hi! everyone, just wondering what will be your ONE(of course don't mind, if more...)piece of advice about hs for a newbie like me who's about to begin with the hs journey in nearest future? i have 3dds (10,8,5 in fall 2011). thanks in advance for everyone inputs. good health and happiness!
Get a library card, and buy a family membership to all the local museums and galleries! And the swimming pool. Oh... and possibly the repertory theatre, too, if they play documentaries and science films.
Take it slow. Embrace the lifestyle of having your kids home and learning from all the ree resources around you before thinking you have to dive into curriculum.
Realize you will have to adapt as you go. Something may not work as expected or your schedule may not fit like you had planned or your child may need to go slower or faster than expected.
Relax and realize you've already been teaching your children all thier life, we all have what it takes by instinct. Embrace any new interest you child takes and expand from there, ie mary takes an interest in dolphins, mom and mary pick up a few books on dolphins and on mentions a marine biologist studying dolphins, mary decides she wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up , so mom and mary do research on what shell need to know to be a marine biologist, as she learns she discovers things that make her curious about other things etc.
Remember that just like each child is different in the way they learn, you are different in your needs for teaching as well. Don't worry if you go against the grain of what we all say or suggest. You will know more about what you need. Don't forget that all that glitters is not gold. Look at any family around you and see how much they are not like you. Their kids are different, the marriage is different, the parents have different strengths. My family needs a rigid schedule, with a set curriculum. If not we would never finish anything, and my dh would be very unhappy with us. I am not organized or disciplined enough to do it any other way. Other families have never had a schedule and they do just fine. Also be sure you know your purpose, why are you homeschooling, what are your goals. Because when you have really rotten days ( and yes you will have them, sometimes it is weeks : ) ) You will need to remember why you chose this kind of self torture, and how extremely worth it it is.
Go to a convention or at least a used curriculum sale. I found that is one of the best ways to check over the various curriculums. I would also suggest looking into a HSLDA membership.
I would also suggest an HSLDA membership. Use the everyday activites to teach lessons. When you get frustrated, and you will, remember WHY you are homeschooling. Feel free to stop to regroup if necessary. Enjoy your children.
I was going to also suggest making a physical lists of all the reasons you are homeschooling. You will have days when you question why--or can't even remember why. Break out the list and remind yourself of all the reasons you have to press on.
Know WHY you are doing what you are homeschooling, make a poster or a sign or a letter or a statement whatever of WHY you are homeschooling and keep it where you will see it if you are having a rough day to keep you going!
Write a "letter to me" type of thing telling yourself exactly why you are homeschooling, and what your long term goals are (my most important long term goal is completely simple... make sure that by the time the kids are raised and ready to go out on their own, that they can learn anything they need to... so they need to read, they need to know how to use the resources available in this world, they need to be able to think logically and decide if what they are reading is important or truthful, and they need to be able to process it all in their heads to come out with the outcome they hoped for with what ever they had as a goal when they started the journey. This way I don't ever kick myself saying OMG we never covered Ancient Peru or we never learned how to disect a worm or we never talked about diagraming sentences, or what ever we may miss along the way.) Anyway... a letter, that states your long term goals and what you truely hope to achieve by homeschooling will come in handy when you are ready to throw in the towel. OH!! Also, be prepared to have to slam on the breaks when that one perfect thing you picked out because it was the dream curriculum totally fails you or your kids, and go a totally new direction. Another one! Homeschooling doesn't have to look anything like school, most kids seem to learn best when it doesn't. And one more.. hang in there, the first year is tough, and there are always bumps in the homeschooling road, but it all is worth the payoff in the end.
All of the above, and keep coming to the Spot! These ladies are SO good at encouragement. They have all had bad days, sick days, un-cooperative kids, unsupportive families, etc, and they know how to keep you going! Have fun, get to know your kids, and watch them blossom. Even if you don't ever finish a single textbook, you will never regret this precious time with your kids!
Love everything that has been said so far. I'd like to add: The is no "perfect" curriculum. Some may work for a while, some may not work at all, some may work for one child but not the other. Don't be afraid to order a "boxed" curriculum at first and see what works or not. That said also: Don't be afraid to piece together stuff either. Just b/c you are using ABC for English doesn't mean you can't use XYZ Math and 123 History. (As opposed to ABC Math and History.)
If Bobby isn't learning the same thing that next door Suzy is learning, it's not the end of the world. Really.
And don't be afraid to go shopping at 10am with the whole family...just be prepared to answer *with a smile* the cashier's question regarding whether or not school is out today. Don't worry, they don't really care if you homeschool or not, they just want to be sure they didn't abandon their kids at the bus stop that morning by mistake. :lol:
Don't overwhelm yourself. Take it month by month, week by week. Sometimes you'll see alot of progress. Other times, not so much. Don't put learning in a box, so to speak. Your children will be learning things naturally all day long, not necessarily between the hours of 8 and 3. Your homeschool will be different from public school. Resist the urge to make it 'school at home' by being too rigid. Don't be afraid to change curriculum if something is not working out. Don't feel like you absolutely have to finish what you're working with if its not a good fit.
Haven't read them all, but here's my .02.... Don't compare yourself to ANYONE else doing this. Your homeschool is going to look different. And theirs isn't always better. Be strong! Take the time to ENJOY your kids and the process, and when they're really bucking it - cancel school and go outside! (this one's hard when you have an agenda). Plan your weeks out ahead of time (2 or three at a time) but don't stress out when the schedule gets altered b/c of sickness, busyness or other things. And remember - a bad day at home is far better than a good day at public school.
:lol:Love it! We get "the look" a lot when we go places, but I've only been asked once or twice if school was out that day. You'd be surprised, though, how many kids get dropped off at PS when school's out for teachers' meetings, etc. When I was a teacher, we could always count on having to call a couple of parents on those days.:lol:
