Thinking About Homeschooling

I'm sorry I haven't posted much on here since we got back from Washington. I have been spending all of my free time on the computer researching homeschooling options. Jim and I are seriously considering homeschooling Jordan next year. People have been asking me why we want to home school. My answer is 3 fold:

1. I would put Jordan in a private Christian school if I could afford it but that's out of the question until we are done paying child support in 2 years.

2. I don't like all the violence that is going on even in the elementary schools these days.

3. My own selfish reason. All Omaha kindergartens are now full day and so if she were in school I would only see her for an hour a day before I had to go to work. She would get out of school at 3:50 and I leave for work around 5:00. I don't think I can go from having her with me all day long to only seeing her for an hour a night.

We have been looking into different homeschooling curriculums and also considering "unit studies". A friend of mine who is also going to be HS her daughter for Kindergarten also pointed out that with Kindergarten you wouldn't necessarily have to purchase any curriculum because of the wealth of free information available via the Internet and the library. Here are the content standards for Omaha Public School's Kindergarten:

ART

Discover… Art Is All Around Us

01 Use various art media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas.
• Use art materials and tools safely and appropriately.
• Explore simple art media in creating art works.
• Create artwork about people, places, and things.

02 Demonstrate an understanding of the visual arts in relation to aesthetics,
history, and culture.
• Discuss the question: What is Art?
• View and discuss artworks from different cultures and times.
• Examine artwork that reflects how people are alike and different.

03 Analyze the characteristics and merits of a work of art.
• Develop and comprehend a basic art vocabulary that exhibits knowledge of
the following art elements and their characteristics:
Line: words that describe lines, i.e. straight, curved, and zigzag
Shape: circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval, diamond, nature shapes
Size: small, medium, large
Color: red, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, white, black, brown
• Compare and contrast artists’ subjects to objects in the real world.

04 Explore ways that art is connected to other things we learn.
Science
• Compare elements in works of art to elements found in nature.
• Observe and describe daily and seasonal weather changes as seen in works
of art.

MATHEMATICS

01 Communicate the meaning of numbers 1-20.
• Demonstrate one-to-one correspondence.
• Recognize numerals 1-20.

02 Demonstrate the concept of addition and subtraction.
• Demonstrate one-to-one correspondence.
• Recognize that addition is combining sets.
• Recognize that subtraction is separating sets.

03 Estimate numerical solutions.
• Demonstrate number sense.
• Understand estimation is not an exact answer.

04 Apply concepts of measurement.
• Match types of measurement with types of machine.
• Apply nonstandard measurement.

05 Identify, describe, and create geometric shapes.
• Match shapes to names.
• Match shapes to descriptions.
• Recognize sides and corners.
• Reproduce geometric shapes.

06 Demonstrate knowledge of math related vocabulary to analyze data for
graphing.
• Select the vocabulary related to graphing (shortest, longest, tallest,
smallest, same).
• Create a graph.
• Compare items on graphs.

07 Describe, create, and extend patterns.
• Choose a pattern that demonstrates a repeated sequence or design.
• Create the next object in a pattern.

08 Sort and classify objects according to one or more attributes.
• Group things together that are alike in some way.
• Demonstrate the use of reasoning in explaining the method used for
sorting.
• Identify an isolated attribute when sorting and classifying.


READING/LANGUAGE ARTS

01 Demonstrate phonological awareness.
• Identify rhyming words.
• Identify beginning, middle, and ending sounds in one-syllable words.
• Blend individual sounds into words orally.

02 Memorize and recite familiar nursery rhymes and poems.
• Demonstrate the ability to recite familiar nursery rhymes and poems orally.

03 Apply knowledge of the organization of print to reading.
• Demonstrate the ability to point to words.
• Demonstrate the ability to locate top to bottoms.
• Demonstrate the ability to track left to right.
• Demonstrate the ability to turn pages sequentially.

04 Name upper and lower case letters of the alphabet.

05 Produce single consonants and short vowel sounds.

06 Recognize color, number, and high frequency words.

07 Listen to fiction and nonfiction to demonstrate understanding.
• Make reasonable predictions based on information from the story.
• Recall events of the story.
• Distinguish between reality and fantasy.

