Any one home school?

[ATOMonkey]

I certainly wouldn't have missed the "social interaction" of being taunted and beat up because I was small, intelligent, and musically talented.

I'm sure I would have been scarred for life had I not been exposed to all that wonderful redneck social interaction.

Thank goodness for that public education...

 

[DHolder]

My children are home schooled, they are involved in Scouts , Cheer, music (flute), as well as field trips. My son has a hard time with reading because he hates to sit still, but at night, he likes to hunker down and read. One of our foster children made STRAGIHT F's ALL YEAR in math, science, and social studies, yet, passed to the next grade, based on ISTEP scores.
I highly recomend homeschooling. We study what we need to meet the state requirements, and add the stuff we feel they need to balance them out. By the way... my wife teaches, I'm too dumb.

 

[Protest]

state requirements

There are no state requirements for subjects taught.

“A school that is nonpublic, non-accredited, and not otherwise approved by the Indiana State Board of Education is not bound by any requirements set forth in IC 20 or IC 21 with regard to curriculum or the content of educational programs offered by the school.” (§ 20-33-2-12 (a))

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Indiana.pdf

 

[darinb]

Go for it. Dont listen to any of the opinions of people about the negatives of homeschooling. Be prepared to get alot of flak but take no offense almost all of the people that are negative about homeschooling know nothing about it. It is different to them so they fear it but it is just human nature to do that. Columbus has alot of homeschooling groups also. I completely understand about the politics and junk in public schools nowadays. our reasons to homeschool were based largely on our religious views but still anyone can look at the public education system and see it is not a healthy thing for a child if you want them to love the principles this nation was built upon. Good for you to be looking out for your children because if we as parents dont nobody else will.

 

[rockhopper46038]

No kids, but I would homeschool if I had them

 

[MadCity Hoosier]

Yeah, I've known some really weird people that where home schooled, I've also met people who home school and have extremely normal kids. We originally did not home school because we wanted our kids to get out and learn to deal with social situations, but we're running into a lot of flak at my daughters school because of our personal moral and beliefs systems. No not our religion, just what we think is healthy and not healthy for our kids. Point: Before my wife could even finish introducing herself to my daughters teacher she yelled at my wife because my daughter has pink bangs. It's not forbidden at the school either. The school also enforces socialist policies in that every student "donates" their school supplies to the class room. You have NO belongings at the school. Everything belongs to every one. This does not float with my wife and I. I'll buy 10 kids school supplies if I have to, but my kids not sharing her crayons with every other snot nosed kid in her class. If my daughter wants a pink and purple polka doted note book she should be able to have one.

Sorry went off on a tangent there.

My original post may have been a bit grim, so I thank you CombatVet for not taking me too seriously (unlike someone else). I re-read your post and discovered that you were asking for info, not thoughts/opinions/experiences. I'll keeps these to myself unless asked (you probably won't be doing that!!).

I honestly believe that high-achieving kids can learn in just about any environment/school and be prepared for college or career. Having said that, I'll keep my opinions and insights to myself, lest I be banned or further provoke "protest".

 

[CombatVet]

Again, thanks for all the advice. It's all more than I could have possibly found on my own.

 

[Waynetucky10]

I, along with my 2 sisters were homeschooled all through middle and high school.There are a TON of people that homeschool their kids, you would be surprised.There are even basketball,volleyball,soccer,and baseball teams that are only for homeschooled kids.I played basketball for a christian homeschooled team called the Fort Wayne Guard.There are actually 2 homeschool basketball teams in Fort Wayne, and 2 girls volleyball teams.We played other christian homeschool teams in most of the surrounding cities around Fort Wayne and even traveled to Ohio and Michigan to play.They even have national tournaments for both volleyball and basketball that we went to.I met a lot of really great guys playing basketball and am still friends with many of them today.If it weren't for that "social interaction" homeschooling would have been pretty boring.So if you do homeschool, try to get your kids involved in a local homeschool sports program if there's one available.Oh, and if your kids are self-disciplined and motivated enough, try to use Abeka video schooling.They are dvds of an actual classroom at Pensacola Christian Academy.I personally learned better that way then just by staring at books all day.

 

[17Chap]

Again, thanks for all the advice. It's all more than I could have possibly found on my own.

Start at the IAHE link you were given. The state is divided into zones and they will have someone in your area that you can make personal contact with. There will probably be a county group that meets for mutual support.

