Saturday, September 21, 2013

Homeschooled: How American Homeschoolers Measure Up
Source: TopMastersInEducation.com

Monday, September 16, 2013

I am still active in the Home School community Many of the Alumni Moms get together as well. I have been doing evaluations for nine years  years now, so I am keeping current with popular curriculum and new curriculum. Things sure have changed though since when my kids were in home school (1988-2009). Many more lessons on the computer, Apologia has grown and Teaching Textbooks are very popular. Many, many things for free on-line now. Check out the free classes from Yale, called Open Yale Courses: http://oyc.yale.edu/

"Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn."

now I just need more time to share my years of experience with you.  Still doing evaluations and am working with two moms who are new to evaluations, so we all  are here to assist you!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

still in the thick of things even tho I am no longer a homeschooling teacher.

I am still active in the York Home School Association. Many of the Alumni Moms get together as well. I have been doing evaluations for six/seven years now, so I am keeping current with popular curriculum and new curriculum. Things sure have changed though since when my kids were in home school (1988-2009). Many more lessons on the computer, Apologia has grown and Teaching Textbooks are very popular. Many, many things for free on-line now. Check out the free classes from Yale, called Open Yale Courses: http://oyc.yale.edu/

"Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn."

now I just need more time!

Friday, October 15, 2010

link to the Simple Dollar, read this and think homeschool

10 More Essential Skills You Didn’t Learn in College

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2010/10/14/10-more-essential-skills-you-didnt-learn-in-college/



This is a good article about things not learned in college (or traditional
school). One more reason to homeschool/these things are taught in home
school since they are life and we are 24/7 with our kids. Homeschool is
more like what you really need for LIFE, so make sure these are included,
which maybe more important than academics.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Saturday, May 22, 2010

what about High School courses?

This is directly from the school code. It was chapter 5 as referred to in Act 169.
4.23. High school education.
(a) Instruction in the high school program must focus on the development of abilities needed to succeed in work and advanced education through planned instruction.
(b) Curriculum and instruction in the high school must be standards-based and provide all students opportunities to develop the skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and problem-solving and information literacy.
(c) Planned instruction aligned with academic standards in the following areas shall be provided to every student in the high school program. Planned instruction may be provided as a separate course or as an instructional unit within a course or other interdisciplinary instructional activity:
(1) Language arts, integrating reading, writing, listening, speaking, literature and grammar.
(2) Mathematics, including problem-solving, mathematical reasoning, algebra, geometry and concepts of calculus.
(3) Science and technology, including participation in hands-on experiments and at least one laboratory science chosen from life sciences, earth and space sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences and agricultural sciences.
(4) Social studies (civics and government, economics, geography and history, including the history and cultures of the United States, the Commonwealth and the world).
(5) Environment and ecology, including scientific, social, political and economic aspects of ecology.
(6) The arts, including art, music, dance, theatre and humanities.
(7) Use of applications of microcomputers and software, including word processing, database, spreadsheets and telecommunications; and information skills, including access to traditional and electronic information sources, computer use and research.
(8) Health, safety and physical education, including instruction in concepts and skills which affect personal, family and community health and safety, nutrition, physical fitness, movement concepts, motor skill development, safety in physical activity settings, and the prevention of alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse.
(9) Family and consumer science, including principles of consumer behavior and basic knowledge of child health, child care and early literacy skill development.
(d) The following planned instruction shall be made available to every student in the high school program:
(1) Vocational-technical education under § § 4.3 and 4.31—4.35 (relating to definitions; and vocational-technical education).
(2) Business education, including courses to assist students in developing business and information technology skills.
(3) World languages under § 4.25 (relating to languages).
(4) Technology education, incorporating technological problem-solving and the impacts of technology on individuals and society.
(e) College-level advanced placement courses may be offered as planned instruction in the high school curriculum.
(f) This section does not preclude the teaching of other planned instruction designed to achieve a school district’s, including a charter school’s, academic standards.
(g) School districts, including a charter school, shall determine the most appropriate way to operate their high school programs to achieve the purposes under subsection (a) and the academic standards in their strategic plans under § 4.13 (relating to strategic plans).

Monday, February 15, 2010

What about home schooling a struggling learner or special needs?

It really depends on your child's particular need, but some of these are general enough that they cover a variety of struggles. I also like to watch the child read and often find vision therapy is needed. These are books that might be helpful. I also recommend the articles put together by Charles Schwab that are now on the Great Schools web site. http://www.greatschools.org/LD.topic?content=1541

Living with a Challenging Child: Encouragement for Mothers of Children with ADD, Hyperactivity, or Other Behavioral Problems, by Jayne Ray Garrison

Homeschooling the Challenging Child, by Christine M. Field

Heads Up Helping!! Teaching Tips and Techniques for Working With ADD, ADHD, and Other Children with Challenges, by Melinda L. Boring

www.nathhan.org: National Challenged Homeschoolers
You can order a subscription, too

www.hslda.org Home School Legal Defense Association
"Struggling Learners" section--there is a email newsletter you can sign up for and information on the site re:assessing your child for learning disabilities

www.eastersealscentralpa.org You can ask to be put on their mailing list for Therapeutic Recreation Programs (camps, swimming, skiing, etc.--adapted for physical limitations) Offers ACES (Acquiring Community Experiences and Skills) camp in the summer for children with Asperger's Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism. Also has social skills groups in the spring and fall, too.

www.joyceherzog.com Sells Luke's Life List and Luke's School List, which can help you make your own IEP through a series of checklists of skills you want to focus on. The focus verse is Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man," and uses that verse to organize various skills, including "favor with God" (spiritual growth) and "favor with man" (social growth).

Thanks to Debbie for much of this information!