Reflections

 I started this blog/website fifteen years ago when my oldest daughter was going into first grade.  I had struggled to find an umbrella that would allow me to join and I experienced a lot of rejection.  Homeschooling in Harford County has changed a lot in the intervening years.  There are still church specific groups for members only, and mom's clubs (co-ops that you have to be invited to join), but there are also many groups open to anyone that have started up over the past decade and a half.  The increasing number of such groups has made my heart glad.  

One group that has also facilitated and brought together homeschoolers across groups has been FCA.  Harford County, Cecil County, and northern Baltimore County residents are fortunate to have such a developed sports program available to homeschoolers.  Unfortunately, other areas of Maryland do not have such groups.  

If you have found this website and are just starting to explore the idea of homeschooling your children, I hope you will find some helpful information here even if it is a little older.  I no longer live in this area, but moved to another part of Maryland with my family.  

I am nearing the tail end of my homeschooling journey and it is one I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to take with my children.  And they are glad, too.  When people discover they are homeschooled, there is a wide variety of reactions.  To my oldest, the people at her college were skeptical that she would do well--but she's been on the President's List every semester.  She had to go in without a chip on her shoulder and show her professors what she could do.  For my middle daughter, people at her college are shocked and don't expect it based on how she gets along with everyone and stays on top of her assignments.  And for my youngest, people tell him he's lucky because he doesn't have to deal with the bullying at public schools that some kids he knows have dealt with.  My kids have dealt with bullying and harassment, but they didn't have to be surrounded by it all day and we had the choice as homeschoolers to leave groups where they were bullied or harassed.  That is the difference.  

So, here are the top 5 things I've learned as a homeschooler:

#1 Be a student of your student.  Learn how they learn.  But, be sure to use a curriculum that also works for you, otherwise you will procrastinate teaching it!

#2  If you don't find the activity you are looking for, start a group of your own!

#3  If someone doesn't want to be your friend, go find the people who do!  Shake the dust off your feet and keep walking.  Don't resent and hold a grudge--just go find your people!  This applies to parents and kids.  Teach your kids to be the ones who include others.  Exclusion can be intentional or unintentional, but inclusion is always intentional. 

#4  Remember you are the parent, not your child(ren).  You need to do what you believe is best for them--not just what they do or don't want to do.  Your children's job right now is to be a student--it is their work, just as your work is to be the teacher.  In every job, there are parts that people like and parts they don't, but that they have to do.  Schoolwork is the same way.  Children have to learn to do both the things they want to do and the things they don't want to do.  

#5  Love your kids.  Tell them often that you love them.  Enjoy them.  Talk to them.  Listen to them.  Correct them when necessary.  Teach them to be respectful.  Teach them to say they're sorry when they've done something wrong and take responsibility.  Teach them to love people and be kind.  But, most of all--love them.

FCA Girls Varsity Soccer

 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Womens Varsity soccer fall 2022 registration meeting is scheduled!!!!

We will meet Friday, May 6th at 7:00 pm at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa in Timothy Hall, which is in the older building at the top of the hill.

Come meet the coaches and returning players and ask any questions you may have about becoming part of our team for the upcoming season.

Our home field is at Beachmont Christian Camp, but we also travel across MD for games. Practices/games will be Monday-Friday with just a couple of Saturdays . 

See below for a link to policies, fees and registrations documents. https://www.nmdfca.org/girls-soccer   

Contact Tim Hines for questions prior to meeting. 

FCA Girls Volleyball

 2022-2023 FCA GIRL’ S VARSITY VOLLEYBALL INFORMATION/REGISTRATION MEETING!

 

The FCA Vanguard Girl’s Varsity Volleyball Club is preparing for its 2022-2023 Fall Season.   The INFORMATION meeting is 16 May 2022@ 6:30 PM, at Upper Cross Roads Baptist Church GYM (please drive to the building in the rear of the property).  The address is 2717 Greene RD, Baldwin, MD 21013.

 

You will be able to meet the coaches, find out details about the schedule, meet some present players, and play a little volleyball! Coach Elita Perusek and Tim Hines, will be available to answer any questions.

 

FCA Volleyball is open to girls in the 8th Grade and up.  Upper Cross Roads is our home gym, and we practice M, Tu, Th, and Friday, with a few weekend tournaments.   Please save the date, and RSVP to Coach Elita Perusek, for further information at 910-670-9114 or eperusek@yahoo.com.  You can see more at https://www.nmdfca.org/girls-volleyball!

