Back to School!

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Or I guess, technically, for us, it is called, On to School! We are coming up on the beginning of our first year of homeschooling! Little Bear, Bradley, is 4 years old and an official preschooler! We have been working our our homeschool space over the weekend, and will continue to work on it this week. We decided that instead of using the corner in the living room, where all the electronic distractions are, we would school in our bedroom, where the distractions are limited. (And there is more room!) Check out my homeschooling blog for more updates! We are super excited to be sharing this with all of you!

Homeschool Village

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It's that time again!

This is our first year homeschooling, so I am still fresh, BUT, I look forward to reading what many of you other homeschool moms do to get that fresh feeling back between years or sessions.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Check out all the other homeschool blogs that have linked up by clicking the Homeschool Village button!

Forgot to add my featured HS blogs!

 

1. Confessions of a Homeschooler - I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my computer back from the repairman so I can download her A-Z PreK Curriculum... Can't wait! :)

2. Preschoolers and Peace - Even though she is on a break for the month of June, there is tons of reading to be done in this blog!!

 3. Being Refined as Silver - One of my new favorite bloggers. She is an awesome woman of God and I love reading her Truth for Thursday posts.

My child was accepted into pre-school, but we are homeschooling. And here's why...

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I have heard that this certain elementary school was a highly sought after school for preschoolers. So other moms would be ecstatic right now, but not me.  I want to homeschool my children. And unless it just does not work for us, I am going to homeschool. I do not want my children to be exposed to all that goes on in public school. You may be sitting there, sighing, thinking that public schools aren't that bad, but if I remember learning about sex in second grade from other kids 18 years ago, then I can only imagine what they are talking about now. Sure, we could enroll Little Bear in a Christian school, but right now, financially, that is not possible. (And for the sake of argument, I know that a Christian school will still have bullies, and talk that shouldn't be in any school.) I am really not trying to start a debate between public schooling and homeschooling. I know some awesome teachers. One of whom is in my family. If all the teachers were like her, a beautiful Christian woman who is caring, observant, and very detail oriented, then I would send them off on the big yellow bus without a worry. But unfortunately, that's not the case. 

I want my children to have a much better education experience than I ever had. I disliked school. I did not want to go, most days, especially in high school, I didn't. (Which got my parents and I a meeting with the truancy board.) I was highly interested in certain classes and activities but wouldn't dare participate if my friends were not participating. I joined the band in 6th grade. For many months I held the first chair in the clarinet section. I was good. But my friends made fun of me, and I was bullied by one of the flute players, so I quit. I know that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, but I don't want my children to base their decisions in school on what others think. My parents were very supportive and pushed me to be the best. My dad often encouraged me to, "walk to the beat of a different drum." But when a child is surrounded by their peers, they are likely to follow the crowd, unless they are the leader. I was not a leader, I was very much a follower. I regret so badly not staying in band. I regret not staying in trade school where I might've graduated with a trade that could have been useful to my family today. I know, it's not good to dwell on the past, and to have regrets, but these are things that I feel, no, that I know would have been different if not for the peer pressure, and lack of direction, or support from teachers.

So now I bet you are thinking, "just because these things happened to her, it doesn't mean it will happen to her children." No, they probably will not experience the same things I experienced in school. So that brings me to the biggest reason I want to homeschool. We are Christians. Prayer is a big part of my life. And prayer is already gone from school. I will not have my children getting in trouble if they decide to bow their head and give thanks to God during lunch. I will not have my children being taught that homosexuality is genetic, or that a person was born gay and they can't help their feelings, so it's okay. I will not have my children being taught that sex before marriage is okay as long as they use protection. I will not have my children being exposed to drugs and alcohol in school. I will not have a teacher mock my child for our beliefs. (Yes, people, it happens.) 

I hate that I feel I have to defend our choice to homeschool. So may people around me have already commented that our child will miss out on so much if we homeschool, or they will not be properly socialized, or they will be a wimp because they won't have the events at school to help them learn how to cope with bullies or hard situations. I know that I am not going to be able to guard my children from all of the bad things in this world. But I believe that by keeping them initially at home, then eventually (possibly) in a Christian school I can shield them from a good percentage of it.

Now, I am getting down off of my soap box. Feel free to comment, but please do not bash my decision or my beliefs.

Homeschool Village

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Even though we are not officially homeschoolers, yet, I asked Stef, and she said I could participate! WOOT! So for the month of June we don't have anything official planned, we are still browsing through Pre-K curriculum (we will probably use AOP Horizons) and working on our letter & number workbooks. I foresee many trips to the library in our future this month! My little man is loving him some alphabet books! :)

I have been impacted by so many homeschooling moms so far! I have received many ideas, advice and encouragement from these sweet ladies. So here are a few whose blogs I couldn't go a week without reading!

Honey at Sunflower Schoolhouse

Sue at The Homeschool Chick

Nicole at Mama to 3 Blessings: Our Homeschool Blog

I have many more bookmarked that I read, but unfortunately my computer is at the doctor and I am borrowing a friend's, next time I will share some more of my faves!!

Thanks to Stef for getting this all together! :) <3

Homeschool Preparation - Ack!

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I have been vigorously researching homeschooling curriculum, styles, etc. for the past few weeks. I have checked out lots of homeschooling books from the library. It is a little overwhelming! I am not sure what is going to work for us, but seeing as I work out of home part time I think that we are going to go with more of a school-at-home approach. I have been looking at a lot of different curriculum packages. Just to name a few; AlphaOmega: Horizons Preschool, Calvert School Pre-Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum, and because it is so cost effective, ABC Home Preschool for 4 to 6 year olds. I am very new to this, my sister and I both attended public school and I am only really familiar with one homeschooling family (who I, might I add, absolutely LOVE!) I guess I am mainly concerned with finding a schedule that works for us, and it seems the curricula I listed all have a "schedule" already made out for the users. We have been doing some informal homeschooling from some workbooks I bought at BAM. But starting in August or September I would like to start a formal homeschool program with Little Bear so he is fully prepared for "Kindergarten".  

I would love to hear some feedback and/or advice!

Wordless Wednesday - Pre-K Homeschooling

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If you have been following me for any length of time (longer than a week), then you know my wordless Wednesdays are hardly wordless! 

My husband and I have talked about homeschooling for a couple years, and now that our oldest son is 4 years old and at that Pre-K bridge, we are trying out homeschool for his preschool year to see how it is going to work for us. So far, so good. He is excited about learning and is a great student. Today he was so attentive and tried extra hard to please mommy, and of course, he did! I proudly posted this worksheet on my fridge, and I am sure it is only the first of many more to come! 

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/