Today’s guest post comes from Debi Chapman. Debi and her husband Tim have home schooled since the late 1980’s. They have 11 children and 3 grandchildren. The experiences of educating at home have brought their family benefits beyond what they envisioned. Debi’s background is in Child Development.
From Preschool to Homeschool
Deciding to home educate your young child can be quite an emotional experience. As a couple, once you have committed to the job – there’s some groundwork to be laid. Some parts are easy and some . . . not so much.
The easy part!
- Allowing endless educational ideas to swirl around in your mind
- Strolling down memory lane to visit your own teachers (good and bad)
- Chatting over the details with your girlfriends
- Attending book fairs and pouring over school catalogs to find the best curriculum
The HARD part
- Telling the grandparents (this is a big one)
- Giving up part of your home for a … school
- Realizing hours in your day will be siphoned out of your small pool of precious T-I-M-E and poured into … school.
- Telling your 4 yr old that he will NOT be going to school with his friends, because he gets to stay HOME with momma! (This idea may have to ‘grow on him’)
- Budgeting money for the supplies you want need.
- Deciding IF you’ll homeschool until High School, because people will actually ask you this question when your child is 5!
- Wondering if this decision will emotionally harm your precious daughter, who may never go to a Prom.
- Wondering if this decision will emotionally harm YOU – for all the reasons listed above.
These are a few of the panic-stricken thoughts you may have as you take on this job for the first time. Once you clear your mind of the clutter and get a hold of your fears, it will be time to ask the obvious question.
How does a mom prepare to transform home-life with a preschooler into home school?
Here are some suggestions to prepare your lives for this wonderful opportunity.
#1 – Work on discipline with your preschooler. He/she will soon be required to follow your lead . . . as their teacher. If he has significant challenges in this area the classroom you envision will have problems. You need to maintain order to optimize learning.
#2 – Read aloud. By doing this on a regular basis, you will help lengthen the attention span of your child. This also provides a great opportunity to help your little-one practice sitting still and responding to your voice. Plus, they’re learning!
#3 – Set up a specific area to teach. This will help the experience seem like real school and send a message to your little one that you value their education, and ultimately – them.
#4 – Set order in your home. If your mornings are spent in your pj’s and cartoons get first ranking, you’ll be wise to curb the casual atmosphere in prep for real learning. Be forewarned: your child may think they’re ‘going somewhere’ when they see you dressed and focused.
#5 – Stock-up on supplies. From art supplies to sharpened pencils – make sure you have them organized and ready. This simple act will give your young student energy to learn. Stewardship is also taught as they take good care of their school supplies.
#6 – Decide on school hours. This can be a big factor in the success of your home-classroom. 9:00 – 11:00 may be sufficient to accomplish the bulk of learning. You’ll be surprised at how little time it actually takes to learn the basics! You may break this up into 45-minute sessions with a snack/recess break between subjects.
#7 – Plan a big start! Children respond well to a big kick-off. Put it on the calendar, talk it up to grandparents (if they’re up to it), and don’t let anything distract. You’ll find that a solid start will help their attitude and give energy to the process. Put their art pictures up on the ‘fridge, celebrate with special lunches, plan a park visit once the work is done. Get Dad in on the talk – he can be their biggest fan even if he’s traveling – all they need is to hear his voice saying, ‘good job’!
#8 – Prepare to enjoy the process. Agree with your husband that you will both embrace this role. Decide in advance to bless your child, keep your heart focused on home and guard your words – even on the toughest days.
There’s so much to be said on this subject and I’ve just touched on the basics. Planning ahead will ease the transition for you and your little one, but the bottom line is this: To teach a young child at home with ease and excellence is doable . . . and rewarding!
If you’re planning to homeschool, how are you preparing. If you’re already a homeschooler, please share your tips below!
Resources
Educating The Whole Hearted Child, by Clay and Sally Clarkson
Heather
Thank you for this post, Debi! #’s 3,6 & 7 were especially helpful to me. 🙂
Lauren
I am just finishing up my first year homeschooling my kindergartner. My biggest challenge, and one that I still have trouble with, is what to do with my other kids during school! And #4 will be arriving in October and I am so anxious about adding another one in the mix! Any suggestions???
Carol Mannheim
KEEP IT SIMPLE, the very presence of a newborn is a wonderful learning experience for everyone. With younger kids, especially, you may want to “unschool”. Let the child pick out things they want to learn about. Make a list, choose one subject each week and visit the library. I loved the Magic School bus books, the pictures gave lots of craft ideas. Read the books, talk about it. find a video, think of songs that go with it. I am talking themes like, rabbits, stars, oceans, birds, plants, race cars, anything the kids are interested in. jot down on one page the stuff you did on that subject, books read, songs or games, words you thought of or learned that were part of the week. File it and at the end of the month or year, marvel at all you have done. Add a few math lessons and time, fractions with cooking (food Science) and you have it covered.
Brenna Aschbacher
our family is very much enjoying Unschooling!