 

Resource Night at Mt. Zion Church in Bel Air

 

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES RESOURCE NIGHT — Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 pm, Tent — HOW TO MAKE AN EDUCATIONAL CHANGE FOR YOUR CHILDREN — come learn about homeschooling, private schools, community college ——— MT. ZION CHURCH, 1643 Churchville Rd., Bel Air  mzprays.org 410-836-7444 office@mzprays.org  #mzprays

FCA Boys Varsity Basketball

The FCA Saints Boys Varsity Basketball team will be having their registration and information night on Friday October 23rd, 630pm at Upper Crossroads Baptist Church located at 2717 Greene Road in Baldwin,Md. The meeting will be held in the gymnasium. Please wear a mask during the meeting. 

Please call or email us if you have questions prior to the meeting. Head Coach Rob Bauerle can be reached at 443-528-8378 or robert.bauerle@verizon.net or Teams Ministry Director Tim Hines at 443-324-3914, thines@fca.org  We look forward to a safe and competitive season!  https://www.nmdfca.org/boys-basketball         

FCA Girls Basketball

 The FCA Girls Varsity Freedom Basketball team will be having their registration and information night on Monday October 26^th, 630pm at Upper Crossroads Baptist Church located at 2717 Greene Road in Baldwin,Md. The meeting will be held in the gymnasium. Please wear a mask during the meeting. 

Please call or email us if you have questions prior to the meeting. Head Coach Marie Johnson can be reached at 410-688-9806 or mariejjohnson8@gmail.com and thines@fca.org or 443-324-3914. You can also visit our website at https://www.nmdfca.org/girls-basketball   We look forward to a safe and competitive season! 

FCA Cross Country

The FCA X Country team will be having their information/registration night on Tuesday June 30^th from 7-9pm(Outdoors) at New Covenant Presbyterian Church - 128 St. Mary's Church Rd, Abingdon, MD 21009 and will also be offered via zoom at the same time. The team exists to glorify God using their athletic abilities. We have regular team devotions and often reflect on how often God uses running and racing as analogy for the Christian life. We serve homeschoolers, private schoolers and athletes who cannot play for their public school throughout in the Harford County, Cecil and surrounding area.

Overview: The Falcons program technically consists of four teams: boys and girls varsity (9th-12th grade) and boys and girls middle school (6th-8th grade). Most of the practices and meets are at the same time and place for all the teams. Both new and experienced runners are welcome. The season runs from August to early November.

The program has several coaches. The best contact for general questions is team coordinator Dan Foster:danielfoster@cedarville.edu  For more information and necessary forms for registration, visit our team website athttps://www.nmdfca.org/cross-country

There is also an option to attend the meeting via Zoom.  Contact Dan Foster for more information about that option.  

In the middle of the year...resources for families with kids who are suddenly staying home

It has been a crazy busy season for me and my family, but amidst all of it suddenly the Coronavirus is making us all slow down!

As homeschoolers, that doesn't mean we stop doing school, though.  I always chuckle when public and private homeschools close for snow days.  My kids usually get part of a day and then--back to the books!  Those are the days they wish that they went to a brick and mortar school!

But, on the other days, they don't.  ...They don't on the days when they get up at 8 am and start school at 9 am.  Or the days when they don't have to deal with drama day in and day out.  Or the days when they're grateful for getting to learn from a math curriculum that makes sense to them!  Or on the days when we sit and have a discussion around the dinner table about the deeper messages that are in a particular Marvel movie.

A lot of parents might take time while they're home to think about homeschooling.  You may be one of them or you might not be!

Can you start homeschooling in the middle of the year?

Yes.  You can.  But, it is easier to plan ahead though and start at the beginning of a year, so that you can sign up for co-ops and groups for the coming year.  If you decide to start in the middle of the year, it's important to figure out where your child is in math in particular so that you do cover the concepts that your child was working on learning.  But, it can totally be done!

What if you don't want to homeschool, but you'd like some educational resources for your kids to work on at home so that they don't lose ground if schools close for a time because of the Coronavirus?

Here's a list of resources that easy to access off the top of my head:

1.  Writing:  NanoWriMo youth workbooks.

2.  Math:  Working on Math Facts is great!  XtraMath is a great free resource that is ad-free.  You can modify what you assign your kids and give them  longer time if they need it at first by using the 6 second program.

3.  Crash Course Videos from PBS  These are great short videos on various subjects, including science, history, and others.

