First Day of Kindergarten for J and First Day of Pre-K for H! Let the fun begin!
I keep looking at my boys lately and wondering, "Where did my babies go?" Daddy is gone all this week and the boys and I have been watching lots of old videos of them to help pass the time (and to gets peeks of daddy as we miss him lots). The boys just love to see themselves as babies and it makes me long for those days and their tiny-ness that we'll never get back.
Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to just treasure the days! Isn't that what every woman or man with grown children in our lives advises? And it's usually right before our kid throws a monster tantrum in the middle of the store or whacks you in the face in front of a playground full of people?....When you have two (or more) so close in age and your days are FULL of changing diapers, cleaning up messes, putting kids to nap/bed, feeding them, getting them yet ANOTHER cup of juice, breastfeeding, trying to squeeze in a shower for yourself or a quiet time during nap...it's hard to slow down and soak them up. You try your best to take the moments you get to sit and play with them or admire them... soaking those precious commodities up and storing them away for later days when you'll have more time for remembrance.
Our oldest is nearly 5! I would say daily, or at least every time I am on the playground in the middle of the day with my kids, I get asked "So your kids aren't in school yet?" or "where are your kids going to school?" I usually reply with "Yes they are. I am homeschooling them" which bring son more confused questions as to why my kids aren't in "real school". It's a huge social expectation here, to put your kids in school by age 2.5 years. Many do at 1.5 for 'play group' and continue on from there. I'm learning to not take offense at the baffled looks I get or the neighbors who've asked me for the 14th time...and it helps to reply in confidence that yes, homeschooling is a very real thing and a legitimate alternative. I have come up with a pretty standard and non-offensive answer as to "why" we homeschool and "yes I am indeed qualified to do so."
For those of you who have not yet been to S. Asia, these kinds of persistent personal questions by complete strangers are completely routine and not seen as rude or inappropriate (at least by those asking the questions).
One of the blessings of living here, is that I get to homeschool my kids. I know not everyone views it as a blessing, but I sure do. Besides having been convinced of how beneficial it can be (no matter what country you dwell in), I really see it as an opportunity to invest fully into my kids. My time with them is SO short after all and will be over in a flash. It's an awesome responsibility which I believe anyone who has a desire to do it, can do it successfully. I know it can and will present challenges and it is WORK but I love the idea that I can taylor school to fit my child's strengths and weaknesses. I know them better than anyone else and I am passionate about challenging and equipping them to be the person that God wants them to be. And how, where, and by whom a child is educated contributes greatly to their character molding and the likelihood of them reaching their potential. I know it is not for every kid or mom, but I am really grateful I can and am excited about the adventures and memories it will bring. I am also really grateful to have a spouse who is passionate about me homeschooling our kids. He agrees with it's merits and benefits and his confidence in me is constantly encouraging. He will have to play more intricate roles further down the road when we get to high level math and science :) I look forward to naps while he teaches physics and chemistry :)
Excited about homeschooling? YES! Ready for the challenge and blessings? YES! Confident teacher? eh...not exactly... Thankfully I really feel like God has lead me to some good curriculum choices that will work well for J and myself. It's been a long process of deciding as I have NO personal experience to lend from. I prayed about curriculums, researched, and listened to experienced HSing moms a lot! As far as this year goes, I feel confident in my very loose 'plan.' I like to plan (that's no secret to anyone who knows me) but I have become so 'go with the flow' and reluctant to planning since we've moved to S. Asia. It's a good thing, I think, as S. Asia has a way of ruining any plans you make anyways. I find myself feeling way less up tight and controlling, which is a plus too. Our routines here are constantly changing, so our HS will need to have flexibility for the spontaneous and inevitable transitions.
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My Curriculum Choices for Kindergarten
I've had a few friends ask what I'm using, so I thought I'd just share it here.
The planned curriculums we're using and loving so far are... (all of which we have started except for Handwriting, but will start on Monday)
Positive Action's God's Love storybook bible w/ kindergarten (and pre-k for H) activity book. This is the best children's bible I have every read, and we have a LOT! Seriously it's SO good. I am pleasantly surprised by it every lesson.
Five In a Row- a read a-loud program using 18 classic children's books. You read one book a week, the same book, 5 days in a row. Each day you read the book, you do an activity or talk about an aspect of the book from a specific subject like social studies, art, literature, math, and science. My kids love the repetition and look forward to this time everyday!
Singapore Math- I have high hopes for this curriculum and so far we like it. It seems like a very solid math curriculum using spiral learning method and teaches in both concrete and abstract ways. Lots of fun activities and interactive worksheets, which my boys love. I really just chose this one b/c it's highly praised by those who use it and b/c the Singaporean approach to math has supposedly produced some impressive results.
