Maybe this is the first you knew that our plan is to homeschool our children. Well, now you know! We are starting on Monday (Breathe Leanne, breathe!)
I am so excited and scared all at the same time. Monday, like June 30th?? Why are you starting a new school year in June?! That seems odd. GREAT question! There are a couple reasons why I'm starting this Monday.
First, Oskar is ready. He has been asking me for months to start homeschooling him. I am following his lead in that he is ready to learn and excited for it too.
Second, I plan to homeschool all year round. There are a couple reasons for this too. I know my character and I know that if I had a whole summer off, it would be hard for me to mentally, physically and emotionally get back into the routine of school.
From what I've learned from reading other blogs and talking to others, a homeschool day (more so for older grades) can take all day. After looking at my lessons and planning even for the future, my hope is that by homeschooling all year, my children will be able to have more free time daily, since the hours of work will be spread out over the summer too. Although they won't have two or three months off in the summer, they will have more time every day throughout the year for outside time, or free time.
I also feel that it would be better for my family that the children don't have a whole summer off for similar reasons as to why I wouldn't want to have the summer off. I think they would have a tough time getting back into daily routine. Plus, I think just having routine is good, summer or not!
The last reason I am starting this month, is because June was when I was able to get curriculum the soonest. Oskar is enrolled in a charter school for homeschooled children. He will attend the school Fridays during the months of September through May. This school offers enrichment classes and gives the children opportunities to make friends and have time with other people. In addition to attending this school on Fridays, we obtain a monetary allotment, depending on the grade the child is in, for curriculum and things like: internet, outside the home lessons (i.e. piano, karate, art, etc.) Since we get money for curriculum, June 15th was the soonest available to order curriculum... and so we did it then!
I am so excited and scared all at the same time. Monday, like June 30th?? Why are you starting a new school year in June?! That seems odd. GREAT question! There are a couple reasons why I'm starting this Monday.
First, Oskar is ready. He has been asking me for months to start homeschooling him. I am following his lead in that he is ready to learn and excited for it too.
Second, I plan to homeschool all year round. There are a couple reasons for this too. I know my character and I know that if I had a whole summer off, it would be hard for me to mentally, physically and emotionally get back into the routine of school.
From what I've learned from reading other blogs and talking to others, a homeschool day (more so for older grades) can take all day. After looking at my lessons and planning even for the future, my hope is that by homeschooling all year, my children will be able to have more free time daily, since the hours of work will be spread out over the summer too. Although they won't have two or three months off in the summer, they will have more time every day throughout the year for outside time, or free time.
I also feel that it would be better for my family that the children don't have a whole summer off for similar reasons as to why I wouldn't want to have the summer off. I think they would have a tough time getting back into daily routine. Plus, I think just having routine is good, summer or not!
The last reason I am starting this month, is because June was when I was able to get curriculum the soonest. Oskar is enrolled in a charter school for homeschooled children. He will attend the school Fridays during the months of September through May. This school offers enrichment classes and gives the children opportunities to make friends and have time with other people. In addition to attending this school on Fridays, we obtain a monetary allotment, depending on the grade the child is in, for curriculum and things like: internet, outside the home lessons (i.e. piano, karate, art, etc.) Since we get money for curriculum, June 15th was the soonest available to order curriculum... and so we did it then!
Here is a picture of our homeschool area. We made room in our den, where the kids usually play, where it's bright and where we could let fresh air in if we needed. I bought a plastic pocket calendar to teach Oskar the calendar well as he doesn't quite grasp the whole concept yet. I also bought a magnetic bulletin board for the All About Spelling and Reading Program, as they recommend a magnetic surface for letter placement. At ShopKo this week, that colorful rolling cart was only $27.88 (thanks to a great friend who let me in on the deal!). I plan on implementing the Workbox System, created by Sue Patrick. I heard about this from Erica Arndt, from www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com and loved the video she has on YouTube, shown below:
As I said, we are very excited to get going! Check out my curriculum choices here and if you have any tips, recommendations, or just want to ask a question regarding what I'm doing, leave a comment below, or message me using the "Contact Me" tab. Thanks!
~Leanne
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