Q. for those in a charter homeschool

[Alicia64]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm in a charter homeschool because a) the charter is very flexible and relatively undemanding and b) they issue funds that pay for my kid's karate and soon piano.

 

So here's my question: our "ES" (educational specialist: the teacher) who I meet with is a ps teacher-teacher. She has two toddlers and will put them in ps when they're five and will return to ps teaching.

 

In other words, her mind isn't at all into homeschooling. So she often suggests a lot of traditional teacher strategies. She hasn't told me to put a white board on the wall, but she's probably about to. :001_smile: (Please don't tell me how great white boards are -- I know they're awesome.)

 

I'm not an unschooler -- I like structure and I like many of her ideas. They're very good.

 

Here's the thing: I keep wondering what it might be like to have an ES who really "gets" homeschooling. I wonder what that person might have to offer to a new homeschooling mom like myself. Maybe support for the lifestyle? (Don't get from our current ES.) Maybe "out of the box" teaching ideas that might be cool?

 

I can tell our current ES thinks homeschooling is weird. She doesn't say it, but I can see it in her eyes. She makes comments that she thinks I'm not cut from the same cloth. But being an ES is just a job to her for her that works for now. But, as a person, she's really nice and full of teacher-y ideas.

 

I just don't know. Any thoughts?

 

TIA!

 

Alicia

[SonshineLearner]

This will be interesting! There's a charter school in Eugene Oregon that I've looked at. We're not close enough, but it has Character themes and such...It's called Academy for Character Education...and it's a "homeschool"/Charter school....

I'm looking at a Charter school that's Classical and opening up in 2010 for my daughter. I'm not sure about it, as I'll have to see how it'll be run. They (will)use some Core Knowledge materials, but I think those only go to 8th grade...and the school will be going to 12th...

 

Carrie:-)

[Carol in Cal.]

I'm in one of those charters as well. My ES is someone that I knew before she worked for the charter. We kind of scratch each others' backs. If anything, she is probably a little more unschooly than I am. She is great about suggesting resources, and if at one of our meetings I ask her to go over some writing with DD so that she can get another voice helping her with it, she just jumps right in and does that. I feel like she is my consultant, not like I'm teaching under her, IYKWIM.

 

I try to make life easier for her by spending as much of our educational funds on a few big ticket items as possible, so that she doesn't have to fill out a zillion purchase orders. And I write short reports to give her at most of our meetings so that she can write up her reports based on those, and she has something to take away other than her notes. I also make sure that I fulfill their paperwork requirements as correctly as possible. That way she doesn't have to come back over and over for revisions. (Although I have to admit, those requirements are really aggravating, and every once in a while they will throw in a change up just to be evil.)

 

For my own sense of myself as a homeschooler, it is crucial that I feel that I'm in control and in charge of my DD's education. After all, isn't that partly the point? I would not accept a condescending ES except for very temporarily, and during a period where I was stuck with one, I would not let my DD be in the same room during our meetings as I would not want that attitude to be observed.

 

Which charter are you in? I'm in Ocean Grove, which is part of IEM.

[westcoastmom]

There are not called charter schools where I live, but they sound like the same idea. They vary by school district, but many of the school districts offer them. The one we belong to offers 2 days of optional classes with field trips and gives funding to spend on classes, curriculum. As well there is teacher support. Essentially students who belong are considered enrolled and the program receives the same funding as regular PS students. As such there is competition with some school districts because they can run these types of programs more cheaply than full time classes. Our teacher is fairly new to teaching and has little teaching OR home schooling experience. I think they would be more likely to get someone with home schooling connections if they posted part time jobs. ie 2 part time teachers instead of one full time teacher. Home schooling moms who have teaching backgrounds are unlikely to want to teach full time.

[Carol in Cal.]

There are not called charter schools where I live, but they sound like the same idea. They vary by school district, but many of the school districts offer them. The one we belong to offers 2 days of optional classes with field trips and gives funding to spend on classes, curriculum. As well there is teacher support. Essentially students who belong are considered enrolled and the program receives the same funding as regular PS students. As such there is competition with some school districts because they can run these types of programs more cheaply than full time classes. Our teacher is fairly new to teaching and has little teaching OR home schooling experience. I think they would be more likely to get someone with home schooling connections if they posted part time jobs. ie 2 part time teachers instead of one full time teacher. Home schooling moms who have teaching backgrounds are unlikely to want to teach full time.

