Tales of a 4th Grade Guinea Pig
All posts about the Experiment
Curriculum and resources
I’ve teased you about this for a week. I intended to tease you for a couple more. But this is it. The end? Nope. The beginning.
We start homeschooling on Monday.
I’ve experienced a range of emotions, as has the rest of my family. We discussed forgetting the whole thing. But we kept coming back to a firm commitment to the experiment.
It could be that this year will be fondly remembered as “that thing we did” before going back to public school.
Or maybe we’ll fall in love with the lifestyle and choose it permanently.
I guess the worst case would be that we flop completely and I have to send the kids back to the same school sometime within the next seven months. I’ve talked to their teachers — they would welcome them back with open arms.
But I don’t think the final scenario will happen. In the past several days, my weeks of curriculum research have finally started to make some sense and pull together.
And I’m SO EXCITED!
And nervous.
And maybe, a little nauseous.
This doesn’t come without sacrifice - I’m taking a sabbatical from most of my writing pursuits, as well as the bulk of product marketing and development. I think it will be a manageable load, but I suppose I won’t really know until I’m doing it.
And then, of course, there’s blogging. I know it will take a hit, and I’ll rely heavily on Bloglines to keep up with all of you. (You should be doing this, too, if you’re not already.) But I see YOU very much as my support, so I’ll continue with my own posts as much as possible. I’m using Pass the Torch as my own accountability. I hope to publish my basic lesson plan for each week, as well as some kind of evaluation. These may be short, but will go a long way toward my ducks staying in a row.
I’m following some of the curriculum used in Wayne’s district, because it’s possible that the kids will attend there next year, when they’re eligible to enroll. (We’ll complete the open-enrollment forms in February, so they can attend a school outside of their district of residence.) But I’m also piecing together lessons from all sorts of different resources.
I’ll plan to complete regular “3R’s” lessons every morning for about 2 1/2 hours, and in the afternoons, participate in a more project-based activity for social studies, science, health, etc. I’ve familiarized myself with the Wisconsin state standards, and will gear these projects toward them, or the district curriculum, as much as possible.
I’ll also take liberal advantage of library visits and field trips.
And Deena will chronicle her “experiment” experience in her guest post series, Tales of a 4th Grade Guinea Pig.
I’m anxious to share the journey with you. Please come with me.
Other Homeschooling Experiment milestones:
The Beginning
Week One - Starting with a Frazzle
Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff
Week Two - Just when I thought I knew what I was doing
Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS!
One-month Review
D’s Review at One Month
Week Five - Stress and frustration
Week Seven - Flip-flopping curriculum
Note to self - Consider having low expectations some weeks
Two-Month Review — Some aha moments
Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream
Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history
Five-Month Review — What I underestimated
Six-Month Review - Let’s Just Skip this Month
Seven-Month Review — Curriculum Review
D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series
Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig
All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS!
HOMESCHOOL EXPERIMENT RESULTS SERIES:
WHY WE STARTED
the JOYS
the STRUGGLES
the FUTURE for us
Update - Since we Quit Homeschooling
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11:13 am
I’m looking forward to following your journey. I think the most powerful tool is sharing knowledge and you’re bound to enlighten us all ten fold with your new “experiment”!
Hugs & Best Wishes,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
11:18 am
Thank you Holly. I agree that I learn so much when I share experiences with others. I also find that this blog helps me to focus on the positive aspects of my life, which makes those aspects even stronger.
I’m glad you’ll be with me on the journey…
11:20 am
Good luck to all of you. I think it will be a great experience for you all.
1:08 pm
Good for you. It is always so encouraging for me to read the thoughts of moms just starting to homeschool. It is very motivating for an “old timer” like me. I just added you to my bloglines, so I’ll be reading.
1:53 pm
Good luck Kelly! If anyone can do it, it would be you! I mentioned before that I would never be able to have the patience to do homeschooling. There’s one blogger (I hope my memory serves me right) who also has been homeschooling her children and she loves it. If you need to chat with her for anything, she’s at http://growgreengrapes.blogspot.com/
But I know you have everything under control. Have fun and I’ll follow your experiment from this day on.
2:18 pm
you’ll probably find that it takes much less time to home school then what they waste in class with 28 other kids.
Plus… they’ll be way ahead of their class if and when they return to school
Prayers will be for you to have a good experience and they will too.
