Guidance from veteran hs needed

[elizawill]

Hi, my name is Amy Keith and we just moved to Pageland, SC. We have been in California for the past year, but I grew up in the Atlanta area. My daughter just turned 5 in October, and she will *officially* be in Kindergarten next year as a homeschooler. I have purchased boxes of books ...and loads of curriculum...and flash cards...and games...and crafts...and then more books....and I still have no idea what I'm doing! :biggrin2: I desperately need guidance from some homeschool veterans!! I also would really like social activities for my children (I also have a son that will be 3 in late March). We live in Pageland, but we go to church in Ballantyne...so I'm not sure how to network and make friends in our area. I plan to join the homeschool group in Lancaster after the new year, but I am open to other suggestions in meeting new friends for myself and my kids. Thanks!!

[duboisa]

Hi Amy. I did the same thing, i think i bought about $800 in curriculum, that i never used, i finally just started buying regular books,( i really like usborne books). I live in atlanta for about 2 years when i was in middle school and high school. I started homeschooling in january 2006. this first year has been really hard my boys are 12 and 7, there are days when i just want to give up, but then i remember why i am doing it. In kindergarten they dont need much "formal" school, so I would just go with the flow and let them lead the way. At that age and having not been in public school. they will still have a love of learning. My oldest was in PS until middle of 6th grade, and i havent gotten the love of learning back into him yet, I hope that i will. My biggest piece of advise if dont workbook them to death. i started out that way last year when justin was in kindergarten. He didnt retain a thing.

By the way, there is tons of free curriculum on the internet that i have found. There is progressivephonics.com and starfall.com. which are both great ways to teach reading.

Hope this helps

[Dianna]

I desperately need guidance from some homeschool veterans!!

Amy, my first advice would be to stop buying for now until you have a chance to meet other homeschooling moms. You'll be able to talk to them about the resources they find most helpful, and they can show you what they use, and you'll know more about what's available and what may work for your children.

I have a relaxed homeschooling style. We use the library a lot, and videos, educational television, magazines, field trips, travel, etc, for most subjects. For math and handwriting, we use workbooks. For reading, we read books (after teaching basic phonics skills) and integrate those throughout the curriculum (a book about bugs would be listed under "reading" and "science", for example).

When you have time, read through the messages here in these forums, and read the FAQs at http://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/faq.htm That should help you become more familiar with different methods of learning and resources.

I also would really like social activities for my children (I also have a son that will be 3 in late March). We live in Pageland, but we go to church in Ballantyne...so I'm not sure how to network and make friends in our area. I plan to join the homeschool group in Lancaster after the new year, but I am open to other suggestions in meeting new friends for myself and my kids. Thanks!!

We have several families from the Pageland/Jefferson area in our Lancaster group, so you'd feel comfortable there. Other ideas would be church groups, scouts, 4-H, etc.

Welcome to SC and to the forums! We're glad to have you with us! :smile2:

Warmly,
Dianna

[elizawill]

hi..thank you all for such great advice. haha, dianna, i finally did stop buying curriculum (only because i ran out of money and could not justify spending more than i already had!)

my original intent was that my daughter would start kindegarten this year, as she would have been eligible in CA because the cut-off is in december. with the move and everything though, it's just been too hectic...and really too unfair to my daughter to attempt it fully. she's had a lot of changes. after christmas i told her that school will officially "begin". i think this headstart will be really good for me since i'm a newbee. my biggest *fear* is that my daughter will fall behind in what she would be normally learning in school. i don't want to fail her educationally because she is SO smart and learns very well. i just don't want to let her down... or have her miss out on some great subject... or project... or field trip...or friends...because of me. i'm sure you all understand. plus, there is tons of curriculumd and chosing the right one for us is SO hard! i'll look forward to meeting some of you in person and getting suggestions that you think may work for our family and personalities. thanks again for all of your responses!

Amy

[Dianna]

I moved this from the Kitchen Table's "Intro" thread to here so others would see it more and be able to offer help. :smile2:

Dianna

[Dianna]

she's had a lot of changes. after christmas i told her that school will officially "begin". i think this headstart will be really good for me since i'm a newbee. my biggest *fear* is that my daughter will fall behind in what she would be normally learning in school. i don't want to fail her educationally because she is SO smart and learns very well. i just don't want to let her down... or have her miss out on some great subject... or project... or field trip...or friends...because of me.

Because your daughter didn't turn 5 by Sept 1, you don't have to register with an association or document her work, even if you do start homeschooling in January.

Try not to worry too much about gaps in her learning. I moved a lot as a child, and every school was at a different place - sometimes I was ahead in math (where "gaps" are most noticeable), and sometimes I was behind. Regardless, I always adjusted. There are always going to be gaps because there's so much to learn about the world, we'll never be able to learn it all in one lifetime.

I focus on giving my children a foundation in math, reading, and writing. They'll need these skills to function as adults. Then I try to give them as wide a background of knowledge as possible (through books, travel, discussion, field trips, etc.) Instead of focusing on dates and minute details, for example, they'll know about events and concepts.

My goal is to give my children a love of learning and knowledge of how to find the information they need, so no matter where they go or what they do, they'll know how to find out what they need to know. I hope this makes sense.

Let us know if you have any more questions or concerns.

Warmly,
Dianna

[catwoman]

Hi amy,:wave:
I am Aimee also...We live in Lancaster and I also have a five year old girl.We're not doing too much this year,not at all what I had planned! She likes to do a lot of crafts,wich we do.She has been sick a lot this fall,so we decided to let "serious kindergarden" wait till next year when she's doing better.She's really doing well now,if you'd like to get together sometime,let us know! Aimee

[elizawill]

Hi Aimee (easy enough to remember!)...YES we would love to get together sometime for play dates! My daughter Gracie would really enjoy having a friend....and my 2 year old son will really enjoy not having to play dress-up and tea party with her all of the time now! :biggrin2: Are you part of the homeschool group in Lancaster? We plan to participate after the new year. I will p.m. my email address to you. Perhaps we can figure out a time after the holidays when we could get together.