Florida Homeschool Evaluations Done

Today, was our homeschool evaluations. Our evaluations are due by the anniversary date of our Letter of Intent. We are early this year, since not due until the end of August. However, I always make them early just in case any emergencies occur and the date need to be changed. For Florida there are only three things needed to complete your evaluation. This is for a portfolio evaluation by a certified teacher. You could also choose to see a Psychologist to have your child evaluated, in Florida. You need a portfolio with a sampling of school work completed through the year, a reading list of books read through the school year, and a log of daily activities. This year I decided to make a calendar for each month, for each child, and what they did each day. This was just neater, and more organized to me. I will be doing one for DJ for each subject, and each month, since he starts high school in September. This will assure that I have proper documentation of hours spent on each subject, to earn credits needed for 9th grade. I will be going to his blog next, and writing out the schedule he and I have agreed on for 9th grade, with websites to be used where needed. You can view his blog by clicking here.

Caitlin will also have a writing blog next year, but that is still in the works. 

Homeschool Portfolios, Camp Anderson and A Tropical Low

Vacation is over, family have returned back to their home states, and we are back to normal.  DJ is heading off to Camp Anderson, with the Fanning Springs Church Youth Group.  He is excited and I hope they get decent weather.

Speaking of weather, we have had no rain in almost one week.  It is hot, and humid, dangerously so.  Heat indexes well over 100.  Be sure to drink plenty of water if you need to be out in it.  There is a tropical depression sitting in the Atlantic, just off the coast of Florida.  It is expected to strengthen, and possibly be the first Tropical Storm of the year.  Just in time for the 4th of July weekend, ugh.  DJ will be 14 on the 4th of July.

I have started our homeschool portfolios.  Our evaluation is in two weeks.  I take a lot of time putting our portfolios together, and will share them when they are done.  If you need tips on a portfolio feel free to ask.

DJ finished his last book, To Kill A Mockingbird, and will be completing his book report today before leaving for camp.  My printer is having a moment, so I can not print his Language Arts final exam.  Good thing I had him do book reports and other Grammar final exam tests. 

Homeschool Evaluation, A Puppy, And A Beta Fish

This is actually pretty funny. Yesterday was DJ's homeschool evaluation. It was hot, humid, and pouring rain when we left our home. By the time we came home it was stifling hot, and we had a fat, fluffy chocolate lab in the car with us. Wait a minute, we went for an evaluation, and came home with a puppy? Yep that is right. The evaluator had nine puppies, she needed to find homes for. I said no, no puppies. Well of course as soon as we looked at them, I wanted the chocolate one. So we took her home, gave her a bath, fed her some food, and she was playing, and getting used to our other dog. The phone rings, and my evaluator says the puppy has to come back, it was already promised to someone else. At least we were not attached to it yet. So I am thinking to myself, that is OK I felt so uprepared for a new puppy anyways. My kids, were upset, but back we take the puppy. They picked a blonde, blue eyed, with pink nose little girl puppy that we will pick up Labor Day weekend. Her name will be Biscuit, after some of Caitlin's favorite story books. I will be much better prepared by then, and it should go nice, and smooth. So how did we end up with fish? She felt bad for having us bring the puppy back, so he gave DJ a red beta fish, which he proudly named Ruby. So at the end of the day, we ended up with a great evaluation, a puppy, and a beta fish LOL. I am so glad we only do this once a year! Have a great weekend everyone!

OMG Watch Out For Bill, and The Evaluation is Due

I never met a Bill I liked LOL. Seriously though, yesterday Hurricane Bill, was upgraded to a cat 4, back down to a 3, but still a major hurricane. While this monster is not headed for Florida, the East coast needs to be paying attention, very closely. If anyone remembers Hurricane Charlie, and Katrina, then you know that the slightest change in weather patterns, can completely change the direction of this thing. Places like NY, Massachusetts, and Maine are not used to hurricanes, especially this size. Please, please, please keep your eyes to the skies. Joe Bastardi meterologist, and hurricane expert, was just on the news stating that you still need to be on alert, as the path is in no way set in complete stone, as they never are.

Today is the day, DJ's homeschool evaluation is due. I am not at all nervous, like last year, because I know what to expect, and I know the evaluator now. Last year she fussed about the way he held his pencil. Well he still holds it the same way, so I anticipate some fussing again. I still can not figure out why she focused on that so much. As long as it doesn't hurt his hand, or his writing abilities. Oh well, I guess she had to fuss at something. Last year, though I kept everything, and made the portfolio, I did not realize I was supposed to keep a log of daily activities as well. So she told me to be sure and do it this year, which I did. Yay so it should be good!

Homeschool Evaluation, Porfolios

In the state of Florida, you must submit a yearly evaluation to the school in your county. There are 3 different methods you can choose from. Ours is coming due at the end of this month, so I thought I would share the ways in which you can do your evaluation.

