So we are homeschoolers?

This was a message Lorien sent to a couple of her "homeschool girls" on her first day of homeschool.  

So yes, we are homeschooling Lorien this year...is homeschool one word or two?  We might be in a lot of trouble.  

And here is the long (and boring) story.  I have always had a soft spot for homeschooling.  I loved the idea but knew I couldn't handle it.  I needed my children to go away for a few hours every day.  That is just the selfish kind of parent I am.  Will has always been pretty against homeschooling.  He values the social education and the sports offered through public school.  Now, out here in the East Bay we have a good family friend who homeschools all of her children.  Her oldest child is a senior in high school and she started homeschooling when he was in the 3rd grade.  Her youngest child is one of Lorien's dearest friends.  Ever since these two girls became friends Lorien has pestered to homeschool.  She wants to wear pajamas everyday.  She thinks it will be easier.  She wants to count walking around the block as PE.  

So after some careful consideration we decided to give it a try this year.  Our reasons went a little something like this: 

Will decided it would be cool.

The end.

Really, once he was on board I just let all the positive things I've ever thought about homeschool take over.  I loved the idea of having one less kid to do the run-around for.  I loved the idea of spending time with her when she was at her most pleasant (mornings).  I loved the idea of designing a curriculum around her interests and her intelligence  I loved the idea of all of the emotional support I would get from my long-time homeschool friends.  There was a lot to love.

One of the things that was hard for Lorien about last year was the transition to common core.  I am not against common core, by the way.  I think it is a good idea that will accomplish good things...once they get all the kinks ironed out.  Last year, academically speaking, was an experimental year.  Our school district wasn't sure how teaching would change as they adopted common core standards.  So, subjects like math were kind of dumbed down.  Lorien was kind of bored and the lesson she learned was that she could skip doing a bunch of busy work (get zeros) and still get an A in the class.  That was not the kind of educational student we wanted Lorien to be...eventually it wouldn't work and she would be failing classes.  So, when she went back to school this year (for two weeks) and I went to the middle school parents night I heard a lot of the same language:  "We aren't sure how this is going to work with the move to common core."  I worried those educational lessons from last year would be cemented in this year.  

Will was also worried.  So, he came up with the brilliant idea of homeschool.  We fasted and prayed about it (including Lorien in the discussion and fasting) and we all felt like it would be a good choice.  One of our goals is to have Lorien complete 7th and 8th grade this year and start as a high school freshman next fall.  This is ambitions but if it doesn't work out she can still do 8th grade...no harm done...I hope.

The last, and biggest reason for our push to homeschool for a year and move her up a grade is a social reason.  She has a lot of friends from church in the grade ahead of her.  Because of her November birthday she could have started school a year earlier.  She could be in the 8th grade this year.  We liked the idea of her having a lot of supportive friends in high school.  

So...

So...

So...

I'll let you know how it turns out.  Right now, we are all pretty happy with the decision.  Homeschool is going well.  Lorien looks great in pajamas.