Are there parents who aren't good enough to HS?

[Jennifer3141]

My first post. Go figure.

 

I have a 4 year old daughter that I would LOVE to homeschool in a secular classical/eclectic manner. I've got Lively Latin purchased, History Odyssey with SOTW, some Latin for me, Critical Thinking books, and a few science odds and ends. I have found a great homeschool group and we take lessons in swimming, piano, art, and gymnastics.

 

My DD is one of those kids who never stops moving. She runs until she sleeps. And her mind runs just as fast. But there are days when she utterly exhausts me. And she lacks focus. She loves to "do school" but sitting still (even to eat!) is hard for her.

 

She counts to 20 in English and German. She knows over 500 ASL signs and recognizes all her letters and numbers. She is charming and precocious but she also seems not to want to learn from me very much. She has very little interest in books - she takes them from me and "reads" them herself.

 

I'm finding it frustrating to work with her. The inability to be read to is making it rather delicious for me to imagine dropping her off at school for 6 hours a day to make them deal with it. But the idea of her not being around and not learning together makes me weep. I am also worried that she'll be targeted for Ritalin immediately.

 

DH is almost apathetic about her schooling. He is a physician specialist whose father is a retired schoolteacher. DH went through public school and figures it worked well for him. I think he is both naive about the state of our schools and his DD's personality. He is also concerned that DD's energy problem and "spirit" would be a problem in PS but he wants to wait and see.

 

I didn't mind school much and did well myself in most subjects but I still would rather have been homeschooled.

 

Add to this that we have a very unevenly gifted 3 year old DS for whom school will clearly not work and I have a mess. DS has been diagnosed as autistic and he is not very verbal. DS is a counter and he LOVES listening to me read. He is my sedate child until he tantrums.

 

I'm looking at starting a basic kindergarten program in the fall, just to engage her mind a bit more but she scares me. What if I can't do this?

 

Jen

[Trivium Academy]

Yes, I'm sorry to say there is. The parents who spend no time with their children, who live in filth because they are too lazy to clean and spank their children because they might touch a glass of milk that has sat out for the last 15 days that is sitting on the coffee table. Parents who really don't care about their kids and let the tv be their constant babysitter (including rated R movies), they are the ones who should not homeschool. There really are some kids that will have a better chance if they are exposed to other people who can show them a different life than what is at home.

 

You on the other hand, care very much about your children and will look out for them in every way. It may be challenging at times and you may decide that you need help but there is nothing in your post that indicates that you should not homeschool your children.

 

Your DH's nonchalance is worrisome but I have a "I don't care, you're the one doing it" Dh as well. It may cause conflict down the road and you may feel like you're alone in a lot of the little things that arise. You won't be alone though, you'll have support from whoever you ask.

 

You can do it. It's not easy but most of the time it is rewarding. :)

[Plucky]

You can do it. Read a lot about homeschooling - all the different methods, as well as child development so you know what is developmentally appropriate. She's only 4 so you have plenty of time.

 

The only people that shouldn't homeschool in my opinion are people who are too lazy or selfish to parent or care for their kids. Having the welfare of your children as a main priority is the key. You do. You'll do fine. :)

[dragons in the flower bed]

A large part of me says that yes, parents who are not able to care for themselves, who are too innumerate to manage a bank account or too illiterate to fill out paperwork, shouldn't homeschool. Parents who struggle not to beat their kids or not to scream at them and insult them constantly should not homeschool. But another part of me says that school kills a part of a kid that could be useful in such a family situation. Schools most successful lesson is passivity, and it's kids in this situation that need initiative the most. If a child has parents who aren't helpful, and lots of free time to explore, that kid may be more likely to succeed than kids who have parents who aren't helpful and no chance to find their own inner strength. But that's not what you're asking.

