Considering homeschooling

[cruiserkaren]

We are considering homeschooling our soon to be 1st grade dd. I'd rather not get into the reasons why but I'd just like some direction on where to get information. I've googled, of course, but the amount of information is downright overwhelming. I know there are a lot of homeschoolers here on the Dis. Can anyone point me in the direction of helpful books or websites with info, how to start, laws, that kind of thing?

 

[Tiggershunny]

We just started our third year of homeschooling. I know that it can seem overwhelming. I would start by finding our what the laws are for homeschooling in your state. HSLDA has a website with laws for each state. You should also look for a homeschool support group in your area. They will have a wealth of information.

Do you know what kind of method you would like to use? There are many different methods. Unschooling, classical, unit studies, Charlotte Mason, and eclectic just to name a few.

Once you figure out what method you want to use you can go from there. You may also find that you end up trying several different methods before you find one that is right for your family.

I personally recommend that you read The Well Trained Mind.

Hope that helps!

 

[Infamousmare]

I also homeschool my two kiddos (ages 3 and 5). My dd5 (almost 6) really started when she was about 3, as she was ready and loved seatwork. We use the Classical Christian method (big fans of Jesse Wise, Susan Wise Bauer and Andrew Kern here), but it took some trial and error to get here.

I agree with the previous poster - figuring out what method you want to use will really help direct you.

If you do a Google search for your area, you'll likely find homeschooling conferences that you can attend, which are great because you can sit in on workshops and really browse through HS materials in the vendor hall. Also, find homeschooling groups in your area and find out if they ever meet. Nothing is better than meeting/mixing with other homeschooling parents. That will give you a really good feel for what other people do/what materials they use (and, honestly, what you also want to avoid!).

I think it's wonderful that you're going to give this a shot!

 

[Tiana]

......

 

[cruiserkaren]

Thanks to you all. I have a date with the library tomorrow so I can explore the different methods. I will check out The Well Trained Mind as well. I just keep asking myself, "can I do this?" As in will she learn? Will she learn what she needs? How do I know what I'm supposed to be doing?

Homeschooling is something I never thought I'd be doing honestly. However, dd has some issues that is making us seriously explore this and what would be best for her. I am overwhelmed by it though. That goes with everything new I suppose. I am a SAHM so there is no issues with working outside the home to deal with.

I was on the HSLDA website today.

Thanks again.

 

[MiniGirl]

Thanks to you all. I have a date with the library tomorrow so I can explore the different methods. I will check out The Well Trained Mind as well. I just keep asking myself, "can I do this?" As in will she learn? Will she learn what she needs? How do I know what I'm supposed to be doing?

Homeschooling is something I never thought I'd be doing honestly. However, dd has some issues that is making us seriously explore this and what would be best for her. I am overwhelmed by it though. That goes with everything new I suppose. I am a SAHM so there is no issues with working outside the home to deal with.



I was on the HSLDA website today.

Thanks again.

We are starting our 3rd year as well, but I definitely remember how overwhelming it all seemed when I first started looking into it. I actually ended up buying a curriculum that has the lesson plans and everything all laid out.It told us what pages to read/problems to solve, etc in what book on what day. It also offered a sample schedule to use in the home. I figured I'd use that and just spend the year gaining confidence that I could do it and figure out what worked best for me and my children.

You can definitely do it though. I think what I have enjoyed the most is that I am actually learning right alongside my girls. I don't know if I was never taught some of this stuff or if I just forgot all of it, but I have enjoyed all the books we have read as a family and the things we've learned and the conversations they have started.

Now for the practical stuff. Check out your state laws here....

http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

Also search yahoo groups to see if there is a local yahoo group. From that group, you will learn of many events, co-ops, field trips, etc, in your area.

You may also want to check out Lisa Whelchel's book "So You're Thinking About Homeschooling." It really is geared towards those still deciding if homeschooling is right for their family. She spotlights a dozen or so families and how they homeschool.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[kat08]

The first HSing book that I read was "So You're Thinking of Homeschooling" by Lisa Welchel. Remember "Blair" from The Facts of Life? Yeah, that's her. This is a really great intro to HSing and is a very easy read. I highly recommend it.

 

[Nayan]

My favorite homeschool sites are A to Z http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/ and Radical Unschooling http://sandradodd.com/unschooling. I cannot stand the HSLDA and would avoid them at all cost.

 

[duckyfordonald]

Does your state offer a virtual charter school program? We live in PA, and this is what we have been using for the past 6 years. We LOVE this option! Each of the kids are provided with their own laptop, curriculum (K12)/supplies, and it gives us a great support system as well! Would be happy to answer questions if you are interested! Good Luck with your decision!

