*** Homeschool List ***

[Leader of the Club]

I usually just hang out on the budget board, but I decided to see what is going on the Disney for Families board and I found....

tons of other homeschoolers!

Hooray!

I have homeschooled all of my kids. My DD18 just returned home from Japan (yes, she went to Tokyo Disneyland!). She went with a group from The Ohio State University. She spent a month at Japanese language school and a month living with a host family. Great experience for anyone. She worked very hard and saved even harder and paid for the entire thing herself--$5,000! She works at the Disney Store and they want to train her to be an Assistant Manager. she also designs and sells custom jewlery. She does beautiful work--if I do say so myself!

My DS10 is into nature and the out-of-doors. He went bird banding yesterday with the orinthology professor at Miami University. They set up these huge nets, caught the birds, weighed, messured and recorded the data and then released them. he is also into martial arts, skating and boarding. He writes his own comic books, too.

DS2 is well, just along for the ride most of the time. He helps me fill the birdfeeders everyday and likes to help around the house. We have a huge birdfeeding station in our woods, so his help is great!

I, too, am a lifelong learner! I read everything I can get my hands on! We are all NUTS for the Mouse!

Well, folks, I probably won't read all of the posts--at least not tonight! I do hope to chat me with you all soon.

 

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

I usually just hang out on the budget board, but I decided to see what is going on the Disney for Families board and I found....

tons of other homeschoolers!

Hooray!

I have homeschooled all of my kids. My DD18 just returned home from Japan (yes, she went to Tokyo Disneyland!). She went with a group from The Ohio State University. She spent a month at Japanese language school and a month living with a host family. Great experience for anyone. She worked very hard and saved even harder and paid for the entire thing herself--$5,000! She works at the Disney Store and they want to train her to be an Assistant Manager. she also designs and sells custom jewlery. She does beautiful work--if I do say so myself!

My DS10 is into nature and the out-of-doors. He went bird banding yesterday with the orinthology professor at Miami University. They set up these huge nets, caught the birds, weighed, messured and recorded the data and then released them. he is also into martial arts, skating and boarding. He writes his own comic books, too.

DS2 is well, just along for the ride most of the time. He helps me fill the birdfeeders everyday and likes to help around the house. We have a huge birdfeeding station in our woods, so his help is great!

I, too, am a lifelong learner! I read everything I can get my hands on! We are all NUTS for the Mouse!

Well, folks, I probably won't read all of the posts--at least not tonight! I do hope to chat me with you all soon.

Welcome and I am so jealous I want to go to Tokyo Disneyland.

Theresa

 

[Leader of the Club]

Welcome and I am so jealous I want to go to Tokyo Disneyland.

Theresa

Me, too!

 

[lori1043]

I love your siggy!!,"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"!!!!

We got the FLYpen from Bxxx campaign and there is a $10 marauders map you can get from walmart-DD9 LOVES it!!!

Lori

 

[Helpmate]

Just to add to what I said above, the kids have different grade levels depending on subjects because I go by what their skills are for each thing. I do make sure they are on track for their age, but, often they're ahead, so even though we have a plan, it's really not the same as public school.

It's highly likely that if they did return to public school, they'd end up testing higher than their grade level in more than one area, sooooo.....I'm not really sure either as far asrade level goes. When people i don't know ask what grade they're in, I just state their PS grade, but really the PS way is not the way we do it. LOL

I prepare them for if they have to go back, except they just end up overprepared because of the ease of moving ahead in HS, if that makes sense.

Makes good sense mommy2lots. It's one of the greatest perks to customized home schooling, meeting each child where they are and treating their learning experiences as unique individual experiences. Now, if only someone could help me customize my plan for cleaning our dirty laundry. LOL!

 

[adisneymama]

I haven't read this whole post, but I am in desperate need for some help. DD is 5 and just started Kindergarten. We are having some problems with the school already and was wondering if anyone was in the Houston area and could tell me what I would have to do to start homeschooling at this point? Thanks for any help!

