That Is Not Secular

There’s a lot of confusion or misinformation in the secular homeschooling community regarding what makes a curriculum or resource secular.  I find this both troubling and frustrating.  To me, and perhaps I’m just oversimplifying things, it’s a very easy distinction to make.  If any materials include religious content for any purpose other than academic discussion as they affect or impact a subject, then those materials/curriculum are NOT secular.  Period.

Let’s look at a few examples.  There is a math curriculum that uses religious content for their skip counting songs.  Guess what?  That means that curriculum is not secular.  It doesn’t matter if you use it and aren’t bothered by the inclusion of the religious material (because you skip it, or whatever).  The inclusion of religious content negates the ‘secular’ label and potential purchasers should know what they are getting.

 

There is a history curriculum that uses Story of the World as one of their spines.  That curriculum is not secular.  Story of the World treats Christian mythology as historic fact – through the language they use.  Another curriculum incorporates Elemental Science into their literature based curriculum, thereby negating a secular label.  Neutral science isn’t science any more than Intelligent Design or Creationism is science.  

This isn’t to say you can’t use what you want and call yourself a secular homeschooler.  If you don’t mind the religious slant/content and/or are willing to modify or enhance the curriculum to use that’s your business.  However, the secular homeschooling community deserves to know, clearly and distinctly, what curriculum/resource does and doesn’t use religious content and real science. 

When someone points out that a resource isn’t secular that should mean one thing and one thing only – there is either religious content included outside the realm of academic application and/or it is void of real science (evolution is not taught, generally speaking).   It doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with being a religious person, it’s not an attack against religion.  It isn’t PERSONAL.  It’s academic.  The religious homeschoolers have more than enough resources that are created specifically for them.  We, as secular homeschoolers, need to STOP accepting curricula that includes religious content when labeled as secular.  Let secular be secular and use whatever the hell you want, but don’t tell me something is secular because you don’t have a problem with the religion in it. 

 

Let’s use the one clear definition as secular homeschoolers and let’s be strong in our stance. 

Secular curriculum/materials have NO religious content other than that which is used for academic study and it teaches scientific principles as accepted by the scientific community at large.

That’s it.  Period. 

 

Use what you want, but don’t call it secular unless it really is.

~Mari B.

Quality Secular Resources/Books

I love Usborne!

I discovered Usborne books shortly after Punky and I began our homeschooling journey and I've had a love affair with them ever since.  The quality of the materials is excellent and the content is divine.  The fact that they are internet linked is icing on the cake!  I own almost every resource material book they have produced and I still find more to buy.

So, when Usborne offered to host a Book Party Fundraiser in support of N.A.S.H. I was delighted!  

I highly recommend you check them out if you haven't yet.  If you already use Usborne and you are planning on making a purchase for the upcoming school year, I ask you to consider doing so through The Inappropriate Homeschooler Funds N.A.S.H. Book Party.  It's super easy - you order from the comfort of your own computer and the items are sent directly to you.  The best part?  50% - yes, half - of all proceeds will go to fund N.A.S.H.

You receive quality resource materials and books and you do a little something to help the secular homeschooling community.  

How awesome is that?!?

Browse, buy, and support 

The Inappropriate Homeschooler supporting N.A.S.H.!

Usborne Book Party to Support N.A.S.H.

~Mari B.

N.A.S.H Moves Secular Homeschooling Forward

The Inappropriate Homeschooler

supports and endorses:

 The National Alliance of Secular Homeschoolers

Today, The National Alliance of Secular Homeschoolers announced the support of 

Secular Homeschool.com 

From their website/blog:

  ______________________________________________________________________

We are proud to reveal the new N.A.S.H. website:

www.nationalallianceofsecularhomeschoolers.com

N.A.S.H. wishes to thank its Volunteer Staff for their hard work and dedication!

Coming Soon! 

More exciting announcements from N.A.S.H. and Secular Homeschool.com.

As the secular homeschooling movement moves forward in the 21st century, be a part of the journey!

_________________________________________________________________________

The Inappropriate Homeschooler is thrilled to be a part of the journey!!

~Mari B.

Secular Homeschoolers Uniting!

 The National Alliance of Secular Homeschoolers

The first three years of our homeschooling journey were spent with me vacillating between feeling uncomfortable and antagonistic.  I tried to fit in for Punky’s sake.  I wanted her to have friends and activities and the only available avenue was to join the Christian groups where I was uncomfortable.  The longer I tried the more antagonistic I became.  Remember, I am the inappropriate homeschooler so it wasn’t just my personal beliefs that I was trying to squelch, but who *I* was, as a human being.  The situation reached critical mass in the Spring of  2012 after being asked to step down as a teacher at the local co-op because I had been ‘exposed’ as teaching my daughter it was okay that people were gay and having adjusted the wording to the statement of faith I had been required to sign.  With this final ‘nail’ in the coffin, we were now out of options for both a social and educational homeschooling community.

Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

Why the Homeschooling Community Needs to Get Over Itself

I am no fan of HSLDA, prior blog posts have made that clear.  If you wonder why, first I'll say:  I am a SECULAR homeschooler and HSLDA is a Christian group promoting Christian homeschooling to the degree that it seeks to have only Christian homeschooling recognized as 'legitimate' homeschooling.  Then I'll say, go through the archives and read what I've written before regarding HSLDA.

I'm not a fan of Christian homeschooling groups.  Again, read through the archives.  (Personal Note:  I have several Christian friends who have no problem with me not being a fan of the religion and I have no problem with them because they are the folks that are living their faith - which includes recognizing that my spiritual belief system is my business.)

Here's what I *am* a fan of - homeschooling.  I'm a HUGE fan.  I'm such a huge fan that I could be classified as being in the closet because I don't go on and on about how much I'm a fan.  I'm such a fan of homeschooling that I personally believe everyone CAN and SHOULD homeschool. 

I'm enough of a realist to recognize that not everyone's life is set up in such a way as to support homeschooling.   Women have to work or want to work.  Men have to work or want to work.  That's the reality and the 'stripped down to the core' reason why everyone doesn't homeschool.  Both parents have to work or choose to work.  Other reasons that some give like "I can't teach my children" or "I couldn't spend every moment with my children" are superficial reasons that are based in insecurity or fear.  But I'm digressing big time. 

So, here's the thing - because I am such a HUGE fan of homeschooling, I totally and fully support anyone who homeschools no matter how they homeschool or why they homeschool.  Whatever reason you have for keeping your kids at home, under your care and tutelage, is a legitimate reason.  Whatever method you choose to educate your children while they are at home with you is a legitimate method.

Guess what?  THAT is how we should ALL feel toward one another.  Support homeschooling no matter what and for the love of all that is holy, support every parent who chooses to homeschool no matter HOW they do it.  Otherwise it's a slippery slope folks.

Now what the hell is this all about?  I'll tell you.  A fellow homeschooler posted yesterday that their children are not 'allowed' to attend an open homeschooling event - a Halloween party - if they are virtually schooled, i.e. Connections Academy or K12.  Why is that, you wonder?  Why it is because the HSLDA and OCHEC have adopted a policy that virtual schooling isn't legitimate homeschooling and the group who was hosting the Halloween party is following their leadership and guidelines.  Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

Now this lack of solidarity annoys the ever loving shit out of me.  People wonder why I'm so 'anti-Christian homeschooling groups'.....it's because they are usually the ones who show a lack of solidarity in the homeschooling movement.  They discriminate.  To a certain extent, while I don't like it, it's understandable.  They do not want your science loving, evolution learning child to poison their Jesus loving, Creationism believing kid.  Fine.  That is one thing.  It is another thing entirely though to discriminate against an entire group of people based on how they homeschool.  It's asinine.  The HSLDA is very adept at using fear-mongering to control their members views on homeschooling.  Making statements against virtual schooling, including their supposed 'reasons' is just more fear-mongering.  You can read their statement here: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/oh/201206110.asp

You can read OCHCE's statement here:  http://www.ochec.com/Categories.aspx?Id=The_Truth_About_Virtual_Online_Schools 

Now, is there ANY truth to what they say?  A bit.  Virtual schooling is not the exact same as traditional homeschooling.  In virtual schooling the curriculum is provided by the state and is funded with public dollars so there is to be a separation of Church and State.  Traditional homeschooling gives the power to the parents - or at least as much as the individual state allows - in deciding when, what, where, and how your children learn.  There is more freedom with traditional homeschooling than virtual schooling.  There just is.  However, having said that, let me say this -- your children are still at home with you as their daily mentor, guide, and parent.  They DO NOT face all the same situations that children who attend Brick and Mortar schools face.  If one wishes their child to be at home with them but does not want to buy curriculum or put together their own, or wants their child to earn a state issued diploma, virtual schooling is the ideal solution.  If one wants to avoid the social issues that come with attending a B&M school, yet wants their children to receive a public school curriculum education, virtual schooling is the ticket!

Discriminating against children and their families because they don't chose the SAME method of delivery for their education as you do hurts the whole movement a hell of a lot more than the supposed hurt we could suffer by confusing our government representatives about what homeschooling is.  Here's something that homeschooling WAS but is no longer:  a strictly religious movement.  Sorry if that upsets some, but it's the truth.  More and more parents are choosing to have their children educated at home, via some method that works best for their family, for reasons that have nothing to do with religion or spiritual beliefs.

Here's how we should recognize homeschoolers as it pertains to allowing them to attending homeschooling events, functions, or field trips:  Are you home during the day as opposed to being locked in a B&M school?  Do you have the freedom and flexibility to attend events, functions, or field trips outside the home during 'normal school hours'?  If the answer is yes to those two questions - Congratulations YOU ARE HOMESCHOOLING!

Christian homeschooling groups can turn people away for not subscribing to their proclaimed religious beliefs, but to turn kids away because of the method they use to school in their home is the most asinine form of discrimination I've ever heard!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, secular homeschoolers need a national alliance to work for the betterment of ALL homeschoolers and I'm rededicating myself to making that alliance a reality.

