After a lot of thought, research, prayer...etc....we've decided to pull our kindergartner out and home-school him. I'm not terribly nervous or overwhelmed...I home-schooled our daughter through a chunk of kindergarten and I worked for several years as home-school teacher for another family (25 hours a week...multiple grade levels). I've worked with structured curriculum as well as designed my own. The public school system in this area does K12...and I've thought about giving it a shot. Anybody have thoughts on it? I talked to a mom a few days ago and one thing she liked was that you could pick which subjects you wanted to use K12 virtual academy for...and which subjects you would rather do on your own. Although I have no problem doing my own thing - I think it would certainly be easier to use k12. My other question...My second grader is in a Chinese immersion program, loves it, and is doing wonderfully in public school. My 4 year old is in a special ed preschool for a language delay and is also loving it and doing well. They will both stay at their respective schools. How do you handle it when you're not homeschooling all of them? I recognize that I will be spending more time with our Kindergartner and I want to make sure I do some one on one things with the other two as well. What do you do when the other kids have mornings (as I think all kids do)...where they don't want to go to school and they want to stay home and do school? Anyway...I have to run...if my grammar and spelling is lousy...I apologize...I'm in a rush but wanted to get this question out. Any other tips or suggestions you've learned homeschooling your children would be appreciated as well! Thanks!
I had one in school and one homeschooling for about 3.5 years . . . I found it hard to be on different "rhthyms" with each kid. To me it's much easier to have them both homeschooling.
I don't have any experience with K12 but it sounds similar to Florida Virtual (which we use). I think it's better to go a la carte . . . I would not want a full time schedule on that program. It's too computer intensive.
Good luck.
I just finished sending you a private message with my phone number if you'd like to talk. I have one child on her second year at Utah Virtual Academy and one enrolled in a language immersion program in a brick-and-mortar public school, so I know the juggling act you're thinking about getting into.
There's so much I could say that I'd end up writing a book. I will say this - it is possible to have your kids in different schooling situations, have your kids thrive, and maintain your sanity (mostly).
We had a kid in 3rd and homeschool for K last year. I don't remember it ever being an issue. We will be homeschooling our daughter next year, with the other 2 in school. We just explain that we like doing the kindergarten, and it works better for our kids at this age, rather than waiting a year for the school system to agree. We did repeat K5 this year for our 5 yo. I think explaining that different kinds of school works better for different kids is sufficient. Neither of my boys are jealous of our daughter getting preschool this year, even though neither of them had it. I think their attitude will just reflect the way you "sell" the idea. Have fun! I love homeschooling!
I used to teach, and for a long time I've worked on the side as an editor and copy writer for K12. I only worked on middle and high school curriculum, but it was really good! I would definitely recommend it based on that, but I've never seen their elementary curriculum.
Hillsdale College in Michigan has an excellent home schooling curriculum. American Heritage School in Alpine, Utah is currently using it. Also, the A Beka curriculum is good. I used it to home school my son in English while he was in junior high school and the school didn't feel that it was appropriate to teach him English grammar and usage.
I use a hodge podge of curricula so I won't comment on that.
For homeschooling one or two while the others are in school, we do that.
I started with my then 5th grader. I told the other two that NO they were going to school, there was no reason to keep them home. My 8th grader didn't fight me on it and scoffed at my even attempting to homeschool her sister. My 2nd grader loved school so it was a non issue. My oldest, 19 at the time told me I was crazy, a freak, and would ruin her future.
That year went OK. I then pulled the next one out in third and did two at home. My then highschooler would have no part of it.
Now I still homeschool my 2 and one will go back into public school next year, she will be in highschool. My now 5th grader may go back, we are not sure yet.
I follow the vacation schedule of the public school. I find it too hard to have school for one or two when the other has a free day or week even. When my senior is off, the other two get a day off too. I do take vacations and breaks while she is in school though.
I do not follow the public school's curriculum.
It will work, be positive.
I absolutely love K12! They not only send you all your curriculum they send you all of the teaching aides you need to put the curriculum together. I have only had to buy pencils and crayons. K12, at least here in Idaho, has teachers that tutor for any special need, and they also have a gifted program for those students who are ahead. Once your child gets into 3rd grade they can choose a language to learn and once they get into 5th grade they can pick 2 languages. You can move at your own pace, but they keep you updated weekly on how far your child should be and how many hours they should be in school. Everything counts! If you take your child to the grocery store and have them help you you can count that time as either part of reading if they are reading the list or math if they are adding it up, etc. I could go on and on.
I know a wonderful M. who is homeschooling 2/5 kids because in school they would be id'd as ADD and she won't medicate. She occasionally takes the kids in public school out for a fun afternoon while her husband keeps the others.
Another M. keeps her youngest one at home and does preK to save money. She just tells the ones at school that they had their alone time with her when they were little and they believe it, though they don't remember it.
