First review in Harford county

I am suposed to bring all textbooks and books read to the review, is what I was told, Since I Time4learning and the old fashion homeschool program what should I bring? Do I need to print out every book from the old fashion homeschool site that I use? some of those textbook are hundreds of pages and ink isn't cheap. Delaware and cecil county never needed me to bring the textbooks, just samples of the work etc. This is my first review for harford county and I'm nervous about it, Never know if it is going to be enough for them. We do 90% on the computer and we go year round so that daily work is less but yearly ends up have more work done than if we had done it like a school year. And will they make me do an extra review since moving to differnt county? 1/2 year was cecil and last 3 month have been harford county. Two years into this I'm still scared. Have everything printed out from time4learning and my schedule with old fashion education. weekly samples from both, even art & crafts.

[mdhomescool]

Hi Mom of three.
I am not familiar with Harford County's homeschooling regulations but it is the state of Maryland that regulates homeschooling in all of Maryland not the counties.

Here's a link supporting this (s7-301 The Annotated Code of Maryland) from the Maryland Home Education Association (MHEA): http://www.mhea.com/legal.htm. Pay attention to letter F. This link is direct from Maryland's State Board of Education: http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/13a/13a.10.01.01.htm. Again pay attention to letter F. They are the same. I print this out and bring it along with me in case my reviewer pulls a fast one on me and tells me something different from what the State wants. You may want to do the same thing. I know having this with me brings me peace of mind. I know that I can intelligently discuss homeschooling laws with my reviewer if need be. I follow what the state wants no the counties.

I wouldn't bring all textbooks and books read. I'd list them instead. For Time4Learning, print out the reports. The reports will be something that public educators are used to seeing. It breaks down the lessons learned and shows test scores. For the homeschool site that you used, list the materials that you used. If the site you used have quizzes and test scores, print the most recent ones. They seem to like to see test scores. Somehow seeing test scores puts their minds at ease that you really are educating your children at home.

We homeschool year-round too. I usually bring the most recent work with me to the review. It's too much to bring everything. It'll take all day to go through it all. I wouldn't mind though. I could talk all day about what my son is doing. I have enough materials to do that. Chances are they won't have all day to sit and chat! They are really looking to see if you are actually educating your children. From what you wrote, seems like you have plenty of materials to show that.

I know it's nerve wrecking. What helps me is that I think of it as a bragging session to talk about how wonderful, intelligent, and joyful my son is. He loves learning! Only homeschooling parents can go to the school board and brag about their children. Most often if you are talking to the school board it usually means something bad.

I certainly hope they don't make you do an extra review just because you moved to a different county. Would they even have time seeing as the school year is ending? I would bring the last review from Cecil County in case they have questions. They are only allow 3 reviews per school year.

Bring with you what you consider most important: writing samples, book list, art and craft pieces, etc that will shine the light on your children.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions, please post or email me directly. I'd be interested in finding out how your review went, if you want to share.

Thought I would post and let you know how it went today. Good news we are fine for this year. She did say time 4 learning was not enough and that I needed to teach from textbooks next year. I love the ease that Time 4 learning offers me but I guess this will be my last year. She said the printout sheet where not enough to show work, even with each lesson hav a grade beside it. That the school system want to be able to see the work for every problem done. ex: if teacher book says work was to be done this way on pg 56, they want to be able to turn there in the students book to see how it was figured outteacher books and student book brought to reviews. She also informed me that by grade 5 they do not want computer programs used just text books. I guess I should have saved all the little paper my kids solve there problems on and taken them. I thought the activites sheet was good enough, with the score sheet and scope and squence. And as far as the old fashion education I should have went back and printed all those books out for the review. But atleast I am clear for this year, kids are on track. so we will just change programs come august to make the school system happy. Time 4 learning You will be greatly missed by my family.

Pleas excuse the typing errors seems that my brain was quicker than my typing. As I reread the post I realized what I had done. Blame it on the old age

[mdhomescool]

Hi mom of three,
I'm glad that your review went well. Thanks for sharing the good news.

I'm sorry to hear that you won't be using Time4Learning next school year. We are eclectic homeschoolers so we use a combination of Time4Learning, textbooks, workbooks, etc. There isn't one format that we strictly use. The beauty of homeschooling is that we can change according to what our children needs. We are not stuck on textbooks only or computer only. We have options.

I use Time4Learning and workbooks, textbooks to supplement each other. My son understands the way language arts is presented on Time4Learning so he uses that. We've recently encounter some difficulties with math concepts on Time4Learning so I am supplementing his learning with a math workbook. What's really great about Time4Learning is that the quizzes and tests point out areas of weakness in skills so we can work on them using different formats (workbook, textbooks, etc.) Sometimes the way lessons are presented in Time4Learning or workbooks may not be how my son learns so we need to be open minded to other resources to meet his needs.

I don't remember the Maryland Home Instructions regulation stating that homeschoolers can not use computer programs up to a certain grade level or that textbooks can only be used. I'm really suspicious of that. I do whatever it takes for my son to learn be it computer programs or textbooks. For me as long as I am following state rules what the local school system wants is not important.

Anyway, best of luck to you!