Migraine

I know that Melissa and Amy have shared that they homeschool their kids. I'll bet some of you other parents do, too! And even if you don't homeschool, maybe you have some thoughts for me?

I've been wanting to homeschool my boys since preschool, but my extended family members have been really, really discouraging it! (They worry about my health and ability to keep up with a curriculum. They also worry about the social side of things for my kids--they think they'll be missing out on friendships if they're homeschooled.)

Are you able to stay on top of things, even while struggling with migraine disease?

I imagine that I'd be able to involve my boys in many more community resources if they're homeschooled. Our local museum, science center, and parks all offer homeschool programs that my kids could really benefit from! But I worry that I'll be too sick to take advantage of these things for them.

Do you think it's possible to do a good job of homeschooling while struggling with daily migraine pain? I know I'm not healthy enough right now to hold down a job, so do I have any business trying to take on homeschooling?

My kids are so very important to me! I feel like I've been given a gift in them, but I sure do feel responsible to make the best decisions possible for them, too!

Thanks for any input guys!
jenny

The actual requirements depend somewhat on the state you're in. But all in all- I spend only about 4 hrs a day...at most doing school with my kids. Often it's shorter than that. I have a weird schdule work wise. I teach 2 nights a week and write fiction at odd intervals. If I have a truly lousy day,I can "cancel" school and push it off to the weekend. I am so thoroughly happy that I don't have to endure the nightly "homework wars" that many public school parents have.

Public school friendships ? Oh yeah, kids who beat the daylights out of your kids, teach them to lie, cheat and steal? You do have to put forth a little effort to get kids involved in things. But I actually know one or both of the parents of every single kid my kids are friends with. In the state of Virginia, you can declare for one year at a time. One year is not forever. If it doesn't work, you can send them back to public school the next year.

Curriculum? There's a lot of people who buy an entire packaged curriculum. Cough up 4-500$, get pretty close to everything you need for a whole year. Melissa goes the on-line way We don't go that route. But a lot of people do. We're "eclectic". As a chemistry professor I'm way picky about what math and science texts my kids use. We school year round. In part because we travel during the month of May.

I got a fair amount of flack in the beginning from family. But by now they see that both kids can read and write and do math and know all sorts of trivia. We participate in a co-op from Sept to May. My kids take swim lessons and I'm about to have my DD have a go at girlscouts this fall.

There really is not a lot to lose by trying it for one year. Since it's July, you could even buy a few workbooks and try it out for a few weeks and see if it makes you crazy

Like Melissa my kids often "do school" in their pajamas, laying on the floor, hanging off the sofa, eating snacks or out in the back yard.

Jenny,

I've written a long post here, so I hope I don't ramble on. My main points would be: Cyber school (since you're in PA) could go a long way in helping to home school your kids, and you can email me or friend me on face book any time to talk about it.

First off, you are an incredible mom who does a whole lot with her kids already.

DD has been in cyberschool for the past three years, and DS will be starting Pre-K this year. DD has always kind of done it on her own, with my guidance. I know your kids are younger, so you would be far more involved. Here's a link for one of the schools so you can check it out yourself: HERE There are different curriculum delivery styles for different learning styles.

You're also more than welcome to get my email from Teri or Nancy and email me directly or access me on face book to talk about homeschool stuff.

The nice part about cyberschool versus homeschool is the support. No matter which curriculum vehicle you choose (they have several), they provide the curriculum to you. You don't have to come up with it or buy it from someone else. You also don't have to report progress to the state, since the cyberschools are state-run. Traditional homeschoolers have to put together portfolios and send them in to the school district each year for approval to show that your child is learning at the appropriate grade level.

DD uses something called virtual classroom. She has logs in at assigned times with actual teachers and other students on her computer. She has headphones and a microphone, and can raise her hand to ask or answer a question. The teacher has a "whiteboard" screen to write on or power point slides for class. This is the school's most stuctured option, and it's the one that works the best for her. We've tried other clesses where she learns "on her own" and that's a recipe for disaster.

