Welcome

Since we've decided to home school Hayzel, I've been getting a lot of questions as to why and how I am going to do this.

Let me answer those questions for you.

The why is easy: 

Because I can. :)

In all seriousness, I personally do not think that the traditional American school system is good enough for Hayzel or any child for that matter.. Public or private. I feel I can do better than they can.  I have a lot of trouble expressing myself about this, so I'd like to quote my dear friend Tania (who is also homeschooling her 2 children), because I feel she puts it best:

"I hate that every student is expected to fit into some mold. They are expected to learn the same things at the same pace in the same way as all of the other children across every school district. Blah blah blah blah blah! How MUNDANE! Do we really expect completely different children to learn in the same way? What happens to the child that marches to the beat of his (or her) own drum? What happens to the visual learner who is being taught strictly from textbooks? The bodily learner forced to sit in a chair all day long while learning, when what they really need is an active (literally) education?

This is why homeschooling is so very important to me. My husband, admittedly, is just along for the ride, letting me "test" this out. His philosophy is if it works, it works, and if not we can pursue other avenues of education. {Let me just put in here that Hayzel Sr. feels the same way Tania's husband does.}  But I am determined to make this work for us. I don't want my children to learn from a cookie cutter approach because they are not cookie cutter children. I want them to learn at their own pace, even if it is slower or faster than other children their age.  I don't want my children to slip through the cracks of the school system because they are slower learners than the average student or bored with easy work because they are ahead of the other children. As a homeschooler I can compile a curriculum with an assortment of teaching materials that I know my children will love, which will create a much better learning environment.

I want them to learn in a smaller atmosphere where the focus is on them, not what the average child can or can not do. I want my children to receive an education tailored to their needs, capabilities, and personalities from a dedicated teacher. Who can be more dedicated to their child than a parent?

The lifestyle advantages of homeschoolers are unmatched! Because of the lower student to teacher ratio and the ability to teach in a way your child understands, actual schooling takes up way less time. There is also the fact that homeschooling is not based on a rigid schedule with bells signaling the end of one class and the beginning of another. You can teach whatever time of day works best for you! If your child needs extra help with one subject and less time in another, what bell is going to tell you that it will have to wait until tomorrow?

Because my children won't have to live under the social or scheduled pressure you find in "regular" schools, they will naturally learn how to be more independent. They will learn how to make decisions by themselves instead of caving to peer pressure or facing ridicule. Parents and family will be their primary source of influence.

If I want my children to witness history in the making, like President Obama's speech (where he was advising children on the importance of education), I won't have to worry that they can't witness it because some people think he is a wannabe Hitler *insert GIANT eye roll here!*. They will get to experience more with field trips, hands on school work, and life lessons.

For my children, school will not be just another boring 8 hour day in a class filled to its capacity with children, learning from textbooks on a rigid schedule in a (possibly) unsafe environment. For my children, school will be about life. Their morals and values and education will come from someone who cares about them, with the sole focus of watching them succeed.

To some people this may seem like we are trying to stifle our children. "What about socialization?" "Why are you trying to shield them from the world?" "Why don't you send your children to real school?"

What people don't realize is homeschooled children are actually able to socialize. They are not locked up in an educational institution all day long. Nor are they locked up at home all day long. They can join a variety of sports teams, youth groups, homeschooling coops, and do volunteer work. They can even *gasp* hang out with friends! However, the most important aspect of socialization is not just about a social life. It is also about developing the necessary social skills that will enable them to interact with people appropriately based on the situation.

My children will not be shielded from what goes on in the real world. They will be taught things at an age appropriate level at the appropriate time.

Guess what else... school is about educating our children and preparing them for the real world... homeschooling focuses EXACTLY on this! So they are going to a real school.

They don't have to be like the average child in "regular" school. My children will learn that seeking knowledge equal to the average student subjected to standard public school education means they are lacking ambition. "

Amen.

With that being said, the answer to the question "How?" is the reason I set up this blog. I would love to share this adventure with all my friends and family and have you guys see first hand all the great things we will be learning. Any feedback will be greater appreciated, since I know it comes from a good place.

Happy reading!

 To view Tania's blog click below.

Oak Ridge Academy