*** Homeschool List ***

[famofsix]

I wish I lived in Ohio, they give homeschooling families FREE curriculum!

 

[noodleknitter]

I wish I lived in Ohio, they give homeschooling families FREE curriculum!

Yes, but if I wanted them to be taught as they are taught in the public schools, that is where they would be!

My favorite resourse is the Rainbow Resourse Catalog, also. Although I found many of my favorites by going to the Homeschool convention, and watching the demos, and listening to the speakers.

There is a great one in OH the 3rdish weekend in June each year.

 

[momto2girls]

Yes, but if I wanted them to be taught as they are taught in the public schools, that is where they would be!

My favorite resourse is the Rainbow Resourse Catalog, also. Although I found many of my favorites by going to the Homeschool convention, and watching the demos, and listening to the speakers.

There is a great one in OH the 3rdish weekend in June each year.

Oh, that is great to hear! Where is the homeschool convention held? I would definitely try to make it this year!

 

[noodleknitter]

Oh, that is great to hear! Where is the homeschool convention held? I would definitely try to make it this year!

It is in Columbus at the Veterans Memorial building. It is sponsored by a fairly conservative christian group, just so you know. It is a really nice one, though. There is a huge vendor room, and it is extrememly difficult to see it all. I have spent hours and hours there!

http://www.cheohome.org/

 

[sha_lyn]

I wish I lived in Ohio, they give homeschooling families FREE curriculum!

That "free" curriculum comes with a price, little freedom in homeschooling choices.
No thanks, I would rather be free to pick what I want and pay for it myself.

 

[momto2girls]

It is in Columbus at the Veterans Memorial building. It is sponsored by a fairly conservative christian group, just so you know. It is a really nice one, though. There is a huge vendor room, and it is extrememly difficult to see it all. I have spent hours and hours there!

http://www.cheohome.org/

Thanks so much! I live in Columbus, so that will be very convenient!

 

[momto2girls]

That "free" curriculum comes with a price, little freedom in homeschooling choices.
No thanks, I would rather be free to pick what I want and pay for it myself.

ITA! I know some people here who who OHDELA. They told me that you also get a certain amount of money for activities too, like gymnastics classes, etc. It just isn't worth it to me. I just don't like the idea of having to use their curriculum.

 

[noodleknitter]

Thanks so much! I live in Columbus, so that will be very convenient!

Well, I'd think so! Of course, we come up from southern OH and consider it a date weekend. Not sure which is better!

 

[Denine]

Maybe we cna go next year. We are in the CLeveland area.

I don't want the "Free" Curriculum even though they use the same one I have chosen, Calvert. I want to be able to change things if it isn't working.

Anyone have a favorite prayer book they use to start each day? I just ordered one from The Catholic Company. It is really 365 Bible verses, but I figure it is a start.

 

[disneymom3]

ITA! I know some people here who who OHDELA. They told me that you also get a certain amount of money for activities too, like gymnastics classes, etc. It just isn't worth it to me. I just don't like the idea of having to use their curriculum.

I agree with you. I have a friend who used the K12 curriculum that she paid for for several years. SHe could have gotten it free through MNVA which is one of the MN cyber academies. We both looked into it and decided that the whole oversight thing was just too invasive for our comfort level. For us, we would have to check in every few weeks with our assigned teacher etc. And as mentioned if the curriculum I am using is not working for one or more of my kids, I need to find somethign that does. That is the whole point for me. I really like the K12 curriculum and would love to use the history, art and science parts of it. I am quite sure though that their LA would not work for DS and DD would be beyond bored with it. Unfortunately K12 is too expensive for my budget!

 

[famofsix]

I agree with you. I have a friend who used the K12 curriculum that she paid for for several years. SHe could have gotten it free through MNVA which is one of the MN cyber academies. We both looked into it and decided that the whole oversight thing was just too invasive for our comfort level. For us, we would have to check in every few weeks with our assigned teacher etc. And as mentioned if the curriculum I am using is not working for one or more of my kids, I need to find something that does. That is the whole point for me. I really like the K12 curriculum and would love to use the history, art and science parts of it. I am quite sure though that their LA would not work for DS and DD would be beyond bored with it. Unfortunately K12 is too expensive for my budget!

Oh sorry, I did not know there was an assigned teacher in the Ohio curriculum, that is invasive. I thought of it as more of a resource. I like free materials I am personally happy with my district's choice of curriculum for the most part. I have had good success with my dd's at PS I HS so DS can work at his own pace and if we want to play games and skip some worksheets we can. I believe researched based curriculum or self designed curriculum based on your personal philosophy is the way to go. Kudos to all of you. HSing is very rewarding

BTW, in NYS it is the law to submit a plan, 4 quarterly reports and an evaluation at the end of the year to the district you live in. I have not had a problem with it but I do know the law and I only submit what I have to legally. I have found in my experience my district is easy to work with and will help with planning if I want to take advantage of it.

