Hi there! My name is Kalista, I'm a part-time student, God-loving, running, crafty mama to 3. B is 4, W is 22 months and A is 5 months. I'm happily married to my best friend, Ryan and we're living a simple and full life! We're Canadian, so B started junior kindergarten this year and that has been really rough on me. I am very unsure about our schooling decisions. I feel lead to homeschool but I am terrified at the same time. School is Mondays, Wednesdays and some Fridays...so we've started homeschooling on the days she's home. Sort of a trial period, you know? So far I love it...but its also way more difficult then I thought it would be. I hope you don't mind me being here while we try this out (I feel kind of like a cheater! haha). I look forward to getting to know you all!!
Welcome! You aren't a cheater at all! I started homeschooling my dd during the summer between K and 1st. I thought I was just catching her up on reading LOL. When she went into 1st, though, she still struggled and we pulled her. Really glad I had a summer trial period first- it made the transition extremely simple. I already knew her learning style, and we were able to work very well together.
Look at it this way...All SAHMs are homeschooling parents up until the government tells them it's time to send the kids to PS to be taught by a stranger in a room full of children the same age as them. Do parents magically become incompetent and incapable of guiding and teaching their children once they reach 4 or 5 years old? Might I suggest googling different homeschooling methods and checking out some books from your library on homeschooling? My favs are anything by John Taylor Gatto, Charlotte Mason, John Holt and The Moores (Better Late than Early) Welcome to the Spot-wonderful people here!
We're Canadian too! We have lots of friends out east who homeschool too. (I'm guessing b/c you have JK). Don't feel like you have to accomplish a ton of things at home to be a good homeschooler. The real meat of things doesn't really start until later. JK is about getting used to school and classroom routines. Take it easy at first. You have to teach your DD to learn from you. Also, she may be tired on those off days, so don't take it personally. Enjoy the process. You'll know when/if it's time to pull her from the classroom. I
Another Canadian here. At 4 years old you really don't need to stress a lot about what to do for homeschooling. Play a lot of games, go on outings, do a lot of crafts...When they're that young academics and sit-down work are not important and can actually impede their natural learning. Only open a workbook when they want too. We're Classical homeschoolers in my house, the most formal style. My daughter does around 6 hours a day of work now but even WE unschooled and delayed academic work until the kids were each around 8 or 9 years old and it hasn't been an issue. I'm also a Canuck! I'm in Nova Scotia.
Hi Another Canuck here. Don't worry about teaching her the 3'r's and having her get it so much as teaching her your teaching style and expectations in the first year. I found when I pulled my DD after JK there were alot of adjustments. The first year was really rough. This is her second year and she is learning, performing, and loving school now. Such a long way in 12 months. Hang in there. And welcome to this forum.
If it's "more difficult" at that age, it's because you've accepted the lie as to what education at that agae means. Your little girl is four years old. She is learning through play at this stage. Playing with letters, numbers, sounds. Education and learning is a natural part of her life. For example, how many times have you walked with the 22 month old between you and your husband, counting to five and swinging him on five? Do you realize that by playing that simple game you're teaching him to rote count? Have you ever had your children help set the table? "Here's a spoon for Mommy, here's one for Daddy, one for you...." as you hand them to her and she puts them at each person's place. And you just had a lesson on one-to-one correspondence. Sorting laundry: "Put your red shirt in that pile...." teaches colors. One thing I love to do at that age is to give the child my grocery list and let her cross it off. "OK, here's the bananas. Can you find the word that starts with letter B and cross it off?" Not only does it teach beginning reading skills, but it gives the child a purpose to keep them occupied while at the store.
