Comments on: Advice for Potential Homeschool Newbies http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/116/ \"Learning can only happen when a child is interested. If he\'s not interested it\'s like throwing marshmallows at his head and calling it eating.\" - Barbara Lamping Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:22:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: JoVE http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/116/comment-page-1/#comment-893 JoVE Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:09:12 +0000 http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/advice-for-potential-homeschool-newbies/#comment-893 I just dove right in. Tigger wasn't happy. I did a little bit of research and then thought -- if it all goes horribly wrong I can't do any more damage in the rest of the academic year than leaving her in school would do. (It was January). So I just took her out and we did it. I didn't commit to doing it forever. Just to trying it out for that 6 months. If it wasn't working, I figured that 6 months could be used to research other options. It worked out great. We've decided to keep going for a while. I just dove right in. Tigger wasn’t happy. I did a little bit of research and then thought — if it all goes horribly wrong I can’t do any more damage in the rest of the academic year than leaving her in school would do. (It was January). So I just took her out and we did it. I didn’t commit to doing it forever. Just to trying it out for that 6 months. If it wasn’t working, I figured that 6 months could be used to research other options.

It worked out great. We’ve decided to keep going for a while.

]]> By: The Country Fair » 5th Country Fair Open! http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/116/comment-page-1/#comment-891 The Country Fair » 5th Country Fair Open! Wed, 19 Jul 2006 08:56:41 +0000 http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/advice-for-potential-homeschool-newbies/#comment-891 [...] Been thinking about homeschooling for a while, but still feeling unsure? Stephanie of Throwing Marshmallows wonders if you might be over-thinking it and offers sound Advice to Potential Newbies to help overcome this. She relates that beginning homeschooling is like becoming a parent for the first time, so waiting until you are ‘perfectly prepared’ might be an impossible goal. [...] [...] Been thinking about homeschooling for a while, but still feeling unsure? Stephanie of Throwing Marshmallows wonders if you might be over-thinking it and offers sound Advice to Potential Newbies to help overcome this. She relates that beginning homeschooling is like becoming a parent for the first time, so waiting until you are ‘perfectly prepared’ might be an impossible goal. [...]

]]> By: momof3feistykids http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/116/comment-page-1/#comment-735 momof3feistykids Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:07:28 +0000 http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/advice-for-potential-homeschool-newbies/#comment-735 Good advice. I agree with Carolyn; many of us have difficulty getting past conditioned beliefs about what schooling is "supposed" to be. Good advice. I agree with Carolyn; many of us have difficulty getting past conditioned beliefs about what schooling is “supposed” to be.

]]> By: Carolyn http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/116/comment-page-1/#comment-724 Carolyn Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:00:07 +0000 http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/advice-for-potential-homeschool-newbies/#comment-724 I wonder if people wait for the "right time" because, in truth, they are just unsure of the whole idea. You know, the gaps, the socialization, etc. Homeschooling *seems* like a good idea, but we've been so conditioned to buy into the conveyor belt education that it is hard to find the "right time" to let it all go. I don't know, just some of my thoughts. I know that I am glad that I looked into, researched, and decided to homeschool my daughter 3 years ago when she was just 3 years old. It took me a full 2 years (until she was 5) to completely feel comfortable with the idea. I think your advice is sound. Most people can't afford 2 years to "get comfortable." I wonder if people wait for the “right time” because, in truth, they are just unsure of the whole idea. You know, the gaps, the socialization, etc. Homeschooling *seems* like a good idea, but we’ve been so conditioned to buy into the conveyor belt education that it is hard to find the “right time” to let it all go.

I don’t know, just some of my thoughts. I know that I am glad that I looked into, researched, and decided to homeschool my daughter 3 years ago when she was just 3 years old. It took me a full 2 years (until she was 5) to completely feel comfortable with the idea.

I think your advice is sound. Most people can’t afford 2 years to “get comfortable.”

]]> By: lanitunes http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/116/comment-page-1/#comment-723 lanitunes Tue, 27 Jun 2006 18:58:40 +0000 http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/advice-for-potential-homeschool-newbies/#comment-723 You are so right! I pulled my son out of public school a year-and-a-half ago and it wasn't soon enough! (I try not to be too hard on myself about it.) The best advice I received when I took him out of school was to allow my son to de-school. Give him (and me) time off to figure out his likes and dislikes and realize that learning really is fun and does not consist of memorizing facts. My thoughts to someone who is hesitating to homeschool because "all their ducks aren't in a row" - you will surely never get there. As parents, we know what is best for our children. Pull your kids out of the restrictive school environment and plunge into this wonderful adventure! You will be amazed and inspired by the transformation that takes place with your child when they realize that you value them enough to let them learn at their own pace... Go for it. You are so right! I pulled my son out of public school a year-and-a-half ago and it wasn’t soon enough! (I try not to be too hard on myself about it.)

The best advice I received when I took him out of school was to allow my son to de-school. Give him (and me) time off to figure out his likes and dislikes and realize that learning really is fun and does not consist of memorizing facts.

My thoughts to someone who is hesitating to homeschool because “all their ducks aren’t in a row” – you will surely never get there. As parents, we know what is best for our children. Pull your kids out of the restrictive school environment and plunge into this wonderful adventure! You will be amazed and inspired by the transformation that takes place with your child when they realize that you value them enough to let them learn at their own pace… Go for it.

]]> By: Not June Cleaver http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/116/comment-page-1/#comment-722 Not June Cleaver Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:17:14 +0000 http://throwingmarshmallows.homeschooljournal.net/2006/06/26/advice-for-potential-homeschool-newbies/#comment-722 It's a scary thing! It has taken a lot of research and a lot of reworking of my opinions about education. If I weren't so bogged down with all that I've crammed into my brain about it, I'd attempt to write a blog post about my personal transition. Perhaps soon! My 9 year old just finished third grade, and I'm already seeing signs of the "school mentality" in him. Hopefully it won't take long to transition him home. He's really excited about it. My 7 year old just finished first grade, and I am very clearly seeing the praise-dependent, competitive side of him coming out. "Mommy, is this good?" "Mommy, do you like this?" He keeps saying stuff like "let's do homeschool today" and then sets up a little classroom environment at home. **sigh** My 5 year old has never been to public school, though he did go to a big preschool for the last (gasp!) three years. I guess you could say I was a little overwhelmed with parenting when he was 2 (and his brothers were 4 and 6). He's off the charts smart and I'm really looking forward to homeschooling him from the start. I'll never be ready for this, so I might as well just do it. :) It’s a scary thing! It has taken a lot of research and a lot of reworking of my opinions about education. If I weren’t so bogged down with all that I’ve crammed into my brain about it, I’d attempt to write a blog post about my personal transition. Perhaps soon!

My 9 year old just finished third grade, and I’m already seeing signs of the “school mentality” in him. Hopefully it won’t take long to transition him home. He’s really excited about it.

My 7 year old just finished first grade, and I am very clearly seeing the praise-dependent, competitive side of him coming out. “Mommy, is this good?” “Mommy, do you like this?” He keeps saying stuff like “let’s do homeschool today” and then sets up a little classroom environment at home. **sigh**

My 5 year old has never been to public school, though he did go to a big preschool for the last (gasp!) three years. I guess you could say I was a little overwhelmed with parenting when he was 2 (and his brothers were 4 and 6). He’s off the charts smart and I’m really looking forward to homeschooling him from the start.

I’ll never be ready for this, so I might as well just do it. :)

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