Homeschool Chat Part III

[3princesses+aprince]

I also wanted to say that I got in touch with the lady that runs the huge homeschool group we have here and she was very excited to hear from me. I did speak with her last year and even went on a field trip with them over the summer last year when I was considering homeschooling then. I don't know how many children are involved in total, but on our field trip last summer there were at least 35 kids.

She asked if I wanted to come along with them on their october field trips. I said absolutely. So, my girls already have 2 amazing field trips planned and will get to meet everyone and start making some friends. There is a woman that lives in the same city as us who i've been talking to as well. My dd11 and her dd are the same age and her ds is the same age as my dd6. We are making plans to hang out as well. We met her last summer, they are all very nice. The kids got along very well.
I am also signing the girls up for dance classes in 2 weeks ( We will count that as PE every week. We'll be doing other activities as well with our group, but this will be consistent throughout the year.)

Ok I think I got everything covered to start! Have a nice day!

 

[robinsegg]

Congrats on pulling your DD out of school now. So much for learning being fun in that toxic environment she has been in. Good LUCK!!!

I would love unit studies, but I just don't have the time to pull all the stuff together. For science, you could read an interesting book about weather and then write a report of some sort. There you have science and LA.

We leave for WDW in 2 weeks!

What dis-happy said is absolutely right! However, if you feel a need, you *can* purchase curricula that is all unit studies (based upon a progression of history, on literature, on science, etc.)

 

[Nicolepa]

This is just a little bit off the top of my head, but basically you take an idea and run with it in all the different areas of study. Some people do month long unit studies then move on to something else. There are some great resources out there (both in book form and on the interent) where you can pick and choose ideas that others have already come up with under a different topics.

Thank you! I am going to have to research this a bit more. I think my son would enjoy this, but it seems like so much work on my end. I'm also having issues with the question "How do I know we're covering the right things?" My biggest fear is creating gaps in his learning, which is why I went with K12 in the first place.

 

[Nicolepa]

We sent our letter of intent in today. We are not waiting for next year!

Yea! I've so been hoping you wouldn't stick it out. If she's this miserable and it's the first month of school I can't imagine it getting any better!

 

[robinsegg]

Thank you! I am going to have to research this a bit more. I think my son would enjoy this, but it seems like so much work on my end. I'm also having issues with the question "How do I know we're covering the right things?" My biggest fear is creating gaps in his learning, which is why I went with K12 in the first place.

Every education has gaps, even (maybe esp?) the ps. The main thing is that you teach him *how* to learn and find information, then he can fill in any gaps later on

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

We sent our letter of intent in today. We are not waiting for next year! (My dd11 will have an incredibly horrible year if we stick it out. She has not been able to take recess because if there is anyone who is struggling a little, they stay in for recess to get extra help on it. Ok ,that is nice to a point and for certain things, but my dd11 struggles for a living (lol) so she's not going to get to take recess any day. How is she really sitting there learning when it feels more like a punishment to her, she lives for recess.)

So that's it, i've been getting stuff together and getting ready to go. We are going to start with Christopher Columbus next week and then go straight to the 13 colonies, which will bring us to the Pilgrims around Thanksgiving! Sounds like FUN to me. I've already learned quite a few things that I did not know from getting things together for this lesson.

I also have a friend at work that is a special ed teacher's asst for 4th and 5th graders. She is bringing me this phonics "assessment" to give to my dd11 (who struggles terribly with spelling and sounding out) and then she's going to take it back to her school and have it "graded" this will tell me where I need to start with her. She was surprised that they had nothing like this for her at school.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Yea! I've so been hoping you wouldn't stick it out. If she's this miserable and it's the first month of school I can't imagine it getting any better!

Yeah, I don't think it would have either!

 

[ilovepete]

Just reported our attendance for the first quarter of our first year today. I am liking it so far. My husband is having his doubts already.

 

[robinsegg]

Just reported our attendance for the first quarter of our first year today. I am liking it so far. My husband is having his doubts already.

If you like it, and hubby is having doubts, what's the disconnect? Why is hubby concerned if you're feeling good about it? Is there something he sees you don't, something positive you're not communicating to him, or is he just doubting because it's "not normal" for your family and feels different?

 

[CobraBubbles]

We are thinking of homeschooling our son. He is still too young, but I figure it is never too early to do research. I am not 100% yet that I'm going to, but I'm leaning toward it. There are a couple of nice Christian schools in the area so those are also choices.

Is anyone else here from Texas? I wonder if it's hard to do here with the laws.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hi Cobrabubbles, I just wanted to say that I love that Dr.Seuss qoute in your signature!

I'm not from Texas, but from what i've read, you would have it pretty easy there with homeschooling.

 

[jessesgirl]

Hello there I am new to this thread and new to homeschooling. My name is Kenderly I am a mother to 3 girls and we are TTC at least one more maybe two more . I have a 13year old that recently went to live with her birth father and his girl friend. I have a 4 year old and one that will be one in Oct. I am currently doing homeschool with my 4 year old for preK and and trying to include my 1 year old as well . I look forward to meeting new friends here.

