Calling out all HS'ers

[Amber]

Just looking to chat with others who homeschool. My daughter is still quite young - we do preschool/K at home. Our learning is thru play of course, but I am reading up on montessori teachings.

[Gina Grothoff]

Hi Joette!
Yes, there are others on my site from SC. The site is very much like this one and in addition to the community networking- I have area resource information and many of the area groups including some in SC. I plan to add the SC homeschool laws and links just like I have the NC info.
I would love others feedback on how I can improve the site as well as input on discussion. there are many forums started and several groups already- with room for much more!

Come check out the site:
charlottehomeschooling.com
And tell everyone you know!

Joy
Gina

[Joette]

Thanks Gina!
Joette

[Carrie]

We're Waldorf-inspired learners, with a bit of unschooling thrown in for good measure! (Waldorf and Montessori share some similarities, then again, there are some differences. ) My girls are also young (3 3/4, 22 months and 22 months) but they are really just actively involved in the business of living. For them, watering the flowers, making bread and sorting clothes IS play and it can be very joyful at times.

It is a fun journey, because I'm rediscovering the joy of learning and living myself. We do lots of gardening, baking, watercolor painting, blocks, dolls. I'm also looking to start some weaving with my older daughter. I've taken up knitting too.

[Pat]

Carrie, have you joined the "Explore and Discover" or "Lake Norman Secular" homeschool groups? They both have a lot of activities. Also, we have a new "Unschooling In The Carolinas" ning for connecting folks who are unschooling or relaxed homeschoolers. We have monthly outings planned for 2009. Many folks have younger children and all ages are welcome at outings. All of those support resources are free, open and inclusive.

Here are the links.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExploreAndDiscover/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LKNsec/
http://unschoolinginthecarolinas.ning.com/

There are a couple of Waldorf and Montessori mamas here also. Also, there is a north Charlotte group. Check the menu tab "Groups" at the top of the page. They are planning MNO, playdates, and holistic presentations for up that way.

Glad you joined us!

Pat

[appletango]

Hi
We're waldorf-inspired homeschoolers. My boys are 6 and 3.

[Karen Davis]

Hello! I just joined. My children are ages 20, 18, 12 and 7 and we have always homeschooled. We started off very "school at home" and while we still use a lot of traditional materials, we have relaxed a lot over the years. It has turned out to be the best choice for our family especially when we started doing a lot of moving around.

We have lived here going on 4 years. Charlotte is a FABulous place to homeschool. So much here! The only downside is that it can take some digging to find everything. Pat's Explore and Discover is a great group and very easy to plug into. I love Gina's new site, CharlotteHomeschooling.com, as well. I have a large Christian based information list called CCHNet - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CCHNet/

I also maintain a list of all the groups and lists that i know of in the area (Pat and Gina also have this) and I can email this to anyone who wants it. [e-mail]

I believe that all involved parents homeschool until their child starts school and then they shoulder much of the responsibility still. Formal homeschooling is simply an extension of what we are already doing.

[Carrie]

Thanks for those links! :)

[Laura Anne Farley]

I just wanted to update all of you on our homeschool dilema-

The immediate future has not been decided yet, but, I want to homeschool over the summer and if Annika does not get chosen for the magnet or charters we are interested in then I will most likely homeschool/unschool for 1st grade. Do most homeschoolers continue through the summer?

[Karen Davis]

You may want to check out
http://carolinahomeschooler.com/
They have a good forum and they also plan neat trips. My dh and older son went with this SC group down to Charleston to tour the USS Yorktown.

[Karen Davis]

Many homeschoolers do continue year round. Of course there is not really a distinction for unschoolers. Our family has often been caught homeschooling at odd times due to moves and other life circumstances. The only real difference is that there are less regular homeschool activities in the summer so if you are looking to get together with other homeschoolers, you may need to help plan some things. And if you live in a neighborhood where other kids expect to play with your kids, you may need ot set some ground rules (like not coming to the door before a certain time) or they will drive you nuts.

You know in the fall when mom are saying "I'm SO glad my kids are back in school!"? Well, I am usually agreeing with them cause I am so glad that their kids are back in school, too!! LOL