My friend hses through the school system here in CA. She said they are trying to make her teach her dd 4 hours a day in Kindergarden. When she finsihes early she is getting worried that some one will get her for not doing enough schooling. Her dd is learning with leaps and bounds and I dont see her slacking. Are there different laws for private school options as I use and PS school homeschooling?
Yes! Your friend is legally enrolled in an independent study program. The state recognizes her as a public school student. Legally she has to do as they require because she is part of their program. Private homeschoolers operate under the same brick and mortar laws as private schools so we are able to establish our own hours. Your friend is operating under the government.
Thanks Patty, I knew you would have the right answer. NOW for another question-- what can she count as kindergarden? I gave her a project last night, some air dry clay will take her two days at least to finishthe project, cause it is create, and dry for two to three days and then paint. She has the curric they gave her plus some things I have given her but somedays she is done in an hour of work and they are not pleased. I told her that free play in K is part of the class, for like half an hour, and our Kindergardeners at church school have a nap as part of their k time too, but they have book time when they can read, educational toys to play with , Play dough is what I remember playing with in K and blocks, so I am plannning to get her some of those as a suprise, I love that this mom wants to home school her dd has asthma really bad and its really been hard for her to take her to school in the past. So Play dough, crayons , what else is K supplies she could use to help fingers get stronger? LEgos? Bead work, for counting , and stuff too! OH I am coming up with ideas for her here! LOL
Whatever the school deems Kindergarten worthy! LOL Seriously, I like your ideas! Is she allowed to expand on her own ideas or will it stray from "the test"? I wonder because my sister uses a charter. While the charter allowed my sister to select curriulum from a few different publishers, they can't be Christian publishers and any extra activities or work her children complete has to be submitted and approved as coinciding with the lesson plans. If she taught something different than what the texts teach, it is beneficial to the kiddos but can't be submitted because it isn't counted as time since it strays from the original lessons. Did that make sense? If she is allowed to stray or add, how about skipping, bouncing a ball, catching a ball. These will help with motor skills and agility, are fun and count as P.E. I use to have Ems run to the fence, touch it, and run back in order to build up these skills. They can make their own picture books for art or a number/letter tree. It is like a Christmas tree but the kiddo makes and hangs their own numbers or letters they make with play dough. Then they can make their own words when they want and hang up the letters or numbers when they are done. Finger painting is always great! Nature walks. Teaching about taking care of the earth is always great at that age. Recycling! Baking for basic math. Making sandwiches and counting the slices, meat, etc... Basically, if it is allowed, your friend can use many everyday activites and add it as time.
okay, thanks I will check back with her tomorrow and see what she is allowed to use, or have her list a few things to check on when she meets with her person. I am so glad I did the lone ranger homeschooling I could not imagine haveing to be accountable for every minute. Although I do do a lot of hard work time and we just got done with school a few mintues ago begining this morning at 830, because we were in Drama class today and that takes at least an hour of or normal time. But its school stuff and lunchbreak then back to school again. I could not have the little breaks in our days if we did the accountable way. PTL!
We're in California and we use a charter school, every month I have to fill out a student work and assignment form for my kids that are K-8, my high school age child is responsible for her own. All I basically have to write is example here...daily grams, pgs 10-30 and it took her 6 hours for the month. Other than that we have free reign to do what we want and just fill it out so we get credit for that project, assignment and even field trips. We are assigned mentor teachers for each child and to meet with them once a week for help, news about the school and just to make sure we're doing ok. I feel comfortable with our school and the way we are going about things.
Even though I doubt the PS system has any way of enforcing 4 hours of home school for her (practically, would they send a ps representative to stake out her house and watch what she does or follow her around with a video?), I would encourage your friend to get out of the public school system. Not matter what the bribes- free textbooks, computers, etc. it's just not worth it, even though as tax payers it would be nice to use some of our own tax dollars confiscated by the state. Public education's appetite for control is insatiable. Curt
I think the public school option is ok for those who are a bit nervous about homeschooling in the first place. I too would balk at being told what to do. If we ever move I will so check out the laws of the states prior to making any commitments. Even if the kids are in ps at the time. (I like options) for your sister...I would ask the "person" how long the curriculum was expected to take and just count it as that much time. If dd gets through it early she should be punished?? I think not. If the Avg child takes 4 hours to do it and she does it in two then she has done 4 hours "worth" of work. Especially if you don't just sit down and whip through it. I would be tempted to put on there...Class lined up and when everyone was quiet we went to the restroom. We waited in the hall until everyone had finished washing thier hands... Class lined up and marched to the cafeteria. Class was given exactly 15 min to finish. If they were not done, trays were dumped anyhow. No food sent to the Starving Children of the world, but some scraps saved for dogs. I would not be cut out for doing public school at home.
LOL1 I Love it! Secondly I know she is nervous and just started with the school before I could stop her Lol. Next year I will make her join my co op classes with her dd who will then be 1st or 2nd, she is learning so fast I would let her keep going to where she would have been. She is in her second year of K, btw. So if I were the 'rep' I would have encourged her to do more just to get through k if that were the case but.. then if she is learning what they have she should be done for the day I think too!
