I made my usual Saturday run to Walmart, to get ready for Sunday...and I was stunned...school supplies are out! Does this mean summer is coming to an end? Oh No! My kids...we have so much more to do....and then I remembered....I HOMESCHOOL...I GET MY KIDS ALL YEAR! =)
Last year was my first year to homeschool my kids. I had two girls that currently attended a private christian school, which was fantastic in all areas of life. I did not have one complaint about their school experience. In fact, the opposite...I LOVED IT...THEY LOVED IT!
BUT.... My husband traveled...and was gone 75% of the time. We talked, and prayed for months about taking the kids out for a year and homeschooling them, so that we could travel with him. Finally, last year, we took a huge leap of faith, and brought the girls home. (It was a leap of faith for the girls too...they had a great attitude, even though they knew they would miss their friends!) Brooke was going into 4th grade, and Chelsea 2nd grade!
Choosing curriculum was the scariest and hardest part for me. I chose to go with old faithful, Abeka, for language, spelling, and reading.
The language is a strong workbook based curriculum, which I found to be comforting for the first time mommy! I knew my kids were learning what they needed to learn, and that they could jump into a class room setting at any time. Towards, the end of the year, as I became more familiar with my kids, and more comfortable with being the teacher, I grew tired of the heavy repetitive workbooks. I felt they taught excellent grammar...which is important. I did not feel like they became better writers...which is important to me! I will use this to supplement a writing program...for next year!
The spelling, for my family, was not a match.... 2nd grade was too easy...and 4th grade was too difficult.
Abeka readers are excellent. They are jam packed with wonderful uplifting, encouraging stories!
We used Singapore for math, and I was pleased with the lay out, and impressed with the fact, that both of my kids were challenged the entire year.
History, I used a Homeschool in the Woods Time Travelers. It is a fun, interactive program. I learned that you don't have to do every activity with every lesson...just choose a few..and learn!
Science, we used a variety of good books, and had fun with all sorts of good experiments!
The entire family enjoyed every minute of homeschooling! WE TRULY HAD A BLAST LEARNING! Both of my girls have asked to be taught at home again. I LOVED IT! THEY LOVED IT!
IF YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING.....TRY IT!
IT IS WONDERFUL!
You don't have to commit to life. Just try 1 year. Even 1 precious year home with your kids will be forever rewarding!
I am taking our adventure, one year at a time. I loved school. I am sure my kids will love school. However, I could never have imagined how fantastic homeschooling would be.
Soon, I will be posting about our curriculum for this upcoming year!
Last year was my first year to homeschool my kids. I had two girls that currently attended a private christian school, which was fantastic in all areas of life. I did not have one complaint about their school experience. In fact, the opposite...I LOVED IT...THEY LOVED IT!
BUT.... My husband traveled...and was gone 75% of the time. We talked, and prayed for months about taking the kids out for a year and homeschooling them, so that we could travel with him. Finally, last year, we took a huge leap of faith, and brought the girls home. (It was a leap of faith for the girls too...they had a great attitude, even though they knew they would miss their friends!) Brooke was going into 4th grade, and Chelsea 2nd grade!
Choosing curriculum was the scariest and hardest part for me. I chose to go with old faithful, Abeka, for language, spelling, and reading.
The language is a strong workbook based curriculum, which I found to be comforting for the first time mommy! I knew my kids were learning what they needed to learn, and that they could jump into a class room setting at any time. Towards, the end of the year, as I became more familiar with my kids, and more comfortable with being the teacher, I grew tired of the heavy repetitive workbooks. I felt they taught excellent grammar...which is important. I did not feel like they became better writers...which is important to me! I will use this to supplement a writing program...for next year!
The spelling, for my family, was not a match.... 2nd grade was too easy...and 4th grade was too difficult.
Abeka readers are excellent. They are jam packed with wonderful uplifting, encouraging stories!
We used Singapore for math, and I was pleased with the lay out, and impressed with the fact, that both of my kids were challenged the entire year.
History, I used a Homeschool in the Woods Time Travelers. It is a fun, interactive program. I learned that you don't have to do every activity with every lesson...just choose a few..and learn!
Science, we used a variety of good books, and had fun with all sorts of good experiments!
The entire family enjoyed every minute of homeschooling! WE TRULY HAD A BLAST LEARNING! Both of my girls have asked to be taught at home again. I LOVED IT! THEY LOVED IT!
IF YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING.....TRY IT!
IT IS WONDERFUL!
You don't have to commit to life. Just try 1 year. Even 1 precious year home with your kids will be forever rewarding!
I am taking our adventure, one year at a time. I loved school. I am sure my kids will love school. However, I could never have imagined how fantastic homeschooling would be.
Soon, I will be posting about our curriculum for this upcoming year!
8 comments:
I'm glad that it was such a wonderful experience for you!
So neat to hear your story. How wonderful that you all get to be together, and that you are enjoying learning together!
Super fun! Any of my friends that consider homeschooling, I'm sending to this post, so awesome! I did Abeka as a kid when I was homeschooled and it IS a great curriculum.
You're amazing. There was no doubt in my mind that you would excel at homeschooling!
I have thought about homeschooling but I have never taken the plunge to do so. I am so glad your family had such a postiive experience.
I knew you would do great and so would your children. You are an example for us all. Love you.
The traveling issue is my main motivation for considering homeschool. We're going with our (excellent) local public school for Emma's kindergarten this fall, and Johnny gets special ed services through our town preschool, but I would LOVE to take a year off school to make for a more flexible schedule - and more time together as a family at home! We are LOVING our summertime, with no drop-offs and pick-ups to worry about!
I look forward to seeing all your homeschool adventures!!!! I LOVE SCHOOL supply time.... Stocking up on 20 cent glue is my fave thing to do!!!! I think when all your kids are grown you should be a teacher... You would make the most magnificent teacher ever!
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