Not a bunch of hippies…….

" To confuse compulsory schooling with equal educational opportunity is like confusing organized religion with spirituality. One does not necessarily lead to the other. Schooling confuses teaching with learning, grade advancement with education, a diploma with competence, and fluency with the ability to say something new. "
-- Wendy Priesnitz

 

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Tuesday night was our annual Homeschool Co-op  beginning of the year meeting.

A homeschool co-op can be ALL DIFFERENT things.

Some are organized, some are not.

Some are big, some are small.

Some have classes, some only do field trips.

The HSBTS(homeschoolers By the sea) is an AWESOME group that offers EVERYTHING.

We have classes, are VERY organized and go on field trips!!!

And after seeing the turnout on Tuesday night …I would consider us BIG!!!!!!!!!

We have 27 families and at least 50 kids in the group.

AMAZING!

It always LIFTS my spirits to sit in a ROOM of homeschooling parents who care SOOOO much about the youth and the education they are getting.

Don’t get me wrong- we are ALL different…..

In all DIFFERENT ways.

But,we  come together for one common goal:  to provide a stellar education for our kids!

We come together, plan,and  organize in order to  try and create a space where our homeschooled kids can FEEL the FEELING of a classroom setting.

We try and stay organized so that our children will reap the benefits of meeting with OTHER students that AREN’T their siblings on Fridays.

And it always WARMS MY HEART when i see NEW HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES that are so overwhelmed and excited to be starting to homeschool.

So ready to JUMP IN and get started…so ready to EMBRACE all that comes with homeschooling.

The kids.

The planning.

The organizing,

The ordering curriculum.

The shopping for school supplies.

AND(did I mention???)

The KIDS!!!!!

It is a blessing that keeps things in perspective.

Last year , I brought my dad(who was the PRESIDENT of DP school district for YEARS) and Suzette(who has been a school teacher for over 25 years).

I thought it would be interesting for “real” teachers to come and SEE how organized and planned we had things ……

I am ALWAYS down to dispel the MYTH that we(homeschoolers) are a bunch of hippies running around ….NOT homeschooling our kids!

And It worked,,,,they were impressed with how WELL ORGANIZED we were.

And the meeting didn’t disappoint me this year either:

Zeek and Shashamane are  taking :PE, Swimming Creatures of the 5th day(science), and Art Treasury(art).

Malachi and Sheba  are  taking: PE, Swimming Creatures of the 5th day(science) and Elementary Civics.

Can you say, “Not a bunch of hippies??????”

Happy Homeschooling!!!!!