All About Reading-I am very excited about this phonics program. It is multi-sensory and so clearly laid out for the parent with 49 simple lesson plans. I basically open the book and it tells me what to do, which is what I wanted in a phonics program. Not sure why, but teaching my kids to read (and High School chemistry) are the scariest responsibilities of homeschooling my kids. I also chose this one because it's sister program, All About Spelling is highly praised. I plan to use it for first grade.
Hand Writing Without Tears- Again, I heard and read great things about this program. The teachers manual offers multi sensory options and lots of pre-writing skills that I may not need to use with my oldest, but I think it will be great to do with H whom we are doing pre-k with. With J, I think just working through the workbook will be all he needs. The workbook looks so well planned out and their system of learning seems fool-proof (good thing b/c I'm a beginner!). I am looking forward to adding this to our HS time on Monday.
Supplementals we are using and loving are...
Leap Frog Tag pen with books and the World Map. We LOVE the world map. It's fun and my kids are learning so much about geography which is very applicable when you have family and friends all over the world!
Magic School Bus dvds The boys' new favorite video to watch and it is even on Netflix!
Liberty Kids dvds Another new favorite and is teaching my boys about America. I want them to know about their country's heritage and identify themselves as Americans. I think it's especially important to be intentional about this when you live overseas.
Carmen SanDiego dvds We have only watched one so far, but they are good and reinforce world geography lessons we're getting through Five In a Row.
DinoLingo Hindi dvd Program- I watch these with them as I want to learn Hindi also. It's fun and a great program so far. It comes with flashcards that mommy uses for herself :)
Explode the Code online phonics games/program that is a fun way to practice what he's learning through All About Reading.
PBS Kids Play online educational games. It's especially great for our 'gaming' child in the making, H, who also needs something special to do while I'm doing one-on-one activities with J.
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| My sweet boy is growing up too quickly! |
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| Despite appearances, this kids LOVES school time and wants to be included in everything big brother does. |
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| HS is exciting! Sometimes Superman even shows up! |
I keep looking at my boys lately and wondering, "Where did my babies go?" Daddy is gone all this week and the boys and I have been watching lots of old videos of them to help pass the time (and to gets peeks of daddy as we miss him lots). The boys just love to see themselves as babies and it makes me long for those days and their tiny-ness that we'll never get back.
Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to just treasure the days! Isn't that what every woman or man with grown children in our lives advises? And it's usually right before our kid throws a monster tantrum in the middle of the store or whacks you in the face in front of a playground full of people?....When you have two (or more) so close in age and your days are FULL of changing diapers, cleaning up messes, putting kids to nap/bed, feeding them, getting them yet ANOTHER cup of juice, breastfeeding, trying to squeeze in a shower for yourself or a quiet time during nap...it's hard to slow down and soak them up. You try your best to take the moments you get to sit and play with them or admire them... soaking those precious commodities up and storing them away for later days when you'll have more time for remembrance.
Our oldest is nearly 5! I would say daily, or at least every time I am on the playground in the middle of the day with my kids, I get asked "So your kids aren't in school yet?" or "where are your kids going to school?" I usually reply with "Yes they are. I am homeschooling them" which bring son more confused questions as to why my kids aren't in "real school". It's a huge social expectation here, to put your kids in school by age 2.5 years. Many do at 1.5 for 'play group' and continue on from there. I'm learning to not take offense at the baffled looks I get or the neighbors who've asked me for the 14th time...and it helps to reply in confidence that yes, homeschooling is a very real thing and a legitimate alternative. I have come up with a pretty standard and non-offensive answer as to "why" we homeschool and "yes I am indeed qualified to do so."
For those of you who have not yet been to S. Asia, these kinds of persistent personal questions by complete strangers are completely routine and not seen as rude or inappropriate (at least by those asking the questions).
