Wendy said…
I just have struggled to start. I’m not exactly where to start or how to find the right fit for our family. Without knowing where to start seems very overwhelming. So I haven’t even started the cycle. I just avoid it. 😀 My boys are little yet. So my question is where do you start?
KJS said…
Have you done homeschooling from the start with all of your children? I’m considering it starting this fall. I just registered my oldest for Kindergarten and where we live it is full day, five days a week. On top of questionable material I think that is just too long for a five year old to be away from home. I am completely lost here with where to start. I’ve googled some. Looked at your homeschooling tab. If you were me and had the knowledge you have now, any suggestions with what to do? I also have a 2.5 yr and 4 mo at home.
Starting on the journey of homeschooling can be scary, no doubt about it!
The first thing I recommend to anyone thinking about homeschooling their children is to learn about the laws in your own state. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has a clickable map that allows you to see what the laws are in your state regarding notification, testing and other regulations. HSLDA also has a great website to explore. It answers a lot of questions for newcomers and oldies alike. Finding someone in your area who already homeschools is a boon! They can offer advice and give valuable input into how the local school district works with homeschoolers.
Most states don’t require initial notification until the child is 7 years of age. Here in Nevada we have to send in a notice of intent to homeschool to our local school district. They are required by Nevada law to immediately grant permission. An official letter, which is good for the next 12 years, is sent acknowledging our choice to educate our child. We can present this letter to stores and other organizations to receive teacher or school discounts. There is no follow up from the school district, no standardized testing required, and our children are allowed to participate in any public school clubs, sports, or other organizations. We have it pretty easy thanks to state legislators who also homeschool. ☺
Once you get past that hurdle, it’s time to focus on the next hurdle. What do I teach?
Looking back to when I first started, I wish I had relaxed more. I was so stressed about making sure I didn’t forget anything when teaching my children. Now I know better! There is really no way to mess up preschool through second grade. HONEST! This is the best time to explore the world around you with your naturally curious child. Go on walks, explore all the senses, sing, dance, expose them to classical music. It is also the ideal time to expose them to books, books, and more books. You can NEVER read to them too much. Reading is the most important, and first skill, they need to learn. Without reading it is very difficult to learn any other subject including math. So read to them, instill a love of books in them until they are begging to learn to read for themselves.
Reading is so important it should not be forced upon your child until they are ready to learn – much like potty training. Don’t start at too early an age or else you will become frustrated and so will your child. My Mother-in-law told me a story about someone in her family teaching a group of young grade school children. She was trying to teach them how to read but there were a few students in her class that were having great difficulty. One day one of the superintendents came to supervise her class. Towards the end of class the supervisor asked all the children to stand up, reach their right hand up in the air, over their heads and touch their left ear. Those who could not do it where the ones having trouble learning how to read. The superintendent turned to the teacher and told her, “They just aren’t ready yet. Give them other things to do and when they can touch their left ear with their right hand then you start teaching them to read.” I have used that as one of my guides to know when my children are ready to read.
Other than focusing on books I recommend developing some type of structure to your day. Developing the habit of doing “school” at the same time each day will greatly help later on when “school” must be more thorough and involved. Children, particularly young children, thrive on routine. Take advantage of that! Only don’t be too surprised when they hold you to it.
I know most want a guide of some sort to help in teaching their children. Here are some wonderful resources and websites to aid you. These are recommended for those aged 3 – 7.
FREE RESOURCES:
Letter of the Week – as the name implies one letter of the alphabet is introduced each week. There are books to read, finger plays, science studies, art and music suggestions to go along with every letter.
Ambleside Online Year 0 – A HUGE list of wonderful books to read with your child.
Bry-Back Manor – Lots of printables to supplement any learning you do.
PURCHASED (or check your library)
Five in a Row – You read the same book every day for a whole week doing activities to go along with that book each day. Really a fun program!
Happy Phonics – Developed by a homeschooling mother of seven this is a game based phonics program ideal for those children who like to wiggle!
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
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Thanks for all the information! My son is in the 4th grade (young for 4th-he will be 9 1/2 next month) and I have finally convinced my husband that the conveyor belt that is public school is holding our son back BIG TIME! We are going to start homeschooling next school year (compromise…I would have taken him out a long time ago…compromise is good..), and I was wondering if you could give me any tips. We are trying to do it very frugally! (my husband was in home building business until the economy tanked and now he is back in school again…) How do I undo the closing of my sons mind to actual love of learning? He LOVES to read. He LOVES math…But besides the buddies he has, he HATES school…Will that translate to home schooling?..I have been planning for years (literally), but now that my husband agrees it is time, I am getting nervous…Sorry I am rambling. You seem like you have home schooling down to a science…Help! Any advice for starting at this age?
I just have to second the plug for 100 Easy Lessons. My 4yo started it six months ago and is reading fabulously, (and loves it)! My 3yo has also started and is reading three letter words.
I could tell my 4 yo needed something when he started getting frustrated that he noticed words all around him but didn’t know what they meant. Now he loves driving down the road and reading all the signs along the way. We’ve taken it quite a bit slower with the 3 yo….repeating lessons if he doesn’t seem ready to move on, but he still loves the time spent together doing “school”.
I would also recommend the Pathway Readers, (see http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com) as a cheap and great next step. Their readers are cheap, durable and great for young kids. They also have corresponding workbooks for each reader to build language skills. You use a new workbook for each kid, but they are so inexpensive that you couldn’t copy the pages for less than buying a new workbook anyway.
Yay for homeschooling!
