Starting Homeschool?

Question

I REALLY REALLY want to homeschool my kids, which are 3 & 4 right now. I thought about sending them to kindergarten and maybe a few years of elementary to let them learn the basics (reading, writing, basic math) and then taking over from there. Now, though, I really just want to teach them myself. All I get from people I know is how hard it is, and how they think I shouldn't do it, that its just WAY too difficult and time consuming. I still want to do it though. I am starting to give up, though I don't want to. I want to push forward and follow my hopes of homeschooling my children. Does anyone know of any curriculum that would make it easier FOR ME to keep them on track? I don't want them to fall behind because I didn't do something right or forgot to do something all together. I just want to homeschool without messing them up.

Answer 1

You are already teaching them the basics and sending them to public school will just mess that up.

Your child's natural curiosity will carry them through the early years.   If your children see you reading and getting pleasure or information they will want to do that too.  

Go for it and use what's at hand.

My daughter learned money handling by helping with fund raising and being a rebellious 13 yr. old she had to learn it from another mom.  Don't forget the other adults around and if you look into the 4-H program you will have great support.

Teach them the love of reading but don't forget to teach them how to ask questions and talk to other people.

Answer 2

Kudos for wanting to be involved in your kids' education.  I would recommend that you observe other homeschoolers at their homes and see what they do.  Maybe even get together now and then and work with eachother to brain storm lesson plans and even have joint lessons.

Then decide what is right for your children.

Answer 3

Don't worry about them falling behind. As a primary school teacher myself I would love to be able to spend more one on one time with students, as this is what really benefits them. And at the ages your children are, a lot of their learning will come through play anyway. So just by having you around to guide them and point things out, they will learn lots. Read to them often. At this age there is no hurry for them to learn to read but if they are interested use flash cards of the letters, and start off by teaching the letter sounds. Eg b is buh, not bee. When they have mastered single letter sounds go on to sounds made up of more than 1 letter, such as th, sh, ay, ow, etc. Also encourage them to tell you stories by looking at the pictures in books. Play board games to develop turn taking, number knowledge, counting on etc. Do jigsaw puzzles to help with coordination. Things such as colouring, threading, tracing and cutting will help them to get ready for writing skills. Go on lots of trips out, point out things you see, do observational drawings of flowers in the park, for example. If your children show interest in something in particualr do a little project about it. If they love the beach for instance get out books from the library, fiction and non fiction, make up stories, draw pictures, collect artefacts such as shells and use them for counting and sorting, make paper boats and sail them in a paddling pool, just do all sorts of things that relate to the kids' interest and that teach and reinforce skills. Like I say I am a primary teacher, but I can't wait to have my own children so that I can teach them myself. Yes, a lot of children do relaly enjoy school, but I think I can give them more enjoyment and a better love for learning myself at home, as I'm sure you can with your children. Good luck!

Answer 4

First, know that you will encounter naysayers - and many of them have absolutely no clue what they're talking about.  Their views come from their own opinion of what they think homeschooling is, not from personal experience.  Personally, I don't take parenting advice from people who can't stand to be around their kids.  Know what I mean?  :)

Second, it's really no different than what you're doing now.  Do you read to them?  Play with them?  Cook with them?  Go for walks with them?  You're homeschooling.  I still do all of those things with my 6th grader, though obviously (at 6th grade) he also has a formal courseload.  However, up until about 3rd grade, the majority of our learning was done through discovery and play.  As his developmental and abstract thinking abilities progressed, so did his schoolwork.

Homeschooling isn't a piece of cake by any means, but it certainly is not as difficult as many make it out to be.  Honestly, teaching a classroom is WAY more difficult than teaching homeschool students.  In a classroom, you've got 20-30+ kids from different backgrounds, of differing abilities, and with different behavioral and moral standards...and your job is to get every single one of them to proficiency level, with little to no help from many parents.  In a homeschool, you're interacting every day with your own kids - kids you've known and influenced since birth, kids who are fully aware of your standards and expectations, and kids who want to learn and please you.  Yes, you have to prepare, and yes, sometimes you have to be "mean mom" and make them do their work (as they get older), but overall, it's a whole lot easier.

