I am home schooling my 5 year old twins this year and they are planning to enter Kindergarten at the PS next year. Their birthday is the end of June and I was told it would be better for them to be the oldest rather than the youngest in the class. I am only two months into home schooling and they both know all of their sounds and are already reading short vowel books with the help of OPGTR, Sonlight K with Readers 1, Saxon K- I can only imagine where they will be come next Fall. My son was showing signs of ADD in his preschool which was why I thought a year at home would help. My daughter is excelling at her work and my son is doing much better at home one on one. I am willing to give PS a chance but I don't want them to be bored or fall behind with what we have gained- soooo for those afterschooling what should I expect? thanks for the help!:bigear:

Thank you for the advice and it is reassuring to know I am on track. I want my children to love to learn! I worried that doing too much could have implications down the road. I think that is why I am so nervous about sending them to PS next year. I know at times I may be over doing it but I am relaxed about the schedule and if they need a break I will give it. We are taking our Thanksgiving Holiday next week at Disney (I love avoiding the crowds w/HSing) and I can't wait. We have been counting down the days on our felt calendar- while they learn to use the calendar and days of the week of course- so let's hope this helps with avoiding burn out.:auto:

I am a newbie home schooling my 5 year old twins. I worry at the end of the day I may have done too much... I have a list of what needs to be accomplished for the day. It may take (with breaks) throughout the day 5 hours to complete everything- I see them progressing, I just worry they may get burned out. Phonics-OPGTR and MCP workbooks and readers, BOB Books Reading- Just finished Tom Sawyer and Charlotte's Web Writing- HWT and tracing when we watch Planet Earth documentary they draw a picture and write a story. Math-Count to 100,counting objects, one to one, addition with daughter not son yet,counting by 10's,writing numbers,worksheets, punching out shapes,geo boards, geo solids- I am thinking of getting Saxon Science- studying parts of turtle(his name is Checkers)flowers, horses,trees,frogs etc. Ant farm and life cycle of butterflies.Once a week. Geography- Map puzzle of Africa- we traveled to Kenya and South Africa this summer so we continue to learn about the cultures, animals and language-once a week. Music- listening and learning about Mozart, playing instruments freely- two days a week Art- Crafts while learning about an artist- this week Jackson Pollack- once a week. I have the classroom set up in a Montessori style with everything at their level to choose their own work while I am working one on one with the other child sometimes they choose to go into their rooms to read. Any advice would be a great help. We all are happy but tired at the end of a day. On Mondays and Tuesdays my daughter has horse back riding and my son has gymnastics so we have a lot to do in the morning- that is why music tends to be in the car rides or Books on CD. The other three days are much more relaxed. I had planned on doing this for only one year and then enrolling them in the PS but they don't want to stop and I am struggling with the idea of putting them in a K program next year- late birthday when they are doing so well at home-we have them signed up but as long as we don't burn out we may keep going- it's only my self confidence that I am giving them enough- I do not have a degree in education. I have a BFA in Painting! Thanks for the advice.

I am a mother of B/G twins who will be turning 5 the end of June. They have been in a Montessori school for three school years and I have decided to take them out and home school next year. My daughter was ready for the kindergarten program but my son was not ready. My son shows some attention and focus issues and has had a hard time in the active, self-directed Montessori environment. The teachers have to keep him on track and following through on most of his work during the day. In the last year I became certified as an assistant Montessori teacher. I am willing to set up an environment in the house with Montessori materials, but I feel they need to have some direction in their education, especially language and reading/writing skills. I really connected with the classical education and hope while one is independantly working I can have the one on one with the other. Is it possible to combine these two methods successfully, does anyone, with a knowledge for Montessori, have some advice? I have begun setting up a room in the house for a Montessori environment. I will begin this summer, so I have started purchasing the books from "The Well Trained Mind." I have been working with the Montessori teachers to begin my list of materials from the Montessori class and they have been a great help. Any advice or experience in the subject would be a great help.

Right now we are all outside getting our garden ready. Our family always loves to have fun together so I hope to do the same when it comes to the home schooling! We live in the country, where the land of exploration is limitless. If this Georgia heat allows us, we will enjoy a lot of time outside this summer. Thank you all for your support and advice. They will be turning 5 this 23rd of June so I am looking forward to some good reading time and I will remember they are young and the love of learning at this age is very crucial. I will be in touch! Thanks again!

I just wanted to introduce myself to this new forum. A first in a forum and a first to begin the home schooling process. My 4 year old twins have been attending a Montessori preschool for three years and this June we have planned to begin their home schooling with the help of "The Well-Trained Mind". I look forward to having a relationship with like-minded parents. Any suggestions before June? I have begun gathering the books and have the ability to begin transforming a room in the house for school work. The children are excited. I have found a home school group that is 15 min away...what have I missed?