Homeschooling.. (Franklin: schools, pharmacy, live)

[RS-1080]

Originally Posted by LauraLoo

Wow. I don't even know where to start.

I don't hold a teaching degree, however, I am more than qualified to teach Jake his ABC's and such. On top of what he learns from me, he gets two hours of Physical Therapy each week, two hours of Speech Therapy each week and three hours of Occupational Therapy each week. He has a kidney doctor, eye doctor, neurologist, developmentalist, & a feeding group that we attend each 6 months. Jake also recieves 7 medicines a day and the pharmacist at the local pharmacy has become my best friend. On top of that, Jake's appointments for the next 6 months have already filled my calendar.

I taught myself sign language two years ago and now, he is signing more than 20 words. He is also a healthy kid, probably because I and his father take his condition very seriously & stay on top of things.




I have to laugh at the "real world" question. I don't know what the future holds for my son, but I can assure you, I can handle it much better than any public school teacher who has a teaching degree.

Sounds like ya'll are great parents. I'll agree your doing the right thing homeschooling. I respect you for wanting whats best for Jake and you know best what his needs are. I'm sure ya'll already know, but Jake is lucky to have ya'll as his parents. I was/am a slow learner and got left behind in public school. I went to gradeschool until I was nearing my 18'th birthday and my last year completed was grade 6 even though I could not do any better than 4'th grade work. I was still on a 4'th grade level in grade 6 and could not do 3'rd grade math, but do to age they just moved me up from the lower grades anyways. It only made it harder cause I didn't know nearly enough to be in grade 6. You may find it hard to believe, but it wasn't until my own kids were in school til I learn to spell enough to spell what I'm writing in this post. It was my two kids that took the extra time day after day til they hit the teen years to see that I could at least spell decent enough that I could put the dictionary away and not spend an hour trying to write a paragraph looking up words as I went. I still spell and write simple worded posts as I have not defeted the bigger words yet, but I'm not giving up yet. I still can't devide or do fractions, and I've been working on that a good while. It don't look like I'll get a GED in time to put it to use being I'm now 40 still trying to do fractions, but I'm thankfull for my kids getting me this far. Far as spelling, I'm still not able to spell outloud, but my kids tried a different method and worked with me until I memorized most of my words as far as knowing exactly what the words should look like. If it didn't look right, I'd try to picture how it should. An odd way of learning, but it got me at least this far. I&E AND E&I, those two still trick me alot figuring wich one should be before the other.Memory is the worst drawback. I can study a certain thing for a month and after we move on to something else, and later try what I had learn the month before, I have to start over again. 40, and stuck trying to learn to devide and do fractions. I don't know my times tables either, but I can at least do it slowly by adding 8 , 8 times in a row to get 8x8. It takes longer, but at least I can get the answer to the times question by doing so on the ones I can't remember. Kids treated me like crap in school because I was not smart like them and got paddled for wetting my pants when asked to walk to the board to work out a problem. Of course I was nervous, I was nervous because I was years behind the grades I was moved up to and didn't know much of anything. My parents split up and my mom lived in GA while I was with my dad in TN. He worked nights and slept days and didn't have the time or patience to help me. I'd get off the buss and he'd be in bed. He'd get up about 10pm and go to work and I'd go to bed and get myself up for school buss while he was still at work. I learn to shoot guns early in life and had one in my room at 12 but I still had some worry that if I was sleeping that I may not hear if somebody came in the house while I was not awake and the gun would serve me no protection if they slipped up on me first.His farm was on a dead end holler in the sticks and we had no phone installed until I was just about an adult. I grew out of the fear of being alone at night by the age of 15, but by that time I had no spirit left anyways and was a loner that held his head in shame for being the stupid kid that everyone avoided.My mom has made no effort to come see me since she left my dad.Alot of years have past, she musta been really shame of her own kid.At least my wife and I are at piece of mind knowing our kids will never know that feeling. It is not good, still hurts today looking back on it all.

Sorry, but I felt like sharing, and really don't care what others may think about it.

Whats important is I know how it is to need help in school, and that not every child gets it. God Bless what you and your husband are doing for your son. I'm sure he'll never live the feeling of wishing he had someone elses parents like I did.

[pixiepony]

I am here to answer your question and just that! I homeschool and we are transfering to Memphis next week because of a job relocation. TN has some guidelines you must follow as a homeschooling parent. mainly record keeping and informing the school system you live in what your plans are each year. Nothing to crazy. I highly encourage looking up the states homeschooling website. They have all the laws clearly spelled out.

You have many options as a homeschooling parent. One is opting in an umbrella program through a private school. Basically you pay them a VERY nominal fee and they take care of the paperwork and testing and odds and ends. Your child is then considered a part of that school and you are not required to notify your local school district each year.

