Anna

Hello Everyone:

My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
crushes him even more.

I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
working for him.

So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
getting started. You can message me here or email me at
annabear526@...

Thank you everyone in advance.
Anna

DJ250

Hi, Anna,

How fortunate you learned of unschooling and found us here!! You are certainly on the right track. Get him out! Does your partner support your unschooling decision? Not to be nosy but it is quite helpful if that support is there. :)

I'm not an expert on states and their homeschooling laws--others here definitely are or can at least point you in the right direction for info. I'm sure you'll hear from others!

Let us know how things progress. :)

~Melissa, in MD

----- Original Message -----
From: Anna
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:19 PM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] New here and need advice.


Hello Everyone:

My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
crushes him even more.

I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
working for him.

So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
getting started. You can message me here or email me at
annabear526@...

Thank you everyone in advance.
Anna





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

[email protected]

You have made the right decision. My Tim is the same child.He?was in first grade at a small private school, six weeks into the year when they told us he would have to repeat first grade. We decided not to waste their time and ours. We took him (and his 3 siblings) out of school and never looked back.

Tim is now twenty. He is more intelligent than any of his older siblings, and most people his age. When my younger kids ask me a science question, I always say ask Tim (he knows, I don't). I am not sure why they don't skip the middle man (woman).

He knows stuff because he loves to learn. He reads books about George Washington and?Thomas Jefferson?for fun. I don't believe he would be like this if we would have crushed his desire to learn by forcing him to do it their way.

We live in PA where the law is about the toughest in the country. For this reason, we have unschooled with a side of guilt. I didn't know other people did this. I always felt like I was slacking or maybe hurting my children. Now that four of the seven are grown, I know that they are capable adults. They are capable of making a living; capable of saying no to peer pressure; and capable of interacting with everybody. I have no regrets.

This link will take you to a summary of?your law and a link to the whole thing.

www.hslda.org/laws/

I wish you all the best.

Ronda



________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com


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

Jodi Bezzola

Hi Anna, I'm fairly new to this group and new to unschooling too, and I want to say I applaud your decision to do what will honour your son and his unique spirit. It is SO damaging to label kids and have them feel they are sub-standard just because they don't fit into what works in the classroom He is obviously hurting so much being in school! I look forward to hearing how he does once he is free of that.
Welcome to the group! :o)
Jodi

Anna <annabear526@...> wrote:
Hello Everyone:

My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
crushes him even more.

I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
working for him.

So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
getting started. You can message me here or email me at
annabear526@...

Thank you everyone in advance.
Anna






---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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

Alita Gotwald

Hi Anna
I truly feel for you and your situation. I am appalled at how the the school system "labels" our children based on "pressured performance", as I call it. I am glad you have chosen to home school your children, and I feel that you as a parent are the BEST teacher your children can have. With the children learning at home, they can "be" who they are with out pressure to "become" the standard. Now you have time on your hands to help your son to learn at his pace and level. You can spend as much time on things of "his" interest rather than a "scheduled" lesson plan. I too am learning this concept I have 4 children 9,8,6, and 20 mo. I have been home schooling all there lives. They do attend a homeschool/charter school enrichment program one day a week that they enjoy. Since the baby has come, school has taken sort of a back seat and I was concerned about about "keeping up". After I discovered the unschooling method I can relax!!! I am not so worried. My children will be fine. I wish you all the best in this really cool endeavor!!!!

Alita ajg@...<mailto:ajg@...>
----- Original Message -----
From: Jodi Bezzola<mailto:jodibezzola@...>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] New here and need advice.


Hi Anna, I'm fairly new to this group and new to unschooling too, and I want to say I applaud your decision to do what will honour your son and his unique spirit. It is SO damaging to label kids and have them feel they are sub-standard just because they don't fit into what works in the classroom He is obviously hurting so much being in school! I look forward to hearing how he does once he is free of that.
Welcome to the group! :o)
Jodi

Anna <annabear526@...<mailto:annabear526%40hotmail.com>> wrote:
Hello Everyone:

My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
crushes him even more.

I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
working for him.

