Tips for Homeschoolers, Day 3: Socialization

Socialization. It is the big, scary word that hovers over our heads. "How will your child learn socialization skills?"

Well, truth be told, children learn socialization skills from socialized people, not from other unsocialized people. In other words, a child will learn better behavior skills with mom and siblings, under most circumstances, than in a class with one adult and 30 children who are "learning socialization".

Besides, home schoolers have lots of ways to help their children experience "socialization" learning in more closely monitored situations:

• Sunday School and church youth groups;
• Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or other organizations for boys and girls including 4-H; 
  
  
• Home school group co-ops;
  
• home school support group field trips; 
  
• sports teams  
  

In our school years, my children and I:

• visited a dairy farm;
• went roller skating, ice skating, skiing; 
  
• attended Denver Pops (Denver Symphony program for tots);
• took gymnastics and ballet lessons; 
  
• participated in co-op craft classes;
• hiked in the Rockies and saw wild dahl sheep and mountain goats;
• went to White Sands, NM;
• went to Disney World;
• visited elderly in nursing homes;
• took horse back riding lessons;
• worked with llamas on a llama farm;
• took violin/flute lessons; 
  
• played soccer/volleyball;softball;
• participated in President's Physical Fitness program;
• participated in Missionettes and Awanas; 
  
• hiked the C&O Canal; 
  
• visited the White House;
• went for a ride on a pontoon boat;
• went to a glass-blowing factory;
• went to Denver Zoo; Denver Museum of Natural History; Denver's Children's Museum;
• went to Smithsonian Museums of Art, Natural History, History, Air and Space;
• went to the Ben Franklin Museum, Ben Franklin House, Liberty Bell;
  
   
• visited the Washington Monument;
• visited the National Zoo in DC, the Catoctin Zoo in MD, Sea World in FL;
• visited Mount Vernon, Valley Forge;
• visited New York City; 
  
• visited Plymouth, MA;
• visited Ft. Christmas, FL; 
  
• visited Jamestown and Williamsburg; 
  
• visited Manassas and Stone Bridge;
• visited Stone Mountain, GA;
• visited Gettysburg and Harper's Ferry; 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• participated in 4-H; 
  
• participated in Keepers at Home, Ambassadors, Gems, and Boy Scouts, Boy Scout summer camping trips; 
  
• participated in Civil Air Patrol; 
  
• visited Maine and stayed at a blueberry farm and picked wild blueberries; 
  
• visited Prince Edward Island and the haunts of Anne of Green Gables;
• visited Chincoteague and the haunts of Misty of Chincoteague; 
  
• visited Assateague and the wild ponies; went clamming;
• fished off Assateague and Chincoteague;
• visited lots of light houses; 
  
• went to Space Camp in Titusville, FL; 
  
• went to Groton Connecticut and visited submarine; 
  
• on a separate trip, camped on The New Jersey;
• went to Boy Scout camporee at New Market, VA;
• set out luminarios for Christmas at Antietam Battle Field;
• went caving in Virginia;
• visited Cabbage Patch Doll Factory in Georgia (?); 
  
• participated in local and regional spelling bees; 
  
• participated in science fairs and history fairs; 
  
• took Biology, Anatomy, Latin, Spanish, Chemistry and Geometry as outside classes;
• took history, literature and composition, and art as co-op classes, another child took co-op classes of PE, chemistry and metal working; 
  
• took on-line classes;
• took a Landry Intensives class on Biology labs (dissections);
• took a 4-H class on nutrition, another on vet science, another on electricity and built a jar lamp, yet another on dog training; 
  
• marched in local 4-H Parades, Labor Day Parade, Independence Day Parade, St. Patrick's Day Parade; 
  
• assisted at Andrew's Air Force Base open house; 
  
• went on mission's trips to Mexico; 
  
• went to Europe with co-op, visited England, Rome, Greece, Paris... 
  
  
  
  

So, in truth, the advice I would give about "Socialization" that I would stress most strenuously is:

Be extremely selective in what you opt to have your children participate in!

If you are not careful, you can find yourself spending your life on the go. When you evaluate later you might find your children are not where they should be in math, reading, spelling, etc. (Don't ask me how I know...) School at home can take much less time that at the government institution, but learning occurs best when teaching in foundational subjects occurs daily. Many children learn best without a lot of distraction, as in sitting in a quiet home.

