You may be looking at me with a cross-eyed "duh", or you might disagree 100%.
I understand both perspectives--after all, we home school. We're completely insane on one hand--taking all this on ourselves, dealing with the time stress, the headache of curriculum, and the constant battle for balance. In a given day I'm a psychologist, teacher, physical education specialist, principal, music instructor, historian, custodian, nutrition specialist, doctor, mediator, and scientist. On the other hand, I don't get paid, and I'm not entirely sure I fill any of those roles thoroughly enough. I don't have a degree in any of those areas, or credentials for my childhood development emphasis.
Does that make me unintelligent? --Going forward without any of that? Potentially. BUT, here's the flip side:
Home School parents are amazing at research.
What is the essence of true intelligence? Acknowledging you don't have all the answers, and being willing to seek them out.
People at work call my husband a genius. He's an IT/Systems Integration Specialist in upper management. What does that mean? He does all things "geek" and "business." He doesn't have all the answers, but his true genius shines through in seeking them out. Google knows. (Or as he says, Google knows where to find anything you need.) He doesn't stop until he has an answer. Not only that, he's always looking to streamline the best process for crunching information. Does that make him brilliant? I think so. (Of course, I might be slightly biased.)
And this is why I say home school parents are smart. They spend OODLES of time researching curriculum, educational approaches, and every aspect of individual subjects. Thankfully for me, much of this spills over to writing. *using super-hero voice* I'm not afraid of research.
Are you as smart as a home schooling parent? Are you?
I understand both perspectives--after all, we home school. We're completely insane on one hand--taking all this on ourselves, dealing with the time stress, the headache of curriculum, and the constant battle for balance. In a given day I'm a psychologist, teacher, physical education specialist, principal, music instructor, historian, custodian, nutrition specialist, doctor, mediator, and scientist. On the other hand, I don't get paid, and I'm not entirely sure I fill any of those roles thoroughly enough. I don't have a degree in any of those areas, or credentials for my childhood development emphasis.Does that make me unintelligent? --Going forward without any of that? Potentially. BUT, here's the flip side:
Home School parents are amazing at research.
What is the essence of true intelligence? Acknowledging you don't have all the answers, and being willing to seek them out.
And this is why I say home school parents are smart. They spend OODLES of time researching curriculum, educational approaches, and every aspect of individual subjects. Thankfully for me, much of this spills over to writing. *using super-hero voice* I'm not afraid of research.
Are you as smart as a home schooling parent? Are you?
As smart as a home schooling parent? Umm, no, but I do have a couple science type degrees. So if you're ever interested in an earth science module or just minerals and gems, I can totally help you out with that. I can even show people how to perform a variety of tests on rocks to figure out what they are over email, if you're interested. Just shoot me an email (I leave it linked).
ReplyDeleteRena, you're super awesome sauce! I just might take you up on that one day. (And stop being modest. You're a genius.) ;)
DeleteI have the greatest respect for home schooling parents. I did well to be a homework schooling parent...you know the kind of parent who has to to the research to teach what the child isn't grasping in school. My youngest son is a hands on learner and the traditional school setting was not conducive to him learning, so each night, we spent two-three hours reteaching each subject. Now that I look back on it, we should have just pulled him out and taught him at home...but oh well. The school recommended special ed, but we knew he was capable, he just needed to do rather than hear.
ReplyDelete(and I think your hubs is a genius too...I have trouble with all things tech, so I am in awe of those who have mastered it!)
I'm right with you on the tech thing. ;)
DeleteYou know, I think education is one of those things our society is starting to view differently--since the advent of online learning. My youngest is a kinetic learner too, and while he struggles with book work, he's a genius. You should hear that boy talk. I mean, vocabulary+!
I think parents who (actually) homeschool are very brave.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting me!! I can't see your follower list to join but will come back later and do it.
That or insane, but I think I already expressed my opinion on the matter. ;D
DeleteAs smart as, maybe... as brave as a home schooling parent - definitely not!
ReplyDeleteA month of Blog...
Since when? You live in NYC. That takes all kinds of moxie. ;)
DeleteAgreed...anyone who knows where to find the answers and how to get them, has to have some sort of intelligence. It's those who think they don't need them, because they're too stubborn to admit they might not know them, that have the ability to make the rest of us scratch our heads.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance is bliss, eh? ;)
DeleteI have so much admiration and respect for homeschooling parents. I wanted to do it, but I worried that I wouldn't be qualified or have enough patience. Now every day, I put my kindergartner on the bus and wish he could stay home with me.
ReplyDeleteI do like to Google things, though... :)
If moving to NYC hadn't jump started us into it, I'm not 100% sure we'd have ever started. It's definitely a scary thing to do, but just like our blogging community, there are supportive communities of home schoolers out there in every community, and most of them have WAY more answers than I do. =)
DeleteI think being a parent is Awesome . . . doing all you do - AND - taking time to share with me???? Over the top amazing and - color me grateful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this brilliant Post.
