Question: I just quit my job to be a stay at home to a 5 year old and a one year old. I have very seriously thought about homeschooling for next year’s k-5 but I really need help to start. Can you please pass on any information that could help me make my decision easier and where to start on learning?
Answer: If you are planning to homeschool your child next year after preschool, then you have some time do a bit of research. My advice for a mom considering starting homeschooling is that you should read up on different homeschooling topics such as learning styles, and educational philosophies http://homeschooling.families.com/blog/category/675. When I began homeschooling, I read at least 30 books on homeschooling and education in the Spring and Summer before I started, and so when I began homeschooling I was quite confident about what I was doing.
Fortunately, for you, you get to start homeschooling your kids at a young age, and so a relaxed approach to homeschooling is fine for the first few years. This gives you time to plan for the more challenging years ahead. My personal opinion when it comes to homeschooling little ones is to keep it fun. Use as many learning games as humanly possible. Also, find a curriculum that is easy to follow and also a lot of fun. My favorite for children, if you are a stickler for a complete curriculum is Time4learning.com besides that I also like Reader Rabbit, and Learning Adventures. To teach your child to read, I also like Headsprout.com.
Read: What Your Kindergartner Should Know: Mathematics
What Your Kindergartner Should Know: Science
What Your Kindergartner Should Know: Language Arts
What Should Your Kindergartner Know Part 1: Social Studies
What Reading Skills Should Your Kindergarten Child Learn?Any recommendations for preschool curriculum?