Free Homeschooling Resources

Y’all, I just found this awesome event!!! It’s too late to buy tickets for this year, but hopefully they will be doing this again in the future…a Texas based Disney travel agency owned by a homeschooling family is partnering with Disney to offer a homeschooling high school graduation ceremony at Walt Disney World!!!

This home school high school graduation event is open to all homeschoolers, no matter where you live or what type of homeschooler you are! If you haven’t noticed, I’m very excited about this…I would love to have my oldest (who will graduate in 2 or 3 years) go to Walt Disney World for her high school graduation ceremony.

I give high kudos to the homeschooling family who came up with this wonderful idea for a home school high school graduation ceremony!

The price includes all of the following (taken directly from The Ultimate Field Trip):

Disney Resort Accommodations – We’ll help you choose the best resort for your family, whether your priority is the Deepest Disney Discount we can find or that once in a lifetime splurge, we'll help you each step of the way. To participate fully, you can stay as few as 2 nights and up to as many as you would like. This is a weekend event with the option of extending your stay. Once we receive your ticket order, you will be contacted with available options for your family by one of the 3D Travel Team.
Cap and Gown for each graduate - you will pick up your cap and gown during the designated rehearsal, time and place to be announced at a later time.
Commemorative Program for each graduate's family.
Baccalaureate Breakfast – You’ll enjoy a traditional Baccalaureate with the added luxury of a full breakfast. Immediately following breakfast, we will be escorted to one of the attractions to enjoy it as a group for the first run of the day. This will occur on the morning of the graduation which means your family and friends have the option of coming in for two nights and one full day and participating fully in this special event. Breakfast will be served in Epcot's World Showcase and can be attended by everyone, even those who do not opt to purchase tickets, but those who opt to enjoy the attraction without a park ticket will incur a $15 fee, paid directly to Disney.

Graduation Gala – We’ll have a private area right outside the back door of Epcot’s World Showcase reserved just for our event in a beautiful building called Atlantic Dance Hall. Our event will open with a traditional march to Pomp & Circumstance followed by a brief but lovely ceremony acknowledging each graduate in turn onstage. The ceremony will be followed by a casual dinner, during which everyone will enjoy various video and photo montages as a tribute to our graduates. Each family will have the opportunity to make this a special moment for their child by working with us ahead of time to honor them. After dinner, it's time for the caps and gowns to come off as our graduates, their siblings and friends dance in celebration of all they have achieved.

Optional Park tickets - We've secured tickets at a significant discount for this event. You will have the opportunity to purchase discount tickets for everyone attending with you.

Optional Graduate Accoutrements - From keepsake tassels to invitations, we'll have everything available to make this a full event for your graduate and family. We'll send updates to registered participants when they first become available.

We are SO going to start saving our pennies so we can take part in this Walt Disney World homeschooling high school graduation!!!

I have had an epiphany!!

It's hard to meet other homeschooled kids...That's my kids' biggest problem. So I've just had an epiphany...I can create a parent-monitored website for homeschooled children! Here are the thoughts I've had so far:

A Homeschooling Social Site for Homeschooled Children

I have not seen very many homeschooling social sites...there are a few, don't get me wrong. BUT my idea is to create a homeschooling social site that is for both parents AND kids. A safe, moderated site so nothing is being posted that is inappropriate for children.

I DEFINITELY want your input, so please leave comments advising what you think, ideas, etc. etc.

Moderated Homeschooling Forum

I will have a forum for homeschooled kids, where they can get homework help, share ideas, or just talk to other homeschooled kids. I will also have a homeschooling forum for parents, where they can share homeschooling curriculum, discuss different resources...other topics can be suggested...

On either forum, any posts will have to be moderated; this will make sure the site remains a safe place for homeschooled children, even when Mom & Dad aren't looking over their shoulder.

Monitored Homeschooling Profiles

Kids & Parents will each be able to have profiles on the site, similar to Myspace or Facebook...but membership will be monitored, and need to be approved. Some may think this will be annoying, but the purpose is to make a safe environment for kids of all ages.

Profiles will include pictures, documents (to share assignments, poems, stories, that kind of thing, but this is just a concept, let me know what you think) groups, blogs, friends, etc...

Safe Homeschooling Chat

I can schedule chats for kids, monitored by an adult...this way no one is being lured into meetings by adults posing as kids, no sexual conversations are happening, and kids aren't sharing any personal information.

Another use of the safe homeschooling chat could be homework help sessions, or even some online classes...what do you think?

I'm really excited about this, as it will give my children a way to talk to other homeschoolers! But...how can we perhaps plan local get togethers?

Local Homeschooling Activities Planning

I would need to figure out a way to safely plan homeschooling activities; and somehow integrate this between parents and students...one way to do this is by actually reading posts and through the scheduled chats...I would like to have something set up regionally; after all, meeting other homeschooling kids is the whole point, right?

