What specific things are important to you?

[my3peanuts]

In terms of what your child learns academically?

We're doing:

Language Arts
Math
Social Studies
Science
Music
Health

I want to incorporate Bible/religious study in somewhere as well...

What other "subjects" do you teach?

[Kleine Hexe]

I don't teach it but I feel that martial arts is important for my ds.

Once he is proficient in reading I will start Latin.

[~Coyotebones~]

I'm just beginning this journey with my children. My oldest is only three, but I feel that the emphasis in school is all wrong, and it begins in preschool/kindergarten. I want to expose my kids to lots and lots of block play at this early stage. I have been reading lots of stuff about Friedrich Froebel (the inventor of kindergarten) and feel that early childhood education has really taken a turn for the worst in America. Worksheet academics is not the way; experience with real life is and with young children Block Play is crucial to having intuitive understanding of math later on. Emphasis on early physical math is jequally important as emphasis on early literacy, but you wouldn't know it from looking at most contemporay curriculums. .

[heket]

Well, what age are you working with, because I think the answers will be skewed. For me, the initial response is to suggest www.besthomeschooling.org, but I have early learners. This year our oldest is kinder, so we'll be working on basics for language arts, nature/ science, social studies, and math. I'd like to also do some second language learning (french) and spiritual studies (pagan.) But with an older child, I'd expect to have a different answer, something that's more specific like mythologies, pre-algebra, and shakespearean english, for a crazy example.

[homeschoolingmama]

For me it isn't so much subjects that I want them to learn. It is more that I want they to love what they are learning. I want them to always follow their interests and have the inner drive and motivation to do so.
The subject of life. I want them to have morals. I want them to be community involved. I want them to have the confidence in what they pursue.
I do incorporate fun learning games into our lives. Like a continent puzzle, math manipulatives, science experiments, etc. I would like them to have a general knowledge of the world around them but covering a specific subject isn't important to me.

[3momkmb]

I generally try to cover Math, some kind of language art (grammar, phonics, creative writing-not all at the same time), literature, science, history/geography. By literature I mean reading good books with maybe the occasional writing assignment. History/geography is probably what most people call social studies too.

I never made health a subject (even though I'm supposed to ) because I felt they learning most of that by having a parent they can talk to and exposure to life in general. I always manage to come up with something to write in that box come review time.

My oldest also does foreign language because she wants to, although I may have pushed it if she didn't for college transcript purposes. I know, I know :

I tend to encourage things like team sports or activities (like cheer, dance, soccer) of the child's choice. This is at least partially because my homeschool group can be irregular and I like the kids to have access to peers, also it's good exercise for my would be couch potatoes!

I try to do at least one *citizen science* project every year and lots of nature study. Last year we did the Great Backyard Bird count and Tomatosphere.

[AuntLavender]

I thought that way too when my children were young

Originally Posted by 3momkmb

I never made health a subject (even though I'm supposed to ) because I felt they learning most of that by having a parent they can talk to and exposure to life in general.

but I have two children with Autism and the other two have sensory integration disorders so I have to frequently remind them how to brush their teeth and other personal hygiene issues! We even have step by step directions for some of my children.

With regards to the birds and the bees, my oldest three were 6 1/2, 5 1/2, and 3 1/2 when their brother was born so they understand where babies come from since that was a natural time in their lives to discuss sex and reproduction. My almost 12yo ds has had another talk with me regarding sex but then he is getting older.

Sincerely,
Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 11, 10, 8, and 5

[AuntLavender]

For my family

I am glad my children are avid readers. Also I want them to easily do consumer math in their head like knowing 3 for $5 is $1.66 each and how to do percentages like a $12.99 shirt that is 40% makes it just over $5 off!

I want them to be able to write and understand what they read. Blessedly they have a natural sense of wonder in them and they like to learn. I have taught myself how to sew for example and I like it that they also feel they can learn things on their own too.

Sincerely,
Debra, homeschooling mom of 4 ages 11, 10, 8, and 5

[Kleine Hexe]

Oh, and I think that life skills is important. My boys are learning to clean, cook, laundry and so forth. Again not academic but important.

[marilynmama]

I want my children to have excellent critical thinking skills.

[smurphygt]

These are the specific things that I feel are important and would like my children to know by the time they leave home. My children are 11, 9, and 3.

General Life Skills
How to read, write & spell (or use a dictionary )
Basic Math and Consumer Math
Basic knowledge of history
Basic knowledge of science
Whatever interests them!

For this year on a daily basis we try to do family reading, individual reading, copywork OR dictation, spelling (AVKO) and math. We usually do short lessons for history and science every day, but not always. Another activity we enjoy and try to do daily is analyzing the "word of the day" sent to my email courtesy of Merriam-Webster. This one activity has led us to research all sorts of offbeat things I never would have thought of on my own. The kids really get a kick out of it.

For the rest, they can do anything that interests them provided we can afford it and the activity is somewhat safe. My oldest does karate 2x a week, while my daughter does horseback riding 2x a week. She will also take the occasional art class. Neither one of my kids have expressed much interest in music. Maybe in the future.