Homeschooling in New York State: Q & A session #1*

Questions about homeschooling in NY?
Here are some answers!

"We decided homeschooling is the best option for our family, but we don't know where to begin.  How do we know what's required to teach?  What do we need to send to the school district?  Is Kindergarten mandatory?  What about testing?  Do I need to be a certified teacher?  Help!"

Over the life of this blog, I've encountered all these questions, and more, so I thought it was time to address all the questions I've come up against in one post.  Hopefully, you'll learn everything you need to begin your homeschooling journey or to streamline the journey you're already on.  In either case, good luck!  And always feel free to ask any questions I may have missed by commenting down below.

My child will be 6 on December 21st.  Should I send my Letter of Intent (LOI) now?  (A.K.A., what is the compulsory age of attendance in New York State?)

The compulsory age of attendance in NY is 6, however, the cutoff is December 1st, so if your child turns six after December 1st, then you do not need to send in an LOI or do anything else to alert the school of your choice to homeschool until the following school year.  For example, if your child turns 6 on December 21st of 2016, then you would not need to send in your LOI until the 2017-18 school year.  If, however, your child turns 6 on or before December 1st, then, yes, you will need to send your LOI to the district for the current or upcoming school year as per the state's regulations, which I'll discuss a little later on.

Is Kindergarten mandatory?

Technically, there is no "grade" that is mandatory.  All NY requires is that children be in attendance beginning at the age of 6 until the age of 16.  As far as homeschooling is concerned, you are free to decide at what "grade" level your child should work.  If you feel your child is too advanced for Kindergarten when you begin schooling, then you are free to begin them at 1st grade or any other grade level you feel is appropriate.

Do I need to de-register my child from their school?  The school told me I need to come in to sign some forms before I can take my child out of school, is that true?

Simply put, no.  If your child's school insists that there is something you must do - some paperwork to fill out or forms to sign or procedure to follow - before they'll "let" you withdraw your child from school, then be prepared to confront them with the state regulations. If your child is of compulsory attendance age, there is nothing you  need to do other than to turn in your Letter of Intent as outlined in the regulations.  If you feel your child's school is going to give you a hard time in this area, you may want to have a copy of the state regulations on hand with which to make your point and to make it known that you are familiar with what's required and don't intend to let the school give you the run-around.

We just decided to homeschool our kids, but it's now January, and the school year started in September.  Can we still pull our kids out?  Or do we need to wait until the end of the school year?  I read somewhere that the Letter of Intent is due by July 1st.  Is it too late now?

Normally, the Letter of Intent is due by July 1st before the upcoming school year.  However, the state regulations make provisions for those who decide to homeschool after the school year has already begun.  In that case, your LOI is due within 14 days of when you begin homeschooling in your district.  So, you can pull your child from school at any time during the year, and within 14 days from the day you pull them, your LOI is due.

We just moved to the area, and the school year has already begun.  Can we still homeschool?  Or do we need to enroll our kids in the public school until the next school year?

Just as the state regulations make provisions for those who decide to begin homeschooling after the start of the school year, so it is with those who move to a new school district after the start of the school year.  Your LOI will be due within 14 days of when you begin homeschooling in your new district.

Do I need to be a certified teacher in order to homeschool my child?  What qualifications do I need?

The only provision NY makes for a person to homeschool is that the person doing the teaching needs to be "qualified".  As the parent, there is nobody more qualified to teach your children than you are.  You know your child's educational needs better than anyone.  And if ever you found yourself thinking you are unable to teach your child something, then you know how to find a way to teach that thing to them, whether it be a tutor, or a video tutorial, or homeschool co-op class.  You have what it takes.  You know your child's needs.  Therefore, you are qualified.  Thankfully, the state of NY doesn't require anything more than that in order to teach your child at home.

*Nothing written in this blog post is intended to be construed as legal advice.  This is simply the author's understanding of the New York State home education regulations through 6 years of homeschooling her own children in the state.

