Our 3rd day of hs, and it feels like we're getting no where fast.

[kellycbr]

We've been homeschooling our ds(7) since Mon. We pulled him out of a good public school, with an amazing (& very supportive of hs our ds) teacher. He's spent more time building with legos than schooling. I'm flipping through FLL, OPG, MUS and SOTW1, and it feels like I'm dragging him along. Trying to figure out where to pick up, & where are we going to end and start 2nd grade? DH and DS really want to homeschool. I'm the one doing it, and feel so unprepared. No schedules, no planning, I'm naturally flexible, so the good news is I can try and make this work, the bad news is I'm a bit unorganized, and feeling more overwhelmed by the minute.

I met with his ps teacher today for a parent - teacher conference, and to figure out where to pick up. They're doing so many wonderful things in his class (of course my ds never tells me what they're doing), that it makes me wonder if he's just going to slide backwards in his skills by homeschooling. His teacher tells me I'm going to do great, but this boat really seems to be floundering. Help!

[Tracey in TX]

We've been hs'ing since Thanksgiving. The first month was spent undoing school habits and finding out exactly where we begin (texts, chapters, etc.). Every few days I wonder what I'm doing, but the kids are so happy and have mostly found our stride. You accomplish so much more in a couple hours than most teachers can accomplish in a day b/c you don't have to teach to the middle students; re-explain directions; bathroom breaks, etc.

Figure out what books and styles work best for you and DS and forge ahead. It's ok to begin at the beginning or end of a workbook--or anywhere inbetween!

[Laura K (NC)]

Okay, it's real easy for me to say not to worry, but really! Try not to!

Your child needs a transition period before you and he both fall into a groove. 2nd graders don't need a whole lot of time in academics... not like a high schooler would. Maybe for the next few weeks you can go to the library, go to the zoo, go to a science museum, and build with legos for a while. Read to your son and get used to just reading for its own sake, and not for education.

This is a brand new job for you and it will take a while to get used to doing it. I started homeschooling my oldest when he was in the 2nd grade and even though I had a whole summer to prepare and plan, I was still very unsure about what I was doing. He's in 9th grade now and I do love homeschooling him and his younger brothers.

Keep it light at first, and keep it fun. Go to a homeschooling conference with your husband this spring if you are able to get some ideas or inspiration. It sounds like you are being pushed into a job you're unsure of. If your husband wants to homeschool, make sure that he takes a very active role until you feel comfortable. Homeschooling is sometimes stressful and not always a good time, but I hope you will come to a point very soon when the joy of homeschooling is exploring together. Rigorous academics need not be at the forefront of a 2nd grader's school experience. There will be time enough to push him next year, and when you are both used to the routine, he will more likely follow you wherever you take him if you have shown him first that learning is a great joy.

[JudoMom]

We've been homeschooling our ds(7) since Mon. We pulled him out of a good public school, with an amazing (& very supportive of hs our ds) teacher. He's spent more time building with legos than schooling. I'm flipping through FLL, OPG, MUS and SOTW1, and it feels like I'm dragging him along. Trying to figure out where to pick up, & where are we going to end and start 2nd grade? DH and DS really want to homeschool. I'm the one doing it, and feel so unprepared. No schedules, no planning, I'm naturally flexible, so the good news is I can try and make this work, the bad news is I'm a bit unorganized, and feeling more overwhelmed by the minute.

I met with his ps teacher today for a parent - teacher conference, and to figure out where to pick up. They're doing so many wonderful things in his class (of course my ds never tells me what they're doing), that it makes me wonder if he's just going to slide backwards in his skills by homeschooling. His teacher tells me I'm going to do great, but this boat really seems to be floundering. Help!

Even when building with Legos, he's learning! So you can't cross a lesson off the schedule, but he will learn. It'll take time to get into a schooling groove, and that's okay. You won't be able to recreate the classroom setting, but you'll find something better that works for you & your ds!

As far as when to start and end 2nd grade follow the schedule you feel most comfortable with. We go from August 1 through July 31, but we take all of July off. Starting August 1, I consider my boys to be in the next higher grade, regardless of where they are in their books. I know some people follow the ps school schedule because that's what works for them. But don't feel tied down to what number is on the book your ds is learning out of in order to assign a grade.