 

YOU will be fine with your kiddo at home, and so will your kiddo, if you listen to her, respond to her desires and needs, and provide basic structures (like bedtime, a neat environment, healthy meals). She's only four. She could unschool productively for another three years before you start to see the natural learning drive die down a little. Many children her age won't sit still for a book. Just keep trying, model it, and make sure she's healthy, and I promise, she'll get there.

[dawn of ns]

My DD is one of those kids who never stops moving. She runs until she sleeps. And her mind runs just as fast. But there are days when she utterly exhausts me. And she lacks focus. She loves to "do school" but sitting still (even to eat!) is hard for her.

 

She counts to 20 in English and German. She knows over 500 ASL signs and recognizes all her letters and numbers. She is charming and precocious but she also seems not to want to learn from me very much. She has very little interest in books - she takes them from me and "reads" them herself.

 

I'm finding it frustrating to work with her. The inability to be read to is making it rather delicious for me to imagine dropping her off at school for 6 hours a day to make them deal with it. But the idea of her not being around and not learning together makes me weep. I am also worried that she'll be targeted for Ritalin immediately.

 

I'm thinking, and correct me if I'm wrong, that the times you're getting frustrated and it seems she's not learning from you are the times you're doing your vision of what teaching should look like?

 

Also there's your phrase, "work with her." She's very young and sounds like she's a kid that need to move and explore through play. It might be good to take a step back and observe then approach her learning with the idea of playing with her rather then working with her. I've got a son who's similar in a lot of ways and it took me awhile to realize that he knew best how he learned and until he developed more focus and attention I was just going to have to follow his lead. It makes things MUCH easier once that happens.

[Parrothead]

You'll do fine. Remember that she is only 4. For her age seat work shouldn't be more than just 10 minutes twice a day. Every thing else can be taught on the run.

 

Addition facts said to jumping jacks or spinning in circles or some such activity that she likes to do.

 

Science, if you follow WTM, can be lots of bugs found outside, nature walks (or runs), parts of the body while in the tub.

 

History can be, "lets make a mummy from your doll with toilet paper."

 

What I'm getting at is seat work should only be for coloring pages, etc. The time spent on seat work is mainly learning to sit still for extended periods of time. You've got K4 and K5 to teach her to sit still for up to 30 minutes at a time.

 

My dd is going to be 9 soon. She still has to have something to do with her hands during read alouds. I've always thought that if she had gone to PS that I would have had to fight against Ritalin pushing.

[FO4UR]

My answer for who shouldn't HS has already been stated.

 

It sounds like you are keenly aware of your dc's needs and abilities, and I doubt there is another person on the planet willing to take the time to do that for them. That makes you the perfect teacher imho.

 

It also sounds like you have your hands full. 4yo is very young, and you don't need to worry about academics at this point - she is excelling from your description anyway. Whatever it is you are doing now must be working well. Keep it up, and add in Kindy activities as she is interested and able.

[Sasharowan]

At her age, I wouldn't worry about sit down work. Let her move around while you read aloud. I have a fiddler that needs his hands busy. He colors, does magnetix or legos, or plays playdough while I read. Have her do letter sounds while jumping. Do a lot of exploring the outdoors if possible. In a year or two she will most likely slow down some. My dd did not like to sit at 4, now at nearly 9, she is my one to get up and get her schoolwork done, usually before my ds12 has finished breakfast.

[Sophia]

Your dd sounds sweet.

I miss when my oldest was that age and everything was new for him and me:001_smile:

 

Teaching my dc to read has been one of the easiest and most enjoyable

things we have done together.

 

I use Sing, Spell, Read and Write although I am sure there are many other fine programs to use.

 

What your dd is doing now by pretending to read is actually a good pre-reading skill and that by itself would not lead me to believe she had little interest in books. In fact, when my dc did that, I would follow up with sequencing cards I keep-pictures that show a sequence of events; have them put them in order, and then make up a story.

My 3rd dc also had what I call "ants in her pants" and had a difficult time being still for any length of time. I would engage her in stories by asking her many questions about the pictures before I started reading so she would be interested in following the story to find out if her theories were correct.

