Dr. Elizabeth Klein’s Homeschool Blog

Breaking the Rules…Homeschooling

I think I break all the rules. I let my kids watch hours of TV when it suits me. I let them have sugar. At times they talk back, and at times… I have even heard them swear. We take a week off now and then, right in the middle of a school session, and sometimes we sleep late and have lunch for breakfast.

Continue Reading Add comment March 11th, 2006

Can you do this?

Can I do this?

Keep in mind that a person 21 years old, with only a few months of supervised classroom experience, 1 course in development, one in learning, none in objectives writing, and none in educational psychology, is able to get a job in any public school in America, and be considered able to teach a classroom of 20-30 children. Keep in mind; you have years of experience with your child. You already know how he or she learns best. You have committed to homeschooling, and you have done this because you LOVE your child. Furthermore, you have a limited number of children to teach; even the largest homeschooling family I have ever heard of only had 16 children. Can you do this…? I think you have at least as many of the qualifications as a 21 year old…

1 comment October 17th, 2005

I was in Wal-Mart today with the children.

I was in Wal-Mart today with the children. As we were walking down the isle from baby items to shoes an elderly man shouted at the children ages 10, 11, and 13, “why aren’t you in school?” I’m sure he thought he was being funny. But it frightened them. I know it scared me, and I was just a bit in front of them and didn’t get the full brunt of his yelling.

After my initial shock, I answered him, “They are homeschooled, they are in school now!” And then the kids chimed in that they were homeschooled. I was proud of them for speaking up.

We saw this man several more times when we were in the store. And he tried to make friendly contact with us. But he had blown it. The kids were frightened of him, and I just wanted him to leave us alone. I put on that, “I am being tolerant of you to be polite, but go away face” and then finally the, “leave us alone, you’re being creepy,” face. Next would have been the, “I’m about to contact store security,” face, but he didn’t push it that far.

This elderly white man may have thought he was being funny, he may have even been socially concerned for my kids, but what he failed to appreciate is that when an elderly while man yells anything at black children, it scares them. It would scare any child, but especially a black child. I found myself angry and annoyed with no where to go with the feeling. I was, and am, annoyed because this man thought of what he wanted and needed before he gave any thought to what the impact might be on the children he was interacting with.

I don’t know this man’s views on race. So I don’t know how his initial view of what the kids were doing in the store in the middle of a public school day may have been. So, I am not making the assumption that his intrusion was racially motivated. However, I can with certainty say that it was not done with interracial grace. He not only fumbled, he completely dropped the “village” ball, and left me, the parent with a mess to clean up.

“I’m sorry that man yelled at you, he should not have done that. If he had a problem with the way I was raising my children, he should have taken it up with me, not you, and I am sorry he scared you. He had no right to do that. You were very brave and spoke right up to him that you are homeschooled, and I am proud of you.”

There, that seemed to have done the trick. The kids smiled and seemed to have recovered. But, later the 10 year old had a nightmare. After her early life, this was not a surprise given the contact with the old man. And I was angry all over again.

I wish I felt more adequate in dealing with the homeschool-racial issues and felt that I had all the answers for my kids. But, I don’t. I wish I felt more brave in dealing with loud mouth old men, but sometimes I am scared too. What I settle on, and try to make peace with is being honest with the kids. It’s all I have to offer today.

Add comment October 1st, 2005

Homeschooler relief

Virtual Homeschool International is extending an offer for a free homeschool year at Virtual Homeschool International for those displaced by the disaster Katrina and Rita. Families whom have lost their homeschool resources and supplies may apply for a 12 month enrollment. Families providing relief or housing to displaced families may also apply. While we have little we can offer these families in need, a year’s enrollment is the little we can offer. We understand that homeschooling my not be high on the list of priorities for families devastated by recent events. However, when these families are ready to return to their routine they may apply and we will accept applications for the next 6 months. Please keep in mind that life seems to return to normal when you do the things you normally do, and homeschooling children may be a way to help your family begin the healing.

Apply at admin@vhomeschool.com and give a brief description of your situation.

We are also asking for donations for diplaced families and this link can be found on both the home page and the Start Page. We will be sending donated homeschool supplies to families in need.

Thanks,

Dr. Elizabeth Klein

Add comment September 22nd, 2005

More Homeschool relief

Homeschoolers affcted by recent hurricanes…

Continue Reading Add comment September 3rd, 2005

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

School started in our area two weeks ago. When we go out in public these days during school hours people are looking and asking themselves, if not me, why aren’t those kids in school? My stock answer is, “they are, we homeschool and right now we are doing math.” Then they either smile ‘cuz they get it, or look puzzled because they don’t. Usually they tell me some story about someone else they know who homeschools too. It is usually positive, but not always… what can you do?

I’ve noticed the confused parents with lists from the school district looking for school supplies have been replaced. They have become angry parents looking for what they should have gotten the first time, but either misread or misunderstood, or just plain couldn’t believe what was written on the lists.

