I am new to the thought of "home" schooling but I am almost ready to commit to it for the next school year. My daughter is 7 and in the 2nd grade right now, and we are not satisfied anymore with the public school system and I am ready to teach my child from a more biblical view. Here's one of my obstacles. We own our own business, which is a blessing, so I would have to bring her to work with me and "work" school. Has anyone ever had experience with this? I would love to have the oppurtunity to stay home but that is not possible right now b/c I am the Customer Service Rep, Secretary, and Bookkeeper. The envirnoment at work is somewhat fast paced. The phone rings the majority of the time and I have customers in and out from 7:30 to 5:30 M-F. My daughter would have a desk she could sit at and if I had to, I can put her in my husband's office from time to time for some quiet, but during teaching time, we would be interupted quite often. I really Need some advice on this b/c this is the only thing holding me back.
My oldest is 7 1/2 and in "second grade" this year. I also have a 5 1/2 yo, a 4 yo, and a 1 month old. They are all boys. Trust me when I say that if I can get a whole sentence out to my oldest during "teaching time," it's a miracle. He's had to learn to be primarily self-taught. But you know what? I like it that way. I'm back in college and Lord knows that we aren't really "taught" much by our instructors. It's up to us to read the books, do the research, and learn the material. Being able to self-teach is a life skill that I wish I would have learned sooner (I might not have dropped out of college in the first place).
At the second grade age, you might be surprised how little time you'll need to get it all in each day. A couple of hours, once you've got the hang of it, is most likely all the time needed to complete things each day. You can always create an assignment sheet for her, and go over it the night before so that she knows what she is to be working on. Basically, make the evenings or whatever time you have away from the office your "teaching" time, and have her do the practice and demonstration of knowledge at work. I don't think it will take that long to go over each evening, and you'll soon fall into a groove. Plus lots of reading! Lapbooks might be something to look into, especially if she enjoys any sort of artsy fartsy stuff, cutting and pasting, etc. That would occupy her time a little better, I think, than some of the alternatives. I think second grade is a great time to make that transition, honestly. Much younger than that and a student often needs pretty constant one-on-one time for lessons, and much older and the lessons become difficult enough that more time is needed when a new concept is presented. Especially if she already does well with reading, I really think this is an excellent transition period. Congratulations! You'll find your groove, no worries! Welcome to the club!
I don't see why not..... my kids school in the car while we do all our deliveries and things like that. If we still owned our computer store - I guarantee they would be schooled there.... which is what we were planning to do at one point before I chickened out (I was young and 13 years ago support wasn't there- what can I say <G>?) Will she have other things to occupy her during other times when she is DONE with school? Even a TV with a DVD player and educational DVD's would be great some days.
I would suggest giving her a check list of what you want her to accomplish each day. One idea is to go over her math/language in the evening. Go over with her what she did that day and the lesson for the next day. Write down what assignments you want her to do, and then she will have it when she goes into "work" with you. I would try to give her her "own" workspace there.
woo! I feel much better after reading these replies. I keep seeing the majority of the moms talking about cleaning their house and how to seperate all the fighting amongst the siblings, and while I wish that I was at home instead of at the office answering the phone, I was beginning to feel like i wasn't domestic enough to home school. In my mind, I keep thinking this will take all day like school does, and I am hearing that it doesn't so I think I may be able to pull this off. My husband is very supportive which is a huge help. Thanks so much for the advice. Keep it coming!!
Well, we "workschool"! But I work at home for both jobs. When I have to travel then he stays home with his grandma and does his work on his own. We've been doing "workschool" for years, even when I was in grad school and was gone most of the day. He's now in 7th and things are going great, so it can be done and you can do it!
My 2nd grader is done each day in 1 hour, and then we do reading in the evening....it doesn't take much time. I would focus on the basics for her age, reading, writing and math!!! You'll love it
My main concern would be that 10 hrs a day in that environment could prove to be too much for her. Maybe workschool her but enroll her in a fun after school program she could go to at 3 or so?
You see, the ability to get the education in is not the concern. That won't be a problem at all. But, what will she do the rest of the day? Will she have to sit at her place quietly or will she be able to run and play? I am not sure what it would be like but I would consider what she would do for the 10 hrs a day. That is fine if she can run and play and do all sorts of things during her time she is not doing school. But if she will have to sit quietly at a desk for 10 hrs, I just don't think it is a good idea.
Could some kind of arrangements be made so she is not sitting at a desk all day ? Could she be at work with you part of the time and with someone else some of the time that can let her do active things like playing outside, going for walks, collecting flowers and leaves and looking at bugs when they come out again ?