 

Are there parents who should not homeschool?

I suppose so.

My guess is there are more that can but choose not to.

 

If you are really interested in homeschooling, kindergarten is the time to explore that more fully and find what works for you and your dd.

[Peela]

Yes, but that's obviously not you. You can do it.

 

I originally homeschooled because of the learning challenges of my younger child- but the older, who was thriving in school, came home too because I didn't want to have one in school and one at home. I made it work for my dd, made sure she had a good social life and friends.

 

Your dd is only 4. At some point in the next few years you may have to reign her in for some seat work, but I wouldnt worry about that yet. Just enjoy her.

 

Many homeschoolers don't have particularly supportive spouses. Its a challenge. Mine was dubious and gave me a 6 month trial for my son- and within 3 months had insisted we take our dd out of school too! I fed him lots of statistics and articles on the benefits of homeschooling, which convinced him I wasn't just completely looney, altohugh he sitll thought I was pretty out there! But, he came around.

 

You can do it.

[Lovedtodeath]

My DD sounds like yours. At 4 she was almost exactly like yours. She has a lot of attitude and I am having to really crack down. Her love of learning is gone and she is acting like a moody teenager. She hates read alouds. I am feeling overwhelmed. But, it is getting better, and she is still learning.

 

She never stops running around annoying people. Wrestling and destroying furniture are her favorite past times. She went to Kindergarten for 18 weeks and she only got in trouble one time. One time to find out what the limits were. After that she was fine and not targeted for Ritalin. I threaten her with it about once a week though LOL!

 

I am a terrible housekeeper, but that really does not change much when we are or aren't homeschooling, so it isn't a big factor.

 

I agree with an above post that parents who tend to regularly scream or fight the urge to scream at their kids should not homeschool, but that can be overcome as well. I was screaming all the time with PPD and I got therapy and lots of natural remedies... all better! Also keep in mind that you can get a baby sitter or put her in an after school program, etc... just to have some time alone and keep your sanity. A couple of hours twice a week can do wonders for a flustered mom, and it is still a far cry from sending her off without you for 7 hours a day.

 

I hope some of this helps.

[Peek a Boo]

I'm agreeing w/ everyone else so far.

 

Let her spend another year PLAYING while you research different methods of working w/ children --Montessori might appeal to her, and Charlotte Mason stuff is nice to integrate w/ almost anything. Unschool --surround her w/ educational opportunities and take a year to educate YOURSELF and you'll gain confidence. File folder games are an easy independent learning option. some kids who won't sit still for seat work will sit well for an educational computer game [altho i wouldn't sit them in front of a screen for very long at one time --even if they liked it]. Other resources have self-checking methods that take the teacher out of the picture.

 

Questions that can help the ladies here help you:

 

how did she learn to count in German?

where did she learn ASL?

how did she learn to recognize letters and numbers?

does she learn a lot by listening to cassettes or cd's?

Is she visual and likes to watch videos?

does she do better learning w/ a few peers?

Does she like to interact w/ other adults?

what type of adults? what about animals?

what are some of her interests?

Is your family supportive of homeschooling?

Have you talked to other homeschoolers in your group about different methods and resources for learning?

can you share any other observations about your dd that might clue us in to even more helpful suggestions?

 

ok, enough w/ the interrogation, lol.....

 

You do not have to start WTM methodologies immediately. It is a great method to start using at anytime. I don't follow WTM, but i do implement a few of their concepts and think highly of the method.

 

good luck!

[Suzanne in ABQ]

She's little! Let her play.

 

You're a good mommy, and you'll be a great teacher, when the time comes. It's just not time yet. You don't need to stress about these things for another year (or even two). Put those books away, unless you just want to read them for your own personal interest. Don't even think of trying to "work with her" for another year. If you push her too hard before she's ready, all you'll do is frustrate her, and yourself, and you'll take a great risk of killing her love of learning.

