Being a product of public school myself, I never dreamed of sending my child to a private school, and homeschooling? Riiiight... So what am I doing reading everything I can get my eyes on regarding homeschool?
A few months ago, we found out my daughter (currently in public kindergarten) was having some problems in computer class. It wasn't that she couldn't do it, she has been reading, writing, etc for quite some time. She was bored. The repetition of the state computer program made her so frustrated that she would be in tears. One day, we got a note saying that the teacher was concerned about her frustration in computer lab. I called, and found out she had been criying every single Tuesday (computer day) and this most recent lab, had been sent to the hall to sit, alone. She cried so hard, she became physically ill, throwing up.
I was shocked and had no idea this was going on! When she would come home from school, she would never tell me this, she always told me she had a good day. So we worked on it, and worked on it for months. I went into lab with her, showing her it was okay. I talked with the teacher, I'd go in after school and do lab with her. Still, every Monday night, she would worry so much about Tuesday that she wouldn't sleep. She'd cry during lab. We tried bribing her, reasoning with her, getting mad at her. We didn't know what to do, and neither did her teacher. She would start dreading Tuesday on Friday! I felt so bad for her, but didn't know how to help her.
She has always been an emotional kid, I was when I was little and I still am. But never quite to this extent. So my husband and I started looking at our options. We could either keep her in a school that doesn't understand her, and doesn't have time to deal with her the way she needs, or we could try something different. Private school and homeschooling became our options. Leaning towards a local Private School, we went as far as enrolling her for next year, but I still didn't feel comfortable.
I read everything I could about homeschooling, but hadn't quite convinced hubby. Finally, I talked him into going to the Midwest Homeschool Convention. One class, and I could tell he was sold, even if he didn't admit it. We were there for 2 days, taking all the classes we could fit in, browsing the vendor hall, talking to other homeschoolers. When he finally decided it was a good idea, he told me what sold him on it.
"I looked around at all the kids that were here. They were sitting quietly, listening, obeying their parents. They were respectful, dressed modestly, and well behaved. That is what sold me." For the rest of our time at the convention, we paid close attention to the kids attending. He was right! These kids were the most well behaved group of kids we'd ever seen! Thousands of families were there, and not once did we hear a child disrespect their parents, run away from them, or say rude things. They sat quietly during the lectures, paying attention, or at least quietly sitting with an activity. We were impressed.
We went with intentions of using the k12.com curriculum in the Ohio Virtual Academy, and came out deciding to take the whole thing on ourselves. Now leaning towards the Charlotte Mason method as well as Classical method. (Another post!)
It is May, and I'm counting the days (25!) left of public school so we can begin our journey. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. But this is where our hearts have led us, so we can't deny our calling.
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