It’s a great example of how home schooling can be useful. As long as the parents make sure to steer lessons towards basic subjects like math, history, english, etc, than they’re doing a great job.

The kitchen example was a great way to expose their kids to math.

I’m not normally a fan of home schooling, but I think it’s just fine for kids at the elementary school age and below. Most dedicated parents can teach that level stuff just fine. For high school on up, it really depends on the individual child as well as the parents.

I thought it was great, and I wanted to vote that I felt homeschoolers have a superior educational experience… but when I clicked “sign in to vote” nothing happened, probably I am doing something wrong… don’t know much about blogs.

I think it is a realistic view of a homeschool family’s experience on a particular day. Of course with homeschooling no two days are the same, but that captures the “essence” of what many of us experience often with our children. 🙂

Great post!

Red Tail- did you NOT notice the Karate, gymnastics, and softball? Did you really think these classes had no other children in them? That would be quite a challenge with the softball especially, don’t you think? Thumbs down to you for not being reasonable in your answer.

“there is no one else other than their mother to interact with”

It seems that Red Tail passed judgement without reading the entire entry.

the entry sounded great to me. sounds like a conscientious Mom doing a great job of providing her kids with a well rounded, hands on education.

Edit: Yes, I read the blog, which is why I don’t understand your comment about the kids not having any contact other than their mother when the blog clearly states that they do.

I loved her blog about homeschooling. It is so true that in a single day, without ever sitting down and “doing school” kids can learn much. And, they spent time together. That is truly the beauty of homeschooling. 🙂

I really liked it. It looks much like some of our days – we have co op days, field trip days, and just plain work on stuff days. My son has a lot more freedom to learn at his own pace, and to learn according to his learning style.

And he’s socialized, too 🙂 Better than most of his classroom friends, if his teachers at church and his Scout leaders are to be believed. He has the confidence to be who he is and be happy with that, instead of having to follow the crowd. He’s comfortable working with kids his own age, reading to toddlers at the library, speaking to adults in various situations, and sitting with senior citizens to keep them company.

*I just never got how sticking 30 kids from the same neighborhood in a room all day, not allowing them to talk except at recess, and structuring their every moment constituted socialization, but to each their own…kinda funny how many teachers tell the kids they’re not there to socialize, though! JMHO…*

Anyway, I think you did a great job!

I think it is a great example of unschooling.

It’s interesting. It fails to mention, however, the lack of interaction these children are gaining. Other than with their siblings, there is no one else other than their mother to interact with. College, or whatever educational institution that is either private or public will be a shock. True, they may have friends in the neighborhood, but there is only so much a ball and frisbee will do for you. These children aren’t getting the real-life experience. Their mother is teaching them. In schools, you are given multiple teachers each with different learning styles that allow the children to adapt. They don’t have as many peer friends they would have. They can’t grow and learn from situations that you might find in a school setting, whether they be good or bad. All in all, the story and picture painted seemed too perfect, like a facade. And nothing in the world is like that. But, it was interesting none the less.

Addition:

I believe the question was “What do you think of this blog entry on homeschooling?” I stated my opinions. It’s pretty sad to see how snippy people can be when their views are different then others. I was by no means insulting the family or how they are raising their children. To each their own. My views, however are different. To answer faerie, V.T. I did read the article. It was rude to presume that I did not. If I hadn’t read the article then I wouldn’t have stated my opinion because it would be hypocrisy. I was stating my views and opinions. To simply brush them off and say “Well, you didn’t read the article” is uncouth of you. I am entitled to my beliefs in the country that I live in. Whether or not you respect that is up to you. It makes you somewhat of a hypocrite to show your opinion and disregard mine so. Perhaps I should respond with the same as yours: “Perhaps you didn’t read the article?”