Comments on: Keeping up with the Joneses in school http://blog.bravewriter.com/2008/03/25/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-in-school/ Thoughts from my jungle to yours Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Elaine http://blog.bravewriter.com/2008/03/25/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-in-school/comment-page-1/#comment-21968 Elaine Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:12:31 +0000 http://www.bravewriter.com/blog2/?p=718#comment-21968 Spot on, Julie and so timely. You just said for me what I was mulling over how to say to another family in our homeschool group. Thanks for beating me to it. :) And, for saying it in a way that can help and encourage all of us as we take this personally unchartered journey. Spot on, Julie and so timely. You just said for me what I was mulling over how to say to another family in our homeschool group. Thanks for beating me to it. :) And, for saying it in a way that can help and encourage all of us as we take this personally unchartered journey.

]]> By: Veronica http://blog.bravewriter.com/2008/03/25/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-in-school/comment-page-1/#comment-21864 Veronica Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:03:36 +0000 http://www.bravewriter.com/blog2/?p=718#comment-21864 Thanks so much for this article. At this time of year I have a tendency to focus on everything we didn't accomplish so far this year (and may not). Though dd has to take standardized tests, I don't want to emphasize that so much real learning gets forgotten. She has managed to retain a love of learning through high school and we have enjoyed this journey so much. I absolutely agree about having a philosophy of education. Once you have that it is so much easier to set goals, and to see them achieved. Thanks again for the great article! Thanks so much for this article. At this time of year I have a tendency to focus on everything we didn’t accomplish so far this year (and may not). Though dd has to take standardized tests, I don’t want to emphasize that so much real learning gets forgotten. She has managed to retain a love of learning through high school and we have enjoyed this journey so much. I absolutely agree about having a philosophy of education. Once you have that it is so much easier to set goals, and to see them achieved. Thanks again for the great article!

]]> By: Jennie http://blog.bravewriter.com/2008/03/25/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-in-school/comment-page-1/#comment-21861 Jennie Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:30:49 +0000 http://www.bravewriter.com/blog2/?p=718#comment-21861 You have just asked the question that has been lingering in my mind. I finally got the courage to file my notice of intent with the DNPE a few weeks ago. I have browsed all the unschool/homeschool and soaked info up like a sponge. My children are 14 & 11 and the one thing that keeps coming up is " will they pass end of grade?". I would be lying if I said I weren't scared to death that I may somehow ruin my children's life in this endeavor. My son has TS,OCD & ADHD. Public school is a punishment for him! My daughter is such a truly unique gal and PS has left her feeling inadequate. I have to do this! Thank you for being out there in internet land. It keeps me form feeling completely alone in this task. You have just asked the question that has been lingering in my mind. I finally got the courage to file my notice of intent with the DNPE a few weeks ago. I have browsed all the unschool/homeschool and soaked info up like a sponge. My children are 14 & 11 and the one thing that keeps coming up is ” will they pass end of grade?”.
I would be lying if I said I weren’t scared to death that I may somehow ruin my children’s life in this endeavor. My son has TS,OCD & ADHD. Public school is a punishment for him! My daughter is such a truly unique gal and PS has left her feeling inadequate. I have to do this! Thank you for being out there in internet land. It keeps me form feeling completely alone in this task.

]]> By: Katy http://blog.bravewriter.com/2008/03/25/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-in-school/comment-page-1/#comment-21858 Katy Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:06:54 +0000 http://www.bravewriter.com/blog2/?p=718#comment-21858 Timely as always, Julie. We are in the midst of standardized testing which I choose to do because it is easier on me than scheduling a portfolio evaluation. I try to see it as a hoop to jump through. this is difficult when my 6yo looks at me with a silly grin on her face and proceeds to fill in the wrong circle simply because she likes the picture of the horse above it! Timely as always, Julie. We are in the midst of standardized testing which I choose to do because it is easier on me than scheduling a portfolio evaluation. I try to see it as a hoop to jump through. this is difficult when my 6yo looks at me with a silly grin on her face and proceeds to fill in the wrong circle simply because she likes the picture of the horse above it!

