back to homeschool week!

I don't post much here on my blog about the subject of homeschooling simply because it is such an integral part of my day that I don't think about it very much.  We just do it.  For 14 years this has been our educational choice for our kids and I am assuming that I will be pursuing this for approximately 12 more years.

Honestly, I love it!  I love the lifestyle, the opportunity to spend time with my kids, the friends we have who are fellow homeschoolers, and the fruit that I see in the lives of my children because we have made this choice.

Next week, here on my blog, I will be hosting "Back to Homeschool Week".  There is a topic for each day and my hope is that my fellow homeschoolers here in the blogosphere will participate by posting their own experiences on their blogs.  This is the time of the year that our thoughts begin to turn towards curriculum, planning and scheduling, and I thought that gathering together to encourage one another would be beneficial all of us.

Below is the list of topics for the week.  I tried to keep the topics broad so that way we will have lots of different ideas and things to discuss.  You may participate for all five days or just for one.  Whatever you have time for.

Monday, August 6---What led to your decision to homeschool?   
Why do you do what you do?  What brought you to homeschooling?  What factors played a part in your decision?

Tuesday, August 7---How do you homeschool?
Scheduling, classical education, unschooling, getting the kids to help with chores, how to be "mom" and "teacher" at the same time, special needs, teaching an advanced child, how to teach the  tough subjects, teaching high school, teaching with babies and preschoolers in the house, budgeting for homeschool supplies, notebooking, etc., etc., etc...

Wednesday, August 8---Getting out there...
Extra-curricular activities, community involvement, volunteering, sports teams, music lessons,  making sure your kids have opportunities to be social, co-ops, etc., etc., etc...

Thursday, August 9---If I had only known...
What have you learned on your homeschooling journey?  What would you/did you change?  This is an opportunity to encourage others who are just starting out or who are struggling with issues that seem unsolvable.  It is also a perfect opportunity to tell us about one of those days made you want to throw in the towel.  A funny story?  Perfect!

Friday, August 10---Curriculum
What curriculum do you use?  Where do you buy it?  Have you found a "gem" that you must share with others?  Was something in particular a complete failure for you and your kids?

Please feel free to post the graphic on your blog so that the word will spread to others.  You can either download the image to your own computer or you can email me for the code.  My email link is on the left sidebar or you can leave me a comment with your email address listed.

You may also feel free to cut-and-paste any part of this post into your own blog post so that others know what it going on.  In each of my posts next week, I will have an auto-link so that you can link your own post from mine.

Because I know that opinions abound when it comes to homeschooling, I would hope to see everyone using this forum to encourage others, rather than to prove a point. My hope is that Back to Homeschool Week will provide someone with new insight and strength on their homeschooling journey.

I hope to see you next week!

***If any homeschooled kids would like to participate, I think this would be wonderful!  Either post on a blog of your own, or on your parents blog.  I think this would be a wonderful way to encourage parents in their homeschooling venture!

Comments

[Susie]

I'll look forward to reading your posts next week! Thanks for the birthday wishes for Grandpa!
xo

[Melissa]

Sounds fun! Count me in! :)

[Tammy]

Your comments in your first paragraph are where I'm at...we've been homeschooling for 20 years and I just don't think of it anymore. In the early days it was our total identity, now it's just life :-)

I'm glad you posted this early enough to have time to think about whether or not to participate. I confess to being in denial that August is now here, summer is fleeting, and I WILL have to think about schooling again....

Blessings,
Tammy ~@~

[Heather]

Oooo. If things workout I will be there.

[Erna]

I'm looking forward to reading other's responses. I'm homeschooling for the first time this year and hubby & I have chosen to go with Five In a Row b/c I need the structure, he can pick things up easily to help out on his days off, and because we're having a new baby in January. I don't quite feel up to pulling something together on my own with all this going on. Of course, like any mom starting out, I wonder if I'm making the right choices but I know we will feel our way out as time goes along. So, I'll enjoy reading others' thoughts on this. :0)

[brenda]

I saw this over at Melissa's Desk and I can't wait! I'm just starting out so I can't wait to read all the goodness!

[Jill]

I'm looking forward to this. My husband and I are definitely considering homeschooling our child(ren)...I know I'll learn a lot!

XO

[Tsoniki]

Great idea! I'm in the middle of planning for the year and look forward to what others have to say as well!