Love & Love,
-g-
No, you taking time to stop by and say thanks? Amazing. ;)
DeleteIt definitely is many roles all in one. I work in a school so know how hard it can be, but rewarding too.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely--especially when it all works out the way you planned. ;)
DeleteResearch can get you through almost anything! :)
ReplyDeleteAlmost. It might not get you through a bog in West Africa though.
DeleteI've been a teacher (even though it's rewarding, it's pretty tough work), and I am terrified of being a parent one day. So the fact that you're doing both is amazing!
ReplyDeletePS - I agree with your husband. I know Google can tell me where to find pretty much any info!
Except maybe where you left your grocery list. ;)
DeleteYou'll be a great mom one day, Rachel.
Not right at this moment. My brain is in its afternoon woggie state. lol I teach some about the night skies at the observatory. Teaching is fun. It's great when you see that spark in someone's eye and knowing you helped put it there.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun when they get it. There's very little so fulfilling...or frustrating when they don't get it.
DeleteYou can research for you and your kids at the same time.
ReplyDeleteAnd Google really does know where to find all the answers.
Exactly--the ultimate mutli-tasking, eh?
DeleteI don't know about the smart part. I just know that as much as I love my kids, I'm not crazy enough to homeschool them. Plus two of them go to a Spanish bilingual school. I know I could never match that.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Thank goodness for online resources. Ten, fifteen years ago, this would have been utter insanity for me. (It is now, but less so.)
DeleteI can imagine it takes a lot of time and effort and research homeschool your kids. I'm always amazed at parents who take this route. I find their devotion to their kids' education wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Though their sanity may be highly in question? ;)
DeleteI have SO much admiration for home schoolers. I don't know how they do it! I find the whole thing so intimidating!
ReplyDeleteYeah, well some people would find balancing 3 careers intimidating. How do you do it? ;)
DeleteI homeschooled my kids for elementary school. There is a lot of research involved. Overall the education is better, but I couldn't continue to do it. I had to go back to work. I'm not the type to juggle a job and homeschooling. I need writing time. :)
ReplyDeleteOh don't I know the juggle! Way to be, Cindy. We've been home schooling for 9 years, and although we've figured out a system, it's taken a long time to acclimate. Thankfully the hubby's income is enough to support us while I get my writing off the ground. Teaching 3 kids is a full time job. :)
DeleteI think parent's who homeschool their kids are awesome and brave and smart and way cooler than me, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteHow the heck did I find stuff out before Google? I'm actually somewhat addicted to learning things since I got my smart phone. I no longer have to write down the stuff I want to google when I get in front of a computer. Now I can just Google it on the spot. Instant gratification. My family makes fun of me for it, but inquiring minds need to know!
That's awesome, an addiction to google. Hey, in a couple years they'll probably have a diagnosed condition for people who HAVE to research everything. ;)
DeleteWay to be! Constantly growing and reaching is the best.
I homeschooled my daughter for two years while we were living abroad, and it was one of the most beautiful, best decisions of my life. I'm not able to do it now with my work, but I do miss it, as hard as it was. I definitely had to do a tremendous amount of research and learned a lot alongside my daughter. But what a cool experience.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. I had the same experience while in NYC (which is basically the same thing as being abroad). It definitely makes for a strong and cohesive relationship with your kids, eh?
Deleteenjoyed this post--fellow homeschool mom :)
ReplyDelete*high five*
DeleteI homeschooled for a year when my kids were young... Homeschooling teaches the child HOW TO LEARN as opposed to just cramming information and hoping to recall it for a test.. And the good thing is that EVERYTHING is a lesson. One thing my kids mastered was figuring out change due in stores before the register.. I was so proud, as I never was a master at math. We collected wildflower seeds with park district, did the beach sweep, toured a water treatment plant, even penpalling with pals in other countries-- and learning a little of their language. So many opportunities to learn and the internet makes it much easier these days. when my kids went back to regular school the next year they were ahead of other kids. very satisfying. Visiting on the followers bloghop.
ReplyDeleteAwesome. You truly can have some amazing experiences, eh?
DeleteResearching is one of my favorite things ever! I loved being able to help Jeffrey with his research papers. The frustration of conflicting information, figuring out which side I am on, and trying to cut down all that info into little enough to write a paper, but broad enough to be able to have a well developed paper. I absolutely love that feeling! So in that way, I envy you. Although I seriously doubt my patience and ability to actually teach my kids. Trying to teach them to read comes with a lot of opposition, I can't imagine teaching subjects I don't know much about. You are a hero, my friend, a true hero.
ReplyDelete