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Wednesday, April 3

Home School at the Skunkboy House

Home school is going really well for us this year.  It helps that Johnny has taken on a bigger role, but I feel like (being in our 3rd year) we are all starting to learn what works and what is less successful.  Some of the approaches we've taken in the past, like having strict text-book only curriculum and very rigid schedules have almost felt like home school failures, but when you learn from those things they turn into growth. 

{Before I go any further, I would like to say this: I believe home school is a huge decision.  It's not right for every parent.  It's not right for every child.  You can read why we home school here.  I'm definitely not preachy about it-- I really think public and private schools are great.  I often feel overwhelmed blogging about home school because I feel like I'm giving advice to parents I've never met.  I hope by sharing some of our experiences, those who are curious get a few answers and those who might be on the fence about home school can weigh our successes and failures.}

We decided to go sans-curriculum this year.  I honestly feel insane saying that, but this has been our most successful year so far.  As I've mentioned before, Hope is a great hands-on learner.  I bought a lot of books this year that really get her hands in the subjects we are studying, so she has a better chance of retaining the information.  We LOVE science experiments, nature studies, and book reports where you incorporate visuals.  I bought this human anatomy doll for fun, and Hope has a great time with it.  You gotta love educational toys, am I right?  Some of our favorite hands-on books are: Biology for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments That Really Work, Awesome Hands-On Activities for Teaching Literary Elements, The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science, Nature in a Nutshell

Over the years math has been our biggest challenge.  I apologize for it all the time, but Hope inherited my math skills.  I'm no math wizard.  This is our first year with Saxon Math, and though she isn't IN LOVE with it, there is definite math comprehension happening.  This is a big success for us.  I love how repetitive Saxon is, that way once she learns something, it doesn't slip away when she is moving onto the next.

I know a lot of you are curious about how we divvy out school responsibilities.  Moving to Springfield and being out of the house 3 days a week made it impossible for me to home school on those days.  Fortunately, Johnny works mostly from home, so he just stepped right in and made up for my absence.  I love this.  I love that A) my husband is willing (and able) to take on such a big responsibility along-side me, and B) that Hope gets to learn from both of us.  We each have our strengths and weaknesses and it's good to be a team.  I will mention, I decided to cut back on my hours at A Beautiful Mess and work only 2 (longer) days a week.  This was partially because I didn't want to be gone so much, and partially because I need those hours for Skunkboy.  Johnny still takes on that extra day as if I'm out to work, but instead I stay in my studio and sew up a storm.  He's awesome.  We have a true partnership as the leaders of our family, and that is an amazing feeling.

Living in Springfield means we have A LOT more home school opportunities than we've had in the past.  We are meeting more and more great people who home school, and places such as roller rinks and the art museum (among others) have special classes and times designated just for home school kids.  Hope just finished taking an art history class at the art museum and is starting a pottery class next week.  I'm just a liiiiiittle bit envious.  ;)

I know socialization is a big worry when someone mentions home school.  In addition to play dates and nature studies with other home school friends, Hope has gymnastics 3 times a week, an art class every Tuesday, and kids' church on Sundays.  I mentioned in my initial home school post that Hope is naturally a very shy girl, so it is important to me to keep her around other kids and adults.  Even if she was crazy outgoing, I believe I would still feel the same way.  As a girl who works from home, I know first-hand staying home and holed-up too much can make you feel trapped, cagey, anti-social, and more than anything: grumpy.

A lot of people ask if we will be home schooling Poesy.  I honestly have no idea.  Poe is the almost-opposite of Hope and I am completely clueless.  We will probably just watch her personality and her needs develop and make a decision when the time arrives.  For now I have my hands in the air on that one.

Guys, I still feel overwhelmed at times, wondering how I can hold my child's education in my own hands and be confident that I'm doing the right thing.  I have days of confidence and days of worry, but every day I know the decision I made was out of love.  I will do my best, with everything I have available, to make sure this kiddo gets the education that is so important and so needed, along with a showering of love and encouragement.  Kids are special and they need to feel that way, no matter what school they attend.

For more ideas, your local library is a GREAT resource for expanding on a subject you are studying.  Also, if you have other home school parents around, trading books is fun and a good way to discover new things!  Having someone you can talk to about your successes and failures is really important.  Parents need encouragement, too!  If you have any questions for me, you can leave them in the comments here and I will answer what I can, as well as keep them in mind when writing the next home school post.  :)


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76 comments:

  1. I just want to thank you for these homeschool posts. My little one is only Poe's age (a couple days younger, actually) but I can already tell that he is a very physical, hands on learner, and my heart has totally changed from being sort of weirded out by homeschooling to it being a huge desire when the time comes. I'm really hungry for knowledge about it, and these little glimpses into your educating Hope are really encouraging!

