How to get started!

[MaryMarg]

A little overwhelmed here as I read through posts!  I'm seeking info on how to consider homeschooling 5yoDD instead of public kinder in August.  How does one start?  I'm reading lots online and looking at forums; guess I'm thinking more of logistics.  How do you plan and choose curriculum, etc?  Thanks for any insight!

[dubatatamama]

Here at our house, we focus on the 3 R's for K.  My DS (5 in 2 weeks!) is reading independently, but we still do a lot of read alouds and we use Explode the Code to make sure he understands all the phonics rules.  For math, we use Saxon math K in a very relaxed way and only if he asks to do it.  We mainly do math games and use a lot of different objects as manipulatives for counting, patterning, etc.  For writing, he likes to write letters to friends and family and he will sometimes do a page in his Handwriting without Tears book.  

You could also google your state/district standards and align yourself with those.  This site is good for a very general scope and sequence for K  http://www.worldbook.com/typical-course-of-study-kindergarten-curriculum-guide.html

Good luck on your journey!!

[moominmamma]

Simplistically speaking there are two tactics for starting. One is to spend a lot of time in advance learning about different curriculums, decide on what you want, purchase it and start homeschooling once you feel you've got all your ducks in a row. The other is to spend a lot of time observing your child's natural learning, appreciating how he learns, and then to gradually stick a toe in the water and start offering him something here and there to see if it "takes." 

The advantage of the first approach is that you feel in charge, like you're doing a proper serious job of things, like you've covered all the bases and you can't be faulted for missing something important. The disadvantage is that often the choices you make before you've begun the process are not the best choices. They may be too much too soon, too structured or scripted, too advanced, too dry, too basic, the wrong learning style, too rigid, too open-ended, too parent-directed. And you may have made expensive mistakes in selecting materials, and because of the investment be more committed to continuing on paths that aren't serving your child optimally. 

The advantage of the second approach is that if you choose something that doesn't work for your child it will have been a small choice, easily corrected, and you will learn from that mistake and move in a new direction with your subsequent choices. You can test the waters and gradually evolve your approach according to the responses you get from your child, making for a more flexible responsive approach that can turn on a dime. The disadvantage is chiefly in the parental stress department: you may worry that you're not (yet) doing enough, that you're missing some precious window of opportunity or advantage, that your child is "getting left behind" or that others will see your homeschooling as not robust and serious enough. 

We have been very happy with the second way of starting ... just sticking our toes in the water at first, and wading in from there. The nice thing is that you don't have to feel like you know it all before you start. Because if there's one thing I've learned from homeschooling it's that if you think you've got it all figured out, you've likely got a rude awakening coming! 

Miranda

[MaryMarg]

Oh this is such great info!  The link on the first is a great guide to give some structure and the pros/cons you listed, Miranda, are well thought out!  Thank you both so much!  We're wondering if ANY curriculum is necessary for the upcoming kindergarten year (kinder is not mandatory in our state), although I'd like to consider a math curriculum based on my general weakness in this area.  At 24 weeks pregnant, this is overwhelming and not tops on the to-do list but we know we have to get going on it and these ideas certainly help reign in ideas.  Many thanks!

[AAK]

I am considering hs K for our youngest.  I already hs the older two. If we keep M at home, I won't be buying a curriculum except the first level of Singapore.  I don't care if we get through it though.  For writing, I will do as I did with my oldest (she was actually in ps--but this was on our own).  We started a journal about the "best part of each day".  Dd would write something to finish the sentence "The best part of today was. . . ".  Sometimes she would add a sentence or two on her own.  And, then she would draw a picture of it.  We did this for her because she was always focusing on the negative, but it was quite fun and would be perfect for developing writers. 

Amy