We have been talking about it.
We have argued back and forth.
I was for it.
He was against it.
I gave up and realized that what he was afraid of was the unknown.
Homeschooling.
So I ordered the curriculum to do after school. I was excited about diving into the adventrue with them, even if it was not full time. I had been reading the Sonlight website obsessively since Chris told me about it last January.
Then Kathy started ordering her books, and I was all “Okay Jody, cr*p or get off the pot”.
Bill was all, “go for it”. So I did.
The kids love it. I love it. It’s a great fit for us.
My 2 oldest want to stay at their schools. They are really happy and have acclimated fantastically. Their schools are excellent.
Quinn, not so much so. My happy little buddy has developed a really bad attitude. When he comes home he is bouncing off the walls and ceiling and will not listen. He is just down right pissy and what I fear is that constant grounding and punishment will just crush his little spirit.
On the weekends, he is our little Quinny again. But then the whole cycle starts over again.
We know what the problem is. It is the school. I won’t go into detail, but will tell you that the first week of school Qunn fell headfirst off of a 10 foot slide and landed on his head. He cried, went to the nurse, she put ice on it and when he stopped crying she sent him back to his room….and never called me. When Quinn came home he was sick to his stomach, his head hurt and he could not stay awake. I thought it had to be a virus as there was no marks of bumps on his head.
He had a concussion, and I went ape nuts on the school when I found out.
Quinn has met some sweet little boys. He loves his teacher. But he is not learning anything there. All of it is stuff he mastered in pre-k 3, pre-k 4 and kinder.
Today we talked at lunch about Quinn, and Bill said he wants to keep him home after Christmas break and homeschool him.
I am relieved, excited, and just plain jazzed out of my mind.
So, Quinn and Mia will be homeschooled at least through 3rd grade.
Now I have to get busy with finding math and LA for them!
AWWWWWWESOME!
You will love it so much you will never want to send them back. My 2nd son was picked on and punched everyday in school, yelled at by his teacher (which if you knew Nick you would KNOW it was her not him) he never said a word and got the student of the month sometimes twice a year every year. My oldest learned NOTHING. He could not spell even though he made straight A’s and told me “I’m not dumb I know how to spell a word long enough to pass a test!”
There are days I doubt myself but then the next day as I watch the kids picking up workbooks, reading encyclopedias etc.. all on their own I KNOW its the best thing.
I just bought a bunch of workbooks, even Sams club and maybe Walmart has big McGraw Hill math books that should be fine for now as they are little. I just decided to try the MUS and it should be here anyday. I highly suggest garage sales and thrift stores, and even online you can find anything you want for free.
Join a yahoo group for your area. I’m on several homeschooling and now UNschooling as I think that’s more what we have turned into.
Trust me you can not do any worse than a school would…you will do a million times better, and have a much better relationship with your kids.
There will be people that try to break you down, for me it was my own family, but hold storng you can do it.
Here’s some replies for people in this article…enjoy
http://www.secular-homeschooling.com/001/bitter_homeschooler.html
Congratulations! We’re going to try Singapore but I also hear lots of good stuff about MUS (Math U See). Just keep living life and it will all come.
For LA, look into Michael Clay Thompson. I’m not sure what, if anything, I’ll do. Oh, and Sequential Spelling.
Hugs and kisses to sweet Mia and Quinny.
Oh Jodi hun…I’m so glad for such good feelings about it all around!
What a great adventure for Quinn & Mia. And good for you for doing what works for your older boys too.
Hugs
Congrats Chris !! Wish i had the strength to pull my son out. Just afraid I would not be able to teach him anything.
Marie
I’m happy for you Jody! Wishing you and Quinn much happiness with the homeschooling.
Good for you. Love your blog. I am sure you will get a ton of advice but we used Learning Language Arts Through Literature and Saxon Math and really liked both programs. Good luck on your new adventure. I hope you find a program that works well for your family.:)
BRAVO!!!!!
How about Saxon Math?? Why don’t you just order the same math workbooks your older kids used in
Mayberry? Good Luck!!!!!
In 1997 one of my friends was the first to turn to homeschooling for her 1st grade son. Over the past 10 years I can count a number of friends who have turned to homeschooling….
… and not one of them has regretted it.
Another exciting adventure for your family.
Congrats!
Abeka has been a good fit for Math and early Language Arts in our family. We’re trying Sonlight’s new LA this year for a change of pace.
Isn’t it nice that you can choose what’s best for each kid? I love that there’s no hard and fast rules for what works.
That is really exciting! Good for you! I will have fun watching your through the continuing journey of your new life!
Leeann
Good for you -taking it into your own hands. I’m sure it will be a great experience for all of you.
Oh, I’m so excited for you! It sounds like homeschooling will be a great fit for Quinn.
Yay for you! I’m sure you’ll do great!
We’ve had a lot of luck with MathUSee. (started my 15 year old off with it when she was in 1st grade and on up through what’s she doing now – Geometry. All the rest of the kids have followed suit.