 

The school district ones are usually independent study programs and tend to be more like 'school at home'. The charters vary a great deal. Some have just one curriculum for everyone to use, often K12, and some offer a fair amount of flexibility. I think that in California it is illegal to give funding at exactly the same level to ISP or charter homeschoolers as to 5x/week grade school kids. But the teachers must have CA teaching credentials either way, so it's hard to find homeschoolers to fill those jobs.

[Alicia64]

Thanks everyone. I hope more people post! This is helpful.

 

Carol ~ We're w/ South Sutter which, I believe, is also IEM, right? You make excellent points. We started in Dec. w/ an ES that was incredibly condescending and "not connected" at all (don't know how else to put it). She just seemed spacey.

 

I asked to be transferred away from her immediately. She was new and took the job because it was convenient given her grandchild's illness. But she didn't seem to have any respect for hs at all.

 

My current ES is a sweetheart. I can tell that she'd rock in a classroom (as much as anyone can rock with twenty kids). But she clearly thinks she's there to teach me stuff. To a certain extent, I'm so new at this, that I need ideas. But she's just too traditional public school, if you know what I mean.

 

We have some neat things for homeschoolers here (a science bowl, for one) and she'd never heard of it. See, it bothers me that she doesn't suggest that kind of resource. How could she? She's never heard of it.

 

Sigh,

 

Alicia

[Carol in Cal.]

Thanks everyone. I hope more people post! This is helpful.

 

Carol ~ We're w/ South Sutter which, I believe, is also IEM, right? You make excellent points. We started in Dec. w/ an ES that was incredibly condescending and "not connected" at all (don't know how else to put it). She just seemed spacey.

 

I asked to be transferred away from her immediately. She was new and took the job because it was convenient given her grandchild's illness. But she didn't seem to have any respect for hs at all.

 

My current ES is a sweetheart. I can tell that she'd rock in a classroom (as much as anyone can rock with twenty kids). But she clearly thinks she's there to teach me stuff. To a certain extent, I'm so new at this, that I need ideas. But she's just too traditional public school, if you know what I mean.

 

We have some neat things for homeschoolers here (a science bowl, for one) and she'd never heard of it. See, it bothers me that she doesn't suggest that kind of resource. How could she? She's never heard of it.

 

Sigh,

 

Alicia

 

So they get a lot of new ones. I'm fortunate to have been in a program that shut down, and all the teachers there went to this charter, so they are used to homeschoolers and quite experienced. Most of them are teaching one day per week classes or tutoring in addition to their IEM jobs.

 

And being a curriculum junkie/book addict, I still often let my ES know about some new curriculum or book that is working out really well for us. But she suggests good stuff to me as well.

 

My most radical move, even before these guys all joined IEM, was to insist that they don't need to meet with DD as much as I needed to meet with them without her. This was not common, but I made it stick because I didn't want to talk about DD in front of her, and I really wanted a consultation at that time. Gradually in the last year I have started to involve DD more in the meetings. Now she does some of them all by herself--I encourage her to think about what she would most like to show her teacher, and to organize it for presentation. This is a good experience for her. I also try to get ahead of the curve with the work samples. I look at the list at the beginning of the semester and assign writing in each area. That way DD writes polished work across the curriculum that she knows will be turned in. I don't want to waste her time or mine on busywork, so I try really hard to incorporate their assignments into learning objectives that I have anyway.

 

The only thing I really hate about it is the state testing and the IEM testing. The results are completely at odds with each other--it is clear that the IEM testing has no basis in reality from a benchmarking perspective, and the state testing is administered so badly that it is very difficult to excel on it. Who does all those state tests in one day? It's ridiculous! So that is my compromise for the $. As I get closer to the time when DD will attend a 'real school' I think that maybe I should get the Stanford or Iowa state achievement tests in addition to the CA state testing. At least then I can administer them myself and know that they are done right.

