Not Another Homeschool Blog

This is so sad.   " The morning of Sept. 30, 2009 , half a dozen such students — Chantel Cox among them — showed up in Milton Mack’s classroom at Carver. None was assigned to Mack’s special education classes. All, Mack would later tell investigators assigned to an internal inquiry by the school district, said they had been pulled out of their 11th-grade homerooms while their peers took the high school writing test. “The students were upset and trying to walk out,” Mack told investigators. “They said they were told they weren’t juniors [but] they were told by somebody that they were juniors until that morning.” Shortly, according to Mack’s account, principal Rodney Ray arrived to try to calm the students. Ray didn’t say so, but Mack told investigators he assumed the principal had pulled out the students so they wouldn’t hurt the school’s overall test score." This article really makes me think about some thing that I have seen in my suburb of Atlanta.  I have...

Any books you find on teaching ADHD involve recognizing, drugging, and disciplining. How about teaching them? Please listen to this talk about teaching ADHD children in a way that enriches them, not punishes them.  This speaker suggests finding what they are interested in and teaching them through these interests.

My nephew just told me the following true story. He was in the supermarket with his grandparents during school hours.  A middle aged, abled body looking man approached him said (so that everyone around them could hear) "Son, why aren't you in school".  My nephew (homeschooled age 17, but looks 14) replied, "Why aren't you at work."  The man replied "I don't have a job."  My nephew replied "I don't have school."  The man said nothing and walked away. Granted, my nephew was a bit mean, but I blame it on public schools ;)... he has only been homeschooling 2 years.  I am sure the man felt badly about not working, but just as he didn't want to be called out because he didn't work, homeschoolers are tired of being called out because they aren't where other non-related people think they should be. On the other hand, too bad the guy didn't reply that he was self employed, because my nephew could have them said that...

I think our biggest expense as homeschoolers is for computers. Each kid takes online classes and does a lot of research and learning online, so each of them needs a computer.  My son has a Macbook, and my daughter's Gateway laptop has been pronounced dead.  She is using the computer my husband built as our home entertainment system to do her school work.  My husband also uses a desktop that he also built (when he is not using his work-issued laptop), and I am currently using a Toshiba laptop  with a monitor, as my laptop screen got broken by the notorious laptop killer that lives here. No needless to say, we are looking at desktop computers for the laptop killer.  She needs something that will last her until she starts college in about a year and a half, which is about how long it takes her to murder a computer. I was contemplating a desktop for myself as I plan on getting an iPad as well, but I am finding that I can't sit at my desk for a long time as my l...

I just read and email from the Seattle Public Schools (it got passed around) regarding absences due to family trips.  It took me 5 minutes to find a word that did was family friendly enough to write on my blog.  The letter is in my opinion, WHACKTACULAR. Here is an excerpt: Just going to another city, country or out of state, if to visit family or friends and nothing else, would not be excused. Families sometimes arrange their vacations after school starts because airfare is usually cheaper. However, this does not meet criteria for an excused absence. Interestingly, enough, it is the wealthier and more families that take trips such as these. I doubt the kids are going to fall behind.  Why can't the the kids get a package of work to do while away?  and If the trip is to be considered educational, there has to be a plan in place for what the student will learn, what educational activities are to be accomplished, and how the student will re...

Hold your water. At one Illinois high school, too many bathroom breaks can equal detention after school. Detention for too many potty breaks? | ajc.com This was one of the reasons homeschooling looked so good to us. Son was born with a stomach condition. He needs to go when he needs to go, but he couldn't. He was getting sicker and sicker in school. We suspect that this problem is why he had so many migraines too. Once he was home a year or so, his problems became virtually non existent.

I agreed to have my nephew at my house 2 days a week to help him finish his homeschooling and graduate.  He has only been homeschooling for a couple of years after being an official statistic in public school.  I hope we can get him ready for community college by the end of the year, but more than likely, it will be next December when he graduates, hopefully, starting college 2nd semester next year. This is not going to be easy, and I will be focusing on language arts and math test prep while his mom is continuing with his basic curriculum. This means I have two seniors on my hands and one Jr. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment. Read: Can Homeschooling Help Me Graduate on Time? 9/25/2011 Many people who were failing in public school have used public school to get back on track and finish their high school years strong. It does however that an great deal of determination and hard work. Can Homeschooling Help Me Graduate Early? 9/25/2011 Homeschooling can...