Socialization . . . sigh.  Why am I sighing?  Several reasons.  I guess I'm just tired of this question coming up, because when it is given any rational consideration, it becomes obvious how ludicrous the question truly is.  Are students 'socialized' in public school, when they are told where to sit, when to talk, and mostly told to be quiet?  Are you sure you want your child to be 'socialized' by the public school, i.e. government school system?  How's that going?  Another reason I sigh is because socialization is all we ever seem to do!!!!!!

My children/students that remain at home are 14, 15, 16, & 17 years old.  Against all of my well-intentioned plans, friends have become very important.  I am entering this post as I sit in the food court of the local mall, having driven for an hour picking up friends, while some kids walk the mall (did I ever enjoy doing that?) and some others see a movie - SOCIALIZATION.  It is a Saturday, a day to get ready for Sunday.  A day to sleep in, sleep some more, bake, cook and clean.  Grade school work and make more lesson plans.  Knit.  Watch TV/DVD - MY favorite shows.  Ahhhh the sacrifices a home-school mom makes!  Last night we had 3 basketball games, after which we went out to eat with the team - SOCIALIZATION - and brought a couple of extra boys home for a sleepover -SOCIALIZATION.  At the same time, one of my daughters was at yet another sleepover - SOCIALIZATION.  The night before that, we had baskeball practice (I take it back, socialization is not ALL we do - there's basketball!)  My boys went home with friends for a sleepover, wait for it . . .  SOCIALIZATION!!!!!!  Am I making my point?  Socializing homeschoolers does not have to be a problem.

But you live out in the country, right?  Far away from town?  From activities?  From people?  Me, too!  It is 10 miles to the nearest town, 30 miles to our co-op 'headquarters,' and most basketball activities.  Some people could buy a house for what we spend on gasoline.  And the time it takes to do all that driving . . . put a Book on Tape in the CD player. 

We drive to the aforementioned basketball practice and games.  We sometimes drive two hours to attend a game, as it is difficult to find other homeschool teams and Christian school teams to play against.  (It is againts the public school rules for them to play us . . .  cowards!)  We practice twice a week and play a game or two each week.  We attend the National Homeschool Basketball Tournament each March.  I bet you didn't know there was a National  Homeschool Basketball Tournament!!!  It is soooo much fun, we wouldn't miss it.

We drive to co-op, once a week for 8 weeks, for two semesters.  My children have had classes on Macbeth, Animal Farm, boy scout merit badges, Japan, clay sculpture, and Homemaking for Boys.  I am teaching two classes in our next semester:, pre-school animals and driver's ed!!  Yikes!!!

Our co-op has a student council, a graduation committee (yes the graduates walk down the aisle!) and a prom committee.  I am heading up this year's history fair and there is an annual science fair.  This is all in addition to the recreational activities:  park day, roller skating, bowling, Valentine's Party, Christmas Party . . . and it never ends.  And I haven't mentioned church or family activities.

The only problem homeschoolers have with socialization is the amount of it and how it can crowd out academics.  Don't worry - your children wil have lots of friends and be "properly socialized" - whatever that means to you!!!

Why?  I guess this should have been the first post.  You are probably wondering why we chose to homeschool, why others have chosen it, and why you should or shouldn't.  I can't speak for everyone, although I can say that there are as many reasons to homeschool as there are families.  Some choose to home-educate their children for religious reasons.  Others for health or political reasons.  Many families just want to keep the family together and not delegate what they consider to be their parental duty or right to others.  That is all very general.  You might fall into one or more of those categories or have reasons completely different.  All of the reasons are right and none of them are wrong.  My family falls into several of those categories.

It all began long before I was a parent and happend to read a few books by The Moore's - Raymond and Dorothy to be exact.  http://www.homeschool.com/advisors/moore/default.asp. 

That planted a seed in my head and heart that grew.  Later we were foster parents, and one of our children had problems (she was 5).  In my mind, the ABC's paled in comparison to her emotional stability.  I asked for, and received permission to homeschool her.  That move actually set a precedent in that county - they had never had a foster child home-schooled before.  Since I had to report to the State, I chose the Christian Liberty Press curriculum - a boxed set (see previous post) - and requested the school to keep records.  That was the first reason we chose home-schooling - to assist foster children in bonding with a family and to gain self-confidence and emotional stability. 



We had some foster children in public school and ran head-long into the homosexual agenda and the sex education agenda.  Our second grader brought a book home from school that told a story about two men raising some children.  Our high schooler was required to attend sex education, which was not abstinence based, or sit out and do an outside project.  We opted out, and helped him do a pro-life paper.  We were not in a position to remove these particular children from the public school, but it did open our eyes.  We did not want our children to be indoctrinated with the social reform agenda, and we became more committed than ever to homeschooling when we had children of our own. 

