Homeschooling

At what age did you start

Being more structured with homeschooling? And how many days a week/ hours a day did you do? I plan to homeschool dd, and I do want to get more structured about it. My ticker is wrong, ( don't know how...) she is 2.5. She already knows her alphabet,most colors, can count to about 15 and she knows a lot of shapes, so I am not sure where to start. I have some projects I plan to do for the upcoming holidays. Other than that, I don't know where to begin. I plan to go to a homeschooling convention in a few months, maybe I should hold off until then, since I will also be working a lot less.

Re: At what age did you start

  • wifeofadamwifeofadam member
    edited October 2013
    It depends on the kid, I think.  I started formal lessons with my oldest when he turned five.  Prior to that we did "unschooling" - if he was interested in something I would print off some sheets or go to the library to get books about the subject to read to him, but I didn't plan or purchase curriculum for him.  When he turned five I started with formal math and phonics lessons.  By 5.5 I had purchased curriculum for other subjects.

    With DS2, he started doing the other subjects with DS1 when he was 4.5,  So he actually started formal lessons a bit earlier, but I'm not really pushing him.  He has days where he has absolutely no interest in sitting down and working with me, so I let him go play and do his own thing.  When he turns five I'll start with a formal math and phonics curriculum with him if he's ready, but he's definitely not as eager to learn from books like my first was, so he may be closer to 5.5 if we start and he isn't cooperating.

    DD1 is a lot like my oldest and likes reading books and working with me.  She's 2.5 now and I have her sit at the table with us.  She enjoys doing whatever her older brothers are doing so I sometimes print off worksheets for her to do.  I sometimes work on letters or numbers with her but I am in no way going to do any formal curricula with her until she is much older.  It's not because I think it's wrong (I would do it if she was the oldest), it's just that I don't have the time to do it with the older boys' stuff taking priority.  She observes our science experiments and does our arts and crafts with us, so she is participating and learning, but it's sort of just by default.

    I guess to answer your question - since she's your oldest and you have the time, why not start as soon as you think she's ready?  I wouldn't force her to do things she doesn't enjoy, but if doing some worksheets or fun experiments is fun for her and she is getting things out of it, you really can't lose!  I would just save yourself the money and not buy anything yet.  You could teach her for free easily using stuff from online.

    ETA - I forgot to answer time.  At age five we start doing formal lessons three days a week for about 1.5-2 hours a day.  We also start with music lessons twice a week for 15 minutes each lesson and then practice for about 15 minutes 4-5 nights a week.  They can handle that without burnout.

    DS1 is starting more difficult work (1-2 grade stuff) and we are finding we need more time, so after the holidays I am going to start working with him for an additional 30-60 minutes each day (3 days a week) on his lessons.  They do work on their off days, but it isn't formal - it's reading books, going on nature walks, baking lessons, and stuff like that.
        
  • Sorry, I totally start rambling and forget to answer the original question.  You also asked where to start.  If she already knows numbers and letters, I think your next step is to start working on letter sounds.  Once she masters letter sounds, I would get a simple phonics workbook and maybe some CVC flashcards and go from there.  Once she starts reading simple words you can look into some phonics curricula.  For math, if she knows numbers, work on getting her to count to 100.  I wouldn't focus on math too much for now, but maybe get her some pattern blocks and let her play with them.  Work on recognizing patterns, learning shapes, and stuff like that.  For the most part though, I would just get outside with her as much as you can and let her observe nature, ask questions, and find things that interest her.  One simple question from her can spark an entire lesson that you could draw out for weeks.
        
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  • We started a bit more structured when she turned four. This past fall is when we really started "school." 

    DD1 | Jan 2009
    DD2 | June 2011
    DS1 | Oct 2013
       ADD3 | Oct 2014 (April 2001)
    DS2 | June 2016
    DS3 | Dec 2018

    Due with baby blob August 2021


    Pregnancy Ticker
  • Thanks ladies. She is so interested In learning, but I don't want to push her at the same time.
  • I just started more structured things with DD2, the fall after she turned 4. Prior to that, we did fun things like you would expect in a play based preschool.

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