by Morgan Dixon

Created on: November 05, 2008   Last Updated: February 14, 2011

When my youngest child turned 3 years old it was obvious that this kid was bright. I was encouraged by many relatives to home-school, but I fought against it because I felt I would not be able to keep up with her. I thought that the best place for her was in a brick and mortar school environment. So off she went at 4 years old to Kindergarten, where she was met with a classroom full of 4-year-old's who could barely hold their pencils. The teachers saw this and offered her a first grade Phonics book and second grade Math worksheets.

So my 4-year-old got a taste of independent study in K-4. The next year she started to dumb herself down so that she could have friends. We then decided to move her to another school that had a multi-age classroom so that she could work at her level. This worked great for the remainder of K-5 and first grade. But we knew trouble was brewing when the second grade teacher in her classroom said that they were sure they'd "find something for her to do next year". She had already worked through the second grade curriculum! My point?.....

The most important asset a parent has is their child. And it is up to you to build value in that asset. I decided to find a program that would allow her to work at her level in all subjects so that eventually she could return to Brick and Mortar school without having to "dumb down" for friends. I went online and found a wonderful program that is used in most public and private schools in our area. How do I as a parent without a degree teach her?

Well, the program teaches to teach. Every teacher uses some company's materials to teach. In order to use those materials well, they must be given guidelines and instructions. The same guidelines and instructions are given to parents who use those same materials. Also, she was tested before materials were sent out so that she was sure to be placed in the right grade level. She must still take state tests and she must turn in assessments to a certified teacher. What about "extracurriculars"?

My child is involved in dance, music and she volunteers to read to older ones who are part of our congregation. She doesn't sit at home and watch TV all day. School takes about fivehours a day and we also attend field trips with other students enrolled in the program and there are online classes that she attends once a week. We go to plays and symphonies. We visit the zoo and museum when we can tie them into our lesson. She is also learning Spanish through Rosetta Stone, something she would not have been able to do in Brick and Mortar school. But what about her social life?

In case you didn't read the above...we go places with other kids her age. She gets to play outside everyday after school like most kids. She is also around other kids who share her interests, such as dance and theatre and music. She also gets to see her father in action with his home-based business and is interested in starting her own business.

Just for the record I do have a child in public school and I love that for that child. He excels in public school. He loves the accommodation he gets from his teachers and peers. I would never think of pulling him out. That is the best environment for him. But right now the best environment for my daughter is to be at home (or at the zoo, museum, theatre, or gardens) with me. This will allow her to learn as fast as she wants without leaving her classmates behind. She is excelling with her mom, who has only a high school diploma, better than she ever did in a building full of degrees!

Learn more about this author, Morgan Dixon.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.