Not Another Homeschool Blog

Barbara Frank, in her post Public Schools: Where You Don't Get What You Pay For writes about the gap between what homeschoolers spend to educate their kids and what public school spends. Her point is that homeschoolers tend to get a better education even though we spend a small fraction on our kids education. I spend a bit more than the high number she guessed at ($2000.00) per child a year... I probably spend $4000.00 each, but that pays for An arts program on Mondays, an academic program on thursdays, a constant barrage for science experiment supplies, Music lessons, Drama club, Sports activities, and other things I can't remember right now. Still her point is completely valid, because I can spend far less if I were to be more creative, but I also work from home and all the classes really help. Anyway, I can't imagine having $64,000 to homeschool each kids. I guess I could send them to NASA camp. Have a experts in thier fields tutor them and take very expensive fie...

enjoy this unique Carnival of Homeschooling Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

He may be right. Last night I managed to get my head in the way when I closed my car truck. I drive a Pacifica which is a small SUV, so I have to reach up and pull the trunk down with some force. I hit my head pretty hard. My son took charge and put ice on my head and gave me Tylenol. He called my husband who is traveling and reviewed the symptoms of a concussion with him. He kept me up until midnight and slept in my room to keep an eye on me. He's a really cool kid. He may only be 13, but he exudes the authority of a 31 year old. I am still in bed. He wants me to stay put. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

I am really aggravated right now! A close relative on my husband side, (who I love and respect) Just called concerned about my husbands health and stress level. We talked about alot of things like his health, and schedule, and things of that nature, and somehow the topic of homeschooling comes up. I found myself defending our decision to homeschool and trying to explain why public, and private schools were not an option. I finally realized I had been unfairly put on the spot and I demanded to know what homeschooling had to do with this conversation and the true motivation of the conversation... she backed down because she could not answer the questions. grrrr. I hate that. I still love her... but I hate that! Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

The kids are getting the week off from their classes. Of course we are just getting back into the swing of things after spending over a week concentrated on my son's play production. I kind of don't want them to stop. I am trying to get them to do just one or two assignments everyday instead of waiting until a few days before they have to be back in class and cramming it all in. Wish me luck.. these kids definitely have their own ideas about how things should be done. Curse my encouragement of kids having their own minds! Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

Local GA highschoolers are being faced with a new danger... MRSA. Just this morning it was reported that there are 5 more cases. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems . Now it is spreading through the local schools. Another reason to homeschool? I won't go that far. But I will say that if my kids were in the schools where there were infections they at least homeschool temporarily until I felt confident that the spread of infection was under control. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

It is so awesome that we have days like this when we can sleep in. The kids still have all their schoolwork to do, it will just be finished later in the day. I think all of the activity last week has officially wiped us out, and this weekend promises to be just as busy. The kids have a lock in Friday night, and the Church Anniversary celebration is Sunday. I have to set up decorations on Saturday and try to get our rental house... rented. I think I want to go back to sleep. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

I awoke this morning to a news story that said Teacher sexual misconduc t is worse than previously thought. Even worse, the last thing I read last night was about a music teacher who got away with abusing kids for year. This is enough to make a homeschooling mom like me to say "whew"! Thank goodness I homeschool. It is also enough to make puplic school parents very afraid. At the end of the day, practically no children are immune to such abuse. The only way to keep your children safe from abusers is to have them with you 24-7. That is not possible for me. My kids are with numerous "teachers" on Monday and Thursday, youth group leaders Tuesday night, and Fencing coaches throughout the week... so what is a parent to do? What I do watch them like a hawk... you'd think I was a stalker. I might show up any day at anytime and always unannounced. I think it is clear to everyone who has access to my kids that they do not have "access" to my kids. If ...