 

How did she learn German, and sign language, and all the other things she knows? Did you sit her down and "work with her"? I'm guessing you didn't. Little children don't learn that way. They sort of absorb from their surroundings. Keep attuned to learning opportunities, and feed her little bits as those opportunities arise. Otherwise, just let her be little. Enjoy her. She may not like for you to read to her because she doesn't like the sitting still. But, perhaps you could make tapes or CDs or MP3s of yourself reading, and she could listen while she's doing other things.

 

There are a lot of creative ways to instill a love of learning into your sweet little girl. You don't need to teach the history of the world right now. You don't even need to teach her to read right now. There are lots of ways of learning that don't involve any work.

 

I'm rambling. I just want you to know that you're doing a wonderful thing for your dd. You're watching and learning from her. You're learning how she learns, and you're providing a learning environment. You care a great deal, and by the time she is ready to learn skills like reading, and content like history, you'll be an expert in her learning style.

 

Then, of course, she'll change. :)

But, you'll be practiced at changing with her.

 

Blessings to you and your children,

Suzane

[mcconnellboys]

Well, first of all - she's 4. I wouldn't expect her to sit still for long for anything at that age. Reading 5-10 minutes might be her absolute max at any time. Secondly, it sounds to me like she might be a kinesthetic learner - although she's still young to tell, for sure. If you could read to her or play books on tape while she's doing something, such as building with blocks, clay, drawing, etc., maybe you'd be surprised at how much she picked up - even if it seemed to you she wasn't listening.... But it also sounds to me like she has plenty of skills already, for a four year old - so why sweat it? You already have her in a full round of programming for even a child twice her age - I think you're doing plenty! Please try to relax and give yourself (and her) the time you both need to grow and mature into book work!

[Mom to Aly]

The people who shouldn't homeschool are not the people who would question whether or not they should do it, at least, not the way you have. You are asking the right questions, because you have the insight to see where your difficulties might lay, if you were doing a "normal" school day, in a "normal" school environment, where, you are probably right, they would slap a ritalin sticker on her and send her home before you'd even pulled out of their driveway (at least, a few years ago--now it isn't quite that easy--or so they say).

 

Once you get started, I think things will change. And, your daughter is only 4--she has time. You can wait until she is 6 to start kindergarten in most states, I believe. Even if you don't, kindergarten can be when you go outside and do nature studies of flowers and bugs and, um, uh, nature. It can be when you hold phys ed outside and she can run and jump and get that energy out, before coming in and being read to, or painting, or exploring anything else that is interesting and educational. It can be when you are learning how she learns, while she is learning (which goes on well past kindergarten, believe me!). It doesn't all happen overnight--and you wouldn't want it to!

 

We're going into our 6th year of homeschooling, and I've totally changed our curricula--because I learned so much about what how my daughter learned, and what she liked and didn't like last year, that I realized we needed totally diff curricula, and it is working sooo much better! It is all a learning process, they change along the way, and you learn and change with them--that is one of the wonderful things. Nothing is written in stone, there is no real right or wrong, and, even if you feel there is, it can all be changed. Even if you feel you totally blew it with one curriculum one year, there is always next year, even if you feel one learning style was totally wrong one year, you can try another after that. Even the mishaps teach you all! The saying "You learn from your mistakes" has never had more meaning to me than now.

 

Give yourself the chance to try, and I think you will find it is very natural. You will have days that seem horrible, days that seem wonderful, and lots of days in between. Sort of like motherhood ; ). But, for me, anyway, I have more wonderful days that anything else. That makes me know I am doing it right. That, and the fact that my daughter is learning, and loves it, makes it all worthwhile. (And I'd be weeping all the time if I had to send her to school.)

[Michelle T]

lots of them, unfortunately. And yes, there are certainly no shortage of parents who aren't good enough to homeschool.

