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Carolyn Jacob, of Stockton, watches her daughter, Layna, read as she holds her eight-month-old daughter Lydia. Jacob is one of many families opting to teach her children at home instead of sending them to public school. Also pictured is her son, Nathaniel, 3. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)
Mother shares ideas, tips for homeschooling
Although public schools in Lodi will start this week, a growing number of parents are opting to teach their own children at home.
On the eve of attending an area symposium for homeschooling parents, Carolyn Jacob gave some pointers on starting such a program. She lives in Stockton with her husband, Bobby, and three children, and regularly attends meetings with the local Christian Homeschoolers in Lodi organization, founded in 2003.
Today, its members have a newsletter, hard-bound yearbook, year-end celebration/graduation, co-op classes and field trips, and they offer support for parents.
Q: How long have you been homeschooling?
A: All parents are homeschooling because it begins at birth. Parents are the most influential people in the life of a child and teach them what is right, wrong, normal and acceptable. Home learning happens every day in all families, and I choose to continue my responsibility as a parent by also teaching them academic subjects. We began teaching from a formal book (two-and-a-half years ago) when my daughter, Layna, was 3 and began learning sounds to form words. Her love for books and stories naturally led to learning to read.
Q: Why did you decide to homeschool your children?
A: I want my children to have the best education possible. Children are naturally curious and each is born with certain affinities. It is fascinating to see each one grow into a self-directed learner, and I do not want to inhibit them by placing them in a classroom that is designed for mass instruction. My children will be better prepared for life with instruction at home than in a classroom. Abraham Lincoln was schooled at home and is a prime example of success as a human being. He was both thoughtful and influential and changed who we are as a nation.
I feel blessed to live in a country that allows me to use the Bible for instruction. We can teach our family's values and live by them without worrying that the school will teach differently. At such a young age, it is utterly confusing if a school teacher contradicts the parents' teaching at home.
Q: How long did it take to make the decision?
A: It was a process. My husband wanted us to homeschool long before we even had children, although I was afraid that I would not be able to do it. From the outside, it seemed very overwhelming, and I had a lot of questions.
As I began meeting mothers who homeschooled and read literature about it, I realized that homeschooling was the best option for our family and that it would give my children the best education possible. Every homeschool family does "school" differently, and I realized our family could do it, too.
Q: Were you homeschooled? If not, where did you attend school?
A: I was not homeschooled. I attended public schools in Santa Barbara and enjoyed my school experience.
Q: What kind of support system do you have? How does this play a role in successful homeschooling?
A: I am in a homeschool group of 100 families. We encourage one another and have a wonderful support system. It largely contributed to my decision to homeschool, because I met other moms who were doing it and I could see the outcome of their decision to homeschool. I think it is especially important to belong to a support group when you are starting to homeschool, so that you can learn from other families and be encouraged.
Q: Are your children at the same level as their peers in the same grades? How do you know?
A: In June, Layna (age 5) completed kindergarten and is now beginning first grade. If she were in the school system, Layna would be starting kindergarten in the fall due to the age regulations. She is technically one year ahead. We are currently reading "Charlotte's Web" out loud as a family, and Layna can read paragraphs to us. We do preschool at home with Nathaniel (age 3) and he can read simple sentences. Reading is a very important life skill and our children truly enjoy books.
State standards can be found at www.cde.ca.gov/ci. I am able to evaluate my children by reading the state standards for every subject and by evaluating the goals I set for each of my children annually.
Q: What would you tell people who are weighing making the same decision to home school?
A: Home-centered learning is natural, and the public school system has only existed for a fraction of the time that humans have existed. The classroom is not a requirement for learning, and sometimes inhibits the learner. Be confident that you know your children better than any other person and care about what is best for them; you will innately choose what is best (which method, books, approach) for your children.
Q: Are there any books you would recommend?
A: "Educating the WholeHearted Child" by Clay and Sally Clarkson is a homeschool handbook that is packed with information, encouragement and lists of book recommendations and resources, and even includes forms in the back for replicating and using in the home.
"100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum" by Cathy Duffy is a tool that helps one make decisions about which methods and books to use for home centered learning.
"Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons" by Engelmann, Haddox and Bruner is the book I have used to teach my children to read. It is written specifically for parent and child and is scripted, so there is no preparation required.
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