One important law is that in order to teach Middle school and up, you must have a 4 year college degree! I have not looked into this in detail, so I am not sure what exactly it entails or if it's still required under the umbrella programs.

The good thing about homeschooling now is that there are SOOOOO many resources available to us!! I thought I would go crazy when I was trying to pick a curriculum!!! There are hundreds to choose from!

Also be sure to join your local association! Even small cities have them. I had plenty of socialization growing up as a homeschooler. I was involved in theatre, choir, dance, 4-H. Also many associations have co-op classes where you get together once or more a week to have a group lesson. This is a great option for those of us who want our children to get a wide array of subjects. I took french in a co-op class. Many use them for Math, Science, Drama, Foriegn Language, ect. It also helps those of us who lack skills in certain areas.

Anyways, I hope my post helped some. Feel free to PM me. I have the links to the TN website for homeschooling. Did you say what part of Tn you are looking to move?

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by lala27poodles

Why would say "wow" all sarcastically and then laugh at the "real world" question?

Look, you came to a PUBLIC forum and asked a pretty controversial question and asked our opinions on it. Now that you've gotten some opinions that don't suit you exactly, it made you a little angry. I guess you were just looking for people to tell you how wonderful and great they thought your homeschooling idea was..... but not everyone shares that opinion.

I think it's fine for when he's a young boy. However, I have a feeling you're going to need some help reaching him when he starts developing into adolescence. I happen to be a neurodevelopment research scientist, so I've seen many kids born blind, deaf, etc.... I went to school for YEARS, and will be paying back student loans until I am old and gray...but it was worth it because now I can maybe help people one day.

That's the point I'm trying to to make, I guess. Most of these special education teachers went to school for YEARS, paid a lot of money for their degree, and did it so they could help people like your son. To not even plan on giving them a chance in the future seems like a waste of everyone's time. They are here to help, they WANT to help, and when he's screaming because he doesn't understand math and you can't explain it to him in a way he will get it, you will be GLAD those people exist. I find it slightly egotistical and assumptive to think you are just as qualified if not more so than someone who went to college for six to eight years studying just that. Just keep an open mind for his future. He deserves every chance he can get.

You're right, I came to a public forum to ask about homeschooling in Tennessee. So far, 75% of the posts are about how qualified I may be, how great the ACLU is and all the other nonsense.

I asked a simple question - as intelligent as you are, I would think you would be able to answer it without coming across as a bit egotisitical.

The reason why I feel I am more qualified than you or a public school teacher is for one simple reason: I am his mother. I know him better than anyone else in this entire world. I know his needs and I know when something isn't right. I know how he learns and more importantly, I have the support of every single therapist and doctor that Jake has. One therapist being the the VP for the Autism Awareness Center in our area.

You see - you aren't the only one with a degree in this world. However, from what I have witnessed, the high degree you hold should be benefiting those who seek your help. It should not be used as a tool to make others feel less than you.

Until you have lived in MY home, held my CHILD while he has a seizure, you don't know what you are talking about.

Now, if you want to help me find homeschooling resources in the State of Tennessee as my original post asks, great. This other stuff is just nonsense, and well, you can take it where the sun don't shine.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by pixiepony

I am here to answer your question and just that! I homeschool and we are transfering to Memphis next week because of a job relocation. TN has some guidelines you must follow as a homeschooling parent. mainly record keeping and informing the school system you live in what your plans are each year. Nothing to crazy. I highly encourage looking up the states homeschooling website. They have all the laws clearly spelled out.

You have many options as a homeschooling parent. One is opting in an umbrella program through a private school. Basically you pay them a VERY nominal fee and they take care of the paperwork and testing and odds and ends. Your child is then considered a part of that school and you are not required to notify your local school district each year.

One important law is that in order to teach Middle school and up, you must have a 4 year college degree! I have not looked into this in detail, so I am not sure what exactly it entails or if it's still required under the umbrella programs.

The good thing about homeschooling now is that there are SOOOOO many resources available to us!! I thought I would go crazy when I was trying to pick a curriculum!!! There are hundreds to choose from!

Also be sure to join your local association! Even small cities have them. I had plenty of socialization growing up as a homeschooler. I was involved in theatre, choir, dance, 4-H. Also many associations have co-op classes where you get together once or more a week to have a group lesson. This is a great option for those of us who want our children to get a wide array of subjects. I took french in a co-op class. Many use them for Math, Science, Drama, Foriegn Language, ect. It also helps those of us who lack skills in certain areas.

Anyways, I hope my post helped some. Feel free to PM me. I have the links to the TN website for homeschooling. Did you say what part of Tn you are looking to move?

Thank you!!!!!! I will send you a message later tonight... I am on my way to a therapy session. We are looking at the Murfreesboro area.