As far as curriculums - in the early years, a curriculum really isn't necessary.  A library card and a nature center, maybe a pool or kids' gym, will be just about all you need.  That, and art supplies :)  Just read with them, discover with them, and instill a love of learning in them.  As they get older - maybe around 7 or 8 - you will have a good feel for what they would work well with.

If they'd like to start working on various skills before that, it can be done easily through the library or stand-alone subject programs.  If you would like to work with a curriculum, I'd suggest either Sonlight http://sonlight.com/ (pricey but quality books) or Five in a Row http://www.fiveinarow.com/index.html (comprehensive unit studies built around classic children's books, all of which can be found at most libraries).  

Hope that helps - and don't let the naysayers get you down :)

Answer 5

I have been homeschooling my three children for the past eight years. It is very time consuming but the reward is so worth it. There are many types of curriculums out there on the market. I have used several of them, however, I have found that I love Horizons by Alpha Omega Publications for Preschool, K, 1, and 2 grade. Then I would recommend Alpha Omega Publications Switched on Schoolhouse for grades 3-12.

You can read more about them all at the links below. They are the best I have found so far. My children will be using these curriculums until they have completed highschool.

I also have my children enrolled in Christian School through Gateway Christian Schools. They keep the attendance and grade records for me. I send in grades after each semester and they keep these on file. They will also issue a High School Diploma upon completion of High School. They do not have a charge for their services. You can donate if you like for their services, but it is not required. The link for Gateway is below.

Answer 6

I think kindergarten is very good  for all children, they learn the basics of social skills, and then  remember one thing, that is very important to me,  a lot of homeschool parents minimize the importance of socializing with other kids,  from varied back grounds,and socio economical groups, and different religions,  etc, so if you do it,  make sure you take them to many * functions* dance class,   karate class,  cheer leading on the local league, or foot ball,  that sort of thing, so they have time to socialize,   with people out of your normal social circle,  the rest is so easy,   it just comes,  

I did not use a formal program ,  i never did,  i was a very eclectic homeschooler, and i found it to work for me and my girls,  there is a book  called everything my 4th grader, ( 1st grader etc) should know, it is a good reference, to guide you in the right directions,  there is going to be glitches in the education you give,  things you miss,

My daughter says ( in the Marine corps) that sometimes if she does not know something,  they say ,  ( oh she was homeschooled)  and she does not take it personally, she is able to understand it is joke, but be ready for it,  she is 18 with AA and in the Marine Corps, so i did something right,  LOL

Answer 7

I was homeschooled at the end of middle school and the beginning of high school and it was great because i could work at my own pace and learn my way, but i was always really bored and now i have alot of social issues because i was never around kids my age, so i am going back to school this year, actually a year ahead of where im supposed to be. so there are alot of pros and cons to homeschooling.

Answer 8

Have the people telling you not to homeschool because it's 'hard' ever homeschooled?  If not, then why would they even have a say about something they have never personally experienced?  I wouldn't let my brother fix my car because he's never worked on cars before.  Don't let people who haven't personally experienced homeschooling influence you decision about homeschooling.  The next time someone says something negative about homeschooling ask them what personal experience they have in homeschooling.

It can be difficult, but having children can be difficult.

Is it time consuming?  Well, yeah, but so is getting married, having kids, running a household, and having a job.  Has anyone ever told you not to get a job because it's time consuming?  You didn't have kids because it's a convenient lifestyle.  Who cares if it's time consuming?  It will be time well spent with your kids.  

Who taught your kids to walk, eat, talk, socialize, and play?  You!  You have already been homeschooling!  Why stop now?  

As for curriculums, most come with a teachers key to help you.  But you probably won't need a curriculum or a teachers key until your kids are in fourth/fifth grade.  Until that age most things can be taught without books.  Why spend money on curriculums when you could spend it taking really neat field trips?

Good luck!