LAST CALL FOR HOMESCHOOL FAQ . . . This blog was started as a way to share my homeschooling experience and advice with those who are just now considering homeschooling, and for Newbies - those of you have just decided to homeschool. My initial advice is always the same, and has been outlined in the first several posts (except for the Christmas letter, which was just silly!)




Now is the time to ask your questions. What are you wondering about? What are your biggest homeschooling concerns? What homeschooling methods have you looked into for your family? Let's get a dialogue going. I'll try answer every post on this blog.

Are you a veteran homeschooler? What advice would you add or change? What worked for you and did not work for you? Please post it so everyone can benefit.

I'll begin sharing some specifics of what I've done, what I'm doing, and what I wish I'd done differently. I'll share my educational philosophy, and tell you about others. There will be posts about homeschooling groups, how to find them and how to start them. I'll post on the legalities, and any other topic that you would like. Just post it!!! If I don't know, I'll connect you with someone who does. Networking could be the single most important ingredient to successful homeschooling!

As time goes on, I hope to start other blogs about my other interests. Afterall, someday I'll have a life of my own again!!! I'd like to blog about knitting, adoption, genealogy, homesteading, canning . . . gee, if I've done all that, no wonder I'm tired now!!!



I also intend to change my on-line name. My full first and last name doesn't flow very well and it is hard to spell, say and remember. Robin Ann is my first and middle name, simple and to the point. Easy to spell, say and remember. However, there is another Robin Ann who is a designer. (Google her, and tell her I sent you!!)

One last thing . . . and this is simply to toot my own horn. After you have homeschooled for a while, you will learn how important it is to acknowledge your own successes - because rarely will anyone else notice!!! So, to brag on myself - I made the college Dean's List!!!!! Yeah Me!!!!!

I've got homeschool burnout. Ya know that saying, "If you want to get something done right, do it yourself."?  I want to get a lot of things done, and I can't find people to delegate to.  Sometimes it's simply a matter of taking my turn and doing some things.  Either way, I've got a lot on my plate and I'm tired and discouraged.  Today.  One of the first things about homeschooling you must realize is that you will always have days like I'm having today.  What causes them and what do you do about it? 

What causes homeschool burnout?  I have four teenagers at home, all homeschooling.  Three of them play basketball, which involved miles and miles of driving to practices and games.  And of course the socialization time after the game at the nearest McD's. (I recently had to teach a homeschool mom who is new to homeschool basketball that 'basketball' had nothing to do with 'basketball . . .' it's all about socialization!) I am a full-time college student myself, and this semester is really icky:  Literature, Biology and Algebra, and I am already behind in all of them!  How depressing!  I have two boys in Boy Scouts who are both approaching Eagle.  The troop is having trouble functioning, I complained and guess what - I received two new jobs:  Merit Badge Coordinator AND Advancement Chairman.  I teach a high school class once a week at my church, as well as substitute on Sundays.  I play the piano for the church choir and our new choir director is very ambitious.  She has chosen a piece that will require lots of effort from me.  I volunteered to chair the local Homeschool History Fair.  (Perhaps that will be another post!)  I have one child in braces so that means a trip to the orthodontist at least once a month.   And I have an undiagnosed foot pain, so there will be doctor's appointments in my future.  Laundry, cooking, cleaning - what's that?  (Actually, those are some areas I can delegate - we call it "Home Ec." - perhaps there's a homeschooling blog post in there somewhere, too!)  Gosh, as I read back over all that, I'm shocked.  No wonder I'm tired today!  (And my foot hurts.)

I suspect, if you were to itemize everything you do in your life, it would look similar to mine.  I certainly do not corner the market in over-achieving.  However, if you have not begun homeschooling, you may wonder where you will find the time to add homeschooling to your life.  Try this:  instead of thinking about homeschooling, think about life education.  Everything on my list transfers to education and experience for each of my children.  They see me setting an example in dedication, commitment (not the insanity kind, although . . . ), loyalty, personal management (that's a Boy Scout merit badge), priority setting . . .  add your words onto the comment page below.  And share with us your busy schedule, too.  It will help all of us to know we are not alone.

