How did you know you were ready??

[MidwestMama]

Girls, I could use some guidance.

I hang out here, but am not currently actively homeschooling.

I have a 1st grade son. He is way ahead of the curve academically and just a wonderful, sharp, sensitive little guy. (Yes, I'm biased, but I promise it's all true, LOL!)

We have thought about homeschooling off and on forever. He did two years of preschool at a Christian school, and we actually didn't start him one year in order to homeschool... he went back into preschool pretty quickly, there was just no good reason for him not to go, and he enjoyed the social time. Then it was time for kindergarten and we struggled with what to do. Private school was good but expensive, and we didn't like our school district. Well, as we were deciding, we were told we got into a really good public district, the one we'd always said we wanted, and that he could do half day kindergarten. We figured it was a sign we should give it a try, and kindergarten year went well.

This year - different story. I don't care for his teacher, very little is being done to meet his academic needs, and it's just a very long day for everyone. Lots of little things I don't like, nothing immediately serious, but we'll stick to the basics.

So now... what to do?? We're not ready for the Christian school, both because of the cost and because as a smaller school, they're not able to do much differentiation for advanced kids, not at his age... we might consider trying that out in a few years. We are *seriously* considering homeschooling him, but I am a little gun shy... we've thought about it and even started once before and just couldn't commit, so I'm afraid to take the plunge, and wondering what will be different this time. My husband is supportive but is leaving it largely up to me since I will be the one home with him actively teaching... but I know he'll be a good help.

I have no good reasons NOT to homeschool, except that I'm nervous. That and it's just not very common where I live, so it's very "weird" to everyone here and there are just not as many resources as in some areas of the country.

I have been praying, asking for a big rock to be dropped at my feet with a note attached, LOL!! I know, be careful what you ask for. But short of waking up in the morning and finding a note... I've been praying and listening and I still just can't take that plunge. I don't know if it means it's not right, or that it is right and I need a push off the plank to jump in??

Thoughts? What made you take the plunge? Thanks in advance for your thoughts...

Cris

[House of Light]

This is where we were at last spring. I had no reason not to homeschool...except that I was nervous....and I didn't want to create "waves" in our small town. On the other hand...our school, small as it is, had become like a soap opera.....9 out of 30 teachers were having open affairs with other teachers(all who were already married!)...teachers slapping other teachers in hallways over it. Also, the issues of not being able to help a few of our children who are gifted(there was never enough funds for that).

I took a deep breath...and just jumped. I won't lie to you and tell you that I felt super great about it those first few weeks. I had lots of doubts that I could do it. I felt that perhaps somehow I would be 'cheating' my kids out of something....I got butterflies in my stomach so bad that I thought I would throw up.

It was, honestly, the best decision we ever made. These past few weeks have went well, and although we are all still learning.....we are happy. We are finding adjustments to make in everything...and thats ok.

[Lucy]

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/

Please go to this site and take the time to read the articles. Barb Shelton is a homeschool classic and will give you real insight about what it really means to be a homeschooler and a homeschool mom.

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/lol_main_pg.htm
I would like to also endorse Marilyn Howshall's work (that can also be accessed from the Homeschool Oasis website) I have all of her old newsletters and her spiral bound book. It is truly timeless...

[Reason&Hope]

How did I know I was ready?
The Lord indicated we should go ahead. (Specifically, I prayed for guidance and went to the kindergarten 'fair' at the school a block from us. I asked about how they teach reading, was told whole language, then found out most of the kids were way behind my son academically all ready! It was pretty clear from that.)

About kids who are advanced or gifted. I was one, and remember being bored in school even though I was a good and eager student - until I got into a special high school and was academically challenged. Btw, gifted boys who are bored often turn into "troublemakers".

Every child learns at their own pace. For example, my youngest boy is in 7th grade (technically he should be in 6th), but he is taking high school algebra and loving it, but has to be pushed to write, so he's taking a 5th/6th grade writing curriculum; his history is 8th grade level as is his science, and he reads at a high school level. He'll begin high school Latin next year.

For me, one of the beauties of homeschooling is that I can tailor a child's curriculum to where the child is at - both academically and interest-wise, and help them to grow in weak areas and fly in strong areas.

[NewWorldOrder]

I made the decision on the fly. We couldn't afford private school anymore, so my husband talked me into putting our daughter into public school. That turned out to be a complete disaster, so I just went down to the school and withdrew her. I had no curriculum, or anything. I ended up purchasing A Beka's video homeschool, which didn't work at all for her. Finally, we got rid of the videos, and just started using the text books on our own, and it got better after that.

I wasn't going to let anyone get in the way of my child's welfare. If I stopped to think about it too long, I would have wavered. It's a good thing too, because that child is now 18 years old, in college, and is a top student. She was just invited by her math teacher to enter a math competition for the college.

Sometimes you just have to act.

[Leigh]

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/

Please go to this site and take the time to read the articles. Barb Shelton is a homeschool classic and will give you real insight about what it really means to be a homeschooler and a homeschool mom.

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/lol_main_pg.htm
I would like to also endorse Marilyn Howshall's work (that can also be accessed from the Homeschool Oasis website) I have all of her old newsletters and her spiral bound book. It is truly timeless...

These are good resources, because in all honesty, for a Christian the main purpose of homeschooling is (or should be) discipleship. Academics are a secondary issue.

A good book to read is "Homeschooling: The Right Choice" by Christopher Klicka.

[HisJewel]

Well, we never had any experience with public school or really even private school, just a couple of years of preschool, so it wasn't as "huge" a decision for us (i.e. we weren't pulling them out of school). I would imagine that makes a big difference. I always knew I wanted to homeschool from the beginning, but pressure was big to send my first to preschool, and when I was tired and exhausted from my second pregnancy, I "succomed". LOL.

Anyway, when my son was in 4YO preschool and kindergarten was "looming large", we were going back and forth over our options and still leaning pretty heavily toward homeschooling. The thing that made me take the "plunge" and pull my son out of preschool in the middle of the year, was that he started getting bullied really bad. That's right, in 4YO preschool.

It was a little hard for me to pull him out in the middle of the year instead of starting "officially" with kindergarten. (I had really gotten used to that "break" and the one-on-one with my then baby girl). But I had felt the Lord leading me for quite some time, and I almost think that He used the bullying situation to tell me, "Okay, I've told you what you are supposed to be doing. When are you going to obey?"

We pulled him out and never looked back.

My daughter has never been to any preschool, and is smart and social as can be.

If you feel the Lord leading, and you have your husband's OK, then what are ya' waiting for girl? Go for it!!!!