I am thinking about homeschooling but

I am thinking about homeschooling my kids but I am concerned for there social development. All of the homeschooling groups I've looked into are all mormon, or baptist and I can be cool with them, but they are not very cool with my dreads and buddist/hindu tattoos as a Mom. Is there other alternatives I can look into?

 

A lot of homeschoolers are religious freaks. (sorry but it's true)


Move to a place where more people like you dwell.

 

I would highly suggest the montessori schooling. They can be public or private. The difference is that your child gets to pick what he/she wants to learn. They will still learn the basics. The students learn by doing, opposed to listening to a teacher lecture and memorize pointless material. The montessori schools are from grades k-8. Students coming from these schools are so much more advanced than children who were in traditional schooling.

Here's a link that will give you background info on montessori schools:
http://www.montessoriconnections.com/parents/parentresources.shtml

I'm an education major in college, so if you need anymore info just ask me.

 

We did montessori for pre-school. I didn't know it was an option for grade school and above. I'll look into that thanks! It is important to me that my children learn religious tolerance I just wished it wasnt so one sided. I have been feeling a strong pull towards Hawaii or Boulder- somewhere where the kids have friends that come from alternative lifestyles as well. We are a bit bohemian for our area of Washinton. Do you know much about Waldorf?

 

Do not go the Waldorf way because their way of teaching language skills is really bad in my opinion. They teach the whole word, opposed to breaking down words into different meanings. Children that go through the Waldorf schooling have a hard time later on in the upper grades when they learn complex words with multible meanings and silent letters. That's the only down fall of this type of schooling, but I do believe language skills are one of the most important skills that a child will learn.

 

Great Info, Thanks! I hadnt thought of that aspects of language. I was concerned with math since I havnt made it through math 41 myself in collage as an existential psych major. Figured I would try to find tutor, do you have any book you would recomend for a parent to educate themselves on homeschooling and it's alternatives?

 

if you don't have an eclectic homeschool support group in your area, start one yourself. you'd be suprised how many like-minded homeschoolers you find! Many many families choose to homeschool for reasons other than religion.


edited - where in Washington are you?? I find it really hard to believe that you do not already have a secular homeschool group in your area, if there is one here where I live! Keep looking, you'll find them. Try searching yahoo groups for "homeschool, your city" and see what all pops up.

 

I live in the Seattle area, and I've found tons of alternative homeschool groups just online....but one organisation in particular hosts proms and outtings for the children. I'm really surprised to hear that you're not finding much...

 

I've found homeschool organisations by calling around. I am outside of Tacoma, but like I said earlier they mainly seem to be of religious background such as mormon or baptist. As I also stated I don't have problem with them my kids are taught religious tolerance, it's usually they have a problem with us because we are a little differant.
I like the idea of starting the eclectic homeschool group myself like you mentioned, there probably are alot of familys like ours I just have to look a little harder. We are a bit off the map as well.

 

Maybe post your idea for a homeschool group on craigslist....lots of tacoma mommas on there. Might get a fair few hits

 

good idea, I hadnt thought of that, thanx!

 

maybe you should send your kids to the best local school and then during the time you would have spent home schooling them you should attend classes or develop a new skill or just find time to do something you want to do - if you are happy then your family will be aswell.

 

I know in my case, it's not about my happiness but the pathetic state of public schools.

Our children are taught apathy and sedentary daytime activities instead of learning by doing as they have the first 5 years of their lives. They're punished for whatever personality traits they have that don't fit the normal "sit down, quiet" persona teachers want. And children with different learning styles struggle.

Personally, I can take classes later. But my children should have the best start to their education. And public school doesn't provide.

 

well if you are not confident in your local schools then you are probably making the right decision.

 

I don't exactly have books off the top of my head, but I do have to write a paper on homeschooling in the coming week, so I'll post my research if you'd like. I will also find good books throughout my research, so i'll keep you updated.

 

How do you go about starting up a support group like that?

Yeah, I'd like, also.

 

home schooling is the worst thing i was home school til i was 13 and i had a lot of social problems.

 

I also had a lot of social problems and I was public schooled.

 

then it was obviously not the right decision for you and your parents, now, was it? I'd venture to guess you did not participate in a homeschool support group? I had, still have, way more social problems than either of my children do, and I went to public schools.

find out as much as you can about your local homeschooling laws, and just start a group. Put flyers up in the health-foods stores and places other "crunchy" types hang out. Start a yahoo group.

have you tried any of these groups? (no, I didn't bother to read through the list and see if what you need is there)
http://www.homeedmag.com/groups/2.html#Washington
or
http://www.leapingfromthebox.com/hs/elists/washington.html

and there is a pagan homeschool group in Tacoma, they would be most accepting of other's beliefs. http://paganhomeschool.meetup.com/cities/us/wa/tacoma/

 

Great info, I hadnt thought of any of that. I think homeschooling is only really as destructive as the parents make it. I'll check out those links, Thanks so much!