Why We Decided to Homeschool

This is our story. It started 18 years ago when I was pregnant with our first son. I was working at an urban middle school as a guidance counselor. I was very pregnant. Huge, in fact. One day, I was mediating a dispute between two girls and they broke out fighting in front of me. Like, three inches from my belly.

At that point, it hit me that I was responsible for this new life, this little baby. I ended up taking a full-year sabbatical to be with him during his first year and never went back. I have never regretted it, despite the challenges of raising a family on one income.

Like most kids, though, at the age of 3 he went off to preschool…and soon after his brother was born and eventually followed suit.

By this point, “oldest” was in second grade with a great teacher in a great little school. But there was a nagging in my heart. Every day I sent him off, he had all these experiences (some iffy ones I would later find out about) that I didn’t get to see or process with him.

Meanwhile his brother was attending preschool, but crying every day and it was almost time for him to start Kindergarten – in our town that had just decided to make Kindergarten a full day program. I knew that wasn’t going to fly, at all.

So, I started discussing “homeschooling” with my husband. He had all the usual concerns: Would they have friends? Would they play sports? Would they go to college? How would I teach them in High School? Would they be weird? (The answer is ‘yes’ – to all of them, haa!)

I didn’t have the answers to these questions, so, I would maintain the status quo. As time went, the nagging didn’t recede. So, I started to research homeschooling by getting books at the library and googling (and praying!). One by one, God answered each one of our questions and we made the decision to withdraw our kids in 2012.

It’s been 10 years since then! I have had my ups and downs, both personally and with homeschooling. My oldest has graduated and is attending college and getting his first job. I have an artistic and thoughtful teenager (16) and a bright and energetic 8 year-old.

(And I only have a few gray hairs…lol)

What was your reason to start homeschooling? Tell me below!

Maple Syrup: 10 Kids Shows to Watch

Are you planning a trip to go see a syrup making demonstration? Or, are you planning on making some from your very own trees? For home-educating families, everything is a learning experience! Watch a few of these short Tv shows before you begin to explain the process of syrup making to kids, from tree, to tap to table.

Nature Cat: A popular PBS series, Nature Cat tries to eat sap straight from the tree, but his friends explain that he has to make it into syrup first. (3:03)

Sci Show Kids: One of our personal favorite shows, Squeaks learns all about how they get the maple syrup out of the trees. (4:40)

Highlights Kids Ever Wonder: A live walk-through at a real maple syrup farm (2:27).

Gold Shaw Farm: live walk -through of a farm from tapping to syrup. Includes tree identification, collection, evaporation, best for older kids from ages 6 and up. (10:19)

Sesame Street – Pancakes with Maple Syrup: The friendly crew at SS visit a farm and explain the maple syrup process. (5:16)

DeeDee Show – How to Make Maple Syrup: Energetic Dee Dee goes outside with her friend Daniel to discuss maple syrup. (10:06)

Curious George: Maple Monkey Madness: We love George. A gentle episode where George and his friend go to a maple farm to collect sap for syrup. (5:17)

The Axel Show: Axel and Daddy Harvest Maple Syrup: Another one of our favorite shows, Axel is a little boy whose Daddy talks to the camera as they go on their adventures. (21:30)

Mouk: Yummy Maple Syrup: A British/Canadian cartoon where little Mouk goes on adventures with her animal pals. (11:17)

Sugar on Snow (A read aloud book): A book read aloud, showing the lovely scenes from the book. Tells the Native American legend about maple syrup. (15:32)

Enjoy!

Let’s Talk About: When to Start a Preschool Curriculum

The preschool age is a time of new experiences, eager exploration and soaking up new information like a sponge. It’s during this time that many moms and dads will begin to tentatively extend out their feelers to get an idea of what homeschooling might be like.

At the preschool age, parents wonder if they should be doing a structured curriculum.

The short answer is wait. Here’s why.

Any mom around knows her kids the best out of anyone, even amongst all the preschool curriculum designers on the market.

Children are often not developmentally able to sit for extended periods of time for learning to occur (and stick with them). They get antsy, lose concentration or get silly (my son to an extreme!).

Starting early can also risk early burnout for either the parent or the child. And if they aren’t paying attention, who wants to reteach it all in 2 years when they are ready?!

