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Homeschooler
I know when we did our first year of "real" school, I was overwhelmed. Some suggestions to helping with your transition from school to home; allow some "deprogram" time. That is for all of you. Your going to have to judge your child's stress to coming home in a few weeks.. not today. Start laying out what you expect, and get with other homeschoolers for support. Homschooling can fast go from exciting to overwhelming to flat out no FUN! if you are not supported outside the house. After four years with 9 pre-schoolers... I didn't care if I ever saw another Blue's Clues episode again! Inform yourself to prevent burnout. :-)
Don't feel like you have to go buy "school" right now. There is learning all around. That said, if there is a program out there that makes it easiest for the first timer, Sunlight has my vote hands down. For your son's age Brandy, I would HIGHLY recommend starting with their 3rd grade level. I used 3rd and 1st at the same time (I know when you get on their website, they will say you can pick one grade and customize the math and science, but I had children just too far apart in interest levels to see that working.) The core to Sunlight is history... and your english, social studies, and life exposures centralize there. Then you have science, math and spelling for each child's individual level. Plus religion, if you like.
The biggest hit with Sunlight is the fact every morning, you open up your teachers manual.. and your off! It took me literally one day to get into a grove, and i was doing two full curriculums five days a week. We got more accomplished in 18 weeks with Sunlight then my friends children that spent an entire year in "formal" school.
There are resources, support and tons of information available. Illinois has very few "rules" and if you ask if you have to tell them your homeschooling, your district will tell you yes. You don't have to. The National Homschool Association will gladly help get you under their wing, I understand their purpose, but if you know any of the laws, you are protected regardless.
Anyway, best of luck to you. We are just about neighbors, feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.
Daina aka Wingless
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