Here at Growing Roots, we have decided to take a different approach. In addition to talking about gardening and simple living, we are going to talk about the other thing that is near and dear to my heart: homeschooling.
Homeschooling is indeed on the rise.
- According to statistics presented by the National Center for Education Statistics, between 1999 and 2007, the number of homeschooling children rose by 400,000 from 1.1million to 1.4 million nationally.
- While more white students are being homeschooled, homeschooling is on the rise within minority communities. Many feel that their own cultural perspective is missing from mainstream education.
- In Connecticut alone, it is estimated that over 23,000 students are homeschooled.
Many within the homeschooling community also suspect that with the transition to the Common Core, more families will consider homeschooling as well.
My Own Story...And It's Still Unfolding...
I began homeschooling my two boys about 2 years ago. While many homeschoolers opt for home education because they are fed up with the local public schools or they have decided to step away from the curriculum being taught in the classroom, these were not our reasons for homeschooling.
We have never had a problem with the public schools here in Windsor. In fact, we had a very happy experience. Rather, I had always longed to be a part of my children's education from the very start. My older son - inquisitive, verbal and a big picture thinker - was interested in subjects that we had no time to talk about with a very busy day away at school and limited time at home.
It took me several years to decide I could do it. I was nervous, very nervous, to think about spending my entire day with my boys - with no breaks at all. As a very self-motivated type of person myself, I was fearful that I would hate the monotony and being consistent hasn't always been my strength.
So my husband and I prayed about it for an entire year. And at the end of that year, with his support, I decided to take a leap of faith.
Our homeschooling day starts at 9:30a, usually - we incorporate studying the Bible into our daily routine as as well as Language Arts Science, History, Arts and Crafts and Reading.
As far as spending time with friends, my boys belong to Cub Scouts, we attend a weekly homeschooling cooperative and we also belong to a very diverse church, with friend who are right around the corner.
We enroll them in several classes a month including science classes at the Connecticut Children's Museum, free classes at the Windsor Public Library and attend local events.
Are we saying we will do this forever? No. I take it year by year.
Is it always fun? No. Sometimes it's pretty hard.
Do the kids like it? Yes.
And the questions they get asked the most: do they like their teacher?
(Yes).
- Jennifer Coe
