it’s official…the cline’s are homeschooling!

after a WHOLE lot of back and forth and indecision, we prayerfully decided that homeschooling would be the best option for our family. i’m a firm believer that the needs of every family is different and what may be best for our family isn’t necessarily what’s best for another…while a hybrid schedule or online learning may be the best option for one family, homeschooling may be what’s best for ours!

so who’s actually going to be ‘homeschooled’?

technically, because the girls are only 5, we don’t have to submit a letter of intent for any of them. the legalities of homeschool are all about compulsory age…and in the state of ohio, children are required to attend school between the ages of 6 and 18. that being said, with our goals to head back into the public school system eventually, the girls would have been entering kindergarten and miller would have been entering preschool so my goal is to make sure they are ready for that transition.

kindergarten homeschool curriculum

i spent a whoooole lot of time doing my research here. there are so many amazing curriculums out there… from complete packages with parent and student kits if you need extra support…to building your own and even ‘unschooling’, there are curriculums for every single homeschool method you could dream of. the beauty of homeschool is that it can be tailored to your child’s interests, your goals + beliefs about education.

i ultimately decided to go with masterbooks homeschool curriculum for almost all of the subjects. my brain is still a wee bit disorganized from my stroke + concussion so i wanted to give myself some extra support in having something planned. the only additional curriculum i’m using is the handwriting without tears program, mainly because i used it when i taught in the classroom and i love it… and bonus, i have a ton of the materials.

specifically, here is what i’m using:

bible study:  more than words: level 1

science: adventures in creation: level 1

social studies: my story 1: and the world around me

language arts:  simply k: a developmental approach to kindergarten

math: math lessons for a living education

handwriting: handwriting without tears

preschool homeschooling

miller would have been entering into preschool this fall and while i’m totally bummed he won’t have that opportunity this year, i’m super hopeful that he’ll have that opportunity next year {we LOVE our preschool!!}. as far as homeschooling goes, i have zero plan to actually get a curriculum. preschool is all about discovering and building a strong foundation for learning. if you are  unsure what that looks like, a curriculum may be the best option for you! there certainly is value in that… but i feel confident in my knowledge and abilities to help miller build that foundation. he’ll likely be right alongside of us for most of our days so i’ll be able to tailor those lessons to him and his needs.

my background + education lives and breathes education… a dual teaching license in early childhood education + special education, a master’s degree in special education with a focus in autism + applied behavior analysis as well as getting my board certification as a board certified behavior analyst, i feel like i’m in my element.

THAT being said, i also fully acknowledge that teaching your own kids is completely different..but in this instance, i truly believe it’s different in the best way possible.

my goals for my children are to instill a love for learning. for them to take ownership of that learning + build their curiosity, their interests. to seek god in everything they do. to explore. create. get outside in nature. move. make mistakes. grow. problem solve. challenge themselves. read. read some more. discover the world around them and find beauty.

it’s going to be messy. and chaotic. and beautiful. i know we’ll have our challenges. i know i’ll doubt myself, we’ll all probably cry some days… but good golly hard things are worth fighting for, right? and what could be more important than fighting for the education and future of our babies?

whether you’re committed to homeschooling or you’re maybe on the fence about what to do this coming fall, rest assured that whatever you choose to do, you’re making the right decision for your family. there’s going to be hiccups. the world is a mess right now and our education system is suffering, at best. BUT THERE IS HOPE.

i’m determined to make it an amazing experience. i’ll never get this time back with these 4 precious souls and i have a very strong feeling that some day i’m going to look back at these days and they’re going to contain my most treasured memories. instilling this love for learning and helping them to discover who they are, who jesus is and what a beautiful world we live in.