 

The fact that you are worried enough to ask the question tells me that you are NOT one of those people.

 

You'll do fine. You have a bright little girl, you'll find your "groove" soon enough. In the meantime, just have fun!

Michelle T

[swellmomma]

I am sure this has been mentioned (but I have not read all the replies yet) but your dd is only 4, she should be running from dawn till dusk. SHe is too young imo to force seat work on her just yet. It is obvious she is learning lots from you even if you don't see it yet.

 

THose who should not hs are those who do not give rats behind about their kids or those who may love their children and generally take care of them but do not bother putting the time and energy into actively being with them, kwim You don't seem to fall into either of those categories.

 

I would play with your child more and put all your curric you have purchased away. Even with a desire for a classical education you have to wait until your child is ready for material before presenting it. I also have a 4 year old, and his education is not lively latin etc, it is learning to print, phonics and intro to math all together taking 20-30 minutes total per day with the rest of the day spent running, playing and exploring activities I put out for him. It sounds like your expectations of your child are way too high for her developmental age and abilities.

[Lovedtodeath]

I am sure this has been mentioned (but I have not read all the replies yet) but your dd is only 4, she should be running from dawn till dusk. SHe is too young imo to force seat work on her just yet. It is obvious she is learning lots from you even if you don't see it yet.

 

In actuality, pediatricians say that a pre-school aged child shouldn't sit for more than 1-2 hours per day total. :chillpill:

[sunshine]

I have a jittery teen, a vibrating 8 yr old and a tornado 5 year old. I can't have them in the kitchen at the same time when I am cooking because they walk in circles while talking to me and then my dh is worse hyper man!!

They drive me crazy!!

but, when I read, I am very dramatic, and they listen, but teen is fiddling with something, an orc, scout stuff, 8 year old is drawing or coloring, and 5 yr old rolls on the floor, flips off the couch, crawls under the table or does flips in the middle of the room. I find playdoh to be a VERY good reading companion!

I also like to let them make cookies, muffins or quiche, soup anything that they have to measure and hand stir. grease muffin tins. Sometimes we weed the garden and take turns with my teen reading. But the thing is they have to move. Even at night for the night reading. my 8 and teen will lay still at last, but the 5 year old flips off the bed, crawls through the covers etcc..

 

and the books have to be exciting, or towards their interest. If one is not then they have an agreement, one book for the 5 yr old and 2-3 chapters in a book for the others.

the important thing is to let go of your vision of comfortably, quietly sitting together on the sofa, sipping tea (which we do sometimes too) and the kids being enthralled with The Trojan Horse. son loved it, 2 dd were bored to tears but drew pretty good pictures of it. Oh yeah that is a good one too, have them draw what you are reading about.

Anything you teach them with love and understanding will be better than what they will bring home from school. And your autistic child will be more stimulated to communicate hopefully with his siblings around. Don't forget to investigate the mineral component of autism. The diet of autistic children is something that is being looked at closely.

 

YOU CAN DO IT!!:hurray:

[FlockOfSillies]

If your dd is bright, you'll also find more specific help on the Accelerated Learner board.

[Jennifer3141]

Questions that can help the ladies here help you:

 

how did she learn to count in German? From Muzzy! We started that when she was a baby.

 

where did she learn ASL? From Signing Time and my own use of ASL.

 

how did she learn to recognize letters and numbers? More Signing Time and the alphabet toys we have lolling around the house.

 

does she learn a lot by listening to cassettes or cd's? No.

 

Is she visual and likes to watch videos? Only for a little bit a day. The kids are not allowed more than one hour of screentaime a day unless we're all watching a Star Trek movies together. lol

 

does she do better learning w/ a few peers? I don't think so. My best guess would be that she would be distracted too easily.

 

Does she like to interact w/ other adults? She loves attention but is going through a fake shy phase right now. She may be over that by tomoorow though. lol

 

what type of adults? what about animals? We have a zoo around here. All we lack is reptile representation. She adores science and zoology. We spend every spring doing a lot of bug projects.