[Pam in Colorado]

This should be fun!!! I'd link, but can't get that to work right either. I think I'll stick the basics and let you direct others. Great topics.

[Christine]

Love this idea! I'll definitely be back to read, if not to post.

[chickadee]

this sounds great. i'll blog about it.

[Summer]

Oh how fun! I'm doing a planning week next week on my blog, but I'm going to try to work your's in to it. :)

[heidi]

i am going to be paying close attention randi. to tell you the truth the idea of homeschooloing scares the living crap out of me. and by the way...congrats on your ourse winning the purse part of bag month!!!

[Crystal]

As a public school teacher who's taking a leave of absence this year, I hope you don't mind if I "listen" in to your conversations. Anything about education fascinates me and I look forward to hearing about all the good things everyone's doing. It will be helpful for me to know some of your advice for families that might be considering it for themselves. Looking forward to it!

[Rhen]

I would love to participate!!! Should I just link this post of yours to my blog to "spread the word" or do you have something else?

All for His glory, ~Rhen

[Tiany]

Great minds think alike! :-) I think you have a great idea here, please feel free to enter our Homeschool Open House with one of your posts as long as thier is a link back so others can join in you will be entered into the "Door Prize" pool. :-)
Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,
Tiany

[Amy (Milk & Cookies)]

What a great idea! Count me in!

[elsa]

Fantastic! This year I'll be homeschooling a 2nd grader and a Kindergartener.

[Heidi in OR]

Sounds like fun. I'm in the middle of planning for this fall. I'll try to get my act together so that I can blog and participate. :) It will be fun to read the other entries!

[erin s]

While I am not a home schooler, I have definitely thought about it. I look forward to the upcoming posts so I can see what it's all about.

[Henny Penny]

OOO! What a fun idea!

[ComfyDenim]

This sounds like oodles of fun.
I think I'll try.
My shortest answer will be the 'Why". *L* I think.
I"m verbose...so maybe not.

[Sheri]

Oooh, I saw a link to this over at Spritti's. Looks great, I'll be participating and can't wait to read the other responses.

I haven't been here in a while, off to look around and see what I missed!

[Lynn]

This is a good idea. I will participate, and it's ok to link back to your blog?? Thanks for stopping by mine and for the compliment. God Bless!
http://onewayoranother-wilson.blogspot.com/

[tracy]

This sounds great! I will be on vacation all next week, but if I am near a computer, I will check it out and add my comments!

Thanks!
Tracy

[tracy]

Hey, can you e-mail me that code...thanks! I will stick it on my blog and help spread the word!

Tracy

[Jennifer]

What a great idea, and it comes at the perfect time for me since I've been looking to renew my enthusiasm for homeschooling. Thanks!

[Karen]

Hi Randi!
I will be thinking about some of your questions and try to post something next week. :-)

I love your new "Tie Dye" title picture. Are those the shirts you did not too long ago? Great picture!

[Trish]

Randi, this sounds wonderful! Like you, we have homeschooled for a very long time now ~ this will be our 12th year. I'm looking forward to posting and reading everyone else's posts next week! :)

Blessings,
Trish

[javamama]

This sounds great! Can't wait thanks for hosting this. I know that it is going to be very encouraging.

Kelli

[Amy Grant]

Great idea! Count me in!

[tracy]

I am posting about this but just wanted to make sure I am understanding, you want us to put the post on our blog then just link to yours, or do you want the link to anyone who posts for this? Just checking...I am a little thick sometimes!

[carol (and son, Andy)]

I agree, what a great idea! Count me in!
I'm getting a little stale in the blog topics area, this will be a great help.

I also asked my 18 year old son to participate. I think he'll just post on my blog or he might start his own blog, not sure yet. He's got a great perspective of homeschooling as he is dyslexic and will graduate from homeschooling in 08. I'd love for my other 2 boys (ages 14 and 16) to take part in this. When people ask me about homeschooling I have them talk to my boys. They a great walking advertisement for how well it works!

[Andy]

Hi all,

I'm a home schooled high school senior student.
I will be participating in Back to homeschool week. So come and checkout my blog. See you soon!?!

[Shauna]

This is a great idea! I usually just mention our homeschooling in passing on my blog but have been considering starting a new, totally separate blog for that purpose. These are great questions for initiating the discussion.

