Need Advice About Home Schooling

Hi S.,
I have a 10 year old son and a 7 year old daughter. I don't officially home school my son. We are enrolled in a home-based charter school called TXVA. I love it. We have a teacher that we can call on any time, he attends "study hall" sessions in an online classroom, and once a month we have a field trip. My son's curriculum is mandated by the state so I know exactly what he has to get done, and by what time it needs to be completed. I do have room to teach the lesson differently as long as he learns the objectives of the lesson. He is in Karate and we attend church weekly. Also there are a few kids in the neighborhood so he gets a good amount of social interaction.

My daughter is in 2nd grade and is officially home schooled. I use an online program for her called time4learning. It is an awesome curriculum. It really gets her involved and still allows room for me to teach her too. There are many great curricula out there. I chose time4learning because the cost was unbeatable, and it really looked like it would make learning fun, which it has. I also supplement in areas where she needs more practice, mainly in math. She gets her social interaction from her ballet class, church, and local children.

The biggest challenge I am having this year is keeping them on task. Since they are both here, they are both interested in the other's work. So my son tries to play teacher, and often confuses my daughter or my daughter will make jokes about my son's work. It is a mess sometimes, but I do have confidence that they are learning!

I hope that helps.

S.,

I have homeschooled my children for over 10 years. My oldest graduated in 2007 and is now an honors student in college. My next child will be graduating this May, but she has been dual enrolled in college since last spring (and has already earned 12 college credits). I still have 4 boys I homeschool who range from 6 years old to 15.

I feel that the pros outway the cons which is why I still plug away. You will not have any trouble finding activities for your son to be involved with. Homeschooling is growing at a fast rate each year and more and more opportunities become available.

I would love to answer any specific questions or concerns you might have. I can also recommend more resources to read for additional insight. Feel free to contact me at ____@____.com

Hi S.,

I've homeschooled my children for the last 3 years and have found I absolutely love it. I would checking HSLDA's website for tips about the legal requirements for your state and then perhaps get a book or two from your local library on the subject to give you an idea of all the resources and options available to you. There are MANY homeschool groups available that meet for field trips, coop classes, parties, etc.

The bottom line is, the more educated you are on the topic, the more it will help to cement your resolve to teach or determine that is perhaps not the best option for you. If you feel committed to it, pressure from your family will not dissuade you.

Blessings,
C.

If you find you are a resourceful person and enjoy learning, you will love the journey.
I have three boys: 12, 10, and 4. They have only been homeschooled and have never attended public school. They stay active in a Garland soccer league and with church activities.

I was an elementary teacher prior to staying home with my children. My oldest son is now a 7th grader.

good sites that will give you a wide range of info. to read on homeschooling.
www.welltrainedmind.com
www.hslda.org
www.sonlight.com

visit mardel's and check out their homeschool materials.

We've been homeschooling for several years. I was concerned that I wasn't up to the challenge, but I was more concerned about the public school he would have to attend. It is normal to have some fear. And the family will have something to say, but it is not always what you expect. If you are interacting with your child. Playing with him, reading to him, showing him the world, you have already started homeschooling. So, relax. You're already on your way.

My first bit of advice has to do with educating your extended family. Do your research. Have your reasons firm. Listen to their concerns. It's out of love. I even recruited my family's help. Got my brother to teach chess. My stepmom (who is a middle school teacher) and I exchange websites and materials that we find. I'll add this about socialization (it will come up), it is NOT an issue. I think most people don't even know what they are saying when they bring it up. Do the research.

What we like: Flexibility. Each child learns differently. Each has different strengths and passions and needs. For example, my oldest loves science. He's not so crazy about math. But he realizes that he must have some of it to do the science that he wants. I have a 4-yr-old that is reading now. And I have a 7-year-old that is still struggling with the written word. I can take as many approaches as necessary to meet their needs. That flexibility also extends to time. If you need to take some time off in the middle of September, it's OK. If you need to start earlier or later in the day, that's fine, too.
Another thing I like, I have learned to really like my kids. As individuals. As human beings. Of course, we love our children, but I've really gotten to know them as people.

On the down side, it will be more challenging for you to find some time to yourself. Homeschooling is a fairly large commitment. You will spend too much money on curriculum in your first year. You will experience some degree of burnout at some time. You will doubt if you are doing the right thing. Your house will be a mess. All these things are conquerable. After a year or two, you'll find your stride. We joined a homeschool group, which help enormously. I gained much from more experienced homeschoolers.

I hope some of this helped. Homeschooling can be very hard. But it is very rewarding. Good luck.

My children when to church preschool, but once in Kindergarden they have been homeschooled. We have loved it. My child is more advanced than Kids his age. When in preschool he was a little behind to average. One of the advantages are .. we have always gone at his speed. If he gets it the first time we go on, if not we can stay on it until he gets it. He does not wait for other kids to get it, or feel failuar because he does not understand. Our first year we used www.time4learning.com. He did not know 1/2 the alphabet by sight and probably less by sound when we started in August of his Kindergarden year, by February he completed the kindergarden work and started 1st grade. I know he would not have been like that in Public school.

Family and Friend probably will not understand, oncw you show then sucess they will get better. My Mom still asks when will they start school. I just tell her when what we are doing is not working, they will go to public school.

RE: Socializing ... I prefer to control where the influences come from. Church and scouts are better influences. The best advice I recieved about socialzations was ... Would you like your son to learn social skills from a 5 year old or a grown up.

There are lots of resorces available. You are not alone!! Get involved with someone to support you.

Good Luck!!