Any Homeschooling Moms? Long

[mamamanda]

For those of you that home school...i need help!::In my state it is legal to home school someone else's child so since I had a dcm ask me about it I decided to add a kindergarten curriculum to our preschool program. I have 2 kindergarteners, 2 preschoolers, & 2 toddlers. I am new to having such varied age ranges & its proving to be challenging. I was doing preschool in the mornings & kindergarten during nap time, but I didn't have any time to rest/eat/plan myself & I felt like I had no time to just "be" with the toddlers which I missed, especially since one of them is mine.

This week I decided to restructure the schedule and I'm doing preschool & kindergarten together in the morning right after circle time. We try to keep "academics" to an hour a day. Even then most of it is "fun" learning. We do mostly hands on activities & a lot of games so I just overlap the curriculum & differentiate based on developmental levels. We did water balloon math yesterday. I write numbers with sidewalk chalk & we throw water balloons at them. Kindergarteners can solve addition problems or work on number recognition for higher numbers, preschoolers work on numbers 1-5, toddlers just throw the balloons & we clap & shout the number they land on. Everyone has fun.

I do try to take a few minutes with each of the kindergarteners to work on the individual reading skills b/c they are both at very different levels. This is when it goes downhill. Mostly with the 19mo. I have a basket of toys for school Tim, but she wants to sit at the table with the big kids, but she won't sit still. Its up & down and I'm scared she will fall. So I tell her its her time to go play & she screams. Then the school kids get frustrated, can't concentrate, etc. That doesn't get her the attention she wants so then she picks on the 12 mo...scratching him, taking his toys, knocking him down. Today I finally just put her in a pack n play with a few toys & books & told her to play while I finished school. I don't know how else to accomplish everything safely. Any tips on handling littler ones while the older ones do school? We're basically talking 20 minutes a day where I need to focus my main attention on teaching. There's got to be a way to make tho work outside of nap time. Thanks!

[Blackcat31]

More threads on homeschooling

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[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Wow that is a lot to take on. I have watched another hsing families kids 2 days a week at one point but mom had to write out assignments. In my state without a teaching license you can not home educate someone else's child. But I ensured they were doing the work that was assigned. We used the same curriculum and one of her's was the same age as my son. It was a lot of work. But ultimately it fell back on mom, not me.
Kindergarten now is very fast paced here. It is all day every day! What does your state require as far as notification? Ours has to have a portfolio review by a teacher or a standardize test yearly. I guess I wouldn't want the responsibility of educating someone else's (school age) child. What if the mom decides you are not doing enough? What type of contract do you have? Are you using a certain curriculum? What is mom doing at home? I personally feel that now kindergarten would require at least 2 hours of academics/ day which is why most kids are now 6 in kindergarten.
Time- I always used nap time for one on one. In the morning I would do 10 min instruction and then my son would work independently while I cared for the littles. So I would do English instruction he would do the page bring it to me and I would check it. Math 10 min of instruction he would work the page etc.
Now, do I think that they can learn a lot through play? yes. But, what is the plan for next year? Is the other little one going to school? Will they be prepared to sit and do their schoolwork?
Reading one on one- maybe mom needs to do that at night.

[mamamanda]

Wow that is a lot to take on. I have watched another hsing families kids 2 days a week at one point but mom had to write out assignments. In my state without a teaching license you can not home educate someone else's child. But I ensured they were doing the work that was assigned. We used the same curriculum and one of her's was the same age as my son. It was a lot of work. But ultimately it fell back on mom, not me.
Kindergarten now is very fast paced here. It is all day every day! What does your state require as far as notification? Ours has to have a portfolio review by a teacher or a standardize test yearly. I guess I wouldn't want the responsibility of educating someone else's (school age) child. What if the mom decides you are not doing enough? What type of contract do you have? Are you using a certain curriculum? What is mom doing at home? I personally feel that now kindergarten would require at least 2 hours of academics/ day which is why most kids are now 6 in kindergarten.
Time- I always used nap time for one on one. In the morning I would do 10 min instruction and then my son would work independently while I cared for the littles. So I would do English instruction he would do the page bring it to me and I would check it. Math 10 min of instruction he would work the page etc.
Now, do I think that they can learn a lot through play? yes. But, what is the plan for next year? Is the other little one going to school? Will they be prepared to sit and do their schoolwork?
Reading one on one- maybe mom needs to do that at night.

