Who has started their "official" year already? And...

[Dianna]

Have you started homeschooling this year yet? What kind of schedule do you follow: traditional school year, year-round, three months on/one month off, 4 days a week with Fridays off, or something else? A lot of new homeschoolers are surprised at the flexibility we have in documenting our days. Let talk a little about how we homeschool so they'll be more aware of our diversity! :smile2:

Dianna

[TAT191]

Hi, we started our year in late April. I do plan on schooling year round. We do our reading in the morning, workbooks after lunch and any hands-on/craft things in the afternoon.

[Dianna]

We basically learn year-round, but we have a much lighter schedule during the summer, and during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays. Dianna

[hh_spring]

We basically follow the public school schedule, as I have one child in public and one at home! He does not like doing his work when his sister is around....LOL Public starts here on the 11th, tomorrow. We will be getting organized at home and basically setting up our supplies and coursebooks and easing into a new curriculum for this year!
Harriet

[jacki]

We were originally going to start after Labor Day, but have been doing math, language arts, reading and history for past 2 weeks. Not intensive yet, but just to get started slowly. My son seems to behave better when there is structure and we've been "off" since May. We are homeschooling throughout the year, with breaks in between in October (a week), December (3 weeks), April (week or two) and finishing up the "year" in July sometime.
We try to do most of our school work in the morning (best time for my oldest) and more activities in the afternoon. My youngest (3) seems to work better midday through the evening.

[rmamacarr]

I happy to see this site and post. this is my first year homeschooling. And I am only homeschooling one out of four school age children. I am very scared. I do not want to mess up! I had no idea that you could do it any time you wanted to. I did know about 180 days so I asummed it was to be done during the regular school year. When I was looking for an association to join I remember seeing one that said all records had to be turned in my the end of May. I don't think that is the one I joined but figured that is how all were. I am happy to see it is not. I hope I can relax soon. I think it will benifit both me and my son. I guess I too need to research more.

[Dianna]

rmamacarr, I'm glad to have you with us and I hope we'll ease your mind a little and help you to relax. Most associations do have a paperwork deadline, like the May deadline you spoke of. However, keep in mind that the deadline is just so the association can close out their paperwork for that year. You can still school year-round, or on any other schedule you choose. You can consider May 31 your end date, and June 1st your start date. Do you see how you can just keep on going, but still have an end date and start date - even if they're just one day apart? :smile2:

If you'd like, start a new thread telling us more about the age of your homeschooled son and what types of things he's interested in, and we can give you ideas of how we homeschool a child that age. Would that help?

Dianna

[chrispeters]

I also homeschool year round. Our summer schedule is lighter and more flexible. I use that time to focus on specific skills, i.e. multiplication tables in the early years and I let my eleven year old pick a couple of subjects she would like to study. This summer she picked eastern hemisphere geography and pre-algebra(the little weirdo :surprised ). I am also moving her to a more semester based schedule this year. I've been homeschooling for six years now and I feel I've become much more relaxed and comfortable with it. I used to fret so much that I think I missed out on the joy of it for the first few years. My eleven year old is a very motivated and independent learner; however, my eight year old son drives me bananas some days. :eusa_snoo I really try to avoid thinking that they will approach school in the same manner, even if I do sometimes wish he would. Has anyone else run into that?

[Dianna]

My eleven year old is a very motivated and independent learner; however, my eight year old son drives me bananas some days. :eusa_snoo I really try to avoid thinking that they will approach school in the same manner, even if I do sometimes wish he would. Has anyone else run into that?

Yes, each of mine are different, even the same children are different in different years (as they age). I had the high school stuff down with my oldest (he graduated this past year), and now I need to revamp my ideas for my next son, who learns differently. It's definitely an adventure! :smile2:

Dianna

[hh_spring]

This summer she picked eastern hemisphere geography and pre-algebra(the little weirdo ). Too Funny....That's what ya get for asking!! I asked my son to think about what language he would like to learn.....Drum roll PLZ......Japanese....geesh!!! Figured it was all due to Pokemon....suffice it to say...we have not closed that deal yet. (mom wondering why did she ask?)

bye, Harriet

[rmamacarr]

Dianna,
Thanks so much. I will do that for sure. I need all the help I can get.

Harriet,

My son Has also expressed interest in Japanese. Maybe somewhere down the line I will get the courage to tackle that one.

robin

[SChomemomof3]

We start around the end of June and run thru the end of April with breaks here and there. 2 weeks at Christmas for sure but seem to do things that consist of fun school learning then. Crafts, fun days with homeschoolers, cookie baking day, etc.
I like to have 20 to 30 days in before public school starts due to my first year my son had surgery and came home needing round the clock care and my daughter was young and needed all one on one schooling. We got nothing done during the several weeks he was so, so sick. I know it didn't really put me behind but I have just since then started earlier in case of emergencies. Not that it really matters if I am ahead or behind public schools.