Homeschooling

[CleBrownsfan]

My oldest is turning 4 this week and the wife and I been considering the thought of homeschooling. Anybody here homeschooling their kids? What are everyones thoughts about homeschooling?

[JonInMiddleGA]

I think the success of it may largely come down to the attitudes & personalities (maybe moreso the latter) of those involved.

If you're able to make the time commitment AND are able to deal with the constant pressure of it AND the relationship with the child(ren) is one that can deal with the introduction of a different type of relationship for a big chunk of the week then reasonably intelligent people can make it work.

If any of those things don't work, then it's probably going to be an uphill battle.

[JediKooter]

My concern would be colleges giving credit for the homeschooling program you choose. I don't think they are all the same (from what little I know about it) and some colleges will not give credit.

I could be wrong though.

[Eaglesfan27]

I always worry about the lack of socialization that can occur with home schooling. Of course, that Can be ameliorated with social extracurricular activities.

[Autumn]

We homeschooled my eldest for the past year and a half. I've also been involved with a lot of other kids being homeschooled. I'd be glad to talk about it, answer questions, etc.

Very short answer is that I think if you can pull it off at this age, it's definitely for the best. I think you get the biggest bang for the buck at a young age - I think kids can do really well at home from 4-8 especially. But of course there's a lot of wrinkles and nuances and individual differences. My son has just started public school (his little brother will be starting homeschool next year) and I'm very, very glad we did it for the period we did. I feel like those ages are where public school and my ideas about child development differ the most.

[CU Tiger]

I don't think you can possibly simulate the social skills, dealing with cultual diversity, conflict resolution, etc that they would get in public schools.

Some will say that is precisely the reason to home school, but in most careers the ability to uild relationships, relate to a variety of cultures, and just deal with people is of paramount importance.

[CU Tiger]

Dola: or what EF27 said

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

My oldest is turning 4 this week and the wife and I been considering the thought of homeschooling. Anybody here homeschooling their kids? What are everyones thoughts about homeschooling?

My brother and his wife homeschooled their daughter as a replacement for gradeschool. She is now in regular jr high/high school and probably knows more than most people there.

I followed along with their life and really they put lots of effort into it. THey joined a group of parents who all homeschooled their kids, each parent taking a "class". She did have friends as well, met through various friends and the homeschool group. Did she have the experience of meeting a LOT of kids at once? No. But she made just as many friends as if she had minus the bullies and assholes and headcases that exist in public schools.

And she has the benefit of actually learning something other than what's on the stupid "Pass this test or fail out" tests.

[CrimsonFox]

And by regular jrhigh school, actually I mean private school. A catholic school actually.

[Autumn]

It's not something you can paint with a broad brush. It's like saying public schools are good or bad, ignoring the particular public school you would be attending.

There's a million ways to home school, some good, some bad. There are different ages and grades you could homeschool, to much different effect. There's homeschooling within an active homeschool community, or by yourself, etc., etc.

[PilotMan]

We homeschooled for 3 years. I'll get more into it later, but there are a lot of ideas about homeschooling that are just plain wrong. Jon has it right that it comes down to the attitudes of the parents. Each family can achieve whatever goal they want with it. It can be as good as you think it will be, and you can decide at any time that you want to go back to public schools. The state you live in greatly impacts a lot of the things that you can do. With you child only being 4 you won't be pushing up against most state standards until he turns 6. You're in OH right? HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) can give you loads of information.

[terpkristin]

When I did martial arts, the school I went to had a program that was explicitly for homeschool students in addition to the regular classes. My observation was that about half of the kids in that class seemed like normal kids, the other half were completely...well, anti-social isn't the right word. But withdrawn.

A woman I work with was homeschooled. She ended up going to college at 16 and starting work at 19 or so. I think her moving across the country from her family to work on the east coast allowed her to open up...and visit her party side. For the first 4 years here, I had no respect for her when it came to going out...she always needed a babysitter.

I think it CAN work, just like others have said. But there need to be people capable of covering the material (or enough people to cover ALL the material), and a balance of socialization opportunities.

/tk

[stevew]

I went to a small college, and i'd say the majority of the homeschooled kids I met there were fucking insane. But there were a ton of religious elements involved as well with these kids. And if they socialized, it was only with people who thought exactly the same way.