 

[Helpmate]

I haven't read this whole post, but I am in desperate need for some help. DD is 5 and just started Kindergarten. We are having some problems with the school already and was wondering if anyone was in the Houston area and could tell me what I would have to do to start homeschooling at this point? Thanks for any help!

Hello adisneymama! Glad to hear from you.

Okay so you want to pull her out of kindergarten after just recently starting. No worries. It's been done before. First let me refer you to a website called hslda.org. They are a Godsend to over 100,000 homeschoolers who may need advice in any number of areas for free at their website. Also, you can join the worldwide org. for about $100.00 a year only if you want legal representation. This allows you to email or call and ask questions. The org. is a group of attorneys, mostly homeschool fathers, homeschooled students and friends of homeschooling. Texas is a very homeschool friendly state.

Compulsory School Age in Texas
"a child who is at least six years of age, or who is younger than six years of age and has previously been enrolled in first grade, and who has not yet reached the child's 18th birthday."

You can use this link: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/TX/default.asp

Texas is practically a no regualation homeschool state. However, since you've already enrolled her into a school you will want to make sure that you follow the correct procedures in withdrawing her. In the future it will be so much simpler.

You will simply establish and operate a home school as a private school. You and your hubby will be free to decide exactly how to proceed.


If I can answer any other questions please let me know!

 

[Helpmate]

Other things to consider adisneymama.

I am a member of HSLDA and have been since my oldest child was one. It's just one of many of our support systems and has been a blessing to have access to.

Their are many great curriculums out there. Some of them are very affordable. One of the curriculums that I currently am using with my kindergartener is alpha Omega's LifePac. Check it out at Alpha Omega curriculums online or you could go to http://www.christianbook.com/ and check out their homeschool section. Their are tons of affordable learning materials for all grade levels.

In addition to looking over the websites,you may want to try chef.org in houston in your search engine. It will connect you to many other homeschool moms in your neighborhood and community who will be happy to give you some encouragement and support. Good Luck! And again feel free to ask me any questions that need answered if you would like to.

 

[Mason7AK]

Mason7AK we homeschool in Texas too. The website below may help you when you pull your children from public school.

THSC.org (Texas Homeschool Coalition) They are very active protecting homeschoolers.

This website gives the laws and procedures for withdrawing your children to homeschool.

Thanks for the info! I checked out the site and joined the association. Well worth the $85 annual fee for the peace of mind of being protected.
Angela

 

[sha_lyn]

Can't resist.....LOL

here's a bit on just "who" HSLDA is,what they represent and why some of us wouldn't go near them with a 100ft pole
http://hsislegal.com/

 

[the5coops]

Thanks for the info! I checked out the site and joined the association. Well worth the $85 annual fee for the peace of mind of being protected.
Angela

You are very welcome. You may want to contact them to look for a local support group. It was very helpful when I started homeschooling 6 years ago. If you are a member of a support group you also get a discount to Texas Homeschool Coalition.

 

[the5coops]

I haven't read this whole post, but I am in desperate need for some help. DD is 5 and just started Kindergarten. We are having some problems with the school already and was wondering if anyone was in the Houston area and could tell me what I would have to do to start homeschooling at this point? Thanks for any help!

Texas Homeschool Coalition has sample forms on their website thsc.org. They also have their statewide convention in The Woodlands each year.

I have also found homeschoolinhouston.com which might be the local support group for your area.

Shelley

 

[Helpmate]

Can't resist.....LOL

here's a bit on just "who" HSLDA is,what they represent and why some of us wouldn't go near them with a 100ft pole
http://hsislegal.com/

I didn't intend to offend you by sharing the hslda info, while you're response to my post and casting a negative shadow on hslda clearly suggest that you don't have a problem offending.

Also, it is questionable that the site that you listed to cast a shadow on hslda happens to be another homeschool org. that clearly desires to get the support of the same pool of people that hslda serves. I think that it's great that the Texas homeschool Coaliton exist. The group seems fine enough with the exception of it's pointing a finger at hslda, which hslda does not do to other groups. There is plenty of room for homeschool supporters in the world. I find it hard to lOl at your clearly devisive post.