To successfully accomplish allowing homeschooling kids to get together locally, I would probably need to get a mom volunteer (or more, depending on the size of the location) that can moderate and coordinate local activities. The problem is, how do I compensate the moms for the time spent? Or do I just ask for other homeschooling moms to volunteer their time? What do y'all think?

Please, y'all, I think this homeschooling social site for kids is a really great idea, and I'm looking for input...what do you think of the idea? What do you think I should add? What do you, as a homeschooling parent, want to see on a social site for your kids? I want any ideas you can come up with...ANY ideas!

Thanks!!

It just occurred to me. I have had many, many negative reactions to my decision to homeschool...and yet, all of the concerns that would come to MY mind when considering my childrens' education are not included in these objections. What qualifications do I have? How can I teach advanced subjects if I have no knowledge of these subjects? How will my children do lab sciences without access to an expensive laboratory?

Sadly, I don't get any of these objections. Nope, no one in my family is interested or worried about the quality of my childrens' education. None of my friends are worried about them not learning the right stuff. I bet you can guess what every single objection or concern over my decision to homeschool is...

Socialization

Yep, you guessed it! Everyone says that children NEED to go to school in order to make friends. And, judging from reactions, public school is all about socializing, and there is no where else that children can meet other children their own age.

Personally, I think that the fact that all objections people have to homeschooling are based on the perceived lack of socialization of homeschooled children shows exactly what a terrible state our society is in.

Obviously, there are so many other ways to meet other children, and spend time socializing! In this post, I will give you several different ideas for your homeschooled child to get socialization!

Online Homeschooling Groups

One of our best sources of information is the Internet. Why not join an online homeschooling group? If you go to Google, MSN or Yahoo! and do a search for homeschooling, you will find a number of homeschooling groups that can offer you a wealth of information.

Some of these groups are nationwide, some are state based, and still others are city specific. Some homeschooling groups are focused on curriculum, some on book sales, and still others on get togethers and field trips.

Local Homeschooling Groups

I have homeschooled in South Carolina, New York and Texas. No matter where I've lived, I have found local homeschooling groups that offer social activities. These have ranged from co-op classes to field trips, to skating days and bowling.

I think it's important for homeschooling parents to join these groups; not only do they offer socialization for the children, they also offer support for the parents. By joining a local homeschooling group, you can find great homeschool deals offered by businesses in the area, learn about local homeschooling laws, and find other resources you may not otherwise learn about.

I know in my area, the local homeschooling groups offer park days, swimming get togethers, bowling days and even sports. Homeschooled children get so many benefits from joining local homeschooling groups, spending time with other children their own age, and academic opportunities.

Co-op Classes

A lot of homeschooling groups in your area will offer co-op classes. Co-op classes are usually taught by volunteer parents who have knowledge they wish to share. From personal experience, I can tell you that co-op classes can help get something in your child's curriculum that you either know nothing about, or have no wish to teach. My daughter was able to take a class on disection that I would not have been able to teach her because just the thought of disection makes me ill...

Co-op classes give your kids the chance to get out of the house, get a different perspective on academic material, learn something extra that you may not offer them, and lets them spend time in a classroom and meet new friends. Parents also get a break from the "routine" and are able to spend some time with other homeschooling parents to share frustrations, tips, resources and stories.

4-H Clubs

4-H is such a wonderful program...and they have so much more now then they used to. When I was a kid, 4-H was pretty much all about farming. Now they have technology, gardening, animals, sewing and so much more. Personally, I think that joining a 4-H club is perfect for any homeschooled child; they offer something that will fit just about any personality, and activities for all interests.

The 4-H program offers so much that it's too much to get into in this post. But I strongly encourage you to visit their website to find a local chapter. You can also find out more information on what they offer that will benefit your children.

Community Sports

Some local homeschooling groups will offer sports especially for homeschooled students. However, if you live in an area that doesn't have any sports for homeschoolers, check out your local recreation center. Many communities have sports that are open to anyone in the community...and yet another method of socialization for your children.

Girl and Boy Scouts

How many of us weren't in the scouts? I know I was...and it was a lot of fun. I have some great memories of girl scout day camps, camping trips, crafts time, plays and parties. I made a lot of friends in girl scouts, so of course it's logical to think our children would have a lot of fun, make great memories and lasting friends, right?

The Boy Scouts offer a co-ed scouting program called Venturing. This is an adventure oriented scouting organization for teenagers. My DH thinks this isn't a good idea, but many parents I've talked to have their teenaged girls in the program, and they love it. Apparently the program offers more than simply completing tasks to earn a badge; they do a lot of outdoor activities, including survival skills and camping.

Public School: Only for Socialization?

So with all the issues with the public school system today (which I won't get into here) added together with the only objections I get when people find out I homeschool my children, is public school only for socialization?

I think I've proven that public school isn't the only way children can be around others their own age. There are so many other ways to ensure our children are properly socialized. So why is it the general public believes that homeschooled children are isolated??

I'm very interested to hear about your experiences...do you get these objections? How do you make sure your kids are socialized? Do you feel your homeschooled children are isolated (*giggle*)?