 

what are some of her interests? Toads, bugs, and "nastics" - gymnastics. She's also into princesses, eep.

 

Is your family supportive of homeschooling? My parents have come around.

 

Have you talked to other homeschoolers in your group about different methods and resources for learning? Yes.

 

can you share any other observations about your dd that might clue us in to even more helpful suggestions? I forget to count the learning we do on the fly. We took Botsford-Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study to bed tonight and ended up reading it for over an hour. (I've got some Charlotte Mason tendencies too!) She is definately a kinesthic learner - her favorite exercise is making the letters with her body. "C" looks like it could kill me. :D >>

 

 

Thank you for all the help, everyone! Panic attack is subsiding now.

 

Jen

[CLHCO]

Yes, but some people aren't fit to parent at all. Often, one fit to parent will be fit to homeschool because I look at it as simply an extension of parenting. All of us will have some areas where we fail and some where we are more successful, so I'm only referring to those similar to the examples already listed.

 

If I were you I'd just start doing some reading on it, particularly things like Charlotte Mason, Ruth Beechik, etc. I don't know that TWTM is the best for most parents of preschoolers because it can be overwhelming. It's not that SWB has in any way suggested putting pressure on the young, it's simply an excited parent will look at a 4-year-old and wonder how on earth she will ever teach her Latin without realizing that 4-year-old may very well be a completely different child by the time she is taking Latin.

 

My point is that you need to focus on doing 4-year-old things with a 4-year-old and take it one year at a time. If you simply look at the best way to work with your particular child where she is at this very moment, you may find yourself having a lot of fun. :001_smile:

[dangermom]

Yet another voice chiming in here--don't panic! You're just fine. Let her play. Pretty much what everyone else said.

 

But I'll tell you about my little ball of energy. She turned 5 in April. Although it was obvious last year when she was 4 that she could learn to read, she didn't want to sit still long enough to work on it. That was just fine. Now she is able to do a couple of pages of Phonics Pathways every couple of days, and she's well on her way to reading. She's probably learning faster, with fewer struggles, because she's very ready. It's easy for her now.

 

She still spends most of her time playing, which is fine. I agree with the above statement about WTM--though it is my very favorite book and we follow it closely, preschool is not the time to be focusing on WTM stuff (which is probably why there is so little preschool/K content in the book--you just don't want to shove a little kid into all that yet).

[sunshine]

I'm agreeing w/ everyone else so far.

 

Let her spend another year PLAYING while you research different methods of working w/ children --Montessori might appeal to her, and Charlotte Mason stuff is nice to integrate w/ almost anything. Unschool --surround her w/ educational opportunities and take a year to educate YOURSELF and you'll gain confidence. File folder games are an easy independent learning option. some kids who won't sit still for seat work will sit well for an educational computer game [altho i wouldn't sit them in front of a screen for very long at one time --even if they liked it]. Other resources have self-checking methods that take the teacher out of the picture.

 

Questions that can help the ladies here help you:

 

how did she learn to count in German?

where did she learn ASL?

how did she learn to recognize letters and numbers?

does she learn a lot by listening to cassettes or cd's?

Is she visual and likes to watch videos?

does she do better learning w/ a few peers?

Does she like to interact w/ other adults?

what type of adults? what about animals?

what are some of her interests?

Is your family supportive of homeschooling?

Have you talked to other homeschoolers in your group about different methods and resources for learning?

can you share any other observations about your dd that might clue us in to even more helpful suggestions?

 

ok, enough w/ the interrogation, lol.....

 

You do not have to start WTM methodologies immediately. It is a great method to start using at anytime. I don't follow WTM, but i do implement a few of their concepts and think highly of the method.

 

good luck!

 

you rock Peek a Boo!!!:iagree:

[hsmamainva]

You can do it!!!

