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In a message dated 6/3/03 10:31:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
zenmomma@... writes:


> Is there something that you think "they should know" that you're
> concerned specificlly about?
>

Not really that *I'm* concerned about... but I know that the evaluators in my
area very much have the mentality of what a child should know when. I have
chosen 2 potential evaluators and I have been encouraging them to understand
that whatever my boys *don't* know is not because they aren't smart enough to
know it... it's because they haven't run into it yet. My boys know how to find
information... they are thinking individuals... they are VERY verbal and
amazing when it comes to figuring out stuff. Just this past month I was convinced
that I needed to start them with the Calvert curriculum. I almost bought
it... then thought, "What am I doing... I am not going to use Calvert any
differently than any other curric we have". My boys use Hooked on Phonics on their
own... they do the Spelling Workout books (I was heavy into the Well Trained
Mind last year.. bought all the books : ) They enjoy doing math workbooks...
they are really doing AWESOME by my standard. Unfortunately, I must answer
to a higher authority. I am not very creative in the sense of creating a
portfolio out of what we have done. I am more of a "here is my kid... go ahead...
evaluate him" but the law in Florida is that the portfolio gets evaluated, not
the child. The homeschoolers I know down here are very "school" minded. A
lot of the women think I made up the term "unschool" just to justify what we
*don't* do. I am a rebel to them. My kids don't know geography well enough
to hang in our group's geography B... but they are well enough adjusted to
particpate and get every answer wrong and not hate themselves for it : ) They
understand that they are not *failing* just because they don't yet know
something. And.. they take opportunities like that to learn from the correct answers
that they hear. I just don't know anyone in person who does things the way I
do, so although I have not changed how we do things over the years, I am
easily made to feel insecure about it. ~Kris


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[email protected]

In a message dated 6/3/2003 10:48:00 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Mattydill@... writes:

> I am more of a "here is my kid... go ahead...
> evaluate him" but the law in Florida is that the portfolio gets evaluated,
> not
> the child.

Kris,
Hi. Just wanted to let you know that evaluation is not the only option in
Florida. You can also sign up with an umbrella school if you don't want to
deal with the county. Here are a couple of links with Florida umbrella schools
listed: <A HREF="http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/regional/FloridaUmbrella.htm">Florida Umbrella Schools - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling in Florida</A>
<A HREF="http://www.educationalfreedom.com/heart/pages/private.html">HEART Private School Directory for Florida</A>

If you sign up with an umbrella school you will not be considered a
homeschooler but would be signed up under a private school. These are not all
expensive (some are free) and vary in what they offer and the accountability you
have to provide.

Take care,
Dena (back to lurking)

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

-  Louisa May Alcott





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zenmomma2kids

>>My boys use Hooked on Phonics on their own... they do the Spelling
Workout books (I was heavy into the Well Trained Mind last year..
bought all the books : ) They enjoy doing math workbooks... >>

Have you also thought about all the other incredible ways they are
learning besides with the workbooks? Have you thought it out in your
own mind? Are you really seeing what they get in bits and pieces that
goes way beyond geography Bee's and spelling?

When you can really see that in your own mind, coming up with
portfolio items will probably be easier.

>>I am not very creative in the sense of creating a portfolio out of
what we have done. I am more of a "here is my kid... go ahead...
evaluate him" but the law in Florida is that the portfolio gets
evaluated, not the child. >>

We just had a portfolio discussion here if you want to go look in the
archives for a few days back. A portfolio doesn't need to be fancy.
Just keep photos, library lists, video lists, copies of stories or
artwork, ticket stubs from museums or shows, etc.

Florida isn't tough to unschool in from what we've heard from other
unschoolrs there. I'm sure they'll be along soon with the details.

