My daughter is having a lot of problems at school. She's not able to focus and she's having a lot of trouble learning, she's in 2nd grade and her teacher feels like she's in entry level first grade. They have tried several things, but nothing seems to be helping. I would like to home school her to give her that individual attention, but I don't know the first thing about home schooling, all I know is that it seems to be helpful to a lot of kids that have similar problems, but how does it work, would it be too late to pull her out of school now or do I have to wait till next year, and how do you get started. Please moms, help me out, I am desperately needing to help my daughter out.
I don't have a ton of time because it is a school day, haha, but we have been homeschooling in TX for over 8 years, so e-mail me if you would like to talk.
My son is in 1st grade and this is our first year of homeschooling. You need to find the curriculum that will work for you. I did almost a year of research while he was in kinder cause I knew that when we got back to the states we where going to homeschool him. I am using a online curriculum that my son absolutely loves. It's http://www.k12freehomeschooling.org
It's great for us cause my son loves doing things on the computer. If I can help you in anyway just let me know.
M.
Hi,
I agree that homeschooling can be anything you want it to be. One good way to see what's out there is to go to the homeschool book fair at the Arlington Convention Center in May. That was my introduction to homeschooling, and it was certainly an eye-opener! There are hundreds of curricula available, and the sheer number of people there was amazing! There are thousands of families here in the metroplex that homeschool.
Joining a coop or support group is a good idea so you won't feel cut off from the outside world. Also, various places like ASI Gymnastics and Creative Arts Theater School (CATS) offer extra-curricular activities specifically for homeschoolers.
If you have other questions, or would like me to email you a list of websites that I have found great resources, please let me know.
D.
Public school tried that when my daughter was in first grade...so we homeschooled for half a year then second grade went to a private christian school for 2 years...thought we could go back to public...keep in mind she is 2 1/2 yrs ahead in her studies and that coincides w/ her tests...she is on the honor roll with an E in conduct and this public school is trying to tell me that she is behind....WHAT!!!...go figure...we are going to go back to homeschooling at the end of this year...i'll have my ears open to see what other moms have to say...i am very interested too!
Luckily, in Texas homeschooling is very easy. You can pull your daughter out at anytime, you just need to notify the school. Check out some homeschooling how-to books from the library. Figure out what your daughter's learning style is and go from there. The more you read, you will form a vision in your mind of how you want your homeschool to look... no two are the same. That's the beauty of homeschooling, you make it fit your family and your lifestyle.
Then start looking at the different cirriculum options. Some you will discount right away because they don't fit your vision. That will help you to narrow it down some. Join a local homeschool group and get input and support from other hsing parents. Also, take time to "deschool" your daughter (google that term too), she may be resistant to jumping right into school at home.
Good luck to you!
This is only our 2nd year homeschooling, but I have found that it can be SOOOO very easy or SOOOO very hard. You just hav to find the right curricula for you AND your child. I would suggest researching several of the MANY, MANY choices there are out there. Then, once you have an idea about what you want, look for them at thrift stores, Half-Price Books (which GIVES books away at their distribution center in Dallas on Saturday mornings - I am dying to go, but haven't made it yet), eBay or one of the free groups like http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreeHomeschoolTools/ where homeschoolers give and receive materials for postage only. That way you haven't spent a ton of money on curricula that doesn't work for you and your child. One advantage that we had was that my son's doctor pulled him out of school and he went into the homebound program. (We did that to get him well and keep him well so he would be able to have his upcoming surgery. That may be an option for you if your doctor is understanding.) It was a real eye opener. The teacher came two days a week for two hours each visit. Most of her time was spent telling me what his lessons would be for the week (I had a copy of the lesson plan so that was completely unnecessary) and administer tests. She did read his Social Studies and Science to him after I questioned her about him not having any of those study lessons and his on campus teacher assured me that he should be having Science and Social Study lessons. I did all the teaching. She simply tested him on what I had taught him. When it came to a lesson that I did not feel that I could teach him adequately, I asked her to teach it to him. That happened two times and both times she went to the on campus teacher and got him excused from the lessons. I quit asking her and went to the on campus teacher. It was through that experience that I realized that my mother was right (yet again) and I could homeschool him and give him a good education.
Another thing to consider is that your homeschool does not have to be a formal classroom set up. You can have class/lessons anywhere - the kitchen table, the middle of the living room floor, the doctor's office, the grocery store, driving down the road. Find your "style" and have fun. When learning is fun, they WANT to do it.
Good luck.
Everything the person above me said, I second. We pulled our son mid-way through Kindergarten. Our oldest attends one of the schools (there are a few in the metroplex) where they go to classes two days a week (three for the older kids) & do their work at home the other day, love it.
I also have to reccomend finding a homeschooling group in your particular area (there are secular groups, christian groups, etc) and talk to other moms! I wish I had done that right away before jumping in, I did find the group pretty quickly, but we had already purchased a box curriculum of what my son was using in school - bad idea. He needed something different.
I use the Sycamore Academy out of California. They provide a traditional 180-day school year. I am very satisfied with them as they have taken all of the "guess work" out of the way for me. I do not have to plan any lessons as this service is provided with enrollment. I especially like the reading program they have. It comes from an Amish community and the concept is awesome.