So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
getting started. You can message me here or email me at
annabear526@...<mailto:annabear526%40hotmail.com>

Thank you everyone in advance.
Anna

---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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





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

Debra Rossing

In summary Indiana is simple - withdraw the kid(s) in writing to get
them off the school enrollment. Then you need to "maintain" attendance
records - nothing you have to send in, just keep a calendar or daytimer
and check off any days that learning happens (which would be every day
but just check off the 'usual' school schedule of days - maybe a note
about something that you did that day like "went to the park", "went to
the library", etc). That's it - Indiana has no paperwork requirements in
terms of tests, portfolios, etc. You'll probably want to go ahead and do
a search for local homeschooling groups in your area (Indiana homeschool
should work to get you lots of info).

Deb


**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.

This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.

CNC Software, Inc.
www.mastercam.com
**********************************************************************




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

Nance Confer

So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
the laws for Indiana?
************

Go to www.NHEN.org.

Check under Legislation/State Laws for Indiana's laws.

Then contact a support group -- these are also listed at the NHEN site -- and they will be able to help you with the mechanics of how things work legally in Indiana.

None of which has much, if anything, to do with your day-to-day homeschooling --whether you unschool or go a more structured route.

Also see the New Homeschoolers page at the NHEN site for info on the different hsing approaches.

Then withdraw you son asap and give both of you as long as it takes to deschool! Really, this takes longer than you might think and is very important.

And have fun! :)

Best of luck.

Nance




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

Anna

Thank you for the warm response Melissa. My husband is very supportive
of this decesion and in fact was the one who first brought it up to
me. My sisters and Mom also know what is going on and are trying to be
as supportive as they can too which is nice. :)

--- In [email protected], "DJ250" <dj250@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Anna,
>
> How fortunate you learned of unschooling and found us here!! You
are certainly on the right track. Get him out! Does your partner
support your unschooling decision? Not to be nosy but it is quite
helpful if that support is there. :)
>
> I'm not an expert on states and their homeschooling laws--others
here definitely are or can at least point you in the right direction
for info. I'm sure you'll hear from others!
>
> Let us know how things progress. :)
>
> ~Melissa, in MD
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Anna
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:19 PM
> Subject: [unschoolingbasics] New here and need advice.
>
>
> Hello Everyone:
>
> My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
> and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
> advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
> struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
> and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
> Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
> tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
> work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
> knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
> concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
> pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
> try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
> heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
> but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
> him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
> crushes him even more.
>
> I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
> something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
> right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
> working for him.
>
> So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
> from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
> the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
> greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
> getting started. You can message me here or email me at
> annabear526@...
>
> Thank you everyone in advance.
> Anna
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Anna

Thank you for the warm response Melissa. My husband is very supportive
of this decesion and in fact was the one who first brought it up to
me. My sisters and Mom also know what is going on and are trying to be
as supportive as they can too which is nice. :)

--- In [email protected], "DJ250" <dj250@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Anna,
>
> How fortunate you learned of unschooling and found us here!! You
are certainly on the right track. Get him out! Does your partner
support your unschooling decision? Not to be nosy but it is quite
helpful if that support is there. :)
>
> I'm not an expert on states and their homeschooling laws--others
here definitely are or can at least point you in the right direction
for info. I'm sure you'll hear from others!
>
> Let us know how things progress. :)
>
> ~Melissa, in MD
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Anna
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:19 PM
> Subject: [unschoolingbasics] New here and need advice.
>
>
> Hello Everyone:
>
> My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
> and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
> advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
> struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
> and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
> Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
> tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
> work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
> knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
> concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
> pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
> try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
> heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
> but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
> him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
> crushes him even more.
>
> I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
> something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
> right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
> working for him.
>
> So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
> from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
> the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
> greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
> getting started. You can message me here or email me at
> annabear526@...
>
> Thank you everyone in advance.
> Anna
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Anna

Thank you Ronda for your response. I do have a few questions if you
dont' mind me asking. When you say you unschool with a side of guilt
what do you mean by that? Also, do you homeschool or unschool? I
believe unschool - but just want to make sure. :) What is a typical
day like for you and do you teach anything out of a book or let the
children learn what they want in their own time? One more quick
question too while I am thinking about it. Do you keep attendance if
you unschool? Oh, and do you have to report anything to the state or
do they come in and check every once in awhile that the kids are
learning? Again, thank you for helping me through this. There is so
much to learn and I want to make sure I do everything right.

