I'm Done Homeschooling

I quit.

I'm not homeschooling anymore.

Under no circumstances will I ever homeschool ever again.

Our family will learn.
We will learn...
...at home,
...in the park,
...in the car,
...on a trip,
...at the museum,
...at the zoo,
...from a book,
...from television,
...from each other,
...in the yard,
...on a mountain,
...on a train,
...in an ice cream factory,
...at the beach,
...in church,
...at the temple,
...wherever we happen to be we will learn.

We will continue to learn every single day of our lives; sometimes together, sometimes apart.

We will learn the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We will learn to read the things we love.
We will learn how to find the information we need.
We will learn that we need facts to make a decision, form an opinion, or educate ourselves or others.
We will learn about the amazing world, universe, and bodies our loving Father in Heaven made for us.
We will learn how He sent His Only Begotten Son to live, Atone, and die for us.
We will learn that we are loved beyond measure and beyond human capacity to understand.
We will learn about each other.
We will learn how to be kind.
We will learn to see the world beyond our own noses.
We will learn to serve and receive service.
We will learn to love unconditionally.
We will learn to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and any other type of arithmetic/geometry/algebra we need to make our way through this world.
We will learn about the things that interest us.

We will learn that nothing is more precious than our relationship with our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ.
We will learn to be good brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, and most importantly, followers of Christ.
We will learn to be kind and loving husbands and wives and fathers and mothers.
We will learn to support one another.

What we will never, ever do again is "school".

No "school" in this family.

If we want "school" we will go to the nearest government institution and enroll, but we will never again have such a thing in our home.

The Ills of the Common Core State Standards

When it comes to highlighting the ills of Common Core we can start with the name itself. Right off the bat two things stick out to me, the first being the word common. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary common means

"belonging to or shared by two or more people or groups; done by many people; occurring or appearing frequently, not rare". 

This definition seems innocuous enough, however if you continue reading you find disturbing definitions such as

"4b: characterized by a lack of privilege or special status <common people>; 5a: falling below ordinary standards: second-rate; b: lacking refinement: coarse"           

Our children are not common, in any sense of the word. They are unique and precious and should not ever be reduced to being "common", especially in such a critical arena as their education. Now, I know there are people who will dismiss these definitions as nothing more than an opposed parent using minutiae to make a point. Words mean things, people. Our language and ability to properly communicate thoughts and ideas are extremely important. The dictionary, and its cousin the thesaurus, are powerful tools in communicating those thoughts and ideas. Plus, I love the English language and enjoy using it properly.

My second issue with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) name is the use inaccurate use of the word state. The purpose is to imply, though the creators also outright claim, state level involvement in the creation of these standards. This is a flat out lie. These standards were created and written by private trade organizations and by businesses seeking to turn our children into a new profit base and create a streamlined 'common' workforce. In other words, the federal government, and the 45 states who rushed to accept and implement these standards, are monetizing the children of the United States, turning them into a commodity to be bought, sold, and traded.

Additionally, Common Core calls for gathering, storing, and sharing shocking amounts of information on students and their families. Some of the information they collect includes, though is most certainly not limited to, your family's religion and details on the exercise thereof, your political beliefs or leanings, health related questions, whether you have guns in your home, and details about your marriage. Schools are also collecting biometric data (palm scans, retina scans) on your children, with precious few limits on how that data can be shared.

However, it is my belief that the biggest and most revealing issue with Common Core is the centralization. Local control is completely a thing of the past. Parents have no say, no influence, no sway with what is happening in their children's school (in fact some parents who attempt to question Common Core are being arrested for trying to get answers). If the Common Core State Standards were everything its proponents claim them to be I would still fight their usage on these grounds alone. Absolutely no good can come from removing parents from their child's education. There is no legitimate reason to remove parents from the educations process. This is to me is the single largest red flag concerning Common Core. Why does the government want a set of standards and teaching methods that parents are so unfamiliar with they cannot help their children even with kindergarten level work? I don't mean that parents can help their children solve the problems before them or that they can't help their children access the information they need to complete an assignment, because they can. I mean that this new curriculum (yes, it is a curriculum no matter how many times the authors make claims to the contrary) teaches and requires methods that no parent has ever seen before. This prevents parents from being able to be involved in their child's education.

It also leads us to another serious problem with these standards, they are brand new, untested, and unproven. Our children are being used a guinea pigs. Not only are they being experimented on, our children being exposed to ever more degrading levels of filth in the form of required readings, sexual education, and tolerance education. Thankfully, many parents are seeing these issues and are fighting for their children.

