Me, home school??!!

I want to home school my kids. I never thought I would utter those words. I enrolled Jordan in school as is tradition when he was 5 years old. He went to Robertson Elementary here on the west side of Tulsa. A school that my mother, husband and various other people I know went to. Its a nice school. Class sizes weren't as big as other schools and its got a hometown feel to it. He went there for kindergarten, and 2nd grade.( He went to a school in Sand Springs for 1st grade.) After 2nd grade I was unsatisfied with his progress, mainly in Math. He had a good teacher, she was attentive and would help as much as she could, yet he was still not doing as well as I thought he should be. I got a job and my mother watched the kids until she got a job shortly before school started up again last year. My sister in law has offered to watch Conor for me while I worked. She home schools her three kids. One evening while talking to Mike I was saying how I was nervous about Jordan's upcoming school year. I felt like he wasn't ready to move to 3rd grade and the teacher had already mentioned holding him back. Then it happened, Mike asked me if we thought that he should be home schooled with his sisters kids. I thought about it long and hard and in the end decided why not? By the first "report card" his grade had improved dramatically from the previous year. I was thrilled. On top of that Jordan seemed less stressed. As the year went by I thought more and more about what we were going to do for the next school year.

I started thinking about home schooling Jordan myself. I thought, "could I do it?", "how would I do it?", and of course "when would I do it?" I decided that I would at least try. Then it happened, I got pregnant again and that sort of sealed it. I got laid off at the job I was at and we had just moved in with my father-in-law to save money so it seemed like everything was falling into place. This is not a decision I have made lightly or without caution. I am nervous, I'm holding my kids' future in my hands and I want to the best I can to give them what they need. What they need? What does that even mean? I wasn't sure where to start but thankfully I have my sister in law to sort of guide me in the right direction.

Her first "direction" took me to the Eastern Oklahoma Home school Convention. I wasn't sure what to expect but they offered lots of workshops that I was interested in and felt like I should attend considering this is my first year to do this by myself. The convention was 2 days. I went to several workshops that I felt would help guide me on this journey. I learned a lot and got lots of good information. One thing that kept sticking out was the idea that public schools put kids into boxes and categories. They teach on kind of learning style and if your kid doesn't fit that then they will most likely not do as well as he or she could. One of the speakers said something that really hit me. She was telling a story about a mom who kept saying her son was behind and her response was "behind according to whose standards." That sort of made me feel better. If I had kept Jordan in public school he would be a year behind all of his friends. I hated the idea of holding him back a year. But with home schooling I didn't have to worry about that. I love the idea that he and I can look at what he wants to learn, we can go on unlimited field trips and take our time on a subject if he isn't ready to move on. He wont be pressured to move on if he isn't ready. There are so many ideas that I have for next school year I cant wait to get started. I have looked at several curriculum and I think I have found one that will suit what I am wanting for my kids.

Home schooling, I never thought that I would be the least bit interested. Its scary and exciting at the same time. This first year will be a great challenge. Not only is it my first go at this I will also have a new born and a toddler in the house. But I feel this is the best thing I can do for the kids. I am very unhappy about the state of Oklahoma's public schools. I know most of you must be thinking "what about socialization?" I already have that covered. Not only can we spend time with my sister in laws kids, there is a local home schooling sports group I am looking into, not to mention the music classes and art classes I am already looking into for him to attend. Plus he has church and I make an effort for him to see his friend from public school and my cousins two boys and my friends two boys. Its not like he has no one.

This will be such an adventure for us this year. Please keep us in your prayers. I'm going to be keeping a seperate blog on my home schooling adventure. I hope you all will be interested in reading my journey.