Blessings From Home

How did you introduce homeschooling to your kids and family?

With all this talk of homeschooling on my mind, I thought I would ask you all first...how did you tell your family about your decision to homeschool and second what were some of the ways you introduced homeschooling to your children? Did you just say, ok kids tomorrow, I'm going to start teaching you or did you just sort of ease into it? Also what were some things you did to prepare for homeschooling? I know curriculum is up there at the top but after that what did you all do? Did you make a schedule? Did you set up a special area in your home to homeschool? Thanks for any advice!

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{ 01:31, Friday, May 18, 2007 } { Posted by GoofyMamma }

You know what I did? I spent a lot of time in prayer and reading on the subject. There are wonderful books out there "about" homeschooling and a lot of them have chapters that talk about how do tell the neighbors how to tell the family and stuff like that.
I found a friend that homeschooled and borrowed her books and got some from the library. But other than that I jumped in with both feet and though I'm not a veteran homeschooler I've been doing it for 4 years now and it changes from year to year. You need to be flexibel to your kids needs and their teaching styles. Everyone is different. As far as telling your kids that they won't have to leave home anymore to get educated, well I think they will be thrilled lol. Especially if the home environment is one that is loving and fun and relaxed. The big thing is is don't stress out over it. I used to and it got me no where. Like I said read about it, pray about it, because ultimately you have to do what's right for your kids. What works for me may not work for you and so on. I admire your willingness to do it and may God bless you in your efforts. Oh and remember there will be good days and there will be bad days but I've heard it once said that a bad day at homeschooling is better than a good day at public school lol.

Kim

how?

{ 01:32, Friday, May 18, 2007 } { Posted by amogk }

i looked into the homeschool community where we live. usually even the most remote rural areas have SOMETHING and we just 'crashed with permission' a few park days/fieldtrips/4H meetings.....etc....so my kids could meet other families.....I did this all without ever mentioning 'homeschooling'. We just started socializing and immediately my kids were telling ME that their new friends were SO lucky because their mom teaches them at home! within a week they were begging to be homeschooled.
as far as extended family.....well, i am very lucky. our family is supportive almost to a fault (lol) no matter what one of us ventures into...so i am of no help there, i just started and when someone noticed the kids home all the time i kind of off handed just said " oh yeah, we started home schooling and it is going so well!" and that was it. GOOD LUCK & MOSTLY HAVE FUN!

Edited by amogk on Friday, May 18, 2007 at 02:34

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{ 02:01, Friday, May 18, 2007 } { Posted by countrydreamn }

I would suggest you pray about it, hook up with the local homeschool group or groups, look in to any state group. I would also look into HSLDA so that you know what you need for your state.

I was looking into homeschooling when our oldest with still inside of me. LOL! I just knew that was what we were going to do.

My Mom & S.Dad, and In Laws are cool with it. My Dad & S.Mom-will dig anytime that they can for me to put them into school.

Couple good books, Lisa Whelchel(I know I spelled that wrong) So you're thinking about homeschooling, I also liked this one, which I am still reading through Homeschooling by heart by Kristina Sabalis Krulikas-it has worksheets, and Q&A sections to really make you think about why you are or want to homeschool. It has been really good, so far.

Blessings,
Debi

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{ 03:08, Friday, May 18, 2007 } { Posted by gokings13 }

***how did you tell your family about your decision to homeschool and second what were some of the ways you introduced homeschooling to your children?***
WE, as a family, my dh and my 3 kids, prayed about home education every single day for one school year. The children and I prayed together, out loud every day from August through May. My dh and I prayed out loud with the kids at home. The kids prayed themselves.
When God answered, we told our family plain and simple. We are home schooling. With my very 'strong' personality, everyone knew talking BEHIND my back was a better idea!! HA HA. Seriously, my family knows, that when it comes to my kids I will sit nicely and listen to their advice a couple of times, but after I have explained that we are doing it "this way" they better not push it.

***Did you just say, ok kids tomorrow, I'm going to start teaching you or did you just sort of ease into it?***
We knew at the end of the school year that we would be home schooling the following year. We are very much a school at home family (structure wise) so there was not a huge adjustment for them. This was very natural for the kids....no one wigged out at all!! BUT we prayed together for a year prior to it.

***Also what were some things you did to prepare for homeschooling?***
Um, we prayed for one year. I contacted the local co-ops (which ended up not being for us), We prayed for God's Voice. I went to the homeschool convention in my state.We Prayed for God's Lead. I talked with people who home schooled. We Prayed for Gods Hand to be on us. I contacted Home School Legal Defense. www.HSLDA.com

****I know curriculum is up there at the top but after that what did you all do?****
The Lord lead us to Christian Liberty Academy. It is a full course called CLASS. www.homeschools.org
We did this full program the first 2 years and have been on our own for the last 2 years and will remain that way until God speaks otherwise.

***Did you make a schedule?***
OOOOH Yes. God is not the Author of confusion. He created the Earth and all things, and creatures on it in a very ordered and organized way. The Class Lesson Planner is what we use. It is amazing.

*****Did you set up a special area in your home to homeschool? Thanks for any advice!******

Nope. We used the kitchen table. Now, as we have progressed, we can 'school' anywhere. Outside, inside, in the car, in a hotel, in our PJ's, where ever. We are very much a family who does 95% of their school work independently. 90% of the time the children help one another work out whatever they are stuck on.

