Thinking about homeschooling

Question:
I am thinking about homeschooling my two children. They are still young (2 1/2 and 1 year old). I am interested in hearing some testimonials of homeschooling, primarily homeschooling from the preschool years on. A lot of people I have talked to homeschooled their children after they have been in public school for some time. I am interested in finding out what it is like to homeschool a preschooler or kindergardner. All I hear about is how wonderful homeschooling is. I haven't made up my mind as to whether I am going to homeschool or not. I am just trying to acquire as much information as I can. Anyone's imput or suggestions on homeschooling is greatly appreciated.

Answer:
- My boy, now 11.5yo, has never been to school. In the beginning, I bought developmentally appropriate toys and books for him, and followed his lead. I bought a few dolls, they didn't take. When he was trying to take my bicycle apart, I bought him toys/tools. When he got into human anatomy, via the Magic School Bus, we looked at books with clear see-thru pages, and we built a model of the body. As he has gotten older, I have just been doing the same thing, only the projects, knowledge, and tools have gotten more sophisticated. We have never used a formal curriculum. It would have been too limiting. On the other hand, we have bought LOTS of books and software. We use the library a lot too, now that he doesn't want to play tag in the library. Here are bunches of other stuff for you. ----- If you will send you me your town/state/ZIPcode, I will search the Growing Without Schooling magazine family directory for support groups or families near you. (Since the directory is arranged by zipcode, please don't leave it off.) ----- Why do we homeschool? We homeschool so our child can learn at his own pace, fast or slow or inbetween. We homeschool so our child can learn what he wants to learn, when he wants to learn it. We homeschool so our child can learn to socialize at his own pace, unfolding in a gentle natural way. We homeschool because it is fun to learn and we don't want school with its predeterminded agenda to squelch that joyful attitude toward learning. We homeschool because we trust the learning rhythms of our child. ----- You might like to subscribe to the home-ed mailing list. Lots of discussion about homeschooling happens there. The list comes in three flavors: (1) regular mail list (2) unabridged digest contains everything posted to home-ed. (3) abridged digest contains only messages about homeschooling. To more information and to subscribe, go to: http://www.madrone.com/Home-ed/helist.html ----- Books About Homeschooling and Education: And the Skylark Sings With Me: Adventures in Homeschooling and Community-Based Education ALBERT, David Awakening Your Child's Natural Genius: Enhancing Curiousity, Creativity, and Learning Ability In Their Own Way: Discovering & Encouraging Your Child's Personal Learning Style The Myth of the A.D.D. Child 7 Kinds of Smart: Identifying & Developing Your Multiple Intelligences ARMSTRONG, Thomas And What About College?: How Homeschooling Can Lead to Admissions to the Best Colleges and Universities COHEN, Cafi and FARENGA, Patrick Hard Times In Paradise Homeschooling For Excellence COLFAX, David & Micki The Art of Education The Homescholing Book of Answers: The Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling"s Most Respected Voices Homeschooling: The Early Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 3-8-Year-Old Child Homeschooler's Success Stories: 15 Adults and 12 Young People Share the Impact That Homeschooling Has Made on Their Lives DOBSON, Linda Dumbing Us Down The Exhausted School GATTO, John Taylor The Homeschooling Handbook The Unschooling Handbook: How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom GRIFFITH, Mary Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense GUTERSON, David How I Became An Autodidact HAILEY, Kendall Escape From Childhood Freedom and Beyond Growing Without Schooling: A Record of a Grassroots Movement How Children Fail How Children Learn Learning All The Time What Do I Do Monday? HOLT, John (Growing..., edited by Patrick Farenga) Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days: Share a day with 30 Homeschooling Families LANDE, Mancy Learning At Home: A Mother's Guide to Homeschooling LANE, Marty I Learn Better By Teaching Myself & Still Teaching Ourselves LEISTICO, Agnes The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School & Get a Real Life and Education Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go To School LLEWELLYN, Grace School Can Wait The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook MOORE, Raymond & Dorothy The Home School Source Book REED, Jean & Donn The Complete Home Learning Source Book: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology Getting Started on Home Learning: How and Why to Teach Your Kids at Home RUPP, Rebecca Child's Work: taking Children's Choices Seriously WALLACE, Nancy

- I homeschooled my daugher from Kindergarden on a few years back and am starting my son in grade one. I love teaching my kids to read. With my first son, I was scared to and so I sent him to a Christian school, he is now in Grade 6. After I did grade one with my daugher, I found it easy. My new challenge will be my 3rd child who has special needs and may be harder to teach to read. I find it rewarding to be able to teach them to read myself. I homeschooled for 3 years and then sent them to a private school for 2 years due to to much to handle with 2 preschoolers at home. (See my bulletins above). Now that my son is in grade one, I want to personally be teaching him grade one myself. He has struggled so hard in 2 years of Kindergarden and I don't want to push him as hard as they did. I feel proud to be able to do what a teacher can do. It is hard to cover all those extra curricular subjects and that is where the stress takes place. If you want music lessons, teach art, or a second language. It can be too much! It is a good idea to pick 2 things and take turns doing one each day. Watch you don't overload yourself or expect too much from yourself.