homeschool successfully

My homeschooler just started back in public school and is doing great. I’m calling this one done.

I’m not going to be doing this forever, but in the meantime I want to accomplish as much as possible with my kids. After three years I’m starting to feel the burnout everyone kept talking about…

I suppose it’s time to mark this one complete, as I’ve met with the portfolio evaluator, turned the sample into the district and filed an affidavit for next year.

• tadpoles/frogs, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikaelamartin/sets/72157605847540890/.
• math/construction, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikaelamartin/sets/72157606034986827/.

I’ll sign up to do this thing again if the monster decides to homeschool in 08-09.

PA says we need to get this done by the end of the month—eep! Better get on it this week :)

My monster mulled it over and made the decision to finish up this school year at home. Now it’s on to the to-do lists:

• get a binder for the portfolio
• decide on record-keeping for materials/books lists
• decide on record-keeping for attendance
• write a list of goals (m and ac)
• identify topics of interest
• review this, http://school.familyeducation.com/fifth-grade/middle-school/36069.html
• write letter to school

I’d like to get this done as soon as possible to officially start homeschooling next Monday.

I wrote a telecommuting proposal for my boss, which was accepted. I filed the homeschooling affidavit with the school district. I spoke with the administrators at school. At almost this exact time in four days, we will offer my monster an option to be homeschooled. He’ll have until Monday to make a decision. This is really happening.

I really need to spend some more time on this one. Ugh. Something’s got to give before his little spirit is completely broken.

I’ve been homeschooling my 2 boys 3 years now since the older one was 3. They are ahead of the game. The older boy should have just entered kindergarten, but he is halfway through 1st. My littler one is just 3, but he reads pretty well already.

I just get so frustrated though. I don’t understand how other people do it. How does anyone keep their house clean, and their kids homeschooled, and maintain their sanity all at the same time??? My boys get plenty of sleep, but do 1/3 of a days work, (a full day is 1 1/2 hours, 2 at most if we have an art project)and they need a nap. Does this happen to other people? If I get a full day’s school in, my housework suffers. If I manage to get both covered, I am mentally a mess, and do very poorly the next day.

It would be nice to have some support in this, but hubby doesn’t seem to think homeschooling is a good idea in the first place. He seems to think successful homeschooling is an oxymoron. I think I turned out just fine, but hubby seems to think that public schools teach “street smarts” and “work ethic”, and maybe they do, but they don’t measure up in so many other ways, that I can’t bear to stick my children in one.

Well, here’s hoping I can do it well…

My son just informed me that he no longer wants to be homeschooled. Instead, he wants to move from his small charter school to the gigantic, mind-erasing, factory-like middle school.

I’m conflicted. If my whole objective is to let him make his own decisions, how can I not allow him to go? Ugh.

We did it! We started homeschooling last month and so far it has been successful. The kids are much more disciplined at home and more willing to learn.