 

[ncmomof2]

I started with Cathy Duffy's "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum" book. It is a wealth of info about styles of homeschooling and learning styles. And with that info, it points you to the best curriculum for your family. Also search out homeschool books stores. The employees will be very helpful!

And as someone else said, check out http://www.hslda.org/ about all the legal stuff for your state.

We are about to start our 4th year and it is tough but a great experience for everyone! And you can do it!

 

[ccgirl]

Sorry to hijack.....I have a question. My children are 5 years apart. How would I go about teaching both of them?

 

[dadio]

we also homeschool our three kiddos...11,8 and 6
we have done a couple of different 'types'...
did the virtual, or charter type school...also a bit of un-schooling...BUT what I like best, which is very easy, can be used for different aged kids is called time for learning.....
http://www.time4learning.com/

very nice program,economical, many different classes, areas of study....all done on your computer, keeps track of all scores on tests and quizes, amount of time spent working, printable reports for your portfolio(which you'll need to turn into your local school administrator)...very nice....

 

[Naisy68]

Does your state offer a virtual charter school program? We live in PA, and this is what we have been using for the past 6 years. We LOVE this option! Each of the kids are provided with their own laptop, curriculum (K12)/supplies, and it gives us a great support system as well! Would be happy to answer questions if you are interested! Good Luck with your decision!

Your kids got a laptop?? We have a desktop, I would much rather have a laptop for my DD. I take a lot of day trips and that would be nice to be able to take along so I wouldn't have to share my laptop with her as often. (I know, I sound selfish here, don't I? )

I too vote for a virtual school option - With ours here in Wyoming, we can use the K12 curriculum and there is quite a bit a flexibility and yet the curriculum is also very comprehensive and you really don't need a lot of supplemental material. If you would ever want more information on this, please feel free to PM me.

Best of Luck with your decison!! I know it's a tough one, Renee

 

[DawnM]

Join us on the homeschool chat thread on this forum!

This is our 8th year of homeschooling!

Dawn

 

[onescgirl]

I'm not sure about where you live. But, in our state, the public schools offer virtual school for Elementary-High School. You would be schooling from home, but it's different from home-school.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

Greetings,

I am a former highschool and middle school teacher and I am now in my 8th year of home schooling. My kids range in age from just turned twenty to nineteen months, as of yesterday.

Most first timers find it helpful to have a "kit" or comprehensive program their first year. As you gain experience with how you funciton as a teacher and how your child learns, you can adjust as needed.

I started out with Abeka, and while I still use their curriculum to teach literacy for my young students, I use other curriculum and have created a few classes to fit our needs.

Our state's education board publishes the guidelines of what should be covered each year for every grade. I publish these and when any activity meets those requriements I check it off and add the assignment or project to that student's three ring binder. I keep more detailed records for the older kids, but for elementary school I found that system to be helpful.

As to teaching kids with wide age ranges I suggest unit studies. So, when we study the Civil War my second grader learns the Gettysburg Address while my oldest writes a ten page research paper on the roots of slavery in the United States or the economic ramifications of slavery. Yet, there are many conversations, movies, books, and lectures that can be given to both kids.

In addition, with the advent of on line resources, it has become much easier for wide age ranges to work in the same space without bothering each other.

 

[cruiserkaren]

I wanted to get the book "So you're thinking of homeschooling?" by Lisa Welchel at the library tonight and it was checked out. Funny thing when I saw the cover of it on the computer screen I thought "is that Blair?" But I didn't recognize her real name.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. They are greatly appreciated. I will most definitely be checking out the websites that you all posted. That along with the books from the library I'm hoping we can feel more confident in making our decision.

I had the program K12 suggested to me tonight as well. She teaches her 4 dd's at home using that program and just raved about it.

I don't know if Indiana offers the virtual school program? I don't remember reading about it (at least yet) but then again my head is kind of swimming with all the info.

I would definitely like something that lays it out for me. That has a way of keeping track of scores, attendance, time worked that sort of stuff. I feel like I would want/need a schedule of things like until I gained confidence.

Thanks again!

 

[Naisy68]

You might want to talk to your Superintendent or a Principal to find out if your district or state offers a virtual program. I know in Wyoming, it isn't highly advertised but they do offer it. Sometimes you may have to open enroll within a different district. Best of Luck!!

 

[lnh'smom]

I don't know if Indiana offers the virtual school program? I don't remember reading about it (at least yet) but then again my head is kind of swimming with all the info.

I am curious about that myself! Is it a state thing or a particular school district's choice?

 

[dadio]

I would definitely like something that lays it out for me. That has a way of keeping track of scores, attendance, time worked that sort of stuff. I feel like I would want/need a schedule of things like until I gained confidence.

Thanks again!

That why we liked time4learning....we are going back to it this year!