Homeschool 101

I am often asked why I homeschool (followed promptly by "what curriculum do you use??") and I have to say it was for a variety of reasons. My husband and I were both formerly teachers and we both left education because it became a political monster that lost it's purpose long ago. I have taught in public schools and private ones, urban settings and affluent. I have been a teacher and an administrator. My last year as a classroom teacher I taught 1st grade with 35 children. Now folks, I am an excellent teacher. And even I can't give 35 students the one on one time they need each day to be successful. I can't meet their emotional needs, nor can I hope to impart creative and exciting lessons with 35 students in my class. My job was no longer to teach but to referee. Crowd control was king. Students who needed a little more time on a concept or needed extra challenges got lost in the machine that is high stakes testing and reading readiness. No longer allowed to explore topics the students found interesting, we must stick to the textbook. Sad. Add to that the exposure these young minds were getting to x-rated movies, obscene music, and materialism gone crazy at home. My co-workers and I worked early mornings and late nights to make it all work, and our reward was too often being screamed at by a parent who didn't want to come to the parent conferences and doesn't understand why their child is failing. Or, we were given "committee work" by the administration to do at home, on weekends, over the summer. This work was what used to be done by the staff that was cut due to budget constraints. The final nail in the coffin as it were was learning my children have severe food allergies. In every school/district I have taught in, Epi pens had to be kept by the school nurse (or secretary as is often the case) as they are considered "medication". In an emergency, someone would have to track this person down, get the key, get the pen, get it back in under 15 seconds. Not realistic. So my husband and I made some drastic changes and I stay home with them now. Wouldn't have it any other way. The sacrifice is completely worth it.It is such a blessing to be able to do this for my children.I am so grateful to God every day. It isn't always easy, but it's always worth it.