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Post by mommy2tyler on Feb 2, 2006 7:02:42 GMT 10
I faxed Tyler's enrollment papers today! He will be a big Kindergartener this coming school year! Yay! After MUCH research and MANY questions, we decided to enroll him in the Minnesota Virtual Acedemy. Their program is actually really cool. We will be schooling him at home, using the K12 curriculum... but technically he will be enrolled in the public school system. They will loan us the entire K12 curriculum, as well as a computer system, to use. We will have a teacher at the school that we can contact if we have any questions or need help or guidance with his education. The teacher will also meet with us via phone bi-weekly, and in person quarterly. They have placement tests in place to be sure he starts where he should be... and assessment tests at the end of each lesson to be sure he is learning what he should be. We are able to track his learning online as we go, which is cool. The school will also offer alot of field trips and get-togethers for the kids and families. I have also joined a couple of groups started by and made up of MNVA families. They also hold meetings and things as a group. They have been so helpful all along with answering my questions and providing me with info about the program. I have even been invited into one family's home to see the curriculum in action!! You can bet I will be taking them up on the offer.  Its great to have the support of families that have been doing this for several years. I have wanted to homeschool Tyler since before he was born... I think that this program will give us the support and guidance we need, as well as the flexibility we want. I'll keep ya posted as we go. Right now we just wait till Spring, when the school will get ahold of us to fill out the rest of the forms and order his supplies and things. I can't wait!!!  |
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lynn
Regular Contributor
~Inspired To Be Far Above Rubies~
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
Posts: 1,572
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Post by lynn on Feb 2, 2006 7:30:16 GMT 10
Good deal! A wise woman once told me, "Plan your work and then work your plan". Sounds like that is exactly what you are doing!
Thumbs up to you and Tyler!
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Post by mommy2tyler on Feb 2, 2006 7:32:36 GMT 10
Oooooh... very wise indeed, Lynn. Thanks for sharing that!
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Admin
Major Contributor
formerly ~cara~
Posts: 4,651
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Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2006 9:20:43 GMT 10
Sherry,
How truly wonderful. Tyler is a lucky little guy. Good luck and remember to have tons of fun. Keep us posted as he learns. Hugs
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Post by frugalmel on Feb 2, 2006 11:48:10 GMT 10
Sounds like a great plan! My friend Missy does a similar thing in Colorado. She would get on here and tell you about it herself, but her computer "freaks out" on most message boards. |
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Post by braided-rug on Feb 2, 2006 12:02:45 GMT 10
Did Tyler do any preschool prior to this? What does school start?
Sounds very exciting.
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Post by mommy2tyler on Feb 2, 2006 13:05:10 GMT 10
We had him in ECFE when we lived up north. That was a preschool sort of thing through the school up there. Early Childhood Family Education. But he has not been enrolled anywhere here in the cities. I do work with him every day though, so he is not going to be behind at all.
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Post by braided-rug on Feb 2, 2006 21:26:08 GMT 10
Sorry, I meant to say "when" does school start?
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lynn
Regular Contributor
~Inspired To Be Far Above Rubies~
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
Posts: 1,572
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Post by lynn on Feb 3, 2006 0:19:51 GMT 10
Sherry,
I homeschooled for 11 years. When I enrolled mine in the local charter school here, much to the teacher's amazement, mime were right on target. The oldest one scored the highest on reading and language arts in the school's history.
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Post by mommy2tyler on Feb 3, 2006 7:47:12 GMT 10
Wow! Thats wonderful, Lynn!
I am so excited about this. Tyler is so eager to learn right now. He is always asking me to read things to him and spell words so he can write them down. He can even sound out some letters. Its just amazing to watch him learn. I do the best I can with what I have, but I can't wait to really have the tools to teach him!
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lynn
Regular Contributor
~Inspired To Be Far Above Rubies~
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
Posts: 1,572
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Post by lynn on Feb 3, 2006 11:49:21 GMT 10
You go, Mama! I can't wait to hear about all the learning adventures you will share. Such wonderful, precious time to learn and make great memories. I can just hear the excitement in your "voice". It is amazing, you are right. And that eagerness on his part will make him a great student. And your eagerness will make you a great teacher! I am so excited for you....{{Sherry}}
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Post by mommy2tyler on Feb 4, 2006 7:59:43 GMT 10
Thanks for the encouragement, Lynn. I'll keep ya all posted!! |
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Post by lucie on Feb 4, 2006 10:33:59 GMT 10
I think it's great Sherry that you are homeschooling him. I am convinced that he will get the best education at home. I have always wanted to homeschool, but never had the confidence to do it and you know with my 4 boys, I saw how public schools are not necessarly the best for learning. We have always been very active in their learning, but try to get children to do homework after they spent a whole day *in* school. I realized that kids in public schools have no choice to have homework because being bigger groups in school, the teachers cannot invest enough time in each student as each one's needs...but then doesn't a child work better and learn better earlier in the day than after supper or in the late afternoon..? Anyways, I wanted to share my views because I regreet having not homeschooled. My oldest son has had alot of trouble learning in highschool and he got discouraged and quit school...so I have proof that public schools cannot always help your kids to learn to their best. For now our son is working full time and doing a bit of schooling at home with us in hope to get his highschool diploma. So you coudl say he is part time homeschooled in highschool... Ok, enough about me! lol I congratulate your decision Sherry and wish Tyler the very best in his learning process!!! I know he will do great! |
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lynn
Regular Contributor
~Inspired To Be Far Above Rubies~
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
Posts: 1,572
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Post by lynn on Feb 4, 2006 11:19:32 GMT 10
Lucie,
That's great that you are involved in your child's learning process. I made myself a promise when I started homeschooling. And that promise was if the day ever came, that they could no longer receive from me and I felt I had done all I could, we would do something else. My oldest is/was a great student academically. No struggle with anything. Honest. He was so easy to teach. The second one was difficult, to say the least. He started out fair, and went downhill from there. Finally by the time he was in fourth grade, I just knew in my heart of hearts, he had to have something different than I could give him. By that time, it was nearing time for son #3 to start. I felt so empty, exhausted and drained. So the opportunity arose for us to apply to our local charter school. Enrollment is by lottery. If your number is pulled, you are admitted. And it was that simple. It is a small school, with lots of rules, i.e. uniforms, hair must be of a viable color, boys must wear their hair short above the collar, no tattoos. Our first year was a dream. Clay's teacher played Praise and Worship in the classroom! We've had our ups and downs with it. Some years are good, some not so good. I love the old fashioned courtsey/manners they enforce.
And you know what? Only you and your dh can make the decision re homeschooling. What's right for one family, may not necessarily be right for everyone.
So don't beat yourself up. As his mom, you are doing what you feel is best for him. And that's what matters the most. {{Lucie}}......
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Post by lucie on Feb 10, 2006 2:40:13 GMT 10
Thank-you so much Lynn for your encouragements and for sharing your experience with me. ((((hugs))))
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Its great to have the support of families that have been doing this for several years.