We have been collecting our supplies too in the last two weeks. But my supplies include doll making supplies and a small sewing machine. We are going to learn to sew this school year along with math and history, and for part of art class as well. My girls are thrilled; the boys are actually a little psyched too.

I’ve bought small craft kits the kids can do on their own, and lots of craft supplies, Pom Poms, buttons, paper, glue, and I invested in a paper tower (holder) from Office Max that can hold four levels of papers and in it I’ve put lined paper, 24 lb printer paper, and two levels of construction paper. The rule is one sheet at a time or the kids will take thirty sheets for a project that takes one. My hope is this will make paper available to the kids and at the same time keep paper waist down, I am aware that I am probably deluding myself, but if I don’t do it who will?

Another cave to the beginning of school is that I did buy a few more summer tee-shirts. The girls were looking a bit ragged and one with short hair was mistaken for a boy because of her rowdy behavior, so I got her two pink tees. She is happy now, and my guilt is assuaged if only briefly.

So, now we are starting the school year. I would be lying if I said there is no resistance. The kids would love summer to continue and like the abbreviated summer. But I need to see some progress or I get nervous. I need to see reading taking place, and I need to see at least short reports being written. Both are skills that I want my children to have as adults, and as an educator I know the seeds of those skills are sewn now. So certain conversations are taking place. It goes something like this, “When you have finished reading and have done the report bring it to me to check.” When I find the child using the computer to play games instead of the assigned school work…”you have 20 minutes to give me a reading report, if it is not done, or is not done right, you are grounded from the computer for the rest of the day, and I will double your work for tomorrow.” This may seem drastic, but at the beginning of the school year, for some reason, we seem to have to establish that it is easier to do it right the first time and when it is expected than to goof off and hand in messy or incomplete work. This usually only takes a few days and then the kids are in the grove and the resistance fades. But we go through this every year.

Of course we use rewards and incentive too. But on a personal level, I believe it is important for children to figure out what is in their best interest and to follow through on making those things happen. Making them uncomfortable until they do what is expected is part of life. You don’t pay your car loan you loose your car. The implications are far reaching. But sometimes it is difficult to remember that it is loving them to sit back and watch them be uncomfortable and to not rescue them. It is hard to remember that learning can be hard won, and sometime crying is involved. It is known as “Grandma’s rule” simply stated, “When you have done (fill in the blank) then you can do that (fill in the blank).” Or, “When you have finished your reading and report, then you can use the computer to play games” ”It is not indifference or meanness to stick it out and make them comply. There are limits, and usually we find some middle ground.

The first week is always an adventure in patience, in flexibility, and in rearranging, but we make it through and venture on to the rest of the school year.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Add comment September 1st, 2005

Back to School, Don’t

As You Begin Your School Year

Don’t. Take a few extra days and enjoy the end of summer. Unless your district requires you to school for a certain number of days a year, take some time and enjoy the good weather. There will be plenty of time for school days during the fall and winter months. Those days when public school is closed because of bad weather, you can snuggle up inside the house and settle in with the books or activities. You don’t get these good weather days back, so take and use them.

Next don’t. Don’t buy materials yet. Make lists of what you think you may need, so you can feel as though you are preparing, if you need to. Stay out of the mad crush of public school parents wondering around Wal-Mart and Target with a list from the school district telling them what to buy. They have no choice in when they buy, and will pay premium prices. You have a choice. If you wait 2 weeks to 6 weeks, you can get those items you think you need for school so… much cheaper. A 3 ring binder that would go for 7-8 dollars will sell for $3.00 in a few weeks. Beat the system. Wait until the sales. The same goes for back to school clothes. Wait.

The thing about back to school clothes is that public school parents are buying back to school cloths, but the beginning of the school year is at an awkward time of year, they don’t want to buy summer stuff, because summer is almost over, but winter stuff is too warm to be worn yet. So, they end up buying new clothes for two seasons. As a homeschooler, you can put off buying new clothes for a few weeks, let the kids finish out summer in their old clothes (who’ll know?) and buy winter clothes on sale after the mad “Back -to- School” rush.

As an extra thought, you could use buying new materials as a lesson in planning and budgeting for the kids. Let them help you figure out what you need, how much money there is to spend on supplies and how for that money will go, then spend an afternoon letting them see all the combinations that can be put together from the supplies they want and the funds available. And, don’t forget the dollar store, if you have one in your area. The ones near us have school supplies for, “way cheap” and no one thinks of going to them for school supplies. You can walk out of the dollar store for $20.00 and a whole bag of really great supplies. And, maybe some pretties for Mom and Dad too.

Do the same with winter clothes when the time comes. Call it math. Report it as a school day, and beat the system.

Enjoy the extra time waiting gives you. Take the kids to the park and get some extra rays of sun. Use the time to plan more field trips.

Add comment August 14th, 2005