Looking for HS's in Washington State...

[EIGN]

Hello! We live in Snohomish County in Washington State. I have two young kids, ages 4 and 3. We are doing some sort of eclectic/unschooling thing, and were hoping to meet some more families who are also homeschooling young ones in our area. (I already posted in the "Finding Your Tribe" forum, but have not had many responses.)

Anyway, send me a line if you are out there. We would love to hear from you.

[Overproducktion]

Hey there!!! I am in Bonney Lake Washington. My two oldest boys 7 & 5 attend public school--and sorry to say they love it. I just got turned on to home schooling about a year ago. I really want to pull my kids out and start home schooling--but they do not want to. BUT--my two youngest children Hunter 3, Mila 6 months, I plan on trying to home school. I just bought a Hooked On Phonics Kit (I was just about to post about it when I say your post) I thought I would try that before I commit to home schooling. I have also tried to find a private Montessori--but WOW! Expensive. But worth every penny. I work graveyard and I am very tired in the mornings--I am afraid that if I am not up to par--then my children won’t get every advantage. Plus we are in a small town where the school is awesome. I honestly love the school my children are in. I just have days were I want to pick them up from school so that we can go study some trees & soil in the mountains, or go to the ocean to examine the wildlife. And I know that this is my only life and later I will wish I would have home schooled and spent every moment with them.

Any way, I think I will home school my youngest two through kindergarten maybe......I know I need a support person to talk with. I guess I will just play it by ear.

Wow, sorry so long. I am trying to stay awake to see if the snow storm hits! (we got 10 inches Sat/Sun!) Well, I hope we can talk sometime!!!

[Monica]

Homeschooling my 4 year old in Kitsap Co. Unfortunately we are a bit of a drive from you, I too am looking for local homeschoolers, anyone?

[Velveteen]

happymomwith4;
I am also a WA homeschooler, but my kids are a little older. 14, 11, 7 and 3.

I noticed you bought hooked on phonics, which is one program I do NOT reccomend. I would hate for you to try homeschooling with it, hate it, and think it was drudgery. the hooked on phonics is very boring.
You might want to look into Mary Prides Big Book of HOme Learning, the getting started volume. She has scores of phonics programs that have been tested on real life people, that would be of interest to you. The Sing, Spell, Read, and Write program is just excellent, holds the child attention, and is a lot of fun. There are a lot of other programs that rate well too.

You have 10 inches of snow!!! I am so jealous! We have about 4, which is the most weve seen in years. Have fun!
Hope this isn't a downer, I really want you to be successful.

[Overproducktion]

Velveteen .....

Thanks for the info on Hooked On Phonics. I am getting reviews that are really split in half. I have a two month money back garauntee, less shipping. So, if I am not happy with it, I will ship it back. My kids get bored soooo easy AHHG! Hopefully it will not be to bad.

Do you know where I would find Mary Prides Big Book of Home Learning? ebay maybe?

Well, enjoy the snow..it started raining here about 10 minutes ago When you have time please get back to me.

Oh, I forgot. I wanted to ask you some Q's if that is okay. Did you homeschool from the very beginning with all of your children? Do your children enjoy it? Where do you get support? Do you have days where your children get to play with other children?

Sorry for all the Q's!! I am really looking into homeschooling. Maybe even talking my two oldest boys into it...I guess we will see.

[TiredX2]

We are homeschooling in King County.

About Hooked on Phonics---- we got a copy at the library and DD loved it, but... we did not use it like you are "supposed" to. She was really ready to read independently (had been doing Bob books for a few months) and just wanted to learn--- fast. So, for 3 weeks, maybe 4 nights a week we went through the books. We got through the first three books (the big workbook ones, not the readers), she read most of the readers and then we were done with that. She's a great reader and just needed something a little structured, but its not what we will probabably do with DS.

Kay

[Overproducktion]

Still waiting for the Hooked On Phonics to come in the mail. It should be here next week. I am really anxious to see how it goes for my children. I talked to a friend who used it and says that it's great, and then my cousin called and told me it's horrible. I hope they are good for their money back garauntee if my children do not find it useful. I am waiting for a phone call from my library to see if they have Mary Prides Big Book of Home Learning. I guess we will see. Well, I have a little baby that wants to nurse.....talk to every one later.

[HRC121799]

unschooling in Spokane, but waving hello to you west side of the mountains gals!!!

nak

[Overproducktion]

Hi Heather


How is the snow over there? We got lots over here for once--kind of strange....

What is "unschooling?" My kids are in public school I am just now looking into homeschool, curious as to what unschooling is. Sounds interesting!

EIGN mentioned it in her post too....is it the same as eclectic? This sounds neat

[Embee]

In PT here. That is to say, Port Townsend. DS just turned three and we're planning to unschool. Does it sound antithetical to say we're *planning* to unschool?

Anyway, always nice to touch base with those near us who are taking the same adventure. Here in PT there is plenty of support and a rather large community for homeschooling, particularly with regard to our overall size (approx. 8k).

The best to you and if you're ever over this way...

[EIGN]

If anybody is interested in unschooling, I would say to check out some John Holt books. I liked both How Children Fail and Teach Your Own....he has a lot of books out there. I like his writing, and I believe he is considered the person who "started" unschooling, or at least gave it a name.

[carrots]

I am in N. King County and looking into homeschooling. I have 3 kids dd 3 3/4, dd 18m, ds 3 weeks.

[levar]

Hi! We live in Shoreline. There is a homeschool/daycare for under-5 on our street. The elementary age kids go to a homeschool two blocks away. The middle and high school age kids homeschool online via a program out of Federal Way. There are 4-5 families that got together to mutually homeschool all of their kids [2-5 per family]. Additionally they occasionally take in kids of friends and neighbors.

Our son is 3 going on 4 and currently attending a local preschool at a local church for what I call "playtime". We'll be playing it all by ear, homeschool vs public school, when he is older. But I *really* like the idea of schooling like my neighbors do and might consider something like that or joining them when the time comes.

My suggestion, seriously, walk the block and ASK your neighbors if they or anyone they know homeschools. You might be very suprised at the answers and information you get, I was. Also ask everyone you meet at the park etc.