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  2. As a math teacher, I am saddened to read, "I apologize for it all the time, but Hope inherited my math skills." Parental expectation is such a big influence/factor of how students do. Okay, sure, maybe you can't help her out all of the time, but you stating she already probably can't (because she's like you), and being negative about it (she'll always probably struggle), isn't helping her one bit. If you care so much about providing a great education, I would say stopping with the negativity about math would be step one. Could you turn it into "let's learn this together," or "I know you can do it, be patient, keep trying, we'll try again tomorrow" etc? I imagine there are tons of resources online for whichever topic you are working on. I have worked at the HS level for several years and have never, ever sat down with a student one-on-one and not been successful to get them back on track. Never. Every student is capable, it's just the belief that they can't-- so they barely, if at all, try.

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    1. I wish that someone had said this to me when I was in school, I would feel less like Katie and more confident. As a former teacher I thought about home schooling, but teaching math scared me, now, I know I can do it if I want to, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!

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    2. She is doing great and that was mostly a joke. I'm not horrible at math, but it wasn't ever my easiest subject. I would never discourage her or let her think that she doesn't have to try because I have expectations or acceptance of failure. She's not even a little bit behind, it's just not something she would choose to do for fun like reading or art. I apologize for wording it that way, as now I see that it could be taken more seriously than I intended. Luckily, if/when we start hitting road blocks, my husband is very gifted at math and if the time comes and a tutor is needed, we are open it. :)

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    3. Thanks for posting this!
      I just wanted to share a math resource that might be helpful down the road: www.khanacademy.org. I've worked in the field of education in New Orleans for over 10 years, and this website has proven to be super valuable in driving home tough math concepts in a step-by-step way. My older sister even uses this with her two school-aged children!

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  3. katie, you make me so proud to be your friend.

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  4. I have to say, that you are inspiration when my mind wanders to homeschooling. My husband and I don't have any children (yet!), but since I am an artist who works from home, and he works as a stunt performer in the film industry, part of my is getting prepared that home schooling may be a real possibility. I loved school growing up; my husband definitely did not. I anticipate at least one of our children following in his footsteps (which might literally mean going into that wild profession as well). As a child performer, tutors are available on set, but I think that homeschooling will be another good option. I wish that there was more hands on activities in public school, and seeing where the curriculum is going, I foresee even other important lessons not being taught...like cursive writing. For this reason alone I feel that I want to homeschool. Because I'm an artist who does most of her work within the realm of hand lettering, losing out on how to write the old school way just isn't in the cards for this family. I just hope that if home schooling does end up becoming a reality for us (depending on our children of course), I hope that my husband will also be able to help the way that Johnny has picked up the reins in your home. My favourite part of your post..."We have a true partnership as the leaders of our family, and that is an amazing feeling." I feel that's the best that any parents could hope for.
    Thank you for these great posts! I do enjoy learning from them!

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    1. That sounds like an exciting profession! Whatever you guys choose, I hope it works well for you!

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  5. I have always considered home schooling an option for when I have children. It is great to have some lovely bloggers like you out there and doing it to give us a little taster!

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  6. I love reading your homeschool posts. I was homeschooled for 2 years of primary school and I think I learned more during those 2 years than the rest of primary school combined.

    I am glad I ended up going to a public highschool (with a special program) and I think it was the best choice for me because I had missed the social interaction while being homeschooled. (We lived in an area with very few homeschool kids and most of them were homeschooled because they were difficult in some way, so I struggled to make friends with them.)

    My next younger brother might have preferred to be homeschooled for all of his schooling but... who can say. People are different, we make our decisions and live with them :)

    I'm really glad this is working for you guys. And I'm sure Hope will look back happily!

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  7. GREAT post, katie! i love the idea of homeschooling... i'm a musician though, so i wonder that that would work once i have a kid and am on tour, you know! haha anyway, great post :)

    Valentina
    Valentina Duracinsky Blog

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  8. I really loved reading this. I was homeschooled and my oldest two are homeschooled, with help from my mom since I teach public school. At the risk of seeming sort of spammy, I'm just finishing a sort of mini series on my blog about why I homeschool. I think many of our reasons may line up. I'm excited to check out some of the resources you mentioned. Thanks'

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  9. I think it's fantastic that you are able to successfully homeschool! I'd love to be able to do this with my daughter when she is older, here in the UK it's relatively unheard of. Looks like Hope is doing fantastically :)

    Navylouise.blogspot.com

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  10. I was kind of confuse that Hope was home school even though you said she was a shy kid but then this post explains everything!! taking on sports and arts on such a young age is a great choice! Hope Poe's taking on ballet soon! Haha ;-)

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  11. I love hearing about your homeschooling adventures. Right now I am strongly considering homeschooling for my daughter (she's 3 - so I have time), mainly because I am not happy with our local public school system and private school is crazy expensive. There is actually a strong homeschooling presence locally with a lot of places offering various classes, etc. She's enjoying her half-day, three days a week preschool right now, so I'm kind of torn as to what I should do. Reading about others experiences will help me make my own decision about what to do with my little monster. :) I hope you keep sharing on this topic.