1- Take the standardized test, given by the school district, for your childs grade.

2- Have a certified teacher, of your choice, evaluate your child. They can either do this in person or over the phone. They need to review your portfolio, and have a discussion with your child. Sometimes, especially in rural areas, it is hard to find a local evaluator. You could call your school district, to see if they know of any evaluators, they arent very helfpful though. You could join some support groups, and find out whom they used. Here are a list of Florida Homeschool Evaluators http://www.southcountyhomeschoolers.org/SCHS/HTH/Evaluators.HTML

3- The third choice is to have your child evaluated by a psychologist.

Whichever method you choose, you do have to submit a yearly evaluation. Your school year will run from the date you gave your letter of intent, until the end of your school year. I did not realize this myself, so our school year actually started at the end of Sept, even though he went to public school in August. We use the evaluation method, with a certified teacher, and a portfolio. In Florida a portfolio should include:
1. A log of educational activities that is made contemporaneously with the instruction and that designates by title any reading materials used.

2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student."

You can achieve this many ways. I keep a log, which I write down what we do each day, and I also have this blog, which is public, and I do not have to worry about misplacing LOL. For my portfolio, I put in all tests, we test every week, plus any art work, Spanish, or other crafts done. Some people make fancy portfolios, mine is just in a binder, with each class marked. You do not need to put every piece of paper, in a portfolio, just a sampling. However, you must keep all papers, and materials used, for at least two years, in case the county wants to investigate. I guess this blog qualifies as my fancy portfolio. An evaluation can cost about 50-65 dollars, depending on the teacher doing it. My evaluator charges 55 dollars, and her fees did not go up this year. If you live in Gilchrist, Levy, Dixie, or any of the surrounding areas, and you can not find an evaluator let me know, and I will give you her name, and number.

We Did Excellent On Our Homeschool Evaluation

Yeah, I am glad it is finally over. I was so nervous. Being my first year of homeschooling, and I made the curriculum myself, I was a bit nervous. We did excellent, and DJ is above average in his reading. Matter of fact the only thing she didnt care for, was the way he held his pencil, and needs to work on handwriting neatness. Well I am glad it is over, and we can move onto third grade.

TS Fay, is still dumping rain on us, and wind gusts, nothing severe however, and no flooding here.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Annual Homeschool Evaluation Form

Here in Florida, you must submit a yearly evaluation form, to the public school in your county. The evaluation must be performed by a certified teacher, take the FCAT given by a certified teacher, or have evaluation done by a Psychologist. Our evaluation, is Friday. I am a little nervous, and it was not an easy job finding someone able to do the evaluation. This is a copy of the form, that needs to be filled out and submitted to the school. Keep a copy for yourself, just in case the school loses it. If you take the standardized exam, instead, the wording can be changed a little to reflect that. Please feel free to copy and use this as you need it.

Annual Homeschool Evaluation

Child's Name:_______ _________ _____ Birthdate:__ _________ ____

Parent's Name:_______ _________ _________ __

Mailing Address:____ _________ ________

____________ _________

Date of Evaluation: ____________ _________ __

As the parent of the above-named child, and according to Florida
Statute FS 1002.41, this is to inform you that my child has been
evaluated by a teacher holding a valid regular Florida certificate to
teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level. The
teacher we have chosen has conducted a review of the portfolio and
discussed this review with the pupil.

The teacher named below
__accepts
__does not accept
the portfolio as demonstrating that the child has shown educational
progress at a level commensurate with his or her ability during the
past year as stated in the statute.

Parent's signature:__ _________ _________ _________ __

Florida Certified Teacher's Name: ____________ ___
Professional Educator's Certificate DOE#: ____________
Florida Certificate' s Expiration Date: ____________ _

Teacher's signature:__ _________ _________ _________ _

My Evaluation Saga Continues

So I thought I had found someone to do DJ's evaluation. It isnt due until September, but I am not the kind to dilly dally. Well good thing, because my original evaluator, is much busier than she originally anticipated. She is quite a ways away too. So I started my search all over again. I was starting to think there were absolutely no other homeschoolers here in this very rural part of Florida. But after many hours of searching I found a website called Titus 2 Homeschoolers. There listed they had some listings for teachers that were able to do homeschool evaluators. I contacted them all. I got one response from a woman who lives in Bronson. I called her, and DJ's evaluation has been arranged, for August 22nd. This is such a relief. I think this aspect, has been the most difficult part, of our first homeschooling year. If anyone else lives in the Levy, Dixie, Gilchrist country areas, and is in need of an evaluator she has given me permission to post her name and email address. Her name is Sherri, and her email address is brice4christ@bellsouth.net I also learned they have a small homeschool group, which I hope to have the information for soon. Titus 2 Homeschoolers is a homeschool group, serving mostly Alachua county, their website can be found at http://members.cox.net/mandjstewart/t2/