I am actually GIDDY about this coming 'school year'. Being this is my first time going through this homeschooling stuff, I chose to run a kindergarden program for Logan this year for a few reasons: 1. he's intellectually curious about a variety of things that I figured why wait til grade 1 to start? and 2. I want to be sure we can actually be diligent and committed to a homeschool program.
I searched and searched for a kindergarten complete curriculum because I did not want to be piecing together all the 'subjects' and missing out on things that I may or may not feel important, and just again, being our first time doing this I figured ordering a predesigned curriculum would ease us into things the process :) The other major advantage to ordering a curriculum was that I probably would -not- have ordered some of the "toys" (blocks, games, puzzles) if I were piecing things together because I can be cheap lol
We ended up ordering the curriculum from Timberdoodle. A few cons are that it's an American company so some of the material focuses on American history and such which I will have to adapt, but less than 10% of the material so not bad. And the cost of shipping about killed us. So we won't order from them again likely. Sadly this year is not reimbursable so it was straight out of pocket.
Most importantly, LOGAN is excited! He was a little apprehensive because he wanted to go to school with his friend Lando and after we sat down and explained to him that school is not just playtime with Lando, but rather it involves actual school work while there (and of course some play) then he was okay with the idea of homeschooling. And then he saw the HUGE box of books and toys and games that came in the mail. Oh it's taken everything to convince him we have to WAIT another month before starting :) I know there will be up and down days as far as wanting to learn and participate but that's no different than them being at school.
Anyways, I am so convinced we've made the right decision to be a hs family the closer it gets. I am nervous at moments but frankly, they are good nerves vs bad nerves.
Our schedule looks a little something like this for September (subject to change but I work best off a schedule until we get into a swing of things):
Daily: practice piano and read a chapter in the scriptures (likely our family version of the Book of Mormon)
Monday: Math & Science
Tuesday: NO SCHOOL because we have piano lessons and beavers and I babysit my neighbors 9-1.
Wednesday: Language Arts
Thursdays: rotation every week with some Language work in our 'fun book' and Art/Drawing and games/puzzles, etc.
Friday: History and Geography until the monthly quota is reached then filled in with work from the book "developing the early learner" and such.
My personal goal: To do school work in the mornings between 9&12 for 2hrs MAX. During school I will have my cellphone turned off so my attn can be to the kids. At the same time I will have Carter working on some preschool stuff or he can play quietly elsewhere. It will become 'school time' in our house. It may take some time to create the habit but that's why i'm starting this this year. Of course new baby is in the picture and we will adjust accordingly. I certainly do NOT plan to be rigid, but I do plan to get some work done with my children in as a fun a way as we can :)