[Heather]

GREAT IDEA!!!

[Irreverent, Barefoot Ragamuffins]

Sounds like fun! I can't wait to join in.

[Wendy @ WMF]

Great idea. I'd like to play along. Could you pretty please email me the code for the graphic? wmf0971@earthlink.net
I've had some homeschool type posts knocking around in my head for a while. This will be a good way to post them.

[Marmee]

This is a GREAT idea! I'll certainly be tuning in for this series of posts. Thanks for doing this.

[Mama Squirrel]

Sounds like fun--I've linked.

[Fatcat]

I'm doing it! I've already put the graphic and the copied rules etc on my blog. How are we going to find everyone else's posts to read them? Will you have a listing?

This is such a great idea. Thanks for doing it!

[Margot]

This sounds like it could be fun and encouraging. Thanks for hosting.

[BeckyB]

What a great idea - I could use the encouragement right now!! I am going to do posts this week on it as well - sounds wonderful!!!!

[Sara]

Hi, will you send me the code please. Thanks.

[Barbara Frank]

I'm going to be out of town part of the week, but I'll try to get back here and participate--sounds like fun!

Thanks for stopping by my blog,
Barb

[Trina]

Joining this thing all the way from the Philippines. There must be as many reasons to homeschool as there are homeschoolers--am looking forward to reading about everyone's opinions, especially those that are different from mine. :D

[chamé]

Got here thru Trina - all the way from the Philippines too! These are great topics & i'm sure to discover new things along the way as I write about them in my blog. I'm looking forward to reading other people's posts here too.

[Mrs. C]

Hi! I'm participating too! This is a neat idea!

[Barb]

I'm in the process of planning next year (2007-2008), actually this year's stuff so tis will help me with motivation and ideas. Thanks. I, too, need to blog more about homeschooling. It gets my ideas solidified and I hear from others.

[Melanie]

Hi! I'll be participating this week!

[jennifer at jennifer'sjoyride]

What a great way to re-focus on why and how we are doing this fantastic thing called homeschooling! Thank you!

[Tamara]

Thanks! I participated a little differently since I had already recently blogged on many of these topics..so I hope it's okay.

~Tamara
www.TrainingHearts.com

http://www.traininghearts.com/blog/?p=401

[Daja]

I'll do it! Looks like fun!

[Monkey Giggles]

Hello, this is my first time here and I love your blog. I found you through "and Chloe Makes 6" I would like to participated in your back to homeschool week. I have posted mine for today. Thank you for hosting.

[melanie west]

I'm joining too! I will post mine.. right now! My day was terrible today & I don't feel like blogging, but I really wanted to. Thank you for doing this!

[southerngirlmusings]

I linked yesterday and forgot to post here but I am in and I am doing 2 weeks in 1 at http://firmlyplanted.wordpress.com

I saw that purse on thought how cute..nice to now make the connection.

[Lori D.]

I've posted my comments here, looking forward to reading others.
http://homeschoolblogger.com/LoriD/

[Sophia]

We are newbies this year, so I look forward to seeing all the comments posted by the vetrans. We are just praying that God will help us educate without messing them up too terribly much.

[Brandy]

I am participating in this. I look forward to reading other peoples experiences as well.

[Andrea]

Wish I had found this post earlier... I added an entry to my blog.

[Betty]

Hi, and thanks for the writing assignment. It's been and interesting week. It's amazing how differently we view our homeschooling when we actually have to put it into words.
Betty
Galatians 6:9

[Robin Sampson]

I completely missed your Back to Home School series (surgery and recovery). What a terrific idea. Would you mind if I borrowed it (with credits and links) and added a few weeks. Many of us start school in September and we could add a few more threads. I recently posted "An Easy Way to Make Homeschool Decisions" http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/homeschool/an-easy-way-to-make-homeschool-decisions/

[MooBeeMa in Oregon]

I'm behind too. But Still plan to post on this topic as well. So many people ask me why I homeschool. Here's a good opportunity to explain more.

[Dawn @ My Home Sweet Home]

Hello?! I have been such a loser of a blogger lately that I completely missed such a fun week of topics!

[Robin @ Heart of Wisdom]

You may want to visit the conversation about classical homeschooling at the Heart of Wisdom blog.