You're gonna do a great job! How wonderful you have the support of your dh and your ds :D.

[mcconnellboys]

Do children learn valuable skills when they build with legos? Can you integrate some of that work into math story problems, or geometric building, etc.?

It's the very end of the school year. You don't say why you elected to pull out with only about 6-8 weeks of school left, but you do know that April and May are generally a wind down time for schools, when very little in the way of new learning is getting accomplished? Most schools are doing wrap up, remediation, testing, and field trips about now....

I'm uncertain what you mean by "flipping around". Are you looking through the books but not doing any school work with him? Are you doing work but you feel he's uninterested? I'm uncertain how to proceed with any answer.....

Is he in first grade? If so, was his school even covering grammar work? I don't think that most do in that grade. If that's the case, I would begin with FLL and just start going through a lesson or two a day. If he's quick to catch on, I'd skip some of the repetitive parts and move on. It should take about 10 minutes, in general.

Since you say you're going to use OPG, I'm assuming he's not yet reading. Again, I'd go through a lesson or two a day with him. I'd also add in the most basic Bob books or something similar as soon as I thought he had enough skill to read from those and continue having him read through a simple book each day, as well.

MUS - Alpha? I think I'd do one of the A,B, or C pages (new info) and then one of the D,E, or F pages (new plus review - do they have those in Alpha?) and then move on to the next lesson until you come to a point where he needs more practice.

SOTW I. I only use this as an intro to the topic for the week - especially for a first grader. We then read tons and tons of great picture books, both fiction and non-fiction. The activity guide has a lot of great suggestions. We're not big on projects here; and my guy would *not* color when he was in first grade (but you should have seen his third grade work), so whenever you're reading from a book without many pictures, it might help him to be able to build with legos, model with clay, etc., if he doesn't want to color then. As long as he's listening, and is able to engage in conversation with you about the topic, that should be fine. My guys adore great illustrations, so they generally wanted to look at the pictures as I read from books with good illustrations. I would encourage him to make something (clay, lego, or drawing, etc.) that relates to what you're talking about. Then he can narrate info about the picture, etc. to you for labeling or narration purposes.

Is he behind in his school work? If not, then I'd start second grade next fall, when he would normally start..... Again, I'm uncertain how to respond from your post....

I guess we need a little more info about why you're homeschooling, and why now, in order to know how to best answer you. Other than that, I think you have some good products to use in getting started, but please don't neglect great library books, too! They make school fun! As far as how long it's taking - I think you'll find in general that your son *does* have a lot more time for free lego play, etc., than he did before when he was in regular school. It's much faster to go through school with a single student than with a classroom,

Regena

[st_claire]

I agree that he probably needs some time to deschool for a bit. Relax, let him rediscover the joy of learning.

[Jenstet]

This is my first year after PS'ing to grade 3. I have found it challenging because she has gaps. It takes time to figure out how they learn and what their interests are. You could try just a subject at a time and add gradually. It won't hurt. You have these new curriculums to implement and it's is not simple. It is kind of like having 3 kids all at once.

I sometimes feel like if I had started out HS'ing at the younger ages it would have given me time to adjust. You will do fine. It is a slow process and you will be suprised what he will learn in just a few months home with you. You will be fine...really.

[Mrs Mungo]

It is going to take some time for you to figure out where he needs to be in the curriculum (if you don't want or need to go from start to finish). It's going to take time to get yourself organized and find your groove. Would you expect yourself to be Mrs. Ontheball on the third day of any other job? No, you wouldn't. Just surrender to the fact it's going to take some time for you and your son to find your rhythm.

[Whisperlily]

When I first brought my kids home from PS, we had a definite transition period. At first, I tried to do just like you are. Jumped in with both feet, wanted things to run smoothly right away... partly because I was so sure it was going to work!

LISTEN to those who tell you it's going to take some time to "de-school" before you hit your groove. It's true. I heartily agree with those who have said to drop formal academics for a short time before stepping in with what your days are "supposed to" look like.