I'm Disgusted by Those Who Support Trump, but I'm Still Voting for Him.

Oh, really?

At what point did degradation, sexual assault, and rape become better than indirectly causing someone’s death?  That’s the argument – that Donald Trump has said some horrible things, and is accused of doing some horrible things, but at least he didn’t indirectly cause the death of anyone, like Hillary did (i.e., Bengazi).  At least he didn’t delete his emails to cover up the fact that he may have divulged national secrets to the wrong people. 

Imagine someone saying, I robbed a bank, but at least….I abused my children, but at least….I cheated an elderly couple out of their life savings, but at least….I raped a woman, but at least….

 NO!  There is no “but at least” in any of these situations.

 Trump says, “It’s locker room banter.”

 Scott Baio, actor and Trump toady, said “And ladies out there, this is what guys talk about when you’re not around,” he added. “So if you are offended by it, grow up. And by the way this is what you guys talk about over white wine when you have your brunches. This is the way the world works, take it easy. ”

 Folks all over the internet are posting memes that read, “I’m more concerned about what Hillary has done than I am about what Trump has said.” 

[Listen, ladies.  If your men are talking like this, then you need to find yourselves new men, because I promise you, not all men talk like this, and the ones who do are disgusting pigs.  Chances are very good that your men do not treat you the way they should.  Chances are very good that your men will one day act upon the words they have spoken.  It’s not normal.  It’s not “the way the world works”.]

 So, what is it that Trump said?

 “I tried to fuck her.”

“I moved on her like a bitch, and she was married.”

“When you’re a star, they let you do it.  You can do anything you want.  Grab them by the pussy.”

 Now, replace the words ‘her’, ‘she’, and ‘them’ with the names of your mother/wife/sister/granddaughter/daughter/friend/self and say those statements again.  Better yet, have your husband/father/brother/son/grandson/friend read them back to you with those names in there.

 Still just “locker room banter”?  Still willing to say, “but at least…”?

 Yes?

 Okay, then how about this:

In a 1989 deposition, Trump’s then-wife Ivana, under oath, accused Donald of raping her.  She said he was angry at her, threw her onto the bed, pinned her arms back, tore her hair out of her scalp, and then forced sexual intercourse on her.

 In 1997, a woman named Jill Harth filed a suit against Trump claiming that Trump made unwanted sexual advances, groped her without her consent, and even attempted to rape her at a time when she and her romantic partner George Houraney were working out a deal to throw an event at one of Trump’s Atlantic City casinos.  Harth said he forced her into a bedroom belonging to his daughter, Ivanka, forcibly kissed, fondled, and restrained her from leaving, against her will and despite her protests. 

 In another incident, Harth stated, “He pushed me up against the wall, and had his hands all over me and tried to get up my dress again.”

 In April of 2016, a woman known only as Jane Joe filed a lawsuit against Trump in which she alleges that when she was 13 years old, Trump raped her. 

 Jane Doe says that as a thirteen year old, she was enticed to attend parties at the home of Jeffrey Epstein with the promise of money modeling jobs. Mr. Epstein is a notorious  “billionaire pedophile” who is now a Level 3 registered sex offender - the most dangerous kind, “a threat to public safety” — after being convicted of misconduct with another underage girl.

 Jane Doe says that Mr. Trump “initiated sexual contact” with her on four occasions in 1994. Since she was thirteen at the time, consent is not an issue. If Mr. Trump had any type sexual contact with her in 1994, it was a crime.

 On the fourth incident, she says Mr. Trump tied her to a bed and forcibly raped her, in a “savage sexual attack,” while she pleaded with him to stop. She says Mr. Trump violently struck her in the face. She says that afterward, if she ever revealed what he had done, Mr. Trump threatened that she and her family would be “physically harmed if not killed.”

 This case has a witness, referred to as “Tiffany Doe”, Trump’s party planner at the time, whose job it was to get attractive adolescent women to attend these parties.