In our home, for our sanity, we generally allowed two outside non-church activities per child, if they were the same like 4-H or Gems, or one per child if they were different, like one child took violin and one took flute lessons. Nevertheless we often did too much. Only two children, for certain years, yet there was 4-H Dog Training and Gems Monday, youth care group Tuesday, 4-H Wednesday (once a month meeting), worship team practice Thursday, adult care group Friday, weekly violin and flute lessons during the day, co-op on Wednesday and Friday, special needs classes and Spanish on Tuesday/Thursday... My youngest couldn't potty train til age 3-1/2 because I was always in the car! 

Then there was drivers' training and an outside job for the older one... I was glad when we started to pare back on our activities. Then our older ones started driving to their own activities. And now there is only one student and only one child in our home. With only one we can do more, but we are still careful. Right now it is Boy Scouts Monday, CAP Thursday, and a college class Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Again, be careful. It takes a lot to home school. There is a balance to achieve between academics and outside activities and field trips. If you can't still manage housework, laundry, meals and dishes, adjustments need to be made. Sometimes it means your kids aren't doing enough chores... Which is my topic for tomorrow!

I invite you to get a fresh hot cup of your beverage of choice and then peruse these other blogs that are also participating in 5 Days of Tips for Homeschoolers:

• Jeniffer @ Thou Shall Not Whine
• Jennifer @ A Peace of Mind
• Jennifer @ Faithful Homestead
• Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
• Joesette @ Learning Curve
• Kari @ Random Acts of Boyhood
• Katie @ Katie's Daily Life
• Kemi @ Homemaking Organized
• Kim @ Homestead Acres
• Kylie @ Our Worldwide Classroom

Tips for Homeschoolers, Day 2: Getting Started

As I began my first year of homeschooling, I had a five year old, a two year old, and no money.

For Kindergarten, my understanding was and is that the government saw "socialization" as the main goal for the five-year-olds as they started their long journey through government indoctrination. I did not want a government education for my children. We had hung around the playground of the elementary school briefly, and I was shocked at the foul language! And this was 25 years ago! But my husband did not think I had the discipline to home school successfully, and we couldn't afford a private school.

We got a reprieve the first year, though, because my daughter turned five the day after the cut-off, so to attend public school she had to wait a year. However, with no structure to our home learning and play, she was bored to tears and making me crazy. In January, with my husband's consent, we began what I considered home schooling Kindergarten. My husband figured that if I "failed", our daughter would just start public school in September.

I had an understanding, from conversations with other parents, that for kindergarten (at that time and in the Denver area) the children learned their letters, numbers, colors and shapes. I also planned to teach her to read. I checked The Writing Road to Reading, by Romalda Spaulding, out from our local Denver library, read it cover to cover, and made my own phonics flash cards to use.

Kindergarten went well; we called ourselves done in June. My daughter was already reading! We never looked back. Today I will share with you tips I learned along the way. If you have already decided you will home school, I am assuming you have prayed about it and consulted your spouse. If you believe this is the direction you are going to take, continue to pray, and move forward intentionally.

Since I began homeschooling I have seen some great resources to help new home schoolers that you might find helpful. The first was by Homeschooling ABCs by Knowledge Quest Maps. I reviewed it with the Crew in 2008 on HomeschoolBlogger.com, but that doesn't exist any more and my review no longer exists.

I can also recommend Successful Homeschooling Made Easy.

1. Learn the law and comply with it. HSLDA has a page to help you get started. 
2. Learn about various home school styles and decided which one(s) you think will fit your home school: Classical, Charlotte Mason, Traditional, eclectic (a combination), etc. 
3. Learn about learning styles. Figure out which style(s) seems to fit your child(ren). Knowing this can help you adjust the method(s) you plan to use to help your child(ren) learn the best way possible, the way that fits him or her best: auditory, visual, tactile, etc. Be aware that your natural tendency will be to teach according to your own learning style, which will not necessarily be the way your child is best able to learn.
4. Make a plan or a skeleton plan, and keep a record of everything you do that can be remotely considered "school".
   