Every Thursday when my kids go to their classes they get new assignments that need to be completed by the next thursday. It is generally enough work to take up three days. With their Arts classes being on Monday, we really don't have alot of time to fool around. While I would not recommend this kind of schedule for little kids, it is just right for my middle school kids right now. The problem is that this is a very busy week, and there is too much excitement right now for the kids to concentrate. I feel like a half scrooge/ half cheerleader trying to get them to finish a few assignments before we get back to the business of Charlie Brown. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

My daughter is middle school age. She takes homeschool classes with other middle school students. She is almost 5 feet tall. She is just over 100 pounds. She still looks like a little girl. She acts like a little girl too. (she is child wearing yellow in the banner). Last week when I took my kids to the doctor and told her I wanted to put off the Cancer immunization until she was older, the doctor informed me that kids start having sex around my daughters age. Now I am hearing that a school in Maine is giving out birth control pills and patches to middle school girls WITHOUT parents knowledge or consent. I look at my daugther and it just doesn't make sense. Now I know that there are girls her age who certainly are more developed than my daughter, but at this age, I believe more effort should be put into monitoring and teaching children than giving out pills. Even if we put the moral ramifications aside... can someone tell me how school can give out birth control to girls without ev...

It is opening day for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown! here is a picture of taken last Sunday as the stage and scenery are being prepared. It is great to see my son enjoying working together with his peers and becoming less and less shy and withdrawn. (contrary to popular belief he was more shy and anti social BEFORE he began homeschooling.) Right now he is at his academic classes, two of which he will miss because he has to go over to the other church where the play is being held. They will do a full run through rehearsal (each cast) for which my son is the lighting tech. Then the show starts promptly at 7pm. I am so excited for the kids... unfortunately I will miss opening night because I have two kids and my daughter needs to be somewhere else... but I will see the show on Friday night and the Saturday matinée show... I really want to see both casts do it. I hope I remember to take more pictures! Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

Educational Website Review: 3D Learn Interactive Academy By dreahwrites , Oct 17, 2007 This video introduces the online learning website http://www.3dlearn.com/ Watch» If you have used this program please leave a comment detailing your experiences Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

Educational Website Review: 3D Learner By dreahwrites , this video will introduce you to 3d Learning, a website for Dyslexic homeschool and traditionally schooled children. http://www.3dlearner.com/ Watch» If you have used this program, please leave a comment detailing your experiences. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

The National Education Association is on the warpath and homeschooling is the enemy. The National Educational Association in their 2007-2008 Resolutions has taken a stand against homeschooling. It reads "The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled must meet all state curricular requirements, including the taking and passing of assessments to ensure adequate academic progress. Home schooling should be limited to the children of the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used. The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schoo...

What I love the most about homeschooling is that the kids get to learn in a very relaxed, non rushed, non distracting atmosphere. Even with the program we are using this year, with local classes twice a week, the kids still have plenty of time to explore different subjects to their hearts content and just be kids. And then we have weeks like this. This is one of those weeks where there is no rest for the weary. My son's homeschool program class is doing a production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown". Production week includes daily practice and or a show for 8 days straight. (with the 4 shows being at the end of the week) To top it off, the local church where they have the classes is not letting us do the shows there because it is not a Christian Show... and the church that is allowing the production is kind of far. Still the kids are having a blast from days being covered with paint, to days singing till they drop, to the nervous days of being in front of a liv...

Visit the my series of videos on homeschool questions and answers hosted at Associated Content. How Do You Decorate for Homeschooling By dreahwrites , Oct 12, 2007 This video addresses ways to decorate for homeschooling Watch» What Kind of Activities Do Homeschoolers Participate In? By dreahwrites , Oct 12, 2007 This video gives a list of activities that homeschoolers typically participate in. Watch» How Do Colleges Respond to Homeschoolers? By dreahwrites , Oct 12, 2007 In this video I discuss what I know about homeschoolers and college acceptance Watch» I Want to Homeschool My Senior High School Year By dreahwrites , Oct 12, 2007 This video explains how a high school senior can homeschool while earning college credits Watch» Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

I seriously doubt it. This unfortunately is an example of abuse of the homeschooling label. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

Is anything really being done to make schools safer, this lastest school attack is telling me that nothing is being done. It is very very sad. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

My kids got their grades yesterday. My daughters grades ranged from 85-90. She was ecstatic as this is the first time she has been formally graded in years and so she got all A's and B's She is my half full child. My son grades ranged from 86-90 he was unhappy. He wanted all A's He is my half empty child. Me... I'm happy that she did well, but I know she did not put her full effort into it, so I know it could have been better. As for him, I am happy that not only did he put his whole heart into his work, but he wants better for himself. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