I can not say to you in strong enough language, how important Prayer is here. It has to be your foundation to your school, or your school will blow away with the first strong wind.
You and your dh have to be of one accord. Once this is the case, and God has given you the green light..........don't let any man's opinion sway you any other direction.
This is for the Glory of God!!
Laura

Thoughts

{ 08:15, Friday, May 18, 2007 } { Posted by Jonash2004 }

How did you tell your family about your decision to homeschool - my husband is very blunt, LOL! And his older sister is a school teacher, so it makes for some interesting discussions. :) Our oldest is 14mo, but dh is 100% behind HS so I just stand behind him. It's something I was willing to approach later, but he's pretty forthright. And I was homeschooled K-12, so it was bound to come up in conversation!

Second what were some of the ways you introduced homeschooling to your children? I can remember my mom asking me if I wanted to get on a yellow school bus to go to school with other kids when I was five.

I think that a lot of prayer does need to go into this choice.

Also remember that it's hard for a child to picture something different - I think that's why asking me if I wanted to venture off into the unknown worked at the tender age of five. In the same way, you want your children to understand they won't see their friends every day, BUT getting your children excited about HS, then saying too many things like "Now, remember, you won't see Billy every day" or "No more riding the school bus" can make a child really doubtful if they made the right choice. Does that make sense?

Frankly I would ease into it over the summer, if possible. Stuff like going to the library to read up on leaves or sitting down around the table for a Bible lesson without necessarily calling it school. But it sets the tone; it lets you be the teacher and places your children in the position to learn under you without the pressures of "trying to do school".

When my mom started homeschooling me & my brother, we had desks. There was never enough desktop, and the table was much better. Desks are tempting (there are cheap ones at Goodwill) but remembering my own experiences, I'll go with the kitchen table!

There are times when you just need time to work, and mom was always free to do dishes or cook something or whatever.

Schedules . . . what I hope to try is to "schedule" things so that if utterly possible, I set realistic goals. This is very important to me, because it wasn't done for me growing up. I'd like to schedule our lessons as though we're only doing class 4 days a week and then do 5, and be able to randomly take off a day here or there, and also allow for the 3 weeks of vacation dh will get during the school year. (My mom never allowed for Christmas vacation and with my dad off we could never do school those weeks so we were always behind at the first of the year.)

I was in CLASS the last three years of highschool - I enjoyed it. For younger grades, it's a bit too 'scheduled' for me. I have friends who I feel like are more 'flexible' than I could ever be! The lovely thing about homeschooling is that you can do what feels right to you and what your children enjoy (or hate the least! LOL).

These are just some of my thoughts. Being a second-generation homeschooler-to-be, of course I think I know it all. (just kidding!) ;)

Praying for you!
Ashley

Edit: One thing I wanted to add. My own father would study Greek root words and expound on them for Bible studies. When dh and I were first married, we tried study guides and just couldn't seem to find a "way" to study the Bible. Finally, about two years into our marrige, we just started reading it. He reads a chapter, I read a chapter, until we're tired. If something dawns on us, we stop and mention it, or we link passages to other passages.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is some people are study guide people, some people get into the Greek meanings, and some people just . . . read the Bible.

I think the same goes for homeschooling. Don't think you *have* to be a "Greek" or a "study guide" or any particular type of homeschooler just because you admire Greeks or such. ;)

Edited by Jonash2004 on Friday, May 18, 2007 at 09:22

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{ 09:04, Friday, May 18, 2007 } { Posted by justme }

You have some good advice.

visit some homeschool families even if you don't know them all that well, I did and it was great.

Read up on homeschooling and learning styles.
Get to know your library.

My Mom is for or against homeschooling depending on the day. MIL is against anything I do so she doesn't count.

I sometimes question myself because of how dyslexic I am but by the grace of God all is going well.

This summer get into the teach your kids something everyday at home mode.

My kids are still very young so there wasn't a big change.

PRAY

Lots of good questions...

{ 08:41, Saturday, May 19, 2007 } { Posted by mulberrylane }

1) I don't remember officially announcing homeschooling. Dh and I decided and when asked... we just were honest... Oh, we're homeschooling this year. My Dad thought we were "out there" and still has his quandries about it, but can't budge on the fact that our kids outshine the rest of the family's kids. my mom accepted it. My mil said... it's ok for this year, but I hope you know when to stop.... she since has decided we're doing fine.
2) What did we do the first year? I spent the summer reading every book I could about homeschooling, I scouted every website possible that talked about it... I was homeschool overloaded... but I got alot of background information to get me going. My first "school item" was a schedule to work out for our home... eating times, cleaning times, etc... we got the basics of living together 24 hours every single day down before we cracked a book. After that, I introduced a subject into the day until it became natural to do it... then I would look at adding a second and so on. As a side note it took us up to 6 months to get a full school day in. But we also were dealing with school withdrawal, and we followed the advice of having a month for each year in school and 2 for Kindergarten or high school... (my daughter was in 5th grade... so had been in school K-4.... 5 years, plus a second point for K. So 6 months to allow our child to adjust to this new way of life... it really worked and she went through the stages of grief... disbelief, anger, acceptance, etc. And by about 6 months, she was ready to do school at home... with a cheerful attitude. We tested her at the beginning of her 6th grade year and she tested at 7th grade level and she started out behind in 4th grade. So, taking it slow... doesn't mean learning won't happen... you don't always have to push to get it all in.

Warmly, Melissa