Temporary homeschooling?

[Faery-Wings]

From a different thread here, a mom mentioned that she homeschooled her daughter for a temporary period of time. Does anyone know much about that?

The reason I am asking is that we may be tearing down our house (for anyone who has been following this saga, that is where we stand as of *right now* but looking more towrds it) and moving in with my parents for three months. We had hoped to do this over the summer but we can only possiby affored this if the interest rates stay low. Which means that we might have to do this in the next few months. The problem is that Scott is in first grade and my mother lives almost an hour away. It just would be a major hassle to have to drive him to school, have no where to go, and then drive home.

I was thinking that maybe temporarily homeschooling him might be a way around it. Do you have to prove a need to homeschool? Any ideas onthe legalities of it?

What would you all do in this situaltion?

Chris~ needs ideas, sanity and money...still :)

[Yvonne Belisle]

Call the school board tell them you are interested in home schooling. Then when you are ready to put him back just tell them you no longer wish to homeschool that the situation that made you feel it was nessesary has passed. Should be fine with them. :)

[MammaStar]

Chryssi, do you remember that link you posted? For Lyl Witch or something like that? (I'm at work right now, so don't have an access). I know they have info about Homeschooling. :D

[Mnemosyne]

Hiya Chryssi! I'm kind of confused. Why can't your son go to a school near your mother's place? I believe that you would be a great teacher for your son. After all, you share such great ideas on here and mentioned that you were into eduction before. Remember though- the first grade education is so crucial to a child's success. I believe that the first grade level really prepares children to be good readers, since so much is emphasized on phonics. It might take a lot of time to prepare those lessons for you child, so that's why I suggest that you send him to a school near your mother's home.

[Ganga]

Yvonne, sensible advice.

I think temporary homeschooling would be much better than putting your son in a new school for those months. Adjusting to a new set of rules, 30 new faces, etc. can be stressful. And I wouldn't worry about reading and stuff. It doesn't take that much time to prepare lessons, even if you do feel some need to prepare. I'm talking out of 5 years experience of homeschooling here. Check out this site: www.unschooling.com It's a discussion forum (no need to even register, so it's easy to use). The folks there have given me great support over the years.

Good luck, and have fun with your son!

[Faery-Wings]

Starlite, I went back to that link and got some good info from that site. Thanks for reminding me about it. It says NJ has no real legal issues on homeschooling. That is good news.

Mnemosyne, thanks for the support. I think I would have a great time doing this, as a temporary solution. I don't know if I am cut out to do it full time however. I give great credit to anyone who does (((ganga))). The reason tht I don't want to put him in a school by my moms is twofold. First, I want to keep this move, if it happens, as stressless as possible for my kids. I think taking him out of his school, theninto a new school, then back to his old school would difficult for him. Then I don't know the legal/tax issues either. We will still be paying taxes here, not in my mom;s town. So he wouldn't be eligible to go to school there, I am thinking.

This would give the freedom to keep my daughter in her preschool 2 mornings a week, and then while she was at school, that could be time we could spend at the library, or whever his lesson took us. Or if we needed to be at his school for a meeting that would be also possible. The other days I would be able to teach him whatever he needed to do at home.

Ganga, thanks for the website link. I'm off to check that out. :)

[Mnemosyne]

For most people, I would not support homeschooling children. However, I know that you could do it, Chryssi. You seem so creative and would know how to use your creativity to foster your son's education.

I think that it would be nice to be able to take your son on educational trips and have spend time with family. Since you do not intend to homeschool your son permanently, he would eventually have to go back to school. Would it be more of a shock for your son to go from schooling at his home back to his regular classroom, or would it be more stressful for him to go from a new classroom to his former classroom? If he is outgoing and makes friends easily, perhaps he would like to meet new friends.

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks Mnemosyne. :) I am finding that I am looking forward to the possibility of it. It might be good for me and my brain as well.

Scott is a pretty shy kid. He has a tough time making new friends. In fact, I hate to move him at all since he is doing so well in this class and with his teacher. I think it would be easier to homeschool than new school for him.

I'm sure I will asking for tons of sanity vibes from all of you if this ever goes through!

[Ganga]

I, in fact, recommend homeschooling to most of the people ;-) Just kidding. But really, it's not _such_ a big deal, or such a peculiar alternative.

Then again, I'm known to be eccentric, being a Pagan, Hare Krishna, vegetarian, feminist, homeschooler and a writer - all at the same time...

[MidnightSun]

I was homeschooled for 3 years, so I'd say go for it. It's really really great.

[CloakofStars9]

i was home-schooled thru highschool, i grew up in LA and the school systems arent the best, so my mom yanked us out and we homeschooled the rest, and i am very happy i did

[Willow_Raindancer]

I know he's young, but have you asked your son what he wants?;)