Homeschool Hi-Light: Evaluation complete!

My Homeschool Hi-Light for this week is easy:

We got our homeschool evaluation done!

Pennsylvania has a tough homeschooling law. One requirement is the evaluation, wherein a certified teacher reviews work the child has done throughout the school year, talks with the child about it, and reviews books/materials used. I'd heard horror stories about evaluators who were not homeschooling-friendly (why were they doing it, then?) so when we moved here I started looking for an evaluator right away.

She came to me via our homeschool group, of which she is a member. A former elementary teacher, she keeps up her credential as she homeschools her own kids.

It turned out to be a fun experience for my kids. First off, she is a very kind, gentle, soft-spoken soul - so unlike me. My kids enjoy her greatly. My daughter paid her a compliment: "she seems like the kind of person who will be interested in anything a kid does." And she was right.

Ms. Eval looked through the book lists we'd made and asked a few questions about books - and took some titles down for her own homeschool. She noted my daughter's standardized test scores and list of places we visited. She went through their portfolios (which have to be submitted to the school district) to see their work samples.

Then she handed me the forms that assure the school district that my kids have received an appropriate education.

Aaahhhh! My first evaluation, and I guess I passed. Now, I need to finish logging our 180 days - 10 days to go! - and be ready to submit our portfolio by June 30. I'll get a few more books listed before then. The school district could find something lacking in the portfolios, but I doubt it.

I must admit that the process wasn't as bad as I'd feared. Coming from Oregon, a very homeschool-friendly state with few requirements, I found Pennsylvania's law very daunting. Now I have confidence to carry on for the next "school year."

Finding new confidence is always a hilight for me! Go to Fun Learning for more.

Homeschool Hi-Light: New Ideas

Fun Learning has a Monday meme: Homeschool Hi-Light. Last week was not a big week for us. We just plodded along, doing our things, finishing up the last days of the 180 days the state of Pennsylvania wants me to document. When our "school year" is over, we'll celebrate and go back to what we usually do. Then, on July 1, we'll start a new "school year" and start documenting all over again.

My kids wouldn't think this is a hi-light but it is for me: finding a great new idea, and thinking of how to incorporate it into our homeschool. The Deputy Headmistress at The Common Room posted a "template" of sorts for Charlotte Mason educators. Now, I am not a pure Charlotte Mason homeschooler, but I am familiar with her and like her philosophy and methods. Finding this template has started some wheels turning for new ways to shake things up in our homeschool come July 1. And that is a hi-light for me!

Go over to Fun Learning and read about other hi-lights, and add your own. You might even get the cute graphic to work; I couldn't this time for some reason.

Homeschool Hi-Light

Ellen at Fun Learning has started a new meme: Homeschool Hi-Lights. Each Monday we are invited to write about something great from the past week. She has a Mr. Linky to make participating easy.

I was having a hard time thinking of something. Then it hit me. On Monday I have a class from 2-5 pm, and I always leave my kids (ages 9 and 10 1/2) a list of work to do - reading, math, other workbook-type stuff they can do on their own. We don't do a lot of workbook work - most of our time is spent reading and talking - but it's a great thing to keep skills up and provide opportunities for independent work.

Last week I came home from my class to find they had done all the work I had given them, and more! My boy had even done some writing I had not expected him to do. He is not a writer, so that is a big deal. Usually he needs me to sit next to him and help him with spelling and just general encouragement. There's just something about writing implements that makes his brain shut down.

Since one of my goals is to get my kids working independently, this was definitely a highlight for my week.