I am often asked my family members and others about home-schooling. How long will you home-school? Will the girls attend college? Those are the two most asked questions. Family members and others around us, have witnessed the amazing results and growth from my children being home-schooled, so they just want to hear more good stuff. Oh, forgot this question. Why do you home-school? The eye popping, mouth dropping in awe is the same from just about everyone when I reply. "I knew when I was seventeen that I would home-school." Yes, I did. No thought of a husband, no children in sight. When I was seventeen years old, my father's mechanic (his wife) was home-schooling his children. I also heard talk of home-schooling on public radio at that time. I knew. So here I am doing it. So, my reasons are not for religious purposes nor "down with the school system". However, since home-schooling for six years, I have come to appreciate that my children have an opportunity to learn, and that is what I love about this experience.
How long will you home-school?
The plan is through high school. A family member asked yesterday if I will be their teacher throughout. Yes, and no. At this point of home-schooling my children are learning the fundamentals of education through core and life lessons. Although they can work independently some now, once they reach junior high my supervision will become less. Even in the school system, a child at junior high level should not need constant supervision by a teacher when it comes to doing their lessons. Also at that level it will be time for my children to focus on what they want to become in life. Warrior Princess Z. wants to become a pilot, therefore we will research what aviators need to know in order to be successful in that career. Their lessons will focus on career goals. There will be an entrepreneurial point of view no matter what they want to become.
At the high-school level, they can attend community college, do online courses with MIT, the sky is the limit. Interning, and volunteering is also in the plans.
Will they attend college?
Even if my princesses have a business established, or a business endeavor in mind, they will be attending a physical college. They have a requirement of two years. If the career choice calls for more education, then they will need to make that decision to do so.
However, before deciding on a business endeavor or attending college, we would like for them to travel for a year. They need to experience that, either abroad or familiar soil, they need that. All the knowledge that they have gained from the beginning of their education, needs to be put into action. Even at this time, I (and daddy) are raising these girls to leave home. To be strong, smart, beautiful, independent, wise, spiritually strong, compassionate, humorous, and virtuous.
Yesterday, the same family member was so impressed by Warrior Princess Z's standardized test scores. She scored up there with 5th-7th graders, she is in the 3rd grade. Is that to say she should be in those grades. No, it just simply shows that in some areas she can accomplish work at those levels. We simply look at those scores as reference points, move forward, or work more in an area. She was also impressed by the fact that some of the work on the test was not taught to Z. "Well how did she know it?" From the world around her. Listening to other people talk. Making deductions. Analyzing. Reading. That is what intelligence is all about. Not about force feeding facts to be thrown back up again. I explained to her that home-schooled children are not better than children in school. However, the atmosphere (most) in which they are in is better, the student, teacher ratio makes home-schooling a success. I also told her that I do not continuously go over information, once they have it, move on. Once lessons are done I allow my children to work on their interest, they need to know who they are and what they can become.
Side Note: Why is Western education so different than Eastern education?
In China- students learn a subject 3 times a week for a year.
In America- students learn a subject once a week for 3 years.
In Germany- school days are shorter and children can focus on their interest.
In America- well....
In Iraq- when a child is told to read a chapter in a book, they do just that.
In America- read the chapter, discuss the chapter, quiz on the chapter, test on the chapter, homework on the chapter.
inspiring
Itiel, I am always so inspired by your organization. This is a great post, and gives me that boost to keep it up! Imsety is only 4 now, so we are very much still in the play, math, letters, reading stages. I love the statement that you made about your family member asking"how did she know that", because it is so true. Imsety knows things that I did not sit him down and physically teach him. We never practiced alphabets or numbers, we just sang songs, and as far as spelling goes, he just used his observation skills and taught himself how to spell many household words like, on, off, hot, cold. When organized, homeschooling is the ultimate definition of creative living with kids! i love it, and feel blessed to be able to do it, and I visualize that we will be able to continue doing it through highschool! Thank you Itiel for being such an inspiration! Stay lovely Mama Smell Good!
SoulLiving ~ Every Minute Counts