averages, standards, and rules oh my!!!

   I don't post here every day, and I;m not going to lie to you and say there wasn't time, or I forgot. Because there was plenty of time, I just used it to do other things. Like nap. So, to not sugar coat it, Ill just lay it out there like it is. Some days I just don't have anything blog worthy to say.. Some other days, I post my thoughts on my other blog that has nothing to do with homeschooling, or anything else for that matter.  Here is that link if you are interested.

http://financiallystrapped.blogspot.com/

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Today I have things to say, and so I will.

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Today I spent time looking into the online public school and I have to say there is alot of rules and guidelines to it that amount to nothing. This place, a virtual school, (connections academy) wont accept my son without an up to date shot record. Now my son is up to date on his shots, and I have a copy of the record, But I still have to wonder why in the world they need this? I mean I can understand if he is in a public school setting and surrounded by people who may be susceptible to whatever diseases he may carry, but for pete's sake he is at home. He doesn't have to show a shot record to go to Bilo, or Walmart, we don;t even have to show current shot records to attend my daughters basketball games, so why in the world would a virtual school need shot records? It seems a bit asinine if you ask me.

  I also have to show proof that he has attended school for 10 consecutive days in some form of school setting. Now, (it isn't the reason) but suppose my son was bullied and begged me to keep him home until I could get him into a virtual school. This school would not accept him If Id opted to let him stay home as opposed to being bullied. What is the mumbo jumbo about no child left behind if the virtual public school refuses him cuz he had some issue.. Hello, seems to me you are leaving him behind, unless he meets your "approval".

  My child has a current shot record, and he has attended school for at least 10 days consecutively, so you probably wonder why in fussing over things that dont effect me. Well here is why.. They do effect me, and they effect you. These children that we on the one had want to raise as free thinkers, and "leaders" of the world. On the other hand we are teaching them to conform to societies expectations, and regulations, and it just isn't right.

  The owrld didn't gorw and evolve because the poeple of it stuck to a set or reguations and rules that told them what to think, and do, and be. Telephones, and electricity, and the freeing of slaves was all because someone thought outside the accepted way of things, and they pushed the envelope and made the world what it is today.

So afer some careful consideration, i am beginning to think online "public" school is not in the best interest of my child, my future, or the future of america, or earth for that matter..

Let me hear your praises of unpleasant expericences with online or any kind of school your child is active in..

Netflix as an educational resource and a side note

  One resource we take great advantage of for science and social studies is videos. At first it was a challenge to find videos on Netflix that would fit the bill, but after trial and error, and a few tips on a homeschooling group I am part of I figured out how to make Netflix an educational resource.

Of course if you have used Netflix then you know the search option leaves plenty to be desired. some keywords we used that did produce results, tho minimal are NOVA and discovery . But if that isn't enough try this. Go to amazon.com and search in movies and videos for the topic you want to teach, and when you find a video that meets your needs then search its name on Netflix.

This is not to say you will have 100% positive results, but it does make finding the right video easier.

On a final note, I wanted to tell you about a group I have created on Facebook for Aiken South Carolina homeschoolers , to meet, share ideas, plan field trips, swap learning material, and just get to know each other. You can click the following link if you are interested in joining that new group.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/295596937163609/

as soon as I can get to creating a banner for the group it will be posted in the side bar.

failing life

  I deal every day with the critics, who think pulling my son out of school, and opting to home school him is a terrible idea. Not only do I deal with them, but I live with them. It's an uphill struggle when there is no support for your decision. I wish I could get through to these people who want to persecute me and help them understand that instead of being part of the problem, they can be part of his education.

  Every person has a thing, or some things that they are good at, and they could share those things with him, show him a path he hasn't considered or even knew existed. My husband, he is a welder, he works at a recycle plant, he can fix any kind of motor or electronic you an think of. He is very inventive and very smart. He could show my son things he can use in the real world, that school cant teach him. My father, very business minded and can turn anything into a profitable venture.. Show my son these things..

  I can teach him what I know and learn about the things he is interested in right along with him. But there is so much knowledge in everyone around him, things I don't know, wont ever know that they could show him. I don't think we will fail as far as keeping him on grade level, because we are using a pretty good curriculum and that isn't the issue. He will do fine in learning what the school system says he should. But why does all that other knowledge have to go to waste when they could show him things and open the entire world up to him?

 If my son fails in school, there will be no one responsible but me.. But if my son fails in life I hold everyone around him accountable. Because it takes a whole village to raise a child..

resources and human skeletal system

Hello all, I am Melissa, mom of 4, homeschooler of 1. I homeschooled my oldest, but that has been many moons ago, and times have changed so much that it is like starting over and learning it all again. Thank goodness though, that homeschooling is becoming more popular now, and there are many many more resources available now than there was 10 years ago.

Now, before we go forth let me just start by saying for you blood sucking neck biters who are going to pounce on me for my spelling, puncuation, gramatical errors, or whatever other things complainers like to complain about. You are free to leave.. The exit is at the top right corner.. See ya!!!

For those interested in what I have to say, no matter how I might say it.. I want to share some links that we are loving so far..

http://www.ixl.com is a wonderful math resource. I am using it with my homeschooler, and also with the two that are attending public school, just as an aid. Its well worth the few dollars a month membership

http://www.flashcardmachine.com a free site but requires sign up.. But lots of flashcards on EVERY subject

http://www.explorelearning.com just found this but it looks like its going to be very useful, the only problem is that it doesn't come with answer keys to the exercises but thats ok, my son and I will just find the answers together..

We are trying to learn the human skeletal system right now, and would love to hear how you guys taught it to your own homeschooler, I haven't come up with any creative, interesting ways to teach this, and we aren't really into the nose to a textbook method.. Thats boring.. So comment and tell me how you did it..