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kaseyb (Supermom!)

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Everything posted by kaseyb (Supermom!)

  1. Because of the Constitution homeschooling has always been legal in all 50 states according to Michael Farris with HSLDA. I remember when we started homeschooling a long time ago and we were committed so much that we knew we'd fight the system if it came to that - because we knew the Constitution gives parents the right to teach their own children at home and we knew the spiritual lives of our children were at stake. (94% of homeschoolers keep the faith and 93% continue to attend church after the high school years. But a shocking 75% to 85% of Christian children sent to public school drop out of church, and do not hold a Christian worldview after high school graduation.) I'll share an article giving details below. http://www.crosswalk.com/family/home_school/1259657.html The Big Questions HSLDA CAN I DO IT? Is it legal? “Because the United States Constitution is the highest law of the land, homeschooling has always been legal in all 50 states,” says Michael Farris. “It has been a bit of a fight to get the various members of the education and social services establishment to accept that fact, but great progress has been made. Currently about two-thirds of the states have specific laws authorizing and regulating homeschooling. In the balance of the states, homeschoolers may legally operate as a small private school or provide ‘equivalent instruction.’ The details vary considerably from state to state and opinions about the law vary from district to district. What does not vary is HSLDA’s commitment to the constitutional right to teach one’s children at home.” - Michael Farris HSLDA Chairman & General Counsel I don’t have a teaching degree. Can I really teach my child? Yes, research and practical experience show that it is dedication and hard work, not special training, that produce outstanding educational results in a homeschool setting. (See Figure 1 to the right.) HOW DO I DO IT? Where do I find curriculum and materials? There's an ever-increasing variety of curriculum—from traditional textbooks to homeschool-specific curriculum and correspondence courses. Thankfully, there are experienced homeschool moms who have taken the time to put together review guides, saving newcomers much time and frustration. Just two such guides are Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Homeschooling series and Cathy Duffy’s two volume Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manuals. The best place to start is to contact homeschooling veterans in your local and/or state support group—ask what they have tried, what has or has not worked for them, and why. You need to get to know your child’s learning style. (See Useful Tips.) Attend a couple of homeschool seminars and curriculum fairs where you can look at your options firsthand. To find a support group or state homeschool convention near you, visit HSLDA's website. How much time does it take? A lot less than you think. Homeschooled students don't have to take time to change classes or travel to and from a school, so they can proceed at their own pace. In elementary years especially, parents and children often find that they may only need a few hours to accomplish their work for the day. What if I have several children in different grade levels? You'll be surprised at the subjects that can span grade levels. Certain curricula lend themselves to multilevel teaching. You can design your program so that older children work independently in the morning while you work individually with younger children, and then while younger children take naps in the afternoon, you can have one-on-one time with older students. What about my child's special needs? “Thousands of families are homeschooling children whose special needs range from Attention Deficit Disorder to severe multiple handicaps,” says Betty Statnick. “Parents often find that when they bring these children home to be educated, they come out of the ‘deep freeze’ that has kept them from making significant progress. Gone are the comparisons, labels, social pressures, and distractions that a regular classroom may bring. Parents can offer their children individualized education, flexibility, encouragement, and support. For learning-disabled children who function best with ‘real-life problems’ rather than artificial worksheet tasks, homeschooling may be ideal. For medically sensitive children, learning at home provides the opportunity for careful monitoring. And for attention-deficit children who function best with uniquely structured time and fewer distractions, homeschooling usually proves to be the answer.” - Betty Statnick, HSLDA’s Special Needs Coordinator ARE YOU SURE I WON’T RUIN MY KIDS? What about socialization & special interests/enrichment activities? Research has found that most homeschooled students are involved in a wide variety of outside activities, interact with a broad spectrum of people, and make positive contributions to their communities. Experience has shown that homeschoolers are well socialized and able to make lasting friendships across age and cultural divides. (See Figure 2 at right.) What about a diploma, graduation, & college? Homeschool graduates closely parallel their public school counterparts—about two-thirds go on to post-secondary education, and one-third directly into the job market. (Brian Ray, Strengths of Their Own—Home Schoolers Across America, NHERI, 1997.) Homeschool students who have utilized community colleges for foreign language, lab science, or higher mathematics courses discover as an added bonus that these course credits make it easier to enroll in four-year colleges after high school graduation. (See "Making a transcript" under Useful Tips.) Next --> Copyright 2004 Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. Box 3000 · Purcellville, VA 20134-9000 · Phone: (540) 338-5600 · Fax: (540) 338-2733 · E-mail: info@hslda.org
  2. Great thoughts, Phatkat. Cocoa powder lasts a good long time. Does anyone know how long Almond Joys and chocolate candy bars last?
  3. So it doesn't take anything large at all. That's good to know then. How often do you make bread with your starter? A few years ago I found a couple of those large pickle and kraut crocks from an estate sale. There was a thread here a while back about using sauerkraut to do battle with flu. If anyone has done that before and feels a hankering to do a thread, I'd be interested in hearing how you made it. Unless it's already here and I just missed it.
  4. This is a good link with tons of information on sourdough: http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html Cat, thanks for this thread! I'm planning to start a sourdough soon. So tell me gals, what type of container do you keep your sourdough in all the time? A crock? If so, what size?
  5. Good thoughts, Nana. Well, it's almost 8 years later and I just finished the Tone's vanilla dated '99 the other day. I've read that dried herbs are not supposed to last long, but I'm still using some and getting some great flavor in my soups. All I can say is that God is good! but I added some of Phatkat's special salt and made it palatable in a pinch. I read someplace that if you store crackers in a tin they'll last longer, but I've not tried it yet - so can't vouch for it. Anyone here done it?
  6. A wonderful idea, Lois! Logical for sure.
  7. Yes, Grubby, you are sooo right!
  8. ROFLOL!!!! (((((((((Hugs to Grubby!!!)))))))) Now it's Pixie's turn. My arms are plain worn out from all this huggin'! Can't hardly even clap no more....
  9. Ha Haaaa!!!! You gals are confusing me totally - Grubby and slgrubbs are one and the same? And then there are at least two here whose screen names begin with "west", aren't there? There's Westbrook and then isn't there someone else? Or is it Waiting I'm thinking of? (Be patient with me. I have Word Dyslexiosis.) I wanna give mstooke57 a biiiigggggg hug for being assertive in saying she wants a hug!!!! LOL!! I'm a firm believer in letting people know what I need too!
  10. Pssssst.....shush now, whisper so no ones hears, Pixie. Shush..... Hug Schoolmarm or Guiltys41 or Grubby next..... (And don't tell anyone I said this!!) Hush! Hug 'em all three together!! I'll help!! Here's big hugs! (((((((((Grubby, Guiltys41, Schoolmarm)))))))) Uh-oh. Schoolmarm thumped down on the floor passed out from all that hugging!! Oh Grubby and Guiltys, help me revive her....where are the smelling salts?! Goatherder! Heeelllp!!! Someone! Pixie. How did we get into this fix? Me? I never suggested we do that! Ssshhuuush.....well, okay, it's your decision, but I want to sneak in here and play again. I want to cheat. No, no, Pixie, you go ahead. I'll get into trouble. Ssshush! Please don't say a word about this to anyone.....
  11. HA!! This has got to be the absolutely neatest thread I've ever seen on a board!! What fun!
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