When we were active one of the roles my wife had was to field questions from newbies--just like the ones you asked here and about curriculum, phys ed, socialization, etc. See if you can make local contacts.

Neither my wife or I have more than two years of college, though we read a great deal. None of our 3 kids went to public school at all. 12 years at home.

One (girl) has a bachelors and works for the local chamber of commerce. One has a masters and works for the university she graduated from. The first (son) will start his third year of law school in a couple weeks. He will be senior editor of their law journal.

Why am I telling you this--you can do it. No one can do it better! Go for it, it will be worth whatever sacrifice you need to make.

Jess

 

[NordicHeathenVinlander]

Home Schooling IS THE ONLY way to go.

 

[Blue Tile Spook]

We are doing it for the first time this year.

 

[public servant]

Beware of the potential for turning your kids into recluse, socially inept, closed-minded zombies.

I think home schooling can be done well and produce good (highly functioning, skilled, articulate, critical-thinking) children, but I also think that is the exception, not the rule.

I have yet to meet a home schooled kid that was well rounded and ready for the university.

Apparently you haven't seen the illiterate, dysfunctional idiots pouring out of the public school system.

 

[POC]

IF / when you homeschool... Try and find out how to join / hook up with other local homeschooling families. Not only for resources to assist you on your journey, but also to have the needed and wanted social interaction for your child.

-J-

We have a co-op locally. One afternoon a week we all meet with each other and have age divided classes.

I certainly wouldn't have missed the "social interaction" of being taunted and beat up because I was small, intelligent, and musically talented.

I'm sure I would have been scarred for life had I not been exposed to all that wonderful redneck social interaction.

Thank goodness for that public education...

+100

Apparently you haven't seen the illiterate, dysfunctional idiots pouring out of the public school system.

+101

 

[gage]

I'll vouch for the home schooled students being ready and able to succeed in a college level biology classes. I base this on a small percentage of students but the care and quality of their work left an excellent impression.

 

[POC]

Two of the doctors I work with were homeschooled. I'd say they made it through college just fine.
I on the other hand went to public school, which did NOT prepare me for college.

 

[88GT]

In addition to the above links, these have been great for me.

IHEN.org - Helping Hoosiers Homeschool

The IndianaHomeschoolers List

IndianaHomeschoolers : Indiana's Hoosier Homeschool Community



Mine are only 4 (pre-K) and 16 months so we're not at a point yet where we have to decide.

I highly recommend joining the yahoo group. The e-list was a great way to get the info without having to do a lot of digging. There are at least a couple of "new to homeschooling" messages each month so you know you aren't alone. And at least every other day or so someone is posting a new topic for activities, curricula, museums and the like that are hosting "homeschooler days" with free/reduced admissions or special symposia, etc. If you join (and maybe even if you don't), you can go through the 11 years of message history.

I wouldn't say you were late to the game either. At least once a month someone posts an email saying she's pulling her high school junior or senior out of PS.

As stated above, the only state-requirement for schooling is the 180 days of instruction. To wit, you will need to provide proof of "attendance" to meet that requirement. Aside from that though, you are free and clear to educate your children as you see fit.

BUT, since you will be pulling your child(ren) out of a public school, they will need to be "transferred" to your "private" school. Indiana views the home school environment as a private school. There are sample letters of transfer to provide on the yahoo group website and probably the home school legal defense website as well. You can't just stop sending them without the state leveling truancy and neglect charges at you. Whether or not there's an actual legal requirement for the parents to make the transfer, IDK. But I do know that even those who have done it have been harassed by the schools. So I can only imagine that not doing it would be even worse.

 

[Blue Tile Spook]

You can't just stop sending them without the state leveling truancy and neglect charges at you.

Yep, I had to notify the school by telephone and letter, dis-enrolling my son.

Whether or not there's an actual legal requirement for the parents to make the transfer, IDK.

The school notified the State on my behalf and I had an email within half an hour from the state welcoming the new (Insert our last name here) Academy into existence.

But I do know that even those who have done it have been harassed by the schools. So I can only imagine that not doing it would be even worse.

Oh, yeah... it got ugly!

 

[Protest]

Oh no you don't!!!

 

[JetGirl]

YouTube - 14 Days of Homeschool

 

[Blue Tile Spook]

Annie, I'd rep ya if I could, but gotta spread some around first.