Homeschooling

Archive for October, 2006

Question: Iowa Homeschool Laws, I now have to send my child to public school?

I have homeschooled for 5 years, we almost always used the standardized tests for yearly assessments. My daughter did well and is now a junior. My son however failed to show 6 months worth of improvement in Social Studies on the last test, and the year before. This is the only class that according to the test he doesn't meet the standards. I have been informed he must attend a public or non-public school this year. A remediation plan was not offered as an option, we did that last year. He is 15, going in 10th grade. Do I have any other options besides having him attend school outside of our home? Are any correspondence schools considered an Iowa accredited public or non-public school? Thank you for any answers or advice.

Answer: I wonder if you could dual-enroll for social studies only? Just a thought. I'm also in Iowa and my son got a low score on social studies on his ITBS several years ago. My son just doesn't test well. Since I have a teacher's license then I am my own supervising teacher. I'm a member of NICHE and they have always answered my questions. They might be able to help you and there is a lawyer who helps specifically in Iowa. I hate to publish his name in this venue but if you contact the homeschool group-Eastern Iowa Home School. I believe that he has spoken at their conference and they may have contact info. Sorry that you will have to google all these. Might also try HSLDA.

Best wishes. I hope you get your issues solved in a way that is best for your family.

How to Improve Math Skills and Performance: Practice Makes Permanent!

Question: Teachers : what is your opinion on Homeschooling ?

My little boy is 4 1/2 and he will not be accepted in Kindergarten because he is 2 weeks short for the deadline .
He can read a little above level for his age : short vowels like Sam , cat , fat , work , start , will ,get and many sight words . .He can count to 25 and count about 15 objects . Knows all shapes , colors , patterns . Knows the continents names , big cities of the world , many USA states , animals , plants ,etc . We just read and read tons of books .
Many people tells me to homeschool him .
I am from Europe (but lived in the USA now ).Homeschooling is rare in Europe , but they do have high standards for school. Not everybody has a high school diploma , you have to work hard for it .
Anyway , what is your opinion as an experienced teacher , is Homeschooling a good alternative and can the child be compared to a school child in his education ?
Please don't mention socialization , my son socialize at church 2x/week, karate, library,friends ,etc.

Answer: I am a teacher. And so is my spouse. And we both believe whole-heartedly that Homeschooling can be the best education possible if parents are committed to the idea. And it certainly sounds like you are off to a great start.

There is nothing to compare to the benefits of an individualized educational program. Many people send their children to a school where they learn very little and then pay large sums of money to send them to tutors who use an individualized program to teach the children so much more in just a couple of hours a week. It seems better to me to just let the child have the individualized program at home and have more time for other things.

Reading "tons of books" is one of the foundations of a great homeschool program, in my opinion.

(And I have yet to meet a Homeschooling family with a socialization problem. But I meet lots of children in school who haven't learned how to socialize politely and appropriately because they've learned mostly from their peers rather than from those who know how to socialize.)

My own children are definitely advanced in comparison to the children their age who are in American schools. And almost all of the homeschooled children that I've met are academically at a level that is advanced or about the same as school children their age.

Sounds like you are already Homeschooling him. I'd just keep going. Find out the laws for your state so you'll know how to proceed. (Though at this point, since he's slightly too young for kindergarten, you won't have to worry about legalities for another year.)

Amanda Merritt, Graduation Presentation 2008