I’m often asked by other moms about our school choices with our kids. There’s no easy answer to that question because we’ve done it all: homeschool, public school, private school and even lab school (here in our community Illinois State University has a lab school that is a public school that you have to apply to. Class sizes are much smaller than the other public schools, but the school is used as a “lab” to train teachers at the university.)
The school choices we’ve made have been as varied as our kids personalities and needs. Seriously…our schooling decisions have primarily been based upon the needs of our kids.
Anne went to public school through 6th grade. I homeschooled her in 7th grade mainly because she was so insistent in wanting to be homeschooled. Honestly, I thought, “There will be a time this kid won’t want to be seen with her mom. I’m going to be intentional about capitalizing on a season where she wants to be with me!” One year satisfied her and she headed back to public school in 8th grade. She attended the University High school—an ISU Lab School.
Evan went to public school through 4th grade. I homeschooled him in both 6th and 7th grade for two reasons. Reason #1: He had a difficult 4th grade year with a teacher who couldn’t be satisfied. That year I watched him go from a kid who loved to learn to one who just didn’t care because he couldn’t succeed in his 4th grade class. When 5th grade looked like it would be the same experience (he was in a small school with only one 5th grade teacher), Mark and I decided not to take the chance. Reason #2: We also brought him home to build up his character and leadership. Up until that point, he was a follower of others. We really wanted to build into him leadership qualities and help him to stand strong and not be so easily influenced by others. After two years at home he returned to public school stronger academically and socially. He also attended the lab school in high school.
Erica went to a private Christian school through 8th grade. Then public high school for 2.5 years. After a rough junior year socially and emotionally, we brought her home and finished out her high school education at home. She started college early and nearly finished her associate’s degree just after turning 19.
We adopted Kolya at the age of nine. He completed 2nd grade through 5th grade at a private Christian school. He continued in junior high at a public school and is now a freshman in high school at a public high school that offers ESL (English as a Second Language) services.
Austin, who is in 8th grade did the private school thing through 5th grade and has done public school in grades 6 thru 8. He will likely continue in public high school.
When I’m asked what school choices we’ve made, there really isn’t one right answer. School is not always a one-size-fits-all environment. We’ve found the educational needs of our children to be as diverse as the educational opportunities available. And it’s not about them all having the same “fair” experience as it is about them having the “right” opportunities for their learning needs.
What about you? What educational decisions have you made for your kids?
I would love to homeschool! I would have 4 years to research and plan and PRAY. I will be graduating in December with an elementary education and special education degree, and I would love to use my skills to serve my children… But I am not sure we would be able to pull it off. I believe there are wonderful benefits to all schooling options and you have to do what is best for your child and family.
I know that this is an incredibly touchy subject with some moms, so thanks for posting! I just bought (literally yesterday) "Going Public" and can't wait to read it. Our oldest is in public school, and the second will follow next year (and the third in 3 more years). We feel it's the best choice for our family.
Great post, Jill! My triplets were in public school until 6th grade. Similar to one of your children, I watched as two of mine began to lose their love of learning due to a teacher's expectations. We brought them home. We are completing 7th grade right now and have LOVED it so far. Thanks for helping us remember that the choice is about our children and what is best for them!!
I found out about homeschooling in 1992 wthen my children were 3 & 1 and I was very lonely and trying out different moms groups (there weren't many back then)… and this one group had invited 3 moms to talk about how they homeschooled. My heart was so touched- God had answered an unspoken prayer to be able to spend more time with my children & have more of an impact in their lives. I researched at the public library & prayed & begged my husband to let me try it during K-2nd years. Our friends & family thought we were crazy, but in each of the small towns nearby, we knew of at least one homeschool family in 1994. After a couple of years, our friends no longer thought we were crazy and eventually 2 of them also decided to hs. We extended our "deadline" to 4th grade & then to high school and eventually stopped talking about ever changing our schooling plan. This is my 16th year to homeschool. Our oldest became an RN at 20, works at OSF & continues to study for her BSN; our second is a college honor student, very scholarly: research, writing, history, science and also artistic- filmmaking, costuming; and I am enjoying high school for the last time with our son. Our kids are really close and we were able to travel freely with my husband several times a year, all those years before college and have wonderful memories. Proverbs 3:5-6 Susan T
I am very passionate about our childrens education. Our family is "different" when it comes to schooling as well; when we lived in a different state, our children attended a Christian school. When we moved back to IL we researched and prayed over our school decision and decided to put them into public schools for a variety of reasons – our Christian school we came from was incredible and it was hard to meet that standard; and finances played a part. I am VERY involved in their school – PTO, I am a substitute teacher, and I'm on the JR.High principals advisory board. We do take each of our children out to homeschool 6th grade for reasons that Jill mentioned in her post – focusing more on their hearts than their education. I've already homeschooled my son, and now I'm doing my daughter. I'll have one year off then I'll do my youngest. We ALWAYS keep in mind that we will NEVER hesitate to take our child out of the school if there is ever a concern. We are entering a new phase of education – HS – in the fall with my son. Our little town is going thru a major spiritual battle with our youth right now; our children are strong in their faith, but we pray for them daily as well.
