When we began our homeschool journey in 2009, it was out of necessity. (Until that point all my kids had been in public school- PS). Without getting into details of our then-circumstances (at least not yet), know that it was a time of survival of our family, literally. It has been a learning to curve over the years as we have tried all forms of education for our 4 children including: unchooling, homeschooling-like-public-school, public school, charter, online charter, online public school. (I am sure I am leaving one out.) On a regular basis, I have had parents ask me how we decide where/how our children will be educated. I have decided to share our little secret to successfully educating our children: A LOT of research and a LOT of prayer.
[Each year, we take into consideration each of our individual child's needs. Then, we pray with them and individually to ask the Lord to guide us in our decisions. Since I am the educator in our home, I will spend time in fasting and prayer to confirm the feelings I have about each child. Sometimes, I research new schools, or online schools. Other times it is a matter of checking into new curriculum or revamping the old. Then, we begin our journey for the new year. No year is ever the same.]
In the beginning of our journey, we kept all four kids home. At the time, they were (respectively) 1st, 4th, 6th grades and a toddler. We made it through what schools refer to as the "second semester" by spending countless hours at the library and local parks. For a little while, we had a job where the kids could work with us during school hours. This was our time of "unschooling". By fall, my husband had to go work out of state for 6 months, we were dealing with a dangerous stalker, and I was deathly ill with un-diagnosed heart problems. I decided to keep all of them home again, but mostly out of fear for our family. I wanted them safe! We plunged into online PS. That barely lasted until Christmas, as it was WAY too much stress on this sickly mama and my gifted boys were rather bored. By the time January came around, I saw my eldest especially needed something different. I prayed long and hard about the direction my children's futures were headed. That is when I realized I may not all be able to have them do the same thing year after year.
Eldest and Second Eldest were enrolled in a brand-new charter school. After three weeks, they were pulled out. Although I can only speak for our specific reasons, I know that many other parents were struggling with the school as well. For my own children, one teacher used very inappropriate language on a regular basis that made him very uncomfortable, and the other one could not take the pressure of the courses. Eldest and I discussed his options and we decided to enroll him for the remainder of the year in PS. There, he found his niche in band and math, and made life-long friends within a very short time. He has been in PS ever since, and this month will graduate high school with a 3.98+ GPA and several college courses under his belt. He has had truly incredible teachers to mentor him and I am grateful for the experiences he has had.
Second Eldest came home for the rest of that school year and did well. He loved to read, so we used that to his advantage. In the fall, (6th grade) we decided to enroll him in PS because he wanted to give it a try. He attended for one semester then came home. After all our family had been through with my health and our other challenges, he needed to feel certain in his home-life situation, so I became his teacher. We made up our own curriculum. In 8th grade, he returned to PS and did very well. With 9th grade approaching, we moved to a new state and I faced heart surgery. Together, we chose to try an online charter school and he did really well. The current school year, he is in the same program, but not reaching his full potential, so we are re-evaluating for fall. Research, prayer, and discussion with confirm the upcoming path.
When we began the online school, my youngest boy really struggled. By the middle of second semester, he was having melt-downs everyday. Because of my health, I was not able to find a way to help him as much as he needed. He returned to PS and by Day 2, serious problems arose. It was in those next 6 weeks that we began to undergo testing and came away with a diagnoses of Asperger's (aka- Awesomeberger's) and ADHD. With a plan in place to get him the assistance he needed from the school specialists, we decided to allow him to return to PS in the fall. Unfortunately, the new principal did not take the IEP seriously and he was not able to get what was needed. One day while sobbing in my arms, I asked my brand new 3rd grader what I could do to help him. He begged me, "Please don't send me back! Never send me back!" So, we never did. Now 13, he has been home ever since and will remain for the time being. It is at home where he thrives the most. I am his mother as well as his teacher and being able to focus on his needs has been a tremendous blessing.
My youngest started out in kindergarten after I ignored serious promptings to keep her home. I knew between my health and my upcoming work schedule I would not be able to give the time to her that she needed. Everyday was a challenge to get her out the door. She wanted to be home. One week after spring break, I pulled her out. She was getting failing grades for being able to read. I was told by her teacher, "The new Common Core Curriculum dictates that this is a sound-aloud assignment and she is reading the words instead of sounding them out. I cannot give her a passing grade for that." This ridiculous guideline she was forced to follow was only one of the issues I had with the curriculum after that meeting. She came home the rest of her kinder year and first grade. Using our own guidelines of discussion, fasting, and prayer, she returned to PS for 2nd grade, which she finishes this month. Fall will bring her home again.
Over the years, I have battled with others as they've disagreed with our decision to HS. There are all kinds of myths (which I will write about later, based of our findings) that I find are incorrect. I have nothing but complete respect and admiration for the PS teachers. I was going to be one! Just because PS school may seem the "easiest" road, it does not mean it is always right. For me, sending my children out the door for 8 hours a day doesn't sit right with me. On the other hand, always having children at home with me has hard moments as well. The truth is, it takes a lot of time to homeschool. It takes willingness and dedication. You are going to have amazing days, and difficult days. You are going to have days you want to quit and days you feel like you can conquer the world. If it is what is right for your child, no sacrifice is more worth it to see them succeed. (Each state is different in their HS laws, so be sure to check those.) Whatever you decide with the education journey, study out your options. If you are a religious soul, pray for guidance in your choices. Not every family will have the same experience. Respect whatever they decide for their own children. (That was a hard lesson I had to learn.) Education can be a complex road, but as long as you are doing what is best for your family, it is a worthwhile one!!
Happily Teaching-
Mama Dragon
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