Homeschooling? How do I get started?

Question

My six year old is way to advanced for the curriculum being taught in her first grade class. I want to look into homeschooling,but really have no idea where to start. There seem to be hundreds of websites that say they provide teaching tools and text books, but they look like people out for money from what I can tell so far. Which resources are the best, and which are scams? What else do I need to consider when undertaking this education choice?

For those who insist on being insulting, I was a child with great intellect and high IQ. I feel that public school failed me. It did not provide me with the challenge to stimulate my mind, and therefore made me lazy. I never had to work hard, I never had to try, yet I still scored extremely high on every test. I don't want the same thing to happen to my child. I am more than capable than providing my daughter with a suitable education, I am the reason she is performing at levels that far surpass her classmates, simply because I am a parent that gives a damn. The rest of you send you kids to school to have someone else do all the work, then babysit them with a tv when they get home each day. That is why in 20 years, your kids will be taking orders from my daughter. Your childish approach to an answer on this website is perfect example of your low brow undereducated lifestyle. And my greatest solitude is that you waste your life at your dead end misery, and always will.

Answer 1

I understand you perfectly. I found my daughters disadvantaged in public school and started to homeschool them from the 4th grade on. They are adults now, and my youngest is a senior at the University in the pre-med program. (so it works)

Now to your question.
#1
I found several things of help to me, the NASCO catalog for some cool science experiment kits, good books on sciences, and a lot of odd ball things...order a catalog from them for your child's age level, or browse their online catalog for ideas.
(link below)
#2
For Math I like Spectrum Math workbooks in the lower grades and Saxon math in the upper grades to be the best.
(links below)
#3
Remember the library, the one to get books out of and the one you should start building for her...for her level.
#4
Include some some decent history, social study, religion (world and specific), art, music, and PE in her daily activities.
#5
I have no way of evaluating the English programs for her level, but I had excellent results with A Beka Spelling and Handwritiing books and also their grammar and writing book were good.
#6
Become a member of the HSLDA and your local homeschool group!

In other words, you can "patch" together an assortment of books that suit you and her...some of these can be borrowed from the library or friends, and you can throw in a few great works from "Dover Thrift Editions" as she gets older. This can be affordable. I kept my expenses way below $200 a year for both kids. Don't forget the internet...there are a lot of websites with "free worksheets" for downloading and printing, even such websites as PBS.org have things for their series for you and your child to work thru after watching their programs, check it out. (last link)

Answer 2

There should be a homeschooling group in your area. Personally I would look up Quaker home school information.
At first you could just plan your own sessions with fun things your child likes to do. Teaching cooking is really good, because it involves following directions, measureing, a little chemistry and the fun of eating what you make. Use the natural world around you. Like have her collect bugs and look at them closely, maybe even draw pictures of the bugs she finds and looking them up on the net to find out more about them for her. Take her to the library and spend the morning looking at all the kids books until she picks a few she wants to take home. Play store where she buys things with money and begins to understand how to make change. You can start with pennies. There are so many ideas.
The best way to teach is to teach the child, not just the material. That is, you know your child and what might be fun for her. Send a week just looking at something she likes from all the angles. Like if she likes horses, take her to see some. Look up all the different kinds of horses and name them. Get her a book on horses. Let her direct you about where to go next with the theme.
Remember that she will need skills in reading, spelling, math, logical thinging, problem solving, writing, art, music, history, science, geography and other things. Have her make up a song and play a drum with it, record it, improve it and record it again.
I wish I had had the time to home school.
Your best source is other home schoolers. Check out the school supply store in your area. They will probably have a lot of information about the home school groups in your area.

Good Luck

Answer 3

There is an amazing array of choices out there, it is common to feel a bit overwhelmed. Go to www.tagfam.org and sign up for their tagmax email list. They are a group about homeschooling gifted kids. A few hours searching their archives will help.

We made the decision to homeschool our daughter when she was almost 6 and supposed to start kindergarten. She was doing double digit multiplication and reading The Hobbit, but they were hesitant to let her go ahead into 1st grade, where 'gasp' she'd be 10 days too young for their deadline.