 

[vhoffman]

I've decided for various reasons to homeschool my ds9. DD is doing well in ps and I don't want to "fix what isn't broken". Ds, however, is another story. I've tried for years to establish some sort of relaitonship with his school but it never seems to go anywhere. DS has ADHD and an IEP, but the IEP is, essentially, a farce. We just had a meeting today and I felt so frustrated. Its a lot of verbage that goes nowhere, meanwhile, ds continues to fall through the cracks.

So how do I initiate the process? We're in Texas, and I've read the Texas Home Schooling Coalition website and talked with other parents in this area who homeschool. Essentially, you just send in a letter stating that you're homeschooling your child and essentially that's it. The wording must be done correctly, they give sample letters. However, what concerns me is ds' special ed status. Will they give me a hard time because of his IEP? Will they say his needs can't be met at home as well as they're doing, he would be denied special services, etc? Has anyone had this situation to handle? To hear them tell it, everything's marvelous with their IEP, but they're writing their own report card. I see it differently. I think he needs a different environment. Well, do I just send in a letter and take him out, do I give them a last day of attendance? I thought perhaps it would be good to state that his last day would be the last day of this reporting period, which ends in about 2 weeks. That would be a good transition period and we could leave with some data. I'm just afraid they'll give me a hard time about taking him out. Anyone else out there have a similar situaiton?

 

[noodleknitter]

Not in Texas, and I don't know if there is a non-christian equivalent (if that is a problem for you), but if I had a concern for a possible legal issue, I would sign up with the HSLDA.com. HomeSchool Legal Defense Association. They will help you if needed.

I would suggest that you talk to real people who know what they are talking about before you send in your notification.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

vhoffman--you may check with your county school website. Ours in my county in Florida, I am able to download a homeschool manual. You can withdraw a child at anytime and you have 30 days to notify the county once you establish your homeschool. They don't give any grief (well, legally they aren't supposed to do that).

HSDLA is also a good source even if you are not a member as you can download the laws for your state.

In Florida--the county cannot have any rules/restrictions that go above and beyond the state. So all quoted laws in our manual include the appropriate Florida statute # for reference.

Good luck.

ETA: Just checked and their little chart doesn't explain much for Texas. The HSLDA did do a legal anaylsis for Texas, so that could be a good start for a legal resource.

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Texas.pdf

 

[noodleknitter]

~~smile~~ Just came back to announce it was a .org!

 

[sha_lyn]

Not in Texas, and I don't know if there is a non-christian equivalent (if that is a problem for you), but if I had a concern for a possible legal issue, I would sign up with the HSLDA.com. HomeSchool Legal Defense Association. They will help you if needed.

They will only help you if you are Christain, follow their HS "style" (basically traditional school at home during school hrs on school days) and your problem is something they deam would benifit the civil rights of other homeschoolers.

 

[Mommy2Lots]

---

 

[rainy~daze]

I just wanted to add my name to the list, i just started homeschooling my DS5 for kindergarten this past week. I am so excited and nervous, too. We are in PA and i am using Connections Academy. if anyone has any experiences they can share, but please nothing too negative right now, i don't want to be scared too soon. THANKS!!!

 

[bcvprincesses]

Just wanted to introduce my family. I have two dd's that are 7 and 9 and have started to home school this year. We live in MI and are using K12 and so far we all love it. I would have had no idea how to start and this program is really helping. My girls love it because they know exactly what they are going to do.

Both my girls are on a competitive gymnastics team and they practice 16 hours a week. They would spend every hour at gym if I would let them.

We will be at Disney at BCV on Oct 21 before going on the Wonder for 4 nights then back to BCV. We are planning on the MNSSHP on Oct. 26. This will be the girls first cruise and our first Halloween party. We are also going to Disney Jan 17 for the girls gymnastics meet.

I hope to get to know everyone here and I plan on writing the mods about a separate board.

 

[pamlet]

We're in Texas .. and it's VERY lenient...

You're getting great advice... Join HSLDA ... especially since you're nervous about the IEP...

Also - I don't know where you are located - but since Texas is so easy to homeschool in there are TONS of local groups...

http://www.texashomeeducators.com/supportgroups.htm

The biggest thing I can advise - especially since your son is relatively young - get him involved in some sort of group. It can be as organized as a "Friday School" or even just a loose group that meets in a park once a week. It may take visiting a number of groups to find one that "fits".

It is NOT EASY to homeschool. It took us quite a while to get the hang of it - for us it was because my son is epileptic and it took us 18 months to get his seizures under control. He's in high school. We've opted for a correspondance program called the American School - where he will actually get a diploma, and the school is accredited in the state of Illinois.

You may have to go through a number of scenarios/curriculmm before you find what is right for him and YOU.

Hang in there ...