Okay yes, I did already make the decision to homeschool. The great decision I am talking about is method and curriculum. That seems to be the next step after deciding to teach your child at home. What curriculum or homeschooling method will best suit your family and your child?
All this summer I have been doing unschooling while I researched many different homeschooling approaches and compared curriculum. I wanted to go into this with as much knowledge as possible. I think anyone who knows me will tell you that when I decide to do something it has to be perfect…it has to be an Oscar worthy performance. I have very high standards for myself and yes it does get tiresome. I think I went through the usual self doubt that many homeschooling parents go through…can I do this? Will I be a good teacher? Will I have sufficient time? Will I fall flat on my face and make my son pay for my mistakes?
Well, I have a lot of faith in unschooling and wanted to go that route but innevitably I gave in to my fears and also to well meaning family members who insisted that I was being way to casual with my son’s education. I also started to see some unfavorable attitudes develop with an unschooling approach…such as the day my son announced that he did not need to read to do mechanical/engine work (his ultimate goal) and therefore would not be reading or working on his reading anymore. This is one sure way to make my heart stop…reading is like oxygen to me.
So…I made the decision that feels like half and half to me. My son has been enrolled in an online school that uses the K12 curriculum. It is structured and there will be tests on core skills but it is also VERY flexible I found after numerous phone calls to their offices. There is no grading of assignments and homework, there is only testing of basic skills that they need to pass with an 80% or better. They have online tutorials and textbooks for the parents to use in their instruction but using them is really optional. You can teach any which way you want to as long as the basics are covered. So when my son has science this year and needs to learn about the planets we can read their textbooks together and do the suggested activities OR we could go to a planetarium, see a space IMAX movie, create a planet mobile, or watch cute little videos at BrainPop Jr. The journey is not as important as the end result which makes me VERY happy. He can also go at his own pace…he does not need to be at the same level for English and math…he can just work according to his own needs and skills. If need be he could be doing second grade math and science and first grade writing and spelling. This program is hugely flexible and still allows me to incorporate my own ideas and opportunities for LIFE learning. They provide us with a computer and all the required books. They even arrange field trips and parties with other homeschooled students.
In doing the initial placement tests I can see that my son is behind his peers in reading and writing… or so they say. I am not worried about it. Interestingly though he is advanced in his language skills. He is awesome at narration, picking out details in a story, identifying the overal theme or lesson, or picking the missing words that complete the sentences. He is also great with definitions. I think his language skills have a lot to do with the fact that his father and I have always talked to him like an adult. Even when our kids were babies we never used baby talk…we talked to them like we would talk to anyone else. We didn’t “dumb things down” so to speak. If they need clarification we were happy to offer it but otherwise we just talked to them without any special exceptions for their age. Instead of “Oh baby….does baby want some num nums and some baa baa with milkie?” We would ask: “Payton would you like something to eat? Would you like bananas? Here have some warm cereal with bananas and this cup with milk inside it. I will sit here next to you and read this newspaper.” Just more evidence that life teaches a great deal of the lessons they need to learn…sigh.
Both of my older children blow me away with their language skills although I have shared before that my 30 month old is almost completely non-verbal thus far..so we are scratching our heads over that one.
So…we will see how a more structured homeschool approach goes. I figure we can quit anytime right? We are actually considering moving to another city nearby this spring as well…and ahem…farther away from certain naysayers. But that’s not the reason for the move! We want to live in the big city again. We could downsize and simplify. If we do move it will be nice for my son to have some routine and familiarity.
Let the journey begin!
Great choice, best of wishes to you. We are a K12 family and we love it. We do dislike the standardized testing, but my son exceeds them each year and they make it fun with Study Island. We’ve met two wonderful families nearby from their parent directory. Happy virtual home schooling!
Welcome to the homeschool family. It is a great lifestyle. We use Saxon Phonics and Math and the Core Knowledge Curriculum for everything else. Having had a child in traditional school, I can tell you that she has learned more over the summer than she did all of last year. She has more confidence in her academics now than she did in school. But the best part is that she has time to figure out who she is without the world telling her who she should be. And let me tell you, she is blossoming in to quite a cool kid. For the last two days she had insisted on wearing a purple wig just because she thinks its cool. I love it.
Good luck next year and try to not to let yourself get too perfectionisty (I don’t let language define how I can say something) it will drive you crazy.
Funny how others always seem to know what is best for our kids…
We unschool and it works for us.
Power to the parents!
I started last year with my now 13 yr old son who will be in seventh grade. There was nothing suitable for MiddleSchool, so I went with California Virtual Academy, which uses K12 curriculum. It was really easy for us to do and we got the computer and get reimbursed twice a yr for ISP and the teacher will be the same. We may do community day this year since my other son will take the bus. Need to get his schedue first to make sure of the time coming home.
