What are some of the benefits of homeschooling for children?  * A more relaxed lifestyle.        * Positive socialisation * No peer group pressure         * Full interaction with the community   * Richer experience of family     * Closer sibling relationships  * Independent thinking                * Individually designed education  * Learning at their own pace      * Time to follow their own interests  * Time to think                             * Time to observe  * Time to imagine                      * Time to know themselves * Richer experience with the community

What about socialization? -with a difference   Two women meet at a playground, where their children are swinging and playing ball. The women are sitting on a bench watching. Eventually, they begin to talk. W1: Hi. My name is Maggie. My kids are the three in red shirts -- helps me keep track of them. W2: (Smiles) I'm Terri. Mine are in the pink and yellow shirts. Do you come here a lot? W1: Usually two or three times a week, after we go to the library. W2: Wow. Where do you find the time? W1: We home school, so we do it during the day most of the time. W2: Some of my neighbours home school, but I send my kids to public school. W1: How do you do it? W2: It's not easy. I go to all the PTO meetings and work with the kids every day after school and stay real involved. W1: But what about socialization? Aren't you worried about them being cooped up all day with kids their own ages, never getting the opportunity for natural relationships? W2: Well, yes. But I work hard to balance that. They have some friends who're homeschooled, and we visit their grandparents almost every month. W1: Sounds like you're a very dedicated mom.But don't you worry about all the opportunities they're missing out on? I mean they're so isolated from real life -- how will they know what the world is like -- what people do to make a living -- how to get along with all different kinds of people? W2: Oh, we discussed that at PTO, and we started a fund to bring real people into the classrooms. Last month, we had a policeman and a doctor come in to talk to every class. And next month, we're having a woman from Japan and a man from Kenya come to speak. W1: Oh, we met a man from Japan in the grocery store the other week, and he got to talking about his childhood in Tokyo. My kids were absolutely fascinated. We invited him to dinner  & got to meet his wife and their three children. W2: That's nice. Hmm. Maybe we should plan some Japanese food for the lunchroom on Multicultural Day. W1: Maybe your Japanese guest could eat with the children. W2: Oh, no. She's on a very tight schedule. She has two other schools to visit that day. It's a system-wide thing we're doing. W1: Oh, I'm sorry. Well, maybe you'll meet someone interesting in the grocery store sometime and you'll end up having them over for dinner. W2: I don't think so. I never talk to people in the store -- certainly not people who might not even speak my language. What if that Japanese man hadn't spoken English? W1: To tell you the truth, I never had time to think about it. Before I even saw him, my six-year-old had asked him what he was going to do with all the oranges he was buying. W2: Your child talks to strangers? W1: I was right there with him. He knows that as long as he's with me, he can talk to anyone he wishes. W2: But you're developing dangerous habits in him. My children never talk to strangers. W1: Not even when they're with you? W2: They're never with me, except at home after school. So you see why it's so important for them to understand that talking to strangers is a big no-no. W1: Yes, I do. But if they were with you, they could get to meet interesting people and still be safe. They'd get a taste of the real world, in real settings. They'd also get a real feel for how to tell when a situation is dangerous or suspicious. W2: They'll get that in the third and fifth grades in their health courses. W1: Well, I can tell you're a very caring mom. Let me give you my number--if you ever want to talk, give me call. It was good to meet you. --Author unknown

The 12 Days of Home-Schooling (To the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas") On the first day of home school my neighbour said to me, "Can you home school legally?" On the second day of home school my neighbour said to me, "Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the third day of home school my neighbour said to me, "Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the fourth day of home school my neighbour said to me, "What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you homeschool legally?" On the fifth day of home school my neighbour said to me, "YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests?  Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the Sixth day of home school my neighbour said to me, "How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the seventh day of home school my neighbour said to me, "Look at what they're missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the eighth day of home school my neighbour said to me, "Why do you do this? Look at what they're missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the ninth day of home school my neighbour said to me, "What about graduation? Why do you do this? Look at what they're missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE!  What about P.E.?  Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the tenth day of home school my neighbour said to me, "I could never do that! What about graduation? Why do you do this? Look at what they're missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE!  What about P.E.? Do you give them tests?  Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbour said to me, "Can they go to college? I could never do that! What about graduation?  Why do you do this? Look at what they're missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?" On the twelfth day of homeschool I thoughtfully replied: "They Can go to college! Yes, you could do this! They can have graduation! We do it cuz we love it! They are missing nothing! We'll homeschool forever!  WE ARE NOT STRANGE! We give them P.E. ! We give them tests! They are socialized! AND WE HOMESCHOOL LEGALLY!" On the thirteenth day of homeschool my neighbour said to me, "How can I get Started? Why didn't you tell me? Where do I buy curriculum? When is the next conference? WILL PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STRANGE? I think we can do this ... if you will help us, can we join P.E.? and we'll home school legally!" ~ author unknown