 

For curriculum choices and good suggestions, ask here. We are better. (smile)

[Wildiris]

My experience with charter schools is probably more like Carol in Cal.

 

I am in control.

We don't call them ES, but ISTs (independent study teacher).

I do all of the paper work, and if I am together enough I write out everything we've covered in the subjects that require accountability.

Because I know what I am doing most of the time, I am seldom questioned about what I do. I produce reams of documentation which goes into a cumulative folder somewhere. The IST and I meet once a month. The paperwork, documentation and meeting are a small price to pay for being able to do what I want--within reason.

 

I find that after 13 years of homes schooling I know more than my IST about certain aspects of teaching at home. When I do ask for advice I am always disappointed because I am 10 steps ahead of the IST. I've grown to expect little and feel that my path even within the charter school environment is unusual. My IST depends on me to have it all together because some of her other students and parents are floundering and need more attention.

[teacalm]

I'm in a charter school in the Bay Area, No. CA for the last 4 years. My assigned credentialed teacher have always homeschooled her kids and her oldest is now an 11th grader, I believe. While she's a homeschooler herself, we don't always see eye to eye. If she makes a suggestion, I simply acknowledge her input but if it doesn't benefit me in anyway and would just give me more work or grief, I simply hold my ground and ignore nicely. Husband repeatedly told me to look for another teacher as sometimes she would ask something that I would consider more than what is required. However, in all fairness, they are not something impossible to do just more work for me. I've learned to respect her and vice versa I believe, and there were only two occasions that I blew my top: one was when I was pregnant with my last and the other was when she requested for samples that I couldn't find in our computers. We have 4 computers at home and husband sert it up on a network and creating a shared file so any of the kids can access their work using any computers. I searched all morning going from one computer to the next and finally I responded to her email nastily. She called me back right away and we squared it out.

 

I'm finding that I can use charter school in a way that would fit me my needs and still maintain control over my own affairs but if it gets to the point where the intrusion is evident, I will quit in a second. All in all, I benefit from the charter and the charter benefits from our enrollment. I'm very thankful that I have access to resources that would be prohibitively expensive if I were to do it with my kids.

 

It's like having a sword on top of your head at times.

[LunaLee]

Hi Alicia,

 

We are with South Sutter too, and I know exactly who your first ES was. Well I don't know her name, I know of her. I know several of her families who felt she was certainly taking the job for all of the wrong reasons. Unfortunately, it seems to me that SS is hiring teachers who don't really believe in homeschooling, which is kind of sad because of all of the homelearning based charters in our area SS is by far one of the better.

 

I would say that your homeschooling experience with a charter is largely shaped by your ES (or CT, ST or whatever). I've had 3 over the last 3 years,my experience with each one has been different. This is what I have learned: you are the parent they are there to help you. You could try nicely to explain to her that while you appreciate her advice, you are not doing "school at home" if you wanted public school ideals, your children would still be there. You can tell her that you are choosing the curriculum, learning styles,..etc. that fit your children's needs and can she please keep that in mind when helping you. I have had this converstation with one of our teachers and we really haven't had any problems since.

 

As far as her not being able to supply you with any information on things, well this is where you have to be proactive. In all the years that we've been doing this, my teachers have never once told/taught me anything. I've learned about things on my own. By coming to this forum, by talking with other homeschooling moms in this area and by shopping at the local homeschooling bookstore.

 

Many of the SS ES actually do homeschool their children or are supportive of it and believe in it, too bad we can't interview them first right? :001_smile:

[Carol in Cal.]

As far as her not being able to supply you with any information on things, well this is where you have to be proactive. In all the years that we've been doing this, my teachers have never once told/taught me anything. I've learned about things on my own. By coming to this forum, by talking with other homeschooling moms in this area and by shopping at the local homeschooling bookstore.

 

 

 

You are so lucky!

 

I think it's in Citrus Heights--"A Brighter Child." I saw a display that they had at a Classical Christian home educators' conference in 2007, and was very impressed. I don't think I would even need the curriculum board if I lived near that store!

[LunaLee]

Yeah it's a great store...:) The owner clasically homeschooled/homeschools her children so it's very WTM friendly.