 

[sha_lyn]

What ever... All I did is offer an opposing view to an organization and it's founders. If group's anti-women's rights, anti-gay, and anti-non christian view points doesn't bother you so be it. However it does bother me.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Good grief. You put in a suggestion about an organization, and someone pointed out the potential negative of that organization. What is the big deal?

I think that it is nice to know all sides of the story. No one can deny that the HSLDA uses fear to boost membership. Why else would someone join when their child was one? That doesn't mean they don't have good points also. But no organization that large is perfect in all areas. Knowledge and honesty never hurt anyone.

Sha_lyn has been around for a long time. Sometimes we agree, and sometimes we don't. She does have the ability to laugh at herself, and her soapboxes. It is a good thing to do! Heaven knows, we all have them!

Hey sha_lyn, posted while you were posting! Hope I didn't offend!

 

[adisneymama]

Ok, didn't mean to get anything started. I'm just looking for info so that we can make an informed decision. We have not decided just yet what we are going to do. Thanks to those that have pm'd and left positive and supportive messages for me. I really appreciate it and will let you know if I have any further questions.

 

[sha_lyn]

LOL meandtheguys2

adisneymom... don't worry you didn't start anything.

Helpmate.... why does my offering an opposing view bother you so much?

 

[Helpmate]

LOL meandtheguys2

adisneymom... don't worry you didn't start anything.

Helpmate.... why does my offering an opposing view bother you so much?

You know as a homeschool mom, it's a wonderful thing to find other homeschool moms. As a homeschool mom who really enjoys WDW it's even better to finf other homeschool moms who love WDW. I thought i was among friends. So niave of me! I don't think that your mentioning the other group was bad and I said so. What bothered me was that in order to mention the group you had to say something negative about the group that I mentioned. Surely, there are people who have problems with both groups. I get that some may have problems with the group that I mentioned. Thjat's okay, but like you I felt it a good thing to say what was on my mind. The group thta I mentioned is not for everyone, but it has helped so many people. that's all that I was trying to point out.

 

[Helpmate]

Good grief. You put in a suggestion about an organization, and someone pointed out the potential negative of that organization. What is the big deal?

I think that it is nice to know all sides of the story. No one can deny that the HSLDA uses fear to boost membership. Why else would someone join when their child was one? That doesn't mean they don't have good points also. But no organization that large is perfect in all areas. Knowledge and honesty never hurt anyone.

Sha_lyn has been around for a long time. Sometimes we agree, and sometimes we don't. She does have the ability to laugh at herself, and her soapboxes. It is a good thing to do! Heaven knows, we all have them!

Hey sha_lyn, posted while you were posting! Hope I didn't offend!

As I said to Sha lyn, I only put what I thought and that is that the group that I mentioned has done and can do lots to help some homeschoolers. Clearly, some people disagree. I get that. I don't see why my vouching for my having a good experience with a group is a problem with you. surely, every group has it's allies and its enemies. You clearly don't like the group and that's okay too.

As for your mentioning our personal decision to join so early, that I don't get. I don't see why that should bother you either. But against my better judgment i'll explain. We joined because we were not in a homeschool friendly environment and could use the support of things homeschool related. We were being beat over the head with suggestions regarding daycare, so that i could get back to my career which most argued I wasting by deciding to stay home with our first baby. I view education as something that starts before birth, while still in the womb. It helped me stay focused, having the group's resources and assistance. It was not required that we join so early. We chose to do so because we wanted to.

 

[sha_lyn]

So I can't express my opinion about a group because I might offend someone?
What if I said the mere mention of the HSLDA offends me? Did you ever think of that before posting a link to the group?

Using your line of thinking we shouldn't even be talking about homschooling here on the DIS since there are some members who find HS'ing offensive. There goes posting opinions on WDW restaurants too. Don't want to risk a bad review offending someone who enjoys the restaurant.

"among friends".... so you always agree 100% with everyone you call a friend?