With your creativity, I bet you could put together a thorough curriculum on your own and not come any where close to $800 per child.  There are so many free resources out there, plus community resources - if anyone can figure this out, it's you!

Good luck!  I've been thinking about this a lot lately, but haven't had anything happen to push me over the edge.  

With your creativity, I bet you could put together a thorough curriculum on your own and not come any where close to $800 per child.  There are so many free resources out there, plus community resources - if anyone can figure this out, it's you!

Good luck!  I've been thinking about this a lot lately, but haven't had anything happen to push me over the edge.  

Aw thank you Depending on how it goes we may stay with the free one. It goes up to 8th grade and the kids really like it so far

Oh my, I'm glad you finally found something to keep yourself busy :-0.

Congratulations! Sounds like you made the best decision for your family!  Have you checked out the HSLDA website to learn homeschooling laws in your state?  Box curriculums save my sanity and the company we use is WAY less than $800 a kid!  I completely understand not wanting to buy a year for only a few months, though.  And free is always good if it is working for you!

Does Mommy have to study, too, to be a teacher?  (Meaning, do the homeschool kits come with a "teacher's guide?") 

It sounds like something heavy went down at the elementary school.  Glad you made the decision that works best for your family.

Oh my, I'm glad you finally found something to keep yourself busy :-0.

lol you know what they say about idle hands

Congratulations! Sounds like you made the best decision for your family!  Have you checked out the HSLDA website to learn homeschooling laws in your state?  Box curriculums save my sanity and the company we use is WAY less than $800 a kid!  I completely understand not wanting to buy a year for only a few months, though.  And free is always good if it is working for you!

We have sent in our rush application to HSLDA and spoke to them this morning.

Does Mommy have to study, too, to be a teacher?  (Meaning, do the homeschool kits come with a "teacher's guide?") 

 

It sounds like something heavy went down at the elementary school.  Glad you made the decision that works best for your family.

Usually yeah there is some mom study time to figure out what you are doing, how to explain it, and then grading and such. Right now luckily I can cover their subjects on my own When they get to algebra and geometry I will need some serious study time myself

We are our children's best advocate.  I know you have made the right choice for your family.  Not all school districts or schools are equal and it is really sad.  That comes from someone that works in a public school; I see parents facing this choice occasionally.  I can see how it is a hard decision especially at the age of children were I work (middle school).  

With the implementation of the Common Core curriculum in our state; things have gone from bad to worse especially in the elementary schools.  I have to say I am glad I no longer have children in public (K-12) schools.  Have one in a state college though!

Just to add I do love my job (Secretary).  I like working with the kids and parents (most of the time!!).  I would urge you to know the laws in your state for homeschools.  

 I would urge you to know the laws in your state for homeschools.  

Trust me I have gotten a crash course over the weekend

Trust me I have gotten a crash course over the weekend

That is good.  We have had a couple students return to us after our state shut down their parents home school due to not following the rules.  Not real clear on what happened...I thought our state was usually pretty lenient on them.  I guess not!

Amy, I've been homeschooling 20+ years.  Do drop a line if you have a question, want to vent, anything. 

I home schooled for 15 years in NJ. If you need anything, yell.

That is good.  We have had a couple students return to us after our state shut down their parents home school due to not following the rules.  Not real clear on what happened...I thought our state was usually pretty lenient on them.  I guess not!

Our state is pretty easy. We don't even have to report that we are homeschooling but we did to make things easier with the school (ha). There are no standardize tests or attendance sheets. If legal action is taken we have to show that the kids are getting an "equivalent level of education" beyond a reasonable doubt to a judge. So we are doing a notebook for each girl. Each day is a new sheet of paper where they record each subject done, what they did, their grade, etc. Seems the simplest way to keep track of it all.

I'm excited for you because I know you wanted to do this. I just wish it had come about in a more peaceful way...

I home schooled for 15 years in NJ. If you need anything, yell.

I will for sure Thanks

Yay for a great first day! Enjoy and have fun - learning/teaching is a blast IMHO!!!

I'm sorry it had to come to this but I wish you luck in your new adventure

There will be bad days.  You will look at your children and think "'One phone call' and you would be back in school" (Well, I didn't have a truly bad experience with schools so maybe you WON'T think that - but I have had my days)  And sure I would like to have done some things better (don't we all at some point in our parenting journey) but I can't even begin to imagine what it would look like to NOT homeschool.  I love being with them all the time.  And you get to sleep in.

You certainly will have your hands full, but I don't have any doubt that you can make it work. Sorry your DD had a bad experience that led to this.

I hope that you won't be taking on too much since your son requires so much of your time.  I worry about you being overwhelmed, especially after your husband deploys.  If you had an issue with the teacher or principal at the old school, couldn't you just switch your children to a different school?  Are there any special resources at the school that your daughters were getting that you will have difficulty replacing--be it language or music therapists, for example? 

I have to admit I'm worried as well. Not judging homeschooling itself, just worried about how you will be able to do that with your son's special needs AND your husband deploying. You really are going to need some help!

Actually we have scheduled school for nap times. So we have free time in the mornings, then lunch. I get the little ones to sleep then we have 3 hours for hands on school. Then I have them do some reading for another 20min before bed. 

Our son will be starting daycare twice a week soon. There is a developmental daycare here that has room for him. The therapists and medical social worker think it would be a good fit for him. He will be able to stair step up into his full day all day program in April.

As for another school there isn't one. There are 3 elementary schools in this district. One is pre-k to kindergarten only. One is 1st grade to 2nd grade only. One is kindergarten to 4th grade. My 4th grader has no where else to go except out of district and they would never approve that just because of issues with the principle. The woman called the police on us TWICE for just challenging what she was saying.

Our oldest daughter is the special needs child and she was mainstreamed this year. No special services at all, she did get some modifications on standardized testing but as home schoolers we don't have to worry about that. Now that she is home she will be working with a behavioral therapist once a week. There were no after school options for her but we can get someone to come work with her during nap time no problem

Hubby and I agreed that we will finish out this semester at home and then reevaluate this fall.  It was my idea and I am willing to find ways to make it work. When the principle makes it clear that she is "allowing" you to have custody of your children there is no trust left.

Seriously though if I have time to come on the computer and check LLNOE, Facebook, or any other site I have time to waste

Sounds like you made the proper choice for your family at this time.

Hugs and Prayers

whoa - that is pretty intense.  dealing with THAT attitude when sending your kids to school takes way more energy than homeschooling. and once the kids are independent readers/learners they can do some work on their own.