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  12. but how does this home schooling actually work? do you have a schedule like from 8 am to 10 am you'll be learning about history and then 10 to 12 maths or do you basically just have fun and do what you like? i have quite big concerns about home schooling, it's not just socialization (though this is a major part) but school teaches you a lot about other things in life also.

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    1. We have scheduled blocks of time designated for math, science, language arts, etc. every day. I have a list of the standards or requirements for the grade we are in every year, so I know she is learning what she needs to be (and then some). We log all of our hours and studies so there is record of everything. :)

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  13. Hi Katie! Just wanted to pop in and say that I was home schooled, and it worked out well for me. =] My mom home schooled four kids and I think it made us more creative and more independent than many of our peers. I was able to pursue my interests and get a good education at the same time. Though I admit that I still HATE Saxon math. =P

    I hope to home school my own kids (when I have them) though I'll have to see if it will be a good fit for them--you're totally right that home schooling isn't for everyone.

    Keep up the great work!

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    1. Aw, I love that! Even though Saxon has been very successful for us this year, I think we may even try something else next year. Anyway, I appreciate your comments!

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    2. Growing up, my parents homeschooled us (3 girls). Saxon math was my least favorite of all the curriculum we tried. I personally learned better with the Alpha Omega Lifepac series. That being said, my younger sister (who struggled with math) learned better in an actual homeschool math class where she received lots of reinforcement and motivation from being in a group. I always found it fascinating how differently each child can learn.

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  14. Love this post! We homeschooled for four years and have tried public school this year:) Let me say wow the judgments when we did homeschool and when we switched to public! love your do what works attitude! We are still figuring it out. Hang in there!

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  15. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences around home schooling. While I'm not a mum (yet!) I am attracted to the idea so the more I can read about it the better! Thanks! xo

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  16. aww! it's so neat to hear that ya'll are home schooling too! we just started back in december with our first grader after we moved from colorado to texas. there definitely have been days where i'm wondering why the heck are we doing this but i know in the end it really is the best choice for our family. thanks for sharing all your experiences and also home school curriculum! ♥

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  17. You know, I really appreciate your breakdown of how things work and what you think on this. I've always wondered about that... and if kids are learning enough (well, more like, if they'd learn enough from me)... I'm not even a mother yet and these thoughts plague me!!! So seeing an honest post about what you enjoy, worry about and work on is really refreshing.

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  18. You and Johnny are such great parents, Katie, and I love hearing how home schooling has been for you. We've all got our worries about how we're doing for our kids whether they are homeschooled or at a public/private school. I get concerned that Sebastian isn't getting enough attention in his class of 28 kids with two kids that are quite disruptive all day and a teacher that is probably ready for summer. We're actually enrolling him in a Waldorf charter school for the Fall but it's brand new so there are concerns there that it may not be functioning at it's best level quite yet and he may miss out on a few things that a larger established school can offer. I just keep telling myself that we're doing what we think is the best opportunity for him and just like you, it's always done out of love. We can always reevaluate down the road to see if we need to make any changes.

    Anyway, it was encouraging to read about your progress with things and how you're learning what works and what doesn't. You guys are really tuned in to Hope's needs and have always struck me as really nurturing parents! Love you guys!

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  19. My Mom used Saxon Math for me and my 3 siblings growing up. Ohh the memories...

    Professor Phonics was my favorite book as a kid. It's how I learned to read.

    Home Schooling is challenging, but entirely worth it. As a kid that was home schooled, I used to worry about college and how I would do. Was I smart enough? Mostly because I could only compare my progress to my twin brother. I think it's good that you're finding Hope art classes and things to take that put her with other kids once in a while.

    I did very well in college after being home schooled all the way through high school. (and I was no special genius) I think it went so well because I learned HOW to learn on my own. While my mom guided me, a lot of it was ultimately up to me to stay motivated as I got older. (which wasn't always easy) College was new, yet very much the same. Learning was still learning--just in a larger space with new teachers. I was much better at hands on projects too. I always chose a final project over an exam when given the chance.
    (I majored in Graphic Design & Multimedia Art)

    I do agree with Eef about being more creative. Home schooling allows you to focus on your strengths!
    My sister graduated high school at 16, then got a 3 year art degree. She's barely 21 now and incredibly talented because she had so much time to focus on her skill. My twin brother works for a company designing 3D Graphics for an iPad app, and my younger brother is in college and composing music. (he never had formal lessons until he was a teen) and to top it off they're now all collaborating on a video game, and are developing for Nintendo and other platforms.. (okay, I'm done bragging about them..)

