Michigan Homeschoolers

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Comment by Jen Siek on May 3, 2012 at 4:36pm

Hello, Michigan homeschoolers! My name is Jen and our family lives in the southwestern area of Michigan. We are pretty eclectic in approach right now, and build relationships intentionally with other families through Motherwise a bible study I run here at the house from time to time.

Give a shout out especially if you are nearby, the more the merrier!

Comment by Nancy W on August 7, 2011 at 12:21am

If anyone living in Genesee county or surrounding areas is looking for a music/ballet organization you may contact me.  I am the executive director of Creative Center for the Arts.  As a local community organization we offer 3 string classes ( beginner, intermediate and advanced),  band, choir, full orchestra and ballet. Though we are a community group most of our families are homeschoolers.  We have families that have come from as far a Vassar, and Troy. If anyone is interested or has question please contact me.

Comment by Nancy W on August 6, 2011 at 11:01pm

Hi,

I'm in the Flint are and have been homeschooling for 21 years.  We have enjoyed our homeschooling adventure.  Our youngest only has 3 years of high school left.  Our oldest is already looking forward to homeschooling her kids though her oldest is just a toddler.  

 

I'm looking forward to hearing from other homeschoolers in MI.

Comment by Shar Ann on May 7, 2011 at 12:03pm

Hi Michigan homeschoolers! My name is Shar. I am from the "Thumb" of Michigan, in Huron County. I've got four littles: 3 boys, 8, 4, and 2; 1 girl, 10 months. Glad to be in the group!

Comment by Jean Troop on April 28, 2010 at 12:15pm

Hi Michiganders,

I heard about this through a homeschool group in my area and thought I'd pass it on to the Michigan Group here.

Homeschool Family Day at the Capitol

REGISTER BY MAY 1 TO PARTICIPATE!!

www.HomeEdMi.net

Homeschool Family Day at the Capitol is:

· An organized homeschool field trip to the state capitol.

· A great way to learn about how our state government works.

· A fantastic way to demonstrate to state officials that homeschoolers are well behaved, well spoken, and have fun.

· A great time to meet your representatives.

If you haven’t been to the Homeschool Family Day at the Capitol before, decide that this year you will be there either on May 4th or May 5th and GO TO www.HomeEdMi.net to register TODAY.

If you have come before, consider volunteering on either or both days.

If interested, please send a note to admin@homeedmi.net.


**SPECIAL RECEPTION FOR SUPPORT GROUP LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES** Please e-mail us for details.

REGISTER TODAY!!

www.HomeEdMi.net

Comment by Tammy Foster on April 9, 2010 at 7:09pm

Diane, honestly it can be as cheap as free and as expensive as you want it. It depends on what you want to do. There are so many choices it can get a little frustrating so try to keep it as simple as possible. If you want to keep it easy for you then you might consider a already ready already curriculum. The prices vary. I have 2 kids but in younger grades so keep that in mind. I use premade curriculum and add on to it with other stuff I like. Especially with my daughter since she has so many gaps. When I add on field trips and soccer with a homeschool soccer group this year, for both, and all the little things like supplies and such I can spend anywhere between $800-$1200 a year for both. It's not all at the same time though. We usually have a tax refund so I use that. It's still cheaper than private school!:) Like as said though, it includes field trips and a sport. There are also TONS of free things you can do as well. Lots of library trips, including the free passes to places like Cranbrook. There is a website that just went free that I got to help with when it started, www.lessonpathways.com . I'm not sure what grade they are up to right now but they are adding all the time. They have whole scope and sequences for entire grade levels. All the lessons have activities and all the resources had to be freely available online and they have links to take you there. There are lots more like it. I also check for sales. I will be purchasing what we need next from www.aop.com this month because they have 20% off their entire catalog every April. (They also have a couple of computer curriculums that you might check out if your daughters might be interested in that.)

So it really depends on what your budget is and how well you can control any office supply addiction you may have.:) (you really don't want to know how many bundles of spiral bound notebooks I have crammed away. But when they're only 5 cents a piece how can you not!?)

