This seems to be the time of year that people decide to pull their children out of school. Have you noticed that? Some people decide not to put their kids in school in September. But another group decide to not send their children back to school after the holiday break. So I thought that I would write a bit this week about being new to homeschooling. When we first make that decision to pull our children, I think the first thing we feel is a great sense of relief. It's over. The decision is made. Then we start thinking, "Oh, No, What have I gotten myself into?" It can be a very scary place to be. But it will be okay. The first thing you need to do is relax. Take a few deep breathes. Now go turn on your computer and do a yahoo search for homeschool in your state. I'm sure you will find several links to groups in your area. Read about each group and join all of the ones that sound like they would be a good fit for you. Once you have a joined a few local groups, start attending events in your area. Then check out the museums, art centers, historical places and environmental centers in your area. Ask if they have homeschool classes. Start signing up for some fun ones. You will want to take some time to deschool so only attend fun events for the first little while. Park days, bowling, game nights. These are all fun ways for you and your children to meet other homeschool families. After a while, you will want to start taking classes that have some educational value to them.
The next thing you want to do is make sure your library card is valid. Get a card for each of your children. Introduce yourself to the children's librarian at your local library. Let her know that you will be homeschooling. She will become your best friend very quickly.
Look at the ways your children like to learn. Do they like computer games? Or do they like reading books more? Maybe they would rather be actually doing things instead of learning them out of books. This is how you can narrow down your choices of curriculum. Also look at what works best for you. Do you want to spend the time researching everything and teaching like a school teacher standing in front of the classroom? Or do you want a curriculum that is all spelled out for you?
We love the curriculum that we have chosen. Time4Learning is all laid out for me. All I have to do is turn on the computer, log in, and let him start working. Some kids would be able to sit down and do their work by themselves. Unfortunately, my son has the world's shortest attention span. So I have to sit with him to keep him focused on his work. But the cartoon like characters keep his attention pretty well. I've also heard that they are having a get acquainted sale, only $4.99 for the first month. If you try it and don't like it, you just quit. No contracts, nothing.
If you're one of those who have just decided to pull your children out of school, welcome to the wonderful world of homeschooling.
Be Kind To Yourself
5 days ago
I do our group's email newsletter, and the local library has my name and number. Usually the week before Christmas I start getting a lot of calls from moms who are planning to pull the children out at semester.
ReplyDeleteI think that often they made it to the end of the previous school year thinking that it (public school) isn't working, but then over the summer break they start thinking that they'll give it, "One more try" - that maybe a different teacher, different routine, etc. will make a difference. Then school starts and they find themselves back in the same situation.
Another common thread I've found is that there has been some incident - some last straw - to the parents pulling the child out of school. So the calls that I get are usually from people who are hurt and upset, along with scared. They seem to be more trying to get away from the perceived bad of the situation they are in, as opposed to just really wanting the good of homeschooling. They seem to approach it as more a last ditch option, instead of seeing it as a great choice and opportunity.
Anyway, that has been my personal experience. It certainly is not true of everyone, but I have found it to occur often in parents pulling them out mid-year.
Great suggestions!
ReplyDeleteIf your local group has a lending library of curriculum, or a used curriculum sale, those are good ways to go get a feel for what is out there, too.
I totally agree Paula. Many people think they can make it one more year and then by this time of year something has happened again and they want their kids out now. This is the way it was with my daughter. She had been homeschooling but when she moved to a state with more restrictions she though she would try public school again. By Winter break, she had had it with going to the principal over and over and nothing was done about the bullying. She never sent her kids back after the holiday break. That's part of the reason I wrote this post. I know there will be so many kids not going back to school in January.
ReplyDeleteI am always by the numbers of people who homeschool--when I first started talking about homeschooling my kids when they were teeny tiny, everyone freaked...no one homeschooled...except my aunt, who is the very reason why people freak when they hear the word homeschooling, but that's another story. Patience and confidence in the fact that you are doing the best thing for your children is what it takes to prevail. Sometimes it seems like such hard work...but in the long run, the results are so worth it.
ReplyDeleteTabitha the KnittingJourneyman
http://theknittingjourneymanrefitted.wordpress.com/
P/S I absolutely LOVE the name of your blog!
Hi, FairyLover! We pulled Elf out four years ago in mid-November. Another mom I know just pulled her son about a month ago as well. Things get worse and worse and then you have to make a decision... or in my case... convert the husband.
ReplyDeleteI hope many newbies googling "homeschooling" and looking for answers come across this post. :)