Miriam S
@miriam-s.bsky.social
Math educator♾️ secular homeschooling parent⚛️ pro-vaxx💉pro-reproductive rights♀️🏳️⚧️ yarn crafter🧶
In August, I attended the Homeschooling Unleashed conference in NC. @secularhomeschool.bsky.social It was a whole weekend of being surrounded by other homeschoolers who share my educational values.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
In August, I attended the Homeschooling Unleashed conference in NC. @secularhomeschool.bsky.social It was a whole weekend of being surrounded by other homeschoolers who share my educational values.
Thanks for debunking the old socialization stereotype!
May 3, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Thanks for debunking the old socialization stereotype!
There are lots of high quality providers of online classes homeschoolers can take from home. Older homeschoolers may choose to take dual-enrollment college classes that double-count for high school requirements.
May 3, 2025 at 12:29 PM
There are lots of high quality providers of online classes homeschoolers can take from home. Older homeschoolers may choose to take dual-enrollment college classes that double-count for high school requirements.
Homeschooling does not mean that the parents have to literally teach everything. As the child grows older (definitely by high school), responsible homeschooling parents take on more of a coordinator role, rather than being the primary teacher.
May 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Homeschooling does not mean that the parents have to literally teach everything. As the child grows older (definitely by high school), responsible homeschooling parents take on more of a coordinator role, rather than being the primary teacher.
In my area, there are lots of options for homeschoolers to socialize. Classes offered by gyms, museums, art/dance/music studios, community colleges, in addition to parent-created groups like co-ops that do field trips and activities.
April 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
In my area, there are lots of options for homeschoolers to socialize. Classes offered by gyms, museums, art/dance/music studios, community colleges, in addition to parent-created groups like co-ops that do field trips and activities.
Maybe that tendency not to follow the crowd makes homeschoolers seem less "socialized". But there are plenty of quirky kids in schools, too. You can usually find them in the art and music rooms, science labs, and theater.
April 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Maybe that tendency not to follow the crowd makes homeschoolers seem less "socialized". But there are plenty of quirky kids in schools, too. You can usually find them in the art and music rooms, science labs, and theater.
Schooled children tend to see all adults as authorities they need to hide everything from. They avoid interacting with (and quickly bully) younger kids in fear of being labeled immature. Homeschooled kids are more likely to express their individuality and are much less focused on being "cool".
April 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Schooled children tend to see all adults as authorities they need to hide everything from. They avoid interacting with (and quickly bully) younger kids in fear of being labeled immature. Homeschooled kids are more likely to express their individuality and are much less focused on being "cool".
In my decade of homeschooling, I have had plenty of opportunities to compare socialization among different groups of children. Homeschoolers are better able to interact with adults and kids of all ages because homeschool groups don't tend to segrated into one-year grade levels.
April 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
In my decade of homeschooling, I have had plenty of opportunities to compare socialization among different groups of children. Homeschoolers are better able to interact with adults and kids of all ages because homeschool groups don't tend to segrated into one-year grade levels.
Homeschooling also gave my son the flexibilty to have a couple of part-time jobs his last 2 years of high school. So, he could save for college expenses and gain real-experiences in how to get and keep a job, interact with customers, etc. He had plenty of social skills to do that!
April 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Homeschooling also gave my son the flexibilty to have a couple of part-time jobs his last 2 years of high school. So, he could save for college expenses and gain real-experiences in how to get and keep a job, interact with customers, etc. He had plenty of social skills to do that!
Re finances: When I was teaching other people's kids, most of my pay went to daycare costs. Even when my son started school, I had to pay for morning and afternoon care because my school schedule didn't line up with his. I keep more $ now tutoring in the PM after I'm done homeschooling.
April 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Re finances: When I was teaching other people's kids, most of my pay went to daycare costs. Even when my son started school, I had to pay for morning and afternoon care because my school schedule didn't line up with his. I keep more $ now tutoring in the PM after I'm done homeschooling.
Not only do we never do bible quotes or the pledge, my 4th grader learned about the Stonewall Riots. Our homeschool definitely doesn't get vouchers!
April 25, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Not only do we never do bible quotes or the pledge, my 4th grader learned about the Stonewall Riots. Our homeschool definitely doesn't get vouchers!