One suggestion would be to ask yourself "Are there any free resources for this?" before you buy something. That will keep it cheaper. It's when you get into the extracurriculars that it can start adding up.

Comment by Diane on April 9, 2010 at 4:10pm

Tammy, I loved your breakdown of the word POLITICS! LOL! Jean, thanks for the info about non-core classes. I'm gonna have to do some more research, of course.

Ladies, please tell me how much money we're talking about for 2 kids. I don't have any clue.

Comment by Jean Troop on April 9, 2010 at 2:04pm

Hi Diane. I recent decided to homeschool my two boys in the fall, so I'm new at this too, but I have a few thoughts. Band is also important for my oldest son (current 6th grader). So I searched for a homeschool band online; they were too far away. When I talked to two friends about their homeschool experiences, they both mentioned a band that's much closer to home. I contacted the coordinator, and the boys and I were able to visit the band during practice. It was great to see it "in action", and now I feel confident enrolling my son in the fall. Ask your homeschool friends about band/music classes. Call music stores and ask about their classes, or call the public school, or even private schools that offer band. You can definitely add non-core, professionally taught or otherwise, classes to your homeschool experience.

You had a great idea about sitting in on your HS friends' school days to see how it works. Your girls join you. My oldest son who's requesting to be homeschooled actually had a chance to "practice" homeschooling the day he was sick and stayed home. In the morning, I asked the teachers about the day's assignments, gathered his books, and he did schoolwork at home, at his own pace. He loved it. Of course, during this spring break, he had no interest in "practicing HS"!

As for your husband, I believe it's very important to have him on board with HS. There are ways to get him on board. Talk to him about it, ask Qs to determine his concerns. Then go online or to the library and find info that alleviates his concerns. If he's not a computer user (like my DH), compile the info into a Word doc and print it out. Be non-threatening, as I'm sure you are, and wait until he comes around to the idea. He may want assurance that you're serious about HS. My hubby thought I wasn't really serious. Husbands are usually concerned with cost as well, so I made sure to show my DH the full cost of new curriculum for two boys BEFORE I went to the book fair and bought it all--used and new. I was happy to tell him I'd saved us $$!

These are just some thoughts that popped into my head as I read your comments. I hope at least one of them helps you.

Comment by Donna C on April 9, 2010 at 12:31pm

My daughter shares the schooling w/ he rhusband, he has increased his knowledge TOO.He likes taking part in his daughters education. Also, gives my daughter a break. She schools Allie at a time when local schools are off on a break or snow days, then if they have a appt out she isn't behind. Also, Allie does some extra's thru the summer on none active days, like reading and refreshing .her bible study is daily. she is great at remembering scriptures { better than her Grandma} Kids today have so much knowledge in technoligy that it scares me , at 3 she understood using a tv controller and computer better than I did. In fact last week , she showed ME how to program my tv so I could use the DVD player.

Comment by Tammy Foster on April 9, 2010 at 10:18am

Diane, gotta love politics!

POLI- definition: Many
TICS- definition: blood sucking parasite

(Sorry, I couldn't resist. It's usually funny no matter what your political persuasion:))
As for band, yes she can take any non-core classes at a public school. Some schools are easier to get along with than others. There are also homeschool music groups, private groups, and community groups.

Another idea would be to compromise with a 1 year trial. They can always go back the next year. Let them know that homeschooling offers many advantages like being able to make their learning more interesting, school in your jammies day(s), school on the couch or outside on nice days, and the possibility of graduating earlier. If they are already pretty ok with the idea of trying it out and you get them thinking of some possitives then maybe your husband will be ok with giving it a try for a year.

The really funny thing is that it would ALL be Homework! Ha!

As for the support part, there are other ways he can support the effort. My husband works all day and he does side jobs at night and volunteers and sometimes he's out of town for 6-8 weeks at a time. There are people who homeschool whose spouses are out of county. Maybe he can help with a project or two when he is home. Plus! here's a real perk, If you need a break you can take a day off! At thier ages, once you get them going on something, if they are even moderately self motivating and can work on their own, you don't have to hover over them the entire time. Help them set their daily and weekly goals, set them to a task and then go do what you have to do. They'll come to you if they have questions.

Helpful???

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