*** Homeschool List ***

[hsmamato2]

Ok, I won't flame you... I hope I don't need an asbestos suit after this!
Not insulting choices here, I know some work for some people,some don't...we all have our own choices to make!
I know this can be a hot issue, but I side with the "no thanks" on the govt involvement... In time, it has the potential for too much misuse,and if it starts with "asking" a certain amount of criteria be met, it will end somewhere, but not necessarily where we, the parents might want it to. Hence, my position on this.
And, it may be a great alternative to actually sending your kids to ps,if you don't want to,but it's not quite the same thing.
Homeschooling involves taking back resposibility(good or bad) for our kids education,and the direction our families head in. This is the big difference, if I still have to "ask" an authority figure about attendance,compliance with certain rules, standards, then you can see why there are differences.
And, you can see the drawbacks for those of us homeschooling this way to calling them the same name- then if we're all hs'ers, what's to prevent the set criteria for your curriculum you've signed up for then being forced upon the rest of us who didn't want this?
And the obvious benefits of calling distance schooling,or charter schools homeschooling as if there were no distinction- now, if one set of "homeschoolers" readily asks for and complies with this 'help', then why not all of them? And thus the creeping in of perhaps unwanted "help" into our lives ...
So while I have no problem with choosing charter or govt funded virtual schools, I really believe that it's different from homeschooling in those fundamental ways. If I was given no choice but to send the kids to ps,or distance school at home, I'd opt for the home courses too, but homeschooling is a choice that right now we're lucky enough to be able to make!

 

[4kidsandadog]

Hsmamamato, You expressed it much more eloquently than I.... your concerns are exactly what I was trying to get at in my post.

GotFids, you are fortunate that you are allowed Christian materials. Some places that offer gov't funding/assistance will not allow any religious materials at all. In those cases, being told what I can and cannot use certainly would not feel like homeschooling to me. I'm glad you are happy with your situation, though.

 

[Denine]

Winterpromise.com

It is similar to SL, but includes activities that SL does not feel are necessary. It is a nice combination. I believe it is a fairly new curriculum.

 

[Brier Rose]

Hey Everyone!

Are any of you planning anything special for your first day of school?

I want to plan something , but just don't know what!

Any ideas??

BTW..assuming some of you took a summer break , when is your planned start date for this year?

We usually start our daily routine right after Labor Day, but I try and start with some mild review a little before that.

 

[Nascia]

The vast majority of those, including myself, enrolled in a virtual charter school do not consider themselves to be "homeschooling." We understand that we are providing a public education at home for our students. Most parents typically go above and beyond the required curriculum and provide additional educational opportunities, (I have found this thread to be a good resource). There are a few that are strictly looking for free materials and quickly become irritated with the school. Fortunately for them, withdrawing is option that can be chosen at anytime for any reason. I completely agree that it is NOT for everyone and am very thankful there are a variety of educational options available.

There is a major difference between homeschooling and being enrolled in a vcs. I would rather send my kids to a b&m ps, but unfortunately we live in an area that is very intolerant (race and religion). I have also tried to traditionally homeschool my oldest, but spent too much time and money trying to find materials that were secular.

In Pa (which from what I understand has strict homeschooling laws), government oversight is nearly identical to what homeschoolers have. Both, homeschoolers and those in a VCS, need to ensure 180 days or 900/ 990 hours. They both need to provide student portfolios or exams, and take the PSSA tests. The slight difference is that VCS have teachers that call biweekly to see if we need any assistance.

The VCS have caught on quickly in Pa, with close to a dozen chartered schools, several having close to, if not over, 5,000 students enrolled. I am very thankful for the opportunity and am glad we have found an option that works for us.

 

[adhelove]

I homeschooled my daughter 2nd-4th grade and 6th grade. My son is fortunate to have a great classical Christian school and I teach PE there. They are a new school and are only going through 5th grade. We are praying hard about the public school this upcoming year. We are trying it for 7th grade so we will see. We used switched on schoolhouse with the computer only curriculum. We have also used and love saxon math, shirley english and riggs program for reading. I would love to be added to the list and help with my knowledge to any fellow disners. Wish us luck with public school.

 

[jaycns]

Winterpromise.com

It is similar to SL, but includes activities that SL does not feel are necessary. It is a nice combination. I believe it is a fairly new curriculum.

Thanks! I will check it out! Sounds right up our alley. We liked SL but it didn't have enough "stuff to do" as part of it for us. We loved the reading...but we like a bit of hands on as well!

 

[Denine]

Thanks! I will check it out! Sounds right up our alley. We liked SL but it didn't have enough "stuff to do" as part of it for us. We loved the reading...but we like a bit of hands on as well!

You're welcome. We are going to use Calvert pre-k this year and probably K next year, but then I may try WP.

As far as when we will start school in the Fall, it will be sometime toward the end of September. I don't have anything special planned.

 

[sconnell]

Not a homeschooler, but very interested in this.

 

[disnutt]

Does anyone follow the Classical education style described in "The Well-Trained Mind"?