What to do about homeschool burnout?  There are lots of strategies, some probably better than other.  Right now I just want to take a nap.  Since I have to leave for basketball practice and algebra class, though, I guess I'll wash my hair instead.  It is very important on hectic days and busy periods of your life to step back and look for the big picture.  If a child does not learn the letter "F" today, it will not effect their college application.  Just teach it tomorrow. 


When life gets too busy, re-evaluate.  Do the children have to involved in so many extra-curricular activities?  Do they have to take all the lessons they are taking now, or could one be eliminated?  My children truly need basketball, for socialization, for self-confidence, for goal-setting, for self-discipline, for physical education, etc.  It is a huge sacrifice for me and the entire family, but we consider it to be necessary.  On the other hand, we do not do any lessons, at least not currently.  We have dappled in a variety of lessons in the past as a way to screen their personal interests and talents. 

Some activities can be delegated, like the housework.  I have a partner on the History Fair and she is a big help.  I will also enlist a few moms as the day draws near for small things, like setting up, taking down, and finding donated prizes from local retailers. 

I could drop down to part-time college, but my financial aid grants require me to be a full-time student.  All I can do there is the best I can do.  It is perfectly okay if I do not get straight A's.  I need C's to keep my financial aid, so that's how I prioritize my study time and assignment effort.  Since I've taken that pressure off myself, it's been reasonably easy to get A's and B's - I haven't received a C yet!  (Shameless plug - sometimes we have to pat ourselves on the back!!) 

I hope you are seeing that nobody is perfect, and no schedule will go uninterrupted.  You do not have to be Super Woman.  You only have to do the best you can do today.  Sometimes that just means putting homeschool away for the day, and going to the park!!!  You have my permission to do that.  And please, share your busy life, and if you are already homeschooling, share with us how you handle burnout days.

Sometimes, in a homeschool, things don't go according to the schedule.  Take, for instance, my 2009 Christmas letter.  That implies I write a Christmas letter every year.  The fact is, I only write one every few years because there just isn't that much to report each year.  I actually hate Christmas letters.  Everyone seems to try to out-do each other on the bragging front.  Are people really that together?  Are children really that smart?  Are families really that perfect?  I am ashamed to admit that I look forward to Christmas letters just so I can mock them. It's really just a way to make myself feel better. Well, this year, I decided to embellish my own family a bit. By now you may have noticed the date of this posting. January 2010. This is a perfect example of how homeschool doesn't always adhere to the schedule. So I'm a few weeks behind . . . I just won't admit it in my letter! Here is the letter I wrote and distributed via Facebook this evening: (I don't even have enough class or enthusiasm to buy a stamp . . . not even one stamp!)

Egerton’s “Christmas” Letter

17 January 2010

Happy Holidays – which includes but is not limited to Christmas, New Year’s, Martin Luther King Day, and possibly Valentine’s Day!!!!


I haven’t written a Christmas letter in a while, and I so enjoy the ones you send me every year, I thought I should catch everybody up, lest you strike me off your list!!


Let’s see if I can spin this to make us look good. (And then I’ll give you the ‘Fair and Balanced’ perspective.)


Spin: Max is practically running research and development for Rheem, working lots and lots of overtime because they simply cannot do without him. He serves as Ward Mission Leader and there has been a tremendous up-surge in baptisms in recent weeks.


F&B: Max works tons of overtime to support his family (since the stimulus package!) at Rheem, working in research and development on furnaces. He serves as Ward Mission Leader. There will be 4 primary children baptized during the next two weekends.


Spin: Robin should be nominated Woman of the Year. She is a full-time college student, home-schools 4 teens remaining at home, practically runs the local homeschool group and homeschool basketball team, and the church just couldn’t manage without her skills and talents. She’s highly motivated and just bursts with energy and enthusiasm.


