We decided to homeschool because.......
All the girls were born premature, each earlier than the one before, it took them awhile to learn what most children picked up earlier. Although they weren't majorly behind, I would work with them constantly in helping build up skills. When they started speaking I noticed major speech difficulties and hired a speech pathologist to come into the home to help me with them. I learned skills to help them learn and move slowly with them at their pace. I guess something just clicked with me about them moving at their pace. I wanted the girls to be able to move at their pace. Whether that was a faster pace or a slower one.
Pros for homeschooling
1) One-on-One interaction
2) Customized Curriculum that complements our faith or values
3) More opportunities for character building
4) More Spontaneity - Field trips anytime!
5) Less Peer Pressure
Did you question yourself?
Yes, I had concerns, but in our situation it just seemed to start to feel very natural. I also had the opportunity to watch my mother-in-law homeschool and it was great to watch the kids excel in subjects they loved and they weren't held back by school walls. When they loved something, they would study it, go to an area to explore it, and grasp it like I had never seen in a public school setting. My mother-in-law homeschooling helped me understand what homeschooling was all about. She has been such an encouragement from day 1.
How long have you and your family been homeschooling?
We formally began homeschooling in 2007 when we took my oldest out of a small preschool she had been attending.
How do you homeschool three girls in different grades?
We all school together. The girls do have separate lessons that I help one-on-one with. We do science experiments, history and art lessons together. Of course, My oldest may be writing a paragraph for English about what we learned. My middle girl may be writing a sentence. My youngest maybe will learn about a letter of the alphabet to go along with the subject. One child may be on the computer working, while one is at the table working on something else. Most important thing, is we have found a way to make it work.
Are you going to homeschool through high-school?
At this time, we are uncertain. I would love to say yes, but I feel it is to early to be able to honestly answer that question. We will wait and see where our journey takes us.
I've decided to homeschool next year and I have no idea where to start. Where do I start?
First, check the requirements for homeschooling in your state. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, however every state has different requirements.
Second, learn about curriculum and about homeschooling styles that will benefit your family.
Second, learn about curriculum and about homeschooling styles that will benefit your family.
Third, talk with other homeschooling families to get more info.
How do you plan for your homeschooling year?
First, we do research to decide what curriculum will work for our girls.
Second, we create a schedule and we try to stay flexible with our schedule.
Lastly, We keep it simple! We don't try to do too much all at once.
Here is an excellent site for planning your homeschool year