Home Schooling

[mishawetterling]

Hi, We have decided to home school our 3 year old son. I’m meeting a lot of opposition and anger and thats just in my family. are there any catholic home schooling parents out there? I could really use a like minded ear and friend right now.

Thanks

Michelle

:banghead:

 

[Elena5]

You should check out the Catholic homeschooling forums at 4real.thenetsmith.com/

 

[bnbkaine]

I am a Catholic homeschooling mom. Fortunately for me, my sister was the first one to embark on the homeschooling frontier and she encountered a lot of raised eyebrows (to say it nicely) from the family. By the time I decided to do it, it was met with little, if any, resistance. Sure, it is hard to do something new and different, but ultimately you know what is best for your family. I use the Mother of Divine Grace curriculum and I really like it.Good luck!!!

 

[Loren_1of6]

Yes, there are lots of Catholic homeschoolers out here. There is a group here on CAF, even. Do you have any specific questions, or just want some sympathy? We can handle either one.

 

[ljubim]

Not a homeschooling parent, but as a high schooler, all the people I know who were homeschooled are just better people in general. They are stronger Catholics, have all sorts of fun hobbies, and are exceedingly more intelligent (above the level of the teachers!), and more motivated to learn. Seeing this has inspired me to homeschool one day. Don’t let anybody talk you out of it, in a few years they will see the difference between your son and other children, and then perhaps they will understand

 

[harp4joy]

I agree with the above posting!

I am also not a homeschooling mom, however I was homeschooled all the way thorugh High school. I recently finished by BA degree from a great University after being awarded full scholarship (graduated Magna Cum Laude), and am now working and doing very well (currently trying to decide whether to go back for a Masters… or perhaps enter the convent! Ah! Pray for me!)

Homeschooling isn’t for everyone. It really takes a lot of self motivation, and discipline on both parents and kids. However, having just said that, looking back it was the best preparation that I could have ever had for not only the University, but for the working world as well.

Because I was homeschooled, I didn’t have teachers telling me when I was to get my work accomplished. I learned at an early age how to manage my time. This was a huge help for me when I got to the University. Having tons of assignments thrown at me didn’t freak me out, I just fell into step as I would have done when my monthly packets of assignments got thrown at me at home. I also found that the method of study in homeschooling was more efficient than those around me at the University. I was not afraid to research! Because I rarely had a teacher standing in front of me spoon feeding me information, I knew how to find the answers if I didn’t get them from class.

I am sure you are getting the “socialization” speech… shaw: Don’t worry! Homeschoolers can be socialized… you just have to find activities and healthy friends that are involved in those things and wamo, guess what, kids do their thing:thumbsup: I was involved in retreat leadership, sports, theater, and got to do all sorts of cool things that my public school friends didn’t have time to do cause they were in class. I also went to prom, homecoming and went to the high school football games.

I think the most important thing that the whole homeschooling thing did for me now that I am looking back, was give me a true sense of who I am, and what it means for me to live an intentional Catholic life in the midst of a crazy world. I was (and am) able to enjoy the social life at the University (and now at work) without every compromising my morals, or who I am as a woman and a Catholic. This I truly believe is due to my start in a solid Catholic Homeschooling family.

I know I’m not a Mom… but I thought I would just give you a word of encouragement from the other side! It may be rough now (my mom caught trouble from folks too) but believe me, God will bless you and your kids if you stay true to him in your homeschooling. It works if you keep Him in the loop!

God Bless you in your endeavor!

 

[kristacecilia]

I am homeschooling my 6 and 4 year old sons with my 2 year old daughter along for the ride.

There are lots of resources available- some of them I am just finding now after 3 years of homeschooling.

Anyway, we’re here to support you! Did you have any questions about curriculum, dealing with nay-sayers, etc? I bet you could get lots of great advice here.

 

[mishawetterling]

I think what I’m most looking for right now are the following things…guidance, support, and friendship. My husband and I have NO and I repeat NOOOOOOOOO catholic friends. so we feel very alone it what we believe and how we love. both of our families are catholic but…they seem to take a…cafeteria approach which drives me mad!