F&B: Robin should be nominated Woman of the Year. She is a full-time college student, taking mostly on-line classes. She yells at the 4 teens who remain at home to get their school work done. She teaches a class or two at homeschool co-op, always the ones requiring the least amount of preparation and effort. She drives to basketball practices and games, which is why there is no time to attend college classes on campus. She plays the piano/organ at church and teaches homestudy seminary once a week. She’s tired.


Spin: Chicago would shut down if Franky weren’t there to plow the snow with his landscaping company. He and his wife Jessica have 3 children, Ethan, Hailey and Logan. They, of course are brilliant beyond measure. They all love Chicago sports and get along splendidly.


F&B: Franky works for a landscaping company in Chicago, working both summers and winters. He and his wife Jessica have 3 children, Ethan, Hailey and Logan. Ethan likes hockey, supporting the Chicago Blackhawks and Wolves. He likes to wear Cub clothing to irritate his dad. Hailey is White Sox all the way; she truly believes “Cubs” is a four-letter word (which, I suppose, it is.) She screams bloody murder when her little brother, Logan, goes around the house chanting, “Cubbies! Cubbies! Cubbies!” Guess which grandparents taught him to do that?


Spin: Japan recruited Maggie to work for Toyota because of phenomenal computer skills. She put together a lovely wedding in September and looked radiant. Her son, Dade, is four years old and is already planning to attend Harvard, to major in business, so he can own and operate his own railroad company. She resides in an elite area of Kentucky which is famous for horse-breeding and racing (Ya know, the Kentucky Derby?)


F&B: Maggie works for Toyota. She put together a lovely wedding in September and looked radiant; however, she found herself a single mother in October. Dade likes Thomas the Tank Engine and they live in Kentucky.


Spin: Beth lives in Monroe, Utah. She might as well be the manager at the local hardware store. She is a brilliant dog trainer, and the people she boards with couldn’t do without her nanny services.


F&B: Beth lives in Monroe, Utah, with her fiancée and his family. They plan to marry on January 23. She will make us grandparents in the fall. She works at a hardware store and has a puppy. She helps out with her soon-to-be nieces/nephews.


Spin: Alex will be 18 in 2010! He’s a genius at academics, he is the star basketball player able to play all positions perfectly, and he is about to complete his Eagle Scout project, which will probably make the local news for its contribution to society. He is First Assisstant in the Priests Quorum – he’s so spiritual!


F&B: Alex will be 18 in 2010, if we allow him to live! He’s progressing well in school, plays on the homeschool basketball team, and is about to complete his Eagle Scout project. He is the First Assistant in the Priests Quorum – he’s the only Priest in the ward!


Spin: Anya will be 17 in 2010, and runs the local Taco Bell. She is multi-lingual, is very popular, and without her, the ward’s young women program would collapse. EFY in Normal, IL, is begging her to return this summer, due to her tremendous outpouring of the Spirit. She’s a starter on the homeschool basketball team, and it’s a good thing, too because she makes lots of points.


F&B: Anya will be 17 in 2010. She works at the local Taco Bell. She is re-learning her Russian, spends hours at a time texting, and is Laurel President. She, as well as all the others, will attend EFY in Normal, IL this summer. She plays basketball and has several times tied for high scorer (in games where the total score was around 10.)


Spin: Kyle will be 16 in 2010, and all the girls are lining up. He is so dedicated to Scouts that he will earn his Eagle in 2010, as well as so spiritual that he will complete Teacher’s Duty to God early. He loves to do schoolwork, and is a computer prodigy. He starts both on the JV and Varsity homeschool teams – what would they do without him?


