Hi everyone!!! This is my first year homeschooling, I have 3 children...1st,5th and 8th grade. We live in Pa. I'm still trying to learn how to be relaxed, Im still brainwashed from how the public schools here teach, trying to go with everything scheduled. Doe's anyone have any advice or tips to teach in a more relaxed way??? I wanted to read a little more of what was posted before I posted, but I ran across some wrong information posted by "guest" and felt I needed to correct it. The "guest" stated that in Pa we no longer have to hand in our portfolio's to the superintendant, this is FALSE!!!! We still need to do so and to the evaluator. There is a Bill #505 in which they are trying to make this true BUT it hasn't even gotten out of the infancy stage yet. I wish it were its like double evaluations in Pa. Many hoops to jump thru. I just don't wany any Pa homeschool parent getting in trouble with this information. I hope my information helps someone, and thank you for this wonderful board Lisa
Lisa~ I'm in PA as well! I, too, am working at being more relaxed with our schooling for next year. Have you been to the CHAP convention? I'm looking forward to going to that in May to see all the different options that are available. This is the first year that I have to turn in a portfolio and have my child evaluated. However, I have been told by several people that the only person who sees the portfolio is the evaluator. Could it be that it's different in each school district? Not sure. Good luck!
Hi Heidi! From what I read in the law, and what I've been told on the Pa homeschoolers website is that the superintendant gets the portfolio also with the evaluator evaluation. Now SOME superintendants don't want to see them just because they don't have time to go through all of the paper work with all the homeschoolers in their district. IF you have a superintendant that doesn't want to be bothered you are LUCKY!! So by law they are to get it, but if they say don't give it to me I don't want it, then consider yourself blessed...lol If you want more info on this here is there website... http://www.pahomeschoolers.com/ I live near Pittsburgh, McKeesport school district and I have no clue what they will want, and I unfortunately cannot find a support group that can give me any direction with this process. I've never heard of CHAP, where is the convention being held??? I'm so eclectic right now in my teaching trying to find what works best for all my children, I've used the library method and I'm now on the books the schools have given me. I'm doing in my heart what I know is right for my children as a whole, but I doubt my ability at times. And the negative feed back you get from neighbors and the school itself on how bad it is for your children to neglect their socialization. My definition of socialization is much different than the schools. Thanks for your reply! Lisa
Lisa~ I'm in south-central PA, kinda mid-way between Harrisburg and State College. We're in the Juniata County School District- I'm sure it's made the news as one of the worst school districts in PA or something! LOL The CHAP convention is in Harrisburg. This is my first year of going to it, but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm trying to be more relaxed and eclectic in our schooling- there is so many different things that I want to look into for this next school year. I'm excited to make some changes in the way we do things. Oh, by the way, I have 2 girls- they'll be in 6th and 1st grade (they're 11 and 4). Heidi
This is a free online class for people trying to decide if homeschooling is right for their family and for new homeschoolers. It is by Barnes and Noble Univ. I haven't taken the course but it sounds interesting. http://educate.barnesandnoble.com/e...fer=0-10000-5000000000000-5000000&nhid=bn
Lisa, I'm in central Ohio. Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) has a big conference in Columbus each June. You're always welcome to cross state lines to come to the Conference; Columbus may be closer for you, depending on where in Pennsylvania it's being held. For info, go to: www.cheohome.org
