Did I just make a big mistake? I signed up for a gov't program where you home school, but a teacher follows up with you to see if you are on track, and you get some funding for curriculum. DH likes the $$, and the rest of the family likes the teacher part. (no one but DH really likes the idea of hs). The "Principal" called yesterday. Apparently I have to submit proof that we have completed each learning objective. 3x a year in a portfolio. Curriculum has to be approved by their curriculum director ("but we're very flexible" said Principal). Has anyone done anything like this before? Does this sound problematic to you?? I was intending to do a lot of unit studies, and only have a true curriculum for phonics and math. I would like to wrap the rest of the subjects up in the unit studies. I am a firm believer in teaching a child how to learn, and not being too worried about whether they learn specific facts. I think I might be in trouble . . .
That is how the programs are here in Alaska and alot of people sign on. I've thought about it because they give something like $1400 per older child. I have talked to the moms about it and they some are more rigid than others. One mom was just telling me that they are still on module 3 in apologia. Well I'm assuming the school isn't that rigid then. I know that it is a hard thing to give up our indepence. I'm still not sure if I am ready to do that. I know that one program won't let you use any religious material and another program will as long as it isn't in the title. I'm sure it will all work out for you. Just plan ahead and stay on track.
I don't know if you made a mistake in going into the program, but you seem surprised, which causes me to wonder if you understood the requirements before you signed up. Personally, I do not want nor need any other "guidance" as to how the Lord wishes my daughter to be educated. He has already provided every we need (even if we do not yet have it). It would only be a mistake to me if I was not following His plan.
Do you have a list of the learning objectives? Unit Studies definitely DO count as curriculum, although it may take a bit of creativity on your part to identify exactly what kind of learning is going on. (A single unit study, for instance, can cover geography, history, English, etc...) In my area the Public Alternative Schools use Unit Studies, because they follow a philosophy of integrated learning. They don't give tests or grade work, instead the teachers write "narrative" report cards, describing the student's observed accomplishments and areas of need. I think you'd likely want to do something similar for this program. Portfolios are easy to make up - just save your children's work in a file folder, and take photos of anything too big to include (like that 3-D model of the Nile!). I think you should make up a list of your questions and concerns and ask the Principal of your group for clarification.
Where I live there is also something like Public Alternative Schools. They will give you around $400 to be used in education. To receive the money, you must submit a receipt showing that the money is for education. It can not be for any religious item as in Apologia books. Also, every month the parent must write a brief description of what the child did for that month and if the child is on track. A teacher reviews what you wrote. Perhaps the teacher will talk to the mom if there is concerns. I am not sure about that. The Public Alternative Schools also offer classes. A lot of families belong to it and like it a lot. There has been no problems to my knowledge. Recording unit studies will take a bit more work on your part, but it can be done. I would suggest that you divide a piece of paper into columns representing the different areas that will be studied as in Science, History, English, and Art. As you do your unit study, write down what you did in the appropriate columns. You can always go back and switch the items around later. For example, if your child wrote a paper on scientist, you can record this under science or English. If you find that there is more than enough time was spent on science, then you will put that paper under English. Easy?1? If you don't like what is being done, you can always go back to being a "registered" homeschooler. Perhaps it will work out for you.
Here in CA there are homeschool charters. I was skeptical at first, as we lived in Michigan for 8 years, never had oversight, and did it all ourselves. However, CA is so expensive (and some other financial constraints hit) plus we were in a dumpy apt and my kids had NO friends. A mom at our scout troop recommended her charter (where she uses some religious material that she buys herself) and she was very informative and answered so many questions that I felt more prepared when I went into the meeting at the charter. I had a great teacher (ES) and it was a great experince for the kids that even when we moved 40 miles a way, we still commuted down there for classes once a week and our meetings with her! For this year, we researched and found a local charter to elimiate that drive, but so far I like it, even with some of their funny quirks. We do a portfolio every month (just keep some of the best work in a special folder) and I make checklists for the kids for me, but she hasn't asked to see them. The approval for curriculum for us just means it has to be related to something they are studying this year (I can't get a $200 chemistry kit if we are studying habitats, unless I am really clever in how I show the two are related!) and that typically excludes religious materail. Finally, we have a yahoo group set up by parents about the charter that is great for questions outside of the school venue. If you can find someone who is currently with this program who can answer some questions, that might benefit you. Good luck!
I have signed up under a Christian program, so I can use Christian materials. It seems difficult to get a copy of the learning objectives at this point. I think I didn't realize how closely they want to monitor you. However, the teachers that monitor me will be Christians, so that helps. Someone also told me you can take pictures of the work to submit it in the portfolio, so that helps. I was a little afraid I had just signed up to do all book work. I am still a little nervous about the whole thing, so I think I will ask about what our commitment is. Can I withdraw if it doesn't seem to work for us? Probably if I wait to spend the money, then I will be fine to withdraw if I need to. My other option is just to register, and then I sign that I will educate my child, and I think I might get $100 to work with.
I would advise not to be involved with any government program. They want some measure of control and I am sure that it depends on who is running the program and the program outline what the rules are and how strict they enforce them. The bottom line is any control would be unwelcome here. I don't want anyone saying what I can use, what proof I need, what days/hours I can homeschool etc. I just worry that by giving them an inch they may take a mile.