 

[Nicolepa]

Has anyone used Learning Adventures? It seems like exactly what I was picturing in my mind, almost too good to be true!

 

[mommylovesdisney]

I will introduce myself later, lol, but I was wondering if there were any homeschool moms from NJ here and where I could find current curriculum guides. I would like something alligned with the our state's.
thanks!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

We just finished our first week back and it went really well. Due to 2 moves over the past few months, last years school work took longer and we didn't finish till August so we waited a month and a half before beginning again.

DD7 started out a little slow, but really got back into the groove and DD15 took off right away! I think we are going to have a great year!

 

[ilovepete]

If you like it, and hubby is having doubts, what's the disconnect? Why is hubby concerned if you're feeling good about it? Is there something he sees you don't, something positive you're not communicating to him, or is he just doubting because it's "not normal" for your family and feels different?

He has concerns that we won't be able to teach him everything he needs to know or that he will get "behind" or something. He is mostly concerned that I am not concerned.

 

[robinsegg]

He has concerns that we won't be able to teach him everything he needs to know or that he will get "behind" or something. He is mostly concerned that I am not concerned.

My dh has the concern that our kids are "not behind". I always look at him like he's crazy and say "behind whom?" Really, our kids are learning the best here because they have 1-on-1 attention that they wouldn't have in ps. Also, our ds7 would be labeled as special ed (they say he wouldn't because he's learning, but he's learning *because* I can teach him the way he learns) because he learns way different and gets frustrated *very* easily.

2 things that might help:
1. See about standardized testing in your area. We did this with our dd9 (at the time) in April and learned a lot about how well she's doing.
2. As dh exactly what he thinks is "everything he needs to know" and if he thinks the public schools are successful at that. Really talk to him about what he wants to make sure your son knows, so that you can make sure those things are well covered. If he knows you're making special efforts in the areas he's concerned about, it may ease his own concerns.

If he continues to act concerned *just* because you're not, ask him if he *wants* to come home every day to a distraught, frazzled wife who doesn't think she can handle the job. That will help him to see how he's reacting to the situation.

 

[ilovepete]

My dh has the concern that our kids are "not behind". I always look at him like he's crazy and say "behind whom?" Really, our kids are learning the best here because they have 1-on-1 attention that they wouldn't have in ps. Also, our ds7 would be labeled as special ed (they say he wouldn't because he's learning, but he's learning *because* I can teach him the way he learns) because he learns way different and gets frustrated *very* easily.

2 things that might help:
1. See about standardized testing in your area. We did this with our dd9 (at the time) in April and learned a lot about how well she's doing.
2. As dh exactly what he thinks is "everything he needs to know" and if he thinks the public schools are successful at that. Really talk to him about what he wants to make sure your son knows, so that you can make sure those things are well covered. If he knows you're making special efforts in the areas he's concerned about, it may ease his own concerns.

If he continues to act concerned *just* because you're not, ask him if he *wants* to come home every day to a distraught, frazzled wife who doesn't think she can handle the job. That will help him to see how he's reacting to the situation.

Thank you for the tips.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Is anyone else here from Texas? I wonder if it's hard to do here with the laws.

If you haven't already, check out the HSLDA's list. They've got info on each state's requirements.

Hello there I am new to this thread and new to homeschooling. My name is Kenderly I am a mother to 3 girls and we are TTC at least one more maybe two more .

Welcome, Kenderly!

I will introduce myself later, lol, but I was wondering if there were any homeschool moms from NJ here and where I could find current curriculum guides. I would like something alligned with the our state's.
thanks!

I called my local school district and got a fantastic link to their curriculum guidelines. The bonus: They had tons and tons of printables, too. I'd start there. Good luck!

We just finished our first week back and it went really well. Due to 2 moves over the past few months, last years school work took longer and we didn't finish till August so we waited a month and a half before beginning again.

DD7 started out a little slow, but really got back into the groove and DD15 took off right away! I think we are going to have a great year!

Sounds like you're off on the right start!

He has concerns that we won't be able to teach him everything he needs to know or that he will get "behind" or something. He is mostly concerned that I am not concerned.

The proof will be when your son excels. It's like having a private tutor working to meet your specific needs and talents. Your hubby will see the success. It's hard to mess up those early years, too!

 

[Denine]

We went to Williamsburg for home school days. So, we got to see a ton of hs'd kids. They were all smart, well behaved, nicely dressed kids. They asked and answered questions, even the little ones. They helped each other out in projects, even though they had never met. Big ones helping little ones, etc.. It was wonderful to see!
I certainlly didn't see or notice any of the kids lacking in any part of their education. DH and I even got into an interesting conversation with another HS parent at the hotel one evening. We stayed at a Residence Inn and they have little recptions in the evening. Would you know our respective children cleaned the place up when it was over? I saw them throwing garbage away and pushing in chairs, etc...

There is more to hs'ing our children then the 3 R's!