My husband is in the military and just got approved for a new job. We are moving next spring and we will be moving 3 times in the next 4 years for his training! We are trying to move to europe after his training, so we have a busy few years coming up! I worry about moving the kids in and out of new schools so often. I plan on doing preschool at home with him once we move from here. We have started to talk about homeschooling after that too.
I have a few friends who homeschool and I know they talked about buying a curriculum. Do most of you make or buy your own curriculum? Do you get guidelines from the state for the grade level like you would in a public school? I know that there's online public schools, how does that all work?
I'm completely new to this, so any information would be helpful!
My mom was a preschool teacher before she passed away and I have her entire curriculum and all her materials. She had lots of fantastic ideas!
I purchase curriculum, but not all from the same supplier. So yes, I "make my own" curriculum (I make my own lesson plans and teach the material myself), but I do use purchased textbooks and other materials.
Homeschool laws vary by state, so that often determines *what* a parent teaches. Some states require a child test at the end of the year, so those topics need to be taught; other states (like mine) do not require testing, they only require that I (in some way) cover certain core subjects (K-7th is math, history, science, and language arts, for example, here). *We* do not follow state guidelines or sequence really; we teach the required subjects (plus more) in our own sequence. That's the beauty of homeschooling - I do not have to rush or hold back my child, just for the sake of a test or state standards.
There are free virtual public schools in many states (K12, Connections, and in some states Calvert is free); I'm not a personal fan, but I know many who do use them happily. The parent is the learning guide, not the teacher, in these schools; the child is assigned a public school teacher, you are given lesson plans, you have to finish checkpoints and bide by their schedule/deadlines, use the materials they dictate, etc. The availability of these programs varies by state and not every state has them - and if you are moving frequently, I'm not sure how that would work, since they are offered on a state level, not a federal level. There may be some kind of exception for military families, but I'm not sure.
I am a Home Schooling, Vaccinating, Non spanking, Nightmare Cuddling, Dessert Giving, Bedtime Kissing, Book Reading, Academic pushing Mother. I believe in the benefit of organized after school activities and nosey, involved parents. I believe in spoiling my children. I believe that I have seen the village and I do not want it raising my child. I believe that my place, as a woman, is in the home caring for my husband and children. My husband is head of our home. Aimee
Quoting AutymsMommy:I purchase curriculum, but not all from the same supplier. So yes, I "make my own" curriculum (I make my own lesson plans and teach the material myself), but I do use purchased textbooks and other materials.
Homeschool laws vary by state, so that often determines *what* a parent teaches. Some states require a child test at the end of the year, so those topics need to be taught; other states (like mine) do not require testing, they only require that I (in some way) cover certain core subjects (K-7th is math, history, science, and language arts, for example, here). *We* do not follow state guidelines or sequence really; we teach the required subjects (plus more) in our own sequence. That's the beauty of homeschooling - I do not have to rush or hold back my child, just for the sake of a test or state standards.
There are free virtual public schools in many states (K12, Connections, and in some states Calvert is free); I'm not a personal fan, but I know many who do use them happily. The parent is the learning guide, not the teacher, in these schools; the child is assigned a public school teacher, you are given lesson plans, you have to finish checkpoints and bide by their schedule/deadlines, use the materials they dictate, etc. The availability of these programs varies by state and not every state has them - and if you are moving frequently, I'm not sure how that would work, since they are offered on a state level, not a federal level. There may be some kind of exception for military families, but I'm not sure.
That makes sense making the curriculum that way. I don't think I'd be interested in an online public school if they are set up that way. It could get confusing moving so much if it's based on the state laws. I wonder how that would all work if we moved to Europe too? We would still be American citizens. Are there any other military wives in here who have already dealt with those kind of things?
hi cassy! welcome!!
your kids are young now so you dont need to worry bout homeschool laws of each state, but i do hear that homeschooling in some places in Europe is illegal, so maybe check the country you wana end up in if your gona continue to homeschool.
your questions!
i make my curr and buy some of it,
no i dont use guidelines from our state, our state doesn't require that i do. each state has a set of different home school laws. and in most states you dont have to tell them you homeschool at least till your child turns 5, some states its 7
well if you want to do the online public school curr, i believe you find the one you want and sign up! some of them cost and some dont!
wow sounds like your all set if your gona do preschool with your moms stuff! you wont have to buy anything!
also know that you dont have to do preschool if you dont want to, its your chose!
Quoting Clh1989:Quoting AutymsMommy:I purchase curriculum, but not all from the same supplier. So yes, I "make my own" curriculum (I make my own lesson plans and teach the material myself), but I do use purchased textbooks and other materials.
