Homeschooling in maine

Question for the Mainers. Are there any homeschooling families around? Preferably southern aroostook area? My wife and I are still a ways from actual schooling for our son. But it's never to early to start preparing and gathering resources. So if anyone can point us in the right direction we'd be very appreciative. Also we'd really like to check out someone's homeschooling setup/schedule  and stuff.  Thanks to all have a great weekend.

Hi Richard,
I don't know if any groups in that area specifically. But for general information, I would highly recommend Homeschoolers of Maine. They are probably the biggest advocate group in Maine for homeschooling. They have tutorials and lots of information and help to get families started homeschooling.

https://www.homeschoolersofmaine.org/

Thanks for the info. We are checking it out.

Richard Lawrence wrote:Question for the Mainers. Are there any homeschooling families around? Preferably southern aroostook area? My wife and I are still a ways from actual schooling for our son. But it's never to early to start preparing and gathering resources. So if anyone can point us in the right direction we'd be very appreciative. Also we'd really like to check out someone's homeschooling setup/schedule  and stuff.  Thanks to all have a great weekend.

NH has a virtual school, not sure about ME. Websites (I have used the first 2 as resources when writing/rewriting college algebra and calculus courses):

Kahn Academy is one Kahn
K-12 is another: K12

Depending on whether you are Christian or not, Christian book has a lot of homeschool resources (Saxon math  was one we even used in the Artic bush in AK when I was there.) Christian book

Richard Lawrence wrote:...... Also we'd really like to check out someone's homeschooling setup/schedule  and stuff.  Thanks to all have a great weekend.

The lady that runs this ministry has homeschooled her kids (4-5) for years. She may be able to help with scheduling and other resources you could check out. Just Love

Home schooling, unschooling, there are lots of options. I was excited to receive my used copy of How to Report Unschooling to School Officials, 2015, yesterday! I would highly recommend reading some books about this topic as well.

Ra Kenworth wrote:Home schooling, unschooling, there are lots of options. I was excited to receive my used copy of How to Report Unschooling to School Officials, 2015, yesterday! I would highly recommend reading some books about this topic as well.

By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

With regards to the mentioned book, it refers to periodic evaluation where the state requires it (this book refers to reporting in the USA) explaining the child's growth and development, particularly in relation to unschooling.

The book is 83 pages: not a difficult read and I've given it the quick once-over already -- time to start marking it up and inserting loose paper and fully digest it.

IMO probably because I learned in uni how to evaluate kids before I had kids to practice on, I always found if I constantly evaluated the kids and knew how they were doing, I had a better idea where I might want them going -- but knowing that sometimes it's better to throw away your ideas and let them take the lead
Sooo,
I always had the reporting down pat: if you change states to strict ones, it's no big deal and you can show the school evaluator assigned to you what you've been doing all along. It needn't be extensive either, and often better if it isn't, so:

Just as organized crime has the books the tax people see and the detailed ones they don't, you can do the same 😂

Dennis Goyette wrote:

By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

I haven't found an instance yet where they must get "real" school credit so if anyone out there knows about this please contribute?

Open university (prerequisite courses and/or high school diploma not required):

A lot of bright kids of high school age can pick areas they are particularly interested in, and go straight for the open university credits available worldwide -- or take the course without credit for free.

Athabasca University is an open university but has challenge for credit as well: sometimes a project is required as well, but essentially you read the textbooks and pay to take the exam, and the grade you get in your exam is your grade for your credits. I took a bunch of computer programming courses that way myself because it is cheaper and quicker.

Ra Kenworth wrote:

Dennis Goyette wrote:

By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

I haven't found an instance yet where they must get "real" school credit so if anyone out there knows about this please contribute?

Open university (prerequisite courses and/or high school diploma not required):

A lot of bright kids of high school age can pick areas they are particularly interested in, and go straight for the open university credits available worldwide -- or take the course without credit for free.

Athabasca University is an open university but has challenge for credit as well: sometimes a project is required as well, but essentially you read the textbooks and pay to take the exam, and the grade you get in your exam is your grade for your credits. I took a bunch of computer programming courses that way myself because it is cheaper and quicker.

I went to school on the GI Bill. Took both math and computer courses in grad school and worked in the computer industry for years. Took a break for a couple of years and taught at a couple of universities. Then I went back to the computer industry and got out after I was laid off (millions were) 2 weeks after 9/11.

Dennis Goyette wrote:By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

In the state of Maine, it is required to state your intentions to homeschool via letter at the beginning of the year. At the end of the school year, or at least before the next year starts, you are required to report on how they are learning. This can be done by standardized test or by a report by a licensed teacher who reviews the work (and I think there is a third way).

So, "reporting" in Maine is a requirement by the state to make sure your kids are actually learning stuff and not just truant from public school. I have heard that other states have similar requirements. I have not read that book, but I suspect that is what "reporting" is talking about, rather than credits towards college. That is a separate thing.

Matt McSpadden wrote:

Dennis Goyette wrote:By "reporting" do you mean how to report their advancement so they get "real" school credit to move forward in grades? Had to research the term, never heard it before.

In the state of Maine, it is required to state your intentions to homeschool via letter at the beginning of the year. At the end of the school year, or at least before the next year starts, you are required to report on how they are learning. This can be done by standardized test or by a report by a licensed teacher who reviews the work (and I think there is a third way).

So, "reporting" in Maine is a requirement by the state to make sure your kids are actually learning stuff and not just truant from public school. I have heard that other states have similar requirements. I have not read that book, but I suspect that is what "reporting" is talking about, rather than credits towards college. That is a separate thing.

Same in NH.....many courses are dual credit nowadays. having been involved in reviewing a dual credit course years ago for NH's virtual school and having taught the college course at the university that was giving the credit, I can tell you that the dual level course was NOT college level as was taught at the university.