home schooling, what do you think?

[sweetbastet]

I'm thinking about home schooling. I've always wanted to spare my children middle school, but i've also read that formal schooling before ages 8-10 simpply frustrates and burns out children's learning processes. So maybe until high school, perhaps with a year or two enrolled before middle? would it be worth switching around? maybe see what they'd

Comments

[vincentgrayson]

Keep in mind that as much as homeschooling might help alleviate the burden of traveling with kids, kids *WILL* remove a lot of your freedom to do as you please. I don't mean this in a bad way, but more that many of the international opportunities for teaching/volunteering I've looked at either don't do anything for people with kids (as in, you're on your own for money, visas, etc), or it's much more complicated and expensive.

Homeschooling seems like a good idea, as long as you feel like you're qualified to teach (although at elementary school ages, I think most adults could manage it) the material adequately. I know that depending on the area you live (at least in the US), there are a variety of tests and other things you made need to do to "prove" you are teaching them well.

As for travel, keep in mind that moving is ranked as one of the most stressful things you can do, and regularly removing kids from their social groups/friends isn't something they're going to like (although I don't know that there's anything to suggest it'll actually harm them). Hell, Sarah wasn't even 4 when we moved out here, and she still is constantly bringing up her old friends and how she misses them and wants to go home.

Just something to keep in mind, but of course every kid is different.

[sweetbastet]

aw, poor sarah! I've been studying the "family sabbatical handbook" for the last year, all about living abroad with kids. They stress an Immediate routine combined with socialization in the new environment and visitors from home. They DO say that you can't backpack with kids, and that makes a lot of sense. I'd do my backpacking beforehand, chill in the US for most of the tiny years (i wouldn't deprive my parents of that) before fucking off for a while. they recommend about a year to really learn stuff from a place, and to establish a routine from which kids can grow and enjoy the experience.

I feel qualified for elementary, and confidant about middle, especially with the right materials, and with distance learning available. I could do high, but i'm not currently interested in going there. Middle I might enroll them in a school abroad, since that's a truly unique experience, and might also help them adjust to high later. Depends on what's available.