Hi everyone! My daughters are 8 and 5,my son is 4. We are new to homeschooling and I am so scared that I am doing whats right for my kids. I read up on homeschooling and was all for it, even though everyone in my family was and still are against it. This is the first time that i have joined any homeschool message board or even discussed homeschooling with anyone. I really do not want to go back to public schools, but I want my daughters schooling experience to be enjoyable.
Hi there! You have found a great place to meet other hs moms and they all have so much wisdom to share! I hope you enjoy it! I have 2 kids...ds-11 and dd-9. This is our first year hs and we are loving it. I, too, had alot of times where I felt scared about if I was doing the right thing, but as time goes on and you get more comfortable you will see just how wonderful it is! I still have my days that I worry about it, but, they have become less and less as time goes on. I am more confident all the time! Now, if I can just get my dh to see it they way the kids and I do!! He is still in the "we'll see how it goes" stage and the "we have to keep the same schedule as ps" stage! It's hard to retrain your mind to think of schooling in a more relaxed way! Anway, nice to meet you and hope to hear alot from you!
Welcome to homeschooling and to this site! You'll find lots of friendly supportive people and tons of good information here. My daughters are almost 5 and not-quite-3, so we aren't officially starting to homeschool until September. Where in Texas are you? There is going to be a big homeschool conference in Houston at the Reliant Center in June. My husband and I went to one last year and found it VERY informative and also very fun. Here is some information about it: http://www.sethsa.org/summerconference/2006summerconference.html ~ Marylyn
Hi Mom 2 three, Welcome. I must say that actually making the decision was harder then anything for me. I first contemplated homeschooling when my oldest was in third grade but didn't actually do it until this year when she was in 6th grade. I'd give anything to have those three years of contemplation time back. I waited until it got so bad in school that I had no choice. We've been homeschooling since November and I will say that there are days i am terrified that i'm not doing it right. Whatever "it" is. But when i can sit down with my daughter and talk about our day and she spews fourth volumes of information, I know that we are on the right track. I can't always judge by her written work, I have to talk to her to know for sure that the information is there. That is soooo different from ps that it kinda threw me for a loop. I'm used to judging progress by grades. Read as much as you can on the subject and it will become clear. Also a homeschool group in you area may be helpful. Talking face to face with others who have been there is helpful. Good luck and welcome!
thanks Thanks everyone ! Just hearing others saying that it will get easier helps. Also does anyone use switched on schoolhouse or have a better alternative. I thought this program was going to be so food but I'm not so sure now
sos I used sos in 6th grade with my daughter. It didn't work for us. Way too much reading and in all subjects. OH MY! I use different things for each subject not one whole group. Lorna
welcome glad u could join us. yes there is always going to be someone who don't like what you do. But, hang in there u know what is best for your family. I have a friend in our homeschool group who loves SOS and says her children love it. But, then again everyone is different. So, look around there's alot out there. Join a homeschool in the area and start checking out field trips and things to do with them. Check your local library for homeschool groups if you can't find them. Check the library for programs too they do alot for homeschooler any way ours do. I wish you and your family the best.
Welcome, welcome! You'll love this site, lots of great advice and great ladies! This is my 4th yr hsing my children.
Check out the book Creative Home Schooling by Lisa Rivero for lots of curriculum ideas. We started homeschooling for a year trial and are now in our second year. The family is slowing coming around - even if some still quietly think we're nuts! Marti
Welcome! I hs my dd,9 and ds,5 and we've been at it for 3 yrs now. I love it and question why I ever decided to try school. DD went to private prek and k and then withdrew due to the costly price of tuition. We've hs ever since!
:lol: I use sos for my 7th grader and love it! Your right there is A LOT of reading, but still less than the public schools make them read. (My 6th grader is in PS and sometimes has about 30 pages to read in two or more subjects every night plus a chapter in a book for AR) I think that reading is very important at this age and so is reading comprehension. I read each lesson with him taking turns reading paragraphs out loud, but for some lessons I read prior and teach the information myself. If I teach the subject than I make sure to look over the lesson questions, quiz and final test to make sure I cover what is important. Sometimes I make up worksheets with questions and vocab activities. To make the lessons less dry, we stop reading after a few paragraphs and talk about what we read and this gives him a chance to ask questions or talk about how the subject matter could relate to everyday life. For science and history, we look ahead a week, and on our library run we try to find videos/dvd's on the subject matter to watch after the lesson but before the quiz. I also have him do some of the projects but sometimes change them so they cover a few of the subjects we are learning. With math, I do not make him do all the lesson questions if I see he understands it (maybe around half), he's quick in math so sometimes I will let him move ahead a few days if he wants. Every morning I also have him do a short writing assignment since SOS is computer based. I think sos is great but requires our involvement for success, sometimes the information can be confusing so while reading it prior to teaching I try to reword it in my notes so he can understand. Hope this helps!
welcome to the homeschoolspot, I have 4 kids, age,5, 6, and twins age 8. We are all here to help you along on your homeschool journey, we all do things a little different, don't worry you'll do just fine. You may want to see if there are any local homeschool support groups in your area that you feel comfortable with. (not all of them are compatable to your style).
Hey there! I am jen I have three kritters, ages 3, 5 and 5. We are relatively new to HS'ing. This place is great! Welcome!
Welcome, I'm also new to this site but loving it so far. We have been homeschooling for 2.5 years. My father-in-law and his family don't agree with what we are doing. But I also don't agree with the way he raised my husband and I don't care what he thinks. Its my child and I will do whats best for him. There are days I wonder what am I doing. But I also lived the life of my son going to ps and that didn't work. Working 2 years behind when in ps back then. Now starting to catch up but we don't worry about that anymore. Theres no need. I feel he has learned more in the 2.5 years I have thought him then the school did in 4.5 years. So my choice will be hs unless someone proves me wrong. I also don't have to worry so much about peer pressure. Or gangs, or someone shooting or stabbing someone. (theres been 1 stabbing and 1 shooting with children ages 15 - 19 here in the last 2 mon.) Its scary. I know all people can't homeschool their kids but I'm soooooo glad I can mine.
