Our Starting Point

Read "From Teacher to Mommy" to see how my homeschooling journey began.
Read "Common Questions About Homeschooling" to get more information if homeschooling is right for you.

If you are reading this, I am guessing you have some interest in homeschooling. You may be wondering how to get started. I know some of you who read the post "Common Questions About Homeschooling" were probably thinking I was crazy when I said "As far as when you should start really planning out a structured day, I believe that should start around age 3. I have started a 15 min. structured day with my 3 year old. We spend this time in a variety of ways." Before I explain what I mean by that, let me tell you how we have started out.

Your child begins learning as soon as s/he is born. From nursing, grabbing your finger, holding a toy, laughing, rolling over, cooing, sitting up, to crawling....and on and on and on. Of course this seems obvious to any mother. So why do we hold back our children from learning? We think that they couldn't be ready for something so we don't teach it. Even if your child is not totally grasping something, they are learning something whether you are aware of it or not.

As soon as both of my children were able to focus their attention on something, like around 3 months, I started introducing them to sign language. I did this in a number of ways. I played the award winning Baby Signing Time series for them. Through this DVD series, they learned many basic words that were useful in communication as they grew older. It increased their understanding of many topics like feelings, eating, drinking, pets, bed time, opposites, etc. I also sign some of the signs in every day life. I not only sign the sign, but I also say it out loud. If you think about it, this is teaching GRAMMAR! I am using vocabulary in context. Not only I am using the words in an visual way, but also in an auditory (saying it aloud) and kinesthetic (motion) way.

As my daughter got to be about 1, I introduced her to the Signing Time series. We started learning clothing, numbers, letters, farm animals, zoo animals, etc. I knew she was ready for the transition when I could tell she was signing words and using them in the proper context. Of course learning our numbers 1-10, some basic shapes, colors and animal sounds naturally came next. It was around her first birthday that we started practicing counting 1-10 because we talked about how she was 1. She loved watching LeapFrog's Numberland and LeapFrog's Numbers Ahoy DVDs (on Netflix) to review counting. Shapes just kind of happened. She started recognizing hearts first. They were on one of her outfits. Then, I started teaching her circle and squares with just shapes around the house and in books. Animal sounds started a few months before the 4-H fair. Of course she loved signing and saying animal signs as we walked around the fair.

Soon potty training started for us. She had started squatting on the mat before bath time. So...we got the potty out. Next to her potty I posted a ABC strip. While we made the 100 trips to the potty every day, we would go over all of the letters. We started by learning the letters in her name, which happen to be on her wall above her crib, and then moved to the rest of the letters. Then, as she got more familiar with the letters, we started singing the ABC song. So for 10 min. each hour, she was learning her letters. No wonder by 1 1/2 she recognized all of her letters.

Next came learning more animals. We started with zoo animals and their sounds. This made going to the zoo when she was 2, so much fun! At this point she was making some of the sounds of the alphabet without knowing it. A monkey says "E-e-e Aw Aw Aw" so I started using some vowel sounds when we brushed her teeth. Long E for brushing the front of her teeth. Short O (aw) for the back molars and tops of teeth. Short E (eh) for brushing her tongue. Of course we started coloring around age 2 which started the development of fine motor skills.

At 2 1/2 she got the LeapFrog Scribble and Write pad to practice writing and recognizing her letters. So now that she was learning some of her vowel sounds, this transitioned into learning AEIOU and their short sounds. This quickly flowed into learning all of her letter sounds. LeapFrog's Phonics Farm DVD is how she learned all of her letter sounds. I She loved seeing all of the animals she knew and learning a couple new ones too! I also recommend the LeapFrog's Phonics Fridge Set and LeapFrog's Word Whammer Fridge Set. Around turning 3, she was writing some of the letters and knew almost all of her letter sounds when asked. About 2 months later she was watching the Phonics Farm and said the letter J sound and said her brother's name, which starts with a J. It was time for a new transition! Now that she is 3, we have officially started our 15 min. "structured" learning times. We are starting right where she is at...letter sounds and some fine motor skills.

