I began homeschooling my bright 6 yr old this year thinking it was temporary....?

Question

I was honestly looking forward to passing on some of his educational needs to a school and was surprised to find he didn't fit. Neighbors and friends had been telling me for over a year that he couldn't go to kindergarten. I had him tested for grade placement in July thinking they might advance him and he tested early 3rd grade across the board. He's devoured book after book this year. I've piece mealed a curriculum that is in a constant state of flux (I get him thick 3rd grade workbooks and he returns then to me completed a month later). We're both enjoying it, but I'm exhausted as a single mom of twin 1 year olds as well. Where is this headed? Can someone encourage me? Make me wiser or more efficient?

Answer 1

While I have never been a homeschool mom, (at least not yet!)  I was homeschooled K-12 and I am sorry to say that homeschool moms don't get a break.  Unless you count a week or two during the summer when kids might attend camp.  But!  The rewards are well worth it, or so my mom says (and I agree).  It sounds like you are finding that out too!  Keep up the good work because it appears as if it is really paying off.  Your son will thank you someday for all the sacrifice you put into his education.  Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, I am sure most any of the homeschool moms here would love to be your support group.  I bet even some of the homeschool students would too.  Good luck and keep us updated on your progress!

Answer 2

Relax, relax, relax.  You're doing super.  Take more time to play...much more time!  You will be amazed at how much your son learns during fun times.

Answer 3

keep doing it. if you are financially able hire someone to help you with other errands you need taking care of. even private schools are suffering from inappropriate activities from students and teachers these days. the bullies, the drugs, gang bangers and all kinds of other garbage. keep doing it if you can.

Answer 4

KEEP IT UP!  please do not send him to "dangerous" public schools. (yes i think there is too much unsupervised time on playgrounds, in bathrooms and on the bus to suit our need for sexual innocence and personal safety)

I have 6 year old twins, So I understand the effort it takes to maintain your children, home and self!

I homeschool and while none of mine are as advanced as yours, IF he is a fluent reader start getting him into thicker volumes and more fact based (non fictional) literature.  Reading is the SINGLE most important venue for learning IMO.  If you can't manage a ton of seatwork then do waht you can (sounds like you are doing fine already with him returning a workbook to you) and have him keep his own list of books read to start compiling a Journal of Accomplishments.  Have him start doing "reports" or paraphrases of what he learned (literacy and narration will SOAR if i'ts not top knotch already).

Just breath.  Keep going to the library.  Find some nifty software he likes or you can even start helping him focus on his TOP interest or  a subject that may pertain to "what he wants to be when he grows up"..

at his rate there is NO reason why he can't already have a vocation or an AA or AS by the time he is 17 and be 3 years ahead of his peers.

Keep it up gurl!

Answer 5

The great part about Home schooling is that you get to work at his pace! If his pace is faster than yours well great. Have you looked into a curriculum for him? Some companies have assessment tests for free so that you can place him properly. You can also customize it for him by ordering only what you want.

It looks like he loves to learn! Is that not encouragement enough? I know it's hard with a 22 mo old I can't imagine twins. We usually do most of our school work while the baby is taking her nap. That way I can concentrate on school work and my older 2 kids. It's a special time with a 9yo and a 5yo in my lap while I read the latest read aloud book (of course one foot is inevitably asleep by the end of the chapter, that 9yo is heavy). Look for all the good moments (when he gets excited about something) and hold on too those memories. Don't push him to learn; let him play and learn at his pace. If he devours a book always have a back up. Enjoy every moment. It won't be long and you'll catch him doing something like trying to teach his siblings how to hold a pencil or do a basic math problem! Our babies grow so fast.

Where it's headed is up to you. If you want it too it can go all the way to High school graduation and beyond. Or it can go until you place him into a regular school. Unfortunately they will place him below his level because he needs to be with his age group not on his level.  

Keep going! It's worth it!

Answer 6

I completely understand - I started homeschooling my highly gifted son 4 years ago (when he was 6), wondering where it was going to lead.  He sounds so much like your son!  At that point he was late 2nd-early 3rd, across the board, but the state we live in won't accelerate him at all.

I can tell you that it stays in sort of a state of flux, but it gets a lot easier as he gets older.  Now, at 10, my son is able to research a lot of what he's interested in for himself, and there are really incredible DVD-based curricula that will teach directly to him.  (He's starting algebra, takes several science units at a time, and is researching the political and social history of our country by reading and notebooking the presidents and mapping the expansion of America.)

He's not any easier to keep up with, but he's a lot easier to find resources for. I can tell you that the ages of 6-8 were the hardest for us - there was so much he wanted to know, but there were so few materials that were both content and age-appropriate.  It really does get easier, though, I promise, and it's so worth it.

One thing that's helped us is notebooking and lapbooking.  I can hand a prepared unit to him with minimal directions and set him loose - he just researches till he's satisfied and goes his merry way.  I often work alongside him (doing my own notebook or lapbook) just because I'm interested and want to learn it too, but he will do it independently when I'm just not able to keep up :-)

I would really recommend to make good use of your children's library - there are so many resources there that, for free, can satisfy a lot of your son's urge to learn.  These, coupled with notebooks or lapbooks, can do a lot to help him (and you!).

Hope that helps!

Edit - I've emailed you privately - please feel free to keep in touch and ask any questions :-)

Answer 7

I began homeschooling my gifted son who is now 8 when he was 6 (almost 7).  I am a single (divorced) parent, and I had decided to work from home when my son was entering 1st grade so I could be more availbleable to and for him before and after school.  However, after a week of public school 1st grade, he complained of severe boredom.  So . . . . . I took the plunge into "public school at home" via a virtual charter school--the curriculum was dry and boring for my boy.  So . . . . I took the plunge into homeschooling and have not regretted it.

The public school tested my son last year, and at the age of 7, his reading comprehension was that of an 11.5 year old, and his written expression is that of an 11 year old.  

I understand the dilemma of trying to keep up with a voracious appetite for learning.  However, your son is learning at a phenomenal rate.  You have twin 1 year olds so you're going to have to take it a bit easier.  You can try other forms of schooling, i.e., unschooling, educational DVDs (from the library), allowing your son to help you do many tasks (there are myriad lessons to be learned in life), etc.

You can already see where this is headed.  As your son becomes a more fluent reader, he will be able to handle many tasks on his own.  Also, I use an online home education program, Time4Learning, which my son enjoys immensely.  It is available for pre-K through 8th grade and has a complete Language Arts curriculum and a complete Math curriculum.  There is also supplemental Social Studies and Science curriculum available.  The Social Studies lessons begin at 2nd grade level, but they will give you access if you ask for it.  The cost is only $20 a month, and it costs even less if you pay quarterly or monthly.

I hope the above is helpful.