I know that I have some veteran homeschooling mamas as readers, and I've come to you and scoured your blogs for ideas and inspiration, but now I was hoping for you to come and give some encouragement and your best, most useful ideas and resources.
We'll be using My Father's World Kindergarten curriculum for Isabella. Lincoln will be able to sit-in on a lot of the kindergarten activities that are non-reading/math as well as doing his own preschool reviewing and activities. {Brigham will be getting into a lot, and the baby will be nursing and sleeping a lot also...} ;) I've put together a few questions or points that I've been thinking about.... Any thoughts on any of them?
1) What books do you suggest that I read before starting this journey into homeschooling, whether to inspire or for information?
2) Other than ordering MFW-K curriculum, what should I be buying? What are your "schoolroom" must-haves? Dry-erase board? Lots of good books?
3) How do you set up your space for school? I'm sure this will evolve over the years!
4) Any really useful websites or magazines you frequent?
5) How do you keep everything running smoothly in your house as you keep up with both housework and schooling?
Whew! Again, I'm so excited to get things rolling and start down this new and winding path that we're led on...
12 comments:
I don't have any advice, but I DO know that you are going to do amazing!!
We are just about to start this whole homeschooling journey too! We've just been doing some review over the summer (our little one is going into 2nd grade) but we have our curriculum & are jumping in completely here in a couple of weeks. A book that I was given that was really encouraging to me was "So You're Thinking about Homeschooling" by Lisa Whelchel. It's basically profiles/interviews with 15 different families who homeschool - all for different reasons, with different curriculums. It's a super easy read, and I browsed through it in one afternoon.
We are just starting too! But I'll give a few hints (I was a homeschool graduate if that counts for anything!) If you only read one book, try Ruth Beechick's The 3 R's. It is so encouraging for those of us with young children and it isn't long. I also like The Old Schoolhouse magazine. It is loaded with info.
From my experience, school desks are fine but usually we all just ended up around the dining room table or on the couch together. Desks were mostly used to store our books! A bag or basket with all the books, read alouds, etc make it easy to move "school" to wherever you want it (picnic table). A silverware caddy that holds pencils, glue, scissors, erasers, is helpful. It makes it so much easier to put things away when school is done.
Wishing you a GREAT year!
Gina
Wow, you are going to be busy! I can't give any advice, but good luck- you sound like you are pretty prepared already. :)
And I have an award for you: http://www.susiebhomemaker.com/2010/07/and-award-goes-to.html
Thank you for joining the MFW Blogroll! We are excited to share your new adventure :)
I was a reluctant homeschooler and wrote a few things about the transition that might be helpful to you.
They are at a different blog than the blogroll. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Lord bless you, Lainie @ Mishmash Maggie
http://www.miscel-lainie-ous.com/2008/07/heart-at-home-intro.html
Thanks for the comment... try this one :)
http://www.miscel-lainie-ous.com/2008/07/big-what-if.html
Thank you all for your comments and advice so far! It's so encouraging! :) XOXO
Hi Kate! Found you through Love's blog. This is my 3rd time to homeschool Kg. in our family. It has looked so different each time. Advice- do what works for your family and be consistent.:) I have read so much. I love anything Eric and Leslie Ludy. You are going to have so much fun this year!!
-Amy
Hi, and welcome to homeschooling! I found you on the MFW Blog Roll, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you (so I hope you can stop by my place, too: http://tinahollenbeck.blogspot.com). We've been homeschooling for a few years, but last year was our first with MFW...and it was our best by far so I think you've made a great choice right off the bat! :^) This year, I'll be doing ECC with my older two and K with my younger two (the first time we're doing MFW K since we didn't know about it before).
As to your questions: An excellent book comes with the MFW K deluxe package - For the Children's Sake. Another must-read (for any parent but especially for homeschoolers is How Am I Smart? by Dr. Kathy Koch.
For organization, etc., I highly recommend considering Sue Patrick's workbox system; it's been a God-send to us in terms of keeping things moving each day.
Oh, and consider joining The Homeschool Lounge - an awesome website for homeschoolers. It's got over 12,000 members, and we have a group devoted to MFW. :^)
We are doing a similar program MFW-K with the almost 6 yr old, 4 yr old sitting in, a 2 1/2 yr making it all crazy and a 9 week old nursing.
I had my mom talking me through just submitting the intent letter. I know this is what is right for us, but it stillscares me a little.
1) hmm, read the MFW message board. Absolutely amazing and get the feeds for vetern homeschoolers.
2)I have bought: 3 tablet dry erase boards from staples for the first 3 kids (mostly for the third, so she will not be fighting for one), dry erase calendar ($3 staples), Kumons tracing, cutting and pasting books (clearance $3), plenty of printer paper, and a bulletin board.
3)I do not have enough space or a spot I can make just for homeschooling. As of now, I am keeping my stuff in a basket that has all my supplies for the day. I plan to use a bulletin board to display our work for the week. (CHeck out my blog on organizing MFW-K, I linked Melanie's way of keeping things together)
4) MFW-K yahoo group - link to files.
Chin up, it will be awesome.
I'm not a veteran. this is my first year of "official homeschooling". However, I'm doing MFWK also! My little finds so far are: this lady's made a downloadable weekly overview for MFWK (all 26 weeks).I've found it helpful for shopping lists and it's easy for my husband when he does school: http://tinahollenbeck.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-fathers-world-kindergarten-grid.html
Also, the book For the Children's Sake which comes w/the kindergarten deluxe package is really good!
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