John's Presentation

John has to give a presentation at work today on "how to do something." He has to train his team on the new computer system, so to practice, he has to do a brief presentation to a group of fellow supervisors & managers. He picked "how to get started in homeschooling," which is so cool, I think. Maybe we'll inspire someone. Or just convince them that we're not crazy. Here's what we came up with for an outline:

How to Get Started in Homeschooling (in Iowa)

1.     Once you’ve decided that you want to homeschool, seek agreement from your spouse.

a.     Procedure: Schedule a quiet evening with your spouse to present the reasons you want to homeschool and discuss the pros and cons.

b.     Reason: Homeschooling will not succeed unless both parents are on board.

2.     Next, choose a teaching method. Some examples of teaching methods are unit studies, Charlotte Mason, Classical, and Unschooling.

a.     Procedure: Research teaching methods online, at the library, and by discussing them with other homeschool families. Evaluate your children’s learning styles and personalities, then choose a method that you think will work.

b.     Reason: For your children to learn effectively, you need to teach in a way that works for them.

3.     Purchase teaching materials, such as textbooks, literature, furniture, paper, and art supplies.

a.     Procedure: Consult other homeschooling families, websites, and catalogs, and attend homeschool conferences to determine what you need. Order online or locate a teaching supply store in your area.

b.     Reason: Most parents and households need to purchase additional resources to successfully homeschool. You need the right tools for the job.

4.     Choose how you want your children to be evaluated by the state.

a.     Procedure: Decide which of the following three options you want to use for your children’s evaluation:

                                                              i.      Annual standardized testing (i.e. Iowa Tests of Educational Development)

                                                            ii.      Hire a supervising teacher to perform regular evaluations throughout the school year

                                                          iii.      Submit a portfolio of your children’s work to a supervising teacher

b.     Reason: Iowa law requires you to choose one of these options.

5.     Choose your level of involvement with the local school district.

a.     Procedure: Decide which of the following three levels of involvement you want to have with the local public school:

                                                              i.      Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) – you will work with a teacher who is employed by the school. The teacher will evaluate your children’s progress and administer standardized tests, as well as share resources and advice.

                                                            ii.      Dual-Enrollment – your child will be able to participate in classes and extra-curricular activities at the school.

                                                          iii.      No involvement.

b.     Reason: Iowa law requires you to choose one of these options (you can also do both the HSAP and dual-enrollment).

6.     File the Iowa CPI (Competent Private Instruction) form. This must be done every August.

a.     Procedure: Download the CPI form from the internet, fill it out, and type out a list of the basic topics and resources you will be using. Keep a copy and send a copy to your local school district.

b.     Reason: Iowa law requires you to file this form once a year.

7.     Enjoy the freedom of instructing your children at home, according to their interests and learning styles and your values as a family.

a.     Procedure: Start by teaching with the method and materials you’ve selected, but be flexible and make changes as you go along.

b.     Reason: Because you want homeschooling to be a successful, enjoyable experience for you and your kids.

The best part is his icebreaker - he's going to start naming famous/historical people who were homeschooled and have people guess what they have in common. My favorites? C.S. Lewis, Agatha Christie, and Benjamin Franklin.