Nothing is more emotional to parents than the subject of their children. It's hard to be moderate in discussions when it comes to children and what's the right decision. Obviously, most decisions are extremely personal. Major decisions and issues are filled with complexity and it's difficult, if not impossible, to speak from a calm center. This said, we can agree there are very good schools available to most all US citizens, places wherein children can get a quality education. And it goes without saying there is the opposite and this may be why so many parents have chosen to home school.
Home school parents have already made the toughest choice, to educate their children personally. This 2 part series is intended to help the home school parent, to share some observations and to offer some ideas, tips and resources. Unlike so many passively written articles or spoken thoughts, this is a straight forward, no holds barred, matter of fact approach. This is not intended to be negative or an indictment of home schooling. It's the author's belief home school parents are bright, articulate people who already know the hill ahead is steep and will appreciate someone's voice that respects such: matter of fact, simple, non-labeling or blaming, a voice of aid.
Each person has an area or areas of strength and each has areas of weakness. If the parent/educator can be honest with his or herself and recognize the weaknesses, there are some great opportunities to augment the home school child's education.
Being in our world, working through daily life provides each of us hands on learning. We learn by experience: experiential education. Our world is filled with rules, structure, it's how we are able to function without stepping on one another, both figuratively and literally. In our experience, this global-socialization is the most common lacking element in home school children.
You cannot go anywhere in our society without having to follow an expected rule. Most of these rules are unspoken, we learn them through osmosis, through being out and about in the world. For instance, at the beach, you better wear trunks. In a library you better be quiet. At the department of motor vehicles, you better know how to stand in line. It's just how our world works. A home school parent/educator must be hyper-cognizant of getting the home school child into the world, out of the house. Americans have extremely busy lives, this busyness is amplified when the task of educator is added to ones role. School then, is a place kids go and learn life is a series of rules, especially so at school. Home school children can get this experience, school's don't hold exclusivity rights but parent/educators must make concerted efforts make it so.
There is a second, more specific type of socialization for home school parents to be aware, this is peer-socialization. Kids who go off to school are intensely engaged in peer-socialization 6 - 7 hours a day. Many home school parent/educators already have this figured out as there are more and more home school groups meeting. For some home school parents, peers are the very reason they chose to home school and yes, the drama of kids can be overwhelming, especially in our fast paced society. But these dramas, these interactions are the building blocks of communication, ones we'll rely upon many times in our adult lives. The need for peer-socialization cannot be overstated. Of the home schooled children we've had contact, this is the single weakest element in their development.
Whatever the cost in socialization, home school kids more than excel in text book subjects. It doesn't take but a moment to notice the education and the manner in which he/she was educated is different than what is familiar to most: in the positive. Often these kids can speak at a level well beyond their years on a variety of subjects. This is why so many turn to home school eduction.
Walking away from the first of this two part series a parent/educator can take a few ideas. One, they should be proud of the courage it takes to decide to home school. If they haven't already they should recognize the advantages they have over institutional schooling: schedule flexibility, location flexibility, subject matter flexibility,etc. Then, they should take to heart the socialization issue and get their child/children out into the world. Have the students experience a variety of situations at a variety of locales. Let them experience the world and learn lessons from these places. Take field trips either as a family or in home school groups. Some places that could be visited: grocery store, library, bakery, construction zone, gym.
Leaving off here, to be continued in part 2, we'll note the benefits of adventure summer camps. These camps will provide concentrated levels of team building, community building, peer to peer socialization as well as global socialization. There's an added benefit to not having the parent being the voice of authority, giving both child and parent a break from one another. The newness of the environment keys the senses and puts the learning on an intense rocketing upward. If you have the means, summer camp should be on your list of must experience each and every summer, the benefits are phenomenal.
Specifically we recommend a camp that mentions experiential education or speaks of adventure excursions. These camps engage the child in a mind/body manner. The child must engage their bodies in the adventures and their minds in the social settings. You should email or call the camp you're interested in, or the couple you're interested in, and interview them, deciding which you're most comfortable. We strongly encourage a residential camp. These camps address all aspects we've mentioned here as well as the others we'll address in part 2.