Children as young as three can “sew” with a plastic needle and string.

So, what do you do with preschool age homeschoolers? There’s so much to do.

Preschool age child benefit most from participating in hands-on experiences. You probably already knew that.

My advice to mamas of preschoolers is get them out into the community and plug into the many activities your town (or the next town over) offer.

Have a loose schedule where you attend local playgroups, sign up for gymnastics or an art class, make a weekly library trip and teach them to bake, clean draw, etc. in your own home.

Pinterest was my really best friend during these years.

When siblings are already homeschooling, younger kids can be interested too.

But, (there are always buts, right?) there are always exceptions. For example, when my last son was born, my older two were already homeschooling. My youngest saw this on a daily basis and felt a bit left out.

So, I started a gentle preschool curriculum with him to familiarize him with the alphabet and numbers.

For this early homeschooling, I chose a free curriculum because not only was he a “student” for the first time, but I was familiarizing myself with his learning style for the first time.

If it’s not a good fit for him, at least I didn’t drop big bucks, right?

He is now 8 and we essentially have been formally homeschooling him since he was 4.

Preschool years are some of the very best years to homeschool. I hope you enjoy them!

Celebrating Black History Month in Connecticut

February is Black History Month and Connecticut does not fail to offer many places to go and soak up the significant contributions of Black Americans to the shaping of our very own history. These are just a few!

Mark Twain’s Hartford home. (pixabay)

Mark Twain House – Hartford
The famous author’s home in Hartford. A wanderer and abolitionist (and failed silver prospector!), Twain started as a newspaper man and ended as a worldwide celebrity.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House – Hartford
An abolitionist and author, Stowe’s home now resides on the same property as Mark Twain’s. Stowe is the author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” an anti-slavery novel written in 1852.

The 29th Regiment Monument, New Haven (Wikipedia)

Connecticut 29th Regiment Monument – New Haven
This regiment served during the Civil War and was comprised of men of color. They are considered to have been the first infantry company to enter Richmond, VA in 1864.

The Prudence Crandall Museum – Canterbury
The historic home of Prudence Crandall, Connecticut’s State Heroine (did you know we had that?) Crandall ran a school for women and in 1832 admitted the first black student. She then closed down and reopened, specifically to service non-white students exclusively.

CT’s Freedom Trail, varied locations.

CT Freedom Trail – Varied Locations
The CT Freedom Trail offers people the opportunity to see the many locations throughout Connecticut that played a significant role in African American history. Places such as the Amistad Museum, Chauncey Brown House, Grove Street Cemetery and the Samuel Deming Store. Go to one or several or take several days to many of them.

MLK Memorial in Simsbury – Simsbury
Martin Luther King Jr. spent some of his summers in Simsbury, working in the tobacco fields. Of course, he later went on to become a world-famous religious leader and civil rights activist. Students at Simsbury High School began researching MLK’s time here in CT and culminated their research with the creation of this monument.

For more ideas of where to go, check out Black History Month Activities in CT.

Groundhog Day Books for Kids

Aww. He is so cute. So furry. Such cute little paws. Such big teeth!

Every year about this time, Punxsutawney Phil (and all the other Groundhogs with the same job description) decide whether or not we will have six more weeks of Winter. But what is Groundhog Day all about anyway?

CTHomeschoolMom has composed a list of ten informative and interesting books for kids all about our little furry friend so you can learn all about him!

The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing and Illustrated by Amy Wummer

“The anticipation is building: Will the groundhog see his shadow? Will there be six more weeks of winter? Get ready for this festive occasion with the countdown to Groundhog Day in this fun, rhyming story told in the style of Clement C. Moore’s holiday poem.” – Grosset & Dunlop Publishers

Groundhog Gets a Say As Told to Pamela Curtis Swallow, Illustrated by Denise Brunkus

There’s a lot more to this groundhog than his shadow. He can whistle, dig a hole lightning fast and even has another name!

Groundhog Day by Gail Gibbons

I will also put a Gail Gibbons book on my lists as she is one of my favorite children’s authors. She doesn’t disappoint with this storytelling of Phil and all the hubbub surrounding his shadow. Gibbons’ books will also tell the reader all about real groundhogs (aka “Whistlepigs”); their diet, habitat and survival.

