I never thought I would be homeschooling. Having grown up in public school, I always had assumed that my kids would go there as well.
So when Einstein turned 5, I was all excited for him to get to go to kindergarten and have a trained education professional teach him things.
But to my dismay, he instantly became class clown, acting up with the other kids were learning how to read words like "it" and "like" when he was devouring the Magic Tree House series at home.
Where he was doing multiplication and division, other kids were learning to add 3 and 2, and his teacher wasn't allowed to give more difficult work. My child was at school and not learning anything.
We couldn't afford private school, we submitted his name for the good charter schools but he didn't get selected (random lottery), and though I told him I would let him finish the school year, I didn't want to do another year of public school.
So that left us with- homeschool!
It seems like the minute I started considering homeschool, I started meeting homeschooling families at the park, at church, in the store, everywhere!!! They just seemed to pop right out of the ground all around me.
And I was amazed!
These families had incredibly smart, well-adjusted kids that were curious, hard-working, social, and loved their families!
And the more I looked into it, the more excited I became about homeschooling!
Here are my top 10 reasons why I want to homeschool Einstein:
1. Interest- Led Learning
This is a HUGE one for Einstein! Ever since he was tiny, Einstein would become obsessed with a topic and want to know everything about it!
In public school, they won't adapt all the math questions to incorporate crocodiles. But with homeschool, we can! We can draw those for art, study their life cycle and habitat in science, learn about where they are found in geography... I love it!!! And Einstein learns so much better that way anyway!
2. Flexibility and Freedom
I can teach whatever I want. I live in a state where homeschoolers can do our own thing, which is AWESOME!!! I don't like being told what to teach my kid and when and how.
I love being able to choose what my kid learns. We can have a Christian-based education! We can take a month to study Egyptian culture if my child is interested in that. At school, all kids are fed the same thing, regardless if they are interested or not. If a kid loves baseball, they are usually told, "Cool, play at recess, but right now we need to study Rosa Parks so stop talking about baseball."
I am all about child-led learning! I am more than happy to adapt what we are studying to fit what you are interested in! Because that is how kids learn best!!!
3. No State Mandated Tests!
I guess this goes along with the freedom. One thing I didn't like in school growing up was the immense pressure schools put on kids for the annual state tests to measure our levels of performance.
Those exams were a complete joke for kids in upper levels, and yet we were forced to sit for hour after hour while teachers drilled what would be on the test instead of learning something we wanted to learn.
4. I Get to Spend More Time With Him
Einstein is exhausting. He is emotionally volatile, always wants 120% of my energy and attention, and talks constantly. I was excited for peace when he went to school, but when he was gone, I missed him! That surprised me- I didn't think I would.
But I can't think of anything I would rather do than learn with my kids! To do science experiments in the kitchen, do math on the sidewalk outside, study ancient Mesopotamia and create dioramas- I would LOVE to do that!!!
5. Natural Curiosity and Creativity Can Flourish
As the months of Einstein finishing out kindergarten have gone on, I have noticed a decline in his asking questions. He will constantly ask how brakes work, when do clouds become rain, how a budget works- lots of things not school related. And it makes me sad that school teachers won't have the time in their curriculum to delve into anything he wants to learn about.
Same thing with art- I always see the kindergarteners come home with the same exact picture and even the same sentences on their pictures. Like a picture of a pig, ALL cut out and colored the same way, with the sentence "I think the pig will get away" written down. I want my kid to be able to draw whatever HE wants and think for himself, not copy off a board.
6. Less Wasted Time
Oh my goodness! I never realized how much wasted time goes on at school! It is constantly "Susie pass out these papers" (5 minutes later) "Now everyone write a C, and color the cat orange." (15 minutes later) "Now I will come around and check." (5 minutes later)
When going to the bathroom, everyone has to go, and wait for the whole class to go to the bathroom and get a drink, and no talking allowed while you wait! I guess it frustrates me that I think my kid could have just gone to the bathroom at home, done his work, then had 3-4 more hours during the day to do what HE wants to do, instead of waiting for classmates to finish work.
7. Field Trips!
Everyone's favorite things in school were always the field trips! As a homeschooler, I can take my kid on field trips anywhere ANY time I want! Instead of waiting for that once a year trip to the zoo with the class, we can pile into the car and drive to the beach to study the tide. We can attend that cool exhibit that came to the science museum. As often as we want!
I can't wait to take our research journals and go find plants to classify and look at plant versus animal cells under a microscope! Sign me up!!!
8. Relaxed Days
I don't like the mom I become when everything is rushed and stressed. I end up yelling at my kids to hurry up and get out the door or we will be late, then there is the car drop off line, and I feel like I am in the car for a couple hours every day with cranky me and cranky kids!
I would MUCH rather take time to show Einstein how to cook eggs in the morning, and have the time to teach him to wash his plate and load it in the dishwasher, instead of tapping a watch while he tries to shovel food in as fast as he can because we always seem to be late.
And no nasty attendance lady giving me a stink eye! Score!!!
9. Life Skills
Kind of going along with the last one, I don't want Einstein to graduate high school and then realize he has no functional skills at all. I had college roommates who had no idea how to cook, clean or do their laundry.
I want to teach Einstein to change a tire, garden, handle finances well, mow the lawn, do CPR, cook meals, notice others' needs and fill them, all those things that people run around saying that schools are failing to teach kids.
10. Nobody Will Love My Kid More Than I Will
Teachers are incredible. Truly. They go into that profession not for the pay (obviously), but for their passion for teaching and inspiring minds!
And yet, no one will ever be as invested in my child's well-being and education as I will be. Teachers love kids and then the kids move to the next grade level. But they always come home to the same mom who loves them no matter what.
I want Einstein to feel like he is learning in an environment where he is 100% safe. Where he is loved unconditionally, and it is okay to make mistakes with no peer pressure pouring in on you.
Bonus: Fewer Stupid Fads
There are SO many things that come home from school I would be perfectly okay with never seeing/ hearing about again!!! Boys are not known for their maturity at school, and I certainly don't want any extra helpings of that.
