This is something I have been giving a lot of thought for a long while. I started to think about it when my daughter was in pre-school and she was about to start Kindergarten.. I toyed with the idea..Even debating on if I would even be able to or not.. I thought.. "could I do this?" At times I would think.. "No, don't even get started.. you will be in way over your head.." It wasn't until my daughter actually started in Public school in Kindergarten (which keep in mind this is just recently.. since she is 5 and will be 6 on the 19th of Feb.)I started to reproach the subject about homeschooling again.. I started to do research..Asking questions to people who have already been homeschooling. The thought entered my mind.."What if I do start this.?. Where would I even begin?..How would I know what to do..? How would I know I am doing things right..?"
Well, I found a form of a group of ladies from all over that helped me out greatly.. and answered all the questions I had..Sent me to websites for my state. Read all the requirements I would need to do in order to have this all work out.. I felt a lot better about things now that I knew what I had to do..And.. How to get things started.
I did talk to my daughter (and try to explain it in a way she would understand what I was asking her) I asked her how she would feel if we would do school at home.. and explained to her that she would not be in a big class room with other kids.. or have to go to big school.. and told her if we had school at home that it would just be me and her. She shook her head and said she would like that..
How I made up my mind and made my final decision to homeschool..
I started to see how my daughter was coming home telling me things.. that I know she didn't hear at home..(for example she came home one day and told me "mommy, let's touch tongues..") I know that is something she didn't hear or see at home. Another reason is.. I know she was not happy.. She would wake up in the morning and ask if she had school today.. and I told her yes..and she would say.."oh, dang it".. or something along that line.. Her homework was also getting fairly easy for her.. There was no challenge,really. Also..at some points there are some weak points where she would need a little more help then others..and the teacher is not able to just sit one on one with her to explain it to her. Where we live the school district is not the greatest..However, I would have made this choice regardless of the school.
Homeschool is not just a cup of tea.. and you can just have school on the days you want..Umm, No.. there is a little more to the picture then just freedom ..I looked up the state requirements for where we live (in North Carolina to be exact) IF you homeschool, you may start at anytime of year you want. (if you pull them out of school in the middle of public school, like we did I would just say go until May or June until the school year is technically over for the summer for public school) For our us here in NC (this is how it or near to it in any state) you have to have "school" 9 calender months (equivalent to 180 days) Some may choose the traditional school year calender from say August to May/June depending on starting date.. and some may choose to follow the year-around calender school year.. Which totals the same amount of 180 days.. That's just up to you what you want to do.. You may homeschool at any age. But once the child turns 7 years old they have to be registered with the state.. and you have to come up with a school name (the name of your homeschool) and let them know your address.. your name.. and the name of your child of the age of 7 and older. Like right now I will not have to do this until Jan. 19th 2012.. That will be a month (30 days) before she turns 7. Once they are 7 (keep in mind this may vary by state.. I am just giving you info on my state) they will have to be tested by the state to make sure they are "up to par" on their grade level..and to make sure they are learning what they need to ..
Phew..that was a mouth full.. but something very important to know..
We only just started homeschooling, but since we started I have already started to notice a big difference in my daughters attitude. She is a lot happier. We are actually working on 1st grade curriculum.."What.. a kindergarten student already working on 1st grade level work.. wouldn't that be to hard for her..?" Actually, No.. Unless if she is showing signs of struggling or she is just not getting it ..Which then we wouldn't be working on it already..However, She is doing wonderfully with it.. Her mind in like a sponge. She is learning things I know she wouldn't be learning yet in public school..So in a way she is already above grade level..I say.. if she is doing stuff she already knows.. and not challenging her mind then what good it that? Time to move on..You don't have to be a genius or even a college grad. to teach your child on your own (some states might require you to be a college grad. to be able to homeschool..but that depends on the state you live in.. for this state you only need is a high school diploma/GED.)
Our day in a nut shell..
I usually wake up before my daughter does.. I use the time before I go wake her up to go down and watch TV.. get on Facebook.. etc.. At 8:15 I go in to the kitchen and make my daughter's breakfast..Usually by that time she is already awake. Then she goes down and eats her break fast.. By 8:30 am we begin our school day.We begin with her weekly sight words. I have her write them and find the vowel in each one. After that we work in her hand writing book.. Once she finishes that I have her work in her work book..(see photo below)
This book has all 5 subjects she needs
Once she gets through her sight words, hand writing, and all 5 subjects in her work book it is nearly 11:00am.. So you can see.. It's not just work for 30 minutes and your done..There is work they have to get done..Just like if they would be in a public school.. Once we are done with school we able to have lunch together..and we work on dishes, laundry or whatever needs to be done..(you got to have time for the not so fun things too.. ;) )
Fun facts about Homeschooling:
- You set your own schedule what works best for you.
- You don't have to send them away to a school and have no idea what goes on in school..and if they are being honest about what goes on.
- Your child gets one on one time(which is good especially if they do not learn the same as other kids do.
- Every day can be a PJ day if you feel like it (most of our days are)
- Take a family vacation on a "off season" (when it's cheaper to go)
- If you move you don't have to worry about all the paper work and "up rooting" them from their school work.
- They don't have to miss school if there is a "snow day"
- You can take week breaks if you want..If you have something else going on(such as family coming to visit.. having a baby..they get the flu.. or just want to take a break) you can do so with out waiting for a "school assigned break" or summer.. Just keep in mind though.. It is good to take breaks every once in a while.. but just remember they do need to have 180 days of school and unless if you want to do school during summer you need to not take to many breaks..;)
Homeschool is not for everyone..But if you have been thinking about it.. and know you want to do it.. but not sure if you can.. I hope now since you've read all this you might be able to make your chose a little easier :) And I also hope that if you might have been close minded on the subject of homeschooling and didn't think it was such a great idea..I hope it helped shine some light on it for you to realize its not such a bad thing to be different..
Well Thanks for reading.. and I hope to get some feedback.. You are welcome to leave suggestion,support, encouragement..etc..As long as its nice..:)
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