Originally Posted by MommaColleen
1) I never did all that hot in school (basically just enough to get me through, I was lazy). How can I teach my kids?
ya know, this is kind of one of those things that you just have to jump in and do it. But remember that the homeschooling market is HUGE and you have options. Can't teach math? Get the course on DVD. Don't want to keep grades? Try a satellite school. With that said, please read
this blog. That young lady's mother was a high school drop-out. Her mom is slightly spastic, extremely disorganized and never, not once finished an entire year's worth of curriculum. Actually, I'm pretty sure towards the end she didn't even use a curriculum but just kind of winged it. Amanda speaks Chinese--she taught herself. She's in China now. . .using her EMT credentials to help earthquake victims. The EMT credentials she earned after she graduated magna *** laude with a degree in music theory and composition. In fact all of this "drop out's" children are incredibly talented.
[/quote]2) They keep trying to give DS an IEP saying he needs "special attention". IMO he just needs attention period. With class sizes in the high 20's to low 30's and no aides he really has no one to go to for help. Would home schooling him be a big mistake?[/quote]
I think you'd really find the opposite to be true. My son, I really believe, wouldn't necessarily do well in school for that reason. He's pretty mathematically gifted (he's in 1st and just started his 4th grade stuff--in July 1 he began with his 1st grade stuff). Sometimes, kids who need attention are kids who are bored. You may find that your homeschool doesn't look like traditional school but many, many people find that it's better that way.
[/quote]I'm afraid I won't have enough patience to teach them[/quote]
Did you teach your child to eat or have someone else instruct him? What about getting dressed? Did you teach him to brush his teeth? You, in fact, have been his teacher from the very beginning. You are and have always been his primary teacher and sending him to school or not doesn't change that. Don't get me wrong--there are rough days. . .but there are lots of really, good ones too.
[/quote]4) What about time....is there ever enough of it?[/quote]
No.
And your next step? If I were you I would sit down and write down your thoughts on homeschooling. It doesn't have to be fancy, or hugely detailed. But spend some time thinking about what areas of weakness you see, what you want to address, what you think homeschooling should look like or what you want his education to look like. The idea is to know where you want to go before you set out on the trip.
Then I would find out the laws in your state. My state is highly regulated and it ended up influencing hugely my curriculum choices.
Then I would consider looking for curriculums.
Homeschooling 101
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