Where to start?

[athomeeileenk]

I've taken my 4th grade twins out of school midyear and now don't know where to start. So much seems to be divided up between 4th and 5th grade. Should I start 4th over or jump right into 5th? They do not have a classical ed background and I don't want to overwhelm them with work that may be above their level. I did the placement test for MathUSee with them and they should be using Gamma. Is that equivilant to third grade? I'm not sure what they are ready for and don't want to mess up!

[Samiam]

That depends on why you took them out. No need to disclose here if you don't want to, but ask yourself the questions. Did you take them out because they were struggling, and what did they struggle with? Did you take them out because they needed more fast-moving advancement? Or was it not related to academics at all?

Ya know, it doesn't have to be ALL 4th OR 5th...you can do a mixture of whatever level suits them....hey, it might even be 6th or 3rd for certain subjects, depending on their strengths and what curriculum you choose.

I would HIGHLY recommend that you take these next few months and read some HSing books for yourself before buying anything. Boost your own confidence. In the meantime, there are plenty of free websites where they can do some basic schooling skills to keep them learning. Start getting your family into a school routine, so your children know what to expect from HSing (so they know it's not about sleeping in, watching TV all day, etc that children might be dreaming about :). Take these next few months to learn as much as you can about your options as a HSer, and THEN, ONLY THEN, start looking at different curriculum choices.

[jellogirl]

Keep in mind that at this age, you can take things easy and catch up later. Read books together. Work on things that interest them. Repair the damage. And don't worry that you're not doing enough.

[FloridaLisa]

I've taken my 4th grade twins out of school midyear and now don't know where to start. So much seems to be divided up between 4th and 5th grade. Should I start 4th over or jump right into 5th? They do not have a classical ed background and I don't want to overwhelm them with work that may be above their level.

I wouldn't worry so much about grade level as skill level. When I was starting with my oldest back in 2nd grade, I found it easiest to start with the basics. And that's really the most important at this stage anyway. Instead of looking at everything at once, I researched the math and language arts curriculums we'd be using. Once I had those decided, I could then tackle other subjects.

Map out a loose plan for what you'd like to cover in the next 4 years -- for 5th grade through middle school. Decide on your goals and your emphasis. Despite what some may claim, you really can't do it all. Do you need to stress writing? Math basics or catch-up or challenge? Is Latin important to you and, if so, when do you foresee starting that? Will you do both history and science (and at the same time or a semester of each)? Do you like to work with textbooks and workbooks or do you like the more fluid approach of living books?

At this stage, it's also very, very helpful to read several of the homeschool *classics* to get an idea of the methods. Three of my favorites are WTM, Homeschooling for Excellence and Sally Clarkson's The Whole-Hearted Child. You could peruse Ambleside Online's offerings to get an idea of the literature-based Charlotte Mason approach. Ruth Beechick's writings are very encouraging as well.

Anway, as you plan, I would encourage you to major on the majors. It's so easy to be pulled into elaborate history packages or geography curriculums or mastering a living and classical language when the 3Rs are so, so critical to everything your dc will do in the upper grades. More than you asked, but I hope it helps a newbie!

Lisa