My answer:
We have actually done both ways for our children in the past – homeschool and private/church school. We live quite a ways from our church school with no one near enough to carpool and so I taught kindergarten and first grade to Derek and Terrel, our two oldest. Once they reached second grade, we sent them to our private church school.
We chose to do it this way because of the long travelling distance for only one or two children. But truthfully, my heart wasn’t ready to let them try their wings yet! I wanted to keep them at home a little bit longer. Plus, I love teaching.
However, when Megan, our third child, was ready for first grade, we already had two going to school so we decided to send her as well. Now with our fourth entering kindergarten this year, we are going to send him to school from the very first. I have found it is harder to have a “foot in both worlds” than to do one completely well.
Our children absolutely love going to our private church school! We use the Christian Light Education curriculum and while it may be challenging, it is one that also supports many of our beliefs. I also like Abeka, which is what I used for kindergarten and first grade while homeschooling. It’s more colorful and fun especially for the younger grades.
Your answers:
You will notice this question was not asked as to which way is better. Let’s be kind to those who choose to do it differently than us. Sometimes people’s circumstances force them into making hard decisions the rest of us don’t have to make.
If you have good ideas for curriculum, please share them. Links are also great!
Thank you!
Linking to Growing Home and Raising Might Arrows.
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Lezlie H. says
I homeschooled my oldest with Abeka Academy dvd program and LOVED it. It was perfect for us all the way around, considering I had two younger children and was packing to move.
This year she’s in first grade and younger sister in K-4 at the Christian school next door. They use Abeka also.
However, for various reasons, we will be homeschooling both girls next year, and I will have a 3yo and a newborn.
I can’t wait to hear curriculum ideas here. I’m still debating what to do. I grew up with CLE, and some BCE, Abeka, Saxon math and Rod&Staff.
I’m thinking since my girls have “known” Abeka for the last two years, maybe it’ll be better to use that for our first year “Officially” homeschooling, since I’ll also have a busy 3yo son and a newborn nursing around the clock for the first how many months. However, I’ve heard good things about CLE’s new LTR–the SonRise? edition.
Any suggestions from you other moms on a good curriculum to use for a “first” time homeschooling mom? I’m not one who “loves” to teach from the books so this will be a big step, but I’m willing to take it on to uphold our faith and practices.
Kendra Graber says
I’m familiar with CLE, Abeka, and BCE. Personally, I feel BCE is too easy while CLE (at least the old version) was too hard and vague. Abeka is more interesting although it is more patriotic.
If I were to homeschool, I’d probably use a mixture of Abeka, CLE, and perhaps Saxon Math. I’ve heard good things about it!
I have never used Rod and Staff so can’t really give an opinion on that. Usually one curriculum is better in one subject than another, hence why some folks “mix and match”.
The Proverbs 31 Sanctuary says
Hello there, popping by from raising mighty arrows link up. I am starting homeschooling next year and I am following the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling. I have heard that ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) is really good too. I have a homeschooling blog where you can see my curriculum from Ambleside Online http://onefaithfularrow.blogspot.com.au/ Have a blessed day. Tara
S.R.M. says
We “fell into” home schooling. I had planned to send my children to a private school but when it came time to send twins the cost seemed daunting and since I had taught before and was surrounded by many great home schooling examples I knew I could do it myself. It turned out to be a great fit for our family and we have continued for twelve years. The stress was removed and accountablity added by being enrolled in a charter school. I love having my kids home but I did not enjoy math and science past 6th grade so for high school the older ones go to a charter school two days and week and are home three days.
We have used a combination of curriculum: CLE for learning to read and Bible, MCP math, Saxon math (with CD)for junior high, ABeka for social studies and science (used as readers), and a mixture for language arts.
Susan
Anonymous says
Our children have all went to a church school in the area. Im afraid if i wud home school, they wud get alot of home and a little bit of school. 🙁 they all liked the social aspect of school. They made friends, played softball, vollyball & other games together.
The 4 Muskateers says
We chose Homeschool for various reasons but the highest reason being that since my husband drives semi over the road during the week and home weekends (although his schedule is so flexible and sometimes hes home during the week and out the weekend which I don’t really like but we adjust) so we chose homeschooling so that when dad is home if its 1 day then no school 2 days depends and 3rd day dad does school with them :). But then when dad works the weekend we do school on the weekend (saturday) too!! It all evens out! My husband was homeschooled all of his life except for 2 years and he loved it I on the other hand went to a Christian day school all my life and just assumed thats what we’d do. When my husband asked me if I’d consider homeschooling which he prefered I told him all but kindergarden and 1st grade. He thought I could handle those too. I told him for me to teach those grades I wouldn’t feel capable of it unless we used the Abeka Dvd program for those 2 grades. He agreeded rather quickly. My children love it! Although I think they’d love school too especially my girl. We decided to put our oldest 2 through school together. I love it. Were in first grade this year and I’m not sure what well do for 2nd grade…Not alot of discussion on that yet. I’m doing my 2 youngest through CLE Preschool books and now starting some of the kindergarden stuff from Abeka with them! Thats what works for us right now but who knows…The other thing is if my husband has a local run sometimes they can go with him to run his load and if we didn’t homeschool they wouldn’t have this flexibility. My sister who homeschools her children uses CLE and loves it!! Best wishes and Happy Schooling!
Mary Otto says
We chose homeschool for a number of reasons but flexibility was the number one reason. We believe that a husband & wife should make this decision based on their situation. I am a firm believer in the Bible’s say on the matter- precept upon precept, when thou walkest by the way, etc.
I started using a phonics program from backhomeindustries.com that is excellent. We also use timeline cards from classical conversations for history teaching. Math comes from an old one room schoolhouse textbook. I just sent the pdf to a print shop and ‘voila’ my kids have Math- FREE. They really have to use their head to work thru the problems and seem to be doing well. Sentence structure, grammer, etc. is thru classical conversations. They also have science cards that I will soon be introducing.
Homeschool is a great way to go if Mom and Dad are both on board but I don’t think it’s the ONLY way.
Blessings to all…
Thankful says
We have homeschooled for 12 years. The reason being that we lived 2000 miles from family and wanted to be able to travel to see them for extended periods of time and not be tied to Christmas break and spring break. Since we are farmers summer never works for us to travel. Plus when family comes to visit we can take time off to make lots of memories. Our journey hasn’t been a easy one but for sure blessed beyond my wildest dreams (but then thats what God does). We have used a lot of different programs through the years. Some my favorites are Abeka for the phonics, Sonlight, All About Spelling, All About Reading, Teaching Textbooks for math, Apologia for science, and there are so many more good ones. I have come to LOVE homeschooling!