4.  Great Courses Plus is a subscription service that has a myriad of courses.  There are guidebooks that you have access to print when you subscribe.  I use the United States History for my daughter's high school US History course and she learned so much from it!  She also really loved the series on the psychology of color.

5.  For high school students, Modern States.org has lectures that a student can watch and work through.  When complete, they can get a free voucher to take a CLEP test to get college credit.

6.  Time for Learning.com  is also a very popular resource among homeschoolers that has curriculum for every subject and is an inexpensive monthly subscription.

7.  For math, Teaching Textbooks also has an online 1 year subscription rate that's pretty reasonable.

Well, that's a very quick list.  I'll try and add more later if it would be helpful!  

FCA Boys Lacrosse Needing Members for Spring 2019

There was a parent information night on January 11th for the FCA Boys Lacrosse team, and as it turns out, they are still light on the numbers and need some more guys for the team. The FCA fields some great teams. This past year alone there have already been a number of great homeschool programs including Cross Country, Soccer and Basketball. 

For more information about the team and our goals, check our website at
http://www.nmdfca.org/boys-lacrosse.  

Please contact Jim Hess at NMD.FCA.HS.LACROSSE@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Homeschool Gymnastics Class Starting this week!

Harford Gymnastics offers a special gymnastics class to home school students on Mondays 2:15-3:15 for ages 5 & up.  Our spring session is starting soon. 

Class Time:  Mondays 2:15-3:15

Spring Session: Starts Mon March 26th thru June 4th

Cost: $160 for the spring session plus an annual $20 registration fee

Activities:  Gymnastics instruction on tumbling, balance beams, bars, and tramplines

Ages: 5 & up Boys and Girls

Website:  www.harfordgymnastics.com

Location:  701 Whitaker Mill Rd. (5 minutes from the Harford Mall)

Phone:  410-877-8686

STEM Competition

On November2nd John Carroll’s STEM program will be hosting a middle school engineering competition. Here is a link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/middle-school-engineering-challenge-tickets-38225943827

They would love to have some homeschool students compete.  

Middle School STEM Engineering Challenge

Presented by the John Carroll STEM Program

703 E. Churchville Rd. Bel Air MD. 21014

November 2^nd 5:00 – 8:30 PM

Join us and compete in three different engineering design challenges. Bring your problem solving and critical thinking skills and go head to head against your middle school friends and rivals.

Teams of 2 – 4 members can enter, schools may enter as many teams as they like.

Cost:           Free - All tools and building materials will be provided

Teams:       Open to all 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students, teams may mix grades

Format:      Round Robin of 3 different design challenges of approximately 45 

                   minutes in duration:

1) Throw this thing as far as you can (think Catapult or Trebuchet)

2) How high can you go? (Design and build the tallest structure)

3) Rubber band Rover (See if you can engineer a vehicle to travel the longest distance)

Teams will be judged on creativity, following instructions, and successful execution of each challenge

Awards:     Trophies for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place teams, team members will also receive individual medals

If you have any questions, contact 

Michael T. Monaghan  STEM Coordinator, John Carroll High School, 

                         mmonaghan@johncarroll.org 

FCA Cross-Country Meeting

Information night for the FCA Falcons, boys' and girls' cross-country teams!

The FCA Falcons is a Christ-centered team that exists to glorify God by giving a full varsity level sports experience to homeschooled students and students at small private schools that don't have their own team. The Falcons held their inaugural cross-country season in the fall of 2016. We are holding an information night for the fall 2017 season.

Date: Thursday, June 1, 2017
Time: 7:00PM
Place: Coach Dan's house, comment below or e-mail danbreeze00@gmail.com for address
Who: All interested cross-country athletes and their parents
RSVP: Helpful, but not necessary; e-mail danbreeze00@gmail.com

HS Girls Soccer

High School Girls Soccer

Our registration and information meeting will be Monday January 16^th at Beachmont Camp in the Akehurst room on the first level of the gymnasium at 7pm. This is a must meeting for new and returning players. One of the most important topics covered will be arranging  carpools and logistics for practices and games. Our team, season and expectations will be covered in detail.  Attached is the updated schedule. Our first practice will be Wednesday February 15^th indoors at NERRC. If you know of any other players interested please have them contact me. For any questions prior to the meeting you can contact me at 443 324 3914. If you will not be a part of the team this 2017 season please indicate and I can have you removed from the group list. I look forward to our meeting and a very competitive and blest 2017 season. Coach Tim

Thoughts on Reviewing with the County or an Umbrella

When I started this site ten years ago, I was a new homeschooler--having only gone through PreK and K with my oldest daughter.  Those first few years feel like a very long time ago.  Yesterday, I was reading a discussion on Facebook about what to expect from a review with a Pupil Personnel Services Worker in Harford County and what records are recommended to be kept.   The county and each umbrella requires different things so it can seem confusing sometimes.  But, when it comes down to it, the law is the same.  As homeschoolers, we are required to show that our children are receiving regular and thorough instruction.  The law does not specify hours per day.  It does not require that certain curriculum be used.  It does not require that our art materials not be located in the room that we use as a classroom.