84% of US students attend public schools (2022 data). Currently only 27 states have passed a requirement to take at least 1 semester of personal finance to graduate public high school, but many of those requirements haven't taken effect yet.
April 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
84% of US students attend public schools (2022 data). Currently only 27 states have passed a requirement to take at least 1 semester of personal finance to graduate public high school, but many of those requirements haven't taken effect yet.
Scientifically accurate and culturally inclusive
April 21, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Scientifically accurate and culturally inclusive
Homeschooling rates are nowhere near 40% of American children. Also, extant birds are avian dinosaurs, so people are currently co-existing with dinosaurs. So, maybe the poll was as poorly written as that headline.
April 21, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Homeschooling rates are nowhere near 40% of American children. Also, extant birds are avian dinosaurs, so people are currently co-existing with dinosaurs. So, maybe the poll was as poorly written as that headline.
My public school education in Virginia in the 90s didn't include that novel, either.
April 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
My public school education in Virginia in the 90s didn't include that novel, either.
I don't just limit my kids to homeschool-targeted activities, either. They have also participated in summer camps and evening/weekend activities with peers who attend public and private schools. My older child enrolled in a few community college classes his last 2 years of high school.
April 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I don't just limit my kids to homeschool-targeted activities, either. They have also participated in summer camps and evening/weekend activities with peers who attend public and private schools. My older child enrolled in a few community college classes his last 2 years of high school.
Many different opportunities exist for homeschoolers in my area. Museums, art/music/dance studios, community colleges, etc. offer classes for homeschoolers, in addition to parent-created groups like co-ops. Through those groups, we interact with many families across various demographics.
April 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Many different opportunities exist for homeschoolers in my area. Museums, art/music/dance studios, community colleges, etc. offer classes for homeschoolers, in addition to parent-created groups like co-ops. Through those groups, we interact with many families across various demographics.
Secular homeschool curriculum options exist now that teach real science.
April 17, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Secular homeschool curriculum options exist now that teach real science.
Only 10 US states have fully implemented required financial literacy courses for their public schools. Over 93% of kids attend schools. Homeschoolers are not the major problem on this issue.
April 9, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Only 10 US states have fully implemented required financial literacy courses for their public schools. Over 93% of kids attend schools. Homeschoolers are not the major problem on this issue.
You can always learn along with your child or outsource subjects that others could teach better than you.
April 8, 2025 at 2:06 AM
You can always learn along with your child or outsource subjects that others could teach better than you.
Since homeschool groups have a higher adult:kid ratio than in schools, serious bullying incidents are handled more quickly than in schools. It doesn't mean that no incidents happen, but no kid has to deal with weeks/months of physical or mental attacks by their peers without parental intervention.
April 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Since homeschool groups have a higher adult:kid ratio than in schools, serious bullying incidents are handled more quickly than in schools. It doesn't mean that no incidents happen, but no kid has to deal with weeks/months of physical or mental attacks by their peers without parental intervention.
All of those experiences are available to homeschooled kids as well. Groups we have participated in include families who barely make ends meet and those who never need to worry about money, families from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and kids with varying degrees of neurodiversity.
April 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
All of those experiences are available to homeschooled kids as well. Groups we have participated in include families who barely make ends meet and those who never need to worry about money, families from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and kids with varying degrees of neurodiversity.
Observations of playground interactions: Homeschooled children in my group tend to include others of various ages and are mindful of much younger children. Schooled children (ID'ed by their uniforms) shove smaller children out of the way, climb over them and step on their fingers up the ladders.
April 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Observations of playground interactions: Homeschooled children in my group tend to include others of various ages and are mindful of much younger children. Schooled children (ID'ed by their uniforms) shove smaller children out of the way, climb over them and step on their fingers up the ladders.
Curriculum content in public schools is decided by Christian nationalists who want to eradicate the mention of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and anything that contradicts the greatness of America. How will public schools save society if they are forced to teach what many imagine all homeschoolers are learning?
April 4, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Curriculum content in public schools is decided by Christian nationalists who want to eradicate the mention of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and anything that contradicts the greatness of America. How will public schools save society if they are forced to teach what many imagine all homeschoolers are learning?