Well, my state is one of the most lax in homeschooling rules. I have to show proof of attendance if asked & I am keeping a portfolio for each student to show progress/curriculum to present if asked. I say one hour of academics as in that is the time set aside for "school" but we do other academic things throughout the day. Its just incorporated into play more. We count, add objects, spell words, read books, walk to the bookmobile, art, music etc throughout the day.
One student is my son & he I well above grade level so I don't worry about his work quite so much, but the other student has had son developmental delays due to being born very early which is part of why mom chose to home school tho year. She is doing pretty well, but there is a lot of work to do. I've been trying to encourage independent activities for her, but she is lost without direct instruction. Its definitely harder than I anticipated b/c I can't say to her, "Complete this assignment" & then focus on someone else. She just stares into space unless I'm sitting there engaging her. Most of our worksheets/writing practice is done during meal prep times. I put their assignments in their folders & they work on them when I'm cooking, but again since she doesn't have my undivided attention she struggles. Of course, she won't have a teachers undivided attention in school either so I really want to help her become more of an independent worker. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Well, my state is one of the most lax in homeschooling rules. I have to show proof of attendance if asked & I am keeping a portfolio for each student to show progress/curriculum to present if asked. I say one hour of academics as in that is the time set aside for "school" but we do other academic things throughout the day. Its just incorporated into play more. We count, add objects, spell words, read books, walk to the bookmobile, art, music etc throughout the day.
One student is my son & he I well above grade level so I don't worry about his work quite so much, but the other student has had son developmental delays due to being born very early which is part of why mom chose to home school tho year. She is doing pretty well, but there is a lot of work to do. I've been trying to encourage independent activities for her, but she is lost without direct instruction. Its definitely harder than I anticipated b/c I can't say to her, "Complete this assignment" & then focus on someone else. She just stares into space unless I'm sitting there engaging her. Most of our worksheets/writing practice is done during meal prep times. I put their assignments in their folders & they work on them when I'm cooking, but again since she doesn't have my undivided attention she struggles. Of course, she won't have a teachers undivided attention in school either so I really want to help her become more of an independent worker. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed.

I can understand feeling overwhelmed. If she is delayed- has she been tested? I guess my question would be mom's long term plans. Could you do "work" first thing in the morning while the others play independently?

[Thriftylady]

Okay well this makes Nannyde start screaming in my head. What is the mother doing in terms of homeschooling when she is home? Is she doing some of it in the evening? If not I am not sure I would even try to HS someone else's child unless they were paying for enough of my slots that I could have lower ratios. Please tell us she is paying you a lot more than you charge for a normal daycare slot, because you are doing way more work.

[finsup]

What an awesome thing you are doing!! Have you joined any fb homeschooling groups? A few I'm in have so many members with great suggestions for making multi age groups work. We haven't formally started yet, although we do some school. Lots of learning through play, we'll start a regular curriculum next year. But most likely will only be doing "school" for a short amount of time as well. I don't see anything wrong with putting the 19m old in a pnp to play quietly for a little while when needed. Could she do an activity in a high chair while you worked with the older kids? That may be another idea. Books on tape? ...if they still have those .
Keep at it! Sounds like you are doing great andntose kids are lucky to have someone so invested in teaching them!

[nothingwithoutjoy]

I homeschool my daughter; she's just finished her kindergarten year. This year, I'm adding a homeschooled kindergartener to our group twice a week, and am hoping to add another kindergartener or first grader. I also have 3 3-year-olds and a 2-year-old. Technically, I cannot "homeschool" someone else's child, so I provide "child care" for him. But it's all just words; of course he's learning here, and I'm documenting it.

To me, everything we do throughout the day is part of their education, so I don't designate any "school" time. My teaching is inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia. The kids play, I observe and document, interests/questions/problems arise, and we expand them into projects--some involving the whole group at their individual levels, some more small group or individual. If that's intriguing to you at all, I would recommend the book "Project-Based Homeschooling" by Lori Pickert, or check out her blog (this post gives a good taste). I also just re-read John Holt's "Learning all the Time" and it was a great reminder to me to back off and trust the children.

I think that's awesome that you get to do kindergarten. I hope it turns out to be a wonderfully fun year. I'd love to share stories. You can check out my facebook page if you want a peek at what we're doing.

[mamamanda]

I homeschool my daughter; she's just finished her kindergarten year. This year, I'm adding a homeschooled kindergartener to our group twice a week, and am hoping to add another kindergartener or first grader. I also have 3 3-year-olds and a 2-year-old. Technically, I cannot "homeschool" someone else's child, so I provide "child care" for him. But it's all just words; of course he's learning here, and I'm documenting it.

