Two years into it I've mellowed appreciably. If you have the benefit of starting your homeschooling with preschool or kindergarten, you are fortunate, as these beginning years are a great way to muddle through some of the confusion without fear of really boggling the whole deal. For those starting with older children, I'd offer this concession, even if you don't do an entirely stellar job, even if you don't make the perfect choices for your son or daughter, you can rest assured that you will still be successful, and your child will likely learn more at home than in school. Why? It's a matter of student-teacher ratio. In a school setting, even the brightest students do not reach their true potential because the lessons are tailored to the GROUP, not to the INDIVIDUAL. If a student is progressing faster than the group, they are held back by the pace of the group. If a student is progressing more slowly than the masses, he or she is forced to stumble on before mastery of the concept at hand. Neither of those scenarios is best for the learner. In homeschooling, the child does not move on until the subject is mastered, hence the learning is more complete. So, unless you don't supervise the learning process to the degree necessary, it is likely that your child will learn ... and do very well ... regardless of the method you choose.
My purpose here is not to try to influence the teaching modality you employ, or to direct you to select a particular curriculum, my purpose is simply to provide encouragement, and to let you learn from my experiences. Right out of the gate I'd offer up two big rules of thumb ... #1 Be flexible. Do not be so rigid that you refuse to abandon something that is obviously not working, or to try something new even if it seems a bit odd. #2 Embrace the uniqueness of homeschooling, do not try to duplicate a classroom setting in your home.
In our first year, we selected a boxed preschool curriculum. I thought it would be a great choice for several reasons ... it was from a reputable publisher, it had many different types of resources (including learning software, videos, and audio cd's), and it had a very "kid friendly" look to it. Unfortunately, when you purchase sets like that (unless you preview them at a fair), you are at the mercy of the five sentence marketing blurb and perhaps a few customer reviews. Since I selected a brand new curriculum, I did not have the luxury of reviews. I quickly discovered that the set was actually written for a traditional classroom, but was marketed for homeschool. Most of the activities had to be modified, and many had to be omitted, because they just could not be done as written with one student.
The other thing I learned was that this particular curriculum was designed to fill up an entire school day - traditionally speaking - with so many different things to do that it was nearly impossible to fit it into our homeschooling schedule. My poor daughter was suffering from burnout before we had two weeks under our belts. It was at that point that I had my first real homeschool epiphany ... "Don't overdo it!!" This is particularly true in those early years. Kids need a lot of activity, and variety in their activities. They need time to exercise imaginations and bodies. So, I began to plan for one or two hours of academics, lots of time for playing, and I'd read, read, read to them.
Honestly, for preschool, save the big bucks and avoid the trap of a boxed curriculum ... or any formal curriculum for that matter. For my second daughter, I found a good preschool activity book - something that teaches letter recognition, sounds, and has some writing practice. In addition, I found a book that teaches numbers (up to 20) and some basic math (patterns, simple counting), shapes and colors. I'd also recommend a good arts and crafts book (or website) for preschoolers, and a music cd with some fun kid's songs. Have lots of manipulatives for the child to experiment with ... clay, blocks, puzzles, etc... Go to the library at least once a week, and read lots of stories and poems to them. Let them act out the stories. Let them make up their own stories based on a picture you show them. Take nature walks, go to the zoo, let the child ask questions about their world and use that as a springboard to learn some interesting science facts. Just have fun. Sure, give them some workbook assignments, but don't spend all day with that sort of thing. If, by the end of the year, they know their letters, letter sounds, numbers to 20, shapes, colors, and perhaps know how to write their first name, you are already ahead of the game.
You'd think I would have learned my lesson with the preschool debacle, but I purchased another curriculum set for Kindergarten. I must be a slow learner. This one was better, as it was certainly geared to homeschoolers, but it was also way too ambitious. The Kindergarten schedule was every bit as academically rigorous as a fifth grade schedule. We were spending so much time with English, History, Science, Math, Bible, Phonics, Reading, etc ... that we didn't have any time left for things like art, music, and just general playtime. Not good. Again, about a month into it I decided to scrap the pre-made schedules and plans, and just go with what worked for us. My goal was to have my daughter reading by the end of the year, and that she would have developed some basic math skills (counting to 100, simple measuring, simple addition and subtraction, number patterns). Beyond that, we'd employ more relaxed approach for the other subjects, and allow the interests of the child to direct our learning efforts. Reading lots of good books was still a major emphasis. Plenty of time for creativity, imagination, and play were a vital part of each and every day. It worked so much better. By the end of the year we had met and exceeded my original goals.
Homeschooling is a wonderful and unique form of education ... embrace it. Enjoy the fact that you are able to do in REALITY, all the things that the "experts" tout as being the best way for children to learn. You have the luxury of one-on-one, individually tailored education. You have the luxury of working at the pace most comfortable and natural based on your child's ability and learning style. You have the luxury of being able to hop in the car and go wherever you desire to enhance the learning experience. Enjoy that uniqueness. Make the most of those luxuries and you and your children will enjoy the learning experience more than I can adequately articulate.