During this time, I observed a lot of mothers of 5 year olds lamenting because it was time to send their child away to school and they just weren't ready.  I began to ask the question, first of myself and then to others:  Why did we have to 'send our five year olds away?'   Who said?  What would happen if we didn't?  When I asked this question of myself, I began doing more research on homeschooling and compulsory edcuation laws in my state.  http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp  I quickly learned I did not HAVE to send my child away.  When I asked the question of others, I often got blank stares and the response, "Well, because that's what we do.  They have to go to school.  They are five!"  Not following the crowd like a sheep was a completely foregin concept to these women.  And they all cried on the first day of school.  Not me - I played outside with my children and we had a lot of fun!!! 

Religion has been a reason for us in the context that we believe religion is incorporated in everything we do, and that is how we teach.  Not so in public schools.  Not only is God not acknolwedged, He is forbidden to attend.  That does not set well with us.  As you are figuring what you want to do, and how you want to do it, I encourage you to seek out homeschoolers that share your faith or domination, and ask them for curriculum recommendations.  If religion is a non-issue for you, and you actually want to avoid it, there are many homeschool curriculums and programs that are completely secular. 

Politics!  Is one supposed to adhere to the rule not to speak of religion and politics while writing a blog post?  I have already broken half of that rule; here goes the second half!!!  We have somewhat passionate views politically, and suffice it to say they are not in keeping with the government education program.  We literally call public schools "Government Schools."  We do not want our children indoctrinated with the government's ideals and values, one because we do not agree with them and two, because we do not feel education is within the government's authority granted to it in the Constitution.  We believe in parental choice in education, http://www.heritage.org/Research/Features/issues/issuearea/ParentalChoice.cfm.  Again, whether you are liberal or conservative, you can share your values with your children any way you want!!!! 

Now the biggest question of all:  Why do YOU want to homeschool?  When you answer that question for yourself, you will be in a better position to figure out the 'how." 

So you are new to homeschooling, but obviously not new to blogging. We're a perfect match because I am not new to homeschooling, but this is my first blog post on my first blog EVER!  So, while you are reading my homeschooling advice to you, feel free to share your blogging advice with me. 

In this post, I will assume you are merely an investigator.  I remember that stage.  You are wondering:  Can I teach my own children?  Am I smart enough?  Educated enough?  Brave enough?  What material do I use?  Where do I get it?  Is it legal?  Where will I get the time? 

First of all, take a deep breath.  You can teach your own children, you are smart enough, you are educated enough, you are brave enough, it is legal, and you can find the time.  As for materials, I will help you find what will work for your family.

Here is my first sermon to new homeschoolers:  There are as many ways to homeschool as there are families on the planet.  What will your way be?  Rest assured, you can change your methods as you go along, and you most likely will.  Kids change, and your methods will too.  So don't feel like you only get once chance to make this decision.  For now, ask yourself why you are considering homeschooling.  What is it that you want to change or improve about your children's education?  Do you want your children to have less structure or more?  Are you looking for more family time?  Are your children having ADD issues that the public school is not addressing to your satisfaction?  Do you want your children to get on the fast track to Harvard, or to have more time to explore their inner selves?  Remember, there are no wrong answers to these questions.  It is all about what is best for your family's situation.  Here are some options:

You can recreate public school at your kitchen table.  If you want a lot of structure, I recommend a 'boxed set.'  This is a curriculum set that has everything in it you will need.  It is possible to have the publishers also grade the homework and tests, keep academic records, and provide you with state-mandated tests and transcripts.  This is how I started, using Christian Liberty Press Curriculum.  A friend of mine loved Calvert School and used it exclusively.  However, I quickly found that there were just too many books for a 6 year old.  Reading, writing, math, history, science, language arts, religion . . . I felt a 6 year old should focus more on being 6 years old.  Nonetheless, many people are very satisfied with this type of home education.

Most homeschoolers are 'ecletic,' meaning they use a hodge podge of materials.  (Future posts will address how to find both new and used materials.  Homeschoolers are nothing if not frugal!)  I've used Alpha Omega Lifepacs and Switched-On-Schoolhouse. The are essentially the same product, except one is a set of workbooks and the other is a set of CD-ROM's.  I like them, but do not use them currently.  I have used Abeka and liked it.  I currently use, as do most homeschoolers, Saxon Math.  I started my 5year olds out on Math-U-See, and I wish I had never let them stop it.  If I had it to do over again, I would have stayed with that exclusively.  If you starting out with a pre-reader, my absolutely all-time favorite curriculum is Explode the Code, although in my day there was not an on-line option.  Here is a Homeschool Curriculum Index.   On this list you will find terms you may never have heard before, but that you will become very familiar with as you investigate home education:  classical, Montessori, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, unschooling, and my personal favorite, A Thomas Jefferson Education.  I'll be devoting several posts to this philosophy alone.  If I could start over again, this would be my model.

As you search the links I've posted here, you will likely find yourself hyperventilating. That is perfectly normal. Remember this: you do not have to do all, or any, of what is suggested here. You are looking for the model that fits YOUR FAMILY. Public schools do not teach everything there is to know, and you don't have to either. By the time you start breathing again, you will have ruled out some ideas, and that will narrow down your options. The next step is to start researching the remaining options and see how they 'feel' to you. But that is for future posts.  For now, just sit back with a cup of herbal tea, open up your mind, and just breath!!