Home school parents have already made the toughest choice, to educate their children personally. This 2 part series is intended to help the home school parent, to share some observations and to offer some ideas, tips and resources. Unlike so many passively written articles or spoken thoughts, this is a straight forward, no holds barred, matter of fact approach. This is not intended to be negative or an indictment of home schooling. It's the author's belief home school parents are bright, articulate people who already know the hill ahead is steep and will appreciate someone's voice that respects such: matter of fact, simple, non-labeling or blaming, a voice of aid.
Each person has an area or areas of strength and each has areas of weakness. If the parent/educator can be honest with his or herself and recognize the weaknesses, there are some great opportunities to augment the home school child's education.
Being in our world, working through daily life provides each of us hands on learning. We learn by experience: experiential education. Our world is filled with rules, structure, it's how we are able to function without stepping on one another, both figuratively and literally. In our experience, this global-socialization is the most common lacking element in home school children.
You cannot go anywhere in our society without having to follow an expected rule. Most of these rules are unspoken, we learn them through osmosis, through being out and about in the world. For instance, at the beach, you better wear trunks. In a library you better be quiet. At the department of motor vehicles, you better know how to stand in line. It's just how our world works. A home school parent/educator must be hyper-cognizant of getting the home school child into the world, out of the house. Americans have extremely busy lives, this busyness is amplified when the task of educator is added to ones role. School then, is a place kids go and learn life is a series of rules, especially so at school. Home school children can get this experience, school's don't hold exclusivity rights but parent/educators must make concerted efforts make it so.
There is a second, more specific type of socialization for home school parents to be aware, this is peer-socialization. Kids who go off to school are intensely engaged in peer-socialization 6 - 7 hours a day. Many home school parent/educators already have this figured out as there are more and more home school groups meeting. For some home school parents, peers are the very reason they chose to home school and yes, the drama of kids can be overwhelming, especially in our fast paced society. But these dramas, these interactions are the building blocks of communication, ones we'll rely upon many times in our adult lives. The need for peer-socialization cannot be overstated. Of the home schooled children we've had contact, this is the single weakest element in their development.
Whatever the cost in socialization, home school kids more than excel in text book subjects. It doesn't take but a moment to notice the education and the manner in which he/she was educated is different than what is familiar to most: in the positive. Often these kids can speak at a level well beyond their years on a variety of subjects. This is why so many turn to home school eduction.
Walking away from the first of this two part series a parent/educator can take a few ideas. One, they should be proud of the courage it takes to decide to home school. If they haven't already they should recognize the advantages they have over institutional schooling: schedule flexibility, location flexibility, subject matter flexibility,etc. Then, they should take to heart the socialization issue and get their child/children out into the world. Have the students experience a variety of situations at a variety of locales. Let them experience the world and learn lessons from these places. Take field trips either as a family or in home school groups. Some places that could be visited: grocery store, library, bakery, construction zone, gym.
Leaving off here, to be continued in part 2, we'll note the benefits of adventure summer camps. These camps will provide concentrated levels of team building, community building, peer to peer socialization as well as global socialization. There's an added benefit to not having the parent being the voice of authority, giving both child and parent a break from one another. The newness of the environment keys the senses and puts the learning on an intense rocketing upward. If you have the means, summer camp should be on your list of must experience each and every summer, the benefits are phenomenal.
Specifically we recommend a camp that mentions experiential education or speaks of adventure excursions. These camps engage the child in a mind/body manner. The child must engage their bodies in the adventures and their minds in the social settings. You should email or call the camp you're interested in, or the couple you're interested in, and interview them, deciding which you're most comfortable. We strongly encourage a residential camp. These camps address all aspects we've mentioned here as well as the others we'll address in part 2.
About the Author:
Christopher Pyle has been rafting the forks of the American River for 24-years. As owner/director of Action WhitewatersTeen Rafting Camp, Christopher mixes a love for the river and his passion for sharing Mother Nature with today's youth.. For a peek into camp-life, and to learn how you can join him, visit the camp page.
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