But, it’s just locker room banter.  Right?

 At least he didn’t neglect his duties, leading to the deaths of innocent people.

 We should be more worried about what Hillary has done than by what Trump has said.  Right?

 Oh.  Wait….

 Do you honestly believe that violent rape of women is somehow better than indirectly causing the deaths of people?  Somehow, rape is better than death.  Somehow.

 Every 2 minutes in America, a woman is raped.  Tell HER that rape is better than death.  Tell HER, “But at least you didn’t die.”  I doubt she’ll share your sentiment.  I’m fairly certain that, to her, what she endured was equivalent to death.  Her life is changed forever.  For all intents and purposes, her former self IS dead.

 You people who proudly display your Trump signs in your front yards.  You people who slap a Trump bumper sticker on your car.  You people who post memes on social media several times a day, touting your support for Trump.  You people who can be heard in conversation saying, “I used to despise Trump, but the more I hear him speak, the more I think he’s a good guy.”

 Wake up!

 How can you openly and brazenly support this man who not only degrades women every time he opens his mouth, but speaks explicitly about sexually assaulting women and refers to it as “locker room banter”, and who is also accused of, and most likely guilty of, raping women and underage girls?

 How can you be proud to support this man?

 How can you want other people to know that you support this man?

 Because, at least he didn’t……

  Here’s the long and the short of it:  Clinton and Trump are equally horrible.  Neither of them is better than the other.  There is not one of them about whom it can be said, “But at least they didn’t….”  Clinton is responsible for many, many senseless deaths.  Trump is responsible for raping women and abusing young girls.  Neither of those things is better than the other.  Anyone who openly supports either of these candidates should be ashamed.

 You will find in my yard no signs.  You will find on my car no bumper stickers.  You will find on my social media no supportive memes.  And you will never, ever hear me say that either of them is a good person.

 But, I will be voting for Trump come November. 

[Please note that voting for a person and openly supporting that person are two entirely different things.]

 My reason is simple: Aside from Cabinet secretaries and Supreme Court justices, whose nominations require the approval of the Senate, the President of the United States currently has the authority to unilaterally appoint over 300 people to high-level positions within the federal government.  With the introduction of a Republican president, we can be assured that these positions would be filled by Republicans, and, for me, that is important.  Also, the protection of the right to life and the 2^nd amendment, which Trump supports, and which will be affected greatly by either a right- or left-leaning government.

 I won’t be voting for Trump because he’s a good person.  He’s not.I won’t be voting for Trump because he’s better than Hillary.  He’s not.

 I will be voting for Trump, but you won’t see me supporting him, and, if you openly support him, you should seriously reconsider.  It’s not something to be proud of.  It’s not something to seek “likes” for on social media.  And it surely isn’t going to convince anyone who wasn’t already convinced to vote for Trump.

 Trump is exactly what Hillary called his supporters – deplorable.  

Individualized Home Instruction Plan Revisited: simplifying the process

A little over 3 years ago I posted my original explanation of the Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) for New York State.  It details what is required by the state and also provides an example of my own IHIP form, which I used for about 4 years.

Over time, though, as I became more comfortable with the process and more familiar with the requirements, I trimmed the fat, so to speak, on my IHIP form.  Rather than writing a detailed description of what we planned to cover in every single subject, I deep-sixed the descriptions and simply listed the name of each subject, followed by the primary resource we planned to use to teach each of them.

This simplification saves a lot of time and makes it easy to use the same form year after year by just deleted the previous year's primary resources and replacing them with the new resources.

You can choose to do your IHIP either way, long or short, whichever suits your style best.  Really all you need to include is your child's name, age, grade level, a list of the main resources you plan to use in each subject (a list of required subjects can also be found in the regulations), the dates you'll be submitting your quarterly reports, and the names of who will be teaching your child (i.e., you).  

