I am currently obsessing about Homeschooling. Jenna is four so the question that everyone is asking is "is she going to JK in the Fall?" Here in Ontario children start Junior Kindergarten when they are four.
Actually, it seems that so many people just assume that when your child is four that they should go to school. I think four is young. We have worked so hard for me to stay home with the kids that it seems silly to send her off for 2.5 hours of school. My mother-in-law also pointed out that when you will be going to school for 15-20 years of your life you should at least get the first 5 years to stay home :)
I mentioned that I was thinking about homeschooling to a women at the park and all I got was "Oh - you're one of those". One of those? Does she mean someone who is concerned about the state of our education system? Someone who know her child and is trying to make the best descion for her as an individual? Hmmm - I think NOT! How very bold to actually say that outloud :)
I am very concerned about our education system (here in ONtario anyway). The classes are so big and I can't help but feel that my child will be just a number. Also, it seems to me that the school ssytem was designed for teh industrial age. Start or stop learning by the bell, listen to authority etc. etc. All those things you need to be a good factory worker. However, we are in the information age and I can't help but feel that there is a better way for kids to learn.
I want my kids to be able to think outside the box, think independantly but still be able to work within a team. I want them to be entrepreners - no matter what their choosen feild. I think that home schooling, especially when I am running
Tickled Pink Designs, from home will be a great experience.
Ah well - enough rambling!
Anyway, I have found some great links for homeschooling or just for home learning. I thought I would post them for others to see to.
Brightly Beaming Resources
http://www.letteroftheweek.com/ School Express
http://www.schoolexpress.com/fwsindex.php KinderStart
http://www.kinderstart.com/learningactivitiesandcrafts/index.html Dositey Online
http://www.dositey.com/ Class Brain - JK & SK
http://www.classbrain.com/cb_pk/cb_pk.htm ECE Teaccher's Pages
http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/teacher.html First
School http://www.first-school.ws/
Here is one of my latest custom designs.
