[email protected]

I just joined this list. I live in Ohio and I have 3 daughters, Renee(16),
Angie(14), and Michelle(8). We have only been homeschooling a little over a
year.
I had thought of homeschooling on and off over the years, but never did
anything about it because I didn't know how to go about it (fear of the
unknown). Well, I finally got over that fear when Renee almost commited
suicide. She made really bad "friends" at school and got into drugs and sex
and then got really depressed. I took her out of her second year of 8th
grade to save her life.
I pulled Michelle out a week later and Angie a month later (Angie was a
cheerleader and very "into" school).
We did "school at home" for about a week, then I read an article by Sandra
Dodd in HEM magazine about unschooling and I just "knew" that this is what I
was searching for. Then I read Grace Llewelyn's(sp?) book and just LOVED it.
I was still "scared" at that point because I didn't know if I would be able
to find a certified teacher who would sign the "assessment papers" that I
have to send to the school district every year. Anyway, after weeks of
praying, I found this wonderful woman who unschools her children, and who is
also a certified teacher and made our "assessment" this year a really good
experience. I can now relax and let my children learn and grow at their own
pace and I thank God everyday of my life for this woman. My biggest regret in
life is not pulling my children out of p.s. earlier.
Sorry this is so long!
Mary Ellen.

B & T Simpson

>I just joined this list. I live in Ohio and I have 3 daughters, Renee(16),
>Angie(14), and Michelle(8). We have only been homeschooling a little over a
>year
>I was still "scared" at that point because I didn't know if I would be able
>to find a certified teacher who would sign the "assessment papers" that I
>have to send to the school district every year. Anyway, after weeks of
>praying, I found this wonderful woman who unschools her children, and who
is
>also a certified teacher and made our "assessment" this year a really good
>experience. I can now relax and let my children learn and grow at their own
>pace and I thank God everyday of my life for this woman. My biggest regret
in
>life is not pulling my children out of p.s. earlier.>>>

>Mary Ellen, My Name is Tanya, I am also new to this list, and also live in
Ohio, near canton and massillon, I have a 12yo daughter Morgan who is ADD I
pulled her out of school in Feb (best decision I have ever made, should have
done it years ago!!!)
I also have three other children, Allison 10, Alex 8, and Jack 10 mos, I
plan to keep the other two home in the fall as this is what they want! I am
thirty three and my husband is thirty six, he is more scared of
homeschooling and unschooling in particular than I am but is willing to give
it a go, as he figures, the job he has, he had no formal training for, and
it is one that requires a 4 year degree do get into now, if he didn't go to
collage how did he learn all of this stuff? he had the interest and drive to
learn more!!!
I would like to know more about the evaluation you had for your children, I
went with the Iowa standardized testing, because I could not get a good
explanation of any other route to go! I do not beleive in testing, but
wasn't sure how to go about the other, and if you are unschooling, what are
you using as work samples to be evaluated??
unschooling fits us very well, and I am not sure I could ever go the other
way!,
well, enough about me, I think this will be a great place!
Tanya.
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>ONElist: where the world talks!
>http://www.onelist.com
>Join a new list today.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Check it out!
>http://www.unschooling.com
>
>

[email protected]

Hi Tanya,
I live in Navarre, on the outskirts of Brewster (right on 93).
We are very close to Massillon.
I don't believe in testing either. That's why I'm so glad I found this
certified teacher.
She was living in this area, but just moved to Cincinnati. I plan to make the
drive once a year, though!
She thinks of the "assessment" as a "show and tell". She told me to collect
pamphlets from museums, etc. Scrapbooks of things children have done, special
project they are proud of.
She enjoys talking with the children and she understands that some children
don't like to talk. She's O.K. with that. My children felt really comfortable
with her.
Legally, she needs to see something from the beginning of the year and
something from the end, so date everything.(Although I didn't).
What I used as samples this year were lists of books my children read, T.V.
shows and movies they watched, cooking, sewing, taking care of pets, etc.
Her children are great, too. A boy (10), and a girl (7). They've never been
to school.
Gotta go, daughter no.2 wants to use the phone!
Mary Ellen

B & T Simpson

Well Mary Ellen, you don't know how happy you have just made me by this
post!!! we are neighbors practically, I live downtown Brewster!!! right by
the elementary school!
my kids are 12, 10, 8, and 10 mos! I would love to get together with someone
who also beleives in unschooling and chat! my neighbor also homeschools, but
she does a very strict corriculum, and two other people on the street are
going to be doing this also, I am sure they will be unschooling also, I
would be very interested in schedualing feild trips in groups that would be
sort of fun! are you interested by chance?
you can email me privately, michigan@...
have a great day, you may have just made mine!!!
Tanya
-

>>Hi Tanya,
> I live in Navarre, on the outskirts of Brewster (right on
93).
>We are very close to Massillon.
>I don't believe in testing either. That's why I'm so glad I found this
>certified teacher.
>She was living in this area, but just moved to Cincinnati. I plan to make
the
>drive once a year, though!
>She thinks of the "assessment" as a "show and tell". She told me to collect
>pamphlets from museums, etc. Scrapbooks of things children have done,
special
>project they are proud of.
>She enjoys talking with the children and she understands that some children
>don't like to talk. She's O.K. with that. My children felt really
comfortable
>with her.
>Legally, she needs to see something from the beginning of the year and
>something from the end, so date everything.(Although I didn't).
>What I used as samples this year were lists of books my children read, T.V.
>shows and movies they watched, cooking, sewing, taking care of pets, etc.
>Her children are great, too. A boy (10), and a girl (7). They've never been
>to school.
>Gotta go, daughter no.2 wants to use the phone!
>Mary Ellen
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>What was YOUR favorite part?!
>http://www.onelist.com
>Tell other Star Wars fans at ONElist!
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Check it out!
>http://www.unschooling.com
>
>

[email protected]

Hello fellow Ohioans!
I'm in Medina county. My name is Debra--we've have 2 girls--Sarah will be
11 next month and Hannah is 7 1/2. We've been officially homeschooling for
about 6 yrs. Sarah went to kdgn until December, and Hannah has never been to
school. Ohio Home Ed. Network(a network of over 300 families from around 10
NE (ish) Ohio counties has a website: www.speedynet.net/~haas/ohen.
Debra