--- In [email protected], Rbuncie83@... wrote:
>
> You have made the right decision. My Tim is the same child.He?was in
first grade at a small private school, six weeks into the year when
they told us he would have to repeat first grade. We decided not to
waste their time and ours. We took him (and his 3 siblings) out of
school and never looked back.
>
> Tim is now twenty. He is more intelligent than any of his older
siblings, and most people his age. When my younger kids ask me a
science question, I always say ask Tim (he knows, I don't). I am not
sure why they don't skip the middle man (woman).
>
> He knows stuff because he loves to learn. He reads books about
George Washington and?Thomas Jefferson?for fun. I don't believe he
would be like this if we would have crushed his desire to learn by
forcing him to do it their way.
>
> We live in PA where the law is about the toughest in the country.
For this reason, we have unschooled with a side of guilt. I didn't
know other people did this. I always felt like I was slacking or maybe
hurting my children. Now that four of the seven are grown, I know that
they are capable adults. They are capable of making a living; capable
of saying no to peer pressure; and capable of interacting with
everybody. I have no regrets.
>
> This link will take you to a summary of?your law and a link to the
whole thing.
>
> www.hslda.org/laws/
>
> I wish you all the best.
>
> Ronda
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Anna

Thank you Jodi

--- In [email protected], Jodi Bezzola
<jodibezzola@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Anna, I'm fairly new to this group and new to unschooling too,
and I want to say I applaud your decision to do what will honour your
son and his unique spirit. It is SO damaging to label kids and have
them feel they are sub-standard just because they don't fit into what
works in the classroom He is obviously hurting so much being in
school! I look forward to hearing how he does once he is free of that.
> Welcome to the group! :o)
> Jodi
>
> Anna <annabear526@...> wrote:
> Hello Everyone:
>
> My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
> and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
> advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
> struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
> and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
> Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
> tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
> work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
> knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
> concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
> pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
> try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
> heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
> but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
> him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
> crushes him even more.
>
> I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
> something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
> right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
> working for him.
>
> So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
> from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
> the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
> greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
> getting started. You can message me here or email me at
> annabear526@...
>
> Thank you everyone in advance.
> Anna
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.
Try it now.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Anna

Thank you Deb for the helpful information. I believe I need to contact
the state too correct? Do you have an idea how I would do that? As for
contacting the school in letter form - Do I just write a letter or is
there a paper I get from the school that I fill out? I have no idea
how I would word it so any links/suggestions would be grand. :)

--- In [email protected], "Debra Rossing"
<debra.rossing@...> wrote:
>
> In summary Indiana is simple - withdraw the kid(s) in writing to get
> them off the school enrollment. Then you need to "maintain" attendance
> records - nothing you have to send in, just keep a calendar or daytimer
> and check off any days that learning happens (which would be every day
> but just check off the 'usual' school schedule of days - maybe a note
> about something that you did that day like "went to the park", "went to
> the library", etc). That's it - Indiana has no paperwork requirements in
> terms of tests, portfolios, etc. You'll probably want to go ahead and do
> a search for local homeschooling groups in your area (Indiana homeschool
> should work to get you lots of info).
>
> Deb
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
> are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
> the system manager.
>
> This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
> MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
>
> CNC Software, Inc.
> www.mastercam.com
> **********************************************************************
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Anna

Hi Nance - Thank you for the helpful reply too. You ladies are great.
I haven't looked into deschooling yet. What exactly is that? I'm off
to check the link you sent me. Thank you again. :)

--- In [email protected], "Nance Confer"
<marbleface@...> wrote:
>
> So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
> from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
> the laws for Indiana?
> ************
>
> Go to www.NHEN.org.
>
> Check under Legislation/State Laws for Indiana's laws.
>
> Then contact a support group -- these are also listed at the NHEN
site -- and they will be able to help you with the mechanics of how
things work legally in Indiana.
>
> None of which has much, if anything, to do with your day-to-day
homeschooling --whether you unschool or go a more structured route.
>
> Also see the New Homeschoolers page at the NHEN site for info on the
different hsing approaches.
>
> Then withdraw you son asap and give both of you as long as it takes
to deschool! Really, this takes longer than you might think and is
very important.
>
> And have fun! :)
>
> Best of luck.
>
> Nance
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[email protected]

In PA we have to keep a log (which is not really as extensive as I always thought), put together a portfolio, and tes in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade. Most of the homeschoolers around here have school at home. I guess that is what I meant by 'a side of guilt'.

