Teach Your Homeschool Child To Read

 One of the scariest things, for me, when I started to homeschool my youngest was I had to teach her to read.  I had no confidence that I would be able to do this.  Actually, it has gone very well and she loves to read now in the 4th grade.  We used Hooked on Phonics, in Kindergarten, and I loved it.  I also used the sight word/picture identification method.  I like this method more than just sounding the word out phonetically.  Seeing what the word looks like, and hearing what it sounds like, is so much more effective than just Phonics.  A friend of mine is just now teaching her daughter to read.  I found this very nice, Four Reading Methods, article and thought it was very much on point with good techniques and tips.  I also have to say, my kids learned very well in the younger years by playing games.  Both of them played online games a lot and it proved very effective.  Below are some free reading online games.  If you have a new learning reader Starfall is amazing.

 http://pbskids.org/games/reading/
http://www.primarygames.com/reading.php

Unique Homeschooled Family

So many people homeschool, for many different reasons, and in different ways. The possibilities are endless. Well meet my first guest blogger, Tonya. Tonya, and her husband homeschool their children, while traveling the country. How cool is that? Tonya has put together a post with the topic of pros, and cons of homeschooling on the road. Read it below, and please check out her site.

Homeschooling on the Road; the Pro’s and Con’s

Initially when I was asked to write about the Pro’s and Con’s of homeschooling my three children while traveling full-time in our RV, there was only one negative aspect that readily entered my mind. So, I posed the question to my husband: In your opinion, what do you think are the Pro’s and Con’s of homeschooling on the road?

Unanimously, our answer was space or to be more exact, the lack of. But as I really began to think about it, for a homeschooling mom that has accumulated quite a collection of books and curriculum over the past 11 years- the fact that there are storage restraints, is a blessing in disguise. It has certainly forced me to consider what’s truly important. And honestly, we didn’t read or use all the books that filled our shelves at home, so why would that change once we hit the road?

So, it appears that the one con that quickly came to mind might not be much of a hindrance after all.

And though we no longer live near family or friends, with today’s technology, keeping in touch via email, instant messaging, texting and cell phones has certainly kept the communication lines open. We’ve also been blessed to make new lasting friendships on the road.

So, it seems that the potential problems are actually blessings. But what about the true benefits? Our family is certainly much closer than we were before we began full-timing. Living in less than 350 sq. ft. of space, you either learn to show grace and mercy to one another, or you’ll kill each other. Since we’re still alive, I’d say we’ve learned to be a bit kinder and merciful.

In addition to improved character, we have experienced firsthand the diversity of the people and places that have made America great. Not only have we read about history, we’ve also walked where our forefathers once tread. We’ve pondered the mystery of the Lost Colony, flew gliders where the Wright Brother’s made their first successful flight. We’ve stood on the tranquil grounds that were once the bloodiest battlefields of the Civil War and were awestruck as we first glimpsed the Statue of Liberty.

As a homeschooling mom that is sometimes too aware of her shortcomings, I’ve learned that my children will learn with or without curriculum. The real lessons they’ve learned while living on the road will stick with them much longer than that chapter from the textbook.

©2009 Tonya Prater/Live the Adventure. All rights reserved.

Tonya and her husband, have homeschooled their three children for over ten years. Along the journey they have been amazed by the opportunities that the Lord has presented and the freedom that homeschooling has given them, allowing them to travel full-time, learning as they go! They have homeschooled their children using a variety of traditional and non-traditional materials, curriculum and methods. Tonya enjoys encouraging other homeschooling parents, and is available as a speaker on a variety of topics that include Choosing Curriculum, Portfolio Assessments, Overcoming Burnout and Homeschooling on the Road. She can be contacted at thetravelingpraters@gmail.com. You can keep up with the Prater’s at their blog: www.homeschoolblogger.com/livetheadventure2008.

Thank you to Tonya, for putting together such an awesome post.

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.

Homeschooling Record Keeping Does Your State Have Requirements?

I am curious about homeschoolers in other states, and record keeping. Does your state have strict laws, about record keeping, or just relaxed on the issue? Here in Florida, you have to keep all school work, per homeschooled child, for 2 years. The school district can request, to come in and inspect, but they have to give at least 2 weeks written notice. At the end of each school year, a certified teacher must do an evaluation, of your portfolio and submit it to the school. You can also take the standardized test, or have your child evaluated by a psychologist. Because there are no laws, stating what a homeschooled child has to learn, only that they are showing progress in their learning activities, the portfolio can contain whatever you choose to put in it. I am getting ready to do my first evaluation, in September. I have just started putting the portfolio together. So how about in your state? Do you have to keep specific records, for the state?