My husband and I had decided long ago that we were going to homeschool. Well, actually I decided and he's along for the ride. I had even started doing research before we were pregnant. I've been studying up on childhood development, early curriculum, lesson planning and all that fun stuff, which people called me a little crazy about doing before we were pregnant (but what do they know?).
Anyway, the only thing I haven't been able to pinpoint is WHEN a good time to start is. I did want to do baby signs in infancy and try to teach some color and shape lessons in toddler years. When did you all start your homeschooling? How structured was it when you first started out?
Any input you can provide is greatly appreciated!
I think it's best to start with baby sign. I wish I'd know about homeschooling back when mine were little.
We only started when they were in 4th and 6th grades.
I knew before we even had kids that my (then future) kids would never go to public school, and I did tons of research too. I looked into lots of options before they were born and when my first child was only a couple of days old we made the decision to homeschool. LOL I can't tell you when we started homeschooling though because never really did. When they were little we just lived and learned and that worked so well for us so we didn't see a reason to do it any other way once they became "school age". I did do baby signs with my kids because it helped them communicate. We did help them learn about things like colors, shapes, letters, and numbers, but not in a "schooly" way. With young kids around, the whole world is exciting, new and fascinating. They have such a wonderful, natural curiosity that we didn't usually feel the need to make up lessons for them. We just followed their curiosity to see where it lead, and it has lead to some mighty interesting places that we probably wouldn't have gone if we had stuck to our lesson plans instead of following the kids.
PEACE,
JESSICA
at birth i guess. i have a 26 month old and a 10.5 month old girl. they are CONSTANTLY learning, and i'm CONSTANTLY teachin! LOL!
i agree with the pp. my world has become so "new" to me again, trying to see what they see. heck my youngest found her toes a week ago, and we spent a whole day doing "toe" things... counting, painting the nails different colors, singing songs... it was silly but FUN! (and educational at the same time)
i never really plan on SCHOOLING the girls, i am more a fan of seeing where THEY take me. i do usually have some ideas of what we want to do for the week, we studied colors and (for example) wore that color for one week, ate foods that were that color, made pictures with that color... and when out an about found stuff that was that color.
at this young age, learning happens weather you plan it or not. so... why not just let it happen? maybe when my girls get older and need more "structured" learning we will sit down and map it out. but for now i have weekly or monthly goals. this month is learning the "more difficult" shapes, like octagon, pentagon, etc... but instead of sitting my 26 month old down and drilling it into her, i just work it into our day. we did stop sign octagons, cheese cut into octagons, sandwiches into octagons... lol!
i suggest spending money on cookie cutters, food coloring, art supplies (that are age appropriate), and sunscreen and bug spray. spend time outside, have fun.
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I started from infancy. You don't have to use structured learning when they're young, anything can become a learning tool. As an infant, I sang and played with my daughter all the time. I would sing songs like "Three Little Indians" and "One, Two Buckle my Shoe". They teach counting. When you're playing with blocks, say the colors or count them and you hand them to your child. Hold them on your lap and make a game of teaching them their body parts or singing the ABC's.
I've always "taught" my daughter and started formally homeschooling in kindergarten, at the age of five, and breezed right though. This is our 3rd year of actual homeschooling and she's very advanced.
Have fun with it! Good luck :)
Public school teachers are not responsible for the education of our children. As parents, we delegate that responsibility to them. I choose to have the sole responsibility of the upbringing, wellbeing and education of my child. ~I'm proud to be a homeschooling mama!~
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I think the teaching/learning progress begins at infancy, although I haven't been looking into HS'ing until the beginning of this year (my son was 2.5) but I run a home daycare so I've unknowingly been HS'ing him this whole time! :)
We started at around 3 officially; I did do songs, color in pictures before that (around 1.8mo.) everything else was just play. My oldest is now in 5th grade and in a wonderful Montessori School...go with the child's abilities and flow. My youngest is in 2nd grade and I still homeschool her ~ we use Oak Meadows as we did for my oldest. My oldest is doing great ~ smooth transition.
Our son is 2.5 and we started hs when he could hold his head up and reach for things. Now he asks to do things like write his name or play ABC's on the computer (even though he knows them) We have more play time than "school" time but when he sees some one else do something that he wants to do he stops everything he is doing to learn it. It is just amazing how much the want to learn and even more amazing is the things they understand that you didn't think they would.
As everyone else has said, the sooner you start the better.
Bryce was started late, age 4 but is still ahead. Noah has shown no real interest until now...he's 3. Abbie is getting started the earliest and she just turned 2 last week.
The way to help the world is to start with your own family. ~Mother Teresa
any homeschoolers in Missouri or northern Arkansas
- GarbageDog
on Sep. 11, 2009 at 9:13 PM