Final Decision

Well, I have been reading a lot lately and talking to some homeschoolers. And staring at the wall and thinking a lot. And after touring the co-op, I think we have made the final decision. (Although, I know plans change.) 


Samantha will NOT be attending the co-op. (Or anywhere else for that matter, not for preschool.) Because she was bored to tears in the preschool, it wouldn't not be effective on any way to send her to preschool. And she just is not mature enough for Kindergarten. I am not going to push her like that. In the end, as her mother, I believe that all it will do is hurt her. What happens when she is 5, in second grade, and she is completely lost because she isn't old enough to process the information? Or they expect her to be able to do things that just aren't reasonable for her age. I just can't do it. 


So what we will do is continue to teach her at home. She enjoys it and she learns a lot, so why change it? We will continue to take her to story time and museums and playdates. And then when she turns 5, next year-oh my gosh-I can't believe it....anyway, she will start going to the YMCA for physical education activities and Spanish classes. She will be swimming and karate and music and such. She will have recess and lunch time there. One day a week. Same as a co-op I guess, minus the academics, which is what I was looking for. 


As far as her curriculum goes, I think we will continue with "unit studies." I did not know that was actually a method people used in homeschooling when I began doing it. I plan to go over some of the topics Samantha wants to learn at the beginning of the year, and draw up my own lesson plans based on the Georgia Standards, plus some. 


Well, I guess that's all I got so far. I am really looking forward to it. I am trying to keep the worksheets and such to a minimum. And do more hands on stuff. I plan to continue reading a lot. I get a ton of ideas and references from the books I read. It has really helped put everything into perspective for me, piece by piece.