Namastè!
As you know, school is just around the corner. For Family Namastè, that means it's time to begin another run of homeschool.
I get many questions, assumptions, and opinions about this homeschool thing. I decided to make a NamasLEARN "episode" about it, as well as share some commonly asked questions.
I began homeschool with my Princess when she was 7. We moved to an area with great real estate pricing BUT with that inexpensive house came some undesirable schools. When we toured the classroom, children in first grade were just learning to spell their colors and numbers.
I knew this probably wouldn't be an ideal or even feasible learning environment for my princess, as she had been reading since age two and a half. She could read, write, and calculate simple math before she ever entered an official kindergarten. (We worked with her early, but all credit goes to her--she soaks up knowledge like a sponge, and retains it well!)
We had two choices: Drive her an hour each way to the district she was accustomed to, or homeschool. Sending her into that new district was not an option for us.
We embarked on the path of homeschooling...and haven't looked back! Because we wanted to make sure she could realign easily with public schooling should we ever opt to send her back, we enrolled her at Georgia Connections Academy. While we control what she does and when, she still participates in state testing and our curriculum runs parallel to the one used by kids in tradition school, known as brick and mortar school in the homeschool set.
She has and continues to excel--her scores are in the very top percentile of fifth graders, and have been since she was in third grade. She reads at college level. She comprehends mathematical calculations at early 8th grade level. Her overall retention of material, early high school. She has actually been offered the opportunity to skip grades, to be with kids at her academic level, but we declined because she needs to at least finish out elementary school with her peers.
Note: This is not our child being held back, kept from succeeding. This is us as parents respecting that she isn't ready to make that leap. She is more than academia, and her maturity to not leap at the chance to rush growing up screams at us that she is making the right choice. She has time to skip grades. Right now she is choosing to enjoy the freedom of a 10-year-old's schedule, rather than jump headfirst into a class where she would always be the youngest, therefore never feel included.
Then came the questions and assumptions...
Is it easier than regular school?
No. We do the same work, often times more, than kids in brick and mortar school. Unless one is lazy, homeschool is never the "easy" route.
Does she have homework?
Yes. We have her practice new concepts and curricula just as she would in brick and mortar. She does extra practice in the evenings. However, she is never given homework on the weekends, save the occasional project assigned by her teacher at Connections.
Do you grade her work?
NOPE. Her assignments are submitted through an online grading system. We love this part of it because it lets her know, she is earning these grades. Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Namastè aren't just giving her high marks because she's cute. We wouldn't anyway, but the grade portal is our friend because it relieves us of that responsibility. We get to focus on teaching, not on grading.
Is it expensive?
Define expensive. We do invest a fair amount in her materials--her learning space, her supplies, and extracurricular activities are not free. Connections Academy provides her textbooks and some materials, but while the extras are wonderful additions, they are not sufficient for an entire, successful year.
What's the work like?
She does the same assignments and concept development as her public school peers. We designed hers to be a bit more challenging (to keep her interested and avoid stagnation), but the work load is roughly the same. She doesn't have it easy, as in she doesn't coast through or do busy-work.
What do you have to buy?
We purchase paper, pencils, pens, art supplies, spiral books, and binders. We purchase storage solutions. We purchase her desk and computer. (The desk and computer are generally one-time deals unless it's time to upgrade...and this year, it is! Her current PC is four years old and we'll be adding memory as well as a better monitor and updating/optimizing the operating system.)
Doesn't she miss being with other kids?
No. One, she isn't without company. She has several very close friends. Her little circle isn't really all that little. (I'm usually cool with this but at birthday time, it gets hinky--trying to remember all those invites, SHEESH.)
Is it really that beneficial?
Yes. For us, anyway. Because of our own schedules, we have the freedom to just up and go. Our daughter gets to enjoy that same freedom. She has done her class work in the library in New York City. She's studied while looking out over Washington DC. She has even visited some of the sites mentioned in her American Story lessons. Reading is absolutely great but seeing those sites in person? Yeah...pretty beneficial if you ask me.
The ever-snide, "I wish I had time to homeschool."
This one fires me up, so here we go! I wish other parents had less time to judge or assume about what we do! Our daughter is homeschooled because that's what's best for her. Will that change? Maybe! Maybe not. Right now we work diligently to provide the income base and family structure so that I can do this for her. I wasn't magically given the time--I made it by moving my own schedule around and even giving up a few things in order to devote those hours to her.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong NOT homeschooling. I'm saying there's something very wrong with trying to shade or even guilt those of us who have aligned and adjusted our lives so that we are able to.
Why not let her skip that grade?
She doesn't want to.
Why does she get that decision?
Her academic success is for and about her. If she does not currently feel comfortable being thrown into a class of older kids with already-established friendships and bonds, I see no reason to force her. It'd do more harm than good. She wants to be with kids her own age. There's no college competition brewing at the moment--she's fine. A
Early graduation is still a wonderful thing, and a very real possibility for her, as is dual enrollment when she is old enough. For now, we aren't skipping anything.
We have talked at length to her, as well as among ourselves (with her teachers and counselors) and the consensus is, it's her choice. We adjusted her work to be more challenging, and she is happy. Happy and successful don't always go hand in hand in life. She has that right now, and we're not going to shake it just so we can ship her off to the next challenge.
...that was a whole mouthful!
I hope this sheds some light on what it's really like. Maybe seeing our journey will inspire yours! I'll be talking about it more in depth as August approaches. Stay tuned over on Instagram for photos of our work space, as well as some DIY tips here on the blog!
Namastè!
-- Tayè K. ♡
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