My school district sends us a form to fill out for the dates on which we'll submit our quarterly reports.  I just use their form, because it's straightforward, and doesn't infringe on any of our home schooling rights (something that is important to me).  You can choose any 4 dates you desire, but I find it simpler to use the dates suggested by the State (November 15th, January 30th, April 15th, and June 30th).

They also send a form for the entire contents of the IHIP, but, if your school does the same, you are NOT obligated to use it.

Here is what my IHIP looks like now:

INTRODUCTION:

We are creating an integrated, interest-based curriculum using a hands-on approach to learning. As such, materials and activities listed in one subject area may also apply to other subject areas. In addition, we believe that one of the great strengths of homeschooling is the flexibility to individualize the child’s learning experience so that skills and knowledge are learned at the time the child is most ready and motivated. In keeping with that belief, the materials we will use may include, but not be limited to, the following list as well as the resources listed under each subject heading below: reference materials (including atlases, dictionaries, maps, encyclopedias, non-fiction books, videos, DVDs, CDs, magazines, newspapers, and internet resources), classic and contemporary literature, workbooks, worksheets, journal/narrative/poetry writing, creative thinking, fact gathering, music, hands-on activities, experiments, projects, field trips, group activities, art supplies, free play, conversations, Christian Service Brigade (similar to Boy Scouts), and real life. We provide a rich and varied educational environment at home for Joe and also take advantage of the many library, community, and internet resources available.

ARITHMETIC: Primary Resources: Pre-Algebra by BJU Press.

ENGLISH (including Library Skills): Primary Resources: Wordly Wise 3000 by Kenneth Hodkinson and Sandra Adams; Research in Increments by Susan Kemmerer; Editor in Chief by The Critical Thinking Co.; The Great Library Scavenger Hunt.

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY: Primary Resources: From Adam to Us by Notgrass.

SCIENCE: Primary Resources: Exploring Creation with Physical Science by Apologia.

HEALTH EDUCATION: Primary Resources: Health in Christian Perspective by Abeka.

MUSIC: Primary Resource: Piano lessons, including lessons in music history and theory.

ART: Primary Resources: Artistic Pursuits for Junior High by Brenda Ellis.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Primary Resource: Daily outdoor play, seasonal activities (swimming, biking, hiking, snow sports), fitness education.

PRACTICAL ARTS: Typing, Life Skills. Primary Resource: Typing.com online typing tutor, DIY.org, as well as real life.

Primary instruction to Joe will be provided by his parents. Supplemental instruction will be provided by others, as necessary.

And that's it!  Short, to the point, and meets all New York State's requirements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments.


 

Homeschool Curriculum Sale!

What better way to kick off the summer of 2016 than with a huge homeschool curriculum sale?  

No way.  No better way whatsoever.  Okay, maybe a chicken BBQ and some watermelon and some Popsicles followed by a swim in the pool would be a better way, but those things won't help you prepare for the coming school year.

This is the time of year I typically begin planning for our next school year.  The sooner the better, I think, for finding great deals and steals on curriculum, and I want to keep my costs down as much as possible.  Can you relate?

Knowing I'm not alone, last year I started what I hope to be an annual tradition of compiling all my unneeded or unwanted curricula into one place and offering it at hugely reduced prices for others who may be looking to spend very little but still want quality items.  As a result of the success of that sale, I decided to continue it again this year.

So, without further ado, I give you the second annual.....

ONLINE HOME SCHOOL CURRICULUM SALE!

Clicking the link above will take you to the event on my blog's Facebook page (p.s., feel free to 'like' my page while you're there).  All instructions for purchasing curricula are written on that page.  If you have any questions, please feel free to message me on Facebook or comment here, and I'll gladly help you out.  I'm pricing all items well below retail, so you're getting an awesome deal!  And you don't even need to leave the comfort of your living room.

If you prefer, you can also visit my eBay store and shop there.  All the items that are available on my Facebook page are also available in my eBay store, but my store has a few other items exclusive to eBay.