08 Self-select and independently “read” fiction and nonfiction materials.

09 Write the letters of the alphabet.

10 Use writing to convey messages.
• Demonstrate the ability to form letters.
• Write from dictation.

11 Use oral language to communicate.

12 Gain information and complete tasks through listening.
• Follow 1- and 2-step directions.

13 Recognize that people come from different cultural backgrounds.
• Listen attentively to multicultural literature and poems.
• Respond to questions about multicultural literature and poems.
• Use illustrations and multicultural literature to answer questions about
other cultures (attire, food, holidays, and traditions).


SCIENCE

01 Examine problems using scientific inquiry.
• Collect information by observing sorted sets of materials
• Collect information by observing living things as they grow.
• Collect information by observing a weather graph.

02 Integrate unifying concepts and processes in science experiences.
• Use one or more of the five senses to sort common materials
• Describe and record how illustrations can represent change in living
things.
• Describe and record how a model can represent the weather.

03 Observe, describe, and sort common materials.
• Objects can be sorted by various attributes.
• Household tools can be sorted by design and use.
• Many things in our world can be recycled.

04 Investigate and describe how living things change as they grow.
• Living things change as they grow.
• Living and non-living things are different.
• Living creatures must satisfy basic needs in order to grow and be healthy.

05 Observe and describe daily and seasonal weather changes.
• Each season has different weather characteristics.
Winter Summer
Spring Fall

• Day and night have unique characteristics.
Stars Sun
Moon

• The sun gives us heat and light.


SOCIAL STUDIES

Focus - Self and Families

01 CULTURE:
• Identify the likenesses and differences of self with others.

02 HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of yesterday, today,
and tomorrow.

• Recognize the globe as a model of the earth.

03 ECONOMICS:
• Identify how families and communities work together to meet their
basic needs and wants.

04 CITIZENSHIP/GOVERNMENT:
• Participate cooperatively in group activities.

• Follow school rules.

LIBRARY MEDIA

01 Memorize and recite familiar nursery rhymes and poems. *

02 Listen to fiction and nonfiction to demonstrate understanding. *

03 Self-select and independently “read” fiction and nonfiction materials
(decode story through illustrations).*
04 Formulate a basic question about an information topic.

05 Be familiar with the following terms: title, author, illustrator, cover,
spine, pages.

06 Exhibit appropriate library media center behavior including proper
care of materials, equipment, and facility.

07 Demonstrate proper checkout procedures, and return books in a
responsible manner.


08 Recognize that people come from different cultural backgrounds. ***

* Matches Reading/Language Arts standards.

*** District-adopted multicultural standards intended for use in all subject
areas.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
KINDERGARTEN-GRADE 6

01 Demonstrate an understanding of movement concepts and demonstrate a
variety of physical skills.
• Model non-manipulative skills.
• Perform locomotor movements.
• Display manipulative skills.
• Exhibit an understanding of spatial awareness.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how the body can move in relation to
self, others and objects.
• Apply the concepts of force, time and flow.

02 Understand the benefits of a physically active lifestyle.
• Demonstrate an awareness of physical activity opportunities inside and
outside of school.
• Recognize inhibitors to physical activity.
• Know how to modify daily routine to include physical activity.
• Identify and demonstrate the components of physical fitness.
• Demonstrate an awareness of consumer issues and exercise
misconceptions.

03 Demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior during physical
activities.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and follow good sportsmanship
• Cooperate in small groups.
• Use resources available to deal positively with conflict situations.
• Follow basic safety guidelines.

TECHNOLOGY LITERACY

01 Use basic technology-related terms to identify the components of a
computer system.

• Screen
• Keyboard
• Mouse (drag, click)
• Printer
• CD
• Internet
• Dock
• Icon

02 Show appropriate care and use of technology.

• Demonstrate appropriate use of computers.
• Demonstrate appropriate computer etiquette.

03 Use grade appropriate software with assistance.

• Open and close a software application.
• Open, view and print documents

If anyone has any insight in to homeschool please feel free to share it with me.

Thanks!