Advice on Homeschooling

We've been homeschooling for a year and love it!

I started with a "boxed" curriculum and then we soon went our own way. It was great to have the curriculum as a guide but we stayed longer on some areas that she needed work and had to get supplemental worksheets. I found many free resources on the internet for free worksheets, curriculums, chapters, quizzes, games etc. If you message me your email I can send you the list.

Organization was key for us. We have a 3-ring binder for each subject and I keep everything for that subject in the binder. I have a big binder for all her finished work, we date each page and I keep them in order. Illinois shouldn't interfere, but just in case someone thinks we aren't doing our job we have a big binder to prove we are!

This website:
http://www.illinoishomeeducation.com/

does a great job of explaining the law and how to declare your home a private school. We just followed the instructions on the site and it was easy! It also tells you exactly the subjects to teach.

We do lesson plans and write them down just like teachers do. We use the library as a great free resource and I keep a computer close by because the internet is a great source for showing a picture or a video if they don't understand something. We just google whatever it is they don't get!

Some kids are great with "informal" learning. They can do lessons in their PJs, read on the couch, do pages lying on the floor etc. Taking frequent breaks is good. With my daughter that doesn't work. An informal style means she thinks it's time to goof around! So she has to be dressed and "ready to learn." We don't allow her to play before homeschool because then we have to fight to get her to settle down. She learns at a table, not lying down on the floor. If we let her play during her breaks we can't get her back to the table to finish.

Maybe when she gets older we can go more informal.

And here's where I always get flamed...you only need to homeschool for a few hours a day with the little ones. We do two hours max with our 2nd grader and it's PLENTY to get through her entire day's work. Working one-on-one at a child's own pace is very different from the classroom. Ask any other homeschooling mom, only a few hours of formal work is needed. The lessons continue throughout all experiences though...we learn about money and adding at the grocery store, we learn about physics and motion at the playground, we learn about fruits and vegetables at the farmstand and we even learned about Germany at the Germanfest this weekend!

The important thing is we try to make it fun. Learning IS fun, and right now my daughter can't wait for homeschooling to start because we are growing triops and flowers for science, making a Barbie house for art, we have a money game for math (she can win jelly beans!) and she's reading a chapter book she loves.

If you have any specific questions, please let me know! There's just so much info to give, I don't even know what else to say!

Hi!

I am not a homeschooler, but I was just on the Chicago Parent website and noticed a $5 off coupon for the Chicagoland Homeschool Expo, to be held August 7-8, perhaps in Schaumburg or Rosemont, I didn't catch that.

Here is the link to the coupon:
http://www.chicagoparent.com/coupons.asp

And if you google the Expo, you will get more info. Have fun with your adventure ahead!

Hi,

I really want to do this too, I feel I am ready. I have been reading lots of books and there is a resource center in Johnsburg, Il if you want to make the trek or live near by. It has great materials. There is also an educational consultant to talk to about starting. She does not reccomend spending much on making a classroom. She reccomended and a dry ease board in the kitchen becasue she said that is where you will spend most of your time. I didn't feel that way, but put a long buffet table (foldable) in my basement (finished English basement) because that is where all of our technology. I too have been teaching for ten years and in the public school system. HMM...I had shelves that I put my resource books on and so, the are is not over done. We bought a new desk to make more space, and we still have a couch with a tv/dvd player in the basement. I most likely will get rid of the couch, but keep the tv for videos and we have DVR which is great for watching some of the great educational resources. The one area I would like to link up is a home school group in Lake County. I would also like advice on mom's that made extra income.

L.

Hi S.,

I am in the same boat. I am seriously considering homeschooling my kids who are now only 3 and 1. But it's never too early to think about education! I am also a teacher, and I am sure you and I would have much to talk about regarding our decisions!

I can tell you that Illinois is one of the BEST states to homeschool in because you are considered a private school. You do not have to show any curriculum or document anything. YOU are in charge of your children and how they learn.

I would be happy to share your journey in to homeschooling and we can learn this together. There are a couple of great Mamasource homeschooling moms here, hopefully they will reply, either here or privately, to help you along. There are tons of homeschooling groups in the area, too, and you could look in to becoming part of those.

As far as finishing a part of the basement, that sounds like SUCH a great idea! I would love to read more about that, too.

Anyway, I guess I don't have much to offer other than lots of support and good wishes. You are doing a GREAT thing for your kids.

Good luck to you. There is a lot of support at the public libraries. I also was a public school teacher and fully support homeschooling. For my son it is not the right choice but I know why it is for so many!

I own a foreign language school and offer all our curriculum to homeschoolers who pay with a personal check 50% off our prices or more. If you have any desire to include languages please let me know. We start at age 2 :)

I commend you for your decision and you will find much support once you get started! The homeschool world connects so easily and with so much support! What great parents/teachers I have found them to be.