thinking about home ed

[jobekal]

but is it really a possibility when i have two younger children too? eldest wont start for another year but wondering if i will have time with others to look after.

also i am useless at maths so will struggle with that

and even subjects i'm good at, itsone thing knowing the subjectbut how do you teach it, and how do you know what level, i have no idea whst to do at what age

DD may have special ed needs too

sorry for all the questions

[Saturn74]

Hi jobekal.

Having a look at the Education Otherwise website will be useful I think.

And going along to a HE group to have a chat with other families.

You don't have to replicate school, but obviously you can if you wish.

You can be completely autonomous if you want.

I home ed our two dyslexic sons, and we all learn as we go along. They are thriving outside of the pressures of SATs and the National Curriculum.

There are so many free resources available - libraries, online, groups etc.

And you can try HE for a while, and then try school if you like. No decision is irreversible.

[pinkdolly]

Hiya,
Just wanted to say that I have a 5 year old, 4 year old and 16 month old. I am homeschooling my girls. To start with I was very structured with what I thought I should be doing with the girls. But I've learnt to losen up a bit, and just enjoy the extra time I have with them.

Yes it can sometimes be a struggle having to occupy the younger ones while you work on something with the oldest. But it is possible, and so rewarding.

Also I am not very good with maths either, but at such an early age I really dont think it's a problem. I am hoping to learn alongside them as they get older. But if I struggle there is always the option of getting a tutor later on.

If you really want to do it, i'd just go for it. The schools aren't going anywhere and if you find it's not for you then you can always put them in later on.

[ShrinkingViolet]

the level of Maths covered in primary schools is unlikely to be beyond the average adult tbh - it's mostly all stuff we come across in our day to day lives, just sounds scary when you call it "Maths" . DD1s GCSE maths stuff is another matter .

[Julienoshoes]

Have a look at the two main HE websites; www.education-otherwise.org
and
home-education.org.uk/
Both well worth a read

Then there are two other websites that may be useful to you;
www.he-special.org.uk
Resources and information for families with children who have special educational needs. There is an associated Special needs support list that you can find via that webpage-I can't stress how helpful the home educators are there-I found that list immensely helpful when we first started home educating.

and then there is
www.muddlepuddle.co.uk
which is a webpage especially for HE families with children under 8 years old. Home also to the Early Years support list;
groups.yahoo.com/group/EarlyYearsHE/
I know you would get loads of advice there about managing your time, with your younger ones.

regards
Julie
Home Educating in Worcestershire
www.worcestershire-home-educators.co.uk/

[CharlieAndLolasMummy]

one of my big reasons for HEing is that I think everything is done so absurdly EARLY in school.

My plan has always been basically for the kids to play til they are about 7. And then we reassess (though I lean towards autonomy)

What is suprising me is that, despite me doing NO formal work with them, just answering questions and occasionally showing them stuff and reading lots and lots-really casual stuff-ds, aged 4, is picking up numbers and letters on a par with other kids his age. And numbers and letters are really not an interest of his, he spends much of his day either being read to or making up elaborate games with his little sister.

Re the HEing with younger kids. It is hard to give them the 1-1 attention needed to work on things, and there are times when I do want to do this, eg to play a game, build electronics, etc with ds. We manage by dp taking dd and me taking ds. Other families do put the younger child into playgroup to get around this (there is NO way dd would allow this!)

I'd say give it a go! Whats the worst that can happen?