If you were just starting to homeschool or were going to join a homeschool association. I am thinking of hosting a information session in town for parents who are thinking of either homeschooling or becoming members of our homeschool association. So I need questions that I can answer to make it easier for them to make their decision.
I JUST did a Q&A for newbies last week. Here's the outline I used based on feedback from people who said they'd be attending (covering this, with a casual Q&A format, took us 3 hours, by the way): 1. Intro a. Everyone introduces themselves, starting with the hosts. b. No stupid questions. No experience needed. c. Hosts don't have all the answers. d. Hand out index cards to answer questions at the end if not covered during the discussion. 2. State Homeschool Law a. Hand out copy of law and discuss important points b. Discuss HS participation in PS groups, classes, or events. 3. Curriculum a. First address schooling styles, then address publishers that fit into those styles b. Q&A – because everyone’s needs will be different 4. Organization a. Lesson Planning b. Material/Book Storage and creating school space in your home c. Completed Work Filing d. http://donnayoung.org/index.htm 5. Time Management a. How long to homeschool each day? b. Siblings - i. School aged siblings - ii. Toddler/preschool siblings c. Everything else - i. Chores, errands, work, play, etc. 6. Testing & Evaluation a. Pretesting - i. To establish grade level initially and/or on an ongoing basis to skip unnecessary material - ii. Curriculum-specific placement testing b. Post Testing - i. Law requirements for testing (with options available) - ii. College entrance testing 7. Special Needs a. Q&A, if needed 8. Socialization a. Cite articles such as these: - i. http://www.sahero.org/articles/nothankyouwedontbelieveinsocialization - ii. http://goybparenting.com/?page_id=28 - iii. http://www.homeschoolnewslink.com/blog/?p=629 b. Brainstorm ways to keep kids interacting with other kids: - i. Academic Classes/Co-ops - ii. Sports - iii. Skill-based, like scouting or 4-H - iv. Interest-based groups like choir, legos, drama, or dance - v. Play dates - vi. Church activities 9. Closing a. General Q&A question cards for anything not covered.
I would want the basics--- how much will it cost me in time and money. And do I have to know how to teach to be a teacher for my kids?
My biggest problems and questions were about finding and choosing a curriculum. How to compare and evaluate them would be helpful.
One thing I found helpful when I first started. We had a Mom's Meeting on a weekly basis (after a small co-op, while the kids had Children's Prayer with the pastor's wife). Once a month, we picked a topic, like MATH. And the moms would bring in their curriculum oridea or something math-related to share with the group. It really helped me to get an overview of some different curriculum, so I had an idea of what to look for in the future. And some of the ideas presented, while not part of a curriculum, were very practical.
Question topics for why they should choose to join your association: What do you offer to help support the parents? (Mom's night outs, Dad meetings, curriculum shares, seminars....) What do you offer for the kids? (co-op, sports, get togethers, proms, field trips....) How do you help meet gov't regulations?( paperwork support, annual testing,....) How much involvement by the parents/kids is required? (Do you have to volunteer, participate in so many activities, mandatory meetings....) What is the financial obligation?
I would want to know what the costs/expectations on me would be, and how flexible they were. As for homeschooling itself, hmm... just starting out I would have loved to have a better idea on how to pick curriculum, some criteria I could have used for picking it, and options for saving money for curric. I would have wanted some idea on the legalities of it (I remember being really concerned and overwhelmed there). I would have wanted to know more about scope and sequence lists, and what 'types' of homeschooling there were (obviously, I know now that there are as many types as homeschoolers :lol: but it would have helped to know about, say, unschooling, school-at-home with school texts, classical homeschooling, eclectic homeschooling, etc etc) Pros and cons of homeschooling: how much time it would take, an honest look at the educational value of homeschooling (how homeschooled kids compare educationally), the social implications, etc etc. The usual stuff that the public at large thinks they know but maybe they don't. I also remember thinking it must take the patience of a saint to homeschool, and worrying that being a homeschool mom meant being a total slave to my kids (ironically, although I spend MORE time with them, but LESS time being servant because the kids are much happier and more content... but I had no idea about that before). Do you have to be religious to homeschool? Do you have to hate your ps to homeschool? Am I smart enough to homeschool (I hear versions of this one all the time from people unhappy with their ps but convinced they don't know enough to make educational decisions)? Ok.. I think that covers it LOL. I was a neurotic mess before we began
