Anyone else homeschool?

[DisneyMom5]

Disney Doll - the rules do vary by state. In MI, we do not have to report anything. This web site is very helpful in letting you know the laws for your state: Home School Legal Defense Assoc.
If you are curious what kind of resources are available to teach with, do a online search for homeschool resources. You will be shocked at how much there is.

Randall.nelson - I can't remember how many points I got for that video, it was last year. I get all kinds of points, mostly for the emails. I buy very little. Wish they would put Land's End back on their list!

Peg - Glad you were willing to find what works for your child so quickly! It is hard to go against the flow sometimes.

Sha-lyn - we use Sonlight and Miquon and Singapore math. Has been working pretty well for us. Of course, the Holidays have been touch and go, but that's why we start in July.

 

[maci]

I have thought of doing home school also. But as someone mentioned, I just dont know if it would work with DS. He does SO much better learning from other adults.

Here is my question? How do you do it when you have one child who is in homeschool and then a pre-schooler? It just seems like it would be so hard to focus for you and the child trying to home school with smaller sbilings running around playing.

I do truly admire you all, I know it has to be difficult!

 

[randall.nelson@mchsi]

In Alabama we must have a school covering. That usaually means some sort of church covering. Some of the coverings require alot, and some do not. Some people want alot of supervision, and some do not. It works well to have choices in picking your covering. The law requires 180 school days. The coverings cannot change that, but you are offerred sick days and some teacher work days. We always finish our text books, and it doesn't take 180 days. We also use Sonlight. We love it. We don't usually read all the books, but have saved all of them to read at some time in our liesure. I love Saxon math, and we use some Bob Jones. I have one junior in college that was always HS, and a DD, 17 that is graduating this year. The college boy is on full tuiton plus some extra He even graduated a year early. He was a reading machine. I do have one who would rather do anything but read One covering here in town has all kinds of classes offerred, and they have a middle school and high school sports program. We don't do the classes, because we can dual enroll at the university, but we sure play ball One of the sweetest blessings of my HS experience is that my DD, 17 loves to read aloud. She has done all the Sonlight read alouds to her 10 year old brother. I was doing read alouds to two others, and she just offerred. She loves literature, and has read GREAT children's lit through this. Well, I've rattled on long enough. We start back on Monday. It was a nice break

 

[sha_lyn]

Here is my question? How do you do it when you have one child who is in homeschool and then a pre-schooler? It just seems like it would be so hard to focus for you and the child trying to home school with smaller sbilings running around playing.

I have to admit I sent DD to a private preschool the first yr DS homeschooled. We had actually planned to PS, but she really wasn't ready for K once preK was over. Her B day is right before the age cut off, and she had not matured enough in many ways to make it through a full day K program. She is still 1/2 a school yr behind if she had started when she could have according to the school calendar (except she is above grade level in math). That's the good thing about HS'ing... we didn't have to push her when she wasn't ready, or hold her back a complete yr. We could work at her own pace.

I would say it really depends on a lot of things, especially the age difference in the kids. If the age difference isn't huge you can usually include the younger sibling in the school work up to a point. If the older child is say 9 or older, they usually don't need as much 1 on 1 as a younger child, so you can teach the subject then move on to caring for the younger sibling while the "student" reads, does written work etc.

 

[ebaynut31]

I have a question also.

Are the kids issued a HS diploma? What do they use as proof when older and trying to get a job?

 

[sha_lyn]

Are the kids issued a HS diploma? What do they use as proof when older and trying to get a job?

That really depends on the state and or the curriculum. Since we are using a correspondence/private school for DS yes he will have a diploma from an accredited private school. However most colleges now recognize HS'ing as a valid education without requiring a diploma. What they do require in lieu of a diplomat varies depending on the college. some require a transcript of the curriculum/subjects/grades along with a portfolio of samples of work. Others have test that they administer. A few go only by SAT or ACT scores, but usually require a higher score than they do for public or private school graduates (this makes no sense to me, why would a HS'er have to perform better than the others)

As for jobs... Who ask for proof of a diploma? They usually ask if you have completed high school, college etc.

 

[randall.nelson@mchsi]

Hi ebay nut- I'll answer that question since it looks like I have the older children of this discussion The covering we are under gives out nice diplomas. BUT, I had to submit their 4 year course of study their freshman year in high school. It could be modified, it just showed we had put some thought into what their coursework would be. It included 4 years of math, science, english, history, plus some electives. pretty much like a PS or private school. You become aware of good curriculum, and with good advice from good friends you know what is good work for high school. Also, I remebered well my years in high school, and we shot for doing a little better. The Homeschool Legal Defense, a support group, offers diplomas, too. The best "proof" is the college entrance exams. If your student takes the ACT or PSAT/SAT and does as well as those PS students, that will show they have a good education. IF they do very well, they win scholarships Also I made a transcript of the courses completed and grades received. Most colleges are aware of hsing now, and know most students are up to par. I'll happily answer any other questions.