I'm a retired math teacher, 7 - 9th grade, what used to be called junior high. I was free to make up my curriculum for each math subject I taught, if after I tested the students on a unit, I was free to go back and reteach the unit if they obviously didn't understand--and naturally that stretched me as a teacher, because that meant I had to find another way to teach that unit--we did not have college track, vocational track--everyone was mixed together, I had students who could barely read or do simple addition and multiplication in with those that needed to be in Algebra 1 in 7th grade--talk about having to adjust a curriculum! we didn't see special ed students mainstreamed in our classes...

I'm a retired math teacher, 7 - 9th grade, what used to be called junior high. I was free to make up my curriculum for each math subject I taught, if after I tested the students on a unit, I was free to go back and reteach the unit if they obviously didn't understand--and naturally that stretched me as a teacher, because that meant I had to find another way to teach that unit--we did not have college track, vocational track--everyone was mixed together, I had students who could barely read or do simple addition and multiplication in with those that needed to be in Algebra 1 in 7th grade--talk about having to adjust a curriculum! we didn't see special ed students mainstreamed in our classes until the late 70's and 80's. This was a public school, but I know they're not like this anymore--everything's mandated. My grandson finally got in middle school last year, 6th grade, he has a different teacher every 50 minutes, and for a boy not having to sit still, shut up and stay in the same classroom with the same teacher almost all day, except the days he had music, art or PE, is very liberating for him. He's had less discipline problems, his grades are better, and the big plus in his mind, less homework! I don't understand grade schools giving homework every night, when I was checking my grandson's homework, it was busy work, while he was in grade school. Now since he is in middle school he almost always is allowed to do his homework in class--only the most difficult (or what he doesn't understand) or the long ones come home. And yes, No Child Left Behind has such low standards--no private schools around--well some "Christian schools," the teachers aren't certified (don't have a degree of any kind, maybe some college hours) and the students are doing correspondence courses at the grade school level. The Lutheran and Catholic schools are 60 miles away.

I made the decision to Homeschool my then 12 year old daughter after my husband died and I moved closer to my parents. After we moved I would have had to send her to the ancient school I had gone to back in the 60's. No Way!

I received so much "grief" from my family and friends when they found out about my decision to homeschool. I had to endure constant questioning if I was doing the right thing for her, or was she going to be in some way impaired or deprived by being homeschooled.

Now, seven years later, she is a very smart, confident, caring, thoughtful, and focused on her future young woman. All of the critics and doubters can now check this homeschooled daughter out and see that she ...

I made the decision to Homeschool my then 12 year old daughter after my husband died and I moved closer to my parents. After we moved I would have had to send her to the ancient school I had gone to back in the 60's. No Way!

I received so much "grief" from my family and friends when they found out about my decision to homeschool. I had to endure constant questioning if I was doing the right thing for her, or was she going to be in some way impaired or deprived by being homeschooled.

Now, seven years later, she is a very smart, confident, caring, thoughtful, and focused on her future young woman. All of the critics and doubters can now check this homeschooled daughter out and see that she is more intelligent and grounded than all of my public schooled children.

Thanks for the clip Dizzy! Homeschooling ROCKS!