For those of you seasoned homeschooling moms. How do you get started with homeshooling? When do you start your first? Aidan will be 4 1/2 this fall, I'm thinking I will wait to start anything consistent for at least another year. What about you??
There is a great homeschool co-op here, they meet through the school year and you can enroll your kids in Friday School which we would like to do but I think Aidan needs to be a little bit older. Any of you go to that or have similar groups in your area? What is your experience with them? When
Also, Aidan talks about public school a lot, how do you deal with kids who think they really like the idea of public school? I know I did too when I was being homeschooled.
Anyway, just my random thought for the night. Have a wonderful Lord's Day tomorrow!
At 4 1/2 so much of learning is wrapped up in play. There’s no real need to start any formal “schooling” yet. :) You’re lucky to have a homeschool coop near you. Even if you don’t use the coop yet you can still use it to find friends who also homeschool. Having supporting people behind you is great for homeschooling moms.
My oldest son talks about public school a lot lately. I’ve found that he really doesn’t understand what it is. He has this ideas that he’ll go and spend the day running around and playing with the other kids. I just make a point to explain to him what will really happen in school, and point out which of his friends homeschool.
I agree Summer, I think 4 1/2 is too young to start. I’m guess I’m kind of wondering when other mom’s did start their first, and what they started with, maybe a curriculum for kindergarten/1st grade that they found to be a good starting place? I’ve not looked much at the different curriculums out there so I’m just getting ready to get my feet wet in the next couple years.
The Friday school is a great idea, all the classes are taught by the parents, they are I believe mostly extra curricular, cooking, sewing, but also science and other interesting classes. And the classes that are available are based on the talents and gifts of the parents involved which is a pretty neat deal I think.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by Summer! Thank you!
Jen, you are already “Homeschooling”, you are teaching such things as letter recognition, counting, simple math, things that will be valuable tools when you begin formal schooling. More importantly, you are teaching such very valuable things as getting along with others, sharing, how to speak politely, things that will serve them well their whole lives!! I am so proud of you and Chris for your commitment to parenting with love and peace! Keep up the good work!
I love my coop group. While I to believe 4 1/2 is too young, I do think that it is a great time to at least start getting a small routine going where you are at the appointment school spot for 5 minutes to write a name or something, just to start getting him accustomed to that is where we will do school. Other than that lots of games and play.
My sister and my friends both started by teaching their children how to read. They had no other “classes” until the children could read. (Read books to them, worked on color, classes, etc. But basically focused on reading first)
I just started “preschool” with my daughter who is 3 1/2 I think she is ready because she is asking me to teach her. We are starting with basic letters and numbers. She is also attending a christian school preschool for three hours twice a week so I can have some down time during her busy time of day and so she can play with some kids her age and not just bug her big brother.
A veteran homeschhooling momma that is my mentor told me to read a book called “better late then early”. It is about not over pushing your kids and stressing them early and letting them learn at the pace that works best for them.
I think as long as you are giving him answers to questions and helping him spark is natural interests in things you are on the right track. If he wants to know about letters then show him, If he wants to know about bugs then talk about bugs ect.
I think it’s awsome that you are going to homeschool. You go momma!
Emily Brinkley
I would agree with the other comments, in the fact that starting too young is not generally a good thing in home schooling. It sounds to me like you are already teaching your children so much by reading your blog. Just be sure to read to them and teach them stuff around the home, like their colors, shapes, numbers and letters. If it seems like Aidan is interested in coloring, that is a good thing because it will teach him how to hold a crayon, which will make it easier to handle a pencil some day. Playing with building blocks is also a good thing as is any toys that involves eye and hand coordination, which is the beginning of reading.
You are a wonderful mother!
Love in Christ,
Sue
I’m with you Jenni. Will is certainly not ready for a lot of structure and I’m determined to wait until he shows more interest. He’s doing well with coloring and puzzles so we will keep encouraging that and watch for other learning opportunities that interest him. My brother-in-law (youngest of 3) didn’t show interest in school until about 7, then completed grades 1 & half of 2 in one year, the rest of grade 2 and all of 3 in the next year. My in-laws are big home school advocates and supporters and encourage us to wait for readiness. Until then – let them enjoy the simple childhood method of learning – experience!
Jen,
I used to stress about when I should start Sienna on school when she was little, and now I look back and realize I should have just relaxed. By 4 1/2, I think we were putting post its all over the house on things that started with the letter S one day and other letters the other day.
As far as the coop, I have never done that. I wanted to avoid the whole kids the same age classroom type stuff, but as she is older…I may consider something if it checks out ok with my spirit.
OH, and as far as him wanting to go to public school. Sienna totally went through that…but I had to remind myself that I knew what was best for her and tried to explain the plusses of homeschooling to her the best I could. She know tells me how thankful she is to be with me and her sisters everyday!
Just wanted to throw my two bits in about homeschooling – I’ve been homeschooling since my eighth grader this fall was in Kindergarten, but we also have heard the comments, “I want to go to public school.” We have in a very non-judgmental way been able to point out children who can be difficult – the pushy, rude children that my kids can relate to, but don’t really want to invite over. We talk (as a family – not publicly) about homelife and parenting, and our responsibility to raise our children with manners and love for one another as the parents. We also talk about different families and how some families are not healthy or Godly. We discuss public school as a place where we cannot protect the innocence (we’ve already taught that innocence is a gift from God) of our kids if they are exposed to children who’ve lost their innocence – especially if we aren’t there. We are careful, however, not to place blame or judgment, and actually, my kids have responded very well in our small town by building friendships and inviting over kids that have rough homes. But the need to “be in public school” has really diminished as they start to see the problems of the world as it turns it’s back on Jesus. Part of the desire to do public school usually stems from the social need – especially for time with people other than siblings. So we have really enjoyed the local homeschool group and the way our children have been able to form friendship attachments with like-minded families and “help eachother” with school work. I guess this is more than two cents worth, but I hope it encourages you. By the way, I would also wait to school your oldest, though I would focus on reading and phonics as he asks to learn. Our oldest learned to read walking through the parking lot at a Target in Burlington. Sometimes it just happens that all the pieces come together and it clicks. I would just keep putting the pieces in there and when he’s ready, he’ll tell you. God bless you and your great family. Amy (Eldon Kelley’s wife)