*** Homeschool List ***

[sha_lyn]

yep I was one of those pattern people. I'm also very good at guessing/eliminating etc so standardized test are a breeze for me. My sister actually accused me of cheating on or lying about my SAT scores because I out scored her by about 60 points.
I breezed through 1-8 grade. High School was a huge wake-up call that I had no study skills what so ever. I think my experience really influenced my decision to home school and how I approach it. I try to equip them with the tools/knowledge that will assist them in learning anything they want to, vs throwing a bunch of test or worksheets at them and expecting them to regurgitate information.

 

[lexeka]

Which state do ya'll live in? I live in MT and I hear that homeschooling in NC and SC are hard. Very strict laws which make 'unschooling' difficult.

MT is fairly easy to homeschool in.

 

[Tink561]

Which state do ya'll live in? I live in MT and I hear that homeschooling in NC and SC are hard. Very strict laws which make 'unschooling' difficult.

MT is fairly easy to homeschool in.

We're in Florida and it's fairly easy.

 

[sha_lyn]

GA here... pretty easy

 

[graygables]

OH here, we have to "notify" at the beginning of the year and provide either test scores, a teacher evaluation, or some other evaluation agreed upon by the superintendent for the previous year. It's fairly painless and there are lists of teachers who evaluate and understand unschooling.

In OK (I have a B/SIL there) there are NO rules, per se. It's kinda scary actually.

 

[Lisa Hale]

We're in KY. It's a 2-edged sword here as far as rules go, or the lack thereof. We are fairly brimming over with OCD and detailing in our home. It works for us to have the lesson plans for the year already done, all curriculum has been researched and decided on by April for the following school year (although we did rethink a couple this year during the summer), we have a schedule daily (although, we do try to be spontaneous a couple of times per month). But, I do know others that take unschooling to the extreme and feel that life experience alone is all you need and if a child doesn't learn to read until they are 9-10, then that's when they were ready for it. As for state laws here, we send a letter of intent at the beginning of the year and are to keep attendance (however, I've never known anyone who was even asked for a record of attendance).

I wouldn't want to live in a hard-nosed state because one of our reasons for homeschooling is that we saw a complete meltdown of the educational system here and if I had any faith in their abilities to monitor/direct such things, we may still be attending public or private school. But, I can see problems with some when there are no regulations or requirements. Then again, as far down on the academic scale as KY is nationally, I'm not sure that there is a huge difference between the two. Sad commentary, but true.

In line with the states you are all in, how much regulating do your states require?

 

[sha_lyn]

But, I do know others that take unschooling to the extreme and feel that life experience alone is all you need and if a child doesn't learn to read until they are 9-10, then that's when they were ready for it.

I have to agree with that philosophy to a degree.
I compare it to teaching a child to walk.
You can't leave them in the crib,swing/carrier/sling etc all day, bring them everything they want each time they grunt and expect them to be motivated to walk. However you can't really set a goal for it either. They are ready when they are ready. You can give the opportunity and motivation, but you can't make it happen.
With DD, I thought I was failing as a HS'er because she wasn't reading at the end of K or first grade (beyond very basic sight words, forget sounding out phonetically and blending the sounds together to form a word. I was really ready to throw in the towel and stop homeschooling. I knew I had to be doing something right, because all other subjects weren't a problem (other than handwriting). However when if finally clicked about 9 months ago she took off. She went from reading at a 2.5 level to a 5 grade level in six months. Now I just keep hoping she has the same turn around with handwriting LOL

 

[graygables]

However when if finally clicked about 9 months ago she took off. She went from reading at a 2.5 level to a 5 grade level in six months. Now I just keep hoping she has the same turn around with handwriting LOL

Had that happen w/ my 11yo (only after she had vision therapy, though), but if you find something to click that handwriting, please let me know! Both of mine are DREADFUL in the penmanship department! I finally decided handwriting was NOT worth permanent damage to our relationship!

 

[gillenkl]

Add me to the homeschooling list - DS is in 2nd grade using Abeka.

