Name: Amy C
Describe your school space: I will try and dig up a picture of our homeschool room when it’s tidy. It’s currently a restaurant or a grocery store for my 8 year-old and my niece. Ha! We use the playroom in our basement to do school (the room is half school, half play area; like a mullet, business in the front, party in the back) which was awesome when I had a baby and a toddler and needed to keep them occupied while homeschooling the oldest two. It’s an ugly room in our basement.
Your education level/background: I have a Master of Social Work degree and prior to having children, worked with foster children and recruited and trained foster parents.
Years/grades homeschooled I started homeschooling when my oldest was entering 2nd grade. She is now going into 10th grade, but decided to go to public school for high school. I have three other children that I have homeschooled from the beginning and am currently homeschooling: grades 3, 5, and 9.
Number of children: Four; ages 8, 10, 13, and 15
Religion: Christian. We use some Christian curriculum (Apologia Science and our Bible study)
Learning disabilities or special challenges: None of my kids have a learning disability. My son is a challenge, only because he doesn’t love school, easily loses focus, and would rather do just about anything besides sit and do schoolwork. I have found that letting him take frequent breaks, assigning him push-ups and other exercises in between subjects, and giving him gum helps with his concentration.
State(s) you have homeschooled in: Kentucky
What you wish you’d known that first month of homeschooling: Be flexible. Gain as much knowledge as you can ahead of time, be as prepared as you can be, but also be flexible. Some curriculum just might not work for your child or family. Homeschooling, at the beginning, is a lot like bringing home a new baby from the hospital. You have to find your groove and figure out what works for your family.
Favorite curriculum choice: We have loved Apologia Science. Unlike traditional school/textbooks where you learn a little bit about a lot of different areas of science, this curriculum focuses extensively on one subject per textbook. We usually cover two textbooks per year. For example, this fall we will learn about botany and in the spring we will learn about astronomy. Three of my kids’ favorite subject is science.
We also love Singapore Math for elementary math. It uses a mastery approach where you learn a skill, practice it, then move on to a new skill. Some math programs require a lot of extra practice and repetition (and some kids do better with that type of program). It keeps math fun and gives a great foundation.
Homeschooling philosophy: I am not sure that I have a philosophy. Homeschooling has been a wonderful experience. I love the flexibility it provides us to take vacations in the off season and go on field trips around Louisville when places aren’t crowded. I love that if my child has an interest in rocks, we can explore geology together. I love not having a school dictate my evenings with homework. Mostly I love the extra time I have with my children and that they have with each other.
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