Home School Schedule

Hi M.! I do a very loose homeschool regime for preschoolers. My advice is to not get too picky, too worried, or ask too much from a 4 yr. old. I read a lot of books, use the public library and their resources as much as possible, and do fun abc crafts, among other things. I try to get in at least 2-3 actual-sit-down lessons per week for preschoolers. The rest of it is doing things like having them help me in the kitchen baking, doing dishes. (What floats- a wooden spoon, a metal spoon, a plastic bowl?) Be creative and use all your moments as teaching moments. There's a lot to learn by just taking a nature walk around the park or going to the zoo.
My 7,6, and 5 year old boys can all read (easy Dick and Jane books) before they go to Kindergarten. They know their abc's and 123's. My 3 yr. old daughter didn't seem to care a hoot about abc's until just this month (I started with my first son when he was 2 and he loved every moment). Kids develope at different rates and it's all ok! Just meet them where they are and have fun!
It really is a blessing for your children just to spend time whith them and sincerely be interested in them.
Blessings! C. H.

Homeschooling in MO is GREAT. You do not need to keep any records until age 7 years!!! Here are some links for some homeschool groups to get you started:

SWMOHE Southwest Missouri Home Educators
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/swmohe/

Bolivar Area Homeschoolers: http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/BAH2/bah.html

Buffalo Area Homeschool Group: http://www.buffalohomeschoolfamilies.com/

Dallas County Area Home Education
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DallasCountyAreaHomeEducation/

Field Trips Online: http://fieldtripsonline.org/

FHE Region Six http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fhe-region6w

Homeschool Fellowship of the Ozarks, "Home Reporter" newsletter:
http://thehomereporter.org

The Homeschooler's Network of Joplin, Missouri http://www.joplinhsn.com/

Lebanon Area Homeschoolers http://www.lebanonareahomeschoolers.com/

Missouri Homeschool Athletics http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOHSAthletics/

MO statewide yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MOHomeschool/

Mountain Grove Homeschool Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mgmanifesto/?yguid=117109112
blog: http://www.mountaingrovehomeschoolgroup.blogspot.com/

Newton and McDonald County Homeschoolers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMacHS/

Rolla area http://www.rollanet.org/~chessnwk

SAC Lending Library http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SACLibrary/

SHELL-Springfield Home Education: Learning for a Lifetime
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shellinmo/

Springfield Secular Home Educators:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Springfieldsechomeed/

SHEM Southwest Home Education Ministry http://shemonline.org

Stockton Area Homeschool Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stocktonhomeschoolers/

Tri-Lakes Christian Homeschoolers (Branson area)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tlchbranson/

Webster County Home Educators:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WebsterCountyHomeEducation

We homeschool my five-year old son and my three-year old son. We have homeschooled since my five-year old was three. I honestly tried a schedule - structuring everything. But it just did not work with a child that young. What we do is immerse them with all kinds of books and blocks and Legos and toys. Buy cheap art supplies from the dollar store. Allow her imagination to guide her. You will be surprised how much she will learn! I have never structured anything with my three-year old, and he has learned so much! He has learned his colors, shapes, counting, numbers, and now is learning the alphabet. Not to mention, we learn things like social skills. What is your daughter's interest? My five-year old loves art. My three-year old loves being outdoors. Both both love insects. Allow her follow her interests.

For a kindergardner you school about 1 to 2 hours a day tops. Teach your Child How to read in 100 Easy Lessons is an easy way to to teach reading. If she gets frustated (as my kids did) in reading the story twice, just have her read it once. If your child is frustated at any time, pull back, do something else and go back to it later ( minutes, hours, days months, later) Get a math book and check out books from the library on animals and history that are at her grade leavel. Go on field trips with other homeschool families and include baby. Join swmohe (homeschooling yahoo group in the Springfield area) and go to the homeschool convention in April even if you're undecided. Go to shem.org for more info on convention. You'll never reget homeschooling. I'll always regret sending my older 4 chilren to public school. I've been homeschooling for 13 years now and I love the results I'm seeing in my high school kids. You may think that you're not doing enough, but you'll see fruits in the high school years.
D.- mom to 9

Hi M.,

I homeschool my 11 yo son (5th grade) and have been homeschoolings since 2nd grade. I also have an 18 mo. boy. I don't know what the laws are in MO, but in Kansas, kids don't have to start school till they are 7. To find out the laws in your state, go to www.hslda.org. They are a group of lawers who protect homeschooing and homeschoolers. You can find all you need to know about the laws in MO there.

