Reflection on our public school experience

Things I have learned from "Superman" being in public Kindergarten since the end of February:

1.  I miss him when he's gone.

2.  In public school they have to stay on topics for a long period of time to make sure everyone gets it.  This has advantages and disadvantages.  Reinforcement is good to a degree, but at some point if something is totally easy for your child, you are just wasting time.

3.  Consistently revisiting things your child has learned throughout the year really helps them retain it.  I could use some improvement in this area.

4.  When you child is gone to school for hours and comes home with a bunch of things to do (homework, piano practice, soccer sometimes, dinner, and always wanting to play with friends) it's easy to become a drill sergeant parent.  "Superman" feels this and even said to me yesterday, "When can I get my own house.  I'm tired of being told I can't do stuff and getting time outs."  This is a result (at least partially) of the time crunched, drill sergeant parent business.  I REALLY don't want that kind of relationship with my children.  I don't want to be the schedule keeper all the time.

5.  I learned that I like being accountable to someone for doing our reading.  It really helps me stay consistent.

Why I am currently leaning toward homeschool again for next year:

1.  6 hours a day away from Mom and family is a lot for such a young child. 

2.  I believe that spending more time with your family allows you to all know each other better and be closer.  (I am not at all concerned about lack of socialization between neighbor friends, church, homeschool group and sports).

The next two are currently the ones I feel the strongest about....

3.  I feel that in general, homeschooled children have more of an opportunity to find out who THEY are and what THEY love.  What do THEY want to learn about and why?  

4.  We can move at the pace of each individual kid.  I don't have to wait for 30 other kids to be proficient in one area. As soon as my child gets it, we can move on to the next concept and he has an opportunity to excel.  At the same time, he won't KNOW he's excelling.  He won't feel superior to another kid in his class, and if he needs to move slower, he won't feel inferior.

5.  There are many resources in our community to give me support as a homeschooling mother.  There's a library literacy program as well as many other library programs.  There is also a charter school with free kits for independent study on topics my 6 year old is especially interested in.  (They also give you access to a typing program, and Rosetta Stone for Spanish).  Doing some things through that school will give me someone to be accountable to in a no pressure, not stressful kind of way.  

6.  Less of a schedule to stick to....learning things will be done earlier in the day, so he will have more time when friends are home from school to play.  Also, sometimes he will get to play with homeschool friends earlier in the day and already feel socially fulfilled.  I won't have to run my life by the school bus....if Dad wants to see us for lunch, we're free to do that.  

A few mixed feelings:

This past week "Superman" has really enjoyed public school.  He still says he will not be sad if I decide to do homeschool next year.  I'm glad for that but it's still fun that he enjoys school.  At this point I'm feeling that being slowed down in his learning potential and the one thing after another evenings outweigh the fact that he enjoys school.  I can always change my mind later. :)  It's nice to feel you have a choice.

I plan on homeschooling through the summer with the children.  I figure by the fall, I will know for sure what I want to do next year.