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LisaD
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 11:51am | IP Logged
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After 2 ½ years of participating on this forum, I am FINALLY going to be teaching my children at home. I will have a fourth grader, a second grader and a Kindergartener, plus a 2-½ year old helper. I have prayed for so very long that God’s will be done regarding our children’s education, and when dh said that he thought we should try teaching them at home, I felt like such a burden had been lifted off of my shoulders! My oldest did two years in public school, and two years at our small parish school. The next oldest did K and first grade at our parish school. My 4-½ year old has spent 3 mornings a week since February at a lovely little preschool run by Carmelites. They are all overjoyed to be coming home.
Although I have had years to research different curricula, and philosophies of education, now that the time has come to begin to implement what I’ve learned, I feel all in a muddle. One day, I think MODG is the way to go, the next CHC, the next MA and the next day a combination of all of them seems the best! I have already ordered Teaching Textbooks 5 for math for my oldest. She did very well on the placement test, and loved the demo of the program. My second child is disappointed that TT doesn’t have a program at his level yet, so I do hope that they will have 3 & 4 out by next spring for him. I may start 100 Easy Lesson for my Kindergartener this summer. He is showing a lot of interest in reading and sounding out works, and we taught the older two children to read with this book before they started Kinder. They picked it up very quickly. I don’t think we ever went beyond lesson 60 or so with them. But the rest of it…
I wish I had one of you seasoned home-educating moms to come over and tell me what to do-LOL! I don’t want to overwhelm us with too much stuff as we are adjusting to a new lifestyle, but I don’t want to do too little, either. And then there is the record keeping.
Do we sign up with and ISP so that we don’t have to worry about paperwork so much? Do I enroll everyone in a homeschool program (like MODG) and have the support and records of that type of program? Do I file a private school affidavit and keep records myself? Is one way better, or “safer” in California than another?
I’m sorry this is so long and rambling, but I keep jumping back and forth between elation at finally having my children home with me, and frustration with my lack of the ability to decide on anything!
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~Lisa
Mama to dd(99), ds(01), ds(03) and ds(06)
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lapazfarm
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Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
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Congratulations!
And RELAX. You are going to do GREAT!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 12:08pm | IP Logged
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Oh, Lisa, how fun! 
You're going to be so good at this.  And I can't wait to hear how it goes. It's nice for us "veteran" mommies to virtually relive those beginning years.
Now you need to start a blog.  Trust me, it's the best way to go back and say "Hey! we did this and this and this. I'm not a pretty good teacher after all." 
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 12:10pm | IP Logged
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Cay Gibson wrote:
| I'm not a pretty good teacher after all." |
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Ooops! 
Didn't mean to discourage you from the very start. I'm all butterfingers this morning.
I meant to type "I'm a pretty good teacher after all." 
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Mary G
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 12:19pm | IP Logged
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Yippee LisaD! You'll find it's an adventure that just keeps getting better .... don't be nervous, have fun and remember that being with your kids, sharing your love and faith, teaching them the good, true and beautiful will place them in wonderful standing when they're ready to go out on their own.
Blessings and prayers heading your way!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Sparrow
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 6:21pm | IP Logged
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I empathize! Homeschooling is something I've wanted to do since dd1 was born (she'll be 7 this summer). We ended up doing 2 years of pre-k and kindergarten in Catholic school, and dh has finally come around to the idea of homeschooling. So now I'm getting nervous! I'm sure we'll both do fine, though :D
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Katie, blessed wife to Tyson and mom to all girls! Bailey (7) Riley (3) and Rory (3/17)
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folklaur
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 6:28pm | IP Logged
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Yay Lisa!
And - even us 'veteran' Moms can go back and forth on what is "best" to do "this year" or "with this child" etc. Really. I am totally undecided this year curriculum-wise.
Go easy on yourself and your kids too! Remember that they are "used to" the way the "school does it" - it does take some adjustment for everyone.
BUT! It is so great. Really. I'm so happy for you!
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JuliaT
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Lisa, I am so happy for you. Just remember to start out slow and then gradually add the next thing. If you do everything all at once, you will probably be living in the land of the overwhelmed.
Blessings
Julia
mom of 3 (8,7,5)
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teachingmom
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| Posted: June 02 2008 at 11:15pm | IP Logged
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I'm so excited for you, Lisa! I'm sure you will do great, no matter what you decide about curricula or resources.
I do not have advice about curriculum. But I do have advice. Be sure to prioritize family read alouds! They have been such a blessing in our homeschool and family life.
Praying for you!
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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TracyQ
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I'm so excited for you too, Lisa! WELCOME to homeschooling!!! You'll do just fine!!!
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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marianne
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Congratulations on your decision! You're going to love homeschooling. I even like all the turmoil over curriculum and decisions. It's something fun to dwell on for some reason.
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Mamamoon
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| Posted: June 09 2008 at 9:37am | IP Logged
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find the one that speaks to your heart and take the plunge with the curricula, you can always add/supplement with other things that you like. i know the choices drive me crazy too!!!
mamamoon
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A firefighter's wife, and mama of two dancing princesses~
Creekside Wonder
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: June 09 2008 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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Been meaning to pop in here and say CONGRATULATIONS! It's an exciting time (and yes, can be overwhelming with all the choices). I well remember the days of picking the brains of the veterans. (I still pick and we've been at this for 9 years!) The thing to remember is to be flexible -- tweak, tweak, tweak until you find what works for your family, for each child in each season of life.
I want to make sure that your questions don't get lost. I'm not in California, so am no help. Do any west coasters have an opinion/suggestion:
LisaD wrote:
| Do we sign up with and ISP so that we don’t have to worry about paperwork so much? Do I enroll everyone in a homeschool program (like MODG) and have the support and records of that type of program? Do I file a private school affidavit and keep records myself? Is one way better, or “safer” in California than another? |
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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LisaD
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| Posted: June 09 2008 at 9:11pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all for your encouragement! We just got our first box via UPS (dd's Teaching Textbooks) and we're so excited! I am going to the So. CA Catholic Home Educators conference at the end of the month, with a list of things to look at at the vendor booths. I'm determined not to buy everything in sight, but just to start out with the basics. Meanwhile, I will be hanging out here a lot this summer, gleaning all the information and good advice that I can!
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~Lisa
Mama to dd(99), ds(01), ds(03) and ds(06)
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Mamamoon
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if it helps~i am in ca, and i go through a charter for the reasons you mentioned. it is easier for me, plus they buy most of my montessori materials and i can use extra funds in my budget to pay for music classes etc.
they only will purchase the secular materials though. you can get the religious ed. items on your own. since it was my first year too, i found that helpful to have the charter, and the teacher to check in with me once a month and tell me my daughter was doing great.
good luck!!
lisa
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A firefighter's wife, and mama of two dancing princesses~
Creekside Wonder
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Happy and nervous...
