Considering homeschooling for K but still really nervous. Any good experiences to share?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok...I'm just on the fence...he's already reading to himself and I wasn't sure if the school would provide more to push that skill forward or keep him with others who can't read at all. If I homeschool would I push him or keep him at a kindergarten pace?

Typical kindergartners range from no literacy skills at all to just recognizing sight words, to recognizing sight words and decoding, to reading with comprehension. Kindergarten teachers are accustomed to that and will differentiate.

DS started kindergarten with the ability to recognize sight words and decoding/comprehending simple text and is now reading on the mid-upper first grade level. They don't keep them at the kindergarten level just because they are in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You are missing my point. I was simply asking if I homeschool, would I simply keep at the kindergarten pace or push forward on things like retelling, summarizing, connections, etc. I did not mean to I ply he is a genius or advanced. Tons of kids go into kindergarten reading... I'm asking purely from what my responsibilities would be perspective. My friend's child is pulled out a few time ps a week to work on other reading concepts by another teacher...so I would think I'd have to work o other things too...my other friend, however has a reader and isn't pulled at all. Just trying to get what kind of a commitment is have to do...or should do. Lighten up, people. It is a legitimate question.

I homeschooled for kindergarten with the plan of putting my child in public school from first grade on. So I looked at the Montgomery County kindergarten curriculum (because that's where we live) and made sure that we covered all of that. Everything in addition to that was based on what my child's abilities and interests.

For what it's worth, retelling, summarizing, connections, etc. actually are kindergarten things. We did this by reading interesting books together and then talking about them.

[Anonymous]

Drat -- based on what my child's abilities and interests WERE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you have a good relationship with your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok...I'm just on the fence...he's already reading to himself and I wasn't sure if the school would provide more to push that skill forward or keep him with others who can't read at all. If I homeschool would I push him or keep him at a kindergarten pace?

Typical kindergartners range from no literacy skills at all to just recognizing sight words, to recognizing sight words and decoding, to reading with comprehension. Kindergarten teachers are accustomed to that and will differentiate.

DS started kindergarten with the ability to recognize sight words and decoding/comprehending simple text and is now reading on the mid-upper first grade level. They don't keep them at the kindergarten level just because they are in kindergarten. [/quote

Not all teachers differentiate.

[Anonymous]

You could keep him at K level or let him go ahead. I have older kids, and they are very bright and could have gone ahead, but I've tried to keep them somewhat at or near grade level just in case we end up enrolling in school. We do two or three different math programs; they are all so different that the kids don't get bored and can really look at things from different angles.

[Anonymous]

When my husband and I go to parties, the conversation quickly turns to homeschooling, what with the small talk of "What do you do/Where do your kids go to school/What grades are they in?" or else they've already heard I homeschool and want to ask me all the questions they've ever had about homeschooling: "Do you use a standard curriculum/Do you have to test your kids/Where do you get the patience?" (No--We don't have to, but I do--Are you kidding? I don't have the patience to deal with the schools!). I've noticed that the more sophisticated, educated crowds tend to be more accepting of and intrigued by homeschooling, and the... others... tend to quickly get defensive and insulted. So don't let the issues or fears of others be a deterrent. Homeschooling has been an amazing, wonderful experience for us, and the schools are always there if we change our minds.

[Anonymous]

My best friend homeschools her two boys. They have had a good experience as far as I can tell. She purchased a curriculum after reviewing several. The boys are both reading far above grade level and are on grade level in math. They have "school" 5.5 days a week in two four hour blocks.They go on field trips three times a week, are studying Spanish using Rosetta Stone, and play youth league sports.
From a different perspective, I am a teacher. I find that homeschooled kids who move on to public school eventually often do suffer from being socially out of sync (either too mature or too immature). I also have had two former home schoolers that I suspected had undiagnosed learning disabilities. The parents simply thought they were idiosyncrasies
I suggest joining a homeschool organization and getting a professional assessment by an educational psychologist. Plan for what you will do on "sick days". Will school has to have a set schedule. How will your SO and other loved ones support your endeavors? What role will standardized tests play? Do you need/want textbooks? Will there be a summer break?

[Anonymous]

Homeschooling can be a wonderful thing. DC is in a traditional school but I don't dismiss the value of homeschooling. My concern is that people who homeschool are especially vigilant when it comes to what they're teaching. Grammar is paramount. For instance, "The schedule bends depending on field trips and DH and I's work schedule." Absolutely no snark and no offense intended. I could never homeschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Homeschooling can be a wonderful thing. DC is in a traditional school but I don't dismiss the value of homeschooling. My concern is that people who homeschool are especially vigilant when it comes to what they're teaching. Grammar is paramount. For instance, "The schedule bends depending on field trips and DH and I's work schedule." Absolutely no snark and no offense intended. I could never homeschool.

I'm really confused. That's just about the worst, most grammatically incorrect sentence I've seen all day. Were you intentionally being ironic, or do you actually think that's a good sentence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homeschooling can be a wonderful thing. DC is in a traditional school but I don't dismiss the value of homeschooling. My concern is that people who homeschool are especially vigilant when it comes to what they're teaching. Grammar is paramount. For instance, "The schedule bends depending on field trips and DH and I's work schedule." Absolutely no snark and no offense intended. I could never homeschool.

I'm really confused. That's just about the worst, most grammatically incorrect sentence I've seen all day. Were you intentionally being ironic, or do you actually think that's a good sentence?

I believe she is quoting a previous poster who homeschools and wrote that really bad sentence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Well Trained Mind Forums -- kind of like DCUM for homeschoolers.

I suggested a home school forum on DCUM, but it failed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor homeschools and her house is a disaster and extremely dirty. This kind of surprised me since I thought kids would have more time for chores, but it takes a lot of time to homeschool all her kids and they're just around the house so much that a lot gets messed up.

+ 1

My SIL, who is a slob anyway, uses this as an excuse. Horrible homeschooling situation there, btw.

[Anonymous]

I homeschool my DD. To be honest, I don't use a specific curriculum. Just looked at the requirements children are supposed to meet by the end of each grade and I make sure DD is there or beyond.

She has asked to go to school beginning in 7th grade, and I think we may enroll her then.

DH and I both work from home, and we each handle different subjects. I do English (language, spelling, reading), Math, Gym, and he does Science, Social Studies, and Music. We both do art - he does traditional art and music, while I do dance and acting (performing arts).

We usually do about three hours of schooling from 9-noon, then DD does half her independent work for an hour in the afternoon, and the other half for an hour after dinner. She takes enrichment classes after school hours. The schedule bends depending on field trips and DH and I's work schedule.

And you're the one teaching this child English? Wonderful. Please, please, please let her go to school in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, DC and I have a great relationship. Why?