A Guide

There are always the questions "Where to begin? And where do I go next?" running around in my head. I'm sure many of you feel the same way! Especially if you are homeschooling, or planning to homeschool, but I also go through this with my oldest who is, at present, in public school. Education is not something I just leave to the school alone because I know my child best and I don't have the same demands or restrictions that the school and teachers do. Also because my child loves to learn and, honestly, can't handle not learning (or doing) something.

I have found something that, in looking over, I really like. It's not actually a homeschooling or even a local curricumlum. I wanted something more on level with my own child, but mostly something to guide me. This does that, although we'll be working at various levels with it, so mostly I'm using it as a guide.

It's from a private school in Chile (yes, Chile the country). However, this school teaches a US Education and is the place where the ambassadors' children attend school (as well as local Chileans and Americans). I'm providing a link for anyone who wants to take a look. You will need to click on the corresponding age group to get the run down. They start with age 3 and go through 12th grade. Click on Academic and then any of the "schools" listed. Scroll down to find the list you want.

NIDO

We are not alone

So I was at the library today. I go every Thursday for storytime and to check out new movies and books. For movies, we usually pick out a few educational ones and a few fun ones (like she is watching snow white right now (which she has never seen) but we also picked one up about tunnels (for kids) and we occasionally pick up signing ones etc...) For books, the same goes. I have been picking up some Rookie Readers. i highly recommend these for early reading. They have the words on one page and the picture on another, which is so helpful for beginners. If both the words and the pic are on the same page the child ignores the words, but when seperated (the the words are printed bigger as well) then a child can look at each word while it is being said and then look at the picture to go along with what they just read. I also have been checking out sound books. There are certain letters Liliana has a hard time with (like "R" and "CH"), so I check out the R and CH book in this one series they have here. So for CH it will read like this, "Chad checks his bedroom for checkers" or something like that and show a picture to correspond. So she repeats after me while we read it.
Now while there today I ran into another mom. I recognized her as she is also there often. it never fails that if i wear my sling people want to know where I got it and want one (it is called, The Sling Set and is sold online only). So after chatting with her about that I overheard her telling someone she homeschools. So I asked her about it. She has a 7yr. old, 5yr twins, 3yr old and a baby on the way. She had her oldest in private school (cost $2,500/yr, which really isnt too bad compared to others) and decided she didnt like what her sweet child was changing into at school (started being meaner to her siblings, bad language, etc...) so she started to homeschool. She says for all 4 children she spends $500/yr in homeschooling supplies and said she could do it cheaper if she had to. She gave me some websites where she has found her material(s). I have not even looked at the sites yet but thought I would post them here as well.

My Father's World
Rainbow Resource Center

Learning Languages

Language is a huge part of our lives. Without it, we would be lonely and frustrated. But there is no real universal language, so we embark upon the wonders of the language we are most familiar with. In our family, that would be English. However, verbal language takes longer to fully develop than many of us mothers might enjoy. I, especially, find it difficult to wait for my child to communicate without screaming without words!

I had some ASL experience as a teenager and through college, and with that knowledge and the few books I had, I started my children on sign language early on. When I say early on, I mean around 4 or 5 months, having shown them several even sooner than that. It was easy for them to pick up, and very soon we had a way to communicate the necessities!

My children love sign language, so we've continued their education in this. However, my "textbooks" and "dictionaries" could only do so much...and even they were missing lots of specific words -- namely, foods -- so we looked into several different signing programs for children. We settled on, and love, "Signing Time!" It's definitely geared to young children, they love it, and with the music, it not only teaches them signs but manners and kindness and goodness in life. It's also on PBS, so check your local PBS station for times!

The downside, if you could call it that, is that it's mostly media (DVD or VHS). This is also great, though, since the visual signing is much easier to understand and pick up then trying to "read" the signing books.

They also have books, CDs and flashcards. I'm excited about the flashcards for on the go and when we're not wanting the media involvement. Right now there are only 4 packs, but I did contact them and they will be making the rest (a pack for each DVD) after they finish filming series two.

If you go to their website, scroll down to the bottom for links to activities and print offs. Most of their site is store, so if you don't want to be tempted to buy anything, don't visit! :)

Our family is not just sticking with English and ASL, though. My husband is fluent in and teaches Spanish. Therefore, we are also teaching our children Spanish (and me as well!). I'm not sure what we'll be using to help when he's not around to encourage the practice, but as we find things we like, we'll share them with you. For now, we've taught the children many of the words through "I Spy" games, basic conversation starters, bi-lingual and completely Spanish books, jingles he uses at school, and some Church Primary Songs.

We hope to open the way to many possibilities for our children to be able to communicate with many people!