few reasons we have considered to not homeschool.  For us it isn't homeschool vs. public school vs. private school.  Meaning we can't say one is better than the other.  We have to follow our calling.  We all have different vocations, and we are called to do different things, even in the way we parent and the choices we make as parents.  Kendra is on point! (saying it waaaay better than I ever could!)  Discerning and following God's plan (even if it isn't the plan you want to follow) is what should be done.  It's not always an easy to follow God's plan, but in my 30 years of existence I can say fighting against His plan has wreaked havoc on our lives.

School

Yea, I'm back.  I guess I'm trying to make up for the twenty days I didn't post anything.  I don't know but....Amelia got into the Orange Room and the CDC.  It's the preschool that Owen has been in for almost two years.  I'm so excited for her. I think she is going to do well.  In the past two years Chris, the teachers, and I have worked together to help Owen learn to manage his emotions and become more independent.  Though, Amelia doesn't have the same issues as Owen I think with reinforcement in a different environment will do wonders for her.  She has been eager to go to school for at least six months.  I am so glad it was worked out so she could attend.

I figure I would use all this school excitement to share with you all our decision about homeschooling.  We are about 80% sure we will begin homeschooling next fall.  I leave that 20% because it's a year away and we don't know what life will throw us in that time.  Our plan is not always God's plan.

I will share some of the bullet points as to why we are making this choice for our family.

• We want to give our children a strong Catholic foundation.  Assuming there will always be a great Catholic school wherever we may live (which will not always be likely) Catholic school gets expensive. 
• We would only have to combat with one schedule.  Chris's schedule dictates most of our plans.  If we use a school institution we would have to adhere to school schedule also.  So if Chris is granted leave and it doesn't line up with spring break, summer break, or Christmas break it will not matter.  The kids will be home and we can choose to take a break while Chris has a break also. 
• Statics show show that on average homeschooled children are in about the 85 percentile in all subjects.  Meaning on average they have a better understanding of the material than 85% of their peers. 
• The kids can learn the way they are designed to learn.  I think homeschoolers do so well because they have learned how to learn in a way that is best for them. Basically, a homeschooler can more easily discover their strengths and develop those strengths to learn.  If they are an auditory learner then we will incorperate more listening.  If they are a visual learner we will add more visual aids.  I know MANY wonderful teacher who passionately want to help each of their students to develop their skill so they can successed, but in the end they are overworked with 20+ other students to focus on.  
• We do NOT like the common core curriculum.  If we homeschool we get to choose the curriculum.
• Socialization.  Most people's question to me about possibly homeschooling is "what about socialization?"  My kids are social.  They make friends.  We will continue to put them in activities like t-ball, dance, and CCD.  We will find a homeschooling group in our area to join.  It is often overlooked that there are negative sides of socialization like bullying, drugs, sex, and school shootings.  Some may feel it's sheltering them, but I think it's protecting them.  Chris and I are fully capable of exposing them to the world and without throwing them into the deep end...sink or swim.
• Lifestyle.  I have read many blogs, and I have listened to first hand experiences of people who have been or are currently homeschooling.  I want a home environment that homeschooling offers.  Prayer and housework will be part of our school day.  Our older children will be teaching our younger children because they will be sitting at the same table.  We will attend daily Mass (my goal is once a week). The list goes on and on.  
• Firsts.  You know this just dawned on me a few days ago, but I was/am so excited to watch each of our babies achieve each of their milestones like smiling, sitting up, crawling, walking, talking, clapping, ect.  Well, I still want to be apart of that.  The first time they read, add, subtract, write, think critically, research paper, scientific predictions, experiments, ect. I still want to be apart of all of these firsts rather than hearing about them.  

I know not everyone is called to homeschool their children.  I am not even sure if we are, but these are just a few of the reasons we are highly considering it for next year.  I'm glad we are doing the preschool and pre-k so they are getting help developing basic concepts like holding a pencil.  Owen's teachers (soon Amelia's) have been AWESOME.  And I already have a good feeling about Owen's pre-k teachers.  I am hoping the kids' time in preschool will make the transition into homeschooling smooth.