   My home schooling began in Colorado -- love those home school laws! Now I am in Maryland where it is specified that I demonstrate that I have offered regular instruction in Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Music, Art, Physical Education and Health (even though the public schools don't do all these in every grade!). Because I chose to receive oversight by a church school rather than a government representative, I also need demonstrate that we cover Bible. A planner is essential! I created a Word document planner a long time ago that you can have HERE, but if you want a paper printed out, it costs about the same to buy a printed planner. If you buy a printed planner, you end up writing everything out by hand, and sometimes make mistakes that require correction fluid. Here are planners I have tried: The Ultimate Homeschool Planner, by Apologia; Hey Mama! Planner, by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine; The Homeschooler's Journal; Home School Planet, by the Homeschool Buyer's Co-op; Homeschool Office, by Lord Heritage.  
   
5. Recognize that "home school" is now your primary job during the day. Put it first; do it first. Never neglect it. In the beginning, with one child, it can take one to four hours a day (when you are counting everything you can as school, such as looking at a leaf, going for a walk, reading a book, making cookies... There is still time for house work -- sorting the laundry you can teach colors and "home economics"! 
6. Do not schedule appointments for doctor, dentist, eye doctor, physical therapy or hair cuts during school hours. Do school first and schedule your appointment for 2:00 or later.
7. Less important now than then, but be cautious about going out during school hours to go grocery shopping or other errands with school-aged kids. Even just yesterday at the doctor's my 16-year-old was asked, "Not in school today?" Usually doctors at least figure the kid was taken out of school for the doctor's appointment, but not this office.
8. Take advantage of FREE. Use library books. Scour the Internet. For math manipulatives (counters) I saved milk jug lids. We made sidewalk chalk from egg shells! We did Science experiments from library books. 
9. Find a local support group that is a comfortable fit for you. Support groups encourage you and also provide group opportunities for field trips, co-ops, standardized testing, used curriculum sales, curriculum advice and many other helpful things.
10. Go on field trips you can afford and manage.
11. Manage your schedule carefully so that you don't do so many fun outside activities that you aren't working on "readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmatic".

In my state we are required to create a portfolio to demonstrate that we are teaching in the following subject areas for grades K-8: Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Art, Music, Physical Education and Health. In college we teach to the state's requirements for high school graduation. There is so much more available to use now compared to when I started in 1992, but it all costs money.

Since 2008 I have been getting a lot of home school materials for free in exchange for a review of the product in my blog. I do this as part of The Schoolhouse Review Crew. You could consider doing this, too! In the meantime, keep following my blog! The Old Schoolhouse is letting me give away three of their digital products during the month of April to my readers! I will let you know soon what those products will be!

This blog post is Day 2 of Tips for Homeschoolers. I invite you to grab a fresh cuppa java and click on over to visit these other blogs that are also participating in 5 Days of Tips for Homeschoolers:

• Dawn @ Double O Farms
• Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool
• Debbie @ Debbie's Homeschool Corner
• Desiree @ Our Homeschool Notebook
• Diana @ Busy Homeschool Days
• Elyse @ Oiralinde: Eternal Song
• Emilee @ Pea of Sweetness
• Erin @ For Him and My Family
• Jen @ Chestnut Grove Academy

Menu Monday for 3/28/16

Am starting a cleansing diet (Monday) to try to determine food sensitivities. I will be eating vegan for two weeks, all whole foods. Meats and processed foods you see in the plan are for my family.

Saturday (3/26):  

B: 3 eggs scrambled w/spinach

L: chicken salad

D: spaghetti, salad, knots (spiralized zucchini)

Sunday (3/27):

B: 3 eggs scrambled w/spinach

L: leftovers

D: rib roast, scalloped potatoes, green beans, rolls

Monday (3/28):

B: blueberry morning

L: broccoli soup, tabouli

D: chicken, potatoes, Brussel sprouts [(½)green soup, roasted rosemary sweet potatoes,]

Tuesday (3/29):

B: the green cleaner

L: broccoli soup (leftovers)

D: ham steak, zucchini pasta with pesto, sweet potato fries

Wednesday (3/30):

B: blueberry morning

L: Rockin’ Morrocan warm salad

D: tomato and lentil dahl soup,

Thursday (3/31):

B: green revolution

L:  fresh veggie stir fry

D: lasagna roll-ups [rawsagne]

Friday (4/1):

B: creamy zingy limey smoothie

L: chick pea and kale bowl

D: cream of tomato soup, grilled cheese

Tips for Home Schoolers, Day 1: The Early Years

My first thought for the early years would be that you are teaching your children right from the beginning.

