Well, since I have been an "insider" for a little over a month now, I would like to share what I have noticed, so far, as the differences or pro's and con's of homeschooling vs. regular schooling. In this case, the regular school is a "private, classical academy teaching in the Catholic tradition." I expect that this is going to be a recurring topic as the school year progresses. I will tag these posts alike to make them easier to find.
* First of all, I truly dreaded the morning craziness. I even dreamed about it for weeks before school started; it was exhausting! Now, I appreciate that it is much easier to keep to an externally enforced schedule than it is to be self-directed. I HAVE to be at school by 8:15am. Period. And I am. I was NEVER able to keep to an 8:30 start time for homeschooling. I allowed too many distractions to pull me out of my routine.
* There is so (SO!) much wasted time in a school setting. I noticed it quickly and find it really annoying. Getting the class to settle down, getting everyone to open the SAME BOOK (yes, I am serious), then making sure everyone is on the same page, problem, word, etc., takes a long time. I cannot even tell you how often I repeat things like page numbers and problem numbers. Then, once I get everyone in the same place, I have to repeat what I have just taught because someone doesn't understand. The not understanding part doesn't bother me. I am there to teach, so I am glad to go back and make sure everyone "gets" the concept. It's when I am asked to repeat because someone was talking and not listening that gets my goat. I refuse to repeat myself for those reasons. The amount of wasted time was a shock to me. I knew there was some, but wasn't aware exactly how much.
* One of the reasons the (above) wasted time bothers me so much, is that I know if Ethan and I were schooling at home, he would be quite a bit further ahead of where he is now. Much of this is review for him, and for other kids, also. Some I feel I am not challenging enough; others are overwhelmed. Striking that balance is difficult to say the least.
*I love seeing my boys dressed up. Uniforms are great! They are learning not to be slobs and are not complaining about the uniforms, so it is all good. Annie is adorable also, but she likes to dress up anyway.
*For some reason, which I haven't figured out yet, I have been keeping current with my laundry (which has always been a struggle for me!) Maybe it has something to do with needing to have clean uniforms (and I only bought 3 for each child) or time management, but I never expected this would be
positively impacted by me working outside the house.
* Because we are not home for most of the day, my house stays clean! I haven't figured out how to get errands, phone calls, housework,bill paying, etc. done while working full time yet. I know I don't want to spend my weekends doing that. I am praying that I will figure it out (perhaps after soccer ends). So, I am especially glad that housework is less intensive than it once was. The quickest way to wreck your house is to homeschool in it...especially with a toddler!! This is one perk of working outside of my home that I am enjoying!
*There is a "herd mentality" that happens in a school setting. Kids just tend to go along with other (especially older) kids. I've seen much "kid stuff::" gossip, horseplay, teasing, name calling, It breeds immaturity. For a homeschooler who wanted to teach her kids to be individuals, this is a disturbing find. Also discovering that it happens even in a "good" school was surprising and concerning.
*We have met terrific people and families through this school! These are people we wouldn't have met otherwise. Although they
miss their old friends, I am so happy that my kids have made new friends. I have new friends also, for which I am quite thankful. God is good.
*Also, I get paid for teaching now! The added income is a blessing.
*Lost intimacy in teaching the faith. I cannot teach the way I did at home. When teaching my own kids, there was a heart-to-heart approach designed to touch their hearts and souls; a sharing of a most precious part of myself. Regular CCD or catechism classes can teach the faith to their heads, but only the love, instructions and living faith of the family can take the faith from their heads and move it to their hearts. Now, I only teach to their heads. Of course, we still attend Mass and the sacraments and pray together, but not in the same quantity of time, or with the same intimacy as homeschooling provided. This is probably my biggest complaint.
* I see the children become a bit "hard and crusty" as they "jockey" for position with their classmates. Annie, who is used to being the baby and playing with older kids who make a big fuss over her, at first, found the young kids kind of weird (judging from her facial expressions). I've watched her step away when things get too "pushy/shovey" or loud or rambunctious. I've seen Sammy (3rd grade) do the same. My observation is that children tend to develop a hard shell to counter missing their mommies and daddies, spending a good share of every day amongst people who don't love them as parents love their children. They are good, devoted and loving teachers, but they cannot, not matter how good they are, love each child like he is her own child. I believe children become hardened to this. Annie is not picking up reading or math as quickly as some of the other kids. Although she is really excited to learn to read, she just isn't remembering the letters and their sounds. I am not worried. I've never had a 4 year old reader. I have always allowed my young children plenty of play/arts&crafts time/justbeingakidtime. Many, or even most, of the kids in Annie's class have been in preschool/daycare for most of their lives. Perhaps this early structure "primes" them for earlier formal learning. I'm not sure. I do know that my oldest child didn't "click" with reading until midway through 1st grade. She now is an avid reader with a 3.7 GPA in college. Annie has no learning disability, she's very artistic and imaginative. She'll read when the time is right. What I don't like about it is her possibly being "categorized" as a slow learner. Right now, she has no idea that she is "behind" some of the others. She is still enthusiastic about learning, and her teacher doesn't necessarily think there is a problem either. I just hate to think about what happens to a child (perhaps older) who
does recognize that he or she is "slower" than others and comes to define him or herself that way. It's just so arbitrary. And they are so young.
(Actually, I lied above...THIS is my biggest complaint!)
* I love that math gets done every day. I've seen a strengthening in, not only Ethan's, but all of my students' math skills. We are using Saxon Math books....my old nemesis, but I have to admit that Saxon's spiral approach tends to produce strong math students. I'm seeing it happen before my very eyes.
* I am finding it easier to stay on track with my lesson plans. Not much gets moved from one week until the next. We get the work in. It is consistent and regular, something I struggled with as a homeschooler. It's funny. I have a class with more than 50% of students who were homeschooled at one time or another. I mentioned one day how it was harder to stay on track when you are home. One (non-homeschooled) student expressed surprise. "Why would it be harder? I think it would be easier." It was hilarious to hear the students explain why it is soooo easy to get distracted at home (TV, computer, play station, siblings, etc.) Gosh, it was like they had all been peeking into my windows!
* Despite the fact that it is so easy to be distracted during homeschooling, I have discovered EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I have put a child into school, whether it be Isaac taking high school classes, Lexi in college, or now the children at NECA, HOMESCHOOLING HAS PREPARED THEM WELL. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.The day or even months when it seems you are not getting anything accomplished (OK, well, maybe Math, but when am I going to get that lesson corrected? Yeah, and we're doing a lot of reading...ummm, and playing outside counts as nature studies, right?) Yes, even during those lean, challenging times, homeschooling works. Period. We had a terrible homeschooling year last year when we were building and moving. Math was very hit or miss....mostly miss. This year, in "regular" school, Ethan has the highest math average in his class. Sure, there are things he hasn't had exposure to that the other students have, but he knows how to study, he knows he is expected to work hard and do his best...and THAT makes all the difference. He knows education is important because he has seen the sacrifices we have made to give him (and his siblings) the education we think is best.
*The most precious part of homeschooling is the bond that is created between parent and child. The strong sense of family. The intimacy of sharing knowledge, thoughts and ideas. The deep knowing of a person, especially your own child--how they think, how they learn, how they react. This is the core of why I chose to homeschool. This is what I miss the most.
I suppose this is enough for now. I am getting tired. Oh yeah, one part of working that I don't like: not having time to post on my blog!! I do want to mention how pleased I am that I have the opportunity to work at this school, with the people/families I work with. Although it is pretty obvious my heart is still home, I am SO thankful for the presence of NECA in our lives.