Life is good.
~Mary

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In a message dated 6/3/03 12:00:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
zenmomma@... writes:


> Have you also thought about all the other incredible ways they are
>

Yup... all the time : ) Guess that's why I am really not concentrating
very much on doing a portfolio with anything other than workbooks. I am a "stop
and smell the roses" kind of mom... not a "stop and get it recorded" one. I
suppose I need to learn to be both. We were just down at the bay collecting
shells and holding sea cucumbers, starfish, crabs and several other creatures.
My boys were finding skeletons of various things and we had a great time.
So, now what? Take a picture of what we found? Have the boys draw pictures of
what they found? Seems so "bubble-gummish" compared to the actual learning
and growing that took place, know what I mean? My 6 year old son was explaining
how "rare it is find a shell like this this small". THAT is true learning.
So, I suppose my issue with compliance to the law isn't that we aren't doing
enough, it's that it is all recorded in mine and my children's minds and
hearts. I am looking for an evaluator who will check there : ) ~Kris


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zenmomma2kids

>>We were just down at the bay collecting shells and holding sea
cucumbers, starfish, crabs and several other creatures. My boys were
finding skeletons of various things and we had a great time.
So, now what? Take a picture of what we found? >>

Do you usually take family pictures? Use those. Explain to the
evaluator what you were doing and what you observed them learning.

I notice Ren and others come on with the advice about an umbrella
school. I think that sound like the easiest alternative.

Life is good.
~Mary

[email protected]

In a message dated 6/3/2003 10:48:10 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Mattydill@... writes:

> I am not very creative in the sense of creating a
> portfolio out of what we have done.

Neither was I. I posed this question last week and got some good suggestions.
I dont know much about FL but this is what I did.

I made a binder of photos we had. Some of the photos where of Dustin Surfing
(Gym and Science),on his go cart,(gym and science) at Chuck E Cheese for his
sisters party (Math and public speaking), On the computer (English, Spelling,
Math, History, Art and Science) and a photo of him and the pups and how he was
training them and had taught one or both Sit, lay down, to pee on command,
Kennel up, fetch and others.

I listed books he has read. Brought the testing that he had done at the
beginning of the year told her that reading was 1.9 and then showed several books
he chose to read. (she was pretty impressed with this and the other parents
where jaw dropped).

I brought a science book 101 Science Experiments that he had picked out and
told her he was shooting rockets off the deck and had tried other mixtures.

Meals he had cooked (Math, Science and reading)

Computer games he has and uses.

I brought some mini photo's of things Dustin has sold on Ebay and a full
print out of our 142 100% positive ratings. I told her he has his own Paypal card
(second off of my account, yes its legal for him to have one) and balances his
funds, uses the card and uses some HTML for the listings.

A shed he and his Dad built with photo's and the flooring they laid down.
(Math)

For History he read many books, watched Fox, CNN, History Channel, read some
in his old Text book, visited some places in Maine and NH.

Other places we have gone is to Town Meetings which falls under many subjects
but was a good one for health because it was about a Sober Home that someone
wanted to add to our town and brought on great debate. This lead to many
things he looked into.

I didn't list what subjects I thought all these fell into I just told her
what we did over the year. I told her I really was pleased at his new love for
reading this year and that in itself was all I had wished for.

The 15 min went by so fast I had actually forgotten some stuff. She didn't
look at any of the papers, I held the book of photo's up for all to see (group
of 5-6 parents).
When I was out of words I asked if there was anything I have missed and she
said no you covered it all. I was so nervous when I was done my hands where
numb.

When I began to talk I said "Now I may be on the radical side of Unschooling.
This works for us and I'll show you how" I said that because I followed
someone who said they Unschooled but forced piano on both kids and had this huge
box of text books and units they had done.

Good Luck on yours, please let us know how it turned out.

Laura D


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Mary

From: <Mattydill@...>

<<We were just down at the bay collecting
shells and holding sea cucumbers, starfish, crabs and several other
creatures.
My boys were finding skeletons of various things and we had a great time.
So, now what? Take a picture of what we found? Have the boys draw pictures
of
what they found? >>



Only if they really want to draw a picture!!! If not, take plenty of
pictures and put those in the portfolio. Easy as that!!!

Mary B