Just an intro

[autumndivona]

I signed up a little while ago, but with a 2-week vacation and other work, I haven't had time to really look around until now.

Just a 'hello' to everyone. I'm Wendy, married 15 years to my husband, who is in the Air Force. I'm a writer and genealogist.

Our son is 5, and we began homeschooling last September. We knew we were going to homeschool even before we decided to have a child. Our son was born in early December (4 days before my own b'day), so I figured he could handle starting Kindergarten last year at the age of 4, and I was right! Phew!

Anyhow, we're a pretty laid-back family, although it might not sound like it, since our homeschool schedule runs from September to August. But that entails several breaks (four-day weekends, a week here, two weeks there), and I keep actual "class time" short (15 minutes per subject, at most).

Things are in a bit of chaos, because we are about to PCS (move) to another base. I've packed everything but "What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know" and a few workbooks. Also, since we just got back from a 2-week vacation, I'm taking this week to catch up on other things right now.

We follow a mix of classical and Charlotte Mason, with my own twist put on everything. At the moment, my son loves math and numbers. He counts everything and recognizes every single number he sees, which astounds me. I'm not sure what is expected of a 5 year old who, by public school standards, would not begin kindergarten until this August, but he's counting in the 100's, and then by 100's to 1000 (actually, to "eleventy-hundred", 1100). Plus, he already calls the decimal in a number a "point", so he'll step on the scale and say, "I weigh 41.5."

Reading is tough, but I just keep reading aloud to him. We started on "100 Easy Lessons", but that didn't really appeal to him. I'll begin "Phonics Pathways" in September and see how that goes over with my son.

And that's about it for now!

[Pamela H in Texas]

i just wanna say welcome

[Kathleen in VA]

Hi Wendy,

Welcome! As I was reading your intro I was struck by the beauty of homeschooling. That is, how we can take all that's available to us and use it in our own way for our children, building on their strengths and being gentle with their weaknesses. Sounds like you might have an engineer on your hands.:).

Looking forward to your input.

[Mama Lynx]

Hi Wendy! Nice to see you here!

[Starr]

Hi Wendy, Welcome! :)

[Just a Jen in Mississippi]

Welcome!

Good luck with the move!

And a question......how did you know that you wanted to homeschool even before you had a child? Just curious! I was clueless about homeschooling when I was pregnant with my first. It took having her to make me realize that our local public schools were not good enough for her (I did my student teaching there while pregnant with her and thought I would go on to teach there.....that is until I looked into her precious little face! I never used my degree....publicly anyway). She was about 3 when I started thinking about homeschooling because private school was too expensive. I read my first book on homeschool and the rest is history! So, I'm impressed you had a game plan early on. Did you know some homeschoolers?

[momof3gifts]

It looks like you are headed to Alaska? That was our favorite assignment so far and we hope to retire there. We were at Elmendorf. Will you be in the Anchorage area?

Just excited to see someone heading to Alaska...

[Sugarfoot]

Your description of your son reminds me of something my DS said at 5--

DS: "Mommy, does 3 minus 5 equal negative 2?"
Me: "Huh?!"

Thanks for reminding me of that sweet age! And Welcome!

[sweetTN]

Welcome!

Sounds like you really enjoy homeschooling. Don't you just love the way their little minds work:001_smile:

[Jenny in Atl]

Welcome! Good to have you join us.

[autumndivona]

Thanks for the welcomes!

Terrill, we would stay on base housing if we get Elmendorf. Fingers crossed!

Just a Jen - I read a little about homeschooling about 6 or 7 years ago, and learned more about it when I was pregnant. At the time of my pregnancy, I realized how viable an option it is to educate one's own child, and decided to go for it. Since we were choosing to have an only, we wanted to give him 100% of our attention, and homeschooling seemed like the way to go.

I'm into research, so when I was pregnant, I researched parenting avidly. I read books and magazines, then took what sounded good for me, and threw in my own intuition and feelings. (Currently I have "The Natural Child: Parenting from the Heart" waiting to be read.)

The same goes for homeschooling. I researched the different styles and methods, and came to the conclusion that "The Well-Trained Mind" would satisfy my husband's need for structure and my need to delve into something more classical... old-fashioned... I always think of the scene in the Columbia Pictures version of "Sense and Sensibility" when the 3 sisters are sitting around the table, and Marianne is working on Margaret's French lesson. I want that sort of coziness and warmth.

I also like Charlotte Mason for the nature study, art and music studies. So this seemed like a wonderful combination. Again, put my own twist on everything, and feel quite satisfied with the outcome thus far.

It is great to be here and I also see many "familiar faces"!

I'm still catching up on the boards so I can really get involved. With our impending move, I've released many of my responsibilities to scouting, committees, local volunteering, etc., and I look forward to spending the next several years doing what is most important to me - writing, genealogy, and homeschooling (of course)!

[Rich with Kids]

Welcome! :D

[missplacedalaskan]

We loved living in Alaska! Dh was stationed at Elmendorf, but we lived in Eagle River...it is a wonderful area! We are looking to get an assignment to Eielson and from there hope to "retire" back to the Anchorage area. We are currently in Mississippi.

[Gretchen in NJ]

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/forum/welcome.gif
Hello Wendy! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/forum/welcome.gif to the board.

[Tutor]

Welcome!

Have a safe move!

[Gretchen in NJ]

Welcome!

Have a safe move!


oh yes. I had forgotten to type that into my post.:iagree: I hope you have a smooth move.

[momof3gifts]

I really wish we were moving to Anchorage. We lived in Eagle River too but it would be fun to be on base as well. Sounds like it will be fun!!:)

[momof3gifts]

We loved living in Alaska! Dh was stationed at Elmendorf, but we lived in Eagle River...it is a wonderful area! We are looking to get an assignment to Eielson and from there hope to "retire" back to the Anchorage area. We are currently in Mississippi.

We hope to retire to Alaska-- possibly near Anchorage although we would prefer Soldotna, Homer or somewhere a little farther from the big city.

We won't be there for 5 years or so.

Enjoy!!

[autumndivona]

I hear nothing but good thinks about Alaska. I wonder why everyone likes it there so much! I know I personally like it cooler, snowy, and places where nature is allowed to do its own thing (the whole idea of seeing the Northern Lights and the sun at midnight both intrigue me).

Well, we still don't know 100% for certain. You would think with an out-process date of 26 September, we would have something. But the policy is 4 to 6 weeks after submitting the request. So we are now in week 5... *sigh*

[TN Mama]

Welcome, Wendy. Best of luck with your upcoming move. :)

[NevadaRabbit]

Welcome, Wendy, nice to meet you!

[E_Edgerton]

Welcome! Looking forward to many posts in the future.

[autumndivona]

Thank you very much for the welcomes! I really appreciate it.