I get a little annoyed at the common notion among homeschoolers that “there’s no such thing as behind” in homeschool. I understand that my son’s education is much different than if he were in public school, but I do still expect him to be on schedule/ ready to graduate around 17 yrs old. So, to us, being near grade level is important
For me...I tend more towards assuming that my homeschool will more naturally lend toward my kids having the opportunity to learn MORE than they would in a traditional school...homeschooling gives us so much time to spend on actual learning (instead of following school procedures). Of course, it has been the experience of some homeschool graduates that they have found themselves, upon graduation, to feel like they are behind or that there are glaring gaps in their education--that's something that can be avoided when parents are aware of the standards and goals that they can set, and work toward meeting those. There can be specific reasons (developmental delays, medical needs, etc.) to set grade level standards aside, but for many kids, they can serve as a basic 'guideline' for educational expectations.
I was homeschooled up until grade 7. During that time my mother had more of an unschooling approach to school, and as I entered public school I felt a little lost for a while. During high school I was almost always on the high honor role, but there was definitely times where I felt like I was trying to learn things that I should have learned in elementary school just to keep my grades up on top of what I was expected to learn at grade level. This is part of what drives me to really research curriculum, and make sure I'm finding what's best for my kids. I don't want them to ever feel that way I did in school.
That's good to hear that you've let your own experience shape the way you homeschool today. I think it's worthwhile for us homeschool parents to do our due diligence in figuring out how to offer our children a wide and deep education.
Would you mind sharing examples of what you wished you had known? I know it's different for everyone. I appreciate from hearing from former homeschoolers.
I love this. This isn’t talked about enough in the homeschool world. A pat on the back and reassurance is nice sometimes but i appreciate the practicality of this. I go back to a few favorite teacher books to evaluate my children’s progress when i start to worry. Recently I did this with The Three R’s by Ruth Beechik while evaluating progress in my kiddos.
Yes, there are times when all you really need is reassurance...but for me, practical steps ARE very reassuring. "Worry" is often caused by the unknown, so when we get down to the specifics of any worries we may have and make an action plan to address them, I find that very helpful! Keeping records of progress and having those resources like you mentioned can be very helpful.
I feel like I have just went through all of these emotions recently worrying if I am doing enough. What gave me peace was looking over our yearly progress and my planner of all the goals each of my kids have met. After my mental breakdown 😂 I was able to simplify and reassess the areas I want to focus on for the remainder of the school year. This was such a great video I loved hearing your thoughts on this topic.
Thank you! I know that the "you are enough" messages are very well-intentioned, and can be encouraging, but they can also have the effect of sweeping genuine concerns under the rug instead of addressing them head on.
Homeschool is no reason at all for our kids to have an education less than the one they deserve. :) In fact, it offers us the opportunity to present them with a wide feast of education!
This is such a great channel. I’m grateful that you’re not an engineer so you have the time to homeschool your kids and help so many of us to learn more about how to homeschool our children.
We are in our first year still, so it definitely can feel like we haven't accomplished a ton (at least compared to my dreams). I try to remember that there are lots of years ahead to do all these great things in. 😀
Ahhh, those pesky daydreams. It's so much easier to get everything done! Yes--not everything on the homeschool bucket list has to be squeezed into a single year! That's the wonderful thing about having these years ahead of us--yes, they will fly by, but when we approach them with intention, they will be rich with lots of learning..and not crammed over-full, when we remember that we homeschool in the real world, not in a daydream! :)
This is such a valuable video. I love how you mentioned keeping track of your child’s work. That is crucial to know if they are making progress or not.
Yes! Keeping records and pieces of their work for a portfolio, is beneficial even when you aren't "required" to do so. Being able to see what progress they are or are not making can give you needed information to know whether you should or should not worry (and the documentation if you determine that you need to seek out further help to support their learning in an area of struggle).
I know a mom that was homeschooled. I was shocked when she said she felt like her mom gave her the bare minimum as far as education. I feel like I'm doing that to my kids and I don't want to do that to them
There are many homeschool graduates today who feel the same way--and it's likely true. Not all homeschool parents are offering their children an excellent education. But the 'bare minimum' should be a standard far below what we strive to offer our children. We have the opportunity to offer a rich education, and when we can implement that effectively and consistently, we won't have to fear that our kids will feel that way about their own education.
I worry mainly with stuff that is probably dyslexia!!! I keep hearing that my kids don’t spend enough time doing school but I’m hearing from ppl used to the public school system!!! I need to think more about the thing I need to help more with!!!
Yes, identifying specific concerns or issues and then working to solve those is so much more helpful than just staying in a generalized state of worry.
What do I do? Well, I tune into that inkling, get specific/pray for clairty as I have found Him to be a God of clarity. What IS He trying to communicate to me in this? It's continual, the concern remains as I process and ask things like, what's the alternative? To do nothing? We are continuing on, in spite of how I feel, which brings up if this is a feelings issue because I don't know that it's tangible to confirm one way or the other. And, when I remove the grade aspect from it, I have found that to open up space to further examine and evaluate. Amd then there is the matter of maturity vs educational progress... it has served to highlight that my focus and concerns are more for preparing her for life and for her to be increasingly self led/involved in HER education and how that looks for HER. And I am responsible before the Lord, owning that and seeking Him. But yeah, lately, it's the older grades that are daunting to me as though I can't just keep doing what we've been doing? Insecure? Doubts? But, compared to what? Am i comparing to state schools? To my own schooling? To what others have said or an image in my mind of how it should be? Would i ever feel it's enough?
You are right that remaining in a state of doubt in the long term is not sustainable. Our children themselves will ultimately determine the extent of the enthusiasm with which they engage with their education (and some will display more enthusiasm and more grit than others--that comes down to individual character and temperament). But we can faithfully do the work, learn how to do it skillfully--and also work on ourselves, to not remain in a state of stress but to bring calm to our homeschool.
@SevenInAll 😉 and what I do is tentatively seek out videos/articles for further articulation and clarity on the subject without compounding it further.
I'm going to say even in the public school system these problems are red flags. I'm old and I 100% still don't have multiplication facts memorized. Public schools moved on and lost me....I pray I can do better by my daughter.
Yes--it's amazing the impact that simple things like not having that automaticity of math facts in place can impact more complicated processes later on. It's worth stopping and taking the time to do right by our students on these fundamentals!
How do you determine your family’s goal timeline? Especially concerning “basic” skills, such as, at what age do kids need to have mastered their multiplication table? Be able to write a paragraph? Know the basic geography of their country? Is there a resource you refer to?
As a homeschooler, I don't tend to make age-based goals....for me, from what I've observed, the milestones a child reaches at particular ages seem to be much more about THEM and the way their brain is wired and their natural pace vs. more arbitrary goals. For me, what I pursue is consistency--consistent teaching, and consistently working toward the natural next skill. Part of that is influenced because I've been working with educational support for kids with special needs for almost the past decade--they each have their own timeline, and we don't really set goals, but we do rejoice when we see the hard work they've put in to reach major milestones, even if the journey to those milestones was longer than usual. So...for example, it wasn't my "goal" that my son would be able to write the alphabet and know all the alphabet sounds at 4 years old...but because he DID have that skill by Pre-K, I moved right along to the next skill, phonic and beginning reading. Other kids might not master all of the sounds and might now be ready for phonics till age 5 or 6 (or even later in the case of additional learning challenges that require extra groundwork) So for me, it's more about working toward the next natural skill after one is mastered. I wouldn't be working on learning to write paragraphs until the child has mastered basic sentences. But, for a guideline, I think that in cases of "typical" learners, an average curriculum's scope and sequence will be pretty well on track. 3rd grade is the "big" year for mastering multiplication in many math curriculums...and I think for a "typical" learner, that's very doable and reasonable to expect.
That seems very wise. Respect the individual but always be striving for progress. I suppose for the first 12 years of our 16-year homeschooling journey, we mostly used Abeka, and didn’t really worry about whether we were hitting all the milestones; it was whatever was in the book (sometimes working a grade “ahead” or going more slowly.) But these past four years we’ve really been trying new things (and having a lot more fun!) but it’s a bit more challenging to make sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be. I really like your emphasis on consistency- it can be a particular weakness for me. It seems a lot more exciting at times to chase the new and unknown, than to drill the same old daily. Then again, it’s pretty amazing to watch your child discover reading or conquer math! So fun that your son is progressing so well! It just makes your inner nerd happy, doesn’t it 😃 I’ve really been enjoying getting to tap into your wealth of educational expertise and experience. Thanks for taking the time to answer so thoughtfully and articulately!
@@nateandrosannaengebretson3996 Home Learning Year by Year may be along the lines of what you are looking for. I surprisingly have found it helpful to consult. Check if your library has it to peruse 😉
I'd love to see how you work on confidence with reading. Madison can read like 100% she can read at her level but she has no confidence in it and is easily intimidated by reading at her level or slightly higher.
That's the journey we're on right now. The philosophies I use are 1) Consistent reading practice every day and 2) Not ALWAYS pushing to read at a higher level. We'll do lessons and reading practice that include a new phonogram or blend....and then we'll go back and read easier books for a bit. Having the experience of reading books that are "easy" for them periodically helps with building confidence (but we wouldn't want to always be reading books that are easy...because then they're not practicing new sounds and more difficult words...so that's why I cycle between newer/more challenging and then easier.)
Thank you for this video. It is our first year officially homeschooling. I had done things with our youngest last school year. She loves learning. She understands and retains what she has been taught so far. We did Level K The Good and The Beautiful Math with her and she did well. However, I wasn't quite sure if she fully understood the why behind some things she learned, for example she knows 2+2=4, but does she know why it equals 4. Instead of continuing on to Level 1, I decided to try Math With Confidence Kindergarten. We are 3 weeks in, she is loving it. Someone just told me today that their child is in 1st grade, but they thought Math With Confidence is easy and a child should be doing the grade above, so in her case she had her child do 2nd grade MWC. Would you say that is accurate? I only ask because I remember watching a review video of yours on it, and I would like to switch all of my children to MWC.
From my experience with MWC--I would 100% place a child at the level of math that is appropriate to their ability, vs. sticking to a certain grade level. I have heard that MWC is aligned pretty solidly to grade level expectations--I do NOT think it's necessarily 'easy', although it certainly can appear easier than some homeschool math curriculums, like Abeka, which are likely 'ahead' of grade level standards. HOWEVER, the math concepts taught in MWC are taught for deep, conceptual understanding--the goal isn't to go far and fast at the beginning, but to lay a deep foundation of number sense. I think when you look at the workbook, the program looks 'easy', but when you actually follow every step in the Teacher's Guide, it's actually a pretty challenging level of deep reasoning for a young child. That being said, I do have my math-minded oldest sort of 'doing the grade above' with MWC right now--he's in the 2nd half of the Kindergarten level and is on track to start the 1st grade level with the 'official' start of "Kindergarten" later this summer. I did that because he was ready for it--it has challenged him at times, for sure. I'm much more of the persuasion of looking at your kid and what that child needs to learn and can learn vs. being tied too closely to the grade level on the cover.
@@SevenInAll thank you so much for your response! We have been doing a couple lessons each time, because she is enjoying it so much and it currently is "review" for her and laying that more solid foundation that I was hoping for. And I agree that if you only look at the worksheets, it appears "easy", but I love how the instruction is laid out. Thanks again!
The bar set by state standards is really not particularly ambitious, which is why I believe that in typical situations, homeschooled children who have the benefit of a committed homeschool teacher will exceed such standards. Of course, there are also legitimate reasons that the standards would not be met in some cases...in cases of developmental delays, special learning needs, etc....but even in the public school system, children with special needs will have an IEP designed for them, and wouldn't be expected to meet standards that are unreasonable for their abilities.
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I get a little annoyed at the common notion among homeschoolers that “there’s no such thing as behind” in homeschool. I understand that my son’s education is much different than if he were in public school, but I do still expect him to be on schedule/ ready to graduate around 17 yrs old. So, to us, being near grade level is important
For me...I tend more towards assuming that my homeschool will more naturally lend toward my kids having the opportunity to learn MORE than they would in a traditional school...homeschooling gives us so much time to spend on actual learning (instead of following school procedures). Of course, it has been the experience of some homeschool graduates that they have found themselves, upon graduation, to feel like they are behind or that there are glaring gaps in their education--that's something that can be avoided when parents are aware of the standards and goals that they can set, and work toward meeting those. There can be specific reasons (developmental delays, medical needs, etc.) to set grade level standards aside, but for many kids, they can serve as a basic 'guideline' for educational expectations.
I was homeschooled up until grade 7. During that time my mother had more of an unschooling approach to school, and as I entered public school I felt a little lost for a while. During high school I was almost always on the high honor role, but there was definitely times where I felt like I was trying to learn things that I should have learned in elementary school just to keep my grades up on top of what I was expected to learn at grade level. This is part of what drives me to really research curriculum, and make sure I'm finding what's best for my kids. I don't want them to ever feel that way I did in school.
That's good to hear that you've let your own experience shape the way you homeschool today. I think it's worthwhile for us homeschool parents to do our due diligence in figuring out how to offer our children a wide and deep education.
Would you mind sharing examples of what you wished you had known? I know it's different for everyone. I appreciate from hearing from former homeschoolers.
I love this. This isn’t talked about enough in the homeschool world. A pat on the back and reassurance is nice sometimes but i appreciate the practicality of this. I go back to a few favorite teacher books to evaluate my children’s progress when i start to worry. Recently I did this with The Three R’s by Ruth Beechik while evaluating progress in my kiddos.
Yes, there are times when all you really need is reassurance...but for me, practical steps ARE very reassuring. "Worry" is often caused by the unknown, so when we get down to the specifics of any worries we may have and make an action plan to address them, I find that very helpful! Keeping records of progress and having those resources like you mentioned can be very helpful.
Thank you! This was great! I loved the reminder that the amount of time learning doesn’t equate with the amount of learning taking place.
Glad that it's a helpful reminder!
I feel like I have just went through all of these emotions recently worrying if I am doing enough. What gave me peace was looking over our yearly progress and my planner of all the goals each of my kids have met. After my mental breakdown 😂 I was able to simplify and reassess the areas I want to focus on for the remainder of the school year. This was such a great video I loved hearing your thoughts on this topic.
Yes! Keeping records and being able to look back at how far you've come helps a great deal!
Love the practical, actionable, and reasonable tips for actually addressing this topic.
Thank you! I know that the "you are enough" messages are very well-intentioned, and can be encouraging, but they can also have the effect of sweeping genuine concerns under the rug instead of addressing them head on.
Thank you. So much ❤❤❤ its always hard when im literally saying its not enough and its always "ok, because you're homeschooling".
Homeschool is no reason at all for our kids to have an education less than the one they deserve. :) In fact, it offers us the opportunity to present them with a wide feast of education!
This is such a great channel. I’m grateful that you’re not an engineer so you have the time to homeschool your kids and help so many of us to learn more about how to homeschool our children.
Thank you! I really was never all that interested in engineering anyway...words and languages make my heart sing!
We are in our first year still, so it definitely can feel like we haven't accomplished a ton (at least compared to my dreams). I try to remember that there are lots of years ahead to do all these great things in. 😀
Ahhh, those pesky daydreams. It's so much easier to get everything done! Yes--not everything on the homeschool bucket list has to be squeezed into a single year! That's the wonderful thing about having these years ahead of us--yes, they will fly by, but when we approach them with intention, they will be rich with lots of learning..and not crammed over-full, when we remember that we homeschool in the real world, not in a daydream! :)
Rachel, I agree with you 100% and this perspective is so vital to be shared within this space. Thank you so much for this video!!!
You're so welcome!
This is such a valuable video. I love how you mentioned keeping track of your child’s work. That is crucial to know if they are making progress or not.
Yes! Keeping records and pieces of their work for a portfolio, is beneficial even when you aren't "required" to do so. Being able to see what progress they are or are not making can give you needed information to know whether you should or should not worry (and the documentation if you determine that you need to seek out further help to support their learning in an area of struggle).
I know a mom that was homeschooled. I was shocked when she said she felt like her mom gave her the bare minimum as far as education.
I feel like I'm doing that to my kids and I don't want to do that to them
There are many homeschool graduates today who feel the same way--and it's likely true. Not all homeschool parents are offering their children an excellent education. But the 'bare minimum' should be a standard far below what we strive to offer our children. We have the opportunity to offer a rich education, and when we can implement that effectively and consistently, we won't have to fear that our kids will feel that way about their own education.
I worry mainly with stuff that is probably dyslexia!!! I keep hearing that my kids don’t spend enough time doing school but I’m hearing from ppl used to the public school system!!! I need to think more about the thing I need to help more with!!!
Yes, identifying specific concerns or issues and then working to solve those is so much more helpful than just staying in a generalized state of worry.
What do I do? Well, I tune into that inkling, get specific/pray for clairty as I have found Him to be a God of clarity. What IS He trying to communicate to me in this? It's continual, the concern remains as I process and ask things like, what's the alternative? To do nothing? We are continuing on, in spite of how I feel, which brings up if this is a feelings issue because I don't know that it's tangible to confirm one way or the other. And, when I remove the grade aspect from it, I have found that to open up space to further examine and evaluate. Amd then there is the matter of maturity vs educational progress... it has served to highlight that my focus and concerns are more for preparing her for life and for her to be increasingly self led/involved in HER education and how that looks for HER. And I am responsible before the Lord, owning that and seeking Him. But yeah, lately, it's the older grades that are daunting to me as though I can't just keep doing what we've been doing? Insecure? Doubts? But, compared to what? Am i comparing to state schools? To my own schooling? To what others have said or an image in my mind of how it should be? Would i ever feel it's enough?
You are right that remaining in a state of doubt in the long term is not sustainable. Our children themselves will ultimately determine the extent of the enthusiasm with which they engage with their education (and some will display more enthusiasm and more grit than others--that comes down to individual character and temperament). But we can faithfully do the work, learn how to do it skillfully--and also work on ourselves, to not remain in a state of stress but to bring calm to our homeschool.
@SevenInAll 😉 and what I do is tentatively seek out videos/articles for further articulation and clarity on the subject without compounding it further.
I'm going to say even in the public school system these problems are red flags. I'm old and I 100% still don't have multiplication facts memorized. Public schools moved on and lost me....I pray I can do better by my daughter.
Yes--it's amazing the impact that simple things like not having that automaticity of math facts in place can impact more complicated processes later on. It's worth stopping and taking the time to do right by our students on these fundamentals!
How do you determine your family’s goal timeline? Especially concerning “basic” skills, such as, at what age do kids need to have mastered their multiplication table? Be able to write a paragraph? Know the basic geography of their country? Is there a resource you refer to?
As a homeschooler, I don't tend to make age-based goals....for me, from what I've observed, the milestones a child reaches at particular ages seem to be much more about THEM and the way their brain is wired and their natural pace vs. more arbitrary goals. For me, what I pursue is consistency--consistent teaching, and consistently working toward the natural next skill.
Part of that is influenced because I've been working with educational support for kids with special needs for almost the past decade--they each have their own timeline, and we don't really set goals, but we do rejoice when we see the hard work they've put in to reach major milestones, even if the journey to those milestones was longer than usual.
So...for example, it wasn't my "goal" that my son would be able to write the alphabet and know all the alphabet sounds at 4 years old...but because he DID have that skill by Pre-K, I moved right along to the next skill, phonic and beginning reading. Other kids might not master all of the sounds and might now be ready for phonics till age 5 or 6 (or even later in the case of additional learning challenges that require extra groundwork) So for me, it's more about working toward the next natural skill after one is mastered. I wouldn't be working on learning to write paragraphs until the child has mastered basic sentences.
But, for a guideline, I think that in cases of "typical" learners, an average curriculum's scope and sequence will be pretty well on track. 3rd grade is the "big" year for mastering multiplication in many math curriculums...and I think for a "typical" learner, that's very doable and reasonable to expect.
That seems very wise. Respect the individual but always be striving for progress. I suppose for the first 12 years of our 16-year homeschooling journey, we mostly used Abeka, and didn’t really worry about whether we were hitting all the milestones; it was whatever was in the book (sometimes working a grade “ahead” or going more slowly.)
But these past four years we’ve really been trying new things (and having a lot more fun!) but it’s a bit more challenging to make sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be. I really like your emphasis on consistency- it can be a particular weakness for me. It seems a lot more exciting at times to chase the new and unknown, than to drill the same old daily. Then again, it’s pretty amazing to watch your child discover reading or conquer math!
So fun that your son is progressing so well! It just makes your inner nerd happy, doesn’t it 😃
I’ve really been enjoying getting to tap into your wealth of educational expertise and experience. Thanks for taking the time to answer so thoughtfully and articulately!
@@nateandrosannaengebretson3996 Home Learning Year by Year may be along the lines of what you are looking for. I surprisingly have found it helpful to consult. Check if your library has it to peruse 😉
I'd love to see how you work on confidence with reading. Madison can read like 100% she can read at her level but she has no confidence in it and is easily intimidated by reading at her level or slightly higher.
That's the journey we're on right now. The philosophies I use are 1) Consistent reading practice every day and 2) Not ALWAYS pushing to read at a higher level. We'll do lessons and reading practice that include a new phonogram or blend....and then we'll go back and read easier books for a bit. Having the experience of reading books that are "easy" for them periodically helps with building confidence (but we wouldn't want to always be reading books that are easy...because then they're not practicing new sounds and more difficult words...so that's why I cycle between newer/more challenging and then easier.)
Thank you for this video. It is our first year officially homeschooling. I had done things with our youngest last school year. She loves learning. She understands and retains what she has been taught so far. We did Level K The Good and The Beautiful Math with her and she did well. However, I wasn't quite sure if she fully understood the why behind some things she learned, for example she knows 2+2=4, but does she know why it equals 4. Instead of continuing on to Level 1, I decided to try Math With Confidence Kindergarten. We are 3 weeks in, she is loving it. Someone just told me today that their child is in 1st grade, but they thought Math With Confidence is easy and a child should be doing the grade above, so in her case she had her child do 2nd grade MWC. Would you say that is accurate? I only ask because I remember watching a review video of yours on it, and I would like to switch all of my children to MWC.
From my experience with MWC--I would 100% place a child at the level of math that is appropriate to their ability, vs. sticking to a certain grade level. I have heard that MWC is aligned pretty solidly to grade level expectations--I do NOT think it's necessarily 'easy', although it certainly can appear easier than some homeschool math curriculums, like Abeka, which are likely 'ahead' of grade level standards. HOWEVER, the math concepts taught in MWC are taught for deep, conceptual understanding--the goal isn't to go far and fast at the beginning, but to lay a deep foundation of number sense. I think when you look at the workbook, the program looks 'easy', but when you actually follow every step in the Teacher's Guide, it's actually a pretty challenging level of deep reasoning for a young child.
That being said, I do have my math-minded oldest sort of 'doing the grade above' with MWC right now--he's in the 2nd half of the Kindergarten level and is on track to start the 1st grade level with the 'official' start of "Kindergarten" later this summer. I did that because he was ready for it--it has challenged him at times, for sure. I'm much more of the persuasion of looking at your kid and what that child needs to learn and can learn vs. being tied too closely to the grade level on the cover.
@@SevenInAll thank you so much for your response! We have been doing a couple lessons each time, because she is enjoying it so much and it currently is "review" for her and laying that more solid foundation that I was hoping for. And I agree that if you only look at the worksheets, it appears "easy", but I love how the instruction is laid out. Thanks again!
If you are taking the time and energy to homeschool your child, they should never be behind the low standard of public schools.
The bar set by state standards is really not particularly ambitious, which is why I believe that in typical situations, homeschooled children who have the benefit of a committed homeschool teacher will exceed such standards. Of course, there are also legitimate reasons that the standards would not be met in some cases...in cases of developmental delays, special learning needs, etc....but even in the public school system, children with special needs will have an IEP designed for them, and wouldn't be expected to meet standards that are unreasonable for their abilities.
@@SevenInAll thank you for your reply. You are right, there are always exceptions for things like developmental disabilities and delays. =)