 

My oldest was very bright! She was reading on a 2nd to 3rd grade level when she started Kindergarten (my hubby wasn't convinced about homeschooling at the time and wanted to at least 'try' the public school). My daughter was bored to tears!! And, because she was bored, she was always getting into trouble!

 

6 weeks into the school year, we were called in for a conference and the Kindergarten teacher said, "There's nothing I can teach your daughter. She's surpassed my curriculum. We'll just work on socialization for the next FOUR YEARS until our gifted and talented program starts in 4th grade."

 

My husband just stared at her! And we started homeschooling the next day!!

 

We've never looked back!!

 

Yes, it was hard! Yes, there were times when I wanted to bang my head against a wall, but it was worth it! But, it was a commitment of my time and attention, and my husband's money! I've had to change curriculums a few times, to find what worked, but I could always sell any curriculums that didn't work (another person's oops is another person's treasure!)

 

And, our youngest is autistic. She's 6 years old and has the abilities of a 3 year old....but she never wants to return to public school! She attended a special education preschool for two years, and it was wonderful, but Kindergarten was a nightmare!! They couldn't find an aide, then they found an aide, then the aide was reassigned, and they couldn't find another aide, they found another aide....who then discovered that the special education teacher was locking my child in the bathroom for 30 minutes at a time during the aide's lunch break!!!

 

We consulted with several lawyers and advocates...attended countless IEP meetings...and we finally just said, "We're keeping her home, too!"

 

She has been my biggest challenge to teach...but also my biggest joy!! She is SOOO happy to be home! She loves to "do school" and I'm amazed to watch her learn!! She's VERY gifted in math, I discovered, and is flying through Abeka math (which I had bought for my oldest, 10 years ago... it wasn't her style, so I put it on the shelf and almost forgot about it...it's been wonderful for my youngest, so, there you go! It ended up having a use after all!)

 

School is NOT the answer for all children!! Especially those who are gifted and / or have special needs. School caters to the average ... and your children aren't average! BUT...it takes an above average mom to teach them!

 

*climbing off my soapbox!*

[Remudamom]

Yes, there are some folks who shouldn't/can't homeschool, but you don't sound like one of them.

[Sue G in PA]

You can do it. I tell all my friends that I am the posterchild for "If *I* can homeschool, *YOU can definitately homeschool!". Seriously, I started reading Jessica's post back on pg. 1 and cringed. My house is a wreck (well, not as bad as what she described, but a wreck!). But, I do spend time w/ my kids. :D That's probably why the house isn't clean. Anyway, you can do this. I just wanted to encourage you.

[6packofun]

You certainly sound in tune to your daughter and to me, that's halfway to being "able" to homeschool her!

 

A little trick in the reading aloud thing: If you take a book that you wish she'd sit and listen to and sit on the couch while she's in the room with you and start reading it aloud to yourself--not loudly like you're obviously reading to her--and laugh at the funny parts, gasp at the exciting or scary parts, oooh and ahh at the interesting parts...she will probably want to come over and see what it's all about! You don't let her take it from you, just ask if she wants to hear what happens next!

 

Anyhow, that's what eventually worked for one of my kiddos. :) And it's OK if she doesn't like being read to alll of the time yet. She may be a very self-motivated student in the years to come and that's GOOD. lol

[laylamcb]

 

My DD is one of those kids who never stops moving. She runs until she sleeps. And her mind runs just as fast. But there are days when she utterly exhausts me. And she lacks focus. She loves to "do school" but sitting still (even to eat!) is hard for her.

 

She counts to 20 in English and German. She knows over 500 ASL signs and recognizes all her letters and numbers. She is charming and precocious but she also seems not to want to learn from me very much. She has very little interest in books - she takes them from me and "reads" them herself.

 

I'm finding it frustrating to work with her. The inability to be read to is making it rather delicious for me to imagine dropping her off at school for 6 hours a day to make them deal with it. But the idea of her not being around and not learning together makes me weep. I am also worried that she'll be targeted for Ritalin immediately.