Before you leave (I know you're aching to get to the sale!), if you're in need of a planner for your new school year after you decide on your curricula, I have one of those for you , too!  Printable, customizable, and affordable.  Only $5 for unlimited access to the files on Google Drive.  Visit my AFFORDABLE HOME SCHOOL PLANNER blog post for more information. 

Affordable Homeschool Planner 2016-17

"Any recommendations for an affordable planner that I can use to keep track of doctor appointments for myself and hubby also?"

"I'm trying to find planner sheets and figure out how to plan for schooling year round."

"Does anyone have a really awesome planner that you can print and bind yourself?  I want it to be cute and functional for homeschool, possibly even have a chore chart."

"Looking for a good planner (lots of space for writing) for everything daily."

Any of those sound familiar?  All of them applied to me a few years ago, so I scoured Pinterest and Google and Etsy and all the Facebook groups trying to find the perfect planner.  Most of them were far to fancy for me.  I don't need a menu planner or a budget guide or an address book.  I just wanted something to keep track of my kids' assignments and to mark off attendance and days off.  I also needed a new system for assigning chores to my kids. Nope.  I found nothing.  And I couldn't see the point of spending $20 or more on a planner that I only needed a third of.

What's a homeschooling mama to do?  Create her own, of course!

But I felt like I couldn't be the only one looking for the type of planner I wanted, so over the past couple of years, I decided to share my Simple Homeschool Planner.
 

I'm offering it again this year, but with a couple new features.

HERE'S WHAT'S INCLUDED:

A planner cover page, as you can see in the photo above. A full academic year calendar for marking attendance and planned days off, vacations, and holidays.  Monthly pages by subject, which is where you fill in your lesson plans/assignments for each day.  One month per page, from July 2016 through June 2017.  The pages are color coded, and run Monday through Friday.  Weekly appointment calendar pages, running from July 2016 through June 2017.  Finally, I've included a chore system like I use with my own kids.  Two wheels with spaces for 6 chores each, one wheel for easy chores and one for hard chores.  I'll explain more of that in a bit.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

All pages are in PDF form, except the chore system, which is a MS Word document.  I suggest that you print all your pages in duplex mode (back to back) in order to save paper, but you can do whatever works best for you.

The subjects included are Math, Language Arts, Science, History, Health, Music, Art, Bible, Phys. Ed., Practical Arts, Foreign Language, three Electives, and a Miscellaneous.

Each subject is a separate document, so you can choose to print as many or as few subjects as suit your needs.  Once printed, match up the pages how you like.  Match up all the July pages, then all the August, then September, etc..  Or, include all months of one subject, then all of another, etc.  It's really up to you.  I wanted this planner to be customizable and meet the needs of people with different needs.  The same goes for arranging your appointment calendar pages and your full academic year calendar.  Whatever way you want to arrange your pages is perfect!

For the chore system, you'll see two color wheels labeled "hard" and "easy".  It's a MS Word document, so when you open it there, you'll be able to edit the text for each chore to customize them with your own chores.  I use this system with my own kids, and it blew my mind how much it cut down on the arguments and procrastination that our past systems had caused, because it's fair for everyone.  I have two boys.  They spin the spinner on our chore wheels and get 3 hard and 3 easy chores each.  They spin once a week, so each week they get a new set of chores.  Besides being fair, it also cuts down on the monotony of being stuck with the same chores week after week.  Instructions for assembling the chore system are included with that part of the download.

The least expensive way to bind your pages is with a 3-hole punch and a 3-ring binder.  It can be time consuming but works just fine.  You'll need a 1" to 1 1/2" binder.  I prefer the ones with the clear plastic cover where you can slide your planner cover page in the top opening.

Last year, though, I sent my files off to Staples and had them print and bind my planner.  It was more expensive, but the quality was better, and I didn't have to spend the time assembling it.

So, how can you get your hands on this dream-come-true planner?  I'm glad you asked.

