[BrandyHagz]

Due to extenuating circumstances, I may end up home schooling my 4th grader (he’s a third grader now) next year.

What curricula does everyone use?
What advice can you give a new home-schooler?
Do you prefer the “unschooling” method over the traditional method, or vice versa?


I’m doing research now, and was hoping for some feedback from my forum mates.

Thanks in advance =)

[lucyjoy]

Your school district should be able to provide you info on any homeschooling laws in your area. I live in an area with linient laws and I perfer to use unschooling as it illiminates control battles and will increase bonding rather than cause tension.
When I choose to use books, which I do periodically to test information, I get them from CBD.com and pick and choose what areas I want. The hardest part for me is keeping the records required. When I put a child back into school, they wanted all that information and I am much more interested in what my child is learning than in records.

There are also some good computor learning materials and even some online schools. One of my highschoolers uses an online school. I have to others that attend a school 4 hours a week for testing and do their work at home.

There are probably homeschool organizations is your area. The ones around here do a lot. I haven't been involved as I'm usually hameschool for theraputic kids, but I've heard wonderful things about them.

[BrandyHagz]

Lucy,

I think I live pretty close to you...I'm in Illinois, currently in DuPage county, but moving to Dekalb in a few weeks.

From what I understand, the laws in Illinois are pretty easy on homeschoolers...I also understand that you dont have to "advise" anyone that this is taking place...you just do it.

Anyway, I need to call someone on the district level, rather than state level?

[lucyjoy]

I'm in MO. The state can give you the regulations, but my school district gave them to me when I withdrew a child. In MO, you don't have to notify anyone, but they reccomend sending a letter to your school district at the beginning of the year in case someone reports your child as truant. I've been doing this for a while and noone's ever questioned it.

[mina2u]

I think it is a wonderful idea to home school. Especially seeing as how most kids in the foster system have alot of adjustments to make. I'm considering homeschooling once we have children placed with us. I probably will also homeshcool my now youngest along with them. I'm going to use the online program called K-12. My sister in law uses it with 2 of her kids and they are doing great. One of the 2 kids has a few issues she is dealing with. Homeschooling just makes alot of sense. If you are interested in looking up the K-12 program, just go to K-12.com. The children test to see what levels they are at, then the program is set up to meet those levels. They provide all of the materials you will need for each lesson, they also provide you with a computer and internet access...for FREE! Look it up and let me know what you think. I hope I'm not coming on to strong about this online program. I just thought it sounded really good.

[DianeS]

I don't homeschool, but many of my friends do. The advice I've picked up from them is to check in your area and see if there is any kind of homeschool co-op (or group or get-together or meeting or whatever they call it). You'll get lots of ideas from people locally, and they're the best type to call for support when you run into problems.

Some groups do field trips together, some help each other out with particular subjects, some offer ideas for curriculums (some of which are available locally, at the library, or at a discount), some have the legal papers necessary in some areas, etc.

They're often quite useful. You can usually find contact information for them on-line, in free classified newspapers, in a city hall "events" calendar, at the public library, etc.

Good luck!

[mom2jazzygirl]

We're homeschooling. Two are officially in school and 2 are too young at the moment. We're currently in Kentucky but are in the process of moving to another state. Illinois has some of the most lenient homeschool laws in the country. But, I wouldn't contact your local school district for the laws on homeschooling. School districts aren't always staying within the bounds of the law. Instead, I would contact Home School Legal Defense Association www.hslda.org Honestly, I think its well worth having membership as well. They can advise you regarding the law and assist you if you ever encounter problems.

As for school curriculum, we are using Calvert combined with some unschooling. The Calvert doesn't take that long, and the rest of the day is what they want to pursue, with lots of books for reading and lots of activities they want to look into. The oldest is big into space and space travel right now. But, there are lots of options out there, it just depends on what you are looking for.

What are you looking for? Are you looking for a boxed curriculum? Language based? Christian based? Unschooling? Computer format? Unit Studies? There are so many options you really just have to start researching to find what you want.

[BrandyHagz]

Hi,

Thanks for your response!

I’ve looked at hslda’s website, its interesting…I’ll leave it at that =)

I did contact the school administration office, and they sent me a huge packet that outlined the rules, gave information on where to locate curriculum locally, as well as on the web, and information about local support groups and co-ops. But you’re right; I did more research to find out “the truth”.

I’m having a hard time deciding what I want to use for curriculum. I want something “Hands on”…so I was thinking of getting individual subjects, and supplementing them with real world activities, if that makes sense.