I'd say go for it, though. But make your kid work at McDonalds when he turns 16. Will likely do as much for socialization and empathy as public high school will.

[ColtCrazy]

As a teacher, I have nothing against homeschooling as long as the parent is competent, willing to challenge the child, and takes the time to find social activities for them. During college, one of my old girlfriend's best friends was home schooled. Brilliant mind, but socially backward. Just never knew how to handle any situation. I would think it would be fine as long as your child gets a chance to learn how to interact with their peers.

I've been teaching long enough to see several families go with the home school route. They let their child go to public school until 5th grade. After that, they home schooled them through middle school and now the kids are in high school. All are bright, polite, socially adjusted (perhaps a little odd but not anything out of the ordinary), and have good futures. Sadly, most have been because the parent is too lazy to bring them to school or they have some insane beef with the school district. This only hurts the kid in the long run.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Some will say that is precisely the reason to home school,

I wouldn't disagree with that, not particularly anyway.

but in most careers the ability to uild relationships, relate to a variety of cultures, and just deal with people is of paramount importance.

Eh, depends upon the career I'd say. If I had gone straight to advertising/marketing I would have dealt with a pretty narrow subset of people, ditto a number of other careers paths that come to mind offhand.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Each family can achieve whatever goal they want with it. It can be as good as you think it will be ...

Ooh, this reminds me of something else that probably shouldn't be entirely left out of the conversation: means/resources

It's actually the "as good as you think" part of it that made that pop into my head. At the moment I've got an old schoolmate who is in the middle of a one year sabbatical taken with his wife* & three kids, all of whom are being homeschooled for the first time (*his wife is a veteran teacher with curriculum director experience)

The things they've done during this year have been amazing, currently at the end of a coast-to-coast trip from South Carolina to San Francisco. Lessons continued for each every day, "field trips" both obvious & creative, really just an phenomenal experience for the whole family.

To me it sounds like the sort of thing that you imagine doing when you think vaguely about homeschooling, a dream scenario filled with learning & wonder & opportunity. The catch is, obviously, cost. They planned & saved for over five years to manage to pull this off.

[Autumn]

You'll find a pretty sharp divide in homeschooled kids, between those who end up more socially mature, and those who end up socially awkward. Most of it depends on the reason the parent has for homeschooling - many actively withdraw their kids from society and you can guess what happens. Others get to interact with a more realistic group of mixed age people and end up better versed at socializing outside of a classroom environment.

I've seen some parents who clearly are painfully introverted and therefore homeschool their kid - surprise, they end up painfully introverted. But many other homeschoolers, dare I say good homeschoolers, have kids who are very self-confident and get along easy with kids and adults, much more so than kids who never interact with an adult who isn't an authority figure.

[JPhillips]

I think that's key. I have some friends that home school and the ones that are willing to put the effort in to educating and enriching their kids do a good job. The ones that want to withdraw their children from the evils of the world don't do so well.

[Tasan]

We've home schooled both of our boys, starting with my oldest who's 9 (almost 10) their entire school run so far. Socialization is what it is. You do things outside the house, field trips, scouts, soccer, pokemon, church groups, whatever, and the kid will be just as "normal" if not more advanced than some of the public school kids. I know LOTS of families that have home schooled up til college with no admission problems either. Its just a matter of record keeping at that age. I'd be happy to talk more about it if needed as well. I'm a stay-at-home dad as well, so I handle most of the schooling.

[Tasan]

And while this is one of those drab write it and they make it things, it has good points.

[Lathum]

Why are you considering it ?

[dl5175]

I also homeschool my daughter she is 14 we have a great time. She wanted homeschooling because of teachers in public school giving more homework because of other kids not behaving. She is a golfer and did not like missing practice because of other people. Now she plays everyday does her schooling in the evening and will be done with Highschool work when she is 16. I am lucky because she a very independent learner so I basically test her a couple of times a month.

[RainMaker]

An interesting topic. I see good and bad with both options. I think it would depend on the parent and on how good the schools are in the area.