Thank you for the great post! I love the left arm right ear trick. Something we have started using this year is All About Spelling. It’s as much a reading program as it is spelling. I wish I would have known about it when I started hsing a couple years ago.
Hooray for the advice to RELAX and enjoy! Exactly what I wish I’d done differently. Be a mentor, lead them to discover exciting information and skills. Don’t be a professor trying to force feed facts- they won’t stick- it will be a waste of both your time.
Focus on reading skills (phonics). Focus on loving to read because it is fun and exciting. Set the example you want them to follow. Let them see you reading for enjoyment.
Another big thing, focus on discipline. Homeschooling will be a nightmare if this isn’t a priority right from the start. Focus on good habits like basic hygeine, cleaning own room, helping with household chores, etc. Learning how to make a home function is an important part of their education. They will have their own home to run someday and there own family to lead. Prepare them for that. Involve them in decisions about curriculum when they are old enough. Let them help take the reigns for their own education (it is theirs after all). Pray and adjust your course as needed. Enjoy the time with your kids! Create many happy memories!
For Carrie,
If your son loves reading and math, but hates public school, I have 2 bits of advice…
First, “de-school” for a bit – don’t try to do school, but do field trips, hobbies, etc for a while.
Second – research Charlotte Mason – her homeschooling methods are literature based. You can learn a LOT from reading books! We use AO (Ambleside Online) a bit modified. Hope that helps…
This is great! I can say that after all the research I’ve done everyone says to relax the first couple years. I have done that and our first two years have been great. We have had our glitches and set-backs but it really has been good.
I would say to for those younger years to follow what the child wants to learn. Being in a house with all boys the love of dinosaurs is huge!! So I have used that as a base for so many things. We can talk about all things geography, math {which dino is bigger} ect. and they eat it up because it’s what they are interested in.
And I would second the routine! My boys thrive on it. And even when we have our breaks they are still needing the structure. I think it’s a safety for them.
Question…. do you do any co-ops? And how do you manage outside activities… sports, music lessons, ect?
Wow! Your state has really great homeschool laws. NO follow up? NO standardized testing? (Actually, we did “have” to do standardized testing but we always seemed to get out of it somehow.) And the kids are allowed to participate in the public school sports and clubs? That’s awesome! We had to really fight to be able to do that. Most of the time we weren’t allowed to participate. That’s one of the reasons why our kids went back to public school. They wanted to participate in that kind of stuff.
Thank you so much for this info. I have had the desire to home school, but feel overwhelmed by the thought. I don’t know how or when to start. My boy is only 3, so it’s not a pressing thing, but I have a hard time getting into a routine with him. For now we read a lot and play games. I won’t worry too much about school stuff till later. I would love to read more posts about this topic. I hope you will share more about it with us all. One thing I get nervous about is it is very likely my boy will be an only child for medical reasons (We are blessed to have him). I worry about him not being around other children often. It’s not a big deal since the kids his age are still at home, but I worry when they are all in school and he only has me. I know it’s silly. 🙂 Thanks again for your blog!
Wow, Nevada homeschool laws are awesome! So what do you do those first few months after a new baby arrives? Do you try to keep to the same schedule, walking around like a sleep deprived zombie, or is there a fall back schedule to cover the most important subjects? Or do your kids do well enough when left to themselves so you can sneak a nap? We just had our 4th child. My oldest is 8 and this is the first baby we’ve had while homeschooling. I’m just wondering what realistic expectations I should have during this adjustment period and how to make it all work. I love what you posted a while back about the baby being the lesson. That is a very helpful perspective. Any other insights?
@utahna, Yes, we do have a fall back schedule of sorts when a new baby comes. I’ll write more about it and use it as one of my posts for the HOTM blog hop coming next week!
Thanks. I’m looking forward to it!
Great stuff! I want to home school but my husband is pretty against it. Oh well I have five years to change his mind since our first is due in March.
Do you know where to look for that legal stuff in Canada?
Glad to hear there are getting to be a few more “Courageous” mothers out there.
I have been homeschooling my 5 kids from the begining, This our 11 year.
I want to say first of all you have to realize that you will have some really good years and you will have some not so good years.
A couple of years ago I was given care for my little sister who was in Federal custody for drugs. I am a memeber of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and strongly believe in being there for your family. Circumstances with her did not allow me to do school very much, I did my best. I was feeling down about it and was talking to my friend about it. She reminded me that my kids were probably learning one of the greatest lessons on choosing the right and consequences. Sometimes when we allow life to teach the lessons they can be more powerful than any book learned lesson.
The last thing I wanted to say is this, do not let the school system bully you around. Find out your rights according to your state and demand them to obey the rules.
It takes courage. When my oldest wanted to attend a class and play sports at the high school his freshman year, I went to enroll him and pay the fees.(that’s right “free education” fees) They told me that it was their policy that homeschool kids would have to pay 1200.00 a class. I protested. I went a head and contacted the superintendent who stood by the policy. I then went to my state board of education and to my surprise was given a swift response. They inturn called my Superintendent who contacted us saying that he could attend for the same dues as everyone else. Educate yourself on your rights. I knew that I didn’t recieve funding from the state for homeschooling which was the misconception by my district even my mother in law a teacher in my district thought we recieved money for homeschooling. I also knew that it is with in my rights as a tax payer to participated as little or as much as we wanted. There isn’t anything they could do about it and to boot they have to be nice to you.
Good luck to you all!
Thank you for answering my question. That is awesome! It gives me a jumping off point!