I’m looking at Saxon’s Math 54 program; I’ve heard good things about it. I’m also looking at Handwriting Without Tears, cursive and cursive success. I don’t remember the name of the company for the US History and the Science books, but I’m looking at some applied science books, with a lot of experiments, and some US History and World Geography books.

Other than that, we’ll be doing most everything else from books at the library, and projects online.

I’m pretty excited about it…we’ve decided to jump in head first, and pull him out this week…he is having so many problems at school, that he isn’t able to get anything done during class…and he doesn’t need that blow to his self esteem.

Thanks for the advice, feel free to keep it coming! Also, has anyone worked with Saxon Math? Comments?

[mina2u]

What is "unschooling"?

[mom2jazzygirl]

The basic premise of 'unschooling' is that children have a natural desire to learn and will obtain all of the knowledge they need if you encourage and pursue knowledge at their pace.

Personally, I don't practice straight unschooling because I have seen children who are more than happy to leave gaps in their educational experience if its something they aren't interested in. And, I think they need to have those subjects, even if they wouldn't pursue them on their own. But, I've known quite a few families who have wonderful experiences with exactly that premise and without any gaps in their education. But, I do use quite a bit of allowing their delight to lead them after I cover the basics (thus the reason I use Calvert for their core materials).

Hmm, hand's on materials. Timberdoodle is a great company with some really good hands-on science resources. The Elijah Company has lots of options. You can also check Hewitt. Do be aware that Hewitt has some very grevious typos in their elementary school readers though (I recall using their 1st and 2nd grade readers as a nanny and finding some very big mistakes in them). Another option is Five in A Row, which does unit studies based on 20 books in each level. I'm considering their Before Five in a Row materials for my preschooler. I've used Rod and Staff's preschool stuff and I don't think my last child gleaned anything from them. I've heard lots of good reviews for Sonlight. But, personally have no experience (nor desire) in using them. Oh, another great one that I haven't used but have seen in action is Switched on Schoolhouse, which is solely done on the computer.

Honestly, the one curriculum I would issue a caution against is Bob Jones University. The University had a written racism policy until the last Presidentail elections and that racist attitude is in their homeschooling materials.

Another terrific resource (regardless of your religious affiliation) is to go to your local Christian Bookstore. Or, these days you can find good homeschooling sections in any large bookstore. But, I still think the resources available in Christian bookstores are still better, mostly because the modern homeschooling movement grew and flourished in the Christian communities long before it hit mainstream.

There are lots of things you can find free or cheap, especially online. Just review it yourself and make sure you think it will work well for your child. Also, there is a series of books that tell you what knowledge a child should have at the end of each grade level. You can always buy those as a guide to make sure you are covering everything if you are concerned.

[Nicky70]

I work for a school district and am involved in the homeschool areas.

Many of the parents here love to use "online schools". Some of the schools loan a computer, pay for the internet, give all materials from text books to modeling clay. There are many of them about, just takes time searching for the right one for you.

Also, I know it varies from school district to school district, but some of our homeschool students come to their neighborhood school for band, track etc. It might be worth asking if it's something you fell that you want to do.

Nicky

[browntap]

I'm just starting to homeschool our 5 yo and 3 yo (started the beginning of January). Already our 5 yo has learned to read short simple words!! I am not currently using any curriculum other than workbooks I have picked up (we wanted to see how well it worked during the preschool years before we spent a lot on the curriculum). In the fall we will either purchase Sonlight or Alpha Omega. I have friends that use them and love them. I know Sonlight also has handwriting without tears and saxon math. I have heard that singapore math is very good also. Good luck and let us know what you choose!

Tammi

[Wingless]

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

[amom4life]

I've been homeschooling for almost 10 years now and I love it!

We use a variety of curriculum sources including Saxxon Math, Veritas Press, Rod & Staff, Christian Liberty Academy. We put our own program together picking and choosing what we feel is the best and tailor it to our children's needs.

I'm also very impressed with the Shurley English program that we got through Varitas Press.

The Homeschool Legal Defense is a good thing to hook up with just in case. I have several friends who homeschool also and none of us has ever had to use their services yet, but you never know.
Judy

[ddhuab]

I just wanted to thank you for starting this thread! We don't even have our kids yet, but dh has expressed he would prefer us to homeschool, or at least be open to it, especially if we have more than one child.

It is cool to know there are so many resources available to help with curriculum development.

Good luck to you, Brandy!

D.