    I truly believe that home schooling was key in helping us to find our passions.

    It isn't for everyone, and it does require parents to have flexible schedules. There are times my younger siblings complained, but I think my mom knew best in the end what was right for them.


    My Mom was home schooled after 5th grade, and at the time it was illegal. Even in the 90's if we were out and about during school hours women would approach my mother and ask us why we didn't have school that day. Home school groups and proms existed then, but they weren't as popular or widely known. I think as home schooling is gaining popularity and becoming more common, a lot more opportunities are being open to kids. I really hope to home school my future children, and am excited that there are greater options available than there were when I was growing up.

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing, Christina! I love hearing this. Some of the kindest, most creative people I know were home schooled and I just love hearing their stories.

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    2. I'm happy to share! Too many home schoolers have a bad reputation for being socially awkward hermits. ;)

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  20. YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD MOM.

    so much so that I had to yell about it.

    I love this post, I love your honesty, I pretty much just love you. I also love reading about what a team you and Johnny are in parenting. I mean, I thought that you guys were, but it's nice to read it as well.

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  21. I work for a charter school and helped to organize their library and curriculum. I was effectively the librarian for two years and still aid the library in some capacity (I moved out of state). I love Saxon Math. Saxon Math is fantastic, but is usually used for children who are a little more comfortable with math. May I suggest Math-U-See (to help practice specific skills), A Teaching Textbook, Excel or Primary Mathematics (also known internationally as Singapore Math) as excellent supplements? A Teaching Textbook and Math-U-See also include DVD's and CD's to help follow along in the book. Excel mostly contains worksheets. I would never suggest using only one of these materials, but choosing one or two as a supplement to Saxon might really help your little Hope. If you home school through a charter school you should be able to purchase those four. If not, I know for a fact that Primary Mathematics is also sold at most major bookstores.

    For art, Meet the Master's is another fantastic supplement. It was incredibly popular in our library.

    For history I would highly recommend finding at least one textbook to help you form a timeline and then a ton of supplements. There are so many good history books and projects! One incredibly popular thing to do at our school is to read the American Girl books and form history lessons around that. Another wonderful series is "If You Lived in...[insert time period]". These are definitely intended for little ones. When Hope gets a bit older I would also recommend A History of US. These books follow the history of the United States, but in much smaller increments than a textbook. They also contain a lot of pictures!If you prefer using storybooks or novels for history may I suggest books by Jean Fritz and Tomie de Paolo. Both are excellent children's authors who love to focus on history.

    I am sorry for the novel! This was my job for many years and I am very passionate about it!!!

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  22. I also have a ton of English suggestions if you are interested! There are so many opportunities there too. Nice science picks btw!

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    1. Yes! I love reading your recommendations! I've been hearing good things about Math-U-See and searching out books for our school year is something I really enjoy. I'd love to incorporate your history suggestions- history is so interesting, but is sometimes presented in a way that turns kids off. Feel free to email me any recommendations you have!

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  23. As a teacher who has experience teaching in both public and private schools across 3 countries, it makes me smile when I read positive experiences of homeschooling. As a teacher with a strong background in educational theory and child development studies, so many times what I read from homeschooling parents (many who are well-meaning) makes me cringe. Your posts always cheer me up! You have such a great approach as to doing what feels right for each of your children, finding/using outside resources, and knowing that the resources of tutors, etc. are available and totally ok to use).

    In addition to being a teacher, I went through public school and have 2 public school teachers as parents. I was raised in a state (WI) with a strong strong public school tradition. But then I moved to London and, even while teaching in local public schools, I'm not so thrilled with the English curriculum/schooling system. Having moved a bunch this year, I'm mostly not working right now, but have been observing a lot of the school-life around me (we're in the US for a bit) and realize I was lucky where I was raised! While we don't yet have any children, I know the time will come where we will have to make decisions about the education of future kids and, even at this point, I'm considering home schooling. It's not at all common in the UK and I have a feeling there are less resources available, but with a little work I'm sure it can work. Reading about how you and Johnny work as a team and just make the best of the situations that life throws your way is excellent. In addition to teaching Hope (& Poesy) the "book learning" aspects of school, you are providing them both with really wonderful examples of positive adults. Best of luck to you both as you continue the journey you are on!