F&B: Kyle will be 16 in 2010, and all the girls are lining up. He will complete his Eagle award this year because Mom is tired of fighting with him and the troop to get things done, and wants it all to be over. (She wants more than a stinkin’ pin when the boys earn Eagle!) He will complete his Teacher’s Duty to God a couple of months before his birthday. He is Teacher Quorum President (there are only 3 teachers – it’s his turn.) He does his school work because he can’t get on Facebook unless he does, and then he’s on the computer for hours at a time. He plays basketball.


Spin: Ashley will turn 15 in 2010. She has an amazing mind, and is always using it. She is working steadily on Personal Progress because she has such a strong testimony of it. She, like Beth, is a brilliant dog trainer. Her IQ is probably off the charts – she earned a higher score on her first ACT test than her older brother did, even though she is only in 8th grade.


F&B: Ashley will turn 15 in 2010, unless the couch swallows her up. She has an amazing mind and is making every effort to preserve it for later in life. She is working unsteadily on Personal Progress because she can’t get on the internet if she doesn’t do it. Her IQ might be off the charts if she applied herself, and you notice I didn’t mention what her older brother’s ACT score was! She has a puppy.


Spin: The Egerton’s are all doing well. We have food storage, chickens, heat our home with wood that we grow and cut ourselves. We home-educate our children because we are just loyal that way. We love to go to Church and serve there in many capacities.


F&B: The Egerton’s are hangin’ in there. We have a little bit of wheat and our chickens are old. We do heat with wood, but run the furnace when we’re too tired to bring the wood up to the house. We home-educate our children because Robin and the kids don’t want to get up early. We drag ourselves out of bed every Sunday morning, and murmur all the way to church. All in all, we work hard on deceiving ourselves that we’re fairly normal.


You can find us all on Facebook, and Robin’s e:mail is www.knittin5kids@yahoo.com. She also has a blog at http://robinannhomeschooladvice.blogspot.com/. You can also check up on her at the following:


www.squidoo.com/silvey

www.squidoo.com/PhilosphyClassProject

www.squidoo.com/sadiesquiverfull
 You can see pictures of everybody on my Facebook wall.


Happy Holidays, throughout the whole year!!

Is homeschooling overwhelming?  You bet!  I hope this post doesn't talk you out of educating your own children!  It is one o'clock in the morning.  Early today, yesterday now, I drove my 16 year old daughter to her job at eight o'clock in the morning.  When I returned home, after dropping off the mortgage payment, I helped a son with a map lesson, nagged a daughter to do her assignments, and tutuored another son with some algebra problems.  In the meantime I was keeping our wood-burning stove going, making a huge pot of taco soup, putting a ham in the crock pot, and cleaning up after a new puppy.  I went back to town around two o'clock to pick up the working daughter.  I did some computer work, some of my own college homework, checked my blogs and e:mail, and continued to monitor the children's school work, keep the fire going, and clean up after the puppy.  After making sure everyone had eaten, again!, organizing the basketball stat sheets for the team, and making sure the uniforms were in the van, I drove the kids to a game.  I had an algebra class tonight, so I had to drop them off, and miss the game myself.  (They won both games - go figure!)  After class, I met up with the team at the local McD's and heard all about the game second hand.  I was also able to grab some valuable 'talking with grownups' time.  We made it home around eleven o'clock, had family scripture reading and family prayer, and after all was semi-quiet, I completed one of my own algebra assignments.  And I caught up on e:mails.  And I worked on the grant application for our homeschool history fair.  And I scheduled a couple of sleepovers.  I seem to remember kissing my husband sometime during the day.

Is this a typical homeschool day?  Define typical.  It seems to be the way our life is going these days, although it is always busier during basketball season.  A schedule like this would be absolutely not acceptable to many homeschool families.  Others would wonder why I try to do so much.  Again, homeschooling correctly is whatever works best for your family.  To help you figure out what might work for your family, let's discuss the pros and cons of this chaotic day of mine.