 

[noodleknitter]

We have used the book as a guideline, and many of the recommended readings, but with multiple children it is a bit difficult, I think. Teaching just one (as the author did) in this manner would have been much easier. We loved all of the myths from around the world! I don't know that we would have read so many if I hadn't been influenced by Jesse and Susan.

Tried Powerglides Latin, btw, and hated it.

 

[jaycns]

Does anyone follow the Classical education style described in "The Well-Trained Mind"?

Yes. In fact, for History and English I use texts published by those authors.

I also do my history and science in four year rotations and have introduced a beg. Latin/Greek vocab. program to my kids.

I really like the in depth look you take by going in rotation vs. cramming it all in or only hitting parts each year.

I do however, not follow it strictly and if something "different" seems to work better for my boys then I go with that.

 

[disnutt]

noodleknitter and jaycns-Thanks for the input! I'm glad to see there are others out there who found the book helpful. It appeals to me because I wish I could have learned this way. Maybe I can pick up some information as I start this new endeavor!

I'm going to be HS a 5th and a 1st grader and thought I was going to be fortunate as they are on the same cycle for the history stuff. Seems that it might be harder if they weren't on the same schedule and I had to try to educate myself on 2 different historical periods at the same time.

We're new to this and I'm particularly interested in the Latin even for myself. If Powerglides isn't good is there a better program out there?

Thanks!

 

[sha_lyn]

Does anyone follow the Classical education style described in "The Well-Trained Mind"?

I follow a combination of Classical and Charlotte Mason.
We use SOTW for History and used First grammar Lesson for The Well Trained Mind.

I like janncs like the 4 yr rotation. I don't use it for science yet, but will for middle/high school. Right now for science I prefer to touch on all subjects

 

[sweet maxine]

I haven't posted here in a while, but I'm trying to catch up. Sorry to ruin the thread continuity, but I'm trying to find out about the homeschool days at Epcot for this year. Were they only in May? If memory serves me right, there were some days in September too, but I can't find the postcard I got that had the dates. I did call a while back to ask Disney reps about the one in May, but I was told I would have to have a group of 10 or more to qualify for the special activities at Epcot. Is that still true?

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

I'd definitely be interested in knowing if there were any homeschool events going on in Sept. We will be there the week after Labor Day. I would think it would be fairly easy to find another homeschool family or two online to get to the group of 10.

I haven't posted here in a while, but I'm trying to catch up. Sorry to ruin the thread continuity, but I'm trying to find out about the homeschool days at Epcot for this year. Were they only in May? If memory serves me right, there were some days in September too, but I can't find the postcard I got that had the dates. I did call a while back to ask Disney reps about the one in May, but I was told I would have to have a group of 10 or more to qualify for the special activities at Epcot. Is that still true?

 

[momimouse27]

Hey Everyone!

Are any of you planning anything special for your first day of school?

I want to plan something , but just don't know what!

Any ideas??

BTW..assuming some of you took a summer break , when is your planned start date for this year?

We usually start our daily routine right after Labor Day, but I try and start with some mild review a little before that.

Someone in my homeschool group mentioned this, I thought it was cute. Instead of a "first day of school" they have a "not going to school" day. Sometimes it is a field trip, sometimes they do the opposite of what people are doing in public school. I thought it sounded like fun

 

[Denine]

I have a friend that uses the Classical method and loves it. She has 3 children.

I like the Charlotte Mason method, but I haven't even officialy started HS yet.

I received the Rainbow Resource catalog yesterday. Oh MY! I thought someone had put a large phone book in my mailbox. It has everthing in it!

 

[mommyof3grlz]

The last time I checked with Disney they told me that September 18, 19, and 20th were homeschool days at Epcot. You get a reduced admission. They have an expert to inform you about one of the countries is what the guy told me. I think you need a group of ten or more but I'm not sure. Just call Disney and ask. They were very nice to me. It was April when I called for the info.

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

The last time I checked with Disney they told me that September 18, 19, and 20th were homeschool days at Epcot. You get a reduced admission. They have an expert to inform you about one of the countries is what the guy told me. I think you need a group of ten or more but I'm not sure. Just call Disney and ask. They were very nice to me. It was April when I called for the info.

Thanks! I did an online search and found this info on a homeschoolers blog. Unfortunately, we won't be there during those dates.

We are so excited to present to you our new Disney Home School Days educational program: Passport to Discovery



This unique program at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort can be enjoyed throughout the year with a group of 10 or more home school students. Just call our office at 1-866-291-6704 to request your group’s ticket order form.





On select dates, we are also offering a very special program enhancement, a cultural diversity presentation, followed by a question and answer segment led by a Disney cultural representative. These natives of other countries present unique insights into their home country’s culture, traditions and lifestyle.

2006 Special Cultural Diversity Presentation Event Dates



February 21 & 22, 2006

May 25, 26 & 27, 2006, and

September 18, 19 & 20, 2006


​

This program is available for $41.50 plus tax per person for groups of 10 or more homeschool students. Parent teachers and guests may purchase up to as many adult tickets as they have purchased student tickets. I have attached the ticket order form.



We hope you will plan to join us and experience this very special program event.

So, start planning now to join with many other home school families participating in this exciting program.