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Below is my story of why we chose to homeschool our children.
If you'd like to view curriculum and supplements that we have used,
are using or will use, please visit my curriculum page.
I also have a homeschooling website which you can visit -
Classical Education 4 Me -
it contains lots of resources for educating children.
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I want to welcome you into my home as you take a little peek into our lives! My husband and I have been married since 1990. Our daughter, Jenna (born 1993), is hearing impaired and our son, Ian (born 1995), was formally diagnosed with ADHD and high-functioning autism before beginning Kindergarten. We never thought about homeschooling until we had to deal with the public school and how THEY dealt with children with special needs. Both children then attended private school before we decided that homeschooling was actually the best choice for them. We began homeschooling in January 2002. Even though they have medical issues, both children are gifted and working above grade level in most subjects.
Our typical day begins around 8am with both kids working to get some basics done first. After a short snack break at 10am, it's back to checking the schedule to see what work is left to finish. Then it's time lunch! After lunch, we finish up whatever is left and aim to be done by 2pm. The kids then get some free time while I hop on the computer to get some TOS work done! My husband is wonderful about pitching in with the housework in the evenings when needed - he is also a "walking encyclopedia" which helps when the kids ask a question to which I do not know the answer!
What I have finally come up with is an eclectic approach that uses "the best of the best" from the Classical and Charlotte Mason methods. We also like to use unit studies. My daughter doesn't have any special needs, but my son needs short lessons and is not keen on hands-on projects due to small motor skills deficiencies. Math that I have found works well with him is Math-U-See. Jenna is has also started using Math-U-See when she encountered some difficulties with Saxon. Science programs we enjoy are listed on this page. The kids will use the Apologia science series during middle school and high school. If I like different things about several curricula, I will combine them to teach a concept thoroughly.
For Language Arts, Daily Grams and Basic Cozy Grammar are our favorite choices. Both curriculum have quick lessons, are to-the-point and fun! Spelling Power is my hands-down favorite spelling program. I have adapted it to work with my children. For my son, we study spelling orally instead of writing everything down. Both kids are good spellers and Spelling Power allows the kids to only study those words that they do not know well. I am using The Five Finger Paragraph to teach writing this year - this program has taken the fear out of teaching writing! Departing from the Classical Method just a bit, I have chosen to only focus on having the children learn Latin and Greek roots. We use the Rummy Roots card game, Roots & Fruits and Vocabulary from the Classical Roots to accomplish this. Jenna has decided that she wants to learn French and so we are beginning The Easy French program this year.
Although my first concern is that the children know their 3 R's, our History studies are important to me. I hated history when I was in public school, so I try to find ways to make it interesting for the children. I usually have a book that I am reading aloud to the children and they love this part of our day. They will be reading books on their own, too, and I'll be using a curriculum as our spine to be sure that we stay on target to learn what needs to be learned. It probably sounds like overkill to be using so many sources, but you have to remember that I do NOT use everything, only the little bits and pieces that are valuable to us.
A new supplemental item that I use in our homeschool is The Home Educator's Tutor, a quarterly publication, which covers Bible, music and art appreciation, poetry, character building and more - What a wonderful resource this has been for me. The kids also take karate lessons each week and we are members of a local homeschool co-op group and their 4-Him 4-H Club. I think our best resource is our home library that lets us have a good book at a moment's notice. I also feel blessed that we live next door to three other homeschooling families - it's so nice to have built-in friends for my children each afternoon!
Even though homeschooling wasn't my FIRST choice method of educating my children, I am very thankful that I was led down that path. Both children are able to proceed at their own pace and still have time to pursue their own interests. I used to question why BOTH of my kids have special needs, but I know now that this was God's way of making sure my children are educated at home. We are all right where we are supposed to be!
It is my hope that you will find something useful here on my site!
I currently enjoy the privilege of being able to stay at home
to homeschool my children and I am always striving to be
the best caretaker for my precious family.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."
~ Philippians 4:13 ~
Website owned and all Content Copyrighted by Kris Price.
All Rights Reserved. © 2006.
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