Quoting Mama*AtoZ:" Of course no one can know what goes on in every class and what every teacher is like, but you cannot ... [snip!] ... then 'teachers' in my country don't need a degree and people here have the same reactions about home education and schooling."

Some states require for the homeschooling parent to have some kind of degree in education (or some kind of teacher sign-off from my understanding), but not all. I don't personally feel I need a degree in education to teach my own children, but I take their education very seriously all the same.

In the end whatever choice you make is completely up to you. But know that even if you choose to put your child in public school it doesnt mean that you cant be involved in your child's education. Out here if you are born after a certain date you cant start kindergarten the same year you turn 5 which was the case with me. And since I wasnt able to start kindergarten until right before I turned 6 my grandparents toke the initiative to get very involved with starting my education at home while I was waiting to start school. Since my papal was pretty much a stay at home dad so he took control of my early education. By the time I entered public school thanks to the time my papal put into my education I was so far ahead of my classmates that they wanted to advance me to third grade which my grandparents refused to allow to happen. But as time went by and I progressed through public school my grandparents continued to be involved and continued to work with me at home and because of that I was a straight A student in all advanced classes and in the GATE program for the majority of my school years. So just know that no matter where your child receives his education the most important thing is that you as his parent stays involved and you push him to do his best and work with him to bring him to that next level.

Quoting Mama*AtoZ:" Of course no one can know what goes on in every class and what every teacher is like, but you cannot ... [snip!] ... then 'teachers' in my country don't need a degree and people here have the same reactions about home education and schooling."

It depends on the state and/or the private school, I believe.

I just think its wrong to assume that so many of us are just biding our time in the classroom, trying to get through the day. I work with 30 teachers and although we do have alot of pressure on us, we are a generally happy, excited bunch that go out of our way to make sure that our kids are well-taught and prepared for the future - even if it goes outside a predetermined curriculum.

I would never say negative things about homeschooling parents as a generalized rule and think its wrong to do so about any other form of education as well.

Quoting Caydence's mommy 4/4/09:" In the end whatever choice you make is completely up to you. But know that even if you choose to put ... [snip!] ... is that you as his parent stays involved and you push him to do his best and work with him to bring him to that next level. "

That's another thing that factors into! He was born in October, so he will have to wait until he is almost 6 to start. But thank you! I take this very seriously and plan to be involved no matter what.

Quoting Rydicule91:" That's another thing that factors into! He was born in October, so he will have to wait until he is ... [snip!] ... have to wait until he is almost 6 to start. But thank you! I take this very seriously and plan to be involved no matter what."

Yeah see my bday is Dec 1st. But my grandparents where so very involved with my education and I benefited completely from it. By the time I entered kindergarten I was reading on my own at a 4th grade level and the list really goes on and on about the thing

Quoting Caydence's mommy 4/4/09:" Yeah see my bday is Dec 1st. But my grandparents where so very involved with my education and I benefited ... [snip!] ... time I entered kindergarten I was reading on my own at a 4th grade level and the list really goes on and on about the thing "

Sorry my laptop hates me it keeps posting things before Im done typing. But honestly it doesnt matter if you choose homeschooling or public schooling the most important thing will always be that you stay fully involved. Because in the end your child could have the best teacher in the world but if your child doesnt do homework and study in the end they are still going to fail KWIM?

Quoting Caydence's mommy 4/4/09:" Sorry my laptop hates me it keeps posting things before Im done typing. But honestly it doesnt matter ... [snip!] ... have the best teacher in the world but if your child doesnt do homework and study in the end they are still going to fail KWIM?"

Fail at learning or fail at passing tests? Is that statement just pertaining to public school?

I agree parents need to be involved, but children learn very well and can be very successful without having to do prescribed homework or externally managed studying.

Quoting Mama*AtoZ:" Fail at learning or fail at passing tests? Is that statement just pertaining to public school? I agree ... [snip!] ... children learn very well and can be very successful without having to do prescribed homework or externally managed studying. "

Both. Honestly Ive never known one single person who can be told how to do something once and bam they've learnt it. Yes I understand that people catch on to certain things faster then other things but it always takes more then once to fully learn how to do it.

Quoting Caydence's mommy 4/4/09:" Both. Honestly Ive never known one single person who can be told how to do something once and bam they've ... [snip!] ... people catch on to certain things faster then other things but it always takes more then once to fully learn how to do it. "

I think that's part of it right there "i've never known one single person who can be told how to do something once and bam they've learnt it".

People, especially kids, learn things all the time without direct instruction and enforced study. When they enjoy something they naturally do it often. Learning is just part of life, it's hard to avoid. They discover things as they do them, they seek out answers and guidance for themselves because they're naturally curious and driven to learn. It's when you start telling them what to learn and when (instead of showing them how to learn) that it becomes that mundane chore and requires repetitive work. It's harder for things to sink in when you're not ready or interested in the content or the way it's been presented or demanded of you, and judged too. There's a lot of research on homework and learning, it's interesting  

Quoting Emily Dickinson:" It depends on the state and/or the private school, I believe. I just think its wrong to assume that ... [snip!] ... about homeschooling parents as a generalized rule and think its wrong to do so about any other form of education as well."

what do you teach? I may have asked you this before, I can't keep track of all the teachers on here haha. anyways, I am always interested, because I'll be graduating this year with my social studies teaching degree.

Quoting Tasha Norman:" what do you teach? I may have asked you this before, I can't keep track of all the teachers on here haha. ... [snip!] ... on here haha. anyways, I am always interested, because I'll be graduating this year with my social studies teaching degree."

I am licensed to teach K-6 but I currently teach in an inclusive 3rd grade classroom.

Quoting Emily Dickinson:" I am licensed to teach K-6 but I currently teach in an inclusive 3rd grade classroom."

fun! I kind of wish I'd gotten my elementary ed degree instead, but I do love the subjects I'll be teaching

I think that as far as socializing goes there are plenty of activities that kids can and should be involved in. As long as they get play dates and extra curriculars they'll be fine in that department.

Being your child's teacher is an entirely different issue. You'll need to answer several questions before you even consider homeschooling because it's not right for everyone.

First question is whether you have the discipline to keep at it day after day. Second, do you have the patience to teach it at their speed without getting frustrated when they don't understand right away. Third, do you have the creativity to change the way you approach different topics. There are so many different ways that kids learn and you need to figure out a new way of explaining something if they aren't understanding it. And you can never blame them for not understanding.

There are more, but you get the idea.

There are two very important things to remember if you do decide to homeschool. First is that if you wake up and you're dredging doing school you have to take a day off of go do something fun that is somehow educational, but don't let yourself have that excuse any more than a couple days. Second but even more important is that you can't let it be your everything. You'll be a better and more understanding mother and teacher if your not completely burnt out or possibly resenting them. You have to find time for yourself. It'll be hard because the house might not be perfect or there was that one thing that you think that you have to finish but you have to find that time. It could be as simple as sitting in your bedroom after the kids go to bed and doing something you enjoy.