To me, everything we do throughout the day is part of their education, so I don't designate any "school" time. My teaching is inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia. The kids play, I observe and document, interests/questions/problems arise, and we expand them into projects--some involving the whole group at their individual levels, some more small group or individual. If that's intriguing to you at all, I would recommend the book "Project-Based Homeschooling" by Lori Pickert, or check out her blog (this post gives a good taste). I also just re-read John Holt's "Learning all the Time" and it was a great reminder to me to back off and trust the children.

I think that's awesome that you get to do kindergarten. I hope it turns out to be a wonderfully fun year. I'd love to share stories. You can check out my facebook page if you want a peek at what we're doing.

I'd love to check out your page and share stories. It helps just knowing I'm not the only one doing this I'm excited about the year, but nervous too!

[mamamanda]

What an awesome thing you are doing!! Have you joined any fb homeschooling groups? A few I'm in have so many members with great suggestions for making multi age groups work. We haven't formally started yet, although we do some school. Lots of learning through play, we'll start a regular curriculum next year. But most likely will only be doing "school" for a short amount of time as well. I don't see anything wrong with putting the 19m old in a pnp to play quietly for a little while when needed. Could she do an activity in a high chair while you worked with the older kids? That may be another idea. Books on tape? ...if they still have those .
Keep at it! Sounds like you are doing great andntose kids are lucky to have someone so invested in teaching them!

Thank you so much for the encouragement! High chair activity...great idea! I need to get back on pinterest

[mamamanda]

I can understand feeling overwhelmed. If she is delayed- has she been tested? I guess my question would be mom's long term plans. Could you do "work" first thing in the morning while the others play independently?

Okay well this makes Nannyde start screaming in my head. What is the mother doing in terms of homeschooling when she is home? Is she doing some of it in the evening? If not I am not sure I would even try to HS someone else's child unless they were paying for enough of my slots that I could have lower ratios. Please tell us she is paying you a lot more than you charge for a normal daycare slot, because you are doing way more work.

She has been tested but mom felt the program offered through the school state wasn't benefiting her any more than what they're doing at home. She comes from a family of therapists so they are working with her. Schooling I left up to me. I have a background in education, though I'm not currently licensed to teach (one semester away) so they leave that part to me. I'm not charging any more for her, but b/c I offer curriculum for both preschool and now kindergarten I'm able to charge high end of normal for our area & no one complains. I realize now I should have charged extra, but I thought since I would be homeschooling Ds this year anyway it wouldn't be a big deal. Unfortunately, I have to create different lesson plans for each of them b/c they're more than a year apart in abilities. I just want to help b/c I love this child. I bit off more than I realized though.

[Laurel]

Okay well this makes Nannyde start screaming in my head. What is the mother doing in terms of homeschooling when she is home? Is she doing some of it in the evening? If not I am not sure I would even try to HS someone else's child unless they were paying for enough of my slots that I could have lower ratios. Please tell us she is paying you a lot more than you charge for a normal daycare slot, because you are doing way more work.

That's exactly what I was thinking. That is two jobs so I would charge for the extra service.

Also mom could be doing 2 days a week (Sat. and Sun.) so provider would only have to do 3 days. Mom could concentrate on the things that take more one on one that way.

Laurel

[Laurel]

She has been tested but mom felt the program offered through the school state wasn't benefiting her any more than what they're doing at home. She comes from a family of therapists so they are working with her. Schooling I left up to me. I have a background in education, though I'm not currently licensed to teach (one semester away) so they leave that part to me. I'm not charging any more for her, but b/c I offer curriculum for both preschool and now kindergarten I'm able to charge high end of normal for our area & no one complains. I realize now I should have charged extra, but I thought since I would be homeschooling Ds this year anyway it wouldn't be a big deal. Unfortunately, I have to create different lesson plans for each of them b/c they're more than a year apart in abilities. I just want to help b/c I love this child. I bit off more than I realized though.

You could present it to mom as "Wow, this is more involved than I thought it would be. I have to create different lesson plans, etc. If this is to continue, I will have to charge an extra fee for it."

One thing I learned in all the years of doing childcare is you can change your mind.

Laurel

[Thriftylady]

You could present it to mom as "Wow, this is more involved than I thought it would be. I have to create different lesson plans, etc. If this is to continue, I will have to charge an extra fee for it."

One thing I learned in all the years of doing childcare is you can change your mind.

Laurel

I agree there is nothing wrong with going back and saying you need to make changes. You don't want to burn yourself out.