Are homeschooled kids still able to participate in local school functions? I know school can be a struggle socially for people, but I think you learn a lot from it. There is something to be said about playing on a high school football team or asking a girl to the prom.

[SCgoatman]

Tremendous way to screw your children for life by stunting their social growth. Had a friend (and his brother) both home schooled through high school by well-intentioned parents. One ended up unable to relate to females, married the first woman he met in college (who was incidently 8 months pregnant at the time), and the other ended up as a similar cluster****. Bottom line, by trying to protect your kids from the realities of the world, you will prevent them from being able to deal with reality.

[Balldog]

We are home schooling until the kids decide they want to go to regular school. They have friends who are both home schooled and attend regular school. There is a quite large group of home schooling parents in our area and my wife has started a home schooling session where they meet at a person's house once a week to have a group lesson.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by SCgoatman

Tremendous way to screw your children for life by stunting their social growth. Had a friend (and his brother) both home schooled through high school by well-intentioned parents. One ended up unable to relate to females, married the first woman he met in college (who was incidently 8 months pregnant at the time), and the other ended up as a similar cluster****. Bottom line, by trying to protect your kids from the realities of the world, you will prevent them from being able to deal with reality.

You can't draw a large conclusion from this sample. First off, I know plenty of people who went to public school and were socially awkward, unable to relate to females and married the first women they dated. I know plenty of people who went to publi cschool whose lives are a wreck. I know kids who were homeschooled who are doing just fine, thanks.

This is one of those cases where if you're homeschooled, that gets blamed for all your failures or successes. Are we pretending public school students are always successes? That none of them are socially awkward or failures at life? That kid who was a total weirdo in my high school, was that high school's fault?

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

An interesting topic. I see good and bad with both options. I think it would depend on the parent and on how good the schools are in the area.

Are homeschooled kids still able to participate in local school functions? I know school can be a struggle socially for people, but I think you learn a lot from it. There is something to be said about playing on a high school football team or asking a girl to the prom.

Generally it is the case that homeschooled kids have the right to participate in public school classes and functions. They can be on the sports teams, attend some classes. Some go for gym and art, or sports. It depends on the state and locality, but that's one way some families get the best of both worlds.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

There is something to be said about playing on a high school football team or asking a girl to the prom.

That said, there's something to be said about being able to apprentice in a field of work or passion of yours when yo'ure a teenager. There's something to be said for being able to travel, or become a golfer. We just can't paint kids with one brush. Some kids are going to get something great out of their high school prom experience. Some kids are going to get something great out of homeschooling and being able to apprentice with a master carpenter or something. There are a million great experiences out there to be had, and they're not all in the same place.

I'm sure we could find plenty of people on FOFC who got a lot out of high school, and plenty who could have gotten more by doing something else. As it is right now, that world is largely reserved for famous actors, or sports or music prodigies. But there's plenty of people who could get something from it.

[wade moore]

With a wife that started as a Kindergarten teacher and is now in basically a reading specialist role I have a hard time reading these things and not getting in a defensive posture.

That being said, I do believe homeschooling can be done well. However, I often question why you would do it unless you have a child with certain special needs, etc - unless you're just in a really bad school district.

I think there's a certain over-arching opinion of schools that, for the most part, is just false. If you're involved with your child, I think there is more benefit to the child being in a school than what the overall negatives are to homeschooling.

This is not universal, but that's my general opinion - that you're better to be heavily involved with their public/private school learning than to just completely remove them from it.

[ColtCrazy]

Originally Posted by Tasan

And while this is one of those drab write it and they make it things, it has good points.

Not slanted at all there. Although there are some good points. I remember our principal sent us a video from the same makers (same style and monotone computer voice) about parent conferences. The parent in it was nuts, but sadly, many of us had experienced some of the examples.

Homeschooling is what you make of it. It has a chance to be successful just like any other schooling situation. Just sad that there are unqualified parents out there that attempt to do it.

[AENeuman]

To me it's like the self checkout in grocery stores. It can be very efficient if you are able to follow directions. However, if you are there only because you want to avoid the other line or you have had a bad experience with that lazy checker, but have no idea how to input 3 bananas then it is more harm than good.