I suppose the cons are apparent.  I'm tired.  And if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.  But I am happy tonight.  I provided a lot of service to those who are my highest priority.  But then that's a pro . . . Back to the cons.  We have little structure.  We used to.  We don't now.  The kids sleep in a lot!  It is not unusual for them to sleep until noon. (You know those cute little smiley face icons that are blushing in embarassment?  Imagine one of those here.)  That really bothers a lot of people.  Apparently there is a rule written down somewhere that says all children must get up early in the morning.  Why?  I certainly don't get up unless I have to.  One potential or perceived problem with homeschooling is that there is no reason to get up on time because school can be done anytime, anywhere.  I, on the other hand, view that as a pro - school can be done anytime and anywhere!  It is very portable and very flexible.  Oops - I did it again, got my cons mixed up with my pros.  Let's try another con . . .

I spent a lot of time driving and spending gasoline today.  That is a definite con.  However, that's a consequence of our choice to live a rural lifestyle.  I could tell the children no more often, but they are all in their teens and getting together with friends has become very important to them.  Social opportunities also gives them motivation for completing their assignments.  Another con turned into a pro. 

I guess I just cannot see the bad about homeschooling, even after a busy day like this, which completely overwhelms me.  I enjoy being with my kids.  I enjoy serving them and making them happy.  I enjoy watching them progress in their academics and their athletics.  I enjoy watching them socialize and learn the in's and out's of friendships. 

Bottom line - yes, you will often be overwhelmed.  But so what?  On those days, do what I am going to do in the next few minutes - go take a buble bath!!

Home School Burnout: What It Is. What Causes It. and How to Overcome It
Rx for Mother Burnout: Learn a Style Approach to Success

Socialization . . . sigh.  Why am I sighing?  Several reasons.  I guess I'm just tired of this question coming up, because when it is given any rational consideration, it becomes obvious how ludicrous the question truly is.  Are students 'socialized' in public school, when they are told where to sit, when to talk, and mostly told to be quiet?  Are you sure you want your child to be 'socialized' by the public school, i.e. government school system?  How's that going?  Another reason I sigh is because socialization is all we ever seem to do!!!!!!

My children/students that remain at home are 14, 15, 16, & 17 years old.  Against all of my well-intentioned plans, friends have become very important.  I am entering this post as I sit in the food court of the local mall, having driven for an hour picking up friends, while some kids walk the mall (did I ever enjoy doing that?) and some others see a movie - SOCIALIZATION.  It is a Saturday, a day to get ready for Sunday.  A day to sleep in, sleep some more, bake, cook and clean.  Grade school work and make more lesson plans.  Knit.  Watch TV/DVD - MY favorite shows.  Ahhhh the sacrifices a home-school mom makes!  Last night we had 3 basketball games, after which we went out to eat with the team - SOCIALIZATION - and brought a couple of extra boys home for a sleepover -SOCIALIZATION.  At the same time, one of my daughters was at yet another sleepover - SOCIALIZATION.  The night before that, we had baskeball practice (I take it back, socialization is not ALL we do - there's basketball!)  My boys went home with friends for a sleepover, wait for it . . .  SOCIALIZATION!!!!!!  Am I making my point?  Socializing homeschoolers does not have to be a problem.

But you live out in the country, right?  Far away from town?  From activities?  From people?  Me, too!  It is 10 miles to the nearest town, 30 miles to our co-op 'headquarters,' and most basketball activities.  Some people could buy a house for what we spend on gasoline.  And the time it takes to do all that driving . . . put a Book on Tape in the CD player. 

We drive to the aforementioned basketball practice and games.  We sometimes drive two hours to attend a game, as it is difficult to find other homeschool teams and Christian school teams to play against.  (It is againts the public school rules for them to play us . . .  cowards!)  We practice twice a week and play a game or two each week.  We attend the National Homeschool Basketball Tournament each March.  I bet you didn't know there was a National  Homeschool Basketball Tournament!!!  It is soooo much fun, we wouldn't miss it.