One of the blessings of living here, is that I get to homeschool my kids. I know not everyone views it as a blessing, but I sure do. Besides having been convinced of how beneficial it can be (no matter what country you dwell in), I really see it as an opportunity to invest fully into my kids. My time with them is SO short after all and will be over in a flash. It's an awesome responsibility which I believe anyone who has a desire to do it, can do it successfully. I know it can and will present challenges and it is WORK but I love the idea that I can taylor school to fit my child's strengths and weaknesses. I know them better than anyone else and I am passionate about challenging and equipping them to be the person that God wants them to be. And how, where, and by whom a child is educated contributes greatly to their character molding and the likelihood of them reaching their potential. I know it is not for every kid or mom, but I am really grateful I can and am excited about the adventures and memories it will bring. I am also really grateful to have a spouse who is passionate about me homeschooling our kids. He agrees with it's merits and benefits and his confidence in me is constantly encouraging. He will have to play more intricate roles further down the road when we get to high level math and science :) I look forward to naps while he teaches physics and chemistry :)
Excited about homeschooling? YES! Ready for the challenge and blessings? YES! Confident teacher? eh...not exactly... Thankfully I really feel like God has lead me to some good curriculum choices that will work well for J and myself. It's been a long process of deciding as I have NO personal experience to lend from. I prayed about curriculums, researched, and listened to experienced HSing moms a lot! As far as this year goes, I feel confident in my very loose 'plan.' I like to plan (that's no secret to anyone who knows me) but I have become so 'go with the flow' and reluctant to planning since we've moved to S. Asia. It's a good thing, I think, as S. Asia has a way of ruining any plans you make anyways. I find myself feeling way less up tight and controlling, which is a plus too. Our routines here are constantly changing, so our HS will need to have flexibility for the spontaneous and inevitable transitions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Curriculum Choices for Kindergarten
I've had a few friends ask what I'm using, so I thought I'd just share it here.
The planned curriculums we're using and loving so far are... (all of which we have started except for Handwriting, but will start on Monday)
Positive Action's God's Love storybook bible w/ kindergarten (and pre-k for H) activity book. This is the best children's bible I have every read, and we have a LOT! Seriously it's SO good. I am pleasantly surprised by it every lesson.
Five In a Row- a read a-loud program using 18 classic children's books. You read one book a week, the same book, 5 days in a row. Each day you read the book, you do an activity or talk about an aspect of the book from a specific subject like social studies, art, literature, math, and science. My kids love the repetition and look forward to this time everyday!
Singapore Math- I have high hopes for this curriculum and so far we like it. It seems like a very solid math curriculum using spiral learning method and teaches in both concrete and abstract ways. Lots of fun activities and interactive worksheets, which my boys love. I really just chose this one b/c it's highly praised by those who use it and b/c the Singaporean approach to math has supposedly produced some impressive results.
All About Reading-I am very excited about this phonics program. It is multi-sensory and so clearly laid out for the parent with 49 simple lesson plans. I basically open the book and it tells me what to do, which is what I wanted in a phonics program. Not sure why, but teaching my kids to read (and High School chemistry) are the scariest responsibilities of homeschooling my kids. I also chose this one because it's sister program, All About Spelling is highly praised. I plan to use it for first grade.
Hand Writing Without Tears- Again, I heard and read great things about this program. The teachers manual offers multi sensory options and lots of pre-writing skills that I may not need to use with my oldest, but I think it will be great to do with H whom we are doing pre-k with. With J, I think just working through the workbook will be all he needs. The workbook looks so well planned out and their system of learning seems fool-proof (good thing b/c I'm a beginner!). I am looking forward to adding this to our HS time on Monday.
Supplementals we are using and loving are...
Leap Frog Tag pen with books and the World Map. We LOVE the world map. It's fun and my kids are learning so much about geography which is very applicable when you have family and friends all over the world!
Magic School Bus dvds The boys' new favorite video to watch and it is even on Netflix!
Liberty Kids dvds Another new favorite and is teaching my boys about America. I want them to know about their country's heritage and identify themselves as Americans. I think it's especially important to be intentional about this when you live overseas.
Carmen SanDiego dvds We have only watched one so far, but they are good and reinforce world geography lessons we're getting through Five In a Row.
DinoLingo Hindi dvd Program- I watch these with them as I want to learn Hindi also. It's fun and a great program so far. It comes with flashcards that mommy uses for herself :)
Explode the Code online phonics games/program that is a fun way to practice what he's learning through All About Reading.
PBS Kids Play online educational games. It's especially great for our 'gaming' child in the making, H, who also needs something special to do while I'm doing one-on-one activities with J.
love all of this! we use Singapore Math too. You have made great choices and I'm sure you will tweak as you go. It's such a fluid process. I love turning all subjects- reading, science, geography, etc- back to the Creator of all things. Homeschool allows you to do that. I think if we lived in the same town you and I would be besties. : ) I guess our online relationship will have to do for now! : )
ReplyDeleteJulia, I am encouraged to hear you use SM and like it! That makes me feel even better about my choice. I think your arrangement for schooling your kids sounds so ideal! The benefits of christian and home school sound so appealing. I wish I had that opportunity here. And I agree about feeling like we are kindred spirits. Meeting you and your hubs when we did was a gift from God! Thanks for your input friend.
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