Let him unwind and enjoy legos for a few days. Everybody's homeschool day looks different, but you might start with some simple things for a week or two... Getting up at a certain time *if that's your thing* getting dressed and ready for the day, and then make your school day fun for a while. GO places. Like someone said, visit the museum, do some outdoor studying... (spend the day watching birds and then come home to learn what you can about them. Find whatever wildflowers are starting to bloom and talk about the science... what makes them grow, how the roots develop, what they need, etc.) Go to the library and let him read FUN books. Enjoy some bonding time, and build some excitement about learning in general.

I like a little structure to my day, (but I'm a very flexible person) so I would set a time that you think is reasonable, a couple weeks of busy non-traditional learning would be a nice break/vacation before settling in to whatever structure you had planned.

Then I'd start with about half of what you hope to get accomplished. Work your way up to your ideal plan in stages. Make a plan, so you don't lose track of time if that helps. That way you'll see the progress... stepping INTO homeschooling rather than feeling like you've been thrust into something, and are already behind.

Don't look back at what the school is doing. Getting a picture of where he is academically is good, but you've already made your decision. Give it a good try. Being afraid is normal. Don't let it eat at your confidence. ;)

:grouphug: Come here often for support as you need it.

[Karin]

You may wish to start with one subject, get that down, and in a day or a week, add another until you build a momentum and a routine. Not only is this an adjustment period, but there is an ongoing learning curve.

One thing you may wish to do is read aloud to him when he's building with his legos. Some kids listen better when they're doing something. You don't need a LONG time with FLL at first. My ds is in Gr. 2 and we spend about 10-15 minutes tops on the oral part of it--often 5 minutes. Also, because I have other kids and chores, his school day is broken up into chunks of a couple of subjects with play time in between.

[Meliss]

Bumping so that all this great advice doesn't go unnoticed! :D

[Colleen in NS]

His teacher tells me I'm going to do great

This is wonderful!!!!!!

You'll figure it all out, don't worry.

[Amy in Orlando]

:grouphug: You've been homeschooling for three days? Please, please, please, please stop worrying. Really. I remember when I pulled my kids out of school (end of 2nd and 1st grades, and a toddler). It took several, several good weeks for us to just find a new routine, much less do schoolwork. Cut yourself a break and jsut take it easy. Do some fun local "field trips" to the museum, the library, and the parks around you. Maybe look into some homeschooling groups - visit with them and see if it's a good fit.

I PROMISE (where's the Girl Scout smiley?) things will work out and you'll do just fine. Really. (Look at the ages of my kids in my signature - they're doing really well!)

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

Remember when your son was born? Did you know what you were doing after 3 days? Would you have judged yourself an expert, or even a particularly good parent after 3 days?

Here's another way to look at it; you are embarking on a new career. If you were hired on in a new office in a field outside your area of expertise, wouldn't you need, minimum, 6-8 weeks to begin to feel like you weren't entirely incompetent?

Please cut yourself some slack. Do one thing each day so you feel like you've accomplished something. When that one thing seems to be going well, add something else. You can do this!

Barb

[Kelli in TN]

I have been at this homeschooling gig since 1991 and when we start a new program, or return to lessons after our (longer than most) Christmas break, or back in the days when I had maternitity leave, it takes more than three days to get back into the groove!!!

My advice, to add to all of the fantastic advice you have already received, is to only do one subject the first week. Then do 2 subjects the second week. Then 3 subjects the third week and so on. Neither you nor your child know how to be a homeschool family, so ease into it. Fill the extra time with read alouds, lots of Lego building, teach your child some new chores to do along side you, field trips, etc. Don't forget to just BE together.

[Jenny in Atl]

I took me a year... maybe more to feel like I kinda knew what I was doing. Even now, after six years, I still have days where I feel we are getting nowhere, but we are. I see it when I read something my girls have written, when they read me a story, when my oldest solves, her first algebra problem with more ease than I ever did. You have lots of time to find our feet, and you will. ((hugs))
:iagree:

[kellycbr]

Any other thoughts on getting on track?