 

[mishawetterling]

Thank you all for your posts! my heart is filled with admiration and love. I’d like anyone interested in keeping up this convesation with me to e-mail me privately if possible. my husband and I have no Catholic friends and we are soooooo looking for some! my private e-mail is m.wetterling@verizon.net and you can also find me on facebook and I encourage you to. I need as much love and help as I can get…We feel very isolated and alone.

find me on facebook. Michelle Wetterling

THANK YOU ALL!:tiphat:

 

[Mommyof02green]

As you can see there are a lot of homeschoolers and supporters here on CAF (Catholic Answers Forum). There are other social sites just for Homeschooling Moms such as THL (The Homeschool Lounge). THL does have a group of Catholic Homeschooling Moms.

 

[Loren_1of6]

If you’re looking for home schoolers who are faithful, orthodox Catholics, check out the 4Real forums. The ladies there subscribe to different methods of teaching and use different curricula, but they are all faithful to the Magisterium (except for the few non-Catholics who are learning about our faith while they get education ideas). They can answer questions about how to choose a curriculum or make your own. They can offer sympathy and “I was there” stories when ou’re having problems with your kids or extended family. They can give lots of great ideas for celebrating the Church calendar with your children, regardless of age.

Also, have you looked at the homeschool group here? I don’t know how active it is because I’m not very active on any forums any longer.

 

[purplesunshine]

Your kid is 3 years old. He’s barley eligible for pre-school or head start.

So STOP stepping into landmines with your family. You’ll just feel like a martyer and become the gag line at family dinners. Home school if you want, but he’s 3 for heaven’s sake!!! He does not need school (and don’t take that as he dosn’t need to learn) but no 3year old in my opinion, not even a genius “needs” school. They’re THREE!!!

If they ask, “He is not ready for mainstream school” PEROID!!!

Their are global studies that show children (especially boys) perform better when they have no formalized schooling until 7 or 8 years of age. In fact, there are lots less diagnoses of ADHD and less classroom disturbances. This means reading, math EVERYTHING. Children suffered no ill efects from not learning to read until much later…and it often improved their ability to become bi-lingual or multi-lingual.

Now for your part, contact the HSLDA or google “kalamzoo homeschool group”

 

[Truly_Beloved]

Your kid is 3 years old. He’s barley eligible for pre-school or head start.

That doesn’t mean that he’s not ready for various things.

So STOP stepping into landmines with your family. You’ll just feel like a martyer and become the gag line at family dinners. Home school if you want, but he’s 3 for heaven’s sake!!! He does not need school (and don’t take that as he dosn’t need to learn) but no 3year old in my opinion, not even a genius “needs” school. They’re THREE!!!

The OP never said what kind of homeschooling she did. All she said was that she and her husband decided to do it. I don’t understand why you seem so upset with her.

Their are global studies that show children (especially boys) perform better when they have no formalized schooling until 7 or 8 years of age.

I have no doubt that’s true, but the OP never said she has started any kind of formal schooling yet. I unschool my kiddos, so if someone went on a little mini-rant about my kids receiving “formal” schooling too early just because I said I homeschool, or if I had merely revealed a desire to homeschool, I’d be a bit annoyed (and a bit amused, too ).

This means reading, math EVERYTHING. Children suffered no ill efects from not learning to read until much later…and it often improved their ability to become bi-lingual or multi-lingual.

Okay, that’s fine; but individual children vary greatly in their developmental readiness for things, and if this mom feels that her child is ready for something, I think it’s okay to trust her. That even assumes she’s even started anything yet, which she didn’t actually say.

 

[purplesunshine]

That doesn’t mean that he’s not ready for various things.

If you read what I wrote you’ll see I said that

The OP never said what kind of homeschooling she did. All she said was that she and her husband decided to do it. I don’t understand why you seem so upset with her.

Why don’t you read her first post? She talked to her family and is recieving “anger and opposition”.

I’m just saying that at 3 the “schooling battle” is not one worth engaging in.

I have no doubt that’s true, but the OP never said she has started any kind of formal schooling yet. I unschool my kiddos, so if someone went on a little mini-rant about my kids receiving “formal” schooling too early just because I said I homeschool, or if I had merely revealed a desire to homeschool, I’d be a bit annoyed (and a bit amused, too ).

Again, making an observation based on the child’s age. Three is just way too young for formalized schooling. Heck, at 3 they’re just learning (or have recently learned) not to take a dump in their own pants.

Okay, that’s fine; but individual children vary greatly in their developmental readiness for things, and if this mom feels that her child is ready for something, I think it’s okay to trust her. That even assumes she’s even started anything yet, which she didn’t actually say.

Our culture forces children to book learning much too fast. Many a young mother has tried to teach a tot to read…and sometimes been sucessful…only to run into roadblocks down the road. I believe there was a recent study that showed an early start made no difference AT ALL to the average child with involved parents.