In the past, I've been able to share my planner for FREE, and the response has been amazing!  This year, though, because of the amount of time and work I dedicated to it, I find I need to charge a small fee for download privileges.  I want my planner to be accessible to as many people as possible, and even though it's not free this year, I think you'll find it's still very affordable.  You can have unlimited access to the files for only $5.00 (U.S.).  No catch.  No hoops to jump through.  No annoying spam sent to your Email after the fact.

Simply click on the PayPal button below to make your one-time payment of $5.00.  Once your payment is processed, you'll be sent a link to the files, located on Google Drive, which you can access as often as you need.  Your link will be sent to the Email address associated with your PayPal account.

If you would like to get an idea of what the planner looks like, you can check out last year's free planner.  Keep in mind that the chore system and the appointment calendar are new this year, so you won't see those.

I hope you love this planner.  It has been perfect for me and meets my needs in a way no other planner I've ever looked at could.  If you don't want or need anything fancy but crave something functional, then this planner is for you!

As always, please do comment below with what you think of the planner and with any questions you may have.

Enjoy!

Mistakes New Home Schoolers Make: Part II

LET THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CALL THE SHOTS

This goes hand in hand with my first post on meeting with the superintendent and begs the same advice: DON'T DO IT!!!

States vary widely in how much paperwork is required for home schooling.  Some states require nothing. Others, like my home state of New York, require paperwork be submitted several times throughout the year.

For those of us in states that require paperwork of some kind,  I advocate for becoming intimately familiar with your state's home education regulations.  At some point, your school is bound to ask for more than you are required to give.  On the surface, that doesn't seem like a big deal.  And just giving them what they ask for seems like the easiest thing to do, so you don't have to worry about them hassling you.

A big reason many people choose to home school is because of the amount of control the government has over their kids. We want less government involvement in our lives.  We want to decide for ourselves what our kids should learn, when they should learn it, and in what way they should learn it.  We don't want our kids lives stored in a government database.

If we want to continue to home school our way without the schools and government stepping in, then we need to offer them no more than what we are required.  

 
Imagine if:

You're driving down the highway at a speed of 55mph where the speed limit is posted as 55mph.  You get pulled over by a police officer.  He says he clocked you going 55mph, and he's going to write you a ticket for speeding, because the town you're driving through would really like it if people drive 40mph. 

Would you not argue?  Would you not take it to court and plead your case to the judge, citing that the law allows you to drive 55mph, so you are not required to drive less than that?  Of course you would.  Because it doesn't matter what the town you drove through wants people to do.  What matters is what the law says, and unless and until that law is changed, you have the right to drive 55mph through that town.

I cannot think of a single legitimate reason why a person would acquiesce to driving 40mph and simply accept the ticket the police officer hands you without question.

The same holds true in homeschooling. 

In New York State, this is what is required:

Letter of Intent (LOI) - a simple, one paragraph letter stating that you intend to home school your child, naming the school year and grade level of said child.  Nothing more; nothing less.  I've seen many parents say that their school told them they need to come in to meet with the Superintendent (or any other school official) to discuss this.  You do NOT.  Other parents have said the school told them they have to come to the school to "sign out" their child and fill out some paperwork.  You do NOT.  A one paragraph letter.  That is all you are required to do.

Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) - this can be as simple or as complex as you desire, but here is all the state requires:  your child's name, age, and grade level; ONE of the following four things - either a list of syllabi, a list of curriculum materials, a list of textbooks, OR a plan of instruction - for each required subject; the four dates you've chosen to submit your quarterly reports, evenly spaced throughout the year; the names of who will be teaching your child (yourself, and any tutors you've contracted).  That's it.  You do not need to list out every single book you'll be using and describe every single thing you'll be teaching with how many hours a day you'll spend on each one.  Your IHIP can be covered in a single paragraph.  If your school asks for more details, you do NOT need to provide them.  My school district sends us a packet after they receive our LOI with their own IHIP form they suggest we fill out and return to them.  I toss it in the garbage.  You are under no obligation to fill out any forms your school requests of you.