This teacher was fired and is suing because he feels the school disagreed with him making art with his various body parts. I don't care how he makes his art, but I do have a problem with the lack of judgement he showed by demonstrating his techniques on YouTube. I haven't seen the video, but from the story description, one would assume that a degree of nudity was involved. I think teachers have a certain responsibility to ensure that their student don't see them doing questionale behavior. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

I have been re-reading my old homeschool blogs. Here is one I wrote a while back (during the months when I left blogger for tripod) and I thought I would share it with you. Tuesday, 5 October 2004 They're not paid to think! I just got an email from a former homeschooler, who plans to homeschool again in the future.... She was "so mad she could spit"... her words, not mine. Her son did poorly on a school assignment because he thought for himself and so he got the answers wrong. However, based on his personal experience, his answers were technically correct. The problem with this is that in school, kids are not "paid to think"; they are paid to give the answers the teachers want. These answers are very often right in front of their noses, as it was in this instance. He had to look at a bike diagram and answer questions on how to fix bikes according to the diagram. But he himself knew how to fix bikes and his knowledge base was wider than the normal person's ...

Ok.. so the other day when I wrote Hat's Off to Anyone Who Homeschools More than One Kid, I was having a serious whining session. You see I have two pre-teens who are beginning to develop their separate personalities and therefore have separate and distict schedules. With my husband working in another state, that leaves me doing a lot of driving back and forth. But it's all good! The kids are happy, my hubby will be working locally very very soon, and he will be able to help. My breakthrough came on Saturday during my kids 2 hour fencing session. I wrote two full articles while I waited!.. I seldom get that done in less than 2 hours at home because of all the distractions. I had nothing to do but sit and wait, and so I brought my computer and worked. YAY. I still have alot of driving to do, but I have also carved out some dedicated work time. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

If you don't know if you are at the right blog right now, don't worry. I seem to be having fluctuating personality changes here. I think I will keep this blog look for now, or unless my son comes up with something different... he has been promising me a blog header for a while.... but unless I fork over some money, I am at the end of his list. If this kid keeps going like he is right now, he'll have full fledged business before he is legally old enough to work. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

Here is a funny youtuve video (with a link to the original website) that will help you learn the elements. Enjoy. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

Should I Homeschool My Senior Year in High School By dreahwrites , Oct 04, 2007 This video discusses homeschooling the final year on Homeschool Watch» Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

How Do I Homeschool Myself? By dreahwrites , Oct 04, 2007 I have noticed allot of high school kids asking how to homeschool themselves. Here is my advice on the subject Watch» Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

How do you do it with multiple kids... I have two, and until last year I was able to keep it simple. Children go to the same programs and activities. They study alot of the same things, we do everything together. But now my kids are 11 and 13. The both take fencing so that's good. They are in separate drama clubs and have different class schedules (we homeschool via a 2 day a week program). I spend alot of my time either driving back and forth or sitting in my car waiting. I try to use the time wisely and run errands while I am waiting, but how many times can a woman go to the dry cleaners or supermarket in a week? Here's a typical Monday: Get up at 7, get them to practice piano, and walk the dogs. Feed them breakfast and pack lunches. Drop off one child at 9:00. Since the other kid is not supposed to start classes until 10:00 we go to the Library, and then I drop her off at 10. I get some writing and blogging work done and get back to the school at 4:30 to pick up...

According to this story, valedictorians are a dime a dozen. Your kids will have to stand out to get into college. For homeschoolers that means being dilligent about academics and finding awesome extracurriculars. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

One of the more recent and more popular arguments against homeschooling is that it is cost prohibitive. This not true. As I stated in a recent article , you do not need to have a lot of money for home schooling. I will go as far as to say, if you have internet connection, and access to pencil and paper, you will have everything you need. Here are some websites that will allow you to homeschool free: READ MORE>> Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

In response to No School Hugging rules in a Chicago school, I would like to declare today, "Hug a Homeschooler day". Show the kids some love! Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom

this week's Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Tami's Blog.

I am not even going to get into the hostage situation... except this is a lose-lose situation... kids either live in a police state or in constant danger. My concern is that some schools do not allow cell phones. I know I don't send my kids out of the house without them... even to homeschool co-op classes.