At 6:25 am I was watching the sun starting to rise. I hadn’t woke up early to watch it, I just hadn’t been to sleep. I had too many things going through my head. I’m a full time college student. All my classes are online and I’m taking four this term. You would think it would be easy. It’s not. I have quite a few term papers due, essays, journals, research assignments…etc. I don’t remember having this much work when I was younger, but this brings me to the point of my post today.
I’m not much of a procrastinator, especially if I know it really needs to be done, however, things that make my eyes cross over (algebra) I put off to the very last second. So,while I’m up watching the sun, I started thinking about my kiddos. My daughter at 13 months understands most of things I tell her and already has a love of books, especially the interactive kind. I wondered, how would she handle going to school? If I introduced subjects to her now, would she have the same problems? Would she actually like math whereas I don’t? Of course my thought process is interrupted about the dangers of sending her off to school. I can tell you, these school shootings are NOT something I care to hear about or even see happening. (That topic is another post for another day)
Then, I think about our son. When we adopt him, he’ll be older, but further behind than kids here in the U.S. When my husband and I talked about this, we both thought it would be a great idea to homeschool. Like me, my husband isn’t thrilled with the violence going on in schools. As a 12 year army veteran, he knows all too well the dangers of guns and what people can and will do in hostile situations.
Homeschooling isn’t for everyone. My best friend doesn’t have the patience and likes the free time from her kiddos. Me? I would love to homeschool, knowing my children are getting a good education and are learning many different things. Now, that isn’t to say they wouldn’t get a good education in public or private school, I just feel better and comfortable teaching my children myself.
Many parents have told me it’s “selfish”, “they need to be around other kids”, “you need your own time”, “I couldn’t do it”, etc. I’ve heard it all before. I was homeschooled for my junior and senior year of high school. I’ve never been good around a crowd of people and being in school actually hindered me more than it helped. It helped my brother instead of hindering him.
Each child, family, and situation is different. I don’t expect what may work for us will work for you. Our son will know little to no English. Homeschooling will be very beneficial to him.
For families interested in homeschooling, check with your local School Board in your country. There are usually some requirements you must follow and a letter that you will need to submit stating your intent to homeschool.
I would advise speaking with other homeschooling parents. There are a number of them with blogs, websites, and groups (check yahoo and Facebook for the groups).
Locate curriculum. Remember, YOU will become the teacher when homeschooling and must plan accordingly. Find some teacher resource websites. I did this during my “no sleep mode” and found over thirty six. Keep a list of the sites and what materials they offer. Many of the materials are free and will only cost you ink and paper to print them. Do keep a binder for keeping track of not only your children’s work, but your planning and resources. It might be a good idea to have up to three binders.
The rest of this week, I’ve decided to spend a bit more time looking into homeschooling and talking about the school systems and how they differ.
If you are planning to move (soon or in the near future or looking for a new school for your little one(s)) and homeschooling is NOT an option for you. I highly recommended looking at Great Schools. You can find many parent reviews on the schools as well as read more about the schools, what they offer, and search for schools. This website, in my opinion, offers a wealth of information. Every parent should definitely view this link.
For early learners and beyond, I recommended Lakeshore. They offer resources as well as a print catalog in addition to their online catalog. You can purchase materials as well. This is really great for those that have a home day care.
Homeschooling, as I mentioned, is great for our family. I still have plenty of resources for when I homeschooled my sister. But for those of you will more questions, visit You Can Homeschool. This site will offer you questions. Last, but definitely not least, please, PLEASE visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (or HSLDA). You will find all the legal information you need on homeschooling.
~Happy Schooling~
The Mommy Chronicles 