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My son Roland had issues. He was in the second grade and couldn't read. Much of his problem was rooted in speech issues. He simply could not decipher the sounds even when we spoke to him. He understood only a fraction of what was said. And even with special education and a teacher's aide, he made little progress.

Between third and fourth grade, my husband sat down and spent 15 minutes daily taking Roland through Hooked on Phonics. By the time school started, Roland read almost at grade level.

This was the start of our home schooling experience with him. I'd already successfully home schooled my older son Raphael for a year when he was in the seventh grade.

Roland went through third grade with the same teacher he had in second grade. He'd also had one teacher for kindergarten and first grade. Relationships were extremely important to his success. But a month after starting fourth grade, Roland's teacher went on maternity leave, and my son was never able to really bond with the new teacher.

We also found ourselves spending two or three hours nightly on homework - homework that often never arrived at school. I often am asked about the socialization of traditional school to which I say, "What socialization?" Roland often was kept in from recess to complete the missing assignments, and he spent so much time working at home that he had little time to go outside to play.

I know the teachers, aides and other school officials probably thought Roland was educationally delayed, but working with him, I've learned what a brilliant child he actually is and that he actually is a treasure trove of knowledge. Home schooling simply allows Roland to learn and explore in his way at his own pace.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Bibbs.
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