 

[sha_lyn]

Had that happen w/ my 11yo (only after she had vision therapy, though), but if you find something to click that handwriting, please let me know! Both of mine are DREADFUL in the penmanship department! I finally decided handwriting was NOT worth permanent damage to our relationship

I think a lot if it boils down to fine motor skills,coordination etc.
I know when I was researching the reading problem I started to realized just how involved reading (epically reading aloud) is. We don't think about it, but there is a lot going on.
Handwriting(copy work) adds even more.

What I did find that helped DD was actually something from DH's physical therapy. Start with a bowl of rice grains or anything small and hard.
Have them transfer the grains from one bowl to the other by pinching a single grain between the thumb and one finger. Do this with each finger on each hand 3-4 times. It helps develop not only the fine muscle tone and coordination, but it helps bridge the "gap" between the left and right sides of the brain.

 

[TNKBELL]

Which state do ya'll live in? I live in MT and I hear that homeschooling in NC and SC are hard. Very strict laws which make 'unschooling' difficult.

MT is fairly easy to homeschool in.

In Kansas all that is required is that you have to register as a Non-credited private institution....ONCE!

 

[applechips]

Which state do ya'll live in? I live in MT and I hear that homeschooling in NC and SC are hard. Very strict laws which make 'unschooling' difficult.

MT is fairly easy to homeschool in.

Oh gosh, no SC isn't hard at all. Unschooling is a breeze. Once your child is school aged you just register with an "Option 3" accountability association. I used the Schools Out Support. From their site:

"School's Out Support (SOS) Accountability Association is a secular, minimally-invasive organization created for the purpose of providing an Option 3 (59-65-47) accountability association for unschoolers and relaxed homeschoolers in South Carolina."

Here is the SC law:

http://www.schoolsoutsupport.com/law.html

 

[sha_lyn]

GA- File year declaration to homeschool
send in monthly attendace reports (must account for 180 days a yr)
test every 3 yrs starting in 3rd grade
Write a yearly evaluation/progress report ... both the testing and reports are to be kept on file by the parent/homeschool

 

[c3smom]

Just starting out in NJ with our son(5) and this state has no rules or regulations. We're pretty lucky in this state so far.

 

[lexeka]

Oh gosh, no SC isn't hard at all. Unschooling is a breeze. Once your child is school aged you just register with an "Option 3" accountability association. I used the Schools Out Support. From their site:

"School's Out Support (SOS) Accountability Association is a secular, minimally-invasive organization created for the purpose of providing an Option 3 (59-65-47) accountability association for unschoolers and relaxed homeschoolers in South Carolina."

Here is the SC law:

http://www.schoolsoutsupport.com/law.html

We are moving to Greenville hopefully in the spring! Glad to hear it!

 

[lexeka]

Montana requires that you submit to the County your child, age, grade, etc. Then at the end of the year, you turn in your attendance record for that year. Grades 1-3 = 720 hours
Grades 4-12 = 1080 hours

The lady who is in "charge" of our schools here in MT is trying to outlaw homeschooling. Since she's gotten shot down more than once, now she just comes up with some really off the wall bills to get passed.

www - dot - badbills - dot - com if you want to watch what is happening here....

 

[Ellester]

Cudos for catching on to the difference between her recognizing a pattern and learning a task. So often things like that can go unnoticed until late in the game and a child can have many difficult times trying to play catch up and re-learn a concept. That's another great thing about homeschooling! A parent is so hands-on that you can see those issues early and make necessary changes. Good catch, MOM!!!!!

Well, I have to admit that it was actually my DH that noticed it. But I am glad we (he) figured it out so early. It did make me more vigilant in watching my children's learning style though.

Which state do ya'll live in? I live in MT and I hear that homeschooling in NC and SC are hard. Very strict laws which make 'unschooling' difficult.

MT is fairly easy to homeschool in.

We're in GA now, not too bad as sha_lyn noted. I know some folks have had trouble from the local school board (that's who we have to declare to and send attendance to) but thus far we've kept our noses clean. I have been prompt and polite in sending in my monthly attendance via e-mail.

