tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post5053185775146162180..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: How We Build Our WorldTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-49797693409566156572013-01-14T13:25:49.592-08:002013-01-14T13:25:49.592-08:00It's not really about homeschool socialisation...It's not really about homeschool socialisation vs 'school school' socialisation, rather that being in a community of other children feeds so much more than just academics. When we sent our daughter to school it was with the primary thought that she would be in a community of children each day. We've had to re-think as here in the UK there is a great pressure to read/write/count etc very early, so she goes to 'school school' as we call it, part-time and a Wood School part-time (outdoors in the wood all day - not the norm here and the school were very sceptical!), so it doesn't really matter where we choose this to take place (as long as it suits us) we know how important the different layers of school are (whatever it's manifestation), sadly it feels like the policy makers don't.Clarenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-81902275168567235622013-01-07T20:28:52.490-08:002013-01-07T20:28:52.490-08:00I think if most homeschoolers would have the optio...I think if most homeschoolers would have the option of having their children in a classroom like yours, they may not homeschool (at least the early childhood years)Faigiehttp://www.eduart4kids.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-63884669519355534962013-01-07T19:52:55.471-08:002013-01-07T19:52:55.471-08:00Yeah... as an unschooler... *shrug*... the sociali...Yeah... as an unschooler... *shrug*... the socialization aspect is probably a question we get as much tired of as you get comments like "I don't see how you do that all day!"Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01598524571479954748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-46992996827489652782013-01-07T19:39:22.702-08:002013-01-07T19:39:22.702-08:00I grew up as a home-schooled child through middle ...I grew up as a home-schooled child through middle school (I went to a university model high school - classes 3 days a week, work from home 2 days), and maybe it was just the particular homeschool families I grew up around, but it seems most of them didn't need school as socialization and learning to work together because a) they had large families (most had at least 3 children, many had 5, 6, or I even knew a few in the double-digits), so there was always a need to get along and work things out together from sun-up to sun-down b) most were families with only one working parent (a few families it was Mom, but usually Dad) which left the other parent with lots of time to organize and attend play-dates, museum or zoo trips, library story times, etc. which all contributed to learning to live together with others. It seems to me, then, that the need for school, especially at the youngest end of the spectrum, comes largely from a shift in our culture away from larger families (many children today have one sibling if any) and toward 2-income families. Not saying it's good or bad, just musing here :)ACsMamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-26414706863477547032013-01-07T18:16:59.511-08:002013-01-07T18:16:59.511-08:00Homeschooling is great for the right people. It ju...Homeschooling is great for the right people. It just wasn't for us.Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-62119121518822990522013-01-07T08:40:40.118-08:002013-01-07T08:40:40.118-08:00My son is too young for school right now but we ar...My son is too young for school right now but we are considering homeschooling. The going theory that I've been hearing is that schools focused on curriculum and testing do not allow for appropriate social development and that they limit the social development by grouping kids together by age, abilities, etc. I'm curious what you (and/ or your readers) think.Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02981154336696948302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-55444426826469310902013-01-07T08:27:54.172-08:002013-01-07T08:27:54.172-08:00Lovely post again today! As a teacher that promot...Lovely post again today! As a teacher that promotes block play I loved your photos! As a teacher that now works with homeschoolers you should be aware that there are programs in which homeschoolers meet for community building experiences. The program I work in has a once per week day of enrichment classes. Sometimes the topics are academic such as conversational Spanish, geometry, or writing. Most of the classes are very hands on such as cooking, block building, sewing, rocketry, ceramics, choir, guitar, drama, storytelling. These classes are fun, and students enjoy coming. Some of the teachers are education professionals and others are parents. It's definitely cooperative and a highlight of my week and that of the students. <br /> There are many different ways of homeschooling. The vast majority of homeschooling folks I know have their kids involved in some type of social/educational activity. It might be recreational soccer, swim lessons, 4H, or Scouting. Homeschooling unless you are living in a very remote area is not an isolating activity. It's an opportunity to allow your child to follow his/her learning passions in a way that can be nearly impossible in traditional school settings. <br /> As an educational professional that has worked in early childhood and elementary education, I have felt frustrated that the wonderful play based, hands-on learning experiences which occur in preschool are almost completely unavailable once a child enters elementary school. In my own classes I have facilitated as much hands-on learning and support of personal passions as I could. Most teachers do not and are under huge pressures especially now to produce specific results as assessed by tests. Ironically, the kids would probably do better on tests if their elementary education was play based because kids would be making lots of connections between topics that are easily integrated when they are hands on! Isolating skills and fragmenting learning don't seem to be doing the trick in improving test scores. And perhaps this is why so many folks are homeschooling and tapping into a variety of community resources to augment what they do at home to provide those social interactions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com