Homeschool laws vary by state, so that often determines *what* a parent teaches. Some states require a child test at the end of the year, so those topics need to be taught; other states (like mine) do not require testing, they only require that I (in some way) cover certain core subjects (K-7th is math, history, science, and language arts, for example, here). *We* do not follow state guidelines or sequence really; we teach the required subjects (plus more) in our own sequence. That's the beauty of homeschooling - I do not have to rush or hold back my child, just for the sake of a test or state standards.
There are free virtual public schools in many states (K12, Connections, and in some states Calvert is free); I'm not a personal fan, but I know many who do use them happily. The parent is the learning guide, not the teacher, in these schools; the child is assigned a public school teacher, you are given lesson plans, you have to finish checkpoints and bide by their schedule/deadlines, use the materials they dictate, etc. The availability of these programs varies by state and not every state has them - and if you are moving frequently, I'm not sure how that would work, since they are offered on a state level, not a federal level. There may be some kind of exception for military families, but I'm not sure.
That makes sense making the curriculum that way. I don't think I'd be interested in an online public school if they are set up that way. It could get confusing moving so much if it's based on the state laws. I wonder how that would all work if we moved to Europe too? We would still be American citizens. Are there any other military wives in here who have already dealt with those kind of things?
I *think* that since you are a military family, your right to homeschool is protected, even in European countries that have outlawed home education (but I'm not sure). I'm on another board (The Well Trained Mind forums) that has many military wives; the only problem I've seen with homeschooling in some other countries arise when the family is there outside of military duties (in a civilian capacity maybe). Check out those forums - they are ripe with military families; many of whom are homeschooling in other countries.
Now, all of the virtual academies I mentioned ALSO have the option of buying them privately (you pay tuition then). When using them that way, you are in the driver's seat - you can choose which courses to use and which to not use, you are the teacher, and you can use them anywhere. Calvert seems to be a popular private school for homeschool military families (and they offer a military discount).
I am a Home Schooling, Vaccinating, Non spanking, Nightmare Cuddling, Dessert Giving, Bedtime Kissing, Book Reading, Academic pushing Mother. I believe in the benefit of organized after school activities and nosey, involved parents. I believe in spoiling my children. I believe that I have seen the village and I do not want it raising my child. I believe that my place, as a woman, is in the home caring for my husband and children. My husband is head of our home. Aimee
You could take your moms curriculum and ideas and use them to start off with especially if its something you are familiar with.
Read everything you can about homeschooling. Get familiar with all the different aspects of it. As you homeschool you'll start transitioning those ideas that you think fit into your own thing.
Everyones homeschool adventure is different. Some don't like their school to look anything like ps, others like it to look similiar. It will depend on what you and your family want.
I used to run an in-home day care and I homeschool. Try not to get overwhelmed, that's the important thing. Make goals, then find what you need based on those goals. Do you want your kids to be eligible for college? Then gear them towards the subjects that they need to learn. We do that and what interests Ash. It works.
We do a mixture of buying, borrowing, downloading and making it up as we go along. My Homeschooling plan and all is on my web page on the homeschooling tab at www.thistlerosestudio.com.
This ...
and I would say that it seems like you already have a great start to homeschooling with just your mom's things. :) I make up my own lesson plans. I just buy used books like encyclopedias and books to read, I also have a few old english books and science books math books but I only use them to model my lessons after. I also use the sat books and some GED books. I try and use some of the activity books from the local stores for my young ones. They are 3 and 5. I make sure the basics are covered and then i really get down to business of teaching my kids everything else "I" think is important for them to know. Like the world and our early culture and up todate technologies. That sort of thing. :)
Quoting oredeb:hi cassy! welcome!!
your kids are young now so you dont need to worry bout homeschool laws of each state, but i do hear that homeschooling in some places in Europe is illegal, so maybe check the country you wana end up in if your gona continue to homeschool.
your questions!
i make my curr and buy some of it,
no i dont use guidelines from our state, our state doesn't require that i do. each state has a set of different home school laws. and in most states you dont have to tell them you homeschool at least till your child turns 5, some states its 7
well if you want to do the online public school curr, i believe you find the one you want and sign up! some of them cost and some dont!
wow sounds like your all set if your gona do preschool with your moms stuff! you wont have to buy anything!
also know that you dont have to do preschool if you dont want to, its your chose!
Yes, if yo uare military, your right to homeschool is guaranteed. I had friends that were stationed in Germany and continued to homeschool even though it is illegal there.
NEED HELP WITH HOMESCHOOLING INFO. WHERE I LIVE IS NOT HOMESCHOOLING FRIENDLY.
- Clh1989
on Aug. 30, 2012 at 10:05 AM