LOS

Hello all

We just began unschooling this year and have some questions regarding end of the year portfolio workings.

I realize that we are bit late on getting this reviewed but we have been keeping a journel of sorts throughout the year.

We are in Ohio. Are there other families in Ohio that prefer the portfolio vs the standardized tests? (Bleh to standardized testing, IMHO) So what resources do you use? Is there a specific site that is helpful? Do you have the same reviewer each year? Do you recommend a different reviewer for a high school student? (My daughter is a sophmore.)

Anything else that I should be asking?

Thanks a whole bunch of flowers!

Lynette

Faith Void

http://sandradodd.com/world#us

this is Sandra Dodd's list of US unschooling lists and resources. There are
two for Ohio.

Faith

On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 3:43 PM, LOS <loberhouse2004@...> wrote:

>
>
> Hello all
>
> We just began unschooling this year and have some questions regarding end
> of the year portfolio workings.
>
> I realize that we are bit late on getting this reviewed but we have been
> keeping a journel of sorts throughout the year.
>
> We are in Ohio. Are there other families in Ohio that prefer the portfolio
> vs the standardized tests? (Bleh to standardized testing, IMHO) So what
> resources do you use? Is there a specific site that is helpful? Do you have
> the same reviewer each year? Do you recommend a different reviewer for a
> high school student? (My daughter is a sophmore.)
>
> Anything else that I should be asking?
>
> Thanks a whole bunch of flowers!
>
> Lynette
>



--
www.bearthmama.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

florafaunaorganics

Hi Lynette,

We're in Ohio and rely on the portfolio method. We prefer it as it's a
more comprehensive look at what the kids are doing
and what their skills are. Although we've already had ours reviewed - I
don't think you are late in the game - the assessment
forms don't need to be turned in until the beginning of your districts
school year. Now I particularly enjoy the portfolio
as it is a way for me to stave off the "are we doing enough" momma
bologna that happens from time to time. I found our
reviewer via a local yahoo home school group. We love working with our
reviewer and plan to do so for as long as she is available.
The whole process is stress free. I can't imagine why you would need to
have a different reviewer for higher grades unless
you felt that you needed some guidance. In which case, I would just
find other families with kids of a similar age and ask
them what they do or how they work out various issues.... You can find
some info on reviewers here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oh-homeschool/
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oh-homescdhool/> in their files
section is an area for notification and assessment options - they
have a list you can work from of certified teachers. Or speak with
other homeschoolers/unschoolers in your area. My best
advice is to find a reviewer that jives with you and your philosophy and
ask them what they like to see - since its your first
year with a portfolio, most folks will be flexible. Our portfolio is a
journal that shows what they were doing in the
beginning, middle, and end of the year. We have some photos (okay a
lot). I also include samples of stuff they worked
on - typically something that is representative of their writing ability
and a list of books they've read. I also slap
all of this online so the extended family (and ex-spouse) can see what
we've been up to and so I don't have to carry around
bag/boxes when we go to meet the reviewer -I just send her this year's
link - then we meet to talk, she signs papers
(which she provides) and I give her cash for her time ($50 for two
kids). Voila! I provide more than some people and
probably less than others, but I like it how we do it. I figure by the
time the kids reach college age (and if they pursue
college) - we'll have a substantial amount of information to provide in
lieu of (or in conjunction with) a transcript.

Hope that helps,
Michelle