I now have to pack boxes for the materials reclamation so we can get new stuff. Good luck. I joined a few yahoo groups and one of them is k12 users or something like that.
Good for you for finding what you feel willwork for you and your son. I’m looking into http://www.oakmeadow.com/ and their distance learning program. Thus far it’s the only distance learning program that seems tohave everything I would want in homeschooling with the benefit of having teachers to turn to and record keeping.
:–) Nell
Oak Meadow looks super. Thing about K12 is that it’s tuition free for us because the state/district pays for it. Otherwise I’d consider Oak Meadow.
I’ve been unschooling for 2 years (and unschooled my oldest daughter a few years ago). However, their father and I have divorced in the meantime and he’s not so sure about the whole unschooling thing. You’d think after our oldest got put in gifted and darn near skipped a grade after she decided to go back to public school he’d be a little more confident that we are doing fine. But anyways. I’ve been considering using our GA K-12 online school as a way to placate him, and your post this morning was the push I needed to initiate contact. Hopefully our experience will be as positive as yours!
This sounds so exciting! I’m kind of jealous. That period of discovery you share with a child is so special and you will have so much of it. It sounds like you’ve thought it out beautifully.
OH and about your little one. In such a verbal household why not chill back and listen? Sounds like a sensible kid to me.
our pastor’s son didn’t talk until he was 3 years old, and then one day he started talking and they couldn’t shut him up…. he was absorbing all the info, and could have talked they suppose, but he just wouldn’t. when he did talk he immediately spoke in sentences, not just one word here and there as most do when they start talking. i hope hte same is true for your son!!
Man, that’s one informational blog. I’ve got an 18 month old, so schooling is just barely on my radar, but I love hearing others opinions. It sounds like no matter which method you choose you will do great simply because you are so enthusiastic about it. Good luck.
I’m listening to you right now, but jumped over to check out your site… when I came upon the K12 reference. I am using K12 to teach my kids, too. I am absolutely THRILLED! I had so much success last year that three families that are friends of ours have decided to jump in this year. It’s great to teach your kids while exploring the subjects that fascinate them.
Welcom to K12!
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks really researching what we will use this year for homeschooling – I’ve been doing it for two years but searching so much more now because my son is school age (technically, he’s been learning all along of course). I’m debating using K12 actually but we have enough stuff I probably won’t.
Hi there I’m a new reader and gotta to say like what i’m reading!!! thanks for this post BTW it was very interesting!
My daughter is only 15 months and we have another one on the way (18 weeks preggo) and we made the choice to home school before we even got married and had children!!!!
My husband was home school until high school and I went trough the school system from grade 1 to 2 degree in university (almost 20 year of public schooling) and we know that the best way to go is at home!!!!!
We want our little one not only to learn about things (theory) but also have hand on application!!!! So I think that tghe best way is to do it at home!!!!
Have a wonderful day!
Sounds like you might be using the same or similar curriculum as we are this year (for our high schooler who is starting to be home schooled). I have lots of unschooling activities planned for her to taylor her education, such as e-commerce, she is going to set up and run a web based business. We are also going to take art classes (together) at local craft stores, etc… Should be a fun journey. Hopefully, after a successful year with the oldest, I can get hubby on board to do this program with all our kiddos!
Cheers!
Jamie
Thank you so much for this post! My son is only 14 months old and I can’t wait until he is school age so I can really start digging into the different home school curriculum. I have never heard of K12. You will have to let us know how it goes.
We did K12 and it was not a good fit for our family. Not nearly as flexible as they told us it would be. Ours was very aggressive and unrealistic. But the great thing about homeschooling is that nothing is detrimental. If you find it’s not a good fit for you either, moving on to something else is ok. That’s not to freak you out, just a heads up.
Finding what works for you is probably the hardest part! I love unschooling, but own fears always get in the way.
Hmm… We were inspired by your previous post to unschool. My DD is only 4, so we don’t have too many naysayers at this point. I’ll be curious to hear how K12 goes. So far, we’re having fun and she’s learning to read!
Good for you for researching ahead of time. It sound slike you have found an approach that provides a good balance for your family.
I wouldn’t feel pressured by family and friends who haven’t embarked on this homeschooling journey, though. And I think the longer you do this, the more confidence you will have in your own opinion of what is best for your kiddos and their education. We are beginning our 4th year of homeschooling three kiddos. It wasn’t until last year (two math and three english programs later) that we felt like we were meeting each of our kid’s individual needs and were finally at peace and comfortable in homeschooling skin:)
I struggled with this same thing… unschooling has a huge appeal to me – – – and so does the classical education (The Well Trained Mind). You couldn’t come up with two different approaches.
Last year – we went w/ the unschooling approach. This year – – – going with structure. Figure we will take another look around Christmas.