[VillaH]

How wonderful to read other stories about homeschool charters. We joined a few months ago and I agree with the mom that said your experience depends on your ES. I'm in Oregon and ours is called ACA. I prayed and prayed about joining and God answered my prayers. I have three kids that are school aged and they absolutely love it when our ES comes over. I was completely surprised by that. The kids actually love to show her what they are working on during the week. She comes to my house because it is easier and the kids love it because they can show her what they are working on. She is a wonderful Christian mom of four and she has homeschooled, used public school and used an unconventional program for one of her kids. She is the perfect fit for our family. I can't use alloted money for faithbased curriculum, but she doesn't care if we use it. She just writes "teacher generated" material when it is necesary. I am pretty sure that we will do this again next year.

 

My sister, on the other hand, has an ES who is too busy to be of much help. My sister has a son with special needs and is not getting the help that she could really use. She is advocating on his behalf without much support from the ES.

 

I love the fact that I can use the money for the more expensive curriculum that I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. When I prayed I asked God how I was supposed to provide my kids with the things He wanted them to have/learn (curriculum,sports, music, etc...) to be able to turn them into the people He wanted them to be. The answer came when I got a call from the charter school. I wasn't sure if we should jump in, but took a leap of faith and God blessed it.

[Carol in Cal.]

And you don't have to accept any particular ES.

 

Also, mine meets with us monthly. Generally the 'school at home' ones meet weekly and the more homeschooling ones meet monthly.

 

This year our money paid for DD's choral program entirely, and part of her nature awareness classes, and Saxon kits, writing curricula that I would not have bought otherwise but which has enhanced her writing, and some art supplies that I would not have purchased otherwise.

 

I have not sold my soul for this. Some do, but I didn't. And I can quit anytime, and my ES's do know that I'm independent enough to do that if need be.

[momto2Cs]

We homeschool through a charter here in No. Cal. we don't get funds, but they do pay for all the books I request! I am really lucky in that our RT (Resource Teacher) is very supportive and totally seems to have faith in what I am doing. She used to teach in ps and started working for the charter because she didn't like to see kids all squashed into one mold. She has older kids that aren't in school now, but I know her daughter did independent study throughout high school, so that she had a little more flexibility. While I am only required to fill out a very simple daily log and provide a few samples, I try to give her a book list and a narrative of what I think the kids learned each month.

 

When I have my credential (a couple of years down the road, still in college now), I hope to work as an IST/RT myself, so reading all the feedback here is very helpful! I figure I already have a leg up on it since I homeschool my own kids :)

[momto2Cs]

I have not sold my soul for this. Some do, but I didn't. And I can quit anytime, and my ES's do know that I'm independent enough to do that if need be.

 

Same here!

[Sarah CB]

We have something similar here. I actually work for one. Part of my job involves training teachers in the differences between classroom teaching and homeschooling. Our program wants to be a support and encouragement to homeschool families and in order to do that our teachers need to understand homeschooling and really "get" the benefits of it. A lot of the teachers we hire are currently homeschooling their own kids. They *need* to be outside the box thinkers who value home learning and can offer suggestions that make sense in a homeschooling home.

[Alicia64]

Thanks Everyone!! Seriously, thanks!

 

Luna ~ I'd love to meet. We're just down the road from each other. Also it bugs me that our charter doesn't seem to have anyway to create community with the other people in the charter.

 

Overall, I'm very proactive about finding stuff for the kids. Somewhat hard at 6 yrs because lots of stuff is geared for 8 and above. But we're fine. Both of my boys are homebodies.

 

Since I have a ps teacher type ES, I was just wondering if having a homeschool ES type would be better.

 

Sometimes I honestly think that the ps teachers have some really fun ideas, but it's so one sided w/ her that I got a little annoyed at times. But don't get me wrong, she's a really nice person.

 

Maybe because she's new at this, but for some reason, she seems to have a lot of families with kids who are behind the curve and so her impression is that homeschool families aren't very involved w/ their kids. :001_huh:

 

Thanks for all the food for thought,

 

Alicia

[briansmama]

I'd ask to be transfered to a more supportive ES. We're also with a charter school that truly supports parental choice. I'd clearly let her supervisor know that although your current ES is very nice, you'd prefer an ES with more experience supporting homeschoolers.