DS and I will be using a different program this fall. It's called Calvert. It's completely off-line, but still through cyberschool. DH and I have talked a lot about whther I'm well enough for this or not, so we're easing in to this. The pre-K is very relaxed, kind of just a prep course.

You already know that I'm not in the best shape. DH and I have had long discussions about whether I'm well enough to homeschool DS. DD kind of takes care of herself. That's the nice thing about cyberschool. You're in PA, so you would be eligible.

Your boys are both very young, right? I want to say under eight. There are lots of younger children in cyber school right now. There are field trips all the time that you have the option of participating in, and family groups that plan functions and get togethers for the kids.

Unfortunately, family members are always going to talk about omeschooled kids like they're lepers. I have just realized this as a fact, and know that I can't change these people's minds, and their opinions don't matter to me. What matters is my children's well-being.

I hope I helped. I feel like I just rambled on forever. Please let me know if you want any other info.

I'm with Amy on the social thing. Kids in school can be so rotten. The relationships DD developed in school are what drove us out of traditional schooling in the first place. If that's how things are "supposed" to be, then I don't want my children to be what they're "supposed" to be.

Hi Amy and Melissa! Thanks so much for the input!!!

My main reasons for considering homeschooling involve my kids' abilities and interests. DS8 loves science and is a terrific writer and reader. He qualifies for our districts gifted program, but it's really pathetic and offers him basically no supplemental opportunities for science at all. And my district's science program is just pitiful. Pencil and paper work with no applied stuff at all. Not even a set of magnets--nothing!

DS6 is a wonderful reader and gets bored very easily. He's the kind of kid who will finish his work and then get up and wander around the classroom looking for something to do. So far, math seems to be his favorite thing.

Every time I think about them spending another year waiting for the kids to learn some very basic stuff, I feel just terrible for them. But I know that they do enjoy the social side of school and love having lunch and recess with their pals.

Amy, I've started doind a mini-school sort of thing here at home this summer. That was a really good suggestion! By August, I should be able to tell if I'm physically able to keep up with it!

Melissa, thank you for the cyberschool link! I've looked into it a bit in the past, but I really need to make a concerted effort to ask some questions and find out just what they have to offer. Also, thank you so much for the offer of your email! I'm going to get my thoughts together and I'll definitely find out your contact info from Teri! We Pittsburgh girls have to help each other out!!

I have a habit of worrying about family opinion too much. I need to work on that. I guess I'm uncertain myself about my health/abilities. Hearing negative stuff from family just makes things seem even more uncertain.

You guys are wonderful. I'll be stopping back to this thread in a few days to ask you guys some more specific questions!



jenny

I don't have any kids, but I do know that I LOVED being homeschooled!!!.....even when mom had to work outside the home also, we always had/made time to do school....and once I was reading on my own, I could do my own work with only about half an hour a day of parental help.

You talked about your sons being very bright, and not well engaged by school:...I had the same problem, and was very much happier studying independently/on my own schedule. HS is great for allowing time to "catch up" on things the child finds more difficult and spending extra time on things that are "fun" or particullarly interesting. No child should be held back, simply because he's in a class where others haven't reached his level.

Look into homeschool groups/co-ops in your area; you can probably find someone to carpool with, esp on the days that you aren't feeling so hot. And as far as sociallization "issues": being homeschooled, I was only home/away from my peer group one day a week!

Mom says to tell you, that on days you don't feel well, you can invite other parents and kids into your house to play/learn together in exchange for your providing food ("lunch is in the fridge"), books, resources, that you could set up ahead of time (and can have a "standing" invitation - i.e. set up ahead of time, so when you're all migraine-y you can just give the other fam a quick call).....lots of families we know would have been happy to do so.