3:21 am
I’m very interested in following your experiment too. I’ve heard that too, that it takes less time and children get the benefit of more one on one instruction than to compete with 28+ students. My oldest daughter has and has had wonderful teachers. My interest is for my son with his condition, and explaining to the teachers to keep an extra eye on him, that has me wanting to try homeschooling, so he’d be more comfortable at home . I know it will be a good experience for all of you, and excited for all of you on your new adventure.
4:52 am
Thanks for adding me to Bloglines, Spunky. And thanks for the link WAYA. I will check her out.
I really appreciate all of your support! I look forward to the adventure and hope it goes as well as you’re helping me believe;)
7:01 am
Hang onto your hats on Monday, folks, when Mom becomes a Ma’am!
8:58 am
HAHAHAHA! You got that right, Susan;)
6:23 pm
I plan on homeschooling too. I hope it all goes well for your family.
7:15 am
I wondered what you meant in your comment to me about pulling them out completely. I found someone’s blog about homeschooling … I think it was through TT. I will have to see if I can locate it. She is a writer for Bella Online about homeschooling.
I admire you, Kelly. One of the things this lady said was if you have been thinking about it more often than not, just pull your kids. Pull them and just never take them back.
I have SO considered doing this. I will be interested to see how things go for you.
7:49 am
Kelly .. here is the information on Bella Online.
http://www.bellaonline.com/site/Homeschooling
Not sure if you have stumbled on this one or not.
10:45 am
Thank you Meredith!
12:22 pm
[…] Here’s a list of texts and resources I’m using for the Experiment. I’ll keep a list here and update it as we add new favorites. […]
7:05 pm
You are a brave woman and, even if you decide to opt out in time, you made a sincerely giving effort. Best of luck! I look forward to hearing your progress as an educator. I would also love to hear how the children respond to you - as teacher as Parent etc.
Thanks for this submission to the Carnival of Family Life. I’m hosting again this week. I’m sure many readers will be following your progress.
5:20 am
[…] home | Archives | Curricula | Tutor Talk | writing | The Experiment October 23, 2006 Week One […]
2:47 pm
[…] The Experiment, at Pass the Torch is an interesting read for any parent considering or indeed about to embark on the journey of homeschooling. Is homework bad for kids? Yes, I think it is. If it is unacceptable for adults to be bringing work home night after night, what makes it ok for our kids to do the same? […]
7:05 am
[…] home | Archives | Curricula | Tutor Talk | writing | The Experiment October 24, 2006 We got ya covered, Mom […]
11:04 am
Best of luck. This is our fourth year homeschooling. Don’t be afraid to ask if you need help/support! It can be a bit overwhelming to start with, like any big life change, but it does get better and you all do adjust!
2:26 pm
Good luck to you! I know I could never do it. You’re very brave!
6:49 am
[…] home | Archives | Curricula | Tutor Talk | writing | The Experiment October 25, 2006 Library loot […]
8:34 am
A little nausea is managable, LOL. Kudos to you for sticking to your guns despite all the stuff that comes with making a big decision like that. No one is going to mind that your blogging will take a hit, we know you are doing something really important! :O)
Here from the CFL
11:10 am
HI, I am new to the idea of homeschooling! However, I am sooooo unhappy with the public school in our area that I have been reading the book Homeschooling your child for free. It is not a bad book so far but not to many of my questions are getting answered. LIKE where do you start? LOL. If anyone can help I would really appreciate it.
Terri
Good luck to you to kelly. I feel like im in the same boat as you. Your just a step above.
11:34 am
We have homeschooled for 10 years now and I can tell you it is a wonderful adventure! The first several months may be an adjustment period, so don’t be too quick to send them back. You will find your rhythm in time. Best wishes & welcome to the wonderful world of homeschooling!!!!
Jamin
4:18 pm
[…] home | Archives | Curricula | Tutor Talk | writing | The Experiment October 26, 2006 Welcome to my classroom […]
11:10 am
Thank you ALL for your comments!
Terri - There’s so much information out there about homeschooling and it’s hard to know where to start. I think one good idea is to read the blogs of those who are doing it. Often they will link to the curricula they’re using. This way you can get a feel for the kind of homeschooler they are, and which curricula fits that kind of homeschooler.
