4Real Forums: I Don't Know Where to Begin

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: I Don't Know Where to Begin

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rtlmom
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Joined: April 02 2008
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Posted: April 15 2008 at 10:12am \| IP Logged

Hi ladies!

This fall, I will "officially" begin homeschooling my 5 year old, and I also have a 3 year old. (By the time school starts, they will be almost 6 and 4).

With my 3yo(C), I'm basically going to be focusing on the alphabet/counting - and pretty much have that figured out. But I'm kinda at a loss of where to begin for my 5yo (R).

I love the idea behind Charlotte Mason, and do plan to use lots of Living Books in our studies. But I simply don't think this will be enough. He is very precocious, loves to learn and he's very quick. I am trying to figure out what we'll be doing during the day, and while not have a true lesson plan - have some idea of how we'll be spending the day (or nothing will get done).

I don't mean that I want to have every moment of the day planned or occupied with something; I guess I'm just struggling here.

How do you know when to introduce certain topice - for instance, American History?

I relaly am just clueless here. Any help is appreciated!

Sarah M
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Joined: Jan 06 2008
Location: Washington
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Posts: 1423

Posted: April 15 2008 at 11:00am \| IP Logged

I would highly recommend Five in a Row and/or Homeschool Share. Both of these resources offer unit studies based on excellent children's literature. Each unit offers ideas for S.S./Geography, Language, Math, Art, and Science. It's very flexible so you can make it as simple or involved as you are wanting. They are written for homeschoolers of children ages 4-8, though we were able to incorporate our younger daughter when she was 3 quite readily. I know a lot of women here use both of these resources. Hope that helps! Best wishes!

allison
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Joined: Nov 21 2007
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Posted: April 15 2008 at 11:21am \| IP Logged

I would just get a bunch of catologs and leaf through them. They will give you an idea of when things are best taught/started. Try CHC, Emmanuel Books (MODG), Seton, Kolbe, whatever ... just to get a general idea and then jump from there

Sometimes just looking at the catologs really helps put things in perspective.

You have time to look through reading lists too - look at Mater Amabilis, MODG, and Seton's lists (on thier websites) and see what kind of timetable they have for reading each year and what subjects they cover - that will help.

Lastly, you could borrow a few lesson plans from those who use the different curriculums as the lesson plans give you a more detailed account of how much of each subject you would be looking at doing each year. They are all different in one way or another but you can see what others are doing and plan that which would work best for your family...*but this is only needed if you need more detailed info than the catologs and books lists would give you.

It's a place to start ... hope it helps!
~allison

chicken lady
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Joined: Feb 27 2005
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Posted: April 15 2008 at 12:11pm \| IP Logged

Spend the summer reading HS books and theories. Cultivate your families goals (though they will change

) and take a deep breathe and pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Talk to lots of different types of HSer's, why do they embrace certain styles of learning? Your dc are so young, you will be great and they will flourish under your guidance.

Natalia
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Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Louisiana
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Posted: April 15 2008 at 1:07pm \| IP Logged

I think the advise of spending the summer reading of the different philosophies of homeschooling is a good one. You might have done that already but if you haven't it is a good way of starting out.

Here is a link for youA to Z Homeschool If you scroll down the sidebar, you will find a heading for homeshool methods. That would give you a general guidance, then you can dig deeper into whatever seem to fit you and your family.

As a practical suggestion I enjoyed this curriculum when my now 6 yo was in preschool. I also have used a lot of the reading lists at Ambleside and Mater Amabilis.

I think at this age the most important thing is to offer an environment where learning is encouraged. Relax and enjoy your kids. There would be plenty of time for more formal academics later.

Natalia

Elena
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Joined: Aug 13 2006
Location: Ohio
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Posts: 592

Posted: April 15 2008 at 3:35pm \| IP Logged

I loved using Hewitts Training Wheels and using it along with the Image of Godfor kindergarten. That worked very well for us.

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Elena
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