Over the years, I have heard some interesting things said by people who review with the counties (Baltimore, Cecil, and Harford) about what records we have to keep or don't have to keep.  Several years ago, one mom shared with me that there are curriculums her reviewer said she could and could not use.  This isn't true.  The same reviewer told her she was required to keep all of her child's work for the past five years.  Again, this is not true and is not in the law.  If you choose to report to the county, they cannot require your children to be present at the review.  They cannot require you to leave the room while they speak to your children privately.  They cannot require you to use an hourly daily schedule (and post it on the wall) instead of a routine, as most homeschoolers I know use.

A planner and work samples are usually required by both umbrellas and the counties.  One commenter on Facebook mentioned a field trip list being required.  This is where umbrellas and the county diverge.  Salem Christian's umbrella a reading list of books students have read over the course of the year and 75 hours of volunteer work for high schoolers.  Churchville Christian's umbrella asks for a portfolio review to show that work has been completed--which can include the workbooks and journal or a reading list, but they are not as specific and do not explicitly require to see a planner.  On the other hand, some county reviewers ask to see things like a list of field trips or pictures.  County reviewers require 2-3 reviews a year, but umbrellas only require 1 at the end of the year.

I have heard from many people who have had a good experience reviewing with the county, but also from others who find it to be a tough experience.  Why do people choose this route?

1.  For religious reasons--a desire not to teach religion as some umbrellas require.
2.  Because it is Free.  This is the primary reason I have heard from most families I've known who have chosen to report to an umbrella.
3.  Because the umbrella system may seem complicated.
4.  Because someone might think they have to and not know that they have another option--to go with an umbrella.
5.  Because it is one of the few services our public schools provide for homeschoolers.  The other services homeschoolers are eligible for are speech therapy at the schools and to take the state standardized tests (if you wish).  There is a law in Maryland that homeschoolers are not allowed to participate in any public school activities or classes.
6.  Because the records and proof the county reviewers ask of families push them to push themselves.

I've heard each of these reasons from different families.  Every family makes their own decisions about whether to belong to an umbrella or report to the county.   If you choose to report to the county, you may want to join HSLDA so that you can contact HSLDA for legal counsel if you have questions about what the state can and cannot require of you.  On HSLDA's website, there is information about the laws in Maryland about homeschooling.

For more information about the umbrellas available and how they work, click on the pages on this website for more information.

Salem Homeschool Conference

SALEM HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE

Monday - October 17 – 6:30 pm

 

Salem Christian School is hosting a Homeschool Conference on October 17, 2016, at 6:30pm, at Salem United Methodist Church in Upper Falls, MD.  We will cover homeschooling for both elementary school and middle/high school families. This is intended for all homeschoolers ~ both new and experienced!

 

Getting Started - for new or 'thinking-about-it' homeschool families:

·        Is socialization an issue? 

·        What forms do I need to fill out?

·        Should I enroll in an umbrella program or let the county/city review me?

·        What subjects do I need to teach?

·        What kind of documentation do I need to keep?

·        How do I keep a journal?

·        Do I have to have a classroom? 

·        How long should my school day last? 

·        What is a co-op, and would joining (or starting) one be good for my family?

·        Home School Legal Defense Association  (HSLDA)

 

Elementary Curriculum - Or Not - 

·        Curriculum resources

·        Unit Studies & Field Trips

·        What is 'unschooling' and how does that work? 

·        Testing resources.

·        Tips on Teaching the Struggling Learner

 

 

Q & A for Elementary Students / Refreshments, Bathroom Break - 10 minutes

 

Parents who wish to continue discussing elementary school subjects are invited to remain in Fellowship Hall instead of moving on.

 

Reaching the Middle School / High School Years - Families need to be thinking about these years a bit differently than when their students were in elementary school, so we'll be addressing the following: 

·        What makes up a high school credit?

·        How many credits are needed to graduate, and in which subjects? 

·        Can I earn credit before 9th grade? 