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    1. Thank you for your encouragement, Laura Kate! Your teaching life sounds very fascinating. :)

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  24. This is such an awesome post! I'm not a mom yet, but I recently wrote a paper about the educational benefits to homeschooling and it is now something I am seriously considering when the time comes.

    My only worry is the lack of extra curricular activities that are available to kids that are in the public school system. You mentioned that Hope is involved in quite a few different clubs, classes and gymnastics, but are they difficult to come by? I'm mainly concerned about the organized sport. Does she had a wide variety of sports to choose from or was it just kind of what is available at the time?

    Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! It really is an inspiration :)

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    1. Where we lived previously it was harder to find the extra curriculars. There is a large population of home school families in Springfield, and our town really seems to cater to that. We are hearing about new things every day. :) I know there are many sports available here, but gymnastics is the ONLY one Hope is really into. I'd love to see her play softball, just because I think it would be a fun bonding time with her dad. I think she's really pulling for ballet next, though.

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  25. I have read and understood what you say, I am sorry I am french ! Here children go at school at 2 years old and I am not agree with that but it is very difficult to make school at home so I find you very courageous (?) I am not sure I use good words! I am a childminder, I take care of children aged 3 month to 3 years ( sometimes more) and the french school is not really for these "big baby"
    I wish you the best

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  26. Hey! I just want to say that I think it's totally awesome you are home schooling. I don't have kids, but am considering homeschooling if/when I have kids more and more.

    Also, this other great blog I read at www.gsheller.com has some awesome homeschooling info. She uses a lot of Alphabet Glue for projects and science stuff, etc. Not that you asked for my input, but I don't know any other parents that homeschool and I just think she is a great resource!

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    1. Thanks for the link, Tara! I will definitely check her out!

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  27. Thank you so much for sharing your home school struggles and successes with us. My daughter is Poe's age, and I often wonder if public, montessori or home school will be the best for us. A lot of that depends on what state we are living in, as my husband will be in whichever PhD program gives him the most funding. :)

    It's wonderful to know there are so many options when it comes to homeschooling (I am completely clueless on the subject) and that you don't have to stick with one program the whole time. And while you don't have a "traditional job," (I don't either, for that matter) it's nice to see how you balance work and play and school.

    Thank you!

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  28. The Mysterious Benedict Society! Those are GREAT books, I love them! I read them in 6th grade, even though they weren't very challenging, they're still really good.

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  29. I really think what your doing is awesome! If Hope is a hands-on learner she might be a gifted learner. I went attended a gifted program from grades 4-8. The gifted program are for kids that learn differently. I was a kinesthetic and visual learner, which meantnthat I learned from hands-on acticities and pictures. But live in Ontario, Canada, so I don't know if its the same in Springfield. Thanks for sharing!

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  30. I think you're doing a great thing :) I wish I had the ability to do what you are doing. Honestly I feel like Hope may be getting a better education this way than traditional school. You can teach her the important things in life! I never had home economics in high school and feel like that would have been a lot more important than some of the things I did learn haha

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  31. Love this post, Katie! You are such a good mama. I have lots of friends from church that homeschool and I love hearing about it. Elle still has a while (and I don't even want to think about her starting school), but the idea of homeschooling is really appealing to me. Hope seems like such a sweet, creative girl!

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  32. Do you have any experience with Math-U-See? I'm considering ordering it as our math curriculum. Apparently it's great for hands-on, visual learners. I also looked at Saxon math but was worried it might be too "dry" for my son, although he has pretty extreme ADHD which is a whole different ball-game when it comes to learning!
    Thanks for the great post!

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  33. Love hearing about your home school. We are also unschoolers, and I'm big on creating a rich learning environment at home and doing fun things in the community!

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  34. Even though I was homeschooled I still find myself hungry to hear about what others are doing, what does and doesn't work for them, now that I'm teaching my own little ones at home! My parents raised us to be independent learners and when I earned my associates degree I had the highest GPA in my major. Though my eyes still twitch whenever I see a SAXON math book.

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  35. Katie, I loved this post. We're just in the beginnings of homeschooling our Littles, and it's been a harder balancing act for me than I had thought it would be, but it is so rewarding to see their little minds grow from something that we did together! Thanks for posting different resources, too, as we've decided on a hodge podge of different things. I will agree though with others that Math-U-See is AWESOME!

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  36. I love hearing about your homeschooling journey, but can understand your being guarded about it.
    I'm the same as you with math and Jada (9) is the same as me (sadface), but we are having solid results with Math-U-See. It really appeals to her as a visual learner and I often wonder if I'd maybe have been better at math if I'd learnt that way also?
    I'm so keen to try that squishy human body out! Maybe when our next little bit of homeschooling allowance comes in.. ;)

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    1. We are definitely going to check into that-- I've heard good things from other parents over this past year, and it sounds like something Hope would really enjoy!

