Homeschooling

Question: Unschooling a kindergartener?

My son is not doing well in kindergarten. He didn't show very many of the "signs of readiness" for school anyway. He was in a special ed preschool (a wonderful program!) for 2 years for developmental delays, and they tested him for autism but he was "borderline" on their scale. He is now in a mainstream class.

I'm seriously considering removing him from school after Christmas break and Homeschooling for the rest of the year.
He is a very hands-on learner and I would much rather teach him through games and crafts than worksheets from a curriculum. Has anyone NOT used a curriculum with a kindergartener? How did it work? How do you know they are learning what they need to be?

Answer: First who makes the rules and laws on what exactly they have to learn by a certain age? I say pull him out if he isn't thriving in this environment. You are the parent here and you need to do what works for your child. You shouldn't allow society, the school system, or anyone for that matter corner or bully you into thinking that Traditional or special ed classes are best for your son. Do they really know him like you do? I hope you can say NO WAY! Pull him out.

I have a 5 1/2 year old daughter and we do what they call Unschooling. She basically learns everything they learn in a traditional school, but without all the workbooks, testing, crowds, stress, etc.

How do I know she is learning- well that is easy. You can look at my child and really listen to what she talks about and know that she is learning. She is brighter than most of the other 5 year olds that go to schools around here, I hear it all the time from other people that she is bright and knows so much. etc. Plus I just know my daughter well enough and in tune to what she hasn't learned and has. I have become a very good observer. These things come in time. It might have helped that I am a former K-3rd grade Teacher and Preschool Teacher and Director.

I take the time each day to read to her, let her play video games at night with Daddy which she is learning all kinds of math and reasoning skills, cooking and journaling our experiences, taking photos, spending time outdoors and talking and seeing nature, exploring, spending a lot of time on art activities- open ended. Art is all about expressing yourself and not following the rules on this one area. Allow your child to do what they want to do in the area of arts.

I am big on the basics Reading, Writing, and Math, but all the other areas I am more relaxed in. Knowing the basics is very important and they can and will learn it if given the proper tools and guidance.

You don't have to spend a ton of money. Some people homeschool on nothing and other spend a lot. It really depends on what your child likes. For us she loves Art so we spend lots of money on things she enjoys.

Spending quiet uninterrupted time is so very important. This is something that is sorely lacking in the schools these days. I remember the days where I would go to the school library and be able to sit there quietly for atleast 45-1 hour and do nothing, but look at the books. Kids are lucky if they get to visit the school library once a week or every other week and only pick out a few books to take home. Very sad.

People do not know better. They have been brainwashed into believing that Public schools are acceptable. They are not. They are far from acceptable. There are very few good schools out there left. Those you usually find in very small rural towns where they actually treat their neighbors with respect and know how important it is to Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Good luck with your little guy. Do your research. Allow him some time to Deschool. Don't start him onto anything until this next school year. Let him have this time to explore his world and feel free to be a child and to have time to catch up. Don't be in such a rush to "Keep up with the Jones". Life is too short to be worrying about what everyone else is doing and what their kids are doing. Who in the heck cares. You want your child to grow up to be a productive and happy adult. Who in the heck cares if he is in the top 3rd percentile of his graduating class. In the whole scheme of things it doesn't mean a thing. Only shallow people care about those things. Let him a choose a vocation that he will love and enjoy doing when he is older and not push him to do things he has no interest in.

I could go on and on, but I won't.

Let him be a child. They grow up so quickly and you will never get this time back ever again. You have one shot so make it good.

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