Welcome to the Breuer Family HomeSchool Webpage!!
This Page Last Updated 12/31/03!! Thanks for stopping by!
Aside from international adoption (we have adopted 6 times since January 1996, twice in China, three times in South Korea and once in Hong Kong), another major "aspect" of our lives is that we homeschool!
Our children have "come home" to go to school at various times beginning September 1998, with our oldest son, now 19 and a college freshman--he homeschooled from 8th grade on and made the transition to college with absolutely no issues whatsoever. Our 2nd son, now 18 and a senior in high school, came home in February 1999 and our oldest daughter, now 16 and a junior in high school, in September 1999. In September 2000, our now 8-1/2-year-old daughter began kindergarten (she's in 3rd grade now) and the others just followed. We currently have 12th, 11th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st and 1st at home (as well as our 2-1/2-year-old Korean daughter, who oftentimes enjoys sitting with the "big kids" and listening in!
Currently, our kindergarten-age son, almost 7, is in a private k-5 program here in town while we get a handle on his speech issues (for which he's been in therapy nearly 3 yrs) and to see if he has a possible LD. Once that's settled, we'll be bringing him home too. Once he does arrive home at 11:30 each day he joins us with school.
Some of the things we have enjoyed re. homeschool:
1) We can spend more time with our children, get to know each of them on a deeper, more intimate level (especially important with teens I think!).
2) Our children can learn at THEIR pace, as they learn, how they learn! They aren't expected to fit in a "mold" and learn the way most of the other students in a regular classroom setting may learn. We can tailor things to each of our children..
3) We can pick and choose curriculum that fits their needs and their interests as opposed to a canned, one-size-fits-all curriculum. I have found that, with my 3 teenagers, what works for one of them isn't necessarily going to work for the others.. So in a classroom setting this may be more magnified. My teens especially enjoy this ability.
4) The flexibility is amazing--we have more freedom to pursue things we may not have had our children been in a classroom seeting 6, 7 or 8 hours of a day.
5) We don't have to worry that our children's individual needs are being met, that they are safe, etc. After all, who loves our children as much as my husband and I do???
6) We find that, many times, we are learning right along with our children! This benefits all concerned.
7) With homeschooling, almost any situation can be a classroom. Some examples: **In October 2000, my oldest son and I were in London, England.. He happened to be studying world history that year so things truly tied in for him. **A trip to the grocery store can be a lesson in math, budgeting, economics, you name it. My younger children learn to sort, count, etc. My older children learn why fractions knowledge is important and they learn how to shop, what type of meat to buy, what types of vegetables are good, etc.. **We have taken each of our older children on at least 2 adoption trips abroad--talk about a great unit study!! There are many more...
8) As a Christian family, and speaking just for us in our family situation, we feel this is what the Lord would simply have us do.. Againn, I'm not saying that "all" Christians need to homeschool. Strictly speaking for how things are with OUR family, we feel this is the right course of action for all of us, not just our children!
9) Our children are learning to become independent, become self-starters, and we feel they'll be very successful in college because of this.
Now, with all that, I am NOT saying homeschooling is for everyone!!!!! I know all sorts of situations--families who have children in public, private, parochial, Christian schools; families who have children in a regular classroom and homeschool, families who homeschool everyone. If you're considering homeschooling, you really need to read, research and find out all the info you can. It may not be right for you, but then again maybe it will be! It's a lot of work and it takes a lot of dedication. And that doesn't mean if you don't school you don't work hard nor that you don't have dedication. But you can't just willy-nilly take on homeschooling without some thought and looking into what it involves. What is right for one family isn't necessarily going to be right for another family--no two people on this earth are totally alike and no two family situations are alike. One of the best things a family considering homeschooling an do is to meet and speak with other homeschoolers. I have three friends, all of whom are internationally-adoptive families like ours, who have been homeschooling for a combined total of app. 35 yrs.. I treasure and value their advice and counsel even now--since we've only been a homeschooling family about 2-1/2 yrs now, there's still much for us to learn... I personally think you never stop learning. And for our family, homeschooling has truly become a real lifestyle for us and is the best decision for us...
Another thing I would like to address is the subject of "socialization". I have to admit this is one thing that sends me up the proverbial tree... Some people who don't perhaps understand homeschooling feel homeschooled children aren't "socialized". Our children are involved in church activities, volunteer work, violin lessons, gymnastics, horseback riding and training, private karate lessons, homeschool support group activities, etc.. They meet and interact with others, both adult and peer group, almost on a daily basis, as we feel this is vital. No one can tell me my children aren't properly "socialized"... So enough said about that!! In the past we have had issues with what I call "negative socialization" in a regular classroom setting one of our children experienced.. Since coming home, this child has blossomed and has become much more self-confident. Sometimes what the experts call "socialization" (i.e. in their terms) may not always be the best thing.
Additionally, I want to emphasize that I am not saying all public schools are "bad" or that a regular classroom setting is "bad'.. Not so! What I am saying is that homeschooling is an excellent alternative for families. My husband and I know what's best for our children, more importantly, THEY do.... Two of our children actually asked to be homeschooled. They felt frustrated and pulled-in by a regular classroom setting. Not all children are! To have seen the way our children have excelled since coming home, and accomplish the extra-curricular things they have, is amazing!!!
As we've gone on with homeschooling these past nearly 6 yrs., how we do this has gradually grown and evolved to meet the needs of our family. We feel the Charlotte Mason method of education best fits our families needs and interests. Charlotte Mason was a Christian educator who lived in England in the late 1800's and early 1900's and, in a nutshell, her education approach centered around the use of "whole" or "living" books rather than textbooks (i.e. heavy emphasis on literature); developing good habits; narration; copywork; dictation and nature study. There's a whole lot more. I'll include links to some CM websites where you can get more information.
Some of our Favorite Links
Charlotte Mason Research and Supply Company
Old News Publishing--this is a fabulous website which has actual news archives of historical events! Great resource!
Home School World , which has many, many additional links, good advice, etc.
Math-U-See--this is the math program two of my three teens are using...perfect for me, as I was very math-deficient and I don't want my children to be! They love this format... It's somewhat pricey, but definitely worth it.
High School Science, Apologia biology, the high school biology program our oldest son used and our others will use when the time comes. We have a microscope, dissection kit, lab kit, slides and this is something even dad gets in on as he helps with lab experiments! They also do jr high level science, chemistry, advanced biology and offer some online courses.
Timberdoodle, homeschool curriculum supply source.
Shekinah Curriculum Cellar , another homeschool curriculum resource.
Nick Jr--webpage with activities for the younger set.
The Stay-At-Home Mom's Complete Resource
The Knowledge Adventure Home Page
Another link which lists several national homeschool support groups for people of many different avenues of interest.. I find it amusing the pre-conceived notion that "some" people have of homeschoolers--this link and the above link prove that homeschoolers come from a wide variety of faiths, belief systems, etc..
Home School Legal Defense--this page, whether you're a member of HSLDA or not (we are), has lots of good info.
Return to HOME page Here you can read the stories of how we adopted our children from China (January 1996 and May 1998); South Korea (April 1997 and June 1999) and Hong Kong (February 2001). We also have many good links related to international adoption from several additional countries, as well as adoption-related resources.
These wonderful graphics on this page are courtesy of Helena of Graphic Garden