How exciting!! Here are a couple of books that helped us a LOT when we started thinking about homeschooling... Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling: http://www.home-school.com/catalog/pages/mpguide.php3 We checked this out of the library and it was fantastic! It starts at the very beginning - why people homeschool, what homeschooling "looks" like, which kinds of kids (and moms!) do best with which kinds of curriculum, etc etc.. If you can't find it at your library with this title, look for The Big Book of Home Learning, Volume 1. It's the older edition of the same book. Mary Pride also has a website: http://www.home-school.com/ I haven't hung out a lot on the website, so I don't know if it is as helpful as her book. Cathy Duffy wrote 100 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing The Right Curriculum And Approach For Your Child's Learning Style. We bought it at a Half-Price Books, but you could check at your library for it, too. It goes through a long list of curricula and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each of them. There are SO many curricula out there, and sorting them out gets very confusing and overwhelming! She talks about whole "box" curriculum programs, which include practically everything you need for the whole year; as well as individual products (different math curricula, or language arts, or whatever), so it's helpful whether you want to go with just one company's stuff or mix and match. I think most people mix and match to some degree. Cathy Duffy also has a website: http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/ I hope that helps!!
Oh didn't think to tell her some books to look for..lol I love "The Homeschooling Handbook" by Mary Griffith. "The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas" by Linda Dobson is one I just added and wish now I would have known about it and bought it much much earlier!! When my oldest was a baby, and I first looked into homeschooling I think I read a dummies book for homeschooling, and also a Homeschooling on a Shoestring book. Home Learning Year by Year is also supposed to be good.
I just wondered what your laws are like in IL. Here in PA it is a bit harsh, but totally worth the flaming hoops they make us jump through.
That's great that she's so eager! I hope you're able to figure out a way to start earlier vs. later. I had planned to homeschool before my kids were even born. When Rachel turned 5, I was pg with Alyssa, and freaked out a little thinking I "wouldn't have the time" to homeschool, and put her in ps K for just the year with the intention of going back to hs'ing after. Well, that was a BIG mistake! Rachel would BEG me each morning to go back to hs'ing and that she hated ps. So, like your DSD, it was easy since they both sound to have the same eagerness. After I had already made the decision to send her to school, someone on another board said, "even a little bit of school work with Rachel in between caring for a new baby is better than anything she'll get at school." That ended up to be SO TRUE! She pretty much learned ZERO new things. Stuff they were going over was stuff she already learned from me. So, although our situations are different, I bring this up to point out that, yes, hs'ing can be done with limited time available like others here have said. Looking back, I know I could have fit it in somehow with caring for a newborn. It truly broke my heart to see her leave every morning, and I couldn't wait till the end of the year! I would have taken her out earlier, but DH was committed to her finishing the year. In the end, we took her out just 3 weeks before the end of the year. He finally SAW that it just wasn't working out well, and taking her out early was ok too.
A book that I really liked because it showed so many different ways to homeschool was "So You're Thinking About Homeschooling" by Lisa Whelchel....it's a great book, and it helped us a lot!
I may be repeating what's been said but I have a couple of suggestions. Try the $1 for workbooks! She is young enough that you may find something. Ours usually have books up to the 2nd grade level. Also, you initial post about her helping with cooking is an example of what can be done and be considered "school". Math - how many eggs to feed x amount of people, have her count them out. Simple but educational. There is alot of things just in everyday life that can be turned into school. McGraw Hill has a really good homeschool book but I can't remember the name off the top of my head. I know our library carries it. Also, if you have access in your town, hit the yard sales our even try Freecycle. Paperback Swap - www.paperbackswap.com also has books!
Thanks everyone for the great links and books! My DH and I have decided to DO IT! THIS YEAR! You've all helped me so much! I don't even know how to thank you. Except: THANK YOU!!
WTG Mom, your doing an awesome job, think of all she can learn with you in addition to going to PS this last year. Every year I give madison the "choice" of PS or HS and she always tells me she loves doing school in her pj's and at home..and to quote her "I dont want to get up that early mom, they are nuts" LOL so its all good here.. BTW Madison has never been to PS and is 2nd grade this year
Way to go Freespirit. I am so happy for you. Sorry I am chiming in late with my welcome. I really don't have any links to add right now as I am at work and can't look up all of mine. I just wanted to add my congrats to the rest.