 

 

 

Oh, Jen, I am FEELING your pain! :grouphug:

 

Your dd sounds so much like my dd--really, nearly every point (substitute French for German, and my dd doesn't mind to be read to--as long as she can be diddling with something in her hands or jumping up and down while I read). It's tough, isn't it?

 

I wish I had the answers; I don't. I just wanted to say that there's nothing wrong with her and nothing wrong with you, and that you sound like EXACTLY the sort of parent who is "good enough" for homeschooling. :001_smile:

[Jennifer3141]

Thank you all so much for even more encouragement!!

 

6pack, I used your idea this morning and it worked PERFECTLY. Where have you been all my life??

 

And Layla, we need a tribe of some kind for kids like ours. Thank you for your support too.

 

Jen

[Parrothead]

I just wanted to throw something else out there for you. We started "formal" school when my dd was 3 years and 11 months old. At that time I immediately set aside 15 minutes for learning to read. I used 100 Easy Lessons. Dd wasn't ready for it then. I had to do lesson 1 four times before I realized her little brain wasn't mature enough to grasp the concept that was presented. I waited 4 or 5 months and brought the book out again and it all clicked for her the first time.

 

So, don't frustrate her or yourself. Bring the books out every couple of months and see if she is ready. You could even do it twice a year so she doesn't cringe if you try too often.

[elizam]

Ok, seriously now. Those who would be considered "unfit to homeschool" probably wouldn't consider doing so anyway. I just don't buy the "moms who don't clean enough and let their kids eat junk food and don't make them do enough schoolwork" argument.

 

We aren't to worry about anyone else but ourselves.

 

I think you would be a good homeschooling mom!

 

My dd is much like yours and just turned 5. I actually went thru a period of considering PS for her to start school, but lately I really don't want to do that.

 

I have 3 other dc and some degree of hyperactivity or lack of love for sit down learning in each one of them. Does that mean *I* am the problem? Only if I make no attempts to educate them and help them learn to be organized and hard working enough for real life. But, I have an older ds that was much like my youngest and your dd and he was a *disaster* in PS. There were PS teachers who were *unfit* to teach him and other wiggly boys like him. Most PS teachers have no patience for that. It must be hard. I truly believe that is why so many homeschooled kids seem to have learning and attentiion problems, etc....not because they are homeschooled, but because they would have so much trouble in a regular PS classroom, that HS is better for them, to learn and grow in their own way.

 

I feel very strongly about this whole subject, as I am learning even now with dc ranging from 15-5 what true learning is all about and what just looks good to others.

[Pamela H in Texas]

Honestly? THere most certainly are parents who are not good enough to homeschool. They choose not to be good homeschool parents. NONE of us are perfect, but some do not conscientiously homeschool their children which is what a homeschool parent is to do.

 

Honestly? I don't think you are one of those. You have already shown by what you've done so far, your enthusiasm and your concern that you are willing to go the extra mile to do what is necessary to give your child a proper education.

 

If down the road, you see you are lazy, incompetent, driven nuts by child, whatever, you'll be one of the good parents that DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT or sends your child to school for part of their education.

 

Anyway, I haven't read the thread, but that was my first thought. You come off as a person that will do this and do it right.

[Mommy22alyns]

Oh my gosh... thank you for asking that question, and thank you for telling us about your DD!

 

Becca is the living blur, the kid who is constantly in motion, the nonstop, million miles an hour... well I could have written this myself:

 

My DD is one of those kids who never stops moving. She runs until she sleeps. And her mind runs just as fast. But there are days when she utterly exhausts me. And she lacks focus. She loves to "do school" but sitting still (even to eat!) is hard for her.

 

 

I'm still new to HS myself and I've been in a doubting funk lately, so I'm glad to see your post, glad to see other kids like Becca (she turned 5 in March), and glad to see all the encouraging responses. :001_smile: