What we don’t do in our homeschool…
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- Опубликовано: 24 авг 2024
- Hey mamas! Do you do these things in your homeschool? I’d love to know!
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I’m Christina. I’m married to my best friend, Seth, we have 5 kids (ages 2, 4, 7, 11, & 14), and love our family, Jesus, and adventuring together.
We are passionate about being counter culture, including alternatives to traditional schooling. I have experience as a public school teacher, private school teacher, and homeschool mom!
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Love it!!!! Just found your channel;). I am graduating my 2nd homeschooler this year. Getting ready for our evaluations next week. I have 6 kiddos & graduated oldest 2 years ago. It’s such an accomplished moment to graduate our students! I am not that great of a “traditional homeschool mama” 😂😆. I mean we get what we need to do done but I let my kids research & learn about things that interest them. I really would love to see all the state rules go away for homeschool families…we don’t strive to the schools standards bc frankly their standards of allowing trashy books, false teaching & boys into the girls locker rooms is very low standards, scary & not edifying or safe for children. With that said…I’ve been giving myself more grace as homeschool mama to 6 kiddos. I love being with my children! We have a blast together & I love the deep theological conversations we get into…for me homeschooling has been more about raising children that are fun, God fearing young adults that can think & research & choose well. It’s been the best gift ever to our family even though I’m not good with math…God has worked it all out🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼. My oldest is 20.5 years old, he’s an electrician at our Construction Company & excited to take further education in his field. 2nd is 17.5 and graduating this month & wants to work for our Construction company as well. 3rd born is 16 & haas worked for our construction company AND he’s learning auto mechanics from my husband & his pappy (who own our construction company & both used to be full time mechanics). So our business is almost like a trade school for our children bc they can choose to work in the office doing (drafting,engineering, projects, job foreman or contractors, plumbers or electrician, mechanics) lol. Love it!!!! Our 3rd son does the mechanics for the trucks/cars…he’s still learning and enjoys figuring things out. Our 4th son wants to do something with engineering he’s 14 & can build all kinds of elaborate legos with motors etc. our 5th child is our only daughter she is 12 and reads so much…and enjoys doing office work, cleaning for her grandma that’s a paid job & more:). She actually helps her 14 year & 10 year old brothers out with school. Lol. Our 10 year old wants to go to work now but he’s not old enough. Lol. I love all their hearts, unique gifts & excitement to learn & grow in their gifts! To all the mamas wondering if you can homeschool…YES You can & the Lord will make a way every step of the way. Just breathe ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Wow. Amen.
I am (as of 4 days ago) a former teacher of both public and private school for over 14 years. God has really showed me the flaws in the standard education model. For the last semester i kept seeing school as a storage unit that kids are kept for 8 hours. I have taught 4th-6th grade and this year my own children are entering 4th and i felt that God told me it was time to educate my own 4th graders. I enjoyed this video because this was going to be my set of expectations for homeschooling and i understand your reasoning for most of these choices. Tha k tou for sharing and encouraging others!
I’m so excited for you!
New subscriber here. We are starting our homeschooling journey next year. I am super nervous, scared and hoping I can be successful at it. I'm in NYS and wish I could more of this direction. Unfortunately NYS is highly regulated and does require a lot. I feel a little overwhelmed with all the information, but I know this is the best decision for my family. Looking forward to watching more of your videos just to get some helpful tips. Thank you! 😊
I’m in NY too!
I so very much agree...although not in New York. I'm in Indiana.
I do give my kids spelling tests, they like them. They like knowing what they can and can not spell correctly. I also do give them “exam week” 2 per year where I ask open ended questions based off of everything we have learnt so far a lot of it is recorded answers audio. Helps me gauge what they retained also helps me to hear how well they communicate. I recently started giving them yearly standardized tests just for me to know where they may be struggling or excelling. It was very helpful even though it mostly told me what I already know. I also do not grade regularly and I check work and usually go over the answers with them occasionally with math I will have them redo it.
The not wanting to teach other kids hit me hard hahaha I taught prek-1st for a couple of years LOVED IT till I did not haha and then I left! Now I am going to homeschool my kids and have been feeling SOOO guilty about not wanting to do co ops. But all the points you've made are so valid and I can really connect to them! Thank you for opening up that topic and being so transparent!
You are so welcome!
So far, all I've done is a sticker for grading to be a visual for the kid that they did a good job.
Kids love stickers!!
I really loved hearing what you don't do! You're inspiring to make a video 🤣 we don't do grades either because we honestly don't need to... but loved hearing your views as someone who was a teacher. Thanks for sharing friend ❤️
Very, very similar homeschooling style here! We do all of the same except that my kids are in a pretty unique home co-op: meaning we get a box of goodies and nature curriculum each month, but we get to decide when to do it. It’s state funded but not apart of a school district so very affordable and I love getting books and craft material every month. We love that we can adjust the Forest box to make it work for our family. We are apart of a nature group: think Wild and Free but not official. I love our nature group and definitely have chose a group over a co-op day!! I love the freedom too. My kids did an in person co-op one year and it wasn’t my jam for very similar reasons as you. 😀
We don't do grades or testing either. I felt the same way you did about co-op but joined one at our church this year just to try it out. We have absolutely loved it and it is the highlight of our week. You can teach a class if you want to or you can just join in in the moms lounge and hang out with other moms walking through the same season of life you are. There are no grades in our co-op either and you can do homework if it fits in with your homeschool week or not. It has really been an amazing experience and I am very blessed that we found a co-op that fits our family so perfectly.
That sounds like a blessing!
This was great. I hold all the same values.
The money, time and commitment required for a co-op was the pull back for me initially. Then there was the uncertainty of what would be taught and having little to no control over that. I chose to homeschool to be a control freak 😂 but seriously my kiddos are too young to be taught conflicting info. And I’m talking even with Christian co-ops.
We’ve decided on a bi weekly, no commitment, free homeschool group that meets once. Excited to see how my son likes it (and me lol) but I truly appreciate hearing from other moms who proclaim that it’s ok not to dive deep into a co-op!
Yes!!
I loved your list of what you don't do in your homeschool. We don't do coop nor morning baskets. However ,I do give my kids some review and that would be their "test". We usually test in math just to make sure they mastered the material because it's alot of information. I didn't get the last one you mentioned about a year-long grade for each subject, hopefully you can elaborate more on that. Thank you ! 🥰🥰
We don’t do a separate curriculum for each subject and grade/age level
We don’t participate in a co op for the same reasons. I was a public school teacher & I far love teaching my own children more.
We love our co op theythey meet Friday morning 9-11 it’s an enrichment co op where you drop the kids off. It has been helpful in my kids overcoming fear of stage fright and they learn music, stem and art. I was a part of a homeschool group and got kicked out so there’s that😂
I like the concept of grading for factual subject. Mathematics, hard sciences and the like. But when it comes to writing, art, music, literature and that aspect of things grading can only be based on an average at large, which I do not find useful. Each of the last could have specific components that could be graded, accuracy of certain technical skills. But as a whole package most of the arts side of things are ultimately about the personal feel that a piece has.
It is also important to note that grades are simply to show me what my child is or is not proficient in when it comes to hard skills, which ultimately only garners extra practice to reach skill proficiency or mastery. Or that they show proficiency or mastery early, and that there is no need for repetitive practice which simply wastes time.
We did join a coop this year. One day a week and I’m not required to teach. I assist in a class with the teacher. The main reason for joining is to help fill in gaps for my high schoolers classes. Also my kids really enjoy it for the friendships and social aspect.
Same. I heard from a few homeschooled graduates that if their parents would have given them opportunity to be social like in a co-op, they would have loved homeschooling. So it's very important as the parents to make sure we are providing these opportunities. The kids i know that have homeschooled and did a co-op are more happy and feel fulfilled.
That’s awesome!
It’s kind of cute, but I do give spelling tests. My kids love them. 🤣🤣🤣 and since they know I was a public school teacher before staying home with them, it’s almost like they are “playing school” when we do them. 🤣
That’s adorable!!
Love it! I just found your channel and great ideas! We personally joints coop for this first year of homeschooling, and I’m not sure if I like it 😅 I feel like the days are so long, and time is wasted. But my kids love it so far, so we’ll see! 😉
I think this is how I would feel!!
Great ideas. I love that homeschooling can be done differently for different families.
Me too!
This is great love the idea of no grades so they will learn to seek the answer rather than just care if they got it wrong for the grade. I have three high schoolers - how do you assign a grade for their transcripts?
Just based on what they completed/what they know!
Our state doesn’t do co-ops like that. We have enrichment programs. They don’t get grades or homework. We love ours but I consider what they are learning as extra bonus stuff. Usually we’ve already talked about it. They have three recesses, they get to see friends each week. It’s awesome!
Sweet!
I’m so new! I just realized that I’ve been HSing for 3yrs now & I’ve never “graded” my kids’ work lol! I don’t plan on it either, if I feel they’re struggling, then I’ll printout some worksheets or other resources to add.
We are in a co-op. We’ve been blessed to find a good one, it’s a very fair co-op. It’s only 1 day a week, for 3hrs (3 classes), I feel I can sacrifice that. However, I hate that morning rush, but it does make me thankful that it’s just once a week lol.
Regarding the separate, grade level subjects, I’m letting co-op do those! All the classes I signed my kids up for are either science or history/social studies, along with me teaching Spanish. They’ve made good friends, along with hubby & I.
I love how every family does what’s best for them
Yes! Love that we have the freedom to do what works for us!!
No grade here either! No traditional tests but we have been trying a Charlotte Mason style exam week which is more about celebrating knowledge and not about grades or tricking the child. We stopped co op because of the drama with adults 😂 and because I too have no desire to teach other peoples children. Mine are “technically” in 7th/4th but we actually do everything together right now even LA and math.
I’d love to hear more shout how you do math together! Love that!!
@@RootedHomeLife well I was working to play a little bit of catch up with my older one, and also make sure we really slowed down and she understood everything. So I just teach them the lesson from the TGTB level I felt would work for both like I do any other lesson and pick a few problems for them to do out and write them down. We choose not to do them all because I don't think it's necessary. My older one will move to pre-algebra next year so we won't continue this method, but it's been nice!
@@heatherr8696 love this! I’m hoping to do this with my youngest two when the time comes!
You have a LOT of kids. That is why you don't want to teach other kids. You have enough. Your own whole school. I wish I had even 2. I had my one and only at 40 years old.
Haha this is true!
YES to the not doing co-ops! I don’t want to teach other kids, I don’t want anyone teaching mine, and I don’t want to feel restricted. And I’m sure as heck not paying to join one. 😂
Haha yes!
Right there with you. We don't do these either. 😊
We also don’t do tests or grades, or even co-op! I love the flexibility also.
No grades,tests, co-ops or individual subjects (minus math and LA) here either!😂❤😂❤😂❤
No grading or testing here either! Just before taking GCSEs my girls do past papers but that's about it.
We don't do any of those things either! I do give my son who uses TGATB math the assessments. But I don't give him a grade. I also do have to report grades at the end of the year for my high schooler to our homeschool association, but I just kind of assess where he's at.
Co op has never been my thing. I don't want to be tied down, I don't want to teach other people's children, and I also want to be in charge and not tied to a certain curriculum. Play groups and field trip groups, yes, but co op, no.
I would like to be free to do what we want with each day also, but there is merit in making yourself get up and get going in the morning to go to co-op, to make yourself do a small amount of homework that you don't want to do and to help out by teaching other people's kids. That is part of why we go to a co-op. I would be too lazy without it. Playing a sport helps with disciplining ourselves too. Also, I give grades in high school in order to make a transcript for college.
I think whatever works for each family is great! I personally spent enough years of my life getting up early and teaching other people’s kids, so it’s not for me. But we do get up and get going other places! Adventures and homeschool groups! And we spent soooo many years and so much time and money on sports over the years! And you don’t have to give grades all throughout high school to create a transcript for college, but if you prefer to you can!
I don’t really grade either because my children do everything in front of me so everything is corrected right then and there. Only when I test them on spelling and history do they get a percentage.
Ummm WOW you are so, so the same as me! In every way! I couldn’t agree more with every subject you spoke on!!! I wish I found you sooner!!! Subscribing right this second ❤
Aww yay! I’m so glad you’re here❤️
I think that's a great idea
We belong to a co-op, but it's just fun classes. There aren't any core classes. No grades or homework. And it's only 10 classes a semester (once a week), which isn't bad. It goes by very quickly. And the part I love, it isn't super expensive. Its very budget friendly. We did try a different co-op when we first started homeschooling, and it turned out to be horrible.
I also don't keep grades. I'm not worried about grades. My concern is mastering the concept.
I love that co-ops are out there for families who love them!!
I don't do grades either. We do use Teaching Textbooks (CD Rom version) for math, which does automatic grading. This does help the kids, though, because we decided that so long as they get a 90 or better, they can move on to the next assignment. If they get lower than that, I will go in and delete the ones they got wrong, have them watch the lecture again, and then have them try those problems again until they get a 90 or better. With writing, we do editing of each other's work, so the kids know they'll have to correct the mistakes and submit a final draft from that. I will then give comments (and a praise, such as "great work", "very creative story", "love the details", or "could use more details".
We also don't do co-ops. We've tried several times and just haven't found a "love match". Either the co-op is too restrictive because they are religious, or they are too restrictive because they are too woke (sorry, there's no other way to say it). We don't like the beaurocracy that comes with either end of those spectrums and haven't found anything in the middle. We do better with "play groups" or groups that meet for "field trips", which gives us the flexibility to choose which activities to attend. We take classes outside of the home for certain interests (ie. art, gaming, wood working, archery, etc).
Thank you for sharing this!!
You're so helpful!!!
Aww thank you!
We don't do tests or quizes either. We use narration as a "test". It actually does show how much a student understands unlike a test. We also don't grade. I believe it creates unhealthy dependency, and competition. I think both testing and grading are unnecessary and some of the worst parts of public schools. We are in some groups like you. We aren't in a co-op mostly because I don't trust others to teach my children. I was in a new one that I was helping create, where we all participate in teaching all the children. But as life would have it, we aren't able to participate now. I appreciate this video because I felt guilty. But honestly I'm mostly happy it didnt work out because it seemed overwhelming and I really just don't enjoy being held to anyones schedule. Having freedom to do whatever I want has spoiled me, I dont think I could hold down a typical job anymore lol. Im still a little sad because I wanted some of those experiences in our school, but its just not in the cards right now. The grade levels, I think we fall in between. Currently I'm only officially homeschooling one child, since my younger is only 2.5. So she sits in on basically everything, that her sister does. But its not really "group" subjects. I do like the idea of having them so science and/or history together in the future. I'm just not sure how it'd work since my children will be 6 grades a part. Its such a large age difference. I don't push my older daughter to the next level just because and we also use a range of levels for her. She's technically in "third" grade, she's working on second grade math, unleveled lower elementary LA, and her geography and science are meant for 4-6 graders. I don't like grade levels, I think its unnecessary to have them especially in a homeschool setting. We just use the term of third grade, because of society. Otherwise we just do what we feel is the best for us in that season.
Thank you for sharing all of this!!
It sounds like you are homeschooling your children without a lot of stress
If you don't do grading, could you, please elaborate on how you write the quarterly reports. I'm in New York State. I love your channel.
You don’t need grades for quarterly reports. You just say “student has completed a minimum of 85% of planned work this quarter”
ThAnk you for the answer
I do grades but they’re based more on effort and discussion based activities. We do tests but sometimes we do them as oral exams or work through it together. Each quarter I feel I’m getting better at getting away from traditional school but being that my son is in 11th grade and it’s our first year I don’t have a lot of time to mess around - LOL! Everything I’m doing this year is in planning for a fantastic senior year! Wish me luck!
@@subscribe5911 you got this mama!
I LOVE this! Do you need grades for high school transcripts? I’m not to high school yet, but I have a 7th grader and starting to think about what we need to do for high school to prepare him for college prep, should he choose that direction.
I remember you discussing your children going to public school and a private school but I am curious with your experience if you recommend always trying out public/private school at some point or if you think staying with homeschool if it's working is best. My oldest is only in first grade but constantly asks about trying public school.
Nope! No need to try it, trust me 😅
New subscriber here. Just started homeschooling my youngest who is in 8th grade. We are still trying to figure things out. We are having some issues in English what were you talking about that your son does for math? Im horrible in English but good in math.
Which one? One does The Good and the Beautiful and one does Saxon math with Nicole the Math Lady
Loved the video. Are you planning on grading your high schoolers though? Will you just give them letter grades based on what you assess your children to be?
No to the former, yes to the latter!
In my State I have to get track of grades and those things. How could I do that if I don’t want to do tests and grades? Thanks in advance.
Really?! I didn’t think anyone was more strict then NY, but maybe I’m wrong! I could easily come up with a grade for each subject if I needed to 😉
We do not test or grade. Where did you get your sweatshirt?☺️
Created for Grace on Instagram!
Since you don’t do year/grade-long subjects with your kids, like Grade 10 history as you mentioned, what do you do? ☺️
I actually share about this in my curriculum pucks videos for this upcoming school year!
Hello, I know this has nothing to do with your video which I enjoyed watching but do you have a list of books you would recommend for your teen to read that are “safe”?
I need to do this because so many ask! For now I’d say anything from The Good and the Beautiful!!
@@RootedHomeLife thank you so much! Really enjoy your videos. This is my first year homeschooling. It was just my first grader but recently pulled my 8 grader and it’s been the best decision!
@@elbavelasquez3927 so happy for you!! It really is so good for them ❤️
Do you do cursive with your children?
Yes!