In this day and age, there are alternatives to the traditional public, private and parochial education. Parents are demanding what is best for their children. As a result, the popularity as well as acceptance of both home and cyber schooling are on the rise. Put away your misconceptions, and read on to learn from two local families why this option is right for them.
The McCaffreys
“I was always planning to homeschool my children,” says Jodie McCaffrey, who was a child development major in college.
Both Jodie and her husband Joe, of Cumru Township, were educated through the traditional school system, one private and one public, but neither felt challenged. “We were left behind because we were so bored. I started teaching our daughter Abby sign language when she was less than a year old. She caught on so quickly that I was worried she would also be bored in a classroom.”
“Most of my friends send their children to preschool where they learn how to paint and work together. We did all that at home,” explains Jodie, who began formal preschool with both her children at age 2, teaching them colors, shapes, the alphabet, phonics, and how to paint and to color within the lines.
Abby, 5, will start homeschool kindergarten in the fall. She already reads three- and four-letter words. Jake, 2, will continue with preschool.
Some lessons are group activities. For example, the family planned a trip to Disney World, so Jodie taught the kids about roller coasters. For an art project, each child created one out of paper. “Abby’s was more advanced and three-dimensional, while Jake’s was bits of paper glued together, but he was able to participate in the same activity.” The lesson continued during the family vacation when they could actually experience the roller coaster and learn about gravity and speed.
“We are totally free school with no schedule,” shares Jodie. “We get up in the morning, have breakfast, then[we do] crafts and [watch] some educational television. Some nights we are doing projects until 5pm. Some days we will complete two days' worth of work in one day and then take a day off. That’s how I want it. Homeschooling provides me that freedom.”
Through her interest, Jodie began working for a homeschool curriculum company called Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett (unitstudy.com) doing graphic design and email marketing. “Amanda’s children have long since gone to college. But when they were young, she let them help decide what they wanted to learn. Her one child was really into trains, so they learned everything about trains and every subject related to the topic. I love that approach. Year to year we will evaluate. Hopefully one unit study will lead to the next interest,” says Jodie. The unit studies work for grades K-12. Jodie’s job is flexible, allowing her to work at home when the kids are playing or at night when they are sleeping.
Jodie currently is not a part of a co-op, so she does have a need for peer-to-peer interaction for her kids. To find other homeschool families, she started a Facebook page: Berks County Homeschool Association. “We are working to spread the word, and through this group, we plan to have picnics and group field trips to zoos, museums and other educational locations. Eventually a co-op may be a good option.”
“I am doing what is best for my kids. It’s not right for everyone, but it’s right for us," Jodie explains. "I'm fortunate that I can stay home with my kids while Joe works to support the family. Right now it’s working. If at any time it’s not working, we’ll reevaluate. We aren’t closed to public school.”
“But there are so many advantages to homeschooling. I know they are learning at the rate they want and can learn. Having time with my children is wonderful, and I get to see ‘aha moments’ when the subject clicks,” shares Jodie. “I hope this experience creates a lifelong bond between Abby and Jake.”
The Ceryniks
Hannah and Bill started home-educating their four sons when their eldest was two. At the time, the family of Reading was residing in New Haven, Conn., where the public school system was lacking in many areas.
“I believe in the saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ We created our own village to teach our children,” shares Hannah. Her family participated in a co-op preschool, which met once a week, where homeschool families joined together to educate their children.
“As a parent, you teach your children the basics at home, like colors and numbers. Homeschooling is an extension of this, progressing with your children’s needs,” shares Hannah, who has a B.S. in nursing.
The family continued homeschooling when they moved to Pennsylvania in 2006. Today Liam is 15 and starting 10th grade; Lance, 13, is entering 9th grade; Logan, 12, is starting 7th grade; and their youngest, Lucas, 10, is at the 6th/7th grade level, Hannah says.
Homeschooling is not a foreign concept to the Ceryniks. Bill and his brother were homeschooled for most of their K-12 education. “For us, it was a necessity. My dad worked for the New Jersey State Parks, and we lived in rural areas,” explains Bill. “My parents wanted us to have a classical education. The nearest public school was 30 minutes down one side of a mountain, and the nearest private school was 45 minutes down the other side. Roads often shut down for ice storms.” His parents researched options and found the Calvert School in Baltimore, which had been providing correspondence education for children of U.S. diplomats while overseas. Calvert provided a classic prep school education at home.
The Cerynik family is a pioneer for present-day homeschooling. In 1978, Bill’s parents had a conversation with the school district and had to fight for what they felt was the best option for their children. “There were a lot of hearings with the school board,” Bill recalls. But in the end, the family was permitted to educate their boys at home.
Today, Hannah says there are so many options for parents who homeschool, including curriculum fairs and online resources where you can purchase unit studies with all subjects focusing on one topic.
By participating in a co-op, once a week the boys socialize with other children while learning art, physical education and unit studies. About 10 families participate, with high school students in one group and elementary children in another. The boys also partake in club sports including baseball, soccer and basketball.
A typical school day at the Ceryniks’ home begins at 9am. Hannah does not tackle every subject each day, but moves quickly from subject to subject. “No time is wasted time,” she says.
“As part of the ‘village,’ we hired a science teacher. I think it’s positive for the boys to have a male teacher in their life. My mother-in-law occasionally drives from New Jersey to teach.” The boys learned about archeology from their grandmother. She built a structure made from several layers, which they had to dig through to locate bones and put them back together.
“They will never forget that experience,” says Hannah. “Having other teachers involved also allows me to work per diem a few days a month.”
“Homeschool provides the boys with the ability to create. They’ll write a skit and then get their cameras and computers out and create a show,” shares Bill. “We like to incorporate hands-on experiences that are memorable,” adds Hannah.
The Ceryniks decided to try cyber school for Liam and Lance as they entered 8th and 9th grades this past year. “At the high school level, you need to start grading for a GPA, and I wasn’t prepared to do that. I also think the boys need other teachers in their lives,” Hannah explains. Cyber school is free public education online. The school provides a laptop, printer and textbooks. “There are a lot of positives to cyber school. It is a self-paced or virtual classroom-taught education, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the right fit for us. Every year we evaluate what is working. We are exploring other options, including a pay-as-you-go co-op or possibly [hiring] tutors.”
If You’re Interested in Homeschooling:
- Find out state requirements, as every state is different.
- Be aware that homeschool students are required to take the PSSA and Keystone Exam.
- Do your research. Talk to other homeschool families.
- Know that families that choose to homeschool do not receive tax breaks or additional funding from the state. The expenses for units, books and supplies are the family’s responsibility.
- Remember that freedom homeschooling allows for extended vacations, where education can be incorporated into the trip.
BY KRISTIN KRAMER | PHOTOS BY NICOLE MATHIS, BLU ORCHID PHOTOGRAPHY
