Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that many parents are homeschooling without someone overseeing how the time is spent. Our good friends home school their children. "Science" consists of doing something fun (i.e. watching what happens to maple syrup on ice) repeatedly b/c the kids love it, but no science explanation. "Writing" for the second grader consists of working on letter formation (no journals, no writing letters to others, no actual writing). Language arts consists of reading, but no extended questions.

While I think there are certainly parents out there who are doing an amazing job homeschooling, in truth b/c there is a lack of oversight, and b/c it is easy to get into a practice of doing it the same way, many of these children are not receiving nearly an equivalent education as their peers. My other friend (not the same as the good friends) who is with her 2 children today homeschooling sent a text earlier that they are coloring for art right now and then will read quietly and be done for the day. Sorry, a 9 year old and 7 year old should be doing more than that.

Someone in my family also homeschools her three kids. Since the kids are all different ages, it is incredibly difficult to homeschool. One is in first grade, one is in third and one is in 5th.

There is oversight. Your kids still have to pass the state mandated tests (usually administered at a testing center or base school). So, at end of the day, as long as your kid can exceed the baseline in the different subjects, go ahead and do fun science.

This is not entirely correct. The "oversight" consists of testing each year BUT the parent administers it and if the child doesn't 'pass' the child simply stays back a grade. My friend administered it to her two children this past summer and both were held back a grade according to the results so they are both repeating.

What state allows the parents to administer the test?

My friend did it this summer - VA. She then took the finished tests from her kids and mailed them in to the state.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that many parents are homeschooling without someone overseeing how the time is spent. Our good friends home school their children. "Science" consists of doing something fun (i.e. watching what happens to maple syrup on ice) repeatedly b/c the kids love it, but no science explanation. "Writing" for the second grader consists of working on letter formation (no journals, no writing letters to others, no actual writing). Language arts consists of reading, but no extended questions.

While I think there are certainly parents out there who are doing an amazing job homeschooling, in truth b/c there is a lack of oversight, and b/c it is easy to get into a practice of doing it the same way, many of these children are not receiving nearly an equivalent education as their peers. My other friend (not the same as the good friends) who is with her 2 children today homeschooling sent a text earlier that they are coloring for art right now and then will read quietly and be done for the day. Sorry, a 9 year old and 7 year old should be doing more than that.

Someone in my family also homeschools her three kids. Since the kids are all different ages, it is incredibly difficult to homeschool. One is in first grade, one is in third and one is in 5th.

There is oversight. Your kids still have to pass the state mandated tests (usually administered at a testing center or base school). So, at end of the day, as long as your kid can exceed the baseline in the different subjects, go ahead and do fun science.

This is not entirely correct. The "oversight" consists of testing each year BUT the parent administers it and if the child doesn't 'pass' the child simply stays back a grade. My friend administered it to her two children this past summer and both were held back a grade according to the results so they are both repeating.

What state allows the parents to administer the test?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that many parents are homeschooling without someone overseeing how the time is spent. Our good friends home school their children. "Science" consists of doing something fun (i.e. watching what happens to maple syrup on ice) repeatedly b/c the kids love it, but no science explanation. "Writing" for the second grader consists of working on letter formation (no journals, no writing letters to others, no actual writing). Language arts consists of reading, but no extended questions.

While I think there are certainly parents out there who are doing an amazing job homeschooling, in truth b/c there is a lack of oversight, and b/c it is easy to get into a practice of doing it the same way, many of these children are not receiving nearly an equivalent education as their peers. My other friend (not the same as the good friends) who is with her 2 children today homeschooling sent a text earlier that they are coloring for art right now and then will read quietly and be done for the day. Sorry, a 9 year old and 7 year old should be doing more than that.

Someone in my family also homeschools her three kids. Since the kids are all different ages, it is incredibly difficult to homeschool. One is in first grade, one is in third and one is in 5th.

There is oversight. Your kids still have to pass the state mandated tests (usually administered at a testing center or base school). So, at end of the day, as long as your kid can exceed the baseline in the different subjects, go ahead and do fun science.

This is not entirely correct. The "oversight" consists of testing each year BUT the parent administers it and if the child doesn't 'pass' the child simply stays back a grade. My friend administered it to her two children this past summer and both were held back a grade according to the results so they are both repeating.

Anonymous wrote:"A typical day at my child's school involves 1-1.5 hours of math, 2.5 hours of language arts, 1 hour of social studies or science, 1/2 hour of lunch, 1/2 hour of playtime, and 1-1.5 hours of either music, art, PE, guidance, STEM enrichment activities, or library time."