In an effort to do homeschool "right," I went to great pains to create a classroom in our home. Desks, whiteboard, globe, flag, pencil sharpener, the alphabet tacked along the top of the wall ... etc. It looked great, but it nearly led me into a trap. I tried so hard to make our homeschool look and feel like a "real" school, and in so doing I nearly squandered one of the beauties of homeschooling. Homeschoolers can make every room, every experience, every part of every day an integral part of the learning experience. It does not have to be confined to a classroom ... the world is our classroom. In addition, sometimes you just need to mix it up, to change the scenery. Nice day? ... take the kids outside and do school on a picnic blanket. Make it fun. Make it an adventure. We still use our pseudo-classroom, and we use it quite a bit, but there are many days when we decide to do our lesson in the dining room, or the back yard. If you have been feeling like your homeschool is lacking because you don't have a designated school room, you can stop thinking that way right now. You absolutely do not need a classroom. With three girls, and us considering adding one more child to the ranks before closing the shop, we are likely to change our classroom back to a bedroom, and I'm not the least bit concerned that it will have an adverse affect.
As I've begun to prepare for my oldest to start first grade, the middle child to start Kindergarten, and the baby to ... well, just be underfoot and clamoring for attention ... I have made some big decisions for this coming school year. The biggest change ... we will not use a boxed, or otherwise prepared, curriculum. I've selected books and materials that I thought were a good match for my kids ... using the lessons of the past two years as a guide. I've used the experiences and opinions of friends to guide some of my choices, and online reviews for others. I will not try to stick to a rigid daily agenda, but rather use a basic plan and allow our adventure to lead the learning process. That might mean that some days we do little or no "bookwork" in lieu of spending our time reading, discussing, and following the kids' interests wherever they may lead. As long as they continue to progress in the basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, then I will consider that they are on the proper course. The thing to keep in mind is that just because you use, for example, a phonics book that is for "First Grade" that does not mean that you must complete in in the 180 day school year. My oldest daughter will still be working through her "Kindergarten" math materials when we start her first grade year. That's the beauty of homeschooling ... I don't have to rush through. Since the beginning of the first grade math materials is largely a review of what she has done in kindergarten, I can choose to skip through much of that once she is ready to start the new book.
The second major decision is to maintain continuity by continuing to do certain school activities year-round. We will continue math and language arts through the summer. By eliminating the gap in learning, the child will retain what they have learned and will likely do better as they progress through the subject. Of course reading should always be a year-round activity, and as your child develops his or her reading abilities you should require them to read every day. Summertime is also a great time to let your kids get creative. Let them act out some of the stories they read during the school year. Let them draw a story with sidewalk chalk on the driveway and then let them (literally) walk you through it. Do some pre-planning for your vacation and find some ways to sneak a little learning in. Just try to make learning so intertwined with daily life that your kids sometimes are not even aware that they are doing school!!
I believe, that by learning from my mistakes you will save yourself and your kids a lot of frustration. Embrace the unique, and superior, qualities of a homeschool education, mix it up, and have a great time with your kids.
My purpose here is not to try to influence the teaching modality you employ, or to direct you to select a particular curriculum, my purpose is simply to provide encouragement, and to let you learn from my experiences. Right out of the gate I'd offer up two big rules of thumb ... #1 Be flexible. Do not be so rigid that you refuse to abandon something that is obviously not working, or to try something new even if it seems a bit odd. #2 Embrace the uniqueness of homeschooling, do not try to duplicate a classroom setting in your home.
In our first year, we selected a boxed preschool curriculum. I thought it would be a great choice for several reasons ... it was from a reputable publisher, it had many different types of resources (including learning software, videos, and audio cd's), and it had a very "kid friendly" look to it. Unfortunately, when you purchase sets like that (unless you preview them at a fair), you are at the mercy of the five sentence marketing blurb and perhaps a few customer reviews. Since I selected a brand new curriculum, I did not have the luxury of reviews. I quickly discovered that the set was actually written for a traditional classroom, but was marketed for homeschool. Most of the activities had to be modified, and many had to be omitted, because they just could not be done as written with one student.
The other thing I learned was that this particular curriculum was designed to fill up an entire school day - traditionally speaking - with so many different things to do that it was nearly impossible to fit it into our homeschooling schedule. My poor daughter was suffering from burnout before we had two weeks under our belts. It was at that point that I had my first real homeschool epiphany ... "Don't overdo it!!" This is particularly true in those early years. Kids need a lot of activity, and variety in their activities. They need time to exercise imaginations and bodies. So, I began to plan for one or two hours of academics, lots of time for playing, and I'd read, read, read to them.
