I am asked repeatedly if I miss homeschooling my children. My answer is consistently a resounding, “no.” The only part of homeschooling I miss is the flexibility it afforded. We were able to travel the world and homeschool on the road. When we read a book, we could visit the city where the book took place. Since the coronavirus has pushed me back into the homeschool teacher seat, I thought I should share how I’m planning to go about my day and what tools I am using. The schedule is critical. Starting off the day the same as usual helps get kids back into the mindset of learning. After … [Read more...]
College Ready in Elementary School? What’s the Rush?
I sat across from my son’s first-grade teacher as she said with a straight face, “If he is going to be college-ready, these are some of the things he needs to work on.” My eyes widened with unbelief. I uttered with a turned-up lip, “College ready?” Stepping back from what she is supposed to say as she read my reaction, she whispered, “I know, right? They actually want us to use those words now … 'college ready'… for first grade. They’re even using it in kindergarten now.” My eyes looked up into the corner of my mind as I wondered, “Was Einstein college ready in kindergarten? Or JFK, … [Read more...]
Public School Frustration Drives Father to Consider Homeschool
I have always been a vocal proponent of public schooling. My wife and I view public school as part of the social contract that binds our country together. We actively participate in our kids’ education and I am currently the PTA president and in the past I have been VP and treasurer. While I think the teachers and administration at my children’s school are fantastic, at the moment, I feel like throwing my hands up in the air and, in a sense, waving them like I just don’t care. They are involved and care about the students, but the regulations, Common Core and testing along with the … [Read more...]