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wumpiesmommy
Guest
My boys are only a newborn and 17 months but I’m wondering how I can best prepare to home school them? I have no formal teaching education but I was a great student, even learning independently. Is that enough?
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10gr8kids
Guest
Yes, there are so many resources now for homeschooling. The hardest part for me was finding what curriculum to use. My children just finishied 4th grade and so far it has been easy just to teach from the teacher’s book. As they get more advanced there are CD’s that go along with the programs that will teach the lessons. I don’t know much about those yet, someone with older children could tell you more. Don’t be intimidated by it, it might seem overwhelming at first, but once you start it will be very rewarding.
To prepare them, my advice is to help them understand that there are times when they need to sit and be still. When they are at Mass with you start expecting them to sit and be quiet when they first start being able to move around. Of course they won’t do it perfectly at first, but by the time they are 4 and 5 they will be great at it if you’ve been consistent. At least that was my experience. It will make teaching them much easier if they know there are times for playing and times for listening.
To prepare them, my advice is to help them understand that there are times when they need to sit and be still. When they are at Mass with you start expecting them to sit and be quiet when they first start being able to move around. Of course they won’t do it perfectly at first, but by the time they are 4 and 5 they will be great at it if you’ve been consistent. At least that was my experience. It will make teaching them much easier if they know there are times for playing and times for listening.
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Bonnie
Guest
There are many resources - books, on-line, & homeschooling groups - that weren’t around when my kids were that age, so it will be more a matter of sorting out what is important to you rather than finding resources.
Just be careful to use Catholic or secular materials - some of the Protestant materials can be anti-Catholic. Altho I love the early readers that are sold by (I think) a Mennonite group. It’s been so many years I can’t remember the titles.
Another thing is to be organized. I wasn’t. But fortunately, my kids have forgiven me.
In spite of being a disorganized, not very good teacher, I was able to teach them to read, do arithmatic, and learn how to learn. And they’ve grown up to be intelligent young adults.
Just be careful to use Catholic or secular materials - some of the Protestant materials can be anti-Catholic. Altho I love the early readers that are sold by (I think) a Mennonite group. It’s been so many years I can’t remember the titles.
Another thing is to be organized. I wasn’t. But fortunately, my kids have forgiven me.
In spite of being a disorganized, not very good teacher, I was able to teach them to read, do arithmatic, and learn how to learn. And they’ve grown up to be intelligent young adults.
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catholicmamajoy
Guest
Elizabeth Foss (Catholic homeschooling mom and author) wrote “Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home”, which combines several child-focused, gentle learning philosophies such as Montessori, Charlotte Mason, etc, from a Catholic perspective.
You can get the book from various sources, but here are two Catholic ones that carry it:
sacredheartbooksandgifts.com/index.php?m=4&s=0&mc=0&sc=0&pd=0971889511
bywayofthefamily.com/Real-Learning-Education-in-the-Heart-of-the-Home/productinfo/889511/
Elizabeth herself has a website that has a basic curriculum called “Serendipity”
ebeth.typepad.com/serendipity/
These would be my recommendations, as I’m from the “better late than early” group when it comes to childhood education and the experience with my own children who are not “workbook” or “scholastic-approach” learners.
If you want something a little more structured, but still gentle and Catholic, CHC has a preschool program.
chcweb.com/catalog/ByGra…duct_info.html
You can get the book from various sources, but here are two Catholic ones that carry it:
sacredheartbooksandgifts.com/index.php?m=4&s=0&mc=0&sc=0&pd=0971889511
bywayofthefamily.com/Real-Learning-Education-in-the-Heart-of-the-Home/productinfo/889511/
Elizabeth herself has a website that has a basic curriculum called “Serendipity”
ebeth.typepad.com/serendipity/
These would be my recommendations, as I’m from the “better late than early” group when it comes to childhood education and the experience with my own children who are not “workbook” or “scholastic-approach” learners.
If you want something a little more structured, but still gentle and Catholic, CHC has a preschool program.
chcweb.com/catalog/ByGra…duct_info.html
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