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March 09, 2000
Home-schooling works for RysdahlsBy TONY ZIEBOL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- Science projects, including one measuring the effects of yeast, fill one room. In another, books with subjects ranging from Spanish dictionaries to astronomy to poetry, fill several shelves in another. At first glimpse, it looks like a regular family home. However, Gigi Rysdahl, with uncommon honesty, said it's only because she had just cleaned. "The biggest problem is finding time for everything," she said. Time is a valuable commodity at Scott and Gigi Rysdahl's home, especially for Gigi, who is home-schooling two of her three children. Isaac, 9, and Gabriel, 11, have never attended school. Their brother David, 12, is attending his first year as a student at Holy Trinity Middle School. The extra time Rysdahl is able to spend with her sons is very rewarding and working at their own pace makes learning a better experience, she said. "I just feel like so many kids get labeled in school," she said, referring to the students' abilities. "I just enjoy spending time with my kids, too." During the week, Gigi, Isaac and Gabriel study many of the same variety of subjects taught in a regular school setting such as math, spelling, science, poetry and Spanish. Isaac has a science project involving math and momentum. "It's going from one thing to the next without delaying," he explains. In addition, the Rysdahls add prayer and Bible study, weekly piano lessons. They also have an activity called "I can," in which they use a book that teaches character building. The boys do a lot of memory work, and Rysdahl often dictates material to them, which the kids write down. With more time, Rysdahl wants to add astronomy to the curriculum. In a school, teachers have to find a middle ground, helping the slower-learning students keep up and the faster-learning students from being bored. "I have so much respect for teachers," Rysdahl said. With the system the trio has worked out, they don't have to rush, but can accomplish a lot in a short period of time, sometimes handling several lessons in a single day. "That's the beauty of home-schooling," Rysdahl said. "You can go through it so much faster." Both Isaac and Gabriel say they don't mind not being in school. "All of our friends think we're lucky to be in home-schooling," Isaac said. Both are heavily involved in sports and other activities like Cub Scouts. However, because most activities are community-sponsored for their age level, the boys don't miss out on interacting with other kids. "Our lives are pretty busy," Gabriel said, adding that other kids frequently come over to play sports. Since Rysdahl has a college degree, she is not required to submit grades to a school, but the boys will have to take a standardized test in April. Through prayer, Rysdahl concluded that David should try regular school this year. He is now on the A honor roll. "It's been a good experience," Rysdahl said. "He enjoys it, but he worries way too much about his homework." Although David's time at school has been successful to this point, she is not sure whether he will continue to go that route or return to home school next year. Time is even more of a struggle for Rysdahl now, because she helps David with his homework in addition to teaching her younger sons. Beyond lessons from textbooks and even hands-on experiences, Rysdahl endeavored to teach her sons a love for learning. At home, the Rysdahls also have the advantage of interacting with Junior, a 17-year-old exchange student from Africa. "It's wonderful," Rysdahl said. "We don't even see color anymore. They almost fight like brothers." Rysdahl believes anyone who feels the calling to home-school their children should consider it. "Anyone can do it," she said. "You don't need a degree."
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