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Why Homeschool? ~ Guest Post (Jen)

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Welcome to week two of the Why Homeschool? guest post series!  Last week’s post was so successful!  If you missed it, be sure to check it out here.  Also, if you are interested in participating, see the information here.  Today’s post is from Jen- I have been following her blog for a long time and I am happy to have her post here!  Thanks, Jen for all of your great insight!!

Hello!  I’m Jen from Chestnut Grove Academy.  I am a homeschooling mom to 3 boys, ages 6, 3.5 and 2.  Currently we live in Hawaii (and yes we LOVE it here!).  No, we are not military (though my husband and I are both prior service); we did come here with my husband’s job.  I have a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.  I worked several years (before and after my Army service) in preschool/daycare establishments; as teacher and also administrator.  I’m in my 2nd ‘official’ year of homeschooling.  I started blogging sporadically in 2010, and more actively since 2011.   I love blogging; mostly because it motivates me…I have to be doing things to blog about them, right?  It also enables to me to share my ideas, and meet lots of really great people.

WHY I HOMESCHOOL

I first started considering homeschooling when my oldest was 2 and began researching then.  (NOTE:  I’m a BIG planner, you definitely do not NEED to start researching homeschooling so far or advance, nor do you need to research for so long in order to be successful).  The main reason for my consideration is that we lived in a very rural area, and there were not any preschools close by, plus with cold winters, and knowing that I would eventually have more children, and the crazy expense that preschools can be – I decided why not teach him at home, after all, I use to get paid to teach kids before I had my own!

Since I was working with him at home, I began to notice he was slightly advanced for his age, which got me thinking about homeschooling more long term.  When I did my Student Teaching for my Master’s Degree at a local Elementary School, I was convinced that homeschooling was the way to go.
My main reason for homeschooling is that the way I was TAUGHT to teach, is not the way it’s done in the early elementary years in a public school system.  It’s really no fault of the teacher, or the school…it’s just impossible to meet the needs of so many kids at one time.  So, for me, homeschooling is all about individualization of curriculum.  For this reason I do not use boxed sets.  (Not that there is anything wrong with boxed curriculum, they just are not for me).  I always tell people that what curriculum they choose should weigh heavily on WHY they chose to homeschool.  As I continue in my homeschooling journey I find that my reasons WHY change and/or are added upon.
CURRICULUM
I have had many homeschooling moms tell me that they HAVE to use a boxed curriculum because they need the structure it provides.  Ironically enough, I like to have that kind of structure too, so although I don’t use a boxed curriculum, I DO use curriculum.

Elementary

For elementary school we favor Pandia Press for Science and History and Math-U-See for our cores.  I am also a fan of Handwriting Without Tears.  I LOVE the hands on aspects of them, which is of the UTMOST importance to me for early childhood learning and especially for boys.  For me, however, curriculum is just a jumping off point.  I use their outline and most of their suggestions, but I may add to or change things up a bit now and then.

Preschool

For preschool, thus far, I have made my own outlines and pulled from a variety of sources to supplement the topics I want to cover.  Currently, I modeled my preschool subjects around our elementary life science program.   Doing so allows my younger kids to also be involved with projects, videos, and other activities we may do for first grade.  There are a large variety of online resources that I pull ideas from, as well as come up with some of my own.  (I’d love to design my own stuff, but I can’t seem to find the time, maybe one day).  I’m looking at a few other options for preschool next year (stay tuned!).
NEW TO HOMESCHOOLING?
For new homeschoolers my top two recommendations are The Well-Trained Mind and Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.  These books were a great resource to me when deciding to homeschool and picking curriculum.  The Well-Trained Mind is a great how-to homeschool and why; Cathy Duffy’s book does a great job of listing the best curriculum for each type of learner and each method of learning (Traditional, Classical, etc..).  It also helps you come up with your own Philosophy of Learning and outline what is important to you in homeschooling.
My number one piece of advice to new homeschoolers is to be flexible!  Don’t be afraid to say ‘this is not working’ and try something else.  I changed things up several times last year (our first ‘official’ year).

Remember that it’s not ‘public’ school; you don’t have to fit that mold.  Homeschoolers have the flexibility to school how and when they want.  You do not have to follow the school calendar, there is no 8-4 requirement, and you don’t HAVE to sit at desks.  Do what WORKS for you and your children.

Remember WHY you chose to homeschool, and that there is no ‘right way’ to do it.  What worked with one child, might not work with another.  Every child and every family is DIFFERENT.     As long as you are doing what you feel is BEST for you family, that is ALL that matters.

Why Homeschool? Guest Post Series (Renee)
Why Homeschool? Guest Post

Comments

  1. Cari says

    December 10, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    Great post! I too spent a long time researching and experimenting with homeschooling before I finally committed. I haven’t heard of Pandia Press before, I’m excited to check them out, thanks!

    Reply

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