Toe Dipping in the Homeschooling Pool

We made a decision. I can not really even explain how we got there cause it would make no sense… all I know is I have so much peace about it. Just like I had peace about sending Owen to the preschool he went to this year. I have always prayed that God would guide my steps every year of education for the kids. I’m open to whatever he has, I just want to always be aware of what it is.

So a couple nights ago we decided. Owen will do pre-K at home next year. I’m really excited. I feel so much peace about it! I have no idea what we will do for Kindergarten, but I don’t need to. I’m just excited to get my toes wet with preschool and see how it goes!

I have asked some of my friends already, but I’m all for recommendations on PreK curriculum. Most people piece things together or do without a set curriculum, but I’m pretty type-A and insecure about my ability so I think I’m going to need something to go by.

Comments

23 Responses to “Toe Dipping in the Homeschooling Pool”

Jordan (MamaBlogga) on February 21st, 2008 4:21 pm

My SIL did Kindergarten with K12 and she really liked it. I know here in UT they have a “Virtual Academy” through the state so the curriculum is (allegedly) free. I don’t think they have a pre-k program, though. Maybe just filed that under “future reference.”
Karen (Pediascribe) on February 21st, 2008 4:40 pm

Jordan is right. No pre-K program through K12. We’ve used K12 since it came out in 2001. And each year we re-evaluate and decide what to do (or IF to do) the next year.

As for your little guy, check out “Before Five in a Row” or “Five in a Row.” Those are very gentle introductions to homeschooling for kids. And you can put as much as you want into it. I know we had a grand time with it when my kiddos were younger.
Jordan (MamaBlogga) on February 21st, 2008 5:10 pm

Oh, I should have clarified: the Utah Virtual Academy uses K12, so we can get the curriculum for free.
Jenn on February 21st, 2008 5:24 pm

I don’t have advice on the curriculum but I did want to say congrats on making that decision! I think choosing the right path for education can be hard. Way to go!
momlovesbeingathome on February 21st, 2008 6:11 pm

Yea!!! I’m so excited for you. Curriculum really isn’t needed for young children. Not that you shouldn’t use it - just don’t feel like you have to. I would take advantage of your library and check out lots of fun books to read and videos to watch. There are also lots of great educational games to play that aid in learning. Make it fun and interesting and you will be amazed at how much they learn.

Somebody above mentioned Five in a Row and while I’ve never used it I’ve heard wonderful, wonderful things about that!!

If you ever have any questions or need any help I’d be happy to help in any way I can!!
Amanda Jo on February 21st, 2008 6:34 pm

How exciting!
I can’t wait to read about your new adventure!
We’re going to be dealing with this same decision come August.

I’ll check back often!
misi on February 21st, 2008 7:28 pm

Congratulations! You will do great I am sure… Your an awesome mom with your children’s best interests at heart, what else do you need?
tieki rae on February 21st, 2008 7:30 pm

Hey MZ, homeschooling preK sounds like so much fun! Something to look into is Phyllis Schlafley’s Turbo Reader (http://www.turboreader.com/). It’s supposed to be a really good system for teaching/learning reading skills.
Dana on February 22nd, 2008 12:59 am

Oh, congratulations! And don’t sweat the curriculum thing…no matter what the rest of us say. I started needing the structure of a curriculum (I was a school teacher, after all!), and freed up as I got more comfortable. But plenty of people stay with the schedule and that is fine, too.

Anyway, you might check out this blog if you haven’t seen it already:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PreschoolersandPeace/

It is all about homeschooling preschoolers.
Mommy Zabs on February 22nd, 2008 8:54 am

I’m loving all this input and encouragement, thank you so much!
-mz
Teresa on February 22nd, 2008 11:47 am

We call what we do “multi-schooling”…public school as the mainstay, and supplimenting with mom&dad teaching, tutoring, and other enrichment activities…we homeschool in the summer.

This allows for a wide variety of opportunity.
missy on February 22nd, 2008 2:48 pm

More about the k12 program that a couple of the ladies spoke of: that is what we use. You and I have spoke of it before, here in Ohio its the Ohio Virtual Academy and I can NOT recommend it ENOUGH! It is free, you get teacher support (but not intrusion) and the curriculum is simply incredible.

Now, they’re right about there being no pre-k program, but the kindergarten curriculum is both great and challenging. My kiddo loved it and learned so much. If you think you’d be interested for his kindergarten year, just let me know and I can give you so much info.

For pre-k, I’d do starfall.com and lots of field trips, art days, library days, ect. Learn more about anything he is ‘into’ that week. Have fun with it!

Congrats on the decision. Just go year by year, that’s what we’ve done and we have so much peace about the past five years of schooling at home. Its been an unbelievable blessing!
Just Mom on February 22nd, 2008 5:01 pm

Congratulations on making a decision. That’s always the hardest part, figuring out what is best for your child.