We drive to co-op, once a week for 8 weeks, for two semesters.  My children have had classes on Macbeth, Animal Farm, boy scout merit badges, Japan, clay sculpture, and Homemaking for Boys.  I am teaching two classes in our next semester:, pre-school animals and driver's ed!!  Yikes!!!

Our co-op has a student council, a graduation committee (yes the graduates walk down the aisle!) and a prom committee.  I am heading up this year's history fair and there is an annual science fair.  This is all in addition to the recreational activities:  park day, roller skating, bowling, Valentine's Party, Christmas Party . . . and it never ends.  And I haven't mentioned church or family activities.

The only problem homeschoolers have with socialization is the amount of it and how it can crowd out academics.  Don't worry - your children wil have lots of friends and be "properly socialized" - whatever that means to you!!!

Why?  I guess this should have been the first post.  You are probably wondering why we chose to homeschool, why others have chosen it, and why you should or shouldn't.  I can't speak for everyone, although I can say that there are as many reasons to homeschool as there are families.  Some choose to home-educate their children for religious reasons.  Others for health or political reasons.  Many families just want to keep the family together and not delegate what they consider to be their parental duty or right to others.  That is all very general.  You might fall into one or more of those categories or have reasons completely different.  All of the reasons are right and none of them are wrong.  My family falls into several of those categories.

It all began long before I was a parent and happend to read a few books by The Moore's - Raymond and Dorothy to be exact.  http://www.homeschool.com/advisors/moore/default.asp. 

That planted a seed in my head and heart that grew.  Later we were foster parents, and one of our children had problems (she was 5).  In my mind, the ABC's paled in comparison to her emotional stability.  I asked for, and received permission to homeschool her.  That move actually set a precedent in that county - they had never had a foster child home-schooled before.  Since I had to report to the State, I chose the Christian Liberty Press curriculum - a boxed set (see previous post) - and requested the school to keep records.  That was the first reason we chose home-schooling - to assist foster children in bonding with a family and to gain self-confidence and emotional stability. 



We had some foster children in public school and ran head-long into the homosexual agenda and the sex education agenda.  Our second grader brought a book home from school that told a story about two men raising some children.  Our high schooler was required to attend sex education, which was not abstinence based, or sit out and do an outside project.  We opted out, and helped him do a pro-life paper.  We were not in a position to remove these particular children from the public school, but it did open our eyes.  We did not want our children to be indoctrinated with the social reform agenda, and we became more committed than ever to homeschooling when we had children of our own. 

During this time, I observed a lot of mothers of 5 year olds lamenting because it was time to send their child away to school and they just weren't ready.  I began to ask the question, first of myself and then to others:  Why did we have to 'send our five year olds away?'   Who said?  What would happen if we didn't?  When I asked this question of myself, I began doing more research on homeschooling and compulsory edcuation laws in my state.  http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp  I quickly learned I did not HAVE to send my child away.  When I asked the question of others, I often got blank stares and the response, "Well, because that's what we do.  They have to go to school.  They are five!"  Not following the crowd like a sheep was a completely foregin concept to these women.  And they all cried on the first day of school.  Not me - I played outside with my children and we had a lot of fun!!! 

Religion has been a reason for us in the context that we believe religion is incorporated in everything we do, and that is how we teach.  Not so in public schools.  Not only is God not acknolwedged, He is forbidden to attend.  That does not set well with us.  As you are figuring what you want to do, and how you want to do it, I encourage you to seek out homeschoolers that share your faith or domination, and ask them for curriculum recommendations.  If religion is a non-issue for you, and you actually want to avoid it, there are many homeschool curriculums and programs that are completely secular. 

Politics!  Is one supposed to adhere to the rule not to speak of religion and politics while writing a blog post?  I have already broken half of that rule; here goes the second half!!!  We have somewhat passionate views politically, and suffice it to say they are not in keeping with the government education program.  We literally call public schools "Government Schools."  We do not want our children indoctrinated with the government's ideals and values, one because we do not agree with them and two, because we do not feel education is within the government's authority granted to it in the Constitution.  We believe in parental choice in education, http://www.heritage.org/Research/Features/issues/issuearea/ParentalChoice.cfm.  Again, whether you are liberal or conservative, you can share your values with your children any way you want!!!! 