Attendance records - yes, you are required to keep a record of your child's attendance.  NYS requires 180 days of instruction (900 hours in grades k-6 and 990 hours in grades 7-12).  You are NOT, however, required to turn in your attendance records, UNLESS your school asks for it.  Just keep it on hand.

Quarterly reports - four times throughout the school year, you'll need to submit to your school a report of your child's progress.  This is another thing that can be as simple or as complex as you desire.  Your reports must include the number of hours of instruction completed during the quarter, a description of the material covered in each subject, either a grade or a written evaluation of the child's progress in each subject, and a statement that at least 80% of the planned material was covered that quarter (or an explanation for why it wasn't, if that's the case).  All this can be accomplished in one or two paragraphs.

Annual assessment - in grades K-3, you can do the same thing you did for your quarterly reports, except summarize your entire school year rather than just one quarter.  In grades 4-8, however, NYS requires you submit the results of a commercially published norm referenced achievement test, such as the CAT test or the PASS test (there are several others they accept, but those are the most popular), every other year.  You can choose to test every year, if you prefer.  Or you can test in grades 4, 6, and 8.  Or in grades 5 and 8.  Whatever you choose, it must be at least every other year beginning with grade 4, and on the years you choose to forgo testing, you'll need to submit a written narrative in the same manner as your quarterly reports.  For grades 9-12, you must submit test results every year.

That's it.  New York doesn't require anything more than those five items.  If your school district requests anything beyond those items, you do NOT have to provide it.  Become intimately familiar with the state regulations so that when confronted with a difficult school district, you can point them to the regulations and stand your ground in refusing to give an inch, so that they don't ask for a mile.  After all, you wouldn't pay a speeding ticket for driving 40mph in a 55mph zone, would you?

Nothing contained within this blog or this article should be construed as legal advice.  Please consult a lawyer if legal advice is what you are seeking.

Mistakes New Home Schoolers Make: Part I

If you are new to home schooling, or are considering home schooling, then you'll likely find your mind riddled with questions.  What curriculum should I use? How many hours a day should we "do school"?  Should I ask my school's Superintendent for advice?  Will I want to wring my kids' necks before our first month of schooling is complete?  (Yes, by the way.  Yes, you will want to wring your kids' necks at least once before you end your home schooling journey.  But, I promise, it's worth the struggle!)

Allow me to answer a few of your questions by addressing some mistakes new home schoolers often make that can have you pulling your hair out in no time.  Trust me; I learned the hard way.

You've made the decision to home school.  You've read over your state regulations.  You've talked with some people who've done it or are doing it.  You think you've got this whole home school thing figured out.  You just want to be sure you've dotted all your I's and crossed all your T's.  What's next?

MEET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT

Don't do it!  It's tempting, I know.  It's the Superintendent, after all.  He or she knows all things school.  Right?  Wrong!  The Superintendent knows all things PUBLIC school.  Many of them are in the dark when it comes to home education.  But they won't tell you that.  They'll print a copy of the home education regulations, they'll read over them once or twice, and they'll answer your questions as if they're an expert.  This is where you'll run into trouble.

I had the regulations figured out, for the most part.  I just had a few questions about testing, because our first year of homeschooling was also the first year we were required to test.  I knew I could choose who to administer the test, but that the Superintendent could say no to my choice.  Conveniently, I had a friend who happened to teach in our district, and also happened to have been my son's 1st grade teacher, so she knew him well.  I asked her if she'd be willing to administer his test to him.  She said yes.

Enter Superintendent.

She agreed to meet with me.

After much hemming and hawing about the type of test I should use and why they think it's the best one, I told her that we had asked our friend to administer the test to my son, and that we'd probably be using the CAT test (not the one they thought was best).  The Superintendent about came unglued!  She hollered at me, "I don't appreciate you speaking with my employees without going through me first, and I'm not comfortable with you using the services of anyone employed by our district."

