A Sunny Place

Teacher review jitters - what is your experience? Homeschool topic

In Ohio we have to have a certified teacher spend time with our student and make an assessment of their learning and create a report to submit to the superintendent.  This is my first year of homeschooling my K age daughter.  she is doing well, can often do her workbook pages on her own, zooming through  math, she can read Frog and Toad books, etc.  Yet, I am nervous about someone reviewing her. what if she gets nervous and freezes up? Any words of advice our thoughts from other homeschoolers who have this done regularly?

blessings,

wendy

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04:58, Tuesday, April 1, 2008 .. Posted by seventhheaven

Ive never had anyone come into my home like this, but my children have to take the state test each year. The first few years I was always worried weeks before and stayed that way till the results came. But my fears were always for nothing. The always have tested high, and compare to the local schools they always out do the schools average high. The thing is I never go by school basic skills..... I feel this limits their learning.Plus they set their own pace at such things as math. So to you Id say relax, Your daughter will do just fine. ~smile~

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07:59, Tuesday, April 1, 2008 .. Posted by Citygal

We have something similar in New Zealand, although the children don't get tested, but a teacher from the Ministry of Education does come into the home to check that we are doing what we're supposed to and does ask the child several questions - both personal and academic. I had my first visit last year and I was very very nervous about it, but I decided to make it into something postive and use it to my advantage. So I took the assertive role (I am not an assertive person), got all my school books out and ready with examples from each subject of the child's work to show to the teacher. I sent the younger children (who were not being examined) to a friend's house for the afternoon so I was assured of no distractions and my child made cookies and I made tea and we offered him afternoon tea when he arrived. My husband was with me and we actually really enjoyed the time. I had a load of questions relating to teaching aids etc that I asked him, and we talked about fun stuff that our family was doing, and it actually turned into a really positive time. I didn't wait for him to ask for materials - I volunteered them. I asked my child to read a story to him that he'd written. It was really really nice to talk to someone who was interested in my son's education and bounce ideas off. I know a lot of people here are afraid of the govt. coming into their homes like this and there is a lot of negative reports given about homeschooling inspections in our homeschool community, and I was afraid too - and I'm still annoyed that we have to do it, but seeing as we have no choice I made up my mind to make it a good thing and it worked, and we passed ok. Don't worry about the academics - I'm sure you'll be fine and even if you're not, then just tell them you're homeschooling so you can be sure they're getting the basics and a good grounding in these subjects and blah, blah, blah. Bring out all your academic talk - it impresses them! Let us know how you get on. I'm sure you'll sail through it!
Rachel from NZ