I agree with what Jackie said. In addition: Remember that homeschooling isn't school at home. It's a whole learning environment. Children do not have to sit at desks to learn! You may want to look up her learning style, so you can plan things that will interest her. She does need her own workspace, but, as mentioned, that doesn't mean a desk , chair and pencil sharpener! If there's any way, she should have an area that has a comfy little couch/chair, a rug to lay on, a little bookcase with books, and a desk too, if you and she would like. My 3 all learned differently, so I had to take that into account. My middle onelearned best walking around and repeating what he was reading, or spelling it out loud. He needed to hear it as well as see it. He's my one that I feel benefitted the most from homeschooling. They wouldn't have allowed him to do that at school, and he would have gotten frustrated and started acting goofy....... SOOOOoo, allow her the freedom to learn the way she learns best--workbooks, hands-on, etc. That may be hard to do at your work, I don't know??? The other point, about what she will do all day was another concern of mine also. I agree that the schooling part is VERY doable, once you get adjusted and settled in. But it's the rest of the day that I'm wondering about as well. I wish you well! It CAN be done. I hope people have solutions for your situation. Homeschooling is a wonderful (though not always fun) experience! We're on our 12th year now, and I wouldn't change it for ANYthing!
Ditto to much of the previous posts! My DH & I have a business, but he also has another full time job, so most of the time, I am the one dealing with things. My son just started second grade, and what we've found works great is to make sure he has a list (I just put it on a sticky note) on the front of his binder listing thngs he needs to get done that he can do independently (math worksheet, spelling practice, science project, stuff like that). He knows that when the phone rings or I have to <whatever>, he can just turn to that and keep getting things done (he is motivated because there are certain toys/games that are off limits until school is finished for the day). Another thought - you may be surprised at what she picks up around the office. There will be all kinds of things she'll learn you won't be expecting. Plus, there are things my son has picked up about running our business that he can actually help with. I was reluctant at first, but he's very serious about our "family" business and wants to make a valid contribution (even tho' he's 7!). Anyway, as long as he can do a good job and I don't think it's too much for a little kid, I let him.
Yup. I used to take our older daughter to work with me - not every day, admittedly, but a couple of times a week. She'd meet everyone in the office, run errands for me (e.g., send a fax, make a copy), as well as complete her school work. I felt it was important for her to know what it means to work in an office, what conference calls are about, the type of work we usually do, how we interact with people, and so on. Everyone in the office was accommodating, and there was never any problem.
Yes you can. If it is important enough you can make it work. Although I do think some outside playtime is pretty important. Maybe an after school program like someone mentioned or a friend whom she could go play with once or twice a week. (or a couple of friends so that you "spread the wealth") a sport might help too...dance class, karate something with kids that gets her moving. Definitely let her help around the office. Making copies and filing. (although you might just have her put the papers in order to file...alphabetizing and why we need it.) Teach her how to take a phone message...and then decide, depending on your business, if it is appropriate for her to answer the phone. If she does well, people will think it is adorable. If not, they will just be annoyed. If she is not actually working on something...pretend she is a toddler remember how you just talk to them to hear yourself. but that is how they learn. so for example: " I need to call mr. wilson at acme, where is his phone number? I don't have it in my rolodex, it is the first listing under Widgets...what do you think dear, how many times do I need mr. wilsons #? should I add him to the rolodex? Here, this is the rolodex card, please add Mr. wilson and his company name and the phone number ...down here at the bottom I put what KIND of company it is and his wife's name and that his daughter is in school at whatever University...that way I can mention his family when I call." Now THAT is an education. for us, and we don't run a business...I seem to talk like this all the time. (and any day with math is a school day...and any day with a field trip sort of experience is a school day...so I count saturdays if we do something interesting.)
I was thinking that very same thing. This environment is too much for me sometimes. That is a really good idea. THank you!
This post made me laugh. My daughter, at this point, comes back to our business after i pick her up from school. She is a little Entrepreneur. She will pick up anything (candy, pieces or wood, whatever) make a big sign and try to get people to buy it for $50. It is so funny. These are all really great solutions. My husband told me that I may be able to stay home one day a week, and maybe go home early some days if its not really busy. When the economy picks up, we may be able to hire an assistant even. Either way, I will make an effort to include her in the family business day-to-day operations. She loves that kind of stuff. But unfortunately there is no where for her to play outside that I would feel safe so I will need to come up with an alternative to that.
