Homeschooling Resources

So, after lots of thinking, weighing the pros and cons, it's finalized: we are going to be a homeschooling family. It's been a complex decision and I've had to take a lot of things into account. Negativity from friends and family has been one thing that has led to my reluctance to fully embrace homeschooling but I'm finally comfortable and secure in my decision. There are a myriad of reasons:

1. I don't agree with the philosophy of public schools and I can't afford or don't have access to private/charter schools whose philosophies more closely match mine.
2. I could overlook philosophical differences more easily if the public schools offered top-notch educations but in my town, unfortunately, that is not the case.
3. I am willing (and able) at this moment to homeschool. We are able to make ends meet on one income right now and hope to be able to do continue. Utilizing relatively free resources (library and internet) and making wise curricula purchases, we can keep the budget for homeschooling low.
4. I know I can offer my children the type of education I want them to have, maintaining their love and joy of learning and exposing them to things that they might not otherwise be exposed to (African and World Histories being a top priority).
5. I can address my children's specific needs and honor their gifts and talents while maximizing their time and mine. I believe that way too much time in school is wasted. And while I'm devoted to my children, there are areas of myself I am looking forward to developing as the children get older.

So now that I've accepted that we are a homeschooling family, I just wanted to share some of the resources we've been using.

• Starfall--excellent site that teaches reading readiness (letters and sounds, etc)
• Letter of the Week Preparatory Curriculum--This is the *free* curriculum we are currently using. We are on Week 13 currently. Sometimes we take longer than a week but no more than two.
  
• Fisher-Price--nice collection of educational (and strictly fun) games which help build motor skills, hand-eye coordination
• Preschool Themes and Lesson Plans--A real go-to resource that supports the curriculum we're using very well
• Count Us In games--games that teach counting/number sense
• Funschool Preschool--games and learning activities
• Letter Coloring Pages
• Online Jigsaw Puzzles--builds acuity, hand-eye coordination, motor skills
• Typical Course of Study--lists what a child should typically study/master in each grade.
• The state's curriculum is readily available online.

NYS is one of the strictest states when it comes to homeschooling: the kids do have to be tested yearly and I have to submit paperwork quarterly. I've already gathered resources to make sure I am doing things legally. I want to be on top of things.

I'm still hoping to find a homeschooling group for support and social stuff. I know I will.

One question: since I pay school taxes in my town, why is it that if I choose to homeschool my town refuses to provide services to my child (if he needs it) and refuses to allow him to play on sports teams (not that my town sports teams will actually exist in two to three years the way things are going fiscally for this town) or be involved in any extra-curricular activities? Maybe I'm missing something that would help me understand.


Photo Credit: "Homeschool" by ForeverSouls on Flickr.