We are Home Schooling!

Why? I keep getting asked that. People assume it is because we are "having problems". Absolutely not! We love Valley Elementary and Landon's teacher is awesome! She has been great to work with. So, with that out of the way, I will tell you *why*. :)
Number one reason is we believe homeschooling offers a much broader education that can be tailored to meet each child's individual needs and interests. Homeschooling isn't the old fashioned thing people sometimes think of. Homeschooling has evolved into a very exciting, social and wonderful opportunity!
It provides me the opportunity to teach in ways that are specific to my children's learning styles. I will be able to do loads of hands-on activities and explore my children's interests on a personal, in depth manner.
Every moment is a teaching moment, in a homeschooled home. No question goes unanswered, no event in nature is passed up and absolutely, no learning opportunity is ignored. Homeschooling parents are not just observers and lecturers. They are active participants in the learning process. They encourage their children to be inquisitive and guide them through their learning process, with a really hands on approach. I like to think of myself as a "learning coach".
It's a chance to magnify our family bond! Afterall, we will be together pretty much all of the time, laughing, learning and playing together! What more could I want than a stronger family?
The community, also, offers a lot for homeschoolers. A huge misconception about homeschoolers is that they wont have a social life. It is quite the contrary. There are MANY homeschooling groups in Utah and Weber County specifically. In fact, the very valley we live in is known for having a lot of homeschoolers. We have a few homeschooling families in our ward, actually, with kids Landon's age.
When we first moved in people would say, "So where will he be going to school?" I couldn't quite understand that question because we have only one school in the entire valley. One day I asked someone why everyone asks me that. She said, "Oh just because so many people homeschool here, that you never know!"
All these homeschoolers in my area, in Weber County and across the state get together very regularly for what's called "homeschool groups". These groups get together to play, interact, go on feild trips together, do classes together and any thing else that we, as parents, feel is good for our kids. (My friend, who's been homeschooling for years, says that she, on average, sees other homeschooling families at least 4-5 times a week. In addition to that, her children get to play with the public schooled kids when they get home from school.)
Landon's kindergarten teacher was awesome when I told her we'd be homeschooling. She said that she fully supports us in our decision and that she thinks Landon will do really well. She willingly put together a list of things for us to cover at home and offered to have Landon come in, to her, throughout the school year for assesments. She gave us internet links of places to find lesson plans, gave me a list of what the State's requirements are for kindergarten and just overall, has been awesome at helping me get started. She's said I can ask questions and bounce ideas off of her whenever I need to.
At the moment, while Landon finishes up the rest of the 1st quarter, I am putting together a classroom and getting lesson plans together. Our classroom is really cute and we have all kinds of typical classroom "stuff". As the state suggests for kindergarteners, we will be focusing on Language Arts and Mathamatics. The exciting part, for Landon, is because we are going to be working one on one, we are going to have time for science (and other subjects like social studies, health, etc.). Landon loves science and was quite disappointed when he found out that public school wouldn't offer him science until 3rd grade.
We should have a full spectrum of subjects to dive into! This year, Landon has chosen to take a Musical Theater Class, as part of his homeschooling. (The performance is in May, so plan on it, if you can!!) He went to his first class last week and loved it!
We were too late this year, but next year we hope to get enrolled into a Utah charter school called K12 Inc.. They provide you with curriculum, supplies, a teacher to call, all testing material and a variety of subjects (including foreign language), all free of charge! Of course, charter schools are public schools, so he would be considered as getting a "public education", only it would be done at home, in anyway we feel suitable and at any pace we need. They just tell us what needs to be covered and they take care of the testing!
Hopefully I have enlightened you, as to "why". We are excited to begin. Landon is looking forward to it and keeps asking why we can't start now. We've, also, told Landon that his schooling options are his choice and that he can return back to public school at the end of the semester if he is not happy with homeschooling. If he does decide to continue moving forward with homeschooling, but changes his mind in a few years, that's okay, too. His wishes are going to be respected.
I will keep you updated on our activities and our progress!