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Newbies for Homeschooling

Discussion in 'Homeschooling Forum' started by StefanM, Aug 7, 2014.

  1. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    Hello Everyone,

    We will be homeschooling my oldest son for the 1st grade, using the Sonlight curriculum. We had a bad experience in public school last year.

    BB community, do you have any tips for first timers?
     
  2. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Find groups in your area to participate in activities with.
    Your local library may offer a teacher's library card for homeschooling parents, which allows you to keep books out longer.
    Have a good family attorney on retainer if you can afford one. There are some really evil people out there.
    Know the homeschooling laws in your state.
    Be ready to try new methods of teaching. Some parents think kids sit at a desk for 6 hours straight and that's just not how it works.
    Incorporate learning into your lifestyle. That is part of the joy of teaching kids at home, and what bothers me about the disconnect many families make between home and a school building. Learning is not something that stops at a certain time of day. Humans constantly engage with their surroundings and learn. They are seeing, tasting, smelling, touching and thinking. Talk about it! Talk about the weather you see when you're outside. Where is that rain coming from? Talk about the food you eat. Is it a fruit? Does it have seeds? What do the seeds look like? Sweet or sour? Stick out your tongue and look at your taste buds.
    Stuff like that.
    Piquing curiosity promotes a love for learning. (don't get annoying with it though, lol)
    Oh, and relax. If you're super worried you're doing it wrong, you're probably the last person on earth who needs to be concerned.
    Oh, and the other people who say THEIR first graders are doing fiftieth grade math and reading chapter books...just smile and nod at them. It's not a competition. (and they're probably crazy so back away slowly)
     
  3. padredurand

    padredurand Well-Known Member
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    We managed to homeschool our three without doing any irreversable damage. Sent two off to college and one into the Army.

    Good insight from Gina. Find a homeschool group in your area. New York has LEAH (Loving Education at Home) with chapters all around the state. The were good for learning all the things you need to know about educating your child at home, how to interact with the school district, curriculum support and more.

    One thing we learned early is that homeschooling is not something you do. It becomes a way of life. Every moment becomes a teaching moment. Baking and chemistry are cousins. So is geometry and hanging sheetrock. We took our vacations in places that were historically important. We have no regrets.

    Don't listen to the naysayers that gripe about social interaction. Your child will do so much better in a loving environment than an openly hostile one.
     
  4. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    There are some here that will call you a sinner for taking your kid out of public school….


    Ignore them.
     
  5. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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    One thing I've learned, both as a home school student and a home school parent: don't let your schedule slip. Once you get behind in school, it gets harder and harder to catch up.
     
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