I will also say I think the elephant in the room on homeschooling is that parents are tired of teachers spending 80% of their time on 20% of the "other" students with no real measurable improvement.

[Autumn]

The checkout metaphor is good, AENeuman.

[ColtCrazy]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

To me it's like the self checkout in grocery stores. It can be very efficient if you are able to follow directions. However, if you are there only because you want to avoid the other line or you have had a bad experience with that lazy checker, but have no idea how to input 3 bananas then it is more harm than good.

I will also say I think the elephant in the room on homeschooling is that parents are tired of teachers spending 80% of their time on 20% of the "other" students with no real measurable improvement.

And the Catch 22 is that the state expects me to spend all my time with the other 20% and blames me if they fail even though it's the idiot parents of the world taking 2 steps back with the child for every one step I get them to take forward. They also then hire another teacher to do "enrichment" with a chosen few of the 80% even though their time would be better spent in my class. (And frankly, I refuse to teach like that. I teach to the 80% and force expectations on the other 20% to keep up...it's surprising how some respond when someone finally believes they can achieve something)

(rant) The DOE of Indiana is staffed by incompetent morons (/rant)

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

And the Catch 22 is that the state expects me to spend all my time with the other 20% and blames me if they fail even though it's the idiot parents of the world taking 2 steps back with the child for every one step I get them to take forward. They also then hire another teacher to do "enrichment" with a chosen few of the 80% even though their time would be better spent in my class. (And frankly, I refuse to teach like that. I teach to the 80% and force expectations on the other 20% to keep up...it's surprising how some respond when someone finally believes they can achieve something)

(rant) The DOE of Indiana is staffed by incompetent morons (/rant)

Come on now ColtCrazy. Don't you realize that to some parents, you teachers are nothing more than babysitters for their little perfect angels?

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

And the Catch 22 is that the state expects me to spend all my time with the other 20% and blames me if they fail even though it's the idiot parents of the world taking 2 steps back with the child for every one step I get them to take forward. They also then hire another teacher to do "enrichment" with a chosen few of the 80% even though their time would be better spent in my class. (And frankly, I refuse to teach like that. I teach to the 80% and force expectations on the other 20% to keep up...it's surprising how some respond when someone finally believes they can achieve something)

(rant) The DOE of Indiana is staffed by incompetent morons (/rant)

FWIW I don't think people should "blame" the teachers (and hopefully they don't often) for spending time on that 20% - I think everyone with intelligence understands that you can't literally throw them out of the class and forget about them entirely - it's more frustration that they take the teacher's time.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

To me it's like the self checkout in grocery stores. It can be very efficient if you are able to follow directions. However, if you are there only because you want to avoid the other line or you have had a bad experience with that lazy checker, but have no idea how to input 3 bananas then it is more harm than good.

I will also say I think the elephant in the room on homeschooling is that parents are tired of teachers spending 80% of their time on 20% of the "other" students with no real measurable improvement.

Teachers get tired of it too but that's what happens when kids don't get tracked.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Why are you considering it ?

I'm curious about this, too. If the issue is "not enough attention is being given to my kid's education" why not just do "homeschooling" outside of school, and expose him to as much education as possible?

[Abe Sargent]

I think there are often fundamental differences in the theory of how schools educate vs how children can be taught at home, and that offers a lot of advantages. As the son of parents who both taught in public schools, and homeschooled me for kindergarten, I know that each side has benefits and things to overcome. But the way our educational system is organized doesn't always facilitate maximum retention or enjoyment of subjects.

[CleBrownsfan]

Thanks for all the replies. The reasons we want to homeschool are because we feel we could teach our kids to their learning style, and at their pace. We would like to have the freedom to plan more activities that can be educational. We also like the idea of more hands on, practical learning instead of sitting at a desk doing worksheets (not that that is all that school kids do). Less strict of a schedule and less pressure, especially in the younger grades. We feel that school is too academic in the early years and too much pressure is put on young kids. Our reservations at this time are wondering if we can find enough activities outside the home with the same people to give our kids the opportunities to form lasting friendships, and them having other adults to show them other points of view than those that we and our families hold.
All this being said, we are not against traditional schooling. We are confident our kids will succeed either way, we are just trying to make the best choice.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

To me it's like the self checkout in grocery stores. It can be very efficient if you are able to follow directions. However, if you are there only because you want to avoid the other line or you have had a bad experience with that lazy checker, but have no idea how to input 3 bananas then it is more harm than good.

