[Hashing out our educational goals... how do you decide what's important?]

Yes, I'm an overplanner and I'm looking at the years ahead trying to decide what I want for my kids. Here are some questions I'm struggling with: What is the advantage of accelerating in math? Should we learn 2, even 3 languages in these early years? Should I give more time to art and music instruction? What about habit training- should that take precedence over everything else? We all know there is not enough time to focus on everything, so how do you decide what is most important in your homeschool? I feel like I am giving a lot of time/energy to things that are not necessarily part of MY goals for the kids, though they may be someone else's, and I'm just trying to make our future path a little clearer. Anyone have thoughts?

I too am a bit of an over planner. But I have some basic guidelines.

Language is the cornerstone of human-interaction, and literacy is the first born of language so in the early stages of life. I think that languages are most important. My husband and I are dedicated to raising our son (Jr. will be born this summer!) to NOT be monolingual.

If I have my way, my son will be raised with 2-4 languages and maintaining them will be a full time ongoing job.

Also, math is very important to me and is quite common in my family for kids to do math very different from what most people expect to happen. Once lanugage is firmly on its way, math and belive it or not, but drawing become the most important to me.

 

I don't know why so many people make a fuss about Algebra, they treat it as though it is this mystical/magical thing but it is really just the next step, and a logical follow up for someone who is very comfortable with Arithmetic.

 

I will say something rough like this: 0-4, languages and social skills, 3-14 math, 6-14 reading, writing.

I don't have an absolute answer but between those age ranges seems to be about right to me.

[Open-Ended Math Books?]

What are some good open-ended, multi-leveled math books?

 

A friend introduced me to Marshmallow Math, which I think I like the looks of but I'm unsure how far does it go by a typical school scope? Are their more books in the series? Are their other parents on this board who know math well? What do math-literate, or math-confident parents teach with?

 

I'd rather a book for me, the mom, to read as a basic direction of where to go next in teaching my kids, I don't think I want a book-based curriculum for my kids until we are upper 2nd or lower 4th grade level. But I am open to the wisdom of veterans.

[Open-Ended Math Books?]

What are some good open-ended, multi-leveled math books?

 

A friend introduced me to Marshmallow Math, which I think I like the looks of but I'm unsure how far does it go by a typical school scope? Are their more books in the series? Are their other parents on this board who know math well? What do math-literate, or math-confident parents teach with?

 

I'd rather a book for me, the mom, to read as a basic direction of where to go next in teaching my kids, I don't think I want a book-based curriculum for my kids until we are upper 2nd or lower 4th grade level. But I am open to the wisdom of veterans.

[Does anyone skip math curriculum for the first couple years?]

I am not a person to speak with homeschooling experience, but I have to ask if you mean "math text/work books" when you say 'curriculum'

[HSing a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child]

I am already learning ASL, hubby is hearing but fairly fluent in ASL (He's a CODA) and he's helping me to improve my ASL skills. Yet even Hubby doesn't trust his ability to teach something in ASL. Growing up, his parents couldn't help him with his math homework after 2nd or 3rd grade. Instead they got him a tutor who was hearing and spoke English.

 

We don't leave near any deaf schools (where presumably I could begin working with a teacher to learn the vocabulary and methods used to get deaf kids reading and doing math).

 

For now, our plan is to raise Jr. bilingual in ASL and English from birth, regardless of whether he is deaf or not. But what about his education?

 

CODA = Child of Deaf Adults

[HSing a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child]

Can you homeschool a child that is deaf or hard of hearing? My son is due in summer and he has several deaf/hard of hearing relatives so it is likely that he himself may be deaf or hard of hearing. Deafness is common in both sides of my to-be-sons family.

 

My husband and I have agreed that regardless of whether or not Jr. is deaf, Jr. will be taught ASL.His paternal grandparents are deaf and hubby who is hearing is very close to his parents and can't fathom NOT teaching his son to communicate with his grandparents.

 

When I was growing up, I didn't learn ASL and because of that I have cousins with whom I have never spoken to. I have since come to regret not knowing how to speak ASL and have begin studying online. My husband knows ASL and helps me, we are set on the idea that Jr. will learn ASL, but last night I begin to wonder: If Jr. is deaf can he be homeschooled?

 

How will I teach a child that can not hear me speaking to him? How do I share mathematical ideas, historical fact, literature, science etc...with a child that can't hear? I am suddenly very overwhelmed.

[What are some books I should read?]

I would like to know more about homeschooling and educating young children at home. What are some books I should look into?

I want to know more about teaching reading and language to children.

 

I have confidence in my ability to teach math well but I am clueless about everything else. I figure that if I begin researching now, now then by the time my little one is ready to learn such things, I will have more of an idea of what we should be doing and how it can be done.

 

I don't see myself leaving my little boys math education to the neighborhood school. (In fact, I shudder at the thought.) but I am not set on homeschooling yet, but its an option that I am approaching with an open mind. My husband and I are firm on two ideas about Jr's Education

 

1) He will NOT be monolingual

2) he will learn math at home any thing at school shall be secondary.

 

However, I know that I might over look other things or not give the proper importance to other things. I would like to read more and better understand how to teach things like reading and knowledge-heavy subjects (history, geography, etc) to children.

 

I myself have a horrible memory, its why I like math so much. I can reason out everything from definitions and axioms. Math is easy and systematic. the rest...not so much...

[Hi!]

I'm new here. I guess I'm doing extra detailed research because I'm only expecting my first kid, but I have a lot of big ideas about my childrens education and want to better understand all my options for my kids education. I'm interested in all things education and school related (any surprise that I'm looking for a teaching job) and like most every other parent I want the BEST for my kiddies.