Now the biggest question of all:  Why do YOU want to homeschool?  When you answer that question for yourself, you will be in a better position to figure out the 'how." 

So you are new to homeschooling, but obviously not new to blogging. We're a perfect match because I am not new to homeschooling, but this is my first blog post on my first blog EVER!  So, while you are reading my homeschooling advice to you, feel free to share your blogging advice with me. 

In this post, I will assume you are merely an investigator.  I remember that stage.  You are wondering:  Can I teach my own children?  Am I smart enough?  Educated enough?  Brave enough?  What material do I use?  Where do I get it?  Is it legal?  Where will I get the time? 

First of all, take a deep breath.  You can teach your own children, you are smart enough, you are educated enough, you are brave enough, it is legal, and you can find the time.  As for materials, I will help you find what will work for your family.

Here is my first sermon to new homeschoolers:  There are as many ways to homeschool as there are families on the planet.  What will your way be?  Rest assured, you can change your methods as you go along, and you most likely will.  Kids change, and your methods will too.  So don't feel like you only get once chance to make this decision.  For now, ask yourself why you are considering homeschooling.  What is it that you want to change or improve about your children's education?  Do you want your children to have less structure or more?  Are you looking for more family time?  Are your children having ADD issues that the public school is not addressing to your satisfaction?  Do you want your children to get on the fast track to Harvard, or to have more time to explore their inner selves?  Remember, there are no wrong answers to these questions.  It is all about what is best for your family's situation.  Here are some options:

You can recreate public school at your kitchen table.  If you want a lot of structure, I recommend a 'boxed set.'  This is a curriculum set that has everything in it you will need.  It is possible to have the publishers also grade the homework and tests, keep academic records, and provide you with state-mandated tests and transcripts.  This is how I started, using Christian Liberty Press Curriculum.  A friend of mine loved Calvert School and used it exclusively.  However, I quickly found that there were just too many books for a 6 year old.  Reading, writing, math, history, science, language arts, religion . . . I felt a 6 year old should focus more on being 6 years old.  Nonetheless, many people are very satisfied with this type of home education.

Most homeschoolers are 'ecletic,' meaning they use a hodge podge of materials.  (Future posts will address how to find both new and used materials.  Homeschoolers are nothing if not frugal!)  I've used Alpha Omega Lifepacs and Switched-On-Schoolhouse. The are essentially the same product, except one is a set of workbooks and the other is a set of CD-ROM's.  I like them, but do not use them currently.  I have used Abeka and liked it.  I currently use, as do most homeschoolers, Saxon Math.  I started my 5year olds out on Math-U-See, and I wish I had never let them stop it.  If I had it to do over again, I would have stayed with that exclusively.  If you starting out with a pre-reader, my absolutely all-time favorite curriculum is Explode the Code, although in my day there was not an on-line option.  Here is a Homeschool Curriculum Index.   On this list you will find terms you may never have heard before, but that you will become very familiar with as you investigate home education:  classical, Montessori, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, unschooling, and my personal favorite, A Thomas Jefferson Education.  I'll be devoting several posts to this philosophy alone.  If I could start over again, this would be my model.

As you search the links I've posted here, you will likely find yourself hyperventilating. That is perfectly normal. Remember this: you do not have to do all, or any, of what is suggested here. You are looking for the model that fits YOUR FAMILY. Public schools do not teach everything there is to know, and you don't have to either. By the time you start breathing again, you will have ruled out some ideas, and that will narrow down your options. The next step is to start researching the remaining options and see how they 'feel' to you. But that is for future posts.  For now, just sit back with a cup of herbal tea, open up your mind, and just breath!!