 

I think it's important for charters to hire teachers who support/understand homeschooling if their charter is specifically serving homeschoolers. And from what I understand, charters are designed to involve parents and are open to allowing you to try a different ES if your needs are not being met.

 

Remember: They are receiving funds to serve you and your family's homeschooling needs.

 

HTH!

[King Alfred Academy]

Alicia...I would encourage you to check out our chater shcool. It's great. I found out about it through another mom (Hi Sailmom!) on the board. We have about 8-10 Advisors and the majority of them homeschool themselves or wish they had/did. Most of them "get it" and support it 100%! Now, there are a few who very much push the Houghtin-Mifflin, state standard stuff, but you don't have to have them. We also have a large group of moms who school classically and the support is building...we also have our own Classical Enrichment Specialist. They do provide the curricula, but do not pay for "lessons". BUT...they offer Martial Arts, Violin, Guitar, Piano, Dance...as well as, science, Spanish, writing, computer, art, Math/science (for the older kids) for FREE! My boys love taking classes there. Just a thought...:001_smile:

[King Alfred Academy]

Also wanted to add..after I read ALL of the posts...our school doesn't have a lot of turn over. My advisor has been there 10 years and the newest one 3 years. You request your curricula and they get if for you. They are not tied to just one like K-12 or something like that. They also put together 2 field trips a month which are free for the kids and minimal for the parents. We are going to a play put on at the B Street Theater on Thursday. And as far as community? The moms there are great. We all hang out and chat when the kids are in class, we just came from a "park day" where the kids all had a water gun fight while we chatted, and the Classical Group meets at least once a month to have some sort of parent enrichment thingy...either a video from Teaching the Classics or an audio from SWB. Oh, and the resources and books that are available to us for check out is great.

 

I am not trying talk you into it, really, just wanted to give you another option.

[joannqn]

We have something similar here, called virtual academy. There are two main ones; WAVA uses K-12 and is very structured, while CVA is extremely flexible and provides funds for you to use as you wish. We're enrolled in CVA.

 

For us, it helps that our school is extremely homeschooler friendly; the teachers are trained to leave us alone unless we fail to meet the minimum requirements.

 

I didn't care for our teacher last year, simply because I got tired of trying to teach her how to use email, how to use her computer, how to use the internet, how to do her job, etc. I've heard of some teachers that try to make requirements of their own (ie. requiring weekly contact on Tuesday rather than Thursday as stated in the handbook). I wouldn't put up with it for a moment. Regardless of why I didn't like a teacher, I'd ask for a new one...and, actually, I did. I like our current teacher so much better.

[Caraway]

Alicia...I would encourage you to check out our chater shcool. It's great. I found out about it through another mom (Hi Sailmom!) on the board. We have about 8-10 Advisors and the majority of them homeschool themselves or wish they had/did. Most of them "get it" and support it 100%! Now, there are a few who very much push the Houghtin-Mifflin, state standard stuff, but you don't have to have them. We also have a large group of moms who school classically and the support is building...we also have our own Classical Enrichment Specialist. They do provide the curricula, but do not pay for "lessons". BUT...they offer Martial Arts, Violin, Guitar, Piano, Dance...as well as, science, Spanish, writing, computer, art, Math/science (for the older kids) for FREE! My boys love taking classes there. Just a thought...:001_smile:

 

Since this thread has become a bit location specific - can I hijack to ask a couple of questions about your charter?

 

Are the classical kids mixed in with the "regular" charter kids? How schooly is it? I look at the classical parts and sort of swoon, but then read the newsletters etc. and get caught up in how much I don't want to be part of the school scene - tests, grades, paperwork....

 

We live in Davis and are really struggling to find community. Every one here seems to be very invested in the local independent study program, or total unschoolers. Plus, the local group has a lot of drama.

 

I feel like I need to be doing something to help my kids (ages 5 and 2) find friends, but I am at a loss as to how to do that... I didn't/don't (???) want to go the charter route, but I am worried that my own hangups are limiting our options.

