Live in Virginia,New to Homeschooling,Using LifePac! Help!

Hello Everyone,
My name is rose....I am new to the forum and to homeschooling.I have a ton of questions......First of all,I live in virginia,And can not find a support group in my area..I live in the northeast part of virginia,If anyone knows of a group in my area Please post it for me.....This is my first year for homeschooling.I have a 7th grade son.I have decided to use alpha omega.I know I have til Aug 15th to tell the school board that my son will be homeschooled.This past year I talked with one of his teachers about this....Maybe I shouldnt have done that....She does not like the idea at all...Both my sister in laws teach their children and I thought what a great way for him to learn what he needs in life and the christian way to boot.....One of my questions is when writing my intent, what words do I use to tell them I want to take my son out of public school.Do I have to go into great detail on all my planned studies?How in the world do you write lesson plans and keep up with the days you teach for a whole year.I have bought a 6th grade box set for one of his subjects.Will they understand that he tested out in that when I gave the test of placement you get from Alpha Omega..Or do I have to order the grade they say he is in.....I have set my mind to homeschool him and have everyone in the family on my side about it....I just dont want them to say "Im sorry you cant homeschool him."Or can they do that.I also was wondering,Do we start school and end it when everyone else does?Oh do I have to buy all 10 lessons at one time or can I just order the teachers guide and then buy two at a time as we go along in the year.Thank you for letting me rattle on here...And thank you for any help you may have....God Bless

Have faith in god. (mark 11:22)

 

Welcome, Rose. I'm new here to this board too. I've been hsing 5 years, so I'll see if I can give you a little help.

First, I live in KY so I don't know what the laws are for VA. You should be able to find them on the website for the State Department of Education. You should be able to find info there on what is required as far as number of days, curriculum approval, etc. On KY's site it's all there even though I had to dig around for it a little while. I don't think they want to make it easy for people to find.

My letter of intent is addressed to the superintendent of my county's board of education. It reads:

This letter is to inform you that we are homeschooling our children during the 2005-2006 academic school year pursuant to all applicable Kentucky Revised Statutes. Below is a list of our school age children and information about our school.

Then I list each child's name, birth date, and grade level. I also give the name of our school, address, names of teachers/parents, and phone number.

Please contact us if there is further information with which we need to be concerned. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely,

I'm not required to submit any curriculum for approval in KY; just keep an attendance record and grade records. For attendance, I made up my own chart on the computer which has a column for each month with the days of the month beneath. I simply write in how many hours for a full day, half day, or an X for no school that day. We're required to have 180 instructional days of 6 hours each. Then at the end of the year I summarize it in typewritten format. We don't have to have school the same days that the public school system does, just have the required number of days.

I can't answer any of your questions about Alpha Omega. My only experience with it was one health course.

Hope this may have helped somewhat.

 

Hmmm. Somehow when I was typing up my reply, I got logged out so my message showed up as guest. :?

 

Welcome, Rose! I'm Jackie, and am starting my 7th year of homeschooling. You will find that all of us are always willing to jump in and give an opinion; just ask away!

Do a web search for "homeschool support group"+Virginia, and you'll probably find several places that can help you specifically. Since I'm from Ohio, I can't answer any direct questions about Virginia.

Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is also a great place to start, and they are actually out of Virgina (near the D.C. area). Many of us here are members. It's a legal organization that costs about $100/year to join, and will defend you in any way needed should your neighbor decide you're a "neglectful" parent because your kids don't attend school. They are THE authority on homeschooling laws throughout the whole country. They can answer questions like how much paperwork are you required by your state to keep. Some states require written lesson plans, attendance, etc., while others do not. Find out what you are required to send in from HSLDA. Don't rely on your school district to tell you this; they will "request" all kinds of stuff you don't need and make you feel they have the right to "approve" or "disapprove" your homeschool. They don't. I think just about every state has us sending in "notification" (ie: telling the board of education that we ARE doing this!), rather than asking permission to do it. As far as Alpha Omega goes, call and ask them directly. I've used them for math (Horizons), and found that they are willing to answer questions. All your concerns they've heard before; feel free just to ask away until you feel satisfied with the answers.

Do you know any other homeschoolers, perhaps at your church? If so, talk with them. They can also give you information about what is required, etc. Plus they can give you advice as far as curriculum goes and about support groups.

 

Welcome, Rose!

Welcome! You've found a great source of information and encouragement on this board.

I would direct you first to the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). http://www.hslda.org/ They can answer most of your legal requirement questions and (I think) have a sample form letter use can use as a guide to notify the school district. You can get the information on their site for free, but many of us are members. It's a nominal fee ($11/month) for all their assistance -- basically like having a lawyer on retainer in case you have any legal troubles.

Good luck and have FUN!!

 

Hi, Rose ! Some of the other ladies here have already given you some good advice..... I'll just say "Welcome" !




*Eeyore, somehow I KNEW that was you :lol:*

 

Welcome, Rose!

I definitely recommend HSLDA!