I read a John Holt book years ago (even before I ever thought of taking my kids out of school) and I loved his ideas. When we started, I wanted to let them do their thing, but I was not very good at resisting peer pressure. So we tried to have school at home, but it didn't work. We'd get frustrated and get off track. We'd get a sick grandparent and get off track. We never had school in December.

So when the end othe year came or test time, I would worry. I thought the homeschool coordinator in our sd was evil. I was terrified of him. Then when day I woke up and remembered that God trusted me and Paul with these children. We knew what was best. When I realized this, I als realized how nice the guy from the sd was. He doesn't neccessarily thing I am right, but he respects our rights. That is as much as we can hope for.

We have decided to officially declare ourselves unschoolers.

We have workbooks and things that the children actually enjoy, but we don't put presure on them. I try to sneak in stuff where I can. We take historical vacations (ie.. Philadelphia or the Lost Colony), visit the science center, stuff like that. Sometimes we just play.

I do give the sd achecklist of school days, but as someone else said, every day they learn counts and they learn every day, even if its how to catch another Pokemon.

No one should ever come to your house from the state. PA is bad, butthey don't do that.




-----Original Message-----
From: Anna <annabear526@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 3:11 pm
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] Re: New here and need advice.






Thank you Ronda for your response. I do have a few questions if you
dont' mind me asking. When you say you unschool with a side of guilt
what do you mean by that? Also, do you homeschool or unschool? I
believe unschool - but just want to make sure. :) What is a typical
day like for you and do you teach anything out of a book or let the
children learn what they want in their own time? One more quick
question too while I am thinking about it. Do you keep attendance if
you unschool? Oh, and do you have to report anything to the state or
do they come in and check every once in awhile that the kids are
learning? Again, thank you for helping me through this. There is so
much to learn and I want to make sure I do everything right.

--- In [email protected], Rbuncie83@... wrote:
>
> You have made the right decision. My Tim is the same child.He?was in
first grade at a small private school, six weeks into the year when
they told us he would have to repeat first grade. We decided not to
waste their time and ours. We took him (and his 3 siblings) out of
school and never looked back.
>
> Tim is now twenty. He is more intelligent than any of his older
siblings, and most people his age. When my younger kids ask me a
science question, I always say ask Tim (he knows, I don't). I am not
sure why they don't skip the middle man (woman).
>
> He knows stuff because he loves to learn. He reads books about
George Washington and?Thomas Jefferson?for fun. I don't believe he
would be like this if we would have crushed his desire to learn by
forcing him to do it their way.
>
> We live in PA where the law is about the toughest in the country.
For this reason, we have unschooled with a side of guilt. I didn't
know other people did this. I always felt like I was slacking or maybe
hurting my children. Now that four of the seven are grown, I know that
they are capable adults. They are capable of making a living; capable
of saying no to peer pressure; and capable of interacting with
everybody. I have no regrets.
>
> This link will take you to a summary of?your law and a link to the
whole thing.
>
> www.hslda.org/laws/
>
> I wish you all the best.
>
> Ronda
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________________
> More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com


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

Julie Poulton

For the homeschooling laws for your state, see

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/laws/blIN.htm

For a list of homeschooling groups in your state, see the link below.
They can probably help you out with the legal aspects, too.

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regional/Indiana.htm


For others who are in various other states, go to

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com

I am not associated with this website, but I have found it helpful for
a variety of homeschooling info.

Julie

Debra Rossing

Nope - you don't have to actually contact anyone once your kids are
withdrawn from the school they are currently. IF someone contacts you,
all you need to show them is your "attendance" chart. Otherwise, there's
no reporting required in Indiana. This is from the Indiana Dept of Ed
website:
WITHDRAW YOUR CHILD AND NOTIFY HIS OR HER CURRENT PRINCIPAL, IN WRITING,
OF YOUR DECISION
While the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) issues school numbers
to all private schools after they report their grade level enrollment
data as required by Indiana law, You do not need a home school number
prior to withdrawing your child and beginning home instruction. However,
you do need to let the public school know why your child is no longer in
attendance or he or she may be considered truant.
REQUEST A COPY OF YOUR CHILD'S PUBLIC SCHOOL RECORDS:
You are entitled to a copy of these public school records, both as a
school administrator and as the parent of a minor child, under state law
and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Please note that this does not apply to private school records.
NOTIFY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF YOUR GRADE LEVEL
ENROLLMENT:
Indiana law requires all private school administrators, including home
educators, to notify the IDOE of their schools' grade level enrollments
upon request of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. All
notification of grade level enrollment reported to the state will now be
done online. For online notification go here:
http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/HOME/entry.cfm