Okay, that being said, don't be in a rush to start 'real shcool'. There is no hurry (especially for boys!). But, since you have a firtborn girl, you may find she is really excited and ready for 'school'. Kindergarten is easy, you're just trying to teach numbers, letters, facilitate exploration of her environment, and create a joy for learning. It should only take 1, maybe up to 2 hours per day in small increments. What does this look like in real life? It involves cuddling and reading lots of books together. It means taking walks and looking at green trees, red cars, and yellow busses. It means letting her help cook supper and learning to count the cups of water. In essence it is letting her live real life with you and learn as you go about your day. You may or may not decide to get a formal curriculum and workbooks for her. For young grades, it's really about hands-on experience. You may find that MO requires you spend a certain amount of 'time' schooling her but many things count as that time. Homeschooling becomes a way of life and just begins to 'happen'

I hesitate to suggest a schedule, as your life may look so different from mine. It may she gets up at 8 am, eats breakfast, does chores, and then you sit and read a book together (this may be a numbers/letters/nature book or a bible story or just a book for fun). Then you send her off to play for a bit while you get something done. Later you may take a walk and talk about stuff and explore. Next, you may sit down and count her dolls or sort legos by color. Maybe shes ready to sit and practice writing letters but maybe not.

Homeschooling is such a blessing!!!! And, you CAN do it!!! Yes, it will be a little crazy with the toddler running around and the baby on the way. No, your house will not be spotless! LOL! But, you will be giving your child the best education possible, free from all the craziness that happens in public schools. You and your husband will be her influence, not a bunch of other 5 year olds that are being exposed to who-knows-what. You will also keep her heart turned towards home and family and not 'the world'.

For now, try to connect with your local homeschooling group. Check out this group http://www.midwesthomeschoolers.org/ and the huge curriculum fair that is coming up April 25th and 26th. There you will find seminars on any topic you ever wondered about, tons of curriculum you can actually touch, and best of all, litterally thousands of other homeschoolers to connect with as ask questions.

Also, get to the library and start reading all you can about homeschooling. It will really calm your fears. I suggest Beyond Survival, A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling by Cathy Duffy. Also, Sheperding a Childs Heart (can't remember author).

I bet this was more than you asked for, LOL! I'm a bit passionate about homeschooling. Please don't hesitate to ask me more questions, I'd sure love to help you.

In Christ,

Amanda

Hi M.,
I understand your fear of homeschooling. It's not easy some days. My daughter is now 14 and we've been homeschooling her since she was 9. We pulled her out of school for various reasons, but have 2 boys (younger) that are going to public school. Some days are more challenging than others. I think we've had more trying times because she went to public school first and then was homeschooled. I have several friends that have homeschooled their children from day one and they don't seem to have the problems that we do with discipline. It may be a chore sometimes, but I think they get a better, safer education. There are also tons of sites you can go on for support and to learn more about it. If you type in homeschooling/missouri, it should pull up lots of different sites to explore. If you would like, feel free to contact me anytime. I'll try to help in any way that I can. Good luck. And remember, it's not as bad as what you're probably imagining. We tend to make things much worse in our minds. It's a great bonding time with your kids as well. My kids and I are alot closer now than we were.

M., I was just going to read responses, but after seeing such a negative response, I just wanted to write and encourage. I think there are great things you can do with homeschooling (obviously, there are bad things that can come out of it too, but certainly those problems are not necessities of homeschooling). I don't home school, unless you count what I do with my young young kids, and I won't, but I really respect those with the discipline. Anyway, I don't know if you've ever been to mothering.com, but it's a great forum where I know there are threads about this and unschooling (which to me seems like a great idea at least in the young grades). Enjoy your kids! It's nice to see someone trying to take the time to really take care of them.

Hi M.!