·        Do I have to use a standard curriculum, or can I make my own courses? 

·        Curriculum resources

·        ‘Outside-the-box' credit options

·        How about Work Study credits?

·        How does the P.E./Health credit work?

·        Co-op class credits?

·        What makes up an Elective credit?

·        Do I have to have my student finish high school in 4 years?

·        What if I have a special-needs student

 

Middle School / High-School Athletics

·        Varsity Sports

·        NCAA Scholarship money

 

Headed for College:

·        Dual enrolled students - earning college credit while still in high school

·        SAT's / ACT

·        Getting into college.

·        Funding for college.

·        CLEP testing - the least expensive way to get college credits!

·        Transcripts!

·        Diplomas!

 

Q & A time:  Our panel of speakers will be available to answer any questions or concerns you have about homeschooling!  We would love to help you make this journey - or should I say ADVENTURE? -  easier for you and your family.

 

Some of our speakers:

·        Carol Kramer

·        Ana Rivera

·        Phyllis Harden

·        Tim Hines

·        Suzanne Sniffen

·        Gina Rodriguez

 

This event is open to all homeschooling parents.

Several people have expressed interest in just coming for the high school portion of the evening.  The best guesstimate is that this portion will begin around 8 pm.  

Enter through the far right side door of the church and go upstairs to the fellowship hall.  Please wait until the break to come into the church and join in. 

 

  In order to have enough handouts and refreshments, we would like to get an idea of how many people will be attending. If you can, please reply to salemchristianschool@comcast.net and let us know how many people to expect. We encourage you to invite other homeschooling parents to this informative event. 

Music Instructors or Academic Tutor Listings

If you know of a music instructor or an academic tutor (ie. tutors children with dyslexia) that would like their contact information listed on this site, please ask them to email me at lovetopaint.blogspot@gmail.com

Free Upcoming Homeschool Conference

‘Mom’s Day Out’

Homeschool Conference 2016

Saturday, March 19^th 9am-3pm

New Covenant Presbyterian Church

Come enjoy a wonderful speaker, curriculum swap, break-out chat groups, and a complimentary lunch!

The speaker is Carol Robb ~ Her online business website is http://findingchristthroughfiction.com/

( If you would like to bring curriculum to sell, please come a little early to drop off your books. Also, please bring small bills for any purchases.)

R.S.V.P. ~ dbruff@zoominternet.net

Bring a friend!                 

Looking for Lacrosse Players

From Harford's FCA:

Our boys varsity lacrosse team which has been existence for 10 years currently does not have the numbers to sustain a team this year unless things change quickly this week. If there are any home school boy new players to the game or experienced please contact Coach Drew Wardlow at Dwardlow@fca.org or 410-746-2674.                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                            Thank you, Tim Hines

Upcoming Area Event

Local Homeschool Fair

There is going to be a free homeschool fair at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Parkton, MD, hosted by Classical Conversations on Saturday March 12th from 9 am - Noon.  There is no cost to attend for attendees, vendors, or exhibitors.  

If you have a business, organization, or co-op that is wanting to reach out to homeschoolers in the area, please contact Christa Bottomley at ParktonCC@gmail.com or call (571) 214-3840.

Tables are available for an recommended $5 donation to the hosting church or bring your own. They are also interested in having USED CURRICULUM vendors. 

Location: Redeemer Lutheran Church, right off I-83 at 20440 Downes Rd, Parkton, MD.
Time and Date: Saturday, March 12th, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Cost: Free for Vendors, Exhibitors, and Attendees
For any questions or to RSVP, email Christa Bottomley at ParktonCC@gmail.com.

Life Skills For Kids

This morning I found this post with printable life skills lists.  As parents, we want to make sure we are preparing our kids for life.  I remember hearing about a 20 year old who didn't know #1 that he needed to buy a shower curtain for his apartment and #2 that when he took a shower, he needed to put the shower curtain inside the tub.

It's stories like that one which could leave  you scratching your head.  It could also leave you realizing how much we need to teach our kids if they aren't ones who automatically observe and do things on their own (mine aren't).

So, here's a post with some printable lists of life skills:  click HERE.  If you want a more in-depth book, I've found that Life Skills for Kids by Christine Fields is a wonderfully helpful book!  It also has lists of life skills inside of it and discussions of each area.

Don't take any list as iron-clad.  My children were all small for their ages, so it took longer for them to be able to do things for themselves.  But, eventually they were able to tackle more and more and it has made life much easier--for them--and for me!