Hi there Moms and Dads, I have been looking into homeschooling my child. She is in 2nd grade and is having a hard time keeping up in class. She knows the work but isn't giving the time she needs to complete the work. When she does complete work she gets 90's and 100's. But the work she doesn't complete she gets a zero on. This is bringing her average down. I feel that with homeschooling she can work on her own time and complete the work. My concerns are about how many hours of work will be giving to my child per day? If I wish to put her back in school the next year, will it be an easy transition? I'm also having a baby in December and would like some tips and how to keep up with the schooling as well as with a new baby? Any helpful tips are very welcomed Thinking of using Calvert School, anyone using this? How as it worked for you and your family? Thank you all :love:
I have a 2nd grader and a 4th grader. We are 6 days from celebrating our 'official' one year anniversary, so I'll see if I can help. For my second grader, I give her about 2hrs of work per day, 4 days a week. On the fifth day, we do art and sci experiments so the day can run shorter or longer. Homeschooling is more condensed with no wasted time, so you can fit a lot in a small time frame. I'm not sure about the transition, since I haven't done that. But I would think if that were your goal you would want to more closely follow what the school will be teaching than what you might do otherwise. Haven't dealt with a baby, either, but the wonderful part of homeschooling is that you can take time off as you need to, as long as you are meeting your state's requirements. A new baby would mean a definite vacation for us We don't use Calvert. I tend to be... very very eclectic. We have textbooks, workbooks, I pull from a lot of internet resources... I don't know anything about that curriculum. We LOVE homeschooling. We originally got started because my dd (then in 1st) wasn't learning anything in ps. Months later, we pulled our son out as well, and have never looked back. Homeschooling has removed an incredible amount of stress from our days we didn't even realize we had. Everything is much more relaxed, our family is much happier, and even my dh (not originally on board) and members of my non-supportive family of origin have commented on how calm my children are. With the exception of having VERY LITTLE time for myself, I can't say enough wonderful things about homeschooling! My advice is to check out what your state laws and requirements are. Our state even has a scope and sequence up (we don't follow that one, but there is one :lol: ).
How many hours depends on what state you're in. Some have certain requirements, some have none. As far as transitioning, Meghan had a good answer. You'll want to stick as close to state curriculum and standards as possible if she will eventually go back. Homeschooling with a new baby can be more stressful, but it can be done. Luckily, new babies sleep alot! School when the baby sleeps. Don't be afraid to do school at weird hours, like in the evening, or on Saturdays. It's your school, you can do it when it's convenient for you! Can't help on Calvert. I've never used it. Good luck, and don't forget, there alot of people here to help when you need it!
Thank you this has all be very helpful I will look up what FL state requirements are with time. I have ask my family and friends what they think about homeschooling and they think it's a bad idea. I feel it would be great and my child will do a lot better. I have been researching and praying a lot on this and what would be best for her. I even talk to my child to see how she would feel about homeschooling. She is liking the idea. I know i can get her in to other activists so she can socialize with kids her age. Dance, swimming, ext. And we are a military family so it will give us more time to do things as a family.
A lot of people (me included before we started homeschooling) really don't know what it's about- and have a hard time imagining doing something so radical.
I started my first year of homeschooling 9 months pregnant. It worked out, even with a newborn. Now I'm on year 2, and we are loving it. My DS had the same problem with not having enough time to finish his work. I don't think he would be a good candidate to go back to public school, because, while he does great on the material, and we cover just as much as PS, he just wouldn't get the attention and guidance that he needs. I don't plan to ever send him back, and I plan on HSing my baby, who just turned 1. Depending on your states requirements, you may have to do a set amount of school a day. My state doesn't have a set requirement, an we generally do 4-5 hours of school, but that includes enrichment classes like guitar, Spanish, and typing. We love being a homeschool family, fwiw!
It's hard for people to imagine what home school will look like, especially if it's not something they have ever thought of doing themselves. PLEASE, please, please don't let their opinions sway your decision. You are the only one who knows what is best for your family as you live it each day. Even the best intentioned family and friends don't see what your child is going through. At first I had resistance as well, but now everyone can see such a difference in my kids and they realize that they are indeed learning and learning more, in depth than their public school peers.