I am a home schooling mom who has home schooled her kids since 1997. I can't take a lot of time this morning to answer all of your questions except to say that every family's home school schedule looks different. And, every family has to adjust that schedule as demands and changes dictate. What I love about home schooling is the flexibility, going on vacations OFF SEASON, taking advantage of the multitude of resources in the community, and the parent child relationship. My daughter has had difficulty reading, so we slowly but surely plug along and she is making progress. This is the beauty of home schooling. It allows the child to naturally learn. Moving into the "formal schooling" years is as natural as the teaching you do now: lots of reading together, playing games, going outside and experiencing life, only with a skill book thrown in here and there. Also, there will be days when the best laid out plans have to be thrown out the window. Guess what? This happens in formal schools too! I used to be a teacher, and sometimes nothing I planned worked. It's o.k. I have friends who are a lot more structured than me, some are more relaxed. Your home school schedule will reflect the needs of your family. My only advice is to see what your husband can do to be a part of this undertaking. Can he teach science? math? history? It would be great to let him find an aread that he particularly loves and he can be in charge of that area. Sometimes, however, that doesn't work with a husband's schedule.

Come to the Homeschooling Forum in April at First Efree Church in WEst County. Lots of info and workshops to take in. Look up home schooling in St. Louis on Google. There's lots of support groups out there.

D. D. - 16 and 13 year olds now attend a private school, 9 year old daughter home schooling 3rd grade.

Check out "So You're Thinking About Homeschooling" by Lisa Welchel. I am planning to home school and this book gave me lots of ideas and the confidence that MY home school doesn't have to be just like anyone else's.

I don't have any advice, but I did want to tell you this... My cousin, who lives in Lawrence and has 3 boys, homeschools them. They are the most respectful, polite, and very social little boys I have ever met. I always ask her to give me tips (I have 2 boys, too) because they are just great kids. I don't know how anyone can say public school is better socially.... where they teach our kids to put condoms on bannanas? No thanks! I applaud those mothers who put so much time and commitment into their children. I wish you nothing but the best!

I have a dear friend who homeschools her son but who isn't a mamasource mama. She shares: "I don't know how typical my day is because with just Jesse to teach/take care of, we are typically done with our lessons in half a day, usually 2-3 hours. If you think she might be interested in exploring curriculum options, k12.com has a very good website that details how it partners with charter schools in certain states like Kansas. I don't know if they presently do in MO or not, but it might be worth checking out. I know first hand that the thought of homeschooling can be overwhelming, but with a strong support system like we've been fortunate enough to find through the Lawrence Virtual School charter program and an excellent, tailored curriculum like k12 offers, it has been a most rewarding experience for both Jesse and myself."

Steff

Hi M.,

I homeschool my 8 year old and run a business from my home. The great thing about homeschooling is that you can do it when it fits your family's schedule. Set aside time when younger siblings are napping and maybe let your husband teach a couple of subjects in the evening. Best of luck!

Hello M.,
I want to encourage you and tell you that you CAN do it! Don't be overwhelmed with what will happen down the road, just start where you are. You will be starting Pre-K or K and thats all about reading to them and learning the basics. I have a 7 yr old daughter(1st grade), a 4 yr old boy and a 2 yr old boy. We'll be starting the 4 yr old next fall with an easy Pre-K curriculum. I started my daughter out at 4 and she LOVED it. Now my son is very excited to do "school" too. My 2 yr old even loves to sit and color while we do school.

As far as schedule, I take full advantage of nap times. We do all the seat work (handwriting, spelling, math, language arts, etc.) in the morning when the boys are playing. Once nap time hits, we do the reading, history, Bible, science, etc. It works for us. Your schedule will change as you go through your year too and find what works with your family. Just be flexible and some days you may not finish everything. You can always read some of your stories at bedtime too.

Some great advice I was told is to have activities for the younger ones set aside for "school" time. Create a bin for each day with new and different toys in each day. This bin only comes out during school time and each day is different toys so they'll be focused on that and not bothering you or older daughter during school time.

So far, I am using Sonlight curriculum which I absolutely LOVE! Everything has been picked out for you and a guide tells you exactly what you need to study each day. I don't have any prep-work which works for me with 3 kids.
Good luck - you can do it!!

Hi M.,

I strongly recommend reading the book Thomas Jefferson Education. There are also many homeschooling resource books at the HSLDA.org website. We started homeschooling a couple years ago and it may not always be easy, but it is very rewarding. My husband and I are both certified public educators. We know well of the "socialization" that goes on in schools. You need not worry about the socialization of your children. They will not be weirdos! There are many studies which prove that homeschooled children are very well adjusted socially. The scheduling is a very personal decision based on what you want your focus to be - ours is religion and music. Another thing that is helpful is to go to a homeschool convention. You can google homeschooling in your state and find out when they are having one. It was extremely helpful to me to hear other's stories and be able to ask questions in person.

You can do it!!

M.