We were in NC until last September though and it was also very easy. We had to petition the NC Department of Non-Public Education to open our own private school. I had to prove that the principal (DH) and the instructor (me) had at least a high school diploma. That was the hardest part, finding a transcript from college after I determined my diploma (one of those big 11X17 jobs) was too hard to photocopy! My dh's graduate school diploma was alot smaller and easy to photo copy. We were required to keep attendance, but didn't have to submit it. The way the law is written, we had to "Operate the school on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year''. To me that means a minimum of nine days a year! We had to test yearly after age 7, but again we didn't submit the scores and THERE IS NO MINIMUM SCORING REQUIREMENT! That one blew my socks off, why bother requiring testing if it doesn't matter what you score? We did need to keep our attendance and scores in case the DNPE asked to see it, but no one I know has ever heard of anyone ever being asked. The same department is also in charge of all the private schools in the state and they are a tad understaffed to say the least. I think NC has two people devoted to homeschooling for the entire state. We were required to call in to "close" our school when we moved to Georgia. I think it's very easy to unschool in NC or GA.

 

[sha_lyn]

We're in GA now, not too bad as sha_lyn noted. I know some folks have had trouble from the local school board (that's who we have to declare to and send attendance to) but thus far we've kept our noses clean. I have been prompt and polite in sending in my monthly attendance via e-mail.

Yep.... some counties have altered the official form to asks for more info that what is required by law. It varies from asking for grade level, school that the student would attend, if the student has special Ed needs etc.
Other counties have told HS'ers that they must abide by the school calendar.
Another (Cobb I believe) told home schoolers that they had to start their yr on Sept 1

 

[mousehouselover]

Sorry, it's not homeschooling but this is important.

Everybody please, please, PLEASE; go to the vial of life site, print out a kit and follow the instructions. This is free and emergency personnel are being trained to look for this information when responding to a medical emergency. Print a form for everyone in your home and tell every one you know about it. We were given kits today at our state fair that had the forms in pill bottles. If you don't want to tape something to your fridge, get a vial and put the info in it. If you are unable to respond to rescue personnel your medical information will still be availabe to them, 24 hrs a day. You never know when you will have an emergency and your spouse may forget important information. These kits can be kept in your car, briefcase or in a child's backpack.

And we will rejoin your regularly scheduled program already in progress.

We're in Indiana. It's easy here too. We have to register with the state and keep track of our days and lessons so the state can review them if they want. We have never been asked for any information and neither has anyone in our HS group. Unschooling is quite easy as a trip to the grocery store can count as health, math and home ec. Our trip to the state fair today had lots of science, some history, biology, health and P.E. If my kids were younger, we would've had a math lesson too. Educational opportunities abound everywhere. We've had health lessons in the car discussing some of the stupid things we've seen people doing while we run errands. We love current events because it is easy to tie in history and social studies, we have had discussions about morals and values based on things that were in the news. I make a few notes about things we are doing and the kids have a yearly journal where they record things from the day.

 

[lori1043]

We have 2 ways to register as a homeschooler-1. private school or 2. home bound public schooler

1. private-can choose own curriculum!(this is what MOST , if not all that I know of use), all you do is write a letter telling them under some law # that you are "such and such" academy/homeschool and you have ?? students and you promise to school 180 days. Do not need to do anything else!

2. home bound public- I guess for a homeschooler that wants to use free curriculum provided by the school system. Or for those who may have children that cannot attend school due to a major illness. They keep track of scores and test in 3rd, 4th, 8th, and high school level.

One of the million reasons I HS is due to these LEAP standardized tests. The teachers are so wigged out about them that they focus on that all year-it sure takes kids away from the LEARNING experience they could be having.

We are members of HSLDA for protection JUST IN CASE!

BTW-I like that vial idea-, but we have a FLYjournal that everything is in that we need to know. If DH is with the kids and a problem arises, he can refer to that. I may still look into that though!

I love all the viewpoints and conversation ya'll have had today. It's wonderful-and what an oportunity to LIVE in all those places and really experience different cultures.

Lori