So, basically, a letter saying:
Dear Principal,
My child, Billy Bob Smith, will no longer be enrolled at Main Street
School as of February 1, 2008.
Sincerely
Mrs. Betty Sue Smith

If you mail the letter, send it certified with return receipt so that
you'll have proof of who got it and when. Keep the receipt with a copy
of the letter you send in a file someplace. If you bring it in person to
the school office, make sure you get a copy of it date stamped and
initialed by the person who receives it and again tuck it into a folder
and keep it someplace. That way IF (unlikely but IF) they contact you
about your child, you can say "Oh, he was withdrawn on February 1 -
would you like me to send you a copy of the letter and the delivery
receipt that secretary Jane Doe signed for?" (a little passive
aggressive I guess...lol)

And then go to the other link and fill in the info (which school
district you're in, name, address, phone number, and how many kids in
each grade level you've got). That's it - nothing else required (and
it's cool that all that notification is online now). It looks like you
only need to do the online form thing once - unless otherwise requested
by the state. It's how they get you the "school number" assigned.

Deb

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

[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: Anna <annabear526@...>

You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
work.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Does he have trouble concentrating on what he loves? Gaming perhaps?

-=-=-=-=-

He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
crushes him even more.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Yeah---but unschoolers live life as if school didn't exist. So now that
we know what he *can't* do, what is he GOOD at?

-=-=-=-=-=-

So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
getting started. You can message me here or email me at
annabear526@...

-=-=-=-=-=-

Find out the law for your state (you've already been given a couple of
links) and then start PLAYING with your son. Watch movies, go places,
cook, take walks, talk. Let him play at whatever floats his boat. Find
the learning that is happening while he plays.



~Kelly

Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org




________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com

Alita Gotwald

Hi just checking if these are going through to the group. I am not doing something right. Hitting reply to this groups emails through my ISP email, not yahoo. Do I need to reply to messages at the bottom in" reply via web post", or can I just reply from my ISP email?? Help!!!!
Alita
ajgotwald@...<mailto:ajgotwald@...>
----- Original Message -----
From: DJ250<mailto:dj250@...>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] New here and need advice.


Hi, Anna,

How fortunate you learned of unschooling and found us here!! You are certainly on the right track. Get him out! Does your partner support your unschooling decision? Not to be nosy but it is quite helpful if that support is there. :)

I'm not an expert on states and their homeschooling laws--others here definitely are or can at least point you in the right direction for info. I'm sure you'll hear from others!

Let us know how things progress. :)

~Melissa, in MD

----- Original Message -----
From: Anna
To: [email protected]<mailto:unschoolingbasics%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 5:19 PM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] New here and need advice.

Hello Everyone:

My name is Anna and I have two children. Ryan who will be 11 soon
and Reagan who is 5. I come to this group in hopes of getting all the
advice and help possible. You see Ryan is in fourth grade and has
struggled every year in public school. He was retained in first grade
and has been tested through the school twice for learning disablities.
Both times everything has came back fine. He does have ADD and we have
tried him on several different medications which none have seem to
work. He is a smart child and has passed both years on his ISTEP. He
knows the work, put cannot put it down on paper. He has very poor
concentration and is very disoragnized. He cannot keep up with the
pace of his classroom and struggles every day all day so very badly to
try to do what needs to get done. Every day failing. It's
heartbreaking to watch. His teachers all through the years complain,
but none of them seem to understand. His teacher this year has called
him out in front of the class a few times this year and that just
crushes him even more.

I have read up a little on unschooling, and I believe this is
something we need to do with him. This just seems to be what feels
right. I cannot keep him in public school no longer. It just isn't
working for him.

So, now it comes down to getting things started. How do I withdraw him
from school? How do I contact the state? What do I say, and What are
the laws for Indiana? If anybody is willing to help me it would be
greatly appreciated. I really need to do this, and need all the help
getting started. You can message me here or email me at
annabear526@...<mailto:annabear526%40hotmail.com>

Thank you everyone in advance.
Anna

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