Here are some of the activities we are doing for our homeschooling time:
(1) tracing different kinds of lines
(2) learning to trace and recognize all of the basic shapes (square, triangle, rectangle, circle, oval, diamond and heart)
(3) going onto StarFall's ABC sections to review our sounds and practice blending sounds together
(4) coloring
(5) making cards for others
(6) finding the beginning letter for words by listening for the sound (What does M-M-Mommy start with?)
(7) counting objects out loud as we touch them
(8) Bible memorization for Philippians 2:14 & Colossians 3:20 (most of the time this is in the moment when she is disobeying or whining about something)
(9) assisting me in baking, cooking and canning
(10) signing together and watching Signing Time videos together
(11) having a "dance party" to praise music
(12) housework (she's my helper in almost every cleaning activity)

**We have used some activities out of the Big Preschool workbook.

So, do we do all of these together every day? NO! As it fits into life, we throw them into our daily schedule. Sometimes we might have 5 of them that just happen, while other days we may have 2. This is as "structured" as I meant. I do try to do one activity that requires her to sit still a day so that she can get some practice at this. This is a definite area of hers that is difficult. As I am typing this to you it is quiet time and she is moving all over the couch :)

So I hope this helps you know where to start. This is where we have gone with the natural progression of her learning. Maybe you're thinking that your child is not interested at all in learning his/her letters. Start where your child is at and what s/he is interested in. All children are different. I am sure my son will have a different starting point.

The key is to make learning a part of your child's day and make it natural with the things you do. Want to practice couting? Have them count the pretzels from lunch time. Want to practice letters? Find letters on signs, books and things around your house. Want to have them learn some bible verses? Start with some verses that are useful in your everyday life! Most of all...relax and have fun! There are no rights and wrongs or firsts and lasts. Just start building on what's already there!

Here is a great article that is very helpful called "How to Spot Your Preschooler's Hidden Talents". This is a great starting point if you are trying to find ways to teach your child successfully, but don't know what would work for him/her.


If you need any help, you can leave a comment! I'd be glad to give you any suggestions.

Common Questions About Homeschooling

When should I start homeschooling?

Actually there is no "starting point" for homeschooling. As a parent, teaching your child is part of God's plan for you. As your baby begins growing, teaching should be just a natural part of your day. This includes introducing your child to books, teaching them to roll over and walking, introducing letters in their name, talking about Jesus, etc.

As far as when you should start really planning out a structured day, I believe that should start around age 3. I have started a 15 min. structured day with my 3 year old. We spend this time in a variety of ways. I will write a more detailed post about how I have started my homeschooling process.

However, you may be thinking is my child really ready? S/he really is. It's just all about starting where they are at. Remember that learning is not just things we deem as academics...it is everyday life all around you. If your child has a hard time staying still, like most toddlers, including mine, then get him/her doing things that get them up and moving! Schooling does not mean sitting at a desk doing a worksheet! Yikes! How boring! If your chid is visual, make posters. If your child is auditory, make songs. If your child loves to move, make games.

How do I know if I can handle homeschooling?

Obviously there are 4 choices for schooling. There is public school, private school, homeschooling and online public schooling. So how can you determine what is right for you. This is a BIG question for many families. First, I want to say that I have learned to stop saying "I will never do ___" or any other kinds of final statements. God always has a sense of humor in showing me that I should be going to Him for all of my decisions. So let me start there...you need to seek God's direction. I also suggest seeking Him in it EVERY YEAR! What was maybe a good fit this year, might need to change next year.

How can I know if homeschooling is NOT for my family?

Obviously we also need to know what you as the parent can handle and what is best for your child's abilities. These questions may help you figure out if homeschooling is right for you:

>Do you have a hard time with time management and/or organization? This is key to surviving the homeschooling day. There is no one holding you accountable to getting to all of your teaching material. You need to have some handle on time management. A good way to check on this is to look at your current housework. Can you keep up pretty well or are you completely overwhelmed. If you are overwhelmed, homeschooling maybe too difficult for you or your family. Don't feel like you have to be perfect though. Too much structure can inhibit learning too.

>Are you phyiscally able to handle the busyness of transporting to/from school or homeschooling from home? Maybe online public school is a better fit. Homeschooling requires some committment to be a part of other social activities.

>Do you enjoy teaching your children? Do you like learning new things? If you don't have any heart for teaching your children or learning new things, homeschooling is not right for you. If you're only desire to homeschool comes from being able to keep your children home, I really suggest doing the online public schooling for your state. You often can get free books and computers for your kids.