Groundhog Secrets: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Groundhogs by Lieve Snellings

This little book is written with 2nd to 4th graders in mind. Realistic photography adds to the story of Margot the Marmot (Groundhog), a Canadian critter.

Groundhog’s Day Off by Robb Perlman, Illustrated by Brett Helquist

Does Groundhog need a day off? The people are sick of Winter and really want to know if it’s ever going to end!

For more suggestions on Groundhog Day books, check out my list on Goodreads!

Happy Reading! – Jenny

February Fun for Homeschoolers

Bring on the February Fun!

February (besides being my birth month) is a month I always look forward to. In our homeschool, we decorate for Valentines Day and make Valentines for our friends. In addition, February is Black History Month, President’s Day and Susan B. Anthony Day.

Here are some fun options for making a big deal of February.

For Younger Students

FREE President’s Lapbook on Homeschool Share

This lapbook on Presidents is downloadable and colorful and probably appropriate for 2nd grade and up. Students will learn all about Presidential responsibilities, requirements and they can also choose one President to learn about.

Black History Month Worksheets

Head over to Education’s website and choose a handful of worksheets and activities to print out for your student. If you subscribe, you’re a premium member, you have unlimited downloads.

FREE Valentines Lapbook on Homeschool Share

Download this lapbook and learn the history of Valentines Day, ways to show kindness and ways to celebrate this special day.

Middle School and High School

Susan B. Anthony

This website provides a one-stop location where you can watch videos, see historical locations and get books suggestions for students all about Susan B. Anthony. She provides a very loose and flexible week-long schedule for learning as well.

Black History Month: Uncovering America

The National Gallery of Art has a series of photos and collections available to teach students about issues related to Black History such as the Civil Rights Movement, Harlem Renaissance, Immigration and Displacement and more. These are Middle School/High School level materials. There is a lot more too, on this website.

MyHero: Black History Month

Geared toward Middle School and High School students, there are videos to watch as well as a set of follow-up questions which can be answered verbally or in written form.

Presidents Day at study.com

With a free account, take advantage of study.com’s President’s Day materials as well as lots of other things. Choose from “The Meaning of George Washington’s Birthday” and “Democracy: Crash Course.”

Have a great February!

-Jenny

CT Homeschool Mom: Homeschooling in CT

The Hartford Capitol building. (pixabay)

Homeschooling in Connecticut is growing.

If you have been in the Nutmeg state for any length of time, you have met some of us.

According to TEACHCT (The Education Association of Christian Homeschoolers) there was an estimated 40,000 to 45,000 homeschooled students in Connecticut as of March 2021.

Many parents were forced to homeschool during the school year of 2020 because of Covid-19 and then continued to do so in 2021. In fact, the numbers of homeschooled students nearly doubled in a year from 2020 to 2021. While some have now returned to public education, many, many parents I meet realized it that it is a highly rewarding and achievable lifestyle for their families.

Remember this?

Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that in the last three years…as the summer winds down and parents realize the school year is approaching… I (and many other veteran homeschool moms and dads) begin to receive messages through social media and email from parents looking to take the plunge.

It is not limited to those who are just beginning their educational career (Kindergarten). We often hear from parents of Middle and High School age students who have finally decided to bring their children home.

Why do parents make this choice? There are as many reasons for choosing to homeschool as there are families. Sometimes it is that the child is struggling with peer relationships, or being bullied, or is not getting challenged; the list is long.

Historically speaking though, homeschooling has always been legal. Despite attempts being made every few years to eliminate our freedom to school our own children (nationwide and yes, right here in CT), homeschooling is LEGAL.

According to Atty Deborah Stevenson who is the founder of NHELD (National Home Education Legal Defense), “It has always been legal…it is our right.”

Groups like CT Homeschool Network work to unify homeschoolers and assist new home educators and also serves as a clearinghouse for information on legal and other issues related to homeschooling. They hold an annual conference and events for homeschoolers as well as respond, when needed, to the media and mobilize homeschoolers to preserve our free climate for schooling.

My hope is that this blog will serve to inspire parents to consider homeschooling and point them in the right direction for information that will assist them in overcoming obstacles that they face along the way…with a special focus on the needs and perspectives of Connecticut homeschoolers.