Columbus Convention, Reading Units, Homeschooling in VA
By Heather Idoni
Added Friday, June 15, 2007
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 8 No 47 June 15, 2007
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2007 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- Coming to Columbus!
Helpful Tips
-- Send in YOUR Tips!
Winning Website
-- Reading Units
Reader Question
-- Homeschooling in VA
Additional Notes
-- Searchable Archive
-- Our Email Group
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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Volunteers needed in Columbus, Ohio
I will be at the CHEO 23rd Annual Convention June 21-23 with my
on-the-road bookstore -- hundreds of new and used 'living' books
and our great audio resources -- and I'd LOVE to meet some of our
readers in the area!
We will be occupying spaces 129 thru 133. Do stop by and say 'hello'
if you plan to attend -- also, be sure to ask for your free gift --
a 2-hour Sugar Creek Gang story on audio cassettes!
We also still have openings for some volunteer help -- and if you
plan to attend, but haven't registered and paid yet, please email
me. You could attend FREE just for helping out here and there at
our booth! And even if you have already paid for your registration,
we'd still be happy for the help if you have time to spare. Just
drop by! :-)
Blessings,
Heather Idoni
Beloved Books
http://www.BelovedBooks.com
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Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: heather @ familyclassroom.net
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Helpful Tip
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"When you use markers, be sure you put the caps back on tightly or
they will dry out. Also, do not leave crayons on the dashboard of
your vehicle in the sunshine -- unless you want a different colored
interior."
Seriously now --
This is my way of telling you that we need our readers to send in tips!
To avoid more of the same, please send me YOUR great tips!! I know you
can do better! The tip jar is empty! :-)
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Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: HN-ideas @ familyclassroom.net
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Winning Website
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Reading Units http://www.mce.k12tn.net/units/units_with_books.htm
Elementary teacher Gay Miller has shared several Book Units on
this great website. Some titles include 'Because of Winn Dixie' and
'Call of the Wild', among others. Just a click on the book title
and you're transported to a synopsis of the book, lesson ideas,
projects, printables and handouts.
-- Cindy - www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
[Editor's note: I also found these great book units on her site --
Call it Courage, Number the Stars, The Perilous Road, Swiss Family
Robinson, and Where the Red Fern Grows! -- Heather]
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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"I pulled my eleven year old son from our local school system last
year to homeschool him. He was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning
disability and sensory integration dysfunction, and fell further
behind while in public school. While homeschooling him, I have
found that my son has huge 'gaps' in his knowledge base. We have
spent time trying to fill in those gaps and catching him up. The
problem is my system requires homeschooled children to fall within
the twenty-third percentile. I don't see my son making that expec-
tation. He has made tremendous gains behaviorally and academically
from when we first started. How do I go about preparing for a
possible hearing with my local system? Sending him back to public
school is not an option. I would like to continue homeschooling him."
-- Elizabeth in Virginia
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Our Readers' Responses
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Dear Elizabeth,
Although we didn't receive any responses to your question from our
readers, (perhaps because no one felt qualified to answer it
adequately), I will do my best to give you some direction!
I did look up the summary of homeschooling laws for Virginia, and
it appears from your question that you are homeschooling under your
"option 1" in Virginia.
Just from a mom's point-of-view, I would wonder if you can't just
switch to "option 2" (Religious exemption), which appears to have
no other requirements other than to "file request to acknowledge
religious exemption with the local school board chairman". (This
is assuming are a woman of faith who holds a strong conviction that
homeschooling is God's will for you and your son.
Here is where I am looking:
http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=VA
If you decide to look into this suggestion, I would spend time
praying and developing a very strong 'philosophy of education' for
yourself and study God's word as it pertains to the inherent duty
of a parent toward a child in education. When you are personally
convinced of this right and duty, you can express this very simply
in the letter that you file. You will then be free of any further
evaluation or criticism of the job you are called to do in raising
your own son as you see fit. From what I understand in GENERAL,
the only real requirement for choosing to homeschool under a
'religious exemption', throughout many states in the U.S., is that
you be able to express your understanding and personal conviction
in that regard.
Whether someone advised you early on to choose option 1... or you
just assumed that was the only way you could legally homeschool in
Virginia, it is good to get to know the actual laws. A phone call
to Homeschool Legal Defense would make sense for you, if you aren't
sure you understand. http://www.HSLDA.org
Just a reminder to everyone reading... check your state's laws now
and then. You might be doing more than you have to! Even though
a certain 'option' might have been a good fit when you first
started homeschooling, you might be better off re-evaluating your
situation to fit your current needs. And if you need a more
'government hands-off' approach, option 2 in Virgina looks mighty
appealing. ;-)
Blessings!
Heather
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Answer our NEW Question
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"I would like my daughter and I to learn how to put together a web
page. Is there any software that would help us to do this? Thank
you." -- Sandi
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Do you have a good recommendation for Sandi?
Please send your answer to: HN-answers @ familyclassroom.net
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Ask YOUR Question
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Do you have a question you would like our readers to answer?
Send it to HN-questions @ familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if we can help you out in a future issue!
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Need Immediate Help?
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Visit our Homeschool Encouragement Center! This is a live 24/7
'chat' area where you can talk live to our homeschool counselors
by typing in a box. When you get there, just introduce yourself
and let them know that Heather sent you!
This ultra-safe chat is supervised by experienced moms who are
there to serve and share their wisdom... or just offer a listening
ear.
Check out our schedule of daily chats and jump right in! :-)
http://www.HomeschoolChat.us
[Note: This ministry is geared toward Christian parents, but all
are welcome. You may need to download a Java program to utilize
this service. Email Luanne @ educationforthesoul.com if you have
any technical difficulties.]
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Tags: reading units, book unit studies, literature based unit study, HSLDA, sensory integration dysfunction, homeschooling in Virginia, Call it Courage, Number the Stars, The Perilous Road, Swiss Family Robinson, Where the Red Fern Grows, Call of the Wild
