Monday, November 5

8 Homeschooling Questions

Good morning.  I thought I'd answer eight of the most common questions I've received when people find out we homeschool.  Homeschooling is hard, and it's not for everybody, but I'm really glad we took a leap of faith and are on this journey.


Why do you homeschool?
I've wanted to homeschool since before Xander started kindergarten.  But when we moved to VA, we lived in one of the top rated school districts.  I felt I had to send him so he'd receive the best education.  I loved his teacher and felt he was learning so much, but the school itself I had concerns with.  Of course it stated "zero tolerance for bullying."  But there were instances where I didn't see staff take appropriate action.  The following year, we sent Sterling to the same school.  I loved her teacher too, but she didn't really budge too much academically.  She's brilliant in math and in most of language arts.  But, she needed extra help in reading and speech...which go hand-in-hand of course.  We received two notices that year about absences.  We take trips.  We love giving experiences.  But were punished for doing so.  We want the freedom to explore and enjoy life without being harassed.  There were just too many school shootings and threats over the past two years.  I know shootings can happen anywhere, however, if I can help prevent my child ever having to go through that by taking one less chance, I'll do it.  Insert homeschool.

Were you nervous to start homeschooling?
Was I ever!  I knew I wanted to after our notice of absences for vacations in January.  But was terrified.  Then after we moved, the community we live in is a huge homeschool area.  So, I felt it would be perfect to start after we moved.  I researched and researched and researched!  I grew even more terrified.  I was going back and forth all summer long if I was really going to go through with it.  At the beginning of August I decided to just apply and send in my notice of intent.  Our school was approved that same day!  So after going back and forth for many months, we bought workbooks the next day and started prepping.

What is your favorite part?
In no particular order...
1) Watching Xander smiling throughout the day and having fun
2) Teaching them to be respectable kids
3) One on one
4) Watching them reach the "aha" moment
5) Getting to learn with them (it's been 30 years since i was in 2nd grade!)
6) Going on trips
7) Doing school when it's convenient for us (lately it's been in the afternoons)
8) Watching Sterling help Xander in math
9) No filler work.  Once we're done for the days lessons, we're done.
10) Knowing my kids are safe

What is your least favorite part?
1)  Planning (I do it, but it's definitely not a favorite 😟)
2) Attitudes
3) Not getting those 7 hours of alone time
4) Doubt and worry!  It consumes me some days.

What curriculum do you use?
We don't use one set.  We follow our state laws and teach the areas that are required, plus a little extra.  After so much research, I decided I needed to get individual curriculum for each child.  They are both so different, and one program wasn't tailored entirely for either one of them.  At the beginning of the year, we were using workbooks.  But, let's be honest.  They're boring.  So we've switched things up over the past month and are now using new resources plus we are taking advantage of technology for learning.

We use a lot of the Moffatt Girls (we love her products)
Printables from K-12 and Education.com
IXL (we have LA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish)
Hooked on Phonics for Sterling
Teach Your Monsters to Read (both)
Spelling City
Starfall
ABCmouse
Rocket Math
Animal Math
GoNoodle
YouTube

When do you get time to yourself?
On most days I get up about two hours before the kids in the mornings and then stay up another two hours after they go to bed.  I have also started dropping them off at a play place for kids up to 12 for a few hours each week.  It's really not that bad trying to find time.  As long as it's something I can do at home.  

Do you miss not having them in public school?
Only when I have errands.  But now that I found the drop in place, I'm golden 😉

Aren't your kids going to have socialization problems?
Not a chance.  There's so much that we're involved in.  They're shy though, so they stick together all the time.  Branching them away from each other is my struggle.

1+4=5 and 2+3=5 and 5+0=5

There are many ways to get to the number five, and in education, there are many ways of teaching.  We may do school differently than others, but in the end, we'll have the same outcome on our own journey. We're here to embrace the beauty and freedom that homeschooling offers.  And we're loving it!

We may not have it all figured out yet, but we're willing to learn and be patient to get there together.

Have a great day!

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