Our Homeschooling How and Why
In 2007 we happily became “One of THOSE families” and brought all three school aged children home to be educated. In 2006 we didn’t quite make the list as “One of THOSE families” as we only had Bubba at home while the girls were still attending public school.
HOW we homeschool…. very carefully *grin*
Actually we are very careful in what we select for the kids to study. It is very overwhelming to see all the books and programs that are out there for homeschooling families. So many choices and just not enough time in a day or week to fit all the great books in. When it came down to making those final selections we decided on the following:
Bubba 6th grade, JJ 4th Grade, Nina 2nd Grade
This year we switched from my hodge-podge system of schooling and went to an online version. Well it isn’t completely online. I go on and download the lessons, print them off and then teach them to the kids. We really love Maeser Academy and will continue to use it. Carley is in the 4th grade as far as our public school system is concerned but she is doing the 5th grade program with Maeser Academy.
Maeser Academy uses Saxon math for grades 1 & 2. For 3rd grade and up they use ALEKS math online. I REALLY wish I had learned about ALEKS math the first year of homeschooling. This is an amazing program and neither Bubba or JJ dreads doing their math. We will not go back to Saxon for them. I am excited for Nina to begin using it next year.
For a look at curriculum choices we have used in the past follow the links below.
Math- Saxon
History- The Story of the World, Alpha Omega Lifepac
Sicence- Alpha Omega Lifepac
Language Arts- Write Source, Write One
Literature- Various selections from classical to modern (more on the classical side though)
Latin- Latina Christiana
Scripture Study- School of Abraham
Moe pre-school
WHYwe homeschool- The schools in our county were too busy enforcing rules and not really focusing on educating. It’s a shame really. The environment we were sending our children to each day was growing more and more like a prison yard and less of a school. The way the teachers are forced to teach these days is a disadvantage to the children who are at or above grade level. We sat watching JJ wanting to soar and instead being forced to ride the same train as those who still didn’t quite get what they were doing. That led to her being bored. By bringing her home she is able to expand her horizons and work at a pace that is more of a challenge. Getting 100% on everything is great but she wasn’t learning anything. They are all getting opportunities that the school system here can not offer. Best of all they are getting the chance to spend time together. Seeing the changes within the family has to be the most wonderful result of our choice to homeschool.
Thanks for commenting on my blog! It’s great to hear from other homeschooling moms.
This is my 2nd year homeschooling and we are loving it. I’m doing the “cook-ahead-and-freeze” thing too to help with the schedule. And, I love your curriculum choices. We are using several of the same.
Sarah (MyPeaceandJoy)
We just made the decision to home school our youngest and the adventure begins tomorrow. I can use any help that you might like to offer. He is in 1st grade.
Blessings,
Debbie aka The Real World Martha
http://realworldmartha.wordpress.com
Hey! Sorry I haven’t called you back – phone erased the message before I had a chance to write down your number! (and I found this/you, actually, while I was doing an image search for some Disney pics!) It’s amazing to see just how many people that HS have pulled their kids from the VA school systems.
Right now I just have my daughter – my son is doing well in middle school, so we’re leaving him be.
Feel free to email me whenever (usually easier to catch me that way!). Funny how we live so close to each other, yet it took a friend in HI to hook us up!