Thanks for your post!
Deb
Princeton, IL
My girls are attending public elementary school right now. My eldest has always attended public school. My youngest started out in a Private Preschool and stayed there for Kindergarten. We moved her into public school in 1st grade. For my eldest, we switched public schools when she entered 3rd grade, due to her being bored everyday. The old school was not challenging her and she was not enjoying attending. Now that she's being challenged again, she's enjoying her education. We would not hesitate to pull them out of school and home school or send them to a private school if the situation called for it. We believe we are following what God has for our family at this time.
Thank you for this great post. My husband and I are both teachers, he is a music teacher and I was a preschool teacher (with an Early Childhood Degree). I have been home for 4 years (having worked when our oldest was a baby). Our oldest is attending preschool in the very room I used to teach in! His teacher is fantastic and I see that it truly was God's will for me to be home. It is a Lutheran school. This same child is going to attend K there in the fall (as the public school only has full day K). Our oldest son also has a sensory processing disorder, which the public schools were unwilling to help us with (it doesn't qualify for an IEP). As things go along I will evaluate whether he will stay with the Christian school or if I will pull him out. Our other son turns 2 on Friday so we have some time to decide. I love living near Chicago as we are on the go all the time, zoos, aquarium, museums, I school them a lot 😉
I'm not even sure when we decided to home school our children. Before they were born it was discussed as a "possibility" but the closer my oldest got to Kindergarten the more our discussions seemed decided.
We home school because we want to train our children in our Christian values and believe this is more difficult if they are spending 6-8 hours a day with other people. We also enjoy the freedom that a home school lifestyle gives our family. And we like controlling the curriculum and information our kids are taught.
My oldest is a boy, a talker, and likes to entertain. I have no doubt that his love for learning would be crushed in a school situation that required him to sit still and be quiet most of the day.
We plan to home school all the way to graduation. At this point I can't imagine doing it any other way! Don't get me wrong. I'm no saint or perfect mom. And I have days (weeks!) where I wish I could send them off and have a few hours to myself. But then I see one of them learn a new concept and I remember why I love home schooling so much. 🙂
I have an 8th & 6th grader and we've homeschooled since day one. I thought our son would go to public high school – he really wanted to! Then after praying about it for a few months, he decided it would be better to stay home for high school. He'll do his 9th & 10th grade years at home and then enroll in the local community college for the last two years.
I never, EVER thought I would have made it this far! But the Lord has provided, changed hearts, encouraged us. And it is good!
Right now my husband and I are at a cross road in our life as far as school is concerned. I desire to home school our children and he wishes them to stay in public school. Our public school's where we live used to be among some of the best. And in the last two years they have begun to fall apart. And now we are being faced with class sizes predicted to almost double in size this coming fall. And as a parent of two boys who require more one on one attention than "normal" children I see my children and all others like them getting lost in the mess of thing. It scares me for my children. I know that God is calling me to this and will see our family through this. But the first step of faith can be scary sometimes for everyone. I don't see anything wrong with public school other than them not allowing religion into it. I do want my children thinking that there science book are the whole truth and second guessing the bible. I want them to know that they were created by God for his purpose and they did not come from a ape. I applaud every family that has or is homeschooling their children. I look forward to the day that the lord works everything out for us in his favor. We are open to it but still a little to used to how things have always been. Thank you so much for all of you encouragement to all of us moms!!!! Reading all of these things gives me strength to indure this season of what I am calling parent heart searching.
Thank you for this wonderful post. I logged in specifically looking for thoughts on this exact topic. I will have a kindergartener in the fall and your thoughts have reassured me that it is okay adjust how we educate our children to thier needs and that we don't have to fit a norm. Thank you for all you do, and the encouragement you offer to all of us.