We’re following public school curriculum, because we may only do this for a year. This way, we’ll be able to slide into a public scholl setting again without having skipped curriculum. But if we continue indefinitely, we’ll probably switch to a less rigid system.
There are a lot of books out there, and I’ve checked some out at the library. People have strong opinions about homeschooling, so some of the books have turned me off - they’re not doing it for the same reasons I am. But if I’ve just checked out the book, it’s no big deal. I didn’t shell of $20 for it;)
And I would also try to connect with a homeschool organization in your community. We don’t have much of that here, but I’m still looking… If you do a google search in quotes for “home school” or “home schooling” or “homeschooling” you’ll find about a bazillion.
Here are a few links: http://homeschooling.about.com
http://www.bellaonline.com/site/Homeschooling
http://www.everythinghomeschooling.com
But there are seriously infinite websites. You just have to figure out what fits your family and narrow your search that way.
And of course, subscribe to my blog! You can follow my progress muddling through the process as well;)
Best wishes! I hope to see you again on my blog!
6:11 pm
Kelly,
Thank you, I have done so much reading this week..lol. With that I honestly feel that it will be the right decision for us.
I have found a support group in my area. I joined the group off of yahoo. However, that just took place the other day so im not sure how much that will help as they dont have monthly meetings yet. I also have a meeting set up for tomorrow night with another family here in town that has homeschooled since day 1.
I have checked out tons of sites for homeschoolers and there are tons of work that can be used. Now it is time to think of where to start. My first grader will be easy to teach. Im more afraid of not being able to do the same for my son as he is in 7th grade and needing to find out what he needs to know and what he already knows.
thanks again
Terri
6:16 pm
Ok.. how do you sign up for the blog?
This is the first for me as for blogging..lol.
terri
3:40 pm
[…] home | Archives | Curricula | Tutor Talk | writing | The Experiment October 31, 2006 The Soccer Ball Incident […]
6:33 pm
How exciting! I am also in my first year homeschooling (Kindergarten) and we are using My Father’s World curriculum. It is an exciting time!
1:40 pm
[…] home | Archives | Curricula | Tutor Talk | writing | The Experiment January 2, 2006 The Soccer Ball Incident […]
10:37 pm
Good luck on your journey!! Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t pack in my classroom and head for home…schooling that is
10:49 pm
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5:38 pm
I just started HSing this year, and through circumstances I cannot control will have to go back to work for a few years. (At least it’s in teaching.) I love it and am so sad it (HSing) will have to wait a few more years. Thus far it’s been challenging and so rewarding. I hope you have a great time!
8:08 pm
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7:54 am
Homeschool Experiment - The Beginning
Here’s the first post in the series that followed one family’s year-long experiment in homeschooling.
8:20 am
[…] Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One - Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two - Just when I thought I knew what I was doing Week Three — Let there be CRAFTS!One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five - Stress and frustration Week Seven - Flip-flopping curriculum Note to self - Consider having low expectations some weeks Two-Month Review — Some aha moments Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history Five-Month Review — What I underestimated Six-Month Review - Let’s Just Skip this Month Seven-Month Review — Curriculum Review D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS! […]
8:23 am
[…] Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One - Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two - Just when I thought I knew what I was doingWeek Three — Let there be CRAFTS! One-month Review D’s Review at One Month Week Five - Stress and frustration Week Seven - Flip-flopping curriculum Note to self - Consider having low expectations some weeks Two-Month Review — Some aha moments Three-Month Review — Not all peaches and cream Four-Month Review — Loving ancient history Five-Month Review — What I underestimated Six-Month Review - Let’s Just Skip this Month Seven-Month Review — Curriculum Review D’s research paper — Save the Earth Saturday series Tales of a Fourth-Grade Guinea Pig All posts about the experiment — including WAY-COOL FIELD TRIPS! […]
11:58 pm
[…] we finish week three of our homeschooling experiment, I feel we’ve made some progress in my understanding of my kids’ academic needs, as […]
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[…] Homeschooling Experiment milestones: The Beginning Week One - Starting with a Frazzle Five Steps to Drive Yourself off a Cliff Week Two - Just when I […]
11:16 pm
Thanks for chronicling your journey. Even if it’s in the past-tense at this point. I’m sure that I will be looking to your posts for pointers and ideas as I struggle with the question of to homeschool or not to homeschool myself.