Looking For Curriculum

I've found another book that I like a lot better then the one I spoke of on the previous post. The book I've been reading is called, 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum By: Cathy Duffy.
I am amazed at what I am learning in this book. It has tests and questions that help me figure out what I like. Because otherwise I really don't know what I like. Or should I say I know what I like I just don't know how to put it into words.

So, a test that I recently took and had my husband take is "Which Approach to Education Should I Use?" They ask questions of what you would prefer in ways to teach your children. These are the names of the different approaches to teaching.

1. Traditional
2. Charlotte Mason
3. Classical
4. Unit Study
5. Unschooling
6. Independent Study
7. Eclectic
8. Umbrella Program

I am sure that you could find and learn about these online.

I have found that I really don't like the traditional style. It would be like schooling your children at home but doing it in a way as if they were still at public school, just without the big classroom. It could totally work for some. Just not for me.

I have found that I really like the Charlotte Mason way of teaching. I love it! I can't go into detail right now of what it is all about. I also haven't read in detail all of the other ways of schooling. By taking the test it shows that I prefer Charlotte Mason first and Unit Study second. I haven't read about it yet but I think I might only like unit study just because I am terrified to teach on my own at this point.
My husband scored highest with Charlotte Mason and Classical. So I am glad that we are on the same page.
This is exciting!

How Do I Get Started?

I think so far my biggest problem is knowing where to start. What are the laws?

I asked friends who homeschool what I need to do. Do they have any advice?

I did not get the answers I thought I would. Some of the answers I got was,

"Oh, you will do great!"

"You are such and good mother, you will find your way!"

"Oh, that is the best decisions you could make! Good job."

I don't think they heard me when I asked, "How do I get started? Where do I go to find curriculum? What is the best curriculum you've found?"

However I e-mailed an old friend who sent some great websites to me.

One that I really like lays it all out with questions and answers, I just feel like I can't get enough of this site.

So, curriculum? So far I am looking at 3 different ideas.

First there is Connections Academy, I like this but I am wondering how much time I want my kids on the computer.

Second I found K12, here is another one that they use the computer a lot.

I like both of these because it is not just me teaching, it is not ALL on MY shoulders.

However the one I am leaning towards is A2 it is low cost and it is old school learning.

After I found these three different 'schools'. I found a book through this web site. The book is called, The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. I just started reading it and I love it already! This book will teach you how to get to know your child/ren, and how to best teach them. I think this will help a lot with knowing how they can best learn.

Something else I have felt has been somewhat of a challenge is, Changing My State of Mind. I can't just be here for them if they get hurt of if they have a question that needs to be answered or if they are fighting and they need me to protect them. I am their mother and I need to be their teacher, not just with school things but all things in life, I am their main teacher. Well, my husband and I. I never really looking at parenthood like that. So now I am working on changing how I look at being a mother. As I am making this change I find that I really like my kids and I really want to know what they are thinking and how they are really feeling. That when they want to talk to me I stop what I am doing and I really listen. I am sure that I will not be able to do this all of the time but I will am willing to try and make this change.

It is exciting!

Getting the Desire

I remember when I was getting ready to send my first child off to school. I went to the elementary school that was assigned to my neighborhood.
I walked into the school and said I have a little girl that is ready to start school, so they gave me a registration packet. I filled it out, made sure I marked that I only wanted her to go to half day kindergarten. Because after all she was only going to be 5 years old and one month. She is still a baby, my baby!!
I got the news a few weeks later that the school was not going to offer 1/2 day that year. I went to the school with tears in my eyes asking what can I do, my child can not go to full day school! I would not allow it! The principal and office staff laughed at me and said that the kids adjust and will eventually get used to it.
My reply, "I don't want my child to 'get used to it', and I don't want her going to a school where I as the parent will not be taken seriously!"

I found a school that did 1/2 day kindergarten. Benjamin Franklin, they had more of an 'old school' way of teaching. I liked that. The kids were not allowed to whisper to each other while eating lunch. That way they could not make anyone around them feel bad, or make fun of anyone. I liked that. My husband liked the way they taught the children, that they are more advanced than other schools. That just wasn't important to me because well, I got her into half day and they were serious about keeping the kids safe from bullies.

She went to kindergarten and loved it. There were times that she just didn't want to go to school, she just wanted to stay home with me. Then we sent her there for 1st grade. She had headaches almost everyday. The pace was just too fast for her.

Homeschooling crossed my mind but I quickly let it slip out. There was NO way I could be a homeschool mom, NO WAY!! I live life doing what I want to do when I want to do. The kids have lots of fun playing and I figured that if they were happy and if they were using there imaginations then they are learning just fine. Sure, I sing songs with them and read books, sometimes. And they figure out there colors and shapes without me having to do too much, kids just naturally learn these things. But for me to have structure in my life NO WAY!

So for second grade it wouldn't be just my oldest going to school. It was now time for my son to go to kindergarten. I just didn't feel right about sending him to Benjamin Franklin. It was too structured for him. And my oldest was having headaches, so I had to find other options. I found a great school where the pricipal has a school that is run out of her home. I went and checked it out. And I fell in love with it. My second grader would have only 14 students in her class, and my son would have 18 in his class.

The headaches went away for her, but she complained about friends, she just didn't feel like she fit in. The boys were mean and the girls were very clickish.

My son liked it for the most part, but he too felt a little left out. He was probably the kindergartener, but the little ones would pick on him and even hit him... in kindergarten! I could not beilive it! There were days that he would cry and not get out of the van when it was time to drop him off.

I was told around that time that boys just need to play more than girls, their minds just work differently. One lady said (I'm sorry I can't remember who this was) boys should not go to school until they are 8. Watching him I believe it.

So here we are 2010. I have an 8 year old that is going into 3rd grade, a 6 year old going into 1st grade and 4 turning 5 that could go into kindergarten.

My heart broke this year. I can't send them away to school. They are gone for 7 hours... 7 hours. Then they come home and have to do homework and then they eat and need to go to bed so they will be able to preform well at school.

I was only able to have them here with me at home for a little over 2 months and then I have to send them to someone else, they get to see my kids more than me???

Well my third child, I pulled her out and decided that she can stay home another year.

And now I am investigating homeschool.