Homeschool helps
Just-Before-Kindergarten Panic
A mother whose child is 5 plans to homeschool, but expressed her fears now that schools are holding kindergarten round-up. She doesn't get support from family and is starting to second guess herself.
Two years ago, I had similar feelings. My family consists of four generations of public school board presidents. The thought of homeschooling was far out to them.
As fall approached, family members would ask other children if they were starting kindergarten, who their teacher would be, if they were excited. Yet they didn’t say a word to my daughter!
I realized I would have to start the conversation. I started a blog for my daughter. She dictated what we were doing that week, and I posted it. I took pictures and posted those. It worked! After a few months, they started to ask my daughter questions, now that they knew what to ask about. “What are you learning about history these days?” “Have you done any fun science projects?” I know some of them still think homeschooling is generally a bad idea, but some really seem to have turned around.
I invited family members to be part of our learning. I brought books on visits and asked grandmas to read aloud. I invited aunts to my a spelling bee. I looked at museum web sites near where my parents live and found educational events where they could come along.
Now, my family members hear of more and more people who homeschool. Apparently they’re thinking it’s less and less weird. They know my childhood best friend homeschools, as do her sisters. They know they are all women who make smart choices, so that has helped them think it might be OK for me, too.
Family members who resist our homeschooling probably do it because they love our children very much and want to see what’s best for them. Though we may disagree with how they express it, it’s wonderful that our children have grandparents, aunts and uncles who care enough to worry about our children’s futures. | | suebattel |
| | Lang arts: readers/literature
Library Blessings
I love to BUY books. I enjoy having worthy books on my shelves, so I or my children can read them any time we get the notion. I love having a ''Home Library'', and after 14 years of homeschooling, my collection of books can pretty much be called that. I also love hosting Used Curriculum Sales for my support group, or buying and selling here on Homeschool Classifieds.
But recently, I have been reminded of the blessings of one of a homeschooler's best friends... the library. Besides being able to check out existing resources from your local library, I wanted to mention a wonderful feature that many might want to take advantage of, and some might not be aware of. My librarian informed me that if a book is not carried in my library system, the library will order it for me. (I believe there are some guidelines, such as the book must have been published for a year. )
She said the library has a particular fund set aside each year, for the sole purpose of purchasing new books. If we don't request the books we would like to have available, such as Christian fiction and other Christian topics, homeschooling books, worthy book series for our kids and teens, etc., the money will be spent on whatever titles a library employee or committee chooses.
For a long time I have been disappointed in the selection of books for my older children as well as adult selections. But recently, I have been requesting books from the library, and so far, they have ordered every one of them. For instance, I heard a radio program where the political guest had written a book, and I was interested in it. The library ordered it, and now it is on the shelf for others to check out.
I just want to encourage you to make an impact on what is stocked in our public libraries. Our tax dollars are being used to purchase these materials, so it is somewhat our responsibility and privilege to have some of the resources there reflect what we want to read and have available. | | mom2saa |
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