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  37. Yay for this post! This sounds just like what I'm doing with my little Paige right now (we have no curriculum besides saxon) and she is flourishing! It makes me so happy to hear that it's working so well for your family as well. Your husband sounds like such a wonderful person, and you are just the most lovely person ever, Katie! :O)

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    1. We do have books for every subject- I've just pieced them together. We've used a set curriculum from a company 2 years in a row, and it wasn't personalized enough. :) Thank you for your sweet words and good luck with your schooling!

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  38. Thanks for sharing this post. I'm still deciding whether or not to fully commit to homeschooling. We are also moving to Springfield in June and I would love to pick your brain on some activities and groups (classes) that gear towards homeschoolers in the area!!!
    Again, lovely post. Can't wait to see more.

    Devon
    www.themintberrykitchen.com

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  39. You're doing a wonderful thing. School was a miserable experience for me and I sometimes wonder if i would have excelled had I been home schooled. Doing what's best for your child will always trump any societal norms or other parents thinking your kid is gonna be a weirdo for being home schooled. Some of my best friends were home schooled, and I can honestly say I envy their learning experiences from what they've told me.

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  40. Thanks so much for posting! My oldest is starting kindergarten this year and we are trying out a hybrid school- two days at school (for 4-5 hours) and three days home. I don't know any other parents who homeschool so it's really nice and encouraging to read about your family's experiences! Classroom size, hours away from home and family, and quality of public education were our main reasons for finding an alternative. I'm excited for the school year, but nervous, mostly because I don't know what to do with my two-year-old while I'm trying to do our lessons with my oldest. I'd LOVE to hear how you and your husband manage that and any other tips for homeschooling with little ones in the house.

    Also, have you had to re-prioritize any of your personal goals? I'm an artist, and I work at a gallery on Sundays. I'm wondering if school is going to start and I'm going to have to give up some of my own creative time... i feel like something's going to have to go... home-cooked meals... a clean house... something, ha ha.

    Karen

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  41. I really enjoyed reading your latest post about home-schooling. Kids are all so different, and it's great to see that you are really taking the needs on your daughter into account, as far as her schooling goes. I am a public school teacher, but I know that it is not the right thing for every kid. I teach junior high, and I've taught classes as large as 42 kids; it can be so hard to make sure that everyone is getting all that they need. I live in a community that really pushes kids to be at the top of the class, so much so, that many parents hold their kids back. My son, who is almost 6, is at the low end of his kindergarten class. His teacher is trying to encourage us to keep him there for another year. I know that maturity and learning levels are so different for kids between the ages of about 5-8. I know that my son will catch up, but now I'm starting to ask myself if I should keep him back. I don't want to hold him back from all of his friends, but at the same time, I don't want him to struggle so much that he grows to hate school. As parents, we have to make tough decisions regarding our kids, often. Keep doing what you are doing. A happy, healthy child is the most important thing, and sometimes that means doing things a little bit differently than others. Keep doing what you are doing. I love reading your posts... and your little Poesy reminds me so much of my little Eliza.
    Eve
    mrsevesullivan@yahoo.com

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  42. This is great! I was homeschooled my whole life. I was a very sick kid and because I was absent SO much, my mother decided to homeschool me, and eventually my older sister and younger brother (when he came along) as well.

    You're right, socialization is very important, and it is something I didn't get enough of. I was very shy and withdrawn and I didn't like interacting with other children.

    Textbook learning is what we did. My mother got very sick and the three of us had to take a much larger role in our own education. Sticking to textbooks was easier for us because my mum knew that we were learning even if she couldn't be super active.

    My sister and I were both horrible with math as well...neither of us ever got it! We tried Saxon, Alpha Omega, and Abeka. The latter seemed to work best for us for some reason. We actually used Abeka for most of our curriculum and I think we all preferred it.

    Homeschooling is definitely not for everyone - child or parent. I think you're right that it's a big decision that should be made very carefully. It's so wonderful to read of your experiences though and see how it differed from mine!

    Christen Louise
    http://www.anunordinaryhello.com

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  43. I love this post, do you mind if I link to it on my blog? I am homeschooling my kids and I was homeschooled/public schooled as well as other members of my family. I love the way you put into words the way you guys, as a couple, handled it. You are such a great role-model!

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  44. Thanks for sharing! I homeschool my three kiddos and it is always nice to read other people's adventures in homeschooling. Also thanks for sharing the human body doll! We have a dissect a frog that is similar that my three love and this looks right up their alley. Thanks again!!