Blessings,

 

Hi Rose! Welcome! First of all, I'm sure that all states/counties are different. Our county in GA has a letter of intent form. I didn't have to really "write" my own. You may want to check out the school district's website for the county you live in and see what exactly they have on their for homeschoolers.

"How in the world do you write lesson plans and keep up with the days you teach for a whole year?"

You need to get or make a simple lesson plan book. I'd say just buy a simple one your first year from a teacher supply store. Each day has blocks of space for each subject. Simply write in what your child should be doing on that day for that subject. I merely write page numbers or simple explanations for lessons. I try to do a few weeks in advance, but one week in advance is sufficient.

"Will they understand that he tested out in that when I gave the test of placement you get from Alpha Omega?"

They don't even need to know what grade you ordered. I don't tell anything about my curriculum. Of course, you need to check with your county/state about requirements. Some states require you turn in things/info about curriculum.

"Do we start school and end it when everyone else does?"

Again, check with your state's requirements. However, most states/counties let you pick the school calendar yourself. In GA we simply have to go 180 days with each day consisting of 4.5 hours of school time. We are required to turn in attendance sheets each month.

Good luck with your homeschooling adventure!

 

Hi Rose..

Welcome to our gang!

First, you will get ALL your questions answered. Don't worry it will be okay. :wink: Our first days of homeschooling are the *scariest* .

Its ok if you talked to the teacher. But don't expect to get any support from that direction. Most (not all) are wired to think that only *trained professionals* can teach children.

Surprise, surprise :lol: Parents can too and it is their God given responsibility.

There are some things about homeschool that help you to not feel so anxious :wink: First YOU are the BOSS.. That means you set the time, schedule and curriculum.

I know its hard to do right now, but try not to think of self learning as the way ps portrays education. Self learning can take place in a variety of settings, with a variety of ages about a variety of subjects.

Also, yes i would encourage a support group. I did a search for you real quick and this is the link I got for Virginia..

http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/ In addition I noticed immediately under VA laws that there was a sample form of how to do that letter of intent.

Trust your gut and your ability to parent, and please stick around!

Blessings

 

Thank you sooo much!

Thank you for your help...I am very touched that all of you would take the time to help me with my problems...I feel alot better knowing that there are people to turn to,Ones that know what im going through....whew I was worried that I was jumping in over my head....I have found out so far that there is alot going into homeschooling.But I feel that god has put this in my heart to do, and its the right choice...Thanks to your help I feel more at ease....I will check out all the advice and post again once I get straight to let you know ive made it through the hard part...Taking the first step......
Thank you,
Rose



Be happy in everything you do....May each day be better then the one before.....

 

Hi Rose,
My name is Kim and I am also from Virginia. I think that it is very easy to do what you need to do for VA requirements. Of course I stressed myself all out that first year and was literally sick with worry if I was doing everything I needed to do. It certainly didn't seem easy that first year. Now I find that I tell them very little, and it still flies.

Why don't you email me directly and I can I can email you a copy of my letter of intent and what my county requires. I think actually that each county is actually a little different, although probably not much. You need to find that out from your local school board office. Just give them a call and they'll send you a homeschool packet.

I do have a friend in Northern VA that knows of a group or two there. She lives in Reston, is that near you? I can get her email to you later if you like, if she is near you. She has 3 children one 6th and I think 4th and K or 1.

I start school when I want, end when I want, take breaks when I want. Days that it doesn't work I take off or impromptu field trips. The grocery store is very educational .You get to be your own boss here. I say this now, like this was how I always did it. It is after the first year. That was a big stressful one. But I, too found this place and Deena, Sheila, and Tina,TX helped me with my fears, my organization, and basically made me feel like I, too can do this. (Thanks, girls ) Now I feel like I can be one of those who can help as well. You came to a great place to find out stuff you need to know. It is also a great place to talk and vent.

Don't forget to email me if you need that letter of intent and want to know how I did it.
Take care,
Kim

 

(Maybe I'm not the person to be asking about how to tell the school board about your intent to home school

I'm Brenda, I live in New Brunswick (very close to the Maine border). I have three boys 13, 10 and almost 7. We have battled it out with the public school system with our middle child (which is why I suggest I may not be the right one to ask about a letter of intent).

We don't have the same requirements in Canada that you seem to have state side and so my answer may not be of much help to you. Actually when a family decides to home school in our province, we're supposed to submit an application (each year) to the school district in our area, naming the child(ren) to be home schooled and then give a general reason (they do have a couple options - but none of them includes the idea that the public school system stinks - so I wrote it in ). I do know of many families in our area who don't bother with this and the district does nothing about it (I think the paper work is a make work project for someone anyway).

When the applications are submitted, someone from the school district makes a home visit to make sure you have adequate teaching materials and that we're actually teaching and not goofing off. When they see that you meet the requirements, you (eventually) receive a letter from the minister of education exempting your child from the torture endured through the public school system.

This fall will actually be our first full year home schooling. We home schooled Andrew for four months last year and again at the end of this school year - public school just isn't for him. Now our youngest is begging to be home schooled in the fall (whcih is good because we were going to anyway).

