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Hello,
I am a sahm to two children, 3 1/2 and 4 1/2. My dd won't be able to start school this year (her b-day is 10-31) so she will be almost 6 when she goes to school.Same thing with my son, his b-day is november. Public school is not an option. I was a teacher in public school for 6 years before I decided to stay home and I know I don't want them there. Can I hs her this fall even though she will be 4 until Halloween? We were considering christian school but tuition is so expensive. So it's either that or homeschool. I am very much in prayer about all of it, but in the meantime I have lots of questions for you that do homeschool.
Did you read books prior to starting and if so what were they?
Do you use a curriculum? ( I would probably lean more to that since I taught with a curriculum)
Do you have a set time that you school or do you teach throughout the day?
Do you belong to hs groups and are they a big help or hinderance to you?
Do you go to hs conventions or seminars?
Do your kids do extracurricular activities away from home?
I guess a big concern of mine is "Will I be enough for them?" Can I get the job done? Do you all ever worry about being lazy and not being motivated enough for them? We plan on adopting more children once these two are finalized. What do you do for the younger ones when you are teaching the school age children? When do you fit in your household chores, dinner, laundry, etc. I know I've thrown a lot of questions your way, but I want to start this fall and I need to start preparing. Thanks so much, Mckinsey
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First thing you should do is go to your library and check out Mary Pride's Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling. That book will answer any and all questions! AND if you want to buy one it is worth the money! All your questions are valid and normal, start reading and researching!
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Everyone finds their own balance and the things that work for their kids and family. That isn't an extraordinarily helpful statement, so he's an example of our day.
5:00-6:00 a.m.-I clean
6:00-7:00 a.m.-I shower, etc.
7:00-8:00 a.m.-Kids get up, dressed, etc.
9:00ish-11:00-Schoolwork
11:00-12:00-Lunch
12:00-5:00-Baby naps, free time.
5:00-6:00-Dinner
6:00-8:00-Free time
8:00-9:00-Baths and bed
This is our loosely structed summer schedule. On Wed. we leave the house for violin lessons and Thursday we grocery shop. My kids are 5 and 2 so they little time during the day to get houseowrk done. You get so much more done by getting up early!
We do use a curriculum, as well as Montessori materials, and spur-of-the-moment teaching. My son also attends Catholic school during the year, and I supplement him at home. We love it!
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The Mary Pride Guide to homeschooling is very helpful, but I just read a couple other books I wish I would have read prior to starting. Schoolproof by Mary Pride is an older book, but helped me even more than the big book by Mary Pride. Also, do some research on Charlotte Mason, you may not pick that style, but it has some great ideas and there is an online group that has done the curriculum for you already, for free. amblesideonline.com
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Originally Posted by penelope
Also, do some research on Charlotte Mason, you may not pick that style, but it has some great ideas and there is an online group that has done the curriculum for you already, for free. amblesideonline.com
I think the website is actually .
The best advice I can give you now is to read everything you can - no matter what the source. What works for someone else may not work for you and vice versa. So, check out everything. I also attended any local homeschooling conferences that were available. It's a bit overwhelming at first, but the more you are around it, the more comfortable you become. There are lots of resources online, too. Just start googling homeschooling. Read about other homeschooling families. Many have their own websites that tell about their homeschool and how it operates.
To answer a few of your questions:
I personally don't use a packaged curriculum. I've found that with my kids being at different levels, it works best to use unit studies and base their assignments and individual work on skill levels. I do purchase a few text including math, phonics, grammar and Spanish.
You need to find out your state's laws regarding homeschooling. Requirements differ quite a bit by state (check your department of education's website or write their office). I believe homeschooling actually begins at birth. Many parents just formalize it at a certain age.
I do not belong to any groups. I've found that in my area they are a hinderance. I was asked to take on too many responsibilities and attend too many activites that took away from my primary reasons for homeschooling. But, I do know some people in other areas that have benefited greatly from their groups, whether it be support or co-op classes. So, find out what's available in your area and what you'd like to get from a group.
My kids do participate in a few extra-curricular activities. The boys have all played organized TBall/baseball. They all take weekly karate classes. They belong to a 4H club, and we attend church weekly. They've taken swim lessons. There are other special activities they attend that are not regularly scheduled.
I haven't attended a convention in several years, but I found them helpful in the early years.
We do not have a set schedule per se. Some days we spend more time "doing school" than others. You'll find that it doesn't take an entire day to complete your coursework. In public school there is so much time wasted in the logistics of having a large group. You don't have that at home. So things usually go quicker. Don't get me wrong. Some days you'll wonder how you'll ever get it all done. But, you always do. We have a routine that includes chores for everyone. This helps with housework. You'll find something that works for you.
The younger children usually play alongside us while we school or sit in my lap while I read. We plan "involved" activities around naptime if possible. The little ones learn so much by seeing the bigger kids doing their work. It has never been a problem for us to have little ones there. And, I don't hesitate to put on a favorite video occasionally to take their attention if I need to.
I hope this answers a few of your questions. I've found that the biggest thing is for me to be prepared. If I have things ready for the day, school runs smoothly. But, if the kids are waiting for me to gather items for a project or experiment, things don't always go so well.
Homeschooling has been a wonderful blessing for our family. I love the hands-on learning and enthusiasm it brings along with the wholesome environment. Good luck with your decision. Feel free to post more questions as you have them. The ladies here are a wealth of information.
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This has been a helpful thread -- thanks for all the info!
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Hi. I read your thread yesterday but couldn't come up with any great suggestions for you. I have been homeschooling 2 years and my 6 yo will hopefully finish 1st grade next week (I know, it is late but we live in NY and his cousins won't get out of public school until the week after). I just got today in my email and I thought of you. It is a cheat sheet for a teleconference that I didn't learn was happening until after it was already over. I am going to have to sit down and work through it myself once we are done with school for the year especially since I'll have a 2nd grader and a kindergartener next year. I need to be more organized!! Hopefully it will be a help to you as it has been to me. Good luck!