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  45. I appreciate this post very much! I was homeschooled as a child for all of my school years. Now that I am grown and married, I am starting to think about the educational options we will have for our future kids- its daunting. There is so much I loved about being homeschooled. But I can see many pros about sending kids to public or private- I just don't think we will be able to afford private. So many things to think about. You are doing a fabulous job.

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  46. Hi Katie!
    I just wanted to say that I may have an idea for your math dilemma.
    I've been homeschooled my whole life (I'm 16:) and I do not like math. Not one bit! In fact, if I'm being honest, I'd have to say I'm terrible at it! But I do it cause I have to (obviously) I used Saxon math for 6-8th grade, and it was okay. I get what you mean when you say it's repetitive, and it is good to instill it in your head, but it can also be boring :p So for 9th grade, my mom decided to buy Teaching Textbooks. A fellow home school friend of mine was using them for Algebra, and she liked it alot. I've been using it for over a year now, and while I still don't like math...at all...It has helped me alot. It's basically a computer program (though it comes with a book too) that teaches you lesson by lesson. When you get an answer wrong, it gives you a second chance. If you get it wrong again it walks you through step by step on how to do it. And it has an automatic grading system, pretty cool. ^_^ And my favorite part is that you have a little 'buddy' that encourages you when you get an answer right (and wrong!) Haha.... kinda kid-ish, but I love it :) So I just wanted to let you know about it, it works for me! It has 3rd grade through calculus (ugh. I shudder at that word ;p) Yep, well I think that's it. Hope you got the chance to read this, cause I think you should try it out! Oh, here's the link to their website: http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/
    Best of luck!:)

    xo Melanie

    http://www.thehalfginger.blogspot.com

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  47. Hi! I'm Amy, a homeschooling mom of two girls, 14 and 17 (will be frosh and senior next year). We stumbled into homeschooling 11 years ago, and muddled through it every year (sometimes it was muddling every few months!) We used curriculums and random materials, and reevaluated as we went (sometimes every week!) Saxon was good for my girls, who are pretty good at math (the repetition and various methods of materials introduction are great as you move forward in math), while other friends tried it, tried other materials, stayed away or went back to it. Never be afraid to try a new way or book! Don't worry if it fails for a while, because you can always adjust (one of the beauties of homeschooling!) My kids even change from year to year. The older one, as a junior, tested into the local community college for dual credit in all areas, so i am very proud of her. We haven't the best record in a lot of areas, but we have been able to focus on their strengths and weaknesses, as well as focus on skills (i.e. the joy of learning for the sake of learning, or knowing how/where to find an answer to any question, and even that questions are GREAT). To me, those last things are the most important things I can help my girls learn. You sound like you are a very good, focused, intentioned, and loving parent who homeschools! It isn't for everyone, but for some, it is the right choice. I actually felt bad yesterday, telling someone we homeschool, because he almost apologized for not homeschooling, which made me apologize to him. It was awkward. The best parent is one that puts the needs of their kids first, and does what is necessary for them to be wonderful adults, whatever that may be!

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  48. Dear Katie,

    You are AWESOME! I am a homeschooling mama of a 4 year old and plan on homeschooling my daughters her are 3 and 6 months old in the future. I happened upon your blog a couple of years ago and was amazed at your decision to homeschool. This is a decision that we as homeschooling parents don't take lightly. We feel not only a resistance from our peers, family and community but the blogging world. I too am a blogger (small timer) and have felt the stigma of deciding to homeschool. Know that what you are doing is great and admirable. You truly are my inspiration.

    There exists so much bravery in you to talk about that which anonymous people criticize you on. To all those who put forth your opinions on whether Katie or any other homeschooler is doing the wrong thing or that you worry about the socialization of her children, your points aren't valid, are meant to offend a woman who is doing something out of love, careful thought and intellect, and just don't matter. It boggles my mind the need to attack a woman who you don't personally know. It boggles my mind further that you think that your opinion matters. (Actually I know exactly why they spew their opinions...they are threatened, your decision to do something different, makes them question their own decisions, ones they may not be okay with).

    Your efforts, successes and documentation of this Katie, has propelled and inspired us Mamas and Papas who are seeking an alternative education for our children who we love.

    "Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth learning can be taught." - Oscar Wilde

    If you ever want to chat please email me at bad-little-spice at hotmail dot com. There are those that want to lift you and not bring you down. And I'm one of them!!!

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  49. Thank-you so much for sharing your story! It's encouraging to hear about the hills and valleys of other families homeschooling journeys. I can relate to feeling overwhelmed with holding the responsibility for my child's education in my hands. We just started homeschool kindergarten this year and it has been very difficult at times but I wouldn't trade the moments of seeing things click - light bulbs going on - for anything.