[shinestx]

Homeschooling is very popular across the state. I know that in the cities, there are HS organizations that meet for the extracurricular activities etc.. And the local YMCAs have lots of programs for homeschooled kids during the daytime. Just make sure you follow the state's laws on the process... as all states have their own laws for meeting the criteria.

[LABART]

One important law is that in order to teach Middle school and up, you must have a 4 year college degree! I have not looked into this in detail, so I am not sure what exactly it entails or if it's still required under the umbrella programs

Unless it has changed I believe in TN you have to have a college degree for 9th-12th grade unless you have special permission from your school superintendant or use an umbrella school.

[LauraLoo]

Thanks.

I want to get him involved in some art classes and such. His Nephrologist has already recommended a Children's Hospital in Nashville. We are looking to move by next summer so thankfully, I have given myself a little bit of time to figure it out.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by LABART

Unless it has changed I believe in TN you have to have a college degree for 9th-12th grade unless you have special permission from your school superintendant or use an umbrella school.

I could always go back for my college degree.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by RS-1080

Sorry, but I felt like sharing, and really don't care what others may think about it.

Whats important is I know how it is to need help in school, and that not every child gets it. God Bless what you and your husband are doing for your son. I'm sure he'll never live the feeling of wishing he had someone elses parents like I did.

Thanks for the nice words. I do the best that I can. It's all a learning experience.

[SFLWR]

Originally Posted by RS-1080

Sounds like ya'll are great parents. I'll agree your doing the right thing homeschooling. I respect you for wanting whats best for Jake and you know best what his needs are. I'm sure ya'll already know, but Jake is lucky to have ya'll as his parents. I was/am a slow learner and got left behind in public school. I went to gradeschool until I was nearing my 18'th birthday and my last year completed was grade 6 even though I could not do any better than 4'th grade work. I was still on a 4'th grade level in grade 6 and could not do 3'rd grade math, but do to age they just moved me up from the lower grades anyways. It only made it harder cause I didn't know nearly enough to be in grade 6. You may find it hard to believe, but it wasn't until my own kids were in school til I learn to spell enough to spell what I'm writing in this post. It was my two kids that took the extra time day after day til they hit the teen years to see that I could at least spell decent enough that I could put the dictionary away and not spend an hour trying to write a paragraph looking up words as I went. I still spell and write simple worded posts as I have not defeted the bigger words yet, but I'm not giving up yet. I still can't devide or do fractions, and I've been working on that a good while. It don't look like I'll get a GED in time to put it to use being I'm now 40 still trying to do fractions, but I'm thankfull for my kids getting me this far. Far as spelling, I'm still not able to spell outloud, but my kids tried a different method and worked with me until I memorized most of my words as far as knowing exactly what the words should look like. If it didn't look right, I'd try to picture how it should. An odd way of learning, but it got me at least this far. I&E AND E&I, those two still trick me alot figuring wich one should be before the other.Memory is the worst drawback. I can study a certain thing for a month and after we move on to something else, and later try what I had learn the month before, I have to start over again. 40, and stuck trying to learn to devide and do fractions. I don't know my times tables either, but I can at least do it slowly by adding 8 , 8 times in a row to get 8x8. It takes longer, but at least I can get the answer to the times question by doing so on the ones I can't remember. Kids treated me like crap in school because I was not smart like them and got paddled for wetting my pants when asked to walk to the board to work out a problem. Of course I was nervous, I was nervous because I was years behind the grades I was moved up to and didn't know much of anything. My parents split up and my mom lived in GA while I was with my dad in TN. He worked nights and slept days and didn't have the time or patience to help me. I'd get off the buss and he'd be in bed. He'd get up about 10pm and go to work and I'd go to bed and get myself up for school buss while he was still at work. I learn to shoot guns early in life and had one in my room at 12 but I still had some worry that if I was sleeping that I may not hear if somebody came in the house while I was not awake and the gun would serve me no protection if they slipped up on me first.His farm was on a dead end holler in the sticks and we had no phone installed until I was just about an adult. I grew out of the fear of being alone at night by the age of 15, but by that time I had no spirit left anyways and was a loner that held his head in shame for being the stupid kid that everyone avoided.My mom has made no effort to come see me since she left my dad.Alot of years have past, she musta been really shame of her own kid.At least my wife and I are at piece of mind knowing our kids will never know that feeling. It is not good, still hurts today looking back on it all.

Sorry, but I felt like sharing, and really don't care what others may think about it.

Whats important is I know how it is to need help in school, and that not every child gets it. God Bless what you and your husband are doing for your son. I'm sure he'll never live the feeling of wishing he had someone elses parents like I did.

I'm going to DM you , since this is Laura's thread......it took real guts to post what you did ..God Bless