Check out the Stanford EPGY program for math K-7, also have Language Arts programs for grades 3 and up. We use some subjects from www.k12.com (history and LA) which is a very thorough and comprehensive curriculum. There are lower cost alternatives out there it will just take some research on your part.
You might check out Prufrock Press, Critical Thinking Press, and Royal Fireworks Press, http://www.rfwp.com/mct.php
for more ideas.

Think about your child's strenghths and weaknesses and learning preferences as you decide. Does your child like some structure or prefer investigating new ideas through literature. Does she need plenty of hands on activities, or do they bore her? The first thing to remember about homeschooling gifted kids is that you need to be ready to adapt. A great plan can be shot to pieces in a very short time.

Good luck, it is an adventure.

Answer 4

Start with math --- do a placement test and use Saxon math at whichever level your student is ready. Math facts should be memorized -- all functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) -- this can be mastered by using flashcards. After facts are mastered the child can start right into Saxon 54 (4th-5th grade level)

Writing can consist of one page every day. Anything that the child wants to write about within his/her ability is fine. There is only a need for you to check it for spelling, puctuation, grammar, etc.

Reading should be for a minimum of 2 hours every day ---allow your child to read at whatever level he/she can comprehend and enjoy.

A good dictionary and encyclopedia is a valuable resource for knowledge and writing ideas.

Look at www.robinsoncurriculum.com
It is not exactly a "packaged curriculum". It is more "method" but includes printable books and material should you need it.
Self-teaching is an excellent tool for any student. The parent supervises and provides material while the student does the work to learn.


We have done this for 8 years and it is very successful.

Answer 5

Hi! I home schooled my two oldest children for their first few years of school and it was great. I would first ignore all those who have negative things to say. Then, check your states requirements , every state is different. Find a home school support group in your area and ask one of the moms to be a mentor to you. Also check your local library, you'll be going there a lot! There should be some books about homeschooling. Read several books and get advice from those who know. Most importantly make learning fun!! Don't put too much pressure on your kids, let them learn at their own pace. It should be fun, fun, fun, for the first few years.

Answer 6

First I would look up your state law on www.hslda.org. You do not have to join to glean information. For my son, who also was advanced, I like to use Alpha Omega Lifepac and now after 3rd grade Switched on Schoolhouse (SOS). For my girls who are Kindergarten and 1st grade, I am using Five in a Row. Each child will learn differently. The hard part is figuring out what is best for you and your family.
Home schooling is fun and great for the family. It takes understanding and patients. Just try to go at your daughters pace. Have a GREAT time!

Answer 7

I would recommend forgetting a curriculum.

Get a lot of books about a variety of topics, Legos, some workbooks, and then let the kid explore on her own. By doing things together she will develop on a much deeper level than she would in school, because she will be actually doing things, and bonding with her parents at the same time.

Join a homeschooling group and sign your kid up for sports, 4-H, Scouts, et cetera. Then kick back and enjoy the ride.

Answer 8

Hello mam.I think I can help you with this.When looking into homeschooling,you have to be precise about what you want to do.First,see what all curriculums are available.Next,choose which one is right for the student's needs.Also,when homeschooling a student of this age level,try to make learning enjoyable and fun,but educational at the same time.I can also share with you some information that will help you furthermore...You may want to try Alpha Omega curriculum.It is a very enjoyable and educational curriculum.I will give you a source for more information...

Answer 9

Go to http://www.caliva.org/
They can be free for parents if your state has approved them. In California the state pays and provides a computer for the child plus handles all the paperwork. I have had great success with them. They allow kids to work above grade level and provide many resources for parents.
Good luck.

Answer 10

congratulations first of all for making the best decision possible for educating your child.I would suggest that you first join a local home school group,there you can talk to other home school parents,and find out what they recommend.I'm home schooled,and when I was little,my parents used Saxon Math to teach me math,and they also have a reading one too.It is highly recommend,by both home schools and public school teachers.I would start with those things,and as your child gets older,you'll have more experience with home schooling,and will know what you prefer.I would also go to www.cbd.com,and they have almost every home school unit that is available,and other books on home schooling too.GOOD LUCK.