Kindergarten Decision

Todd and I have been spending time over the last few months researching and praying about different directions we could go with kindergarten next year for our Grace.  You can read about our options and thoughts in my previous posts, Kindergarten Contemplations Part I and Part II. 

I’m so thankful that I wrote about it on my blog, because I received  lots of great feedback and access to resources as a result!  I appreciate that tremendously!

And the decision is….drumroll….I WILL HOMESCHOOL!

There, I said it.  It’s official.  Whew.  I’m glad to have a decision, and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around what it means for our little family.

Just of a few of the many emotions/adjectives that are running rampant through my brain are:

excited, scared, crazy, relieved, curious, happy, confident, hesitant

Anyone that has faced the possibility of homeschool has probably felt many of the same things.  The first two emotions are the most pronounced at the moment.

I’m excited because:

• I get to spend time with my little girl instead of sending her off to school every day!
• I truly believe that Grace will enjoy it.  She loves to do school at home and always asks me to do it more often. 
• It’s a new challenge.  And I love new challenges.
• I can tailor my program to exactly what she needs considering her learning style, abilities, interests, etc.
• There is a whole new world of homeschool families and resources that we will meet and grow to love.
• Grace will be a part of the Travis Academy of Fine Arts.
• I feel that God will bless our efforts to educate our daughter at home.

I’m scared because:

• I want to do a good job, but I don’t always feel confident.
• What if I forget to teach her something?
• The responsibility of homeschool lessens opportunities for earning money through sewing, cake decorating, etc. and increases expenses for curriculum, TAFA, organized sports, membership expenses, etc.
• I’m a procrastinator by nature, and I just CAN’T be that way and be an effective home educator.

All things considered, the promise I am holding close to my heart through this decision comes from Proverbs 22:6:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Our prayer is that we are making a decision that will bless our daughter, our family, and give honor to our Lord.  I also take comfort in the fact that the decision to homeschool for kindergarten next year does not mean we are stuck on that path for the next 13 years.  Thankfully, public school and other charter schools are options that we feel comfortable considering if homeschool does not work out for whatever reason.

I haven’t made any solid decisions yet about curriculum, but I’m leaning toward Saxon for math.  When I worked at the elementary school level, I remember our math teachers complementing Saxon very highly.  It is very systematic, building concepts and reinforcing learning along the way.  There are lots of hands-on activities with manipulatives and practice.  I also like that there are frequent assessments to measure learning.

For language arts/reading, I’m looking at Sonlight, Saxon, Lifepac, and Horizons.  I’ve still got a lot of research to do on this.

I’ll probably use supplements from my local Mardel homeschool supply store for resources relating to science, history, and geography. 

Now that we’ve made the decision to homeschool, I’d appreciate any recommendations on curriculum from any homeschool moms out there!  Positive recommendations or concerns through your experience…

Thanks for the continued prayers as I prepare for this exciting new journey!