That 2.5 hours of language arts is necessary because of all of the different levels of competency in the class. There is a short lesson given to all students then the teacher meets with each group for 10-20 minutes, so you could condense that 2.5 hours into about 30 minutes of one-on-one time. The literacy "stations" and ipad apps are busy work to keep kids occupied so the teacher can meet with the groups. With math, if your kid understands the concept, they don't need the worksheet/ipad busy work that again is a way for the teacher to give extra time to students who need it.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows homeschooled kids are weirdos.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that many parents are homeschooling without someone overseeing how the time is spent. Our good friends home school their children. "Science" consists of doing something fun (i.e. watching what happens to maple syrup on ice) repeatedly b/c the kids love it, but no science explanation. "Writing" for the second grader consists of working on letter formation (no journals, no writing letters to others, no actual writing). Language arts consists of reading, but no extended questions.

While I think there are certainly parents out there who are doing an amazing job homeschooling, in truth b/c there is a lack of oversight, and b/c it is easy to get into a practice of doing it the same way, many of these children are not receiving nearly an equivalent education as their peers. My other friend (not the same as the good friends) who is with her 2 children today homeschooling sent a text earlier that they are coloring for art right now and then will read quietly and be done for the day. Sorry, a 9 year old and 7 year old should be doing more than that.

Someone in my family also homeschools her three kids. Since the kids are all different ages, it is incredibly difficult to homeschool. One is in first grade, one is in third and one is in 5th.

There is oversight. Your kids still have to pass the state mandated tests (usually administered at a testing center or base school). So, at end of the day, as long as your kid can exceed the baseline in the different subjects, go ahead and do fun science.

This is not entirely correct. The "oversight" consists of testing each year BUT the parent administers it and if the child doesn't 'pass' the child simply stays back a grade. My friend administered it to her two children this past summer and both were held back a grade according to the results so they are both repeating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that many parents are homeschooling without someone overseeing how the time is spent. Our good friends home school their children. "Science" consists of doing something fun (i.e. watching what happens to maple syrup on ice) repeatedly b/c the kids love it, but no science explanation. "Writing" for the second grader consists of working on letter formation (no journals, no writing letters to others, no actual writing). Language arts consists of reading, but no extended questions.

While I think there are certainly parents out there who are doing an amazing job homeschooling, in truth b/c there is a lack of oversight, and b/c it is easy to get into a practice of doing it the same way, many of these children are not receiving nearly an equivalent education as their peers. My other friend (not the same as the good friends) who is with her 2 children today homeschooling sent a text earlier that they are coloring for art right now and then will read quietly and be done for the day. Sorry, a 9 year old and 7 year old should be doing more than that.

Someone in my family also homeschools her three kids. Since the kids are all different ages, it is incredibly difficult to homeschool. One is in first grade, one is in third and one is in 5th.

There is oversight. Your kids still have to pass the state mandated tests (usually administered at a testing center or base school). So, at end of the day, as long as your kid can exceed the baseline in the different subjects, go ahead and do fun science.

This is not entirely correct. The "oversight" consists of testing each year BUT the parent administers it and if the child doesn't 'pass' the child simply stays back a grade. My friend administered it to her two children this past summer and both were held back a grade according to the results so they are both repeating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that many parents are homeschooling without someone overseeing how the time is spent. Our good friends home school their children. "Science" consists of doing something fun (i.e. watching what happens to maple syrup on ice) repeatedly b/c the kids love it, but no science explanation. "Writing" for the second grader consists of working on letter formation (no journals, no writing letters to others, no actual writing). Language arts consists of reading, but no extended questions.

While I think there are certainly parents out there who are doing an amazing job homeschooling, in truth b/c there is a lack of oversight, and b/c it is easy to get into a practice of doing it the same way, many of these children are not receiving nearly an equivalent education as their peers. My other friend (not the same as the good friends) who is with her 2 children today homeschooling sent a text earlier that they are coloring for art right now and then will read quietly and be done for the day. Sorry, a 9 year old and 7 year old should be doing more than that.

Someone in my family also homeschools her three kids. Since the kids are all different ages, it is incredibly difficult to homeschool. One is in first grade, one is in third and one is in 5th.

There is oversight. Your kids still have to pass the state mandated tests (usually administered at a testing center or base school). So, at end of the day, as long as your kid can exceed the baseline in the different subjects, go ahead and do fun science.

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is that many parents are homeschooling without someone overseeing how the time is spent. Our good friends home school their children. "Science" consists of doing something fun (i.e. watching what happens to maple syrup on ice) repeatedly b/c the kids love it, but no science explanation. "Writing" for the second grader consists of working on letter formation (no journals, no writing letters to others, no actual writing). Language arts consists of reading, but no extended questions.

While I think there are certainly parents out there who are doing an amazing job homeschooling, in truth b/c there is a lack of oversight, and b/c it is easy to get into a practice of doing it the same way, many of these children are not receiving nearly an equivalent education as their peers. My other friend (not the same as the good friends) who is with her 2 children today homeschooling sent a text earlier that they are coloring for art right now and then will read quietly and be done for the day. Sorry, a 9 year old and 7 year old should be doing more than that.

Someone in my family also homeschools her three kids. Since the kids are all different ages, it is incredibly difficult to homeschool. One is in first grade, one is in third and one is in 5th.