Educating Your Children Your Way

It's "Back to School" time. The time of year parents of institutionally schooled children love or dread and when few things really change for homeschoolers. Whichever way you choose to educate your children it is often a time of reflection for parents. We wonder if we're doing the right thing for our children, if they are getting what they need, and if they are learning what they should. I believe that parents are uniquely qualified to answer this for their children. Watch your children, see if their needs are being met. Listen to them and learn from them. Be open to hearing what they are saying to you. Most importantly do not be afraid to make changes if you see changes are needed.

These changes can come in many forms. Your child may need a different teacher. You may have one child who needs to be homeschooled while the rest are fine in an institutional setting. You may find a unique private school setting that is better suited to meet your family's needs. You may find homeschooling is really what you need even if you've started out the year in a public or private school. You may homeschool and have a child (or children) who wants to attend public school. You may homeschool and find the curriculum you are using isn't cutting it. Whatever it is, be open to making changes.

Let your children's needs guide your decision making. This time we have to raise them is so very short and so very precious. In the scheme of things we really have so little time to prepare them for the world. It is imperative that we use that time wisely.

Nothing matters more than giving your children the very best foundation on which to build their lives. No one is better suited to know what foundation your children need than you.

I Love Homeschooling!

Holy cow! Will wonders never cease? I love homeschooling! Who'd a thunk it?

There was a time I never thought I would feel this way about homeschooling. Sadly, I've come to realize that that was more because of my attitude than it was the challenges of homeschooling. Not that homeschooling isn't challenging. Much like parenting it's a lifelong course in trial and error trying to figure what works and being able to recognize when something doesn't. Sometimes I run head first into a wall and sometimes we have great success. More often I find joy in small and surprising places. 

The last week had been quite full of our family. We spent several days at the beach and then hosted friends for our Independence Day celebrations.

This morning I woke up with a full blown cold and just feel crappy. So, I'm just kind of chilling in my room.

From downstairs I can hear the sounds of my children playing. 

So, my kids are together A LOT. Especially this past week while we were away at the beach. Today, while I'm upstairs feeling crappy my children are playing together. Might not sound like much, but I find it joyful. My children actually like each other!

So what does this have to do with homeschooling? I mean, this is a homeschooling blog, right? 

Well, I believe that homeschooling has provided an opportunity for my children to develop real and deep relationships with one another. They enjoy each other's company and miss each other when they are separated. This is a blessing I did not expect, but one for which I am very grateful. I can't think of a better a way to strengthen family relationships than implementing gospel principles via homeschooling.

Best Day of Homeschool EVER!

As a mom raising my children I’ve come to realize that it’s a job that never ends. 

I've accepted that there’s never an end product you can look at and say, “I did that”. You never get to see the results.

Well, guess what? I was wrong.

My oldest son had a pretty minor experience Tuesday that made me realize that our goal for homeschooling him has been achieved.

You see all I've ever wanted is for my children to take in all available information but to think for themselves. Tuesday, Tyler did just that. It actually took me some time before I realized what had happened.

Holy cow! I’m actually making a difference in my children’s lives. I’m actually accomplishing something. I have a result!

You know, that might just have been the best day of homeschool EVER and Tyler isn't even here.

Will wonders never cease?

Best for me?

How could I have ever thought that homeschooling wasn't what's best for me? Because some of it has been hard? Well, of course it has.

Everything worth anything is hard.

Did I actually expect it to be easy?

Well, no, but... maybe I expected to have different problems than the ones that I've actually run into? I dunno. What I do know is that I am finally learning to really enjoy my children as they are rather than how I want them to be.

A month or so ago my granny reminded me how much I loved playing school when I was a little girl. I was, of course, always the teacher, and I did enjoy that game very much. However, not for even a split second did I ever actually want to be a public or private school teacher and I had never even heard of homeschooling. Yet, here I am. It's funny where life takes us, isn't it?

What's Best For Me?

I've often been asked why I homeschool. Usually I give a half joking answer along the lines of being a control freak who hates answering to any authority (which is a totally accurate description of me). I even frequently say that I homeschool because it's what's best for my children, but that it certainly isn't what's best for me.

You know what? That just isn't true.

Homeschooling is absolutely what's best for me.

I like the freedom and flexibility homeschooling provides my family. I absolutely love not having to ask the government for permission to take the day off and do something fun with my children. I love vacationing when everyone else is in school. I love being free to jump in the car and take a trip to Lexington, KY and Little Rock, AR because Michael has work in those places. Or being able to swiftly return to Florida because a beloved family friend has lost their battle with cancer.

I am free to teach my children what they should learn and protect them from what they shouldn't. I can truly be there for them when they need me. Childhood is so brief and so very important. One day my children will all be grown, leading their own lives, and raising their own children. I hope they will look back on their childhoods as being filled with love and learning rather than looking back on their lives in school.

Ultimately my children are learning about life by living it, not by reading about it in a book...and I love sharing that with them.