I'm in BC as well, and have done the same. It's actually been a good thing (plus, getting a dogwood certificate at graduation is important to us). Who did you sign up with? We're with HCOS, and they've been really helpful, even providing an occupational therapist for my son biweekly, which we otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford. And they have a great library that they send the books out to you and provide pick up. A lot will depend on who the teacher is, moreso than the school you've chosen to enroll with, so keep that in mind. The portfolio thing hasn't been a big issue. I report what we've done weekly via a quick email, and then at portfolio time I just sent out samples that coincided with the PLO's. I've actually enjoyed doing that, so in the event that the kids do end up in ps someday, I know they'll be on track. Plus, it's been fun to write down each week all the things we've covered - it's usually a lot more than I thought I did! The PLO's are easily met using unit studies, at least, they have been for us as ds is only in K. I've used a curriculum for reading and math, and have used Five in a Row as our unit studies. I also went over the PLO's and anything that we didn't look like we'd otherwise cover, I just went on the internet and printed out a few worksheets. His portfolio consisted of the worksheets I printed, samples of his writing, some pics of his projects, and a video of his Sunday School play. We met the required plo's for K within 3 months. It was nice as well to be able to use Sunday School and whatnot to meet the PLO's. He got all his fine arts and bible plo's met through that. Feel free to PM me if you want any info on how things work here in BC! Out of curiousinty, what age are your kiddo's?
Ha, okay. I just read in my 'moaning' post about the age of your kids! We really are very much in the same boat!
Cool, that's great to hear. I think I have developed a general distrust of gov't monitoring. But I have met people who said the teacher they had helped sort out some pretty serious issues for them. (like accidentally giving a G4 student a G7 math text). I hope we will have as successful an experience as you have had. We are with Regent. I looked into Traditional, and wasn't taken with their approach. I haven't heard of HCOS. KaC: Does your teacher do the marking and report card, or do you do that?
I've not heard of Regent - HCOS is Heritage Christian Online School based out of Kelowna. The teacher does the report card, and mine's not done a great job of it this year I don't think, as she's missed noting several of the PLOs that I know we've already covered. But I'm pretty sure that a phone call will be enough to sort it out. It's their job to translate your work into meeting those PLO's and each school and teacher have different takes on how much work it takes to meet them. I know some are really creative in meeting them, others, not so much. The marking, well, there isn't anything to mark really in K. I don't know about higher grades, but I think it's all up to me, aside from maybe provincial exams in high school? Oh, and you'd mentioned that you didn't have a list of the PLO's you need to cover. Your school should be able to email those to you. If you want, I can email you the ones from our school as they're probably the same for most subjects.
Personally, the reason my husband and I are homeschooling our children is to keep the government as far away from them as possible. I know that haveing extra money sounds great (it does ot me too. haha), but is it really worth having your curriculum looked over by officials to say whether it is or is not good enough? That seems very limiting to me on how you homeschool your children and what you are teaching them. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me and I would personally, if I were you, get out of it as soon as possible. In my opinion that's just a little bit better than going to a public school. The government still has a hand in the schooling cookie jar...your home.
well I haven't read all the responses here, but it sounds like it will make HS a lot more work than it should be. And a pain having to answer to someone all the time. IF money is so tight you have no alternative, I guess you could try it for a year and see what happens. I would be leery of it. Try it a year and the school doesn't think you child is making the right progress, then what? Can they demand your kids go go school then? What if you drop the program later will they balk if you keep them home? Seems risky. I too think it seems you agreed to it before knowing what would be involved. I would look into it some more. And NO ONE would tell me I couldn't teach my child anything religious. well or anything for that matter religious or not!
We used a charter school in California before we moved to Colorado. I must admit that I miss it. They wanted samples, but that was easy for me since we do written work everyday. I was able to sign my girls up for horseback riding for PE, art classes, swimming lessons, and all kinds of things I never could afford myself. They really miss it. I guess we were lucky that the charter we used barely asked for anything from us and gave us so much.
I think I will proceed as planned, but with caution. I will not teach my child something that I don't morally agree with, even if it is in a PLO (provincial learning outcome), I will use the curriculum I want to use, and progress at our own speed. If the teacher has problems with these things, then I will have to withdraw. I would like to see how it works. If I have a teacher that works well with me, and they don't object to my methods, then it might be a really good way to accomplish our goals. I think the important thing will be not loosing sight of our goals, in order to meet their requirements. The curriculum coordinator should be calling me after spring break is done, and then I will receive their official PLO's. KaC: I have heard of heritage. I chose Regent b/c they have a class that meets locally to me that does PE and group projects once a week. I have communicated with the teacher that leads the weekly program and he sounds really good. He doesn't try to interfere with the home program, just help the kids build friendships and engage in group work. They take a multi-grade approach, which I like b/c the kids interact with a range of kids, and siblings can stay together. They are a Christian program, and they hire Christian teachers. That helps too. Thanks for your thoughts folks!
I have been using what I was able to glean from the internet and tips from the ladies on here to HS my DS, all free. I wasn't sure if I was covering everything, but I had a basic curriculum guideline for 5th grade that I followed as far as points to look for. That is until someone on here told me about this site. It just became free, covers K-5, has 36 weeks worth of lessons in the core subjects, and is wonderful. It allows me the choice to use or not, gives me guidelines and tips and DS has taken off with it. http://www.lessonpathways.com/ I don't think I could let the government have a say in what I do with the HS ing. My trust level is way down after the damage the PS did. I think I will continue to "Wing It".
We don't have anything like that around here. I'd be cautious. Personally, I distrust the govt. to a bit of an extreme to I would never sign up for anything that allowed them in my home. But, that's me...I'm all into small gvt. and think that everything that looks otherwise if something out of the novel 1984. LOL.
