With Turnover High, Schools Fight for Teachers

[kerosene]

I don't have too many complaints about our local schools, here in Golden *yet* but I have considered homeschooling before. I can't seem to get past the fact that the social environment is very different and has to be somehow supplemented. Jinx, I am sure you have some way of doing this with your kids. I just don't know how I could provide enough of that without being a complete social butterfly, myself. (I am very shy in real life.)

[roost]

You pick the place and times and let the kid do the rest.
Go to your local library. Chances are your kids friends already do.
Ours has thursday after school movies, pj parties, and once a month home school book club.
Also 14 of his own class mates live on our block.

Also visiting parks after school allows them to meet up with friends.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by case

I don't have too many complaints about our local schools, here in Golden *yet* but I have considered homeschooling before. I can't seem to get past the fact that the social environment is very different and has to be somehow supplemented. Jinx, I am sure you have some way of doing this with your kids. I just don't know how I could provide enough of that without being a complete social butterfly, myself. (I am very shy in real life.)

We joined a health club - so the kids take classes (gymnastics, swimming, dance, cheerleading, karate, soccer, flag football, cooking, etc so far) with lots of other kids. And they just hang out at the pool, the kids gym, or the video game room sometimes too.
Last school year we were getting together about once a week with another homeschool family to do field trips. There are 2 or 3 other families interested in doing that with us this year.
I joined an email list (yahoo groups) for local homeschoolers, and there are always people looking to get together for this and that - as well as a ton of useful questions and answers.

I am *not* a social butterfly, and kept my kids in private school longer than I really wanted to because I was concerned about socialization. Its not so hard though, and it's real. They play with the kids they really like - and aren't locked in a room with ones they don't, based only on age and lottery.

Whatever works for you though, that's my philosophy. Right now homeschooling is working for us but we do constantly reevaluate and stay aware of our options. (There's a quaker school that I would LOVE to send them to, just can't afford it)

[Griff]

Originally Posted by jinx

Whatever works for you though, that's my philosophy. Right now homeschooling is working for us but we do constantly reevaluate and stay aware of our options. (There's a quaker school that I would LOVE to send them to, just can't afford it)

This is the answer. We're still in a Catholic school here because it's still working for us. No bullying, high expectations, and the friends they've been with for years... just try to do right by your kids.