In the wired world, you get to meet all kinds of people who share your interests, but express this with incredible diversity. 

One of my favorite homeschool bloggers, Tammy Takahashi of Just Enough, and Nothing More, is inviting homeschoolers to share their stories in Homeschoolers Tell All. 

Tammy was inspired by Alasandra who was inspired by Marserinitatis, and so on and so on.  Six degrees of separation takes on a whole new meaning online!

Marserinitatis, a fellow Stargate enthusiast, recently posted a blog article about Homeschool stereotypes and how we don’t fit into them…  Well, bloggers are a social bunch, so it wasn’t long before Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog Awards, invited homeschoolers to a mixer.  Yeah, it’s a party!

Okay, well, there won’t be any refreshments or dancing, but I’m looking forward to celebrating our diversity.  So, I’m playing along and answering these relevant questions:

1. Why do you homeschool?
2. What technique or curriculum do you use?
3. Do your kids work above or below grade level (or both!)?
4. What is your educational level?
5. Do you feel that your education level has an effect on your teaching (both limits and abilities?)
6. What does your daily schedule look like?
7. Are your kids always polite and ready to learn?
8. Do the kids (or you!) get frustrated?
9. How has this affected your parenting?
10. How much free time do they have?
11. What do they do during their free time?
12. What hobbies do they have?
13. What difficulties and challenges do you have with homeschooling?
14. What makes homeschooling enjoyable?
15. How do you get involved in the community?
16. When do you have opportunities to interact with public or privately schooled children?
17. Would you like more of these opportunities?
18. How can they be created?
19. What is your least favorite homeschool stereotype?

I love these questions!  They cover the gamut of questions that I’ve been asked or that I thought about before I started homeschooling.  Here we go!

Why do you homeschool?

At the beginning of the year, I listed several reasons for our homeschool choice including providing room for creativity and meeting the needs of the Gifted & Talented in the No Child Left Behind Universe.

Those reasons are still valid.  However, now I would add the freedom to be whoever you want to be. 

Friends have argued that we have to fit into the fabric of society, but I strongly disagree.  Why should we?  It’s not like you can please everybody, or anybody. 

That’s a good way to end up a miserable pretzel.

It’s possible to be a nonconformist within the school setting, but we’re loving being free outside of the school box.

What technique or curriculum do you use?

It’s eclectic, but I like to call it the “Whatever Works” method. 

In New York, you have to provide an IHIP (Individualized Home Instruction Plan.)  Our IHIP is more of a goals and resource list that we’ll be referring to for several years.

Over the year, I’ve also realized the importance of adaptive learning and wired skills (the ability to use digital tools.)

As a result, I’ve put a lot of emphasis on finding ways to encourage my kids to enjoy and create online media.

Do your kids work above or below grade level (or both!)?

Both, although this is a tricky question due to how subjects are covered in different schools or curriculums. 

Alex is clearly reading well above grade level, but he is working on grade level Singapore Math.  However, Singapore Math covers material in greater depth than Alex’s former public school.  So, while he is on grade level for Singapore Math, he is above grade level when comparing his work to that of that PS. 

Then, again, if you are comparing his math work to that of students in the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, where we have friends in the same grades as my kids, then Alex is on or even below grade level.

What is your education level?

I have an MIA (Masters of International Affairs) from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and my husband has an MD from CPMC.

Although we both have degrees from Columbia University, he followed a traditional path from prep school to doctorate while I took the scenic route.

By 10th Grade, I was already taking college classes for fun.  Then, I skipped my senior year to attend the College of the Virgin Islands as an Early Admissions student.  After a year, I attended the University of Delaware as an exchange student.

Instead of returning to CVI, I enrolled in Columbia’s School of General Studies for non-traditional students.  It took awhile to complete the BA since I had to fund it myself, but I did.  Afterwards, I enjoyed being a full-time student in the two year MIA program.

We both have attained high education levels at a prestigious university, but we’ve discovered that there are many paths to attain the same goals. 

Do you feel that your education level has an effect on your teaching (both limits and abilities?)

Yes, our education level does have an impact in that we are confident learners.

I’d say that we share the ability to comprehend elementary, middle school and high school subjects with our combined strengths in liberal arts and science. 

However, my confidence stems from the knowledge that we are capable of learning, and the humility to ask others when necessary.  No one is capable of knowing everything, but we can learn anything.

As a result, we are comfortable learning with our children.  We’re partners-in-learning, not fountains of wisdom.

What does your daily schedule look like?

A daily schedule doesn’t work for us, at least, not for me.  Something always comes up that takes precedence over any set schedule.  Sometimes it’s a field trip with my daughter, or a special class or activity for homeschoolers.  There is always something going on. 

