Beginning Homeschooling Presentation Notes  by Cathie Baier

Minnesota Catholic Home Educator’s Conference – June 1-2, 2012

Cathie’s Blog - http://ontheroadtobecomingascholar.blogspot.com/

 A Survey Participants

498 children315 are homeschooled (63%)

Experience What would have helped most that first year?1. Being part of a support group2. Sticking with a schedule3. Having a mentor4. Being part of a co-operative experience

 What would have helped most that first year?SupportSchedule

Top 10 Things I Wished I Knew My First Year of Homeschooling10. I will come here.

9. Beware the Winter Doldrums.Sometimes you have to think out of the box

8. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.Cathie’s Corollary: Don’t complain to those who

don’t support you! 

7. I will probably change my mind aboutcurricula and/or my approach tohomeschooling. Approach and Curriculum Approaches used 1. Classical2. Eclectic3. Traditional School at Home4. Charlotte Mason5. 3R’s approach 6. Unschooling7. Montessori8. Unit Studies9. Principled Approach

What factors affect what you should use? 

  Learning style

  Special needs and/or challenges  Teaching style  Budget

   Ages, stages, and number of children beingtaught

  Home environment

  Opinion on the use of technology in your homeschool

  Family's core values, worldview, and beliefs

6. I will need support. Strengthening Social RelationshipsMom’s Group Support Group Mentor Sacramental Grace

1 Friendships Found at Church2 Daily Mass

Mom’s group at Church Church activities

 PrayOur LordOur Blessed MotherSt. Elizabeth Ann SetonSt. MonicaSt. AnnSt. Jude

 Dad’s Role Encouragement, Support, Accountability Reading AloudTeaching practical skillsSpiritual Instruction

5. My child will not become a social misfit.Socialization: Or Building Strong SocialRelationships

Your Child’s Social Relationships Co-operative opportunitiesReligion opportunitiesExtra-curricular activitiesField tripsSupport GroupsStart something yourself 

 Strengthening Your Family  Teaching thematically 

  Guide informal discussions as a family    Ask older children to help younger children.  Have children work together on projects  They need time

  Consider outside obligations

4. Jump in, get started.Make that first day special – every year

 

 

3. I don’t have to follow a schedule but Ishould still have one.Remember to include: outside activities, lifeactivities, special days

Consider your valuesSyllabiSchedules – for youPrayer Personal Partner Parent ProviderSchedules – for the kidsSchool calendar Kid’s daily schedule Chores Extra-curricular activities

 What?By-subject listsBy-child lists ChoresBooks (or chapters) readPractices (i.e. piano, typing)

 Also include:• Things they can do if you are busy  • Snacks that are okay to have if you are busy  

How to stick to it?Get buy-in

 Write itShare itPost it!Go over it weekly!Remember Monday and Thursday!

Mindset: fixed or growth?Don’t consider it a failure if you don’t do it every  day Consider every time you stick with some of it asuccessConsider it a goalReward yourself and your kids when you can do itall

2. I need to keep my eyes on my own work.

1. My children are learning, even if we didn’topen a book today.

First Year ChallengesTop 31. Finding time to cover all desired subjects2. Feelings of inadequacy when we didn’t finish 3. Dealing with toddlers during school time

The MN Law  MN Compulsory ReportingBetter than it’s ever been! 

  Full Report only once – “Initial Report to theSuperintendent”  

  Update yearly with additional students, testinfo, changes to immunizations with “Letter of  Intent to Continue Homeschooling” 

SEE http://mache.org/legal/annual-reporting-forms

 What must you report?

 Who are you teaching?On initial report indicate any child that is aged 7 toage 16 BEFORE October 1st:

Name of child(ren)Date of birth

 AddressImmunization information

 Who is teaching them?If y ou are the “Parent of the Child,” you arequalified to teach them at home.Instructor’s name, if it’s not you, and qualificationssuch as:   A licensed teacher  Someone supervised by licensed teacher  Someone who has passed a teacher competency 

exam   A teacher from a recognized school  Someone that has a bachelor’s degree 

How will you evaluate them?Standardized test every year (age 7-16)

 You do not need to give the school district theresults. Please don’t! 

 What to submit:Name of the testTester’s name Test location of your child’s annual standardizedtest

 Don’t forget! 

Send via registered mail to School District by October 1.