Truth be know, you probably won't find many public educator's who support your decision to home school your child. They have the mis-conception that we're not 'educated' enough to be a teacher for our children - I heard that several times last year. When Andrew went back to public school last fall, his teacher was told to give him extra support because he was home schooled (implying that I couldn't do it).

I was thrilled when he received his first report card and it was all A's and he was at the top of his class academically. He stayed that way the entire year until I yanked him again. Everything I taught him last year was according to the curriculum standards for grade 3 - he spent the entire school year reviewing what I had taught him - he was a year ahead of his classmates! (They were just learning in grade 4 what was supposed to be grade 3 level.)

Anyway, enough said. Welcome to the forum and best of luck to you.

Brenda

 

Thats the spirit Kim :lol: See there before you know it PRO..(LOL) :lol: So glad to hear from you. I know you like to lurk a lot :wink:

Yep, a few years homeschooling and seeing the improvement that your child is making pretty soon makes you down right obnoxious as my dh says :lol:

Shoot, my first few years of homeschooling I was on FIRE! I was ready to take on any public school teacher and the State :lol: Too bad I NEVER get any confrontations :lol: :lol:

When I withdrew my kid from ps, I had the Texas Education Code reference number and section. I was just WANTING someone to say something..GOLLY GEE everyone was so nice at the public school..

Anyway, part of homeschooling,imho is helping others to overcome their fears. Fear comes from not knowing and feeling like we are the *only ones*. The truth of it is, we are not. We are a huge group anymore these days!

Blessings

 

How true! I'm amazed that they even let us give birth to them :lol: !

 

Hi Tina,
Yep that's me--PRO :lol: . I'm actually amazed now at how laid back and unstressed I am these days. SOOOO different from that first year. Where did the time go? I'm getting ready for that 4th year already. How time flies... but at least it's good times. Homeschooling has been wonderful for us .
Kim

 

Brenda???

Did you actually get a home visit ??? That's AMAZING. Your district is way different than mine. If you were visited, you shouldn't have submitted to that.

According to one of the communique's of HSLDA last fall, the stringent reporting requirements in New Brunswick are no longer in effect. Of course the Minister has to be informed, but you simply fill in this form that they give you, or that I ask for when it's not received in a timely fashion, and THEY forward it to the Minister.

I wasn't aware this victory had been achieved by HSLDA, but learned about it in the communique. In any case, last year I wondered why I hadn't received my usually envelope full of reports to fill out (for five kids) so I made up my own chart and simply listed the stuff I was going to use. I never received any acknowledgement for or against anything I listed, so this year I'm doing NOTHING in the way of reporting. I'll wait for my form to fill out and if I don't receive one, then I'm going to contact the Minister's office myself and ask, "what gives?"

DON'T LET THEM IN !!!!

 

Hey, Kathe!!! I thought you had "deserted" us! How's it going?

I just found our last year packet from the school district for last year. It old how they were REQUIRED to have the child's birth certificate, proof of residence, and proof of custody in case of divorce, if the child had never been enrolled. BULL!!! It also said that they had the "discretion" to "excuse" manditory attendance, and went on about how if you are doing a high school student, that student would NOT be graduating with a diploma!!! Etc., etc., etc. All kinds of inaccuracies that I just ignored. I'm expecting more of the same this year, too!

 

I have deserted !!!

At least here it IS true ... my kids won't get a diploma. Doesn't matter to me ... a diploma only matters if you subscribe to THEIR interpretation of education ... and I don't ... so their diploma means little to me.

 

Awww CR*P !!! I wasn't logged in.

That was me ... unless you couldn't already tell :lol:

 

Kathe,
I haven't been visited by these people, but I do know that Glenda (a.k.a. Lifelearner) at one time was reported as being a truant schooler (she was caught on the raw end of another couples separation issue) and so they showed up on her door step one day - when they saw the material she had and what she was teaching they excused themselves (probably with their head hung in shame and embarassment) and she heard nothing more from them. They probably didn't dare visit me last year when we pulled Andrew out - I wasn't the most hospitable person when it came to the department of education or the local school board - still not really.

The forms to fill out this year are considerably less than what they have been in the past (the year we yanked Andrew out there was a 10 page form to fill out, now it's condensed to 2 maybe 3 pages - they don't ask for all the junk they used to ask - what materials you would use, how much time on each subject, testing jargan, what you were doing for extra-curricular things and all the other useless stuff).

I know that not all home schoolers fill out the forms and pass them in - I just asked the department of education for the statistics for home schoolers in our area (how many home school families there are in District 14 - they don't all report - there's nothing for Meductic where Glenda is...). I know there are a lot more families who are home schooling but they don't report to the government - good for them - it's a waste of time anyway.

They could try the visits with me, but all they would have to do is look at how well Andrew did when he went back to public prison (sorry) and see for themselves. Come through the back door of our home and the first thing you see is three book shelves FULL of home school stuff (and this doesn't touch the things we have purchased for the store).

Brenda