Also, alot of homeschool teenagers (esp. girls), will do housekeeping/mother's helper for small $ or just for experience (home-ec. credit?). I was a mother's helper for years for free just for the experience.....get together with the other homeschool parents, they WILL help you!

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Hello and welcome to our forum family, Beth! Our goal is to provide everyone with the information and support that we all need to manage our Migraines and/or headaches. To that end, we consider this a “safe harbor,” where nobody tries to sell us anything, and we all use “family-friendly” language so parents are comfortable letting their children read the forum with them.

Please take a few minutes to review our policies and guidelines along with the other information in the START HERE folder. For information about Migraines, a good article to begin with is Learning About Migraines - Where to Start

Thank you so much for posting in this thread about your experience with homeschooling. You have all kinds of great ideas only someone who's been there would know.

What a cute puppy!

Hi Jenny,

As you know I homeschooled DS last year. I also homeschooled him in 1st grade. Sounds like Mel and Amy gave you many of the suggestions I would have. I just have to add when I was looking into homeschooling, as you may know, there are many options, I don't know if there are Charter schools in your area. But some offer homechool programs where the kids are strickly homeschool, can come in 1 day a week, 2 days a week or 3 days a week and the curriculm is planned out with you and an educator.

As Melissa said there are many types of virually programs online. Also, the one I chose for DS was a computer program called Switch on Schoolhouse. It is a christian based program (maybe not your cup of tea, and there are others out there) It allowed DS to do work on-line then we would do hands on projects. And since I am a former teacher, I decided to add books to match the what the computer was teaching. I went through his private school, so he was also able to take a separate math class there and go to chapel. This insured me that his socialization was taken care of.

Also, I would suggest looking online to homeschool forums, this is not only a great source of support while homeschooling, but a great way to get curriculm cheap!!

As far as socialization, there are many homeschool groups that have "park days" as PE and/or field trips. You may want to google in your area or ask around on the homeschool forums.

As far as my migraines, it was tough at times, but I always had a "back-up" plan. Writing journals, online work or really bad days my daughter's would be my subsitute LOL!!!

Whatever you decide, you are a great mom and your kids are lucky to have have!!!

Dar

Hi Beth and Dar!

Beth, nice to "meet" you! Thank you so much for all of the homeschooling details! As Droolie said, you have tips only someone who's "been there" could share! My boys are 6 and 8 and they absolutely LOVE science! Our public school has a lousy science program--no hands-on learning. Just worksheets! That's one of my main reasons for considering homeschooling. They could learn so much more from the many resources in our community (science center, museum, etc. all have great homeschool series).

Dar, I have GOT to look into charter school and Switch on Schoolhouse! Christian-based schooling would fit in with our family values SO WELL! When my boys were preschool-aged, I followed a Christian preschool curriculum and we really loved it. The idea of homeschooling is a little overwhelming to me right now. There are so many options and there is so much to consider!

A friend talked with me about this issue the other day. I admitted to her that my worst fear is letting my kids down. I so desperately want to give them the best education possible and I'm just frightened that I'll be unable to do it.

Dh and I talked and prayed about this a LOT. DH shared with me a strong belief that we needed to send the boys back to public school this year. He felt strongly that DS6 needed to have the experience of going to school all day, learning school rules, and making friends. (Last year, he had 1/2 day kindergarten with only 3 other boys in the class--and the teacher never let them sit together!) I truly believe that parents need to be unified with a decision like this, so I deferred to Dh and put the boys back in public school this year. Honestly, DH has a better perspective on this whole thing--I've been struggling with my daily migraines a lot this summer and I think my ability to make good decisions for us is definitely impaired!

Right now, I'm investigating my homeschool options and becoming educated about the resources available to my kids in our area. We'll see where this path leads! I truly believe in my heart that they'll be homeschooled sooner rather than later. I've always had a feeling that homeschool is "right" for us.

Thank you both! I'm sure I'll be back seeking more info!!

jenny