My Homeschooling Advice to my Daughter

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My daughter Hannah is getting ready to start a little formal homeschooling with my oldest granddaughter. So we had a talk recently about this. I gave her my thoughts and advice. I thought I would share what I told her, perhaps it would be a help to someone….

1. You’ve already been homeschooling, just by living everyday life. Don’t sweat it…

2. When all of you (referring to my children) were 5 I focused on only a few things. Reading every day to you, teaching you to read, math…. because in the end.. knowing how to read and how to think logically (What I feel math is all about), will give them the keys to ANYTHING they want to pursue in life.

3. I taught all of my children to read using “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons”… maybe it’s not for everyone, but I used it for 8 children, with various learning styles and they all learned to read. It is simple and not stressful for the mother or the child.

4. If she gets to a point in the book that it becomes difficult, put the book on the shelf for a month or so, then go back a few lessons and start again. Stop as often as needed, allow her to do this at her own speed.

5. Math: count the silverware as you put it away, add groups of things… 3 red legos here and 4 blue legos here.. how many do we have altogether? And if I take “this” many away, now how many do we have? Keep it simple, keep it fun

6. all other subjects…. Just read books… lots of books, lots of trips to the library. I use to go to the library with a laundry basket, and the kids would fill it up, and the next week we would bring it back and refill it. No end of the topics we can read about!

7. play with the children

8. take walks and talk

9. bring them into the kitchen and cook with them

10. teach them to fold laundry with you

11. plant a garden (even if it’s just containers on a deck)

12. let them play in the mud

13. play board games with them

14. love them, it covers just about everything else….


Homeschooling is not hard, it is living life and just taking it one step further… and then another step… and another.. before you know it you are making high school transcripts and helping them take the next step in life. Enjoy your babies, love every moment with them, and give them everything you have and more than you thought you had… it will be worth every day and every moment……

 


Comments

  1. Jennifer April 26, 2014 at 5:09 AM

    Such great advice. I find the more children I have the less I stress about their schooling when they're little. Like you said - anything you do with them is learning. Reading and math are the two most important. With those two subjects they can do anything. Really if they can read they can almost teach themselves. Great, great post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Red Brick FarmhouseApril 26, 2014 at 4:15 PM

    What wonderful advice! Life, is the BEST school!

    Blessings~
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  3. JamieApril 26, 2014 at 9:21 PM

    Loved this post. Homeschooling is wonderful. I am finding that the more natural and simple our approach to learning is, the more my children enjoy it and are eager to learn more.
    Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is a great book! I plan on using it with my third little one when she reaches school age, as well. The phonics utilized in the book really lays a strong foundation for them in their language arts.
    Blessings, Jamie :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. EricaApril 27, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    Excellent advice! We love homeschooling!

    I actually never taught my children to read. By reading to them, a LOT and playing games where they wanted to communicate with others online (Minecraft) they both learned. My approach may stress people out, LOL, but it worked and they both are wonderful readers.

    ReplyDelete
  5. MrsKnightJuly 26, 2014 at 1:51 PM

    This was my approach to homeschooling too. My girls are now 9 and 6, and I'm worried about how to homeschool for the next 10 years. I don't know if I have it in me to homeschool for the next 10 years, and I don't know if I would do a good enough job preparing them for college. A future veterinarian and doctor.... as a mother who has "been there, done that" I hope you'll share your insight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CrystalJuly 26, 2014 at 10:29 PM

      Hi MrsKnight.. I set out to answer your question and ended up with a whole new blog post.. LOL... I just posted it: http://homesteadinghomemaker.blogspot.com/2014/07/homeschooling-can-i-adequately-prepare.html

      Delete

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