And not only that, but those idiots with just the 3 bananas use the self checkout with the 3 bag area instead of the 3 other self checkout spots with just the 1 bag space. And I have to stand there and wait for them to figure it all out because I have a basket full of stuff that has no chance of fitting in to just one bag......

(/rant)

But it's still better than going to a store without self checkout at all.

[ColtCrazy]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

Come on now ColtCrazy. Don't you realize that to some parents, you teachers are nothing more than babysitters for their little perfect angels?

I realize that every day a mother send her child into school even though the child has pink eye, or a 102 fever, or is vomiting like they are in the Exorcist. Then, the mother has the nerve to get pissed when the nurse calls to send the kid home. I feel for those kids constantly.

As for the 20%, it's really the 5% that get to me. Those are the ones that have picked up every bad habit their parents can give them. They don't give a shit, the parents don't give a shit, they don't try to do their work correctly and don't seem to care that they will end up just like their parents: bouncing from run down trailer to run down trailer, doing drugs, and barely holding minimum wage jobs, if a job at all.

Great example the other day. Before I got my permanent job, I was doing a maternity leave position in 8th grade math. I remember holding a conference with a parent whose child had a D- with me and Fs in all other subjects. The mother looked me in the eye and said "I don't have a problem with you, he's doing good in your class" and then proceeded to make excuses or blame every other teacher for the Fs. Saw that kid yesterday. He's out of school now and was with what I assumed was wife or gf and his 2 kids. He is next to me in line and goes to get a candy bar. The wife asked why he needed that (and asked fairly innocently) and he proceeded to use every profanity imaginable about how he can do what he wants with his money. Then, when the kids start crying he blames her for it and grabs one kids, picks it up, and yell/talks "what do you want" Just another said case of stupidity breeding stupidity.

[AENeuman]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

And the Catch 22 is that the state expects me to spend all my time with the other 20% and blames me if they fail even though it's the idiot parents of the world taking 2 steps back with the child for every one step I get them to take forward. They also then hire another teacher to do "enrichment" with a chosen few of the 80% even though their time would be better spent in my class. (And frankly, I refuse to teach like that. I teach to the 80% and force expectations on the other 20% to keep up...it's surprising how some respond when someone finally believes they can achieve something)

(rant) The DOE of Indiana is staffed by incompetent morons (/rant)

The testing issues does suck. The question is how much time and effort should be spent on moving a kid from a 1 to 2 (out of 5), 2 to 3 (passing) and 3/4 to 5 (often the majority). The result (and really the goal) is often just a lowering of the bar - 4 and 5 shows no growth while some 2's go to 3.

So gradating with at a level 3 means you have an 8th grade education. A typical graduate will try a community college, realize their 8th grade education is inadequate and drop out (with debt and a sense of failure). Meanwhile the 4's never getting the attention to go to a 5 end up in a lesser college and also struggling.

In other words, the whole system breeds mediocrity. I am part of an institute at Stanford with my principle dealing with this problem of achievement gap vs. opportunity gap, so far just lots of arguing.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Autumn

You'll find a pretty sharp divide in homeschooled kids, between those who end up more socially mature, and those who end up socially awkward. Most of it depends on the reason the parent has for homeschooling - many actively withdraw their kids from society and you can guess what happens. Others get to interact with a more realistic group of mixed age people and end up better versed at socializing outside of a classroom environment.

I've seen some parents who clearly are painfully introverted and therefore homeschool their kid - surprise, they end up painfully introverted. But many other homeschoolers, dare I say good homeschoolers, have kids who are very self-confident and get along easy with kids and adults, much more so than kids who never interact with an adult who isn't an authority figure.

It is INDEED totally up to the parent to take homeschooling seriously. I remember conversations with my niece and my sister in law and they would take about it as "school". And about homework. And the homeschool groups, too are with multiple kids really. And in addition to that she took her niece lots of places to make sure she got out and see things, museums, parks, educational and recreational and historical places. All kinds. And playgroups etc.

