Let's Get It Started!

Hebda Homeschool will commence in 5-4-3-2-1: MONDAY! We've decided to continue Parker's Pre-K education at home. I've done research and feel comfortable in this new skin and am ready to start working! Once the decision was made to homeschool, I did two things. The first was to really watch Parker learn - try some things out - see what motivates him - what interests him - what gets him asking questions. This was actually very easy. I realized that I have been Parker's teacher longer than anyone! I know him very, very well. We've had a lot of fun in the last three weeks playing and learning together.

The next step was to really research homeschool methods, curriculums, structures and ideas. I knew I loved Classical Education and I read the book "The Well Trained Mind" and was VERY encouraged about this method. This definitely seems like it is for us.

The Well Trained Mind

I had no idea how many debates existed in the world of education! Will I teach him to read using a phonics based curriculum or whole word? Will the math curriculum that we use be mastery or spiral? For me, these were all new terms to research. While I eventually made decisions for this year and next, I always realized that most people change their mind - something might work one year and not the next - or something might work for one child and not their sibling. That is the beauty of homeschooling - you don't' get stuck with 12 years of "one way".

I've decided to spend the remainder of this year doing week long unit studies. I've also decided on a phonics and math curriculum that I'll work in throughout the days activities. I'll also use a Bible stories/character and virtue building book that I have not found yet! I'm still in the market for this!

I'm going to use Phonics Pathways and Explode the Code for phonics and reading and Math U See for our math. I have heard great things about both! Several of my homeschool friends have used Handwriting Without Tears with great success and I'm going to go with that as well.

Phonics Pathways

Explode the Code

Math U See

Handwriting Without Tears

I found this website to be super helpful when it comes to finding reviews for curriculums!

homeschool reviews

I've found an overwhelming amount of science experiments and art/cooking/outdoor/physical activities to do each week online so I will stick to that for now.

123child.com

playcreateexplore.com

sciencewithme.com

Parker's last day of school was Friday. He is concerned about missing his friends I think but overall he has been very excited about all of this - especially going on field trips with Jon on Tuesdays, being the "Calendar Helper" everyday.

This coming week I have a lego theme planned out. He also wants to learn about volcanoes so I have a kitchen volcano experiment to do on Tuesday. I'll update next week with pictures of our first week.

Ready or not - here we go!