Excuse me?

If she were at all familiar with our state regulations, she would not have reacted that way.  In New York, the parents may choose which test to use, which location to test in, and the date and time of the testing, and the Superintendent has no say.  The parents may also choose the person they want to administer the test (no need to be a certified teacher, either).  The only thing the Superintendent can do is either consent or not consent to our choice of person.  He/she cannot dictate who we choose.  Which means that I was well within my rights to ask my friend to administer the test.  Not only that, but it also made sense to ask her before I spoke with our Superintendent, so that I would know whether or not our friend was even willing and able, and so that I could find an alternate person in the case that our friend was not willing or able.

My intention was to be prepared in advance, to save time, and to streamline the process.  Our Superintendent, however, didn't see it that way.  She thought I was usurping her authority when, in fact, she was usurping her own authority, because she didn't have an understanding of our state's home education regulations.

It took several written letters between her and me, as well as the threat of bringing in a home education lawyer and taking the matter to the school board, before she finally relented.  I don't think she realized she was in the wrong even after I showed her the regulations that supported my stance, but it was the end of the school year, and I think she was just plain tired.  Turns out, she resigned that summer.  I don't know if our interactions had anything to do with that decision, but I do know that we haven't had any difficulties with the two Superintendents we've had since, neither of which did I ever meet with to discuss home school related issues.  I learned my lesson.

While it might seem like a good idea to meet with your Superintendent, either because you think they might know the regulations, or because you want to establish a good rapport with them, it's probably in your best interest to skip that meeting.  Instead, becoming intimately familiar with your state regulations.  Get to know other home schooling parents who have been doing it for a while and can help you understand the requirements, whether in person or via social media.  Research.  Google is your friend here just as much as it is in finding curriculum.

One of the best resources I've found for learning the ropes as a new home schooler, and even as a seasoned one, is Facebook.  In particular, a group called Crossing Over to Homeschooling.  It's meant for new home schoolers to find home school resources as well as answers to their questions.

A good resource for help in understanding your state's regulations is the Home School Legal Defense Association's (HSLDA) website.  In my dealings with our superintendent, I turned to HSLDA's articles several times.  Often just the mention of them is enough to keep a school district from giving you a hard time when they are trying to usurp their authority regarding the regulations.

Don't worry!  It sounds daunting, but if you familiarize yourself with your regulations and find resources to draw from in helping you understand and utilize those regulations, you will have no trouble navigating this journey called home schooling.  I wish you luck!

Biology: Anatomy & Physiology - Home School Co-op Dissection Class

My kids and I participate in a local co-op for homeschoolers.  Each semester, parents are required to teach a class.  For some bizarre reason that I have yet to figure out, I chose to teach a dissection class.  (My gag reflex is strong!)  Over the semester, we dissected a worm, a grasshopper, and a frog.

We started by comparing and contrasting both the lives and the anatomies of these animals.  For our last class, though, I didn't have anything planned.

My class helper contacted me a couple days before class saying she'd been in touch with a retired biology professor from our local State College, and she'd agreed to visit our class to do a demonstration.  I had no idea what she would show us.  Okay, I was downright terrified!  How fresh would her specimen be?  I was positive I couldn't handle dissecting fresh roadkill (which was offered to her by my helper - yikes!)

Our guest brought with her a preserved feral cat.  I'm not gonna lie.  It was difficult.  I had a lump in my throat the whole time.  One student had to leave the room.  The teacher who uses the room after our class came in and sprayed air freshener when we were finished.  It was gross.

But, it was also fascinating and educational.  And I video recorded the whole thing!

Our guest taught the students the appropriate terms to use and showed them how the anatomy of all mammals - including humans - is similar.

If you have a student interested in this sort of thing, you'll want to show them this video.  If you have a weak stomach, though, you may want to hand them your computer and walk away.  Enjoy!