Actually if you do it right it seems like it's more work than regular school.
But seeing how smart and well-behaved my niece is, not to mention well-mannered, I have no doubt it is because of homeschooling.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

We feel that school is too academic in the early years

And we went the private route (as have many of the home schoolers I know) at least in part because of just the opposite feeling. Location, location, location I guess {shrug}

Point/relevence being, motivations certainly do vary, it's simply impossible to put homeschoolers into a single box.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Point/relevence being, motivations certainly do vary, it's simply impossible to put homeschoolers into a single box.

Depends on how thin you slice em.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Depends on how thin you slice em.

Ba dum bump

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

But seeing how smart and well-behaved my niece is, not to mention well-mannered, I have no doubt it is because of homeschooling.

Really? You feel with confident that if your niece went to regular school she'd be stupid and rude?

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I'm curious about this, too. If the issue is "not enough attention is being given to my kid's education" why not just do "homeschooling" outside of school, and expose him to as much education as possible?

My wife has suggested we homeschool in the past and I've always talked her out of it on the theory that while there are sometimes things we don't appreciate about their current teacher/school ... thats a long way from saying 'if we did it then it'd be better'.

I see it like someone playing a computer game, its easy to spot the flaws in one .... a heck sight harder to make one yourself without them

[PilotMan]

We started homeschooling because the school wasn't able to meet the needs of our son. We did it for 3 years. We were discouraged from it by the school, and they basically told us we were going to ruin his life.

So we did 5th grade twice and then did sixth grade. The result was that we found how he learned best. We found that he did have subjects that he liked the best. We knew exactly what his learning challenges were, but we decided that for 7th he would be best back in public school. We had moved and were in a better district and frankly he was wearing us out.

At the same time we homeschooled our youngest one K and 1 and the other just K. The oldest was taking away from what the others needed and he needed to be around his peers more.

So what did we find? Our oldest was behind when he left and nearly a year ahead when he stared back up in public school. We also found that our oldest was undiagnosed Aspergers (finally in 9th it was diagnosed) which resulted in an IEP starting this year. That has made all the difference in the world.

Of our youngest two, the middle child started in second grade, and we found that he was behind in some areas. We simply weren't pushing him hard enough, but the things we did do jump started his brain in other areas. The result was a short term pain to get caught up, but by now, he is one of the top kids in his class, and a very insightful child with a mind for science.

The youngest started right in at first grade and transitioned very easily.

Personally I think that elementary schooling can be accomplished pretty easily. You really have to look at the needs of your kids each year, and decide from there. You don't have to start off with the idea that once you leave you never get to go back. For us, highschool just wouldn't have worked out at home. Too much to go wrong, especially with our special needs child.

That being said, there are lots of kids who prefer that style of learning and excel at it. If the school can't meet your needs it's always an option to just homeschool.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

Thanks for all the replies. The reasons we want to homeschool are because we feel we could teach our kids to their learning style, and at their pace. We would like to have the freedom to plan more activities that can be educational. We also like the idea of more hands on, practical learning instead of sitting at a desk doing worksheets (not that that is all that school kids do). Less strict of a schedule and less pressure, especially in the younger grades. We feel that school is too academic in the early years and too much pressure is put on young kids. Our reservations at this time are wondering if we can find enough activities outside the home with the same people to give our kids the opportunities to form lasting friendships, and them having other adults to show them other points of view than those that we and our families hold.
All this being said, we are not against traditional schooling. We are confident our kids will succeed either way, we are just trying to make the best choice.

This mirrors very closely why we chose to homeschool our kids in first and probably second grades. We're lucky to have a very active homeschool community here. There's a homeschool co-op where parents offer different "classes" and just a lot of stuff happening every week. Our kids are constantly on the go and interacting with other kids. I think we put too much academic pressure, and focus on abstract learning for K-2 kids, and then we take it too easy, expecting too little from older kids.

A few more years with us at home has given our kids a real solid foundation and let them grow a bit more outside of the school routine. An ideal for me would be a private school that had a similar educational philosophy to me, as I think it's great to have more social environments for learning, particularly mixed age ones. But we've been able to find a good middle ground.