Hi there,
I have recently been through a lot of the exact same thought processes you are talking about. Let me share the conclusions I have come to. Please keep in mind though that I am mom to an only child, who is four years old, and we are just about to begin homeschooling; so I do not have the weight of experience that many of the responses you will receive carry. One thing though–congratulations on having done Montessori school for a year! It is a FABULOUS system of education, and I am sure your daughter has benefited greatly. As I’m sure you know, there are lots of Montessori home materials, books, and supplies that are available, and you can easily continue to integrate a Montessori approach into homeschooling; it is quite compatible with the Charlotte Mason approach, if you were to choose to go that route.
We have been debating and debating how to best go about our son’s education for well over a year now. He is an extremely bright and intelligent child, but does have some issues due to a sensory disorder that make it difficult for him to operate in overwhelming situations. I have always wanted to homeschool, but worried that perhaps by keeping him home, I would be depriving him of necessary interaction and possible helping tools he would receive in the public schools (private is not a financial option for us, either; and frankly, if it were, I think we would still homeschool for the same reasons.) After much research and thought, however, we have decided that school would be a less appropriate choice for him. DS learns better in a one on one environment, without distracting sounds or visuals; he is very book-oriented, and learns quickly by memory, so CM methods are an obvious leaning for us; and like some of the others have said, I can’t imagine sending him to school for long days (which in some areas are getting even longer, for kindergarteners even), when his essential schooling should take no more than a few hours and leave plenty of time for books and enriching sensory play.
My son does need a lot of social exposure, so we have put a great deal of thought into that. Currently (we’re not “technically” homeschooling yet), he goes to church nursery, playgroup, library story time, and babysitting twice a week,where he plays w/the babysitter’s daughter. We also set up one-on-one playdates for him when possible. I intend to keep all of these activities in the fall, while also getting involved with the homeschool group I have contacted in our new city. It is a very large, very active group, with many different styles and types of homeschoolers. I am hoping that I can either find or form a group of CM-minded moms of little ones.
I’m sure that you will make the best choice for you daughter and your family. One thing I will say though, if I may–I am fully on board with the idea of a “trial” year. We are in fact considering the next year a trial year for us; although I am 90% sure we will continue homeschooling. I agree though with Gina that a “trial year” of homeschooling would probably be a better choice than a trial year in public school. If you do a trial year of homeschool, and decide to continue, great; or even if you decide not to continue, your daughter will undoubtedly be well prepare for public school after having been homeschooled for kindergarten. However, if you do a trial year in public school and decide to bring her home, you may find that it is much harder for her to adjust to being homeschooled than vice versa. But just my 2 cents also! You obviously love your daughter very much; I hope that you are able to come to the decision that you all feel best fits your family.