 

Sorry to hijack! :blushing:

[Krissi]

I can sort of understand your situation. I have homeschooled, have my dds (4th, 3rd, and K5) currently in ps and will be homeschooling again in the fall. Long story...

 

I really like my kids school, teachers, and admin. (believe it or not). But, the nature of the beast is that they do not understand AT ALL why, how, "what for" a person would homeschool their children. Anyway-I say you have to help her understand her job. Doesn't seem like you should have to do that, but she needs to understand homeschooling, alternate ways of doing things, and fun ways that children can learn at home with more freedom than they have at school. She doesn't understand that because she thinks ps is the only way. I think if you can find ANYthing that will enlighten her, it will help you and others in the long run.

 

Wha cha think? It will take time for her to see (even just a smidge) of what life can be like in an "alternate" learning environment, the positive aspects of homeschooling.

[King Alfred Academy]

Since this thread has become a bit location specific - can I hijack to ask a couple of questions about your charter?

 

Are the classical kids mixed in with the "regular" charter kids? How schooly is it? I look at the classical parts and sort of swoon, but then read the newsletters etc. and get caught up in how much I don't want to be part of the school scene - tests, grades, paperwork....

 

We live in Davis and are really struggling to find community. Every one here seems to be very invested in the local independent study program, or total unschoolers. Plus, the local group has a lot of drama.

 

I feel like I need to be doing something to help my kids (ages 5 and 2) find friends, but I am at a loss as to how to do that... I didn't/don't (???) want to go the charter route, but I am worried that my own hangups are limiting our options.

 

Sorry to hijack! :blushing:

 

Hi!...I PM'd you so check your inbox! :001_smile:

[SkateLeft]

Are the classical kids mixed in with the "regular" charter kids? How schooly is it?

 

My kids are also in the same charter, so I'll jump in here, if you don't mind. My oldest started with them as a kindergartener, and is graduating this year as an 8th grader, and I also have a 5th and 2nd grader in the program.

 

There's no difference between the classical kids and the regular kids. It's not "schooly"... They don't make you turn in tests, grades, or hit percentages completed in your curriculum or whatever. Nobody knows which pathway your kids are on unless you talk to another parent about curriculum and tell them. The only difference between the classical and traditional pathway is which curriculum they're using. It's just a matter of which curriculum their parents choose for them to use at home. Both pathways offer tons of flexibility. There are plenty of traditional pathway families who are using Charlotte Mason methods, or some classical and some textbook. It's just not a hard and fast line.

 

It's just one big community. I choose my own curriculum, and set my own goals. Sometimes that's been more classical and sometimes more Charlotte Mason. I've used textbooks from time to time too, and Sonlight, and K12, etc.

 

Basically, the way it works is that you homeschool the way you normally would, using materials you've chosen. Every few weeks, you meet with an advisor to talk about what you've done, but it's not to check up on you, the parent. It's just an opportunity for the kids to share what they've done with someone other than me. My kids LOVE showing stuff to their advisor, who's become almost a member of our family after all these years.

 

We live in Davis and are really struggling to find community. Every one here seems to be very invested in the local independent study program, or total unschoolers. Plus, the local group has a lot of drama.

 

You have no idea how much I can relate!!! We were a graduate student family in Davis for 6 years, and I moved on the very fringes of the homeschooling groups there because I wasn't an unschooler and I hated the drama. In my years in Davis, I saw the homeschool community splinter at least three times. It was crazy.

 

I feel like I need to be doing something to help my kids (ages 5 and 2) find friends, but I am at a loss as to how to do that... I didn't/don't (???) want to go the charter route, but I am worried that my own hangups are limiting our options.

 

The whole reason I ended up going the charter route was because I couldn't find homeschool community in Davis. (I'm in West Sac now.) The first time I went to an advisor meeting, I showed up with all my curriculum materials ready to fight to do what I wanted. Instead, she didn't even look at them, but said, "Okay, a literature based approach sounds great!"

 

If I ever felt like they were being controlling, I'd have bailed right away, but they never have. It's been an absolute perfect fit for us. If you decide to check it out, let me know. My 8th grader would be happy to share her experiences with you. :)

[King Alfred Academy]

Well said! You and your kiddos are going to be missed!