Instead of a schedule, I’ve set our daily requirements. 

Alex is required to practice his math and piano every day, and to complete some science and history work each week.  He also has writing projects that we work on regularly.  And, on some days, he has gymnastics, piano, or other lessons.  That’s it. 

Of course, he reads every day and works on his own projects just for fun. 

Are your kids always polite and ready to learn?

Yeah, right.  Actually, Alex is always ready to learn, but he is never ready to practice math or piano.  For him, those are daily chores.  He is usually polite, but sometimes he isn’t.  Then, again, I’m not always polite either.

Do the kids (or you!) get frustrated?

Sure, some days learning is difficult, especially when we’re introducing a subject.  However, this makes the reward of “getting it” even sweeter.

Of course, there are those days when I have to get work done, when I don’t even try to work with Alex.  Then, I work on my own projects while Alex does his independent work.  He reads, plays computer games, watches educational TV, or just plays outside. 

There were even a few days, usually after a big trip, when we were both burned out.  Those are usually reading days, although we also had an extended Stargate Learning period this past winter.

How has this affected your parenting?

I don’t think homeschooling has affected my parenting, but it’s forced my husband to take on more responsibility with household chores.  Between the homeschooling and the writing, I just don’t have as much time as before.

How much free time do they have?

Alex has a lot of free time.  His daily work only takes a few hours, maximum.  However, some days we get a very late start on desk work or we get involved in a project that takes all day and evening.

What do they do during their free time?

In his free time, Alex is always coming up with creative, imaginative projects.  Last week, he took a dislike to the roofers, so he set “traps.”  One of these, was a growth stimulator to turn his seedlings into man-eating plants.  Really.

What hobbies do they have?

Currently, Alex’s hobbies include: Reading, GameBoy and Wii Video Games, Computer Games like Zoo Tycoon, online games like Runescape, Videography, Tennis, Skiing, Frog Catching, Digging, Gardening, Cooking and all things Pokemon related. 

Of course, he picks up new hobbies all the time.  For example, a day has passed since I filled this out, and now Alex has started sewing pillows for his Pokemon plush friends.

What difficulties and challenges do you have with homeschooling?

Maintaining balance is always a challenge, but not just with homeschool.  We’re always discovering new things that we want to try.

In homeschooling, I have to remind myself that this is a long-term project.  We don’t have to accomplish all our learning goals in a day, week, month, or even year.

What makes homeschooling enjoyable?

I love being free from the frustrations that we experienced with the kids in public school. 

I hated seeing the endless opportunity costs of a system where students have to slow down to work at the class pace.  When my daughter described the glacial-paced, monotone buddy read alouds, I was nearly in tears seeing how this was killing the joy of reading.

So, one of  the most enjoyable aspects of homeschooling is getting to read whatever, whenever.

However, the absolute best thing about homeschooling is that we are learning, exploring, and growing together.

How do you get involved in the community?

What I’d really like to know is how to get un-involved in the community?  I don’t want to sever all ties, but I’d love to have others take over some of my volunteer commitments.

Actually, I let go of several volunteer activities - Gifted Advocacy, Spanish Lessons, and Book Fair - when I pulled both kids out of our district public school.

However, I’m the Girl Scout Service Unit Manager for our area, and our troop leader.  My husband is my son’s Cub Scout Den Leader.  I also volunteer at my daughter’s new school as a Room Parent, and with the Scholastic Book Fair.

And, whenever the kids take on an activity - whether it’s swim team, theater, whatever - we always end up volunteering within that community.

When do you have opportunities to interact with public or privately schooled children?

Again, many activities - sports, music, scouting, etc. - provide opportunities to interact with children from other schools.

My son has several close friends from the neighborhood and from his school days.  Every Monday, we pick up one of his friends at the public school for their weekly play date.  And, we occasionally schedule play dates with his other friends.

This year, we also planned play dates with a neighborhood friend who switched from the same PS to homeschooling.  The boys enjoy similar interests and a shared experience, and they were free to play during “school hours.”

Additionally, area homeschoolers have organized events at libraries, parks, and other venues.  Perusing the local Yahoo Groups, it’s possible to find activities scheduled every day of the week.

Would you like more of these opportunities?

I think we have plenty for now.

How can they be created?

It’s easy to create these opportunities if you’re willing to reach out and initiate.  My son has been asking to participate in Odyssey of the Mind, so I might start a group for that purpose next year.  Fortunately, Yahoo Groups makes it easy to reach other interested persons.

What is your least favorite homeschool stereotype?

hmm… The stereotype that we are all incredibly brilliant, insightful people who love our kids and are trying to make the best choice for them?  Okay, I know, it’s not a stereotype if it’s true.

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