Socialization of homeschoolers

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Saturday, March 15, 2003 | Kyle Williams

[Types_with_Fist]

...more info on homeschooling...

http://www.newsminute.com/homeschoolnetwork.htm

[kancel]

Hi honeygil,

From what I have seen- Homeschoolmama is our homeschooling missionary here on FR- and she is awesome at it so you might FReepmail her. I would also post at your state board- they would be able to give you state specific info about where to look/who to contact in your state- and make sure you ask where/when a local convention will be. Lastly, at least for getting started on legal requirments visit www.hslda.org - they can give you legal info by state (what ages, what requirements, what other hoops you gotta jump through.)

For me the hardest part was just deciding how I wanted to do it(classical homeschooling, unschooling, packaged curriculum, do-it-yourself-curriculum etc. etc.)- there is A LOT out there. Which is where a convention comes in handy- just to take a peek at all your options in person and maybe listen the excellent speakers our community has to offer- at our convention there is always speakers that just give a beginners lecture/wrokshops- for example you can get a brief rundown of the many types of "methods," local legal type stuff,things about organization and scheduling for homeschooling, support groups in your area-things like that. Of course conventions can be overwhelming too!! WHO- the Washington State Homeschool Organization has this great "Convention Survival" page to check out before you tackle a conference (even if it isn't theirs): http://www.washhomeschool.org/whoShopping.html

I was like you- I started researching long before my kids were "schoolage" (actually I started thinking about homeschooling when, fresh out of college, and not even yet married, I started Preschool teaching but that is another story for another day) and I feel lucky I had that opportunity. I always feel a bit bad over the moms who go to support group or on homeschool forums that say they "just"-often as in "today" or at the very most "this month"- took their kid out of PS and they have no idea what to do next because they never thought they would homeschool (of course I am also glad becuase to do that so abruptly usually means PS was severly damaging a child in some way and now he is home where he belongs.)There are lots of books,magazines and websites about the "how" of homeschooling. For general homeschooling info I would pick up either "Practical Homeschooling" or "Homeschooling Today" magazines, and a copy of "The Big Book of HomeLearning" (you can probably buy a used copy on the swap boards here: http://www.vegsource.com/homeschool/ which will get you by until you are ready to make some firm decisions).

My personal favorite website is: http://www.classicalhomeschooling.org but it is very method specific. I also like email loops- there are tons on Yahoo of course. Do a google search on "homeschool" and you will get thousands and thousands of hits. Also go to your local library or used bookstore and check out all kinds of books on the topic ( big chain bookstores, at least locally, don't usually have a very good selection on hand so start with your library, as you find titles you like- and agree with- find them on Amazon and check the "recommended titles" and customer reviews for further suggestions.)

I tell you the last nonspecific suggestions not to be unhelpful but because anything specific I suggest is going to be biased by my methods and beliefs about homeschooling (like the one website I gave you) and although I obviously like those methods the beauty of homeschooling is that you dont have to copy me, or anyone else, but you can find your own drummer for your homeschool to march to.

[homeschool mama]

Yes yes yes! to everything you said, kancel. You offered wonderful info to honeygil. I visit vegsource fairly often and am blessed by the support and information rec'd from many on that site.

I'm printing out the Convention Survival Guide info you offered. At our next homeschool fellowship meeting I'll pass it out...conventions are coming up sooner than we think! Research now...buy later...after looking it over.

Thanks so much for the great info. :o)

[homeschool mama]

Excellent resource!

btw...I love your screen name. LOL

[homeschool mama]

Saxon bump. :oD

[homeschool mama]

Good for you in beginning your quest early and with an open heart! I began my hs adventure when my daughter was 2. We ended up putting her in a private Christian school for kindergarten and 1/2 of first grade before hs'ing her. She's in 7th grade now and a pure delight! We were blessed that her k teacher is a sweet friend of our family. She's actually the one who encouraged us to take the leap of faith and homeschool...our daughter was begging to be hs'd when k ended...finally made the decision in November of her 1st grade year. We haven't looked back. :o)

On this thread you'll find amazing freepers with oodles of information, honeygrl. If I can be of help in any way, feel free to freepmail me.

Oh..you might want to check out www.fiveinarow.com for your 2 year old. Wonderful ladies with a willingness to help with any questions you might have...and a gentle guide to encourage time, learning and fun for your little ones.

Another site would be www.fire.org (I think...I'll have to check and make certain). Terri Camp offers *amazing* info and ideas...her book is worth purchasing at this point in your life. :o)

[homeschool mama]

http://ignitethefire.com/

Here's the correct website of Terri Camp. WORTH visiting and WORTH purchasing her book, Ignite the Fire! Now!

[goodseedhomeschool]

i KNOW JUST WHAT YOU MEAN!!! My 13 year old son has tested very high too, and it's funny because he is no genius either, lol. Thank you Abeka, lol!
Cody has taken 6 college credit courses via correspond, and everyone thinks, WOW. We love double-dipping.
Anyway, God Bless your family and homeschool.
I tell Cody that he and his fellow homeschoolers will be the "bosses" of tomorrow, he agrees.

[goodseedhomeschool]

Here is a link to my site. I am coordinator of this group and web creator. Enjoy. I have oodles of great links
http://home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/PWP-goodseedhomeschoolgroup

[Homeschoolmom]

Loved it! Thanks so much for posting it.

Thing is, my boys (11 and 9) get compliments all the time on their ability to interact with anyone from a small child to adults. They're comfortable with everyone because they never learned it wasn't "cool" to like everyone. hee hee

[Homeschoolmom]

Hey, I post at Vegsource all the time. Do you ever check out the Homeschool Issues Board? (We hardly ever discuss hs issues. We mostly discuss politics.) Lot of liberals there, but that's what makes it fun!

[Devil_Anse]

Where are the mile-long quotations of Scripture on this thread? Or do you only do that to threads you don't like?

[Elsie]

Only on threads that need the truth shown.

Even though sometimes it either causes or is ammunition in a Hatfield-McCoy type feud.