 

[Truly_Beloved]

If you read what I wrote you’ll see I said that

The problem was, I did read what you wrote, and you seem hostile in 90% of your post. It seems you are drawing conclusions from information that isn’t there.

Why don’t you read her first post? She talked to her family and is recieving “anger and opposition”.

Again, I did read her post, thank you. She is receiving criticism simply for the decision to homeschool, not for actually homeschooling. I’m sure the vast majority of those of us who decide to homeschool receive opposition to the IDEA of it, even before we actually start. Your criticism of her homeschooling a young child is not justified, since she didn’t actually state that she was doing it yet. And even if she WAS “formally” homeschooling her young child, that doesn’t give anyone reason to attack her. We don’t even know her individual circumstances. Just sayin’.

Again, making an observation based on the child’s age. Three is just way too young for formalized schooling. Heck, at 3 they’re just learning (or have recently learned) not to take a dump in their own pants.

My point is that there is NO WAY you could possibly know what kind of schooling this mom is or is not doing (unless you know her personally, and I just missed that), so to make assumptions based on the child’s age alone is uncharitable.

There is not a specific order, or age, in which individual children must master specific skills. My oldest daughter is speech delayed, yet showed an interest in learning how to read before she mastered speech. So, I started answering her questions, helped her identify her letters, and she copies and writes on her own. I didn’t actively “teach” her anything. If I had waited until age 7 or 8 to answer her curiosity, because that’s what all the good studies say, I would have been 4 years too late. If I had stubbornly latched on to the notion that she must learn how to talk first, before reading and writing, then I would’ve been ignoring her own personal developmental needs. Studies are great for looking at the general picture, but we cannot apply general principals to all individuals.

Our culture forces children to book learning much too fast…

This mom NEVER said she was actually homeschooling yet. And not all homeschooling is “formal.” I unschool, so I do not do “formal schooling” with my kids at all. We have not done any “book learning.”

 

[purplesunshine]

My entire point was that she shouldn’t be discussing “schooling options” with her family because a 3 there shouldn’t be “schooling options” for crying out loud!!! No need to get people angry and talk about homeschooling when the kid is still a toddler. It’s just ludicrious.

 

[Truly_Beloved]

My entire point was that she shouldn’t be discussing “schooling options” with her family because a 3 there shouldn’t be “schooling options” for crying out loud!!!

I guess we just disagree, then. Fair enough. God bless.

 

[Mr_Sun]

Just throwing my two cents in here.

Every friend I have had who was once home schooled who then came to public schools, turns literally crazy. Their attitudes change dramatically also.

Public Schools aren’t that bad. A lot of people are scared of their kids getting into sex, drugs stuff like that but its really the good parents that keep them from that. My parents are literally perfect in my eyes at least and I have never once been tempted by any of those things and I haven’t been as close to my faith as I am now when that was the prime time to make those decisions.

builds people skills faster and better too. just sayin…

But its whatever you find fit for your kids

-coming from a High School Junior who was picked on a little bit in middle school and elementary school.

 

[gardenswithkids]

…So STOP stepping into landmines with your family. …

I get your point. Looking back at some of the negative remarks we received for homeschooling, I could have avoided many of them. For a long time, I felt compelled to discuss, explain and justify our educational choices. Thinking the subject was open for discussion and debate, the conversation continued. They defended their viewpoint, then I defended mine, so on and so forth. I took the negative comments too personal. Frankly, it isn’t their decision, and I don’t need to discuss my children’s education with extended family members who don’t support our decision to homeschool. It took me years to learn that!

 

[kristacecilia]

Just throwing my two cents in here.

Every friend I have had who was once home schooled who then came to public schools, turns literally crazy. Their attitudes change dramatically also.

Public Schools aren’t that bad. A lot of people are scared of their kids getting into sex, drugs stuff like that but its really the good parents that keep them from that. My parents are literally perfect in my eyes at least and I have never once been tempted by any of those things and I haven’t been as close to my faith as I am now when that was the prime time to make those decisions.

builds people skills faster and better too. just sayin…

But its whatever you find fit for your kids

-coming from a High School Junior who was picked on a little bit in middle school and elementary school.

I’m sure the original poster is very glad to know you are doing so well in public school. I am very glad to know you are, too. However, they have already made the decision to homeschool. This thread is about helping them deal with opposition to their choice.

I am sure it would be preferrable to all if we could stay on topic.