]]> By: Hilary http://blog.bravewriter.com/2008/03/25/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-in-school/comment-page-1/#comment-21834 Hilary Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:50:56 +0000 http://www.bravewriter.com/blog2/?p=718#comment-21834 Julie, I couldn't agree more with you on this post. Developing a philosophy of education is so key! I think one of the reasons I personally struggled so much early on in our home school journey in choosing curriculum was that I didn't think about a philosophy of how to learn, and how to teach. I just used what people I admired used. But then, naturally, problems arose as what worked for them didn't work for us. I would encourage people who are interested in learning how to develop their own philosophy of education to check out my website at www.home-school-curriculum-advisor.com. I have a lot of free articles and a free seven-part eCourse that walks people through this very process. Now with more curriculum options to choose from than ever, and more approaches that can seem so opposed to each other, I think we really need to focus on what is right for our own families. But what is that? How do you find out? I earnestly hope I can help others in this process through my website. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with all of us, Julie. You are an inspiration and a wealth of wisdom. Thanks, Hilary Visit http://www.home-school-curriculum-advisor.com for advice and tools to bring joy and success to your home school. Julie,

I couldn’t agree more with you on this post. Developing a philosophy of education is so key! I think one of the reasons I personally struggled so much early on in our home school journey in choosing curriculum was that I didn’t think about a philosophy of how to learn, and how to teach. I just used what people I admired used. But then, naturally, problems arose as what worked for them didn’t work for us.

I would encourage people who are interested in learning how to develop their own philosophy of education to check out my website at http://www.home-school-curriculum-advisor.com. I have a lot of free articles and a free seven-part eCourse that walks people through this very process. Now with more curriculum options to choose from than ever, and more approaches that can seem so opposed to each other, I think we really need to focus on what is right for our own families. But what is that? How do you find out? I earnestly hope I can help others in this process through my website.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with all of us, Julie. You are an inspiration and a wealth of wisdom.

Thanks,
Hilary
Visit http://www.home-school-curriculum-advisor.com for advice and tools to bring joy and success to your home school.

]]> By: Michelle O http://blog.bravewriter.com/2008/03/25/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-in-school/comment-page-1/#comment-21818 Michelle O Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:15:15 +0000 http://www.bravewriter.com/blog2/?p=718#comment-21818 Julie, Thanks once again for the wonderful candid, thoughtful quality of your sharing. One thing that is impossible for me not to notice about my 13 yr. old whenever he participates in outside classes and activities is his unbridled enthusiasm for whatever it is he does. Teachers and coaches always comment on it and how much they appreciate it. I attribute his eager attitude to lack of burnout. I really think this love of learning something new is a natural state that gets strangled out of our kids through pressure, fear and just a misunderstanding of what learning is about. Some friends of ours who homeschooled their two kids while touring the U.S. as a family band,for years, recently put them both into public highschool. He commented that they are having a great time and doing really well after going through a month of shock regarding homework requirements. They experience highschool as a new adventure and challenge because they gained such confidence from all their performing, traveling and real life experiences. Our kids don't have to carry such a load of pressure, stress and burnout with them if we choose another way. I love Charlotte Mason's observation that children are people! I love your opening sentence. It says so, so much! How humbled and blessed we are by that simple statement! I guess ignorance and opportunity often go hand in hand. Sorry to blab so much! Thanks Julie! Julie,

Thanks once again for the wonderful candid, thoughtful quality of your sharing. One thing that is impossible for me not to notice about my 13 yr. old whenever he participates in outside classes and activities is his unbridled enthusiasm for whatever it is he does. Teachers and coaches always comment on it and how much they appreciate it. I attribute his eager attitude to lack of burnout. I really think this love of learning something new is a natural state that gets strangled out of our kids through pressure, fear and just a misunderstanding of what learning is about.

Some friends of ours who homeschooled their two kids while touring the U.S. as a family band,for years, recently put them both into public highschool. He commented that they are having a great time and doing really well after going through a month of shock regarding homework requirements. They experience highschool as a new adventure and challenge because they gained such confidence from all their performing, traveling and real life experiences. Our kids don’t have to carry such a load of pressure, stress and burnout with them if we choose another way.

I love Charlotte Mason’s observation that children are people!

I love your opening sentence. It says so, so much! How humbled and blessed we are by that simple statement! I guess ignorance and opportunity often go hand in hand.

Sorry to blab so much! Thanks Julie!

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