Honestly, for preschool, save the big bucks and avoid the trap of a boxed curriculum ... or any formal curriculum for that matter. For my second daughter, I found a good preschool activity book - something that teaches letter recognition, sounds, and has some writing practice. In addition, I found a book that teaches numbers (up to 20) and some basic math (patterns, simple counting), shapes and colors. I'd also recommend a good arts and crafts book (or website) for preschoolers, and a music cd with some fun kid's songs. Have lots of manipulatives for the child to experiment with ... clay, blocks, puzzles, etc... Go to the library at least once a week, and read lots of stories and poems to them. Let them act out the stories. Let them make up their own stories based on a picture you show them. Take nature walks, go to the zoo, let the child ask questions about their world and use that as a springboard to learn some interesting science facts. Just have fun. Sure, give them some workbook assignments, but don't spend all day with that sort of thing. If, by the end of the year, they know their letters, letter sounds, numbers to 20, shapes, colors, and perhaps know how to write their first name, you are already ahead of the game.
You'd think I would have learned my lesson with the preschool debacle, but I purchased another curriculum set for Kindergarten. I must be a slow learner. This one was better, as it was certainly geared to homeschoolers, but it was also way too ambitious. The Kindergarten schedule was every bit as academically rigorous as a fifth grade schedule. We were spending so much time with English, History, Science, Math, Bible, Phonics, Reading, etc ... that we didn't have any time left for things like art, music, and just general playtime. Not good. Again, about a month into it I decided to scrap the pre-made schedules and plans, and just go with what worked for us. My goal was to have my daughter reading by the end of the year, and that she would have developed some basic math skills (counting to 100, simple measuring, simple addition and subtraction, number patterns). Beyond that, we'd employ more relaxed approach for the other subjects, and allow the interests of the child to direct our learning efforts. Reading lots of good books was still a major emphasis. Plenty of time for creativity, imagination, and play were a vital part of each and every day. It worked so much better. By the end of the year we had met and exceeded my original goals.
Homeschooling is a wonderful and unique form of education ... embrace it. Enjoy the fact that you are able to do in REALITY, all the things that the "experts" tout as being the best way for children to learn. You have the luxury of one-on-one, individually tailored education. You have the luxury of working at the pace most comfortable and natural based on your child's ability and learning style. You have the luxury of being able to hop in the car and go wherever you desire to enhance the learning experience. Enjoy that uniqueness. Make the most of those luxuries and you and your children will enjoy the learning experience more than I can adequately articulate.
In an effort to do homeschool "right," I went to great pains to create a classroom in our home. Desks, whiteboard, globe, flag, pencil sharpener, the alphabet tacked along the top of the wall ... etc. It looked great, but it nearly led me into a trap. I tried so hard to make our homeschool look and feel like a "real" school, and in so doing I nearly squandered one of the beauties of homeschooling. Homeschoolers can make every room, every experience, every part of every day an integral part of the learning experience. It does not have to be confined to a classroom ... the world is our classroom. In addition, sometimes you just need to mix it up, to change the scenery. Nice day? ... take the kids outside and do school on a picnic blanket. Make it fun. Make it an adventure. We still use our pseudo-classroom, and we use it quite a bit, but there are many days when we decide to do our lesson in the dining room, or the back yard. If you have been feeling like your homeschool is lacking because you don't have a designated school room, you can stop thinking that way right now. You absolutely do not need a classroom. With three girls, and us considering adding one more child to the ranks before closing the shop, we are likely to change our classroom back to a bedroom, and I'm not the least bit concerned that it will have an adverse affect.
As I've begun to prepare for my oldest to start first grade, the middle child to start Kindergarten, and the baby to ... well, just be underfoot and clamoring for attention ... I have made some big decisions for this coming school year. The biggest change ... we will not use a boxed, or otherwise prepared, curriculum. I've selected books and materials that I thought were a good match for my kids ... using the lessons of the past two years as a guide. I've used the experiences and opinions of friends to guide some of my choices, and online reviews for others. I will not try to stick to a rigid daily agenda, but rather use a basic plan and allow our adventure to lead the learning process. That might mean that some days we do little or no "bookwork" in lieu of spending our time reading, discussing, and following the kids' interests wherever they may lead. As long as they continue to progress in the basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, then I will consider that they are on the proper course. The thing to keep in mind is that just because you use, for example, a phonics book that is for "First Grade" that does not mean that you must complete in in the 180 day school year. My oldest daughter will still be working through her "Kindergarten" math materials when we start her first grade year. That's the beauty of homeschooling ... I don't have to rush through. Since the beginning of the first grade math materials is largely a review of what she has done in kindergarten, I can choose to skip through much of that once she is ready to start the new book.
The second major decision is to maintain continuity by continuing to do certain school activities year-round. We will continue math and language arts through the summer. By eliminating the gap in learning, the child will retain what they have learned and will likely do better as they progress through the subject. Of course reading should always be a year-round activity, and as your child develops his or her reading abilities you should require them to read every day. Summertime is also a great time to let your kids get creative. Let them act out some of the stories they read during the school year. Let them draw a story with sidewalk chalk on the driveway and then let them (literally) walk you through it. Do some pre-planning for your vacation and find some ways to sneak a little learning in. Just try to make learning so intertwined with daily life that your kids sometimes are not even aware that they are doing school!!
I believe, that by learning from my mistakes you will save yourself and your kids a lot of frustration. Embrace the unique, and superior, qualities of a homeschool education, mix it up, and have a great time with your kids.
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