Southern Gal
Well, my post today is about my homeschooled daughter who is graduating from college in a few weeks. I also have a 19-year-old son in college and a third grader. There is such a difference in homeschooling high school and primary grades that it was a shock to my system to begin over again. I needed reminders of the basics since this year has been pretty trying. #3 and #4 need a little work on my part. Thanks.
Tarrah Zimmerman
Very helpful tips Debi! I like Lauren am also curious if you have any tips for occupying littles while working with my kindergartener. This has been a real challenge for me this year. We started kindergarten with a 2 year old, 1 year old and 2 month old…. needless to say it was a very relaxed year! 🙂
Lauren
WOW! That is impressive! Mine are a little more spaced out…we started this year with a five year old, three year old, and one year old. Now they are 6, 4, and 2.
Good job!
Heather
I agree with Lauren! Very impressive!
Donna Burton
I had three boys in 3 1/2 years, so when we started homeschooling the oldest, I had to figure out how to keep two very active younger siblings safe and engaged too. So I created a two room area, bedroom and playroom where they could go. I used a baby gate. Then I set up learning/play “stations” like, blocks, a picture book corner, puzzles on a play table, lego area and things of that nature that I rotated different things in/out about every two days to keep them interested. Several of the learning stations I had set up were foundation things to lay groundwork, like sorting color bears, or tracing letters. To them, they were getting to do what older brother was doing and that made them happy. I also kept a basket near to me in close proximity to where homeschooling was taking place. The littles could crawl into my lap and just be with me or if they wanted I had a basket of things we could easily do together right there. Having boys, their interest in sitting in my lap was not very long, but it made it where I could still do interactive things with them while I also worked with the child homeschooling. I also included the younger kiddos in many of our homeschooling things, very much like it was just part of home, so that there was not this huge divide between “school” and “family learning” and my children being together as a family. When my youngest could escape over the child gate… well that got interesting then. He shoved an action figure in the refrigerator water dispenser and I had a flooded kitchen before I realized it along with several other active boy incidents. I had to change things up to be able to keep more of an eye on him the year before he started “officially” homeschooling which affected everyone. Our school day took longer to get through because we were more like a school bus. Start, stop, (play), start, stop (ride bikes), start, stop (make some art) for example. We invested in a lot of various interactive resources that built fine motor skills, age appropriate thinking or problem solving, games, art & crafts and books rather than a room full of just “play toys.” When they wanted to “play” it was outside and with a ball or bike for the most part using large muscles. Let them go do what they LOVE to do on their break(s) during the school day. I had one build a table in late elementary! Hope that helps. (*One is graduating college, one in 2nd year of college and one graduating high school going into mission work. Blessed to have homeschooled!)
Hannah Tallo
Great thoughts for those of us who are looking ahead at homeschooling!
Heather, thanks for having a guest blogger who in my opinion is a pro on the subject! 😉
Heather
Hannah – Yes, indeed. You are living proof 🙂
Kelly F.
We are doing kindergarten with our 5 & 3 year old, and also have a 20 month old and newborn. Figuring out what to do with the 20 month old is the hardest! She’s prone to house destruction if not occupied, and her attention span isn’t as long as our school day! LOL! I agree, though, it is so fun to plan and go to homeschool conferences and see that we aren’t the only “crazy” ones living this life. 🙂
kate saab
I just started “homeschooling” my 2.5 year old this week using a variation of this – http://www.letteroftheweek.com/preschool_age_3.html I’ve found the hardest thing is keeping my daughter still! She loves “school” so far though. I’ve had so much fun planning and setting up our school room/area. There is so much good information and so many resources online which is nice when you live out of the country and can’t order things as easily. I also just bought this – http://www.montessoriathomebook.com/Welcome.html and hope to make our homeschool more Montessori.
Heather
Wow, Kate! You are WAY ahead of the game. Inspiring!
rawkinmom
I have been homeschooling for 4 years now….it has proven to be the best decision!! Although, at times I feel like I am going to go crazy, or question if I am doing enough…..
My daughter is 8 and my son will be 5 in June….they both LOVE homeschool and ask to homeschool even when its technically not school hours!!! They request “homeschool nights” where we turn it into a semi party…we pop popcorn, watch a science video like Kratt Brothers or Magic Schoolbus and then read a book, play a game, or do an experiment!! Oh we also pull out blankets, stuffed animals, and pillows all over our living room floor to cuddle!! 🙂
Whittney
Thanks Debi! Love your specific ideas…..now I have to figure out where this school might happen in our very tiny “cottage.” 🙂
Michelle
Would like an update on how the first year has been for you. Plan on starting pre-k with Dylan this year as he is 4 now. Nothing to fancy just trying to get an hour of “school” in here and there to get him use to a schedule of doing “school” learning per say.
Heather
Hi Michelle! It went okay. I actually found that the course work was a little too easy for Katie but didn’t really step things up because we moved out of state and were busy getting to know our new area. I’m excited about the coming year, though!