I don’t follow any set curriculum. Just read a lot to your child and do a lot of arts/crafts stuff. I will suggest two blogs I enjoy: http://heartofthematteronline.com/
and http://guiltfreehomeschooling.org/blog/

BTW … hubby and I decided to send our son to kindergarten this fall at a local Catholic school. We’re fortunate because the school gives parents the option of enrolling a child for a half-day (about four hours). We’re still debating whether to do a full-day or a half-day/homeschool program.

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.
M2 on February 23rd, 2008 1:47 am

Kudos to Teresa!

Whoever you are…

Good luck with that though Zabs. Just stopped by to say hello.
Amy Grant Bayliss on February 23rd, 2008 2:19 pm

Congratulations on your decision to homeschool! It was a hard decision for me when I made it but I am so glad that I did. Homeschooling has been so good for my family.

I highly recommend http://www.HeartOfTheMatterOnline.com. There are several ladies there who homeschool preschoolers and they have lots of experience that you could glean from. There is a link on the left “new to homeschooling” that you could click on and that would take you to a page with some helpful tips and a link to another page full of curriculum options.

I also co-operate the site so if you need anything or have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask! I’d love to help out in any way that I can!
sprittibee on February 23rd, 2008 5:14 pm
Nicole on February 23rd, 2008 10:15 pm

Hi,

I would love to hear more about how you go through this homeschooling process. I have a four year old and my husband and I decided to homeschool as well, seeing how things go along the way. I’ve ordered so many catalogs and read so many books and websites, I think I’ve given myself information overload. We really like the sounds of Sonlight because we already love books at our house and I like the idea of having a schedule to look at and follow, with the freedom of changing it by adding to and subtracting from according to my son’s learning style and interests.

Nicole
PS. I found your blog through Jeff’s blog. I was acquainted with him at the Big V before I moved to NC.
Is curriculum necessary? « Mom loves being at home on February 25th, 2008 8:48 am

[…] Posted on February 25, 2008 by momlovesbeingathome A bloggy friend of mine, Mommy Zabs, recently posted that she’s planning on homeschooling next year (yea!!!) and was interested in ideas for […]
Amber(Homeschool Diva) on March 1st, 2008 9:31 pm

Congrats. You will not regret it:-) The preschoolers and peace site referenced in the comments is fab as well.

I am set to start 5 in a row with my youngest this summer, so we can share notes along the way.

Congrats on a girl as well. Tell Jeff hello for me.
Love ya,
a
Andrea on March 2nd, 2008 4:54 pm

I kinda feel like I am minimizing preschool with this statement, but I don’t see why a big fancy curriculum is needed. It’s preschool. Any preschool workbook or software will cover the basics and more. Don’t spend too much time “teaching”this young or you will both grow sick of it.

Read to him (?), take him to children’s museums. Teach him to count and recognize the alphabet…. and most of all, HAVE FUN!
Mommy Zabs on March 2nd, 2008 11:19 pm

Thanks everyone.

Hi Andrea- thanks for coming by
For me curriculum “feels” needed because I’m new to this. I lack confidence in a way and feel that curriculum will at least give me what i need to structure around. Everyone has different personalities and that is how mine works. VERY type A I know many people that go without curriculum for P-school though so your sentiments are shared by many
Kristiana on April 20th, 2008 6:49 pm

I know this is an old post, but I haven’t been here in awhile, so I’m catching up. Great to see you’ve made a decision! That’s always a good feeling.

We used Five in a Row also starting at age 4 and I LOVE it!! It’s a gentle introduction to learning together and I think it really fostered a “love to learn” attitude in all of my boys. Here also is a link for beginning kindergarten (but you could use the same structure for preschool) that looks fairly simple. I’m one that needs structure, not a ton, but some. I work much better that way so I’ll pass this along.
http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=4105#more-4105
happyhippie on April 21st, 2008 11:17 am

Congrats on toe dipping! You know it is right when God gives you that peace! Pre-K is so fun. I did not use a set curriculum for K and it drove me crazy. I never felt like I was doing it “right” and that I was “behind”. I think I drove us both crazy. So for 2nd grade (C went to private school for 1st) I chose several boxed curriculums and a local co-op for Music and Art. Then we incorporated some Charlotte Mason type nature studies into science and language arts. The boxed and co op helped me to feel more efficient. I was able to be a calmer and more patient educator, which is what C needed and what I wanted to give her.
You are the mom. You know how you work best and you know how Owen learns best. I know you will find the curriculums that work best for you. Freedom is what home schooling is all about. So enjoy your new educational freedom. You’re going to have fun!!