You bring the new one home, and for awhile you are just surviving! They eat; they sleep; they cry; they need diaper changes. I just wanted to hold that precious bundle non-stop! I learned to be firm with myself and set her down, though, so I could shower, dress, eat, do laundry... My first baby spoiled me -- she was such a good baby!

As the months go by, baby begins to take on personality. I took Kristin with me everywhere and talked to her constantly. And she began to talk back! Her first word was, "Duck!", and it was followed by a barrage of verbal growth. The pediatrician was amazed and asked me to write a list of her words, which I did -- it is probably still in a file somewhere.

There are books that can tell you developmental milestones -- I found these books helpful. And one point they observe. There is teething and chewing on things. There is a "Peek-a-boo!" stage where they literally think you have disappeared when they don't see your face! There is a "fill the bucket" stage, then a "fill and dump" stage, then a shape sorting stage. There are wooden chunky puzzles and drawing in sand. All these stages are part of their education, and you should be right in there doing these activities with your toddler. And, of course, the reading to them should start early, like six months or so.

Then along comes another baby, and big brother or big sister suddenly becomes your helper! Kristin wasn't even three yet, but I could get her willing help most of the time to get a diaper or a book.    

I loved the early years! You might think of them as "pre-school". It is all important. So in the early years we played a lot. I also went to the library a lot. I found two great resources that I loved: Help! I have a Pre-Schooler! from Focus on the Family publishing, and Slow and Steady, Get them Ready, with ideas to do from birth.

I still remember, from Help! days with the assignment, "Pop corn, cocoa and a movie together". One day we made squish or goop in a zip lock bag. One day we blew up a baloon and covered it with newspaper paper mache. We painted it and I took whips from our weeping willow tree and wove a basket for a hot air balloon. Never finished it... We made home made play doughs of all types from recipes from another book - cotton dough, silly putty, Kool Aid dough. We made molassas cookie ornaments for the Christmas tree. ::sigh:: the dog ate them.

We took lots of field trips. We got a one year membership to the Denver Zoo and went once a month. We visited newborn goats. We went to the Amy Farm which was a historic dairy farm -- they taught us how to make butter from cream. We went to the Old Town Littleton - a functioning historic park. We visited Tiny Town, a town of miniature houses. We visited the Denver Museum of Natural History. We visited Chatfield dam and swam at Denver's "beach". We picked pumpkins.

I loved to have the girls make a necklace of Fruit Loops on gimp for long trips -- unhealthy and sticky, but fun. And I read to them lots!

As my daughter approached kindergarten age, I worked with her on letters, numbers, counting, shapes, sizes, patterns and such. She was so smart! It was hard to stay ahead of her! 

We loved to go for nature walks. We learned the call of the red-winged blackbird. The Denver area has magpies, and the zoo had peacocks. We also loved to pull off the road and watch the prairie dogs in their little colonies.

My daughter got a hamster and we had fun with that. Our dog died, old age. We let our other daughter get a lop-eared rabbit, and we bred her. We also had a tank of tropical fish and saw our black mollies and tuxedo sword fish reproduce.

I would cook, and I would let my girls help. They loved it. 

I engaged my girls to help me with chores. Laundry had to go down two flights of stairs. They would help me, and when all was to the basement they were allowed to jump in the laundry pile! I used cloth diapers, and we hung them outside on a line. The girls would hand them to me to hang. Every night we learned that if we cleaned up the family room before daddy walked into it from the garage, he was a much happier daddy, so we made that a daily shared task.

My girls were young before the day of computers. I still had to use discipline not to let electronics be a baby sitter. My girls loved to watch movies for hours, like Lady and the Tramp!

The early years are wonderful years. I know they are a lot of work, but try to use these years to have fun! 

This is Day 1 of Tips for Home Schoolers. Other home schoolers are writing posts on tips, too, so grab yourself another hot cup of coffee and check out some more posts below!

• Annette @ A Net In Time
• Brandy @ Kingdom Academy Homeschool
• Brenda @ Counting Pinecones
• Carol @ Home Sweet Life
• Cassandra @ A Glimpse of Normal
• Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
• Cristi @ Through the Calm and Through the Storm
• Crystal @ Crystal Starr
• DaLynn @ Biblical Womanhood
• Danielle @ Sensible Whimsy