>Do you want to save money for your family? This is a common misconception. Curriculum is very expensive. Even shopping eBay or Amazon can still be difficult to find good, cheap curriculum. You can spend upwards of $300-500 per student for curriculum & supplies, not to mention paying for any social or sport activities that they may be involved in. Of course you will be able to reuse some of your curriculum for any younger kids and often times you can resell your materials on eBay or used book stores.  If you plan on joining a homeschooling group there may be small fees associated with that as well. Obviously if you are used to paying for private schooling, it will be cheaper to homeschool. Actually the cheapest option is online public schooling. However, if finances is a major concern, I really suggest praying about your situation. God ultimately will take care of all of your needs.

>Does my child need the socialization of school? Does my child need a different teacher besides myself? Some children are meant for the socialization of a school setting. I once had a Kindergartener that was caught staying up really late in her bed the night before coming back from Christmas break. When her mom asked her why she was still awake, she said that she was too excited to see her teacher and all of her friends. Maybe you and your child just don't click well. Maybe another authority figure such as a school teacher would be better suited to teach your child.

What are some of the benefits of homeschooling?

>It's cheaper than private or Christian schooling.
>You can tailor your curriculum to fit your child's needs.
>You can remove distractions associated with the classroom.
>You can teach them not only academics, but also fun areas like Biblical truth, sewing, sports, sign language, art, cooking, etc.
>You eliminate time wasters that come along with school like recess, teaching fillers, study halls, etc.
>You don't have to rely on teachers to communicate with you about your child's progress.
>You have the freedom to schedule your teaching time whenever you want. You can start later in the morning. You can take time off for family vacations or reunions. You can even have school on Saturdays or Sundays.
>The whole family can get involved. Dad can help teach things areas that he does well in. Older siblings can help teach younger sibilings.
>Safety is another great benefit. If the schools around you are violent or have other safety concerns, homeschooling is a great option.
>You can homeschool if you live in a different country where English is not their main language.
>Your child will not be exposed to as many colds or diseases as in a school setting. One of my first graders struggled with asthma and sometimes our school building affected her health.
>You can oversee your child's daily meals. Maybe your child has severe food allergies. Maybe your child has diabetes. At home you would be able to monitor this better.
>If your family moves, your child will be staying with the same curriculum and fellow students.
>There are several homeschooling groups that allow your child to socialize and have some creative learning opportunities.
>Your family may have high biblical standards. Homeschooling could give your family the ability to set goals for teaching your child/ren those important truths.

From Teacher 2 Mommy

Well...here I am, a mother of a 3 year old and 4 month old. It's just crazy to think of me being a Stay At Home (SAHM). If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I would ever be a SAHM, let alone homeschool my children, I probably would have laughed in your face. I knew I loved teaching and the thought of giving that up to stay home just seemed so unrealistic! In my mind homeschooling was for those weirdos who wanted to over-protect their children from society. I mean. I grew up going to a public school. What was so bad about that?!?!?

Then, when I finally listened to the Spirit's leading and entered the Elementary Education program, I would have told you I never wanted to teach in a Christian school. Since I was a newer believer and I grew up in the public school, wouldn't the Lord want me to go be a witness in the public school? HA! Little did I know that I would not willing to take Biblical truth and principals out of my everyday teaching. I do love that most public schools use fantastic curriculum and a lot of creativity. I didn't want to sacrifice academics for Biblical principals. As a believer, I felt Christian schools should excel in academics and Biblical integration. Unfortunately most Christian schools I had ever known gave up excellence and creativity in academics for the sake of Christian teaching. Wouldn't Christ want us to be the best?

God had some amazing plans! I ended up moving to Indiana to teach at a wonderful Christian school. God was a part of everything, but academics and standards were still very important. Partnering with Christian parents was top priority as well. I soon fell in love with teaching curriculum...especially Bible. God's Word was not just a memorization tool. It was the living word that flowed through my whole day. My first year was in Kindergarten...another thing on my "I will never do" list. God knew I needed the lower years to develop into a far better teacher. My second year was in First Grade and I just fell in love. They love on you. They start becoming independent. Plus, you get the awesome opportunity to teach the building blocks for the rest of their lives...in academics and biblical truths!

But now 7 years later, God is moving me onto the phase of homeschooling. I am learning that I get the awesome priviledge of using my spiritual gifts to teach my children. So...where to start? How do I structure my day? When do I start teaching? You may even have these questions. I hope you will follow me on my journey. I hope that this blog can be an encouragement to those of you who are thinking about starting homeschooling, have had the same misconceived notions I have had about homeschooling or who are already in the homeschooling process.