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  50. I was homeschooled 1st through 5th grade, and I am proud to say that I was MORE than ready for public school when I did enroll. ... and Saxon Math worked very, very well for me! Socialization is extremely important, and it seems like you've got that totally under control. :)

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  51. I just have to add to the bevy of comments here! I was homeschooled by my wonderful, patient and long suffering mother 6th-12th grade but my younger sis only lasted one year until she realized home schooling was just not for her. I think you have to take it child by child (although it is scary sending a child to school these days!). For me there was no way I was ever going to public school. I feel we each have our strengths and weaknesses just as we would no matter which avenue to education we took. Being home everyday with my mom gave me memories and a bond that I would never trade for anything and even though it was hard sometimes to motivate ourselves (sometimes we just went for coffee or lunch and talked about the world) I feel I have a well rounded and tailor made education.

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  52. katie, hooray for you doing what's best for hope! i am fascinated by this post. what awesome opportunities you are creating for your daughter. :)

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  53. it really is true - what is great for one child won't always work for another. i did great with being home-schooled, but my brother seemed to excel as soon as my mom decided to put him in a public school. a classroom worked well for him, and the interaction was helpful, whereas i learn best studying on my own and have a hard time learning when in a big group.

    i am so happy to read your home-schooling posts. growing up, it wasn't very cool to be a home-schooled kid, even though i wasn't one of those weird ones. it seems to be becoming more popular, and hopefully that will mean more resources and more support.

    by the way, i loved saxon math! hands-on equations was another favorite.

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  54. I always struggled with math myself. My mom tried curriculum after curriculum, but nothing seemed to work for me. A friend of ours who home schools as well suggested Math-U-See. It comes with DVDs that explain just what you're doing in easy steps and is much more visual than most math programs. It worked wonders for me! I actually found myself enjoying it. Now I'm in college and have taken two math classes that were much easier because of that curriculum.
    If you find at the end of the year that Hope still isn't doing as well on math or isn't enjoying it as you or she would like her to, check it out. http://www.mathusee.com/

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  55. I'm a senior in highschool, and have been homeschooled most of my life. I absolutely love it, so it was neat to hear that you homeschool your daughter, and have found ways to make it fun. :)

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  56. since my daughter was born i said i would home school. when she was 2 we moved to a rural area 6 hours away from friends and family..so i started doing activities and pre-school lessons with her at home, i did this until she was 4 1/2 (stopped this year because of major moves and changes) i soon realized that although i LOVE the idea of home schooling, it is not something i am very skilled at, sure i can sit and teach basic things, but really, i dont have patients and my daughter gets frustrated very easily. she will be starting kinder garden in the fall and is very much looking forward to playing and interacting with new kids. it is inspiring for me to see and read your homeschooling journey. i wish it was less of a struggle for me. for the time being anyway, i know that public school is in her best interest because i cant give her all the tools she needs we will see how it goes.

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  57. I've been reading a few pages of your blog and I love it. It was cool to read that you home school. I don't have kids of my own yet, but I was home schooled and it was a great experience.

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  58. Katie,

    You are doing an amazing job with your children. I absolutely love that you are trusting your motherly instincts to guide you in your decisions. It's not a good homeschool bad public private school or vice versa question. It is what is best for your child period. Homeschooling has changed so much from what it used to be. And every mother wonders at times (or like me everyday..haha!) if the decision she is making is right or wrong...or what sort of therapists she will have to line up to deal with the teenage melodrama that our current decisions will ensue later. I do pray for myself and for my children. I am loaded with homeschooling curricula, but I have yet to decide what to do this year. We shall see.

    Anyway, I was just missing Springfield so much I had to read up some of my favorite blogs to catch up! I believe from the looks you live near my old neighborhood. I still have to many friends there!

    Hugs to you!

    Nathalie

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  59. This post gives me a lot of hope. I had a terrible homeschooling experience, for a lot of familial reasons and issues that I won't go into, but long story short my parents left me to my own devices for the majority of my life. From the age of five and up till around twelve, I raised myself, with help from my grandmother when she could, and did most of my own schooling too via the internet or just the library. I did alright, I just graduated college with honors and an invitation to several graduate schools, but it was no thanks what so ever to my experience "homeschooling" (if you can even call it that.)
    All this to say, I truly don't believe that this will be the case for you. Clearly, you love your kiddos more than anything, and I hope you never second-guess yourself or question yourself. I spent a long time being extremely opposed to homeschooling, because of my experience, but you are doing something so special and it sounds like your girls are only flourishing and growing from it. Thank you, for making me reconsider my stance, and for even letting me consider it as an option someday for my kids, should I have any. You're a great mom.

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  60. All this to say, I truly don't believe that this will be the case for you. Clearly, you love your kiddos more than anything, and I hope you never second-guess yourself or question yourself. debt relief

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