In the meantime, the homeschooling community, as a whole, needs to get over itself and embrace itself - the totality of itself.  The more labels and limitations we place on each other inside the homeschooling community the more tacit permission we give to outsiders to label homeschooling and limit it.  No one should want that. 

~Mari B.

Mentally Anguished Over Math………Again!

Twenty-five years later and I’m pulling my hair out, again, over……MATH!  The last time I had to suffer through the experience of math lessons was College Algebra.  And yes, that was 25 years ago.  Once I got through that I swore I would NEVER darken Math’s door again.  EVER.  I’ve been able to keep that promise to myself all this time.  Of course, I had no way of knowing I’d have a child 25 years later (since I didn’t want children at the time) and even less way of knowing I would be homeschooling that child one day. 

 

Exasperation sums it all up rather nicely, I think.  I’m exasperated, Punky is exasperated….and my hubby….well, we hide this from him.  See, he’s one of those that believes since we homeschool, Punky should already be doing Pre-Algebra level math which is a far cry from where she is.  I would say, if we are really honest about this, she is around Grade 3…..possibly 4th with her math skills.  That would be a very unconfident, shaky Grade 3….(possible 4^th).

I suck at math.  I am the absolute WORST at math.  I hated it then and I hate it today.  The only math I find worthy of my time is the kind that involves money.  Yet, I hate accounting too….so go figure.  I can add (even in my head if the numbers aren’t too  big), subtract, multiply, and divide as long as we are talking about positive, whole numbers.  I understand the basic operations of life, for example I can calculate percentages – that’s helpful when calculating my savings for sale items (see?  That involves money).  I can do basic fractions (recipes helped me there) and decimals.  I understand time and length measurements.  Perimeter and Area I can do….usually.  I guess I’m decent at what I refer to as living skills math.  That’s it.  Don’t ask me to perform any greater math function that that.  I can’t do it and it’s partially why I married my husband – he’s the math whiz with his Calculus 17 and Physics 12 level college classes. 

Now, despite the fact that I’m horribly wretched at math, I like to solve puzzles.  As long as there isn’t some set formula required to do so.  I like word problems.  Not crazy ass ones like one train leaves at a certain time heading North at xx speed and another train leaves at a certain time heading South at xx speed and you are asked when will they collide in Kansas City, type questions.  Word problems that require more critical thinking skills to decide on a strategy for solution and then basic math operations are used to arrive at a solution are what I like.  I taught myself, by the way, to solve these.  Nary a  math teacher ever got jack-shit through to me in all my years in ‘public education’.  My grandmother taught me the math skills I have and she was a money-oriented miser (God bless her).

So *I*, of course, having sucked at math in school and remember the horrid feeling I had when asked to perform the most basic of math skills on tests, felt that *I* would be the best person to teach Punky who clearly inherited that portion of my DNA known as the “Missing Math chromosome”. 

Sigh.  I believe it’s just about time I admit defeat.  I may need to find a tutor.  I can’t seem to discover the key to unlock Punky’s brain so that Math makes sense!

 

If there are any veteran homeschooler’s out there that have a story about how their child finally got math much later than ‘normal’, I would LOVE to hear from you!  Punky was a ‘late’ reader, she didn’t really start reading until she was 7 and I was fine with that because I believed she would in her own time.  I’m just having a very difficult time accepting that she can’t grasp, on a continual basis, basic math operations.  I don’t know if she’ll ever just ‘get it’, if I were to leave her alone and wait.

So for now I’ll sign off as………Mentally Anguished Over Math (Again)!

~Mari B.

Monday’s Roll Call of Home School Resources

I’ve been asked by a few what resources Punky and I use in our home school journey.  The truth is that I don’t have a lot of ‘set’ curriculum.  As I’ve talked about in other blog posts, we are very eclectic and relaxed in our home schooling approach.  I personally believe that for Grades K-2 there should be no ‘formal instruction’, but rather all learning should happen the way it does when toddlers are learning – naturally and through the flow of exploration, inquisition, and fun.  For Grade 3-6 I believe that instruction should take place is a relaxed environment, with minimal time on any ‘formal’ instruction – perhaps an hour a day – and that activities should be geared toward the learning style of each child.  Formal lessons begin around Grade 7.  It is only after we had three years of homeschooling under our belts that I had this revelation and you have no idea how I wish I had had it sooner – as in when we first started home schooling Punky in the 2^nd grade.

So even though we don't do 'boxed curriculum' for the most part, there are a few ‘staples’, however, in our arsenal of learning and it is those resources that I will share today, in my new weekly blog series:  Roll Call of Home School Resources.  Every Monday I will share resources that we either use personally or a collection of varied resources that I have accumulated throughout the weeks.  Hopefully they’ll be a little bit of everything so everyone can find something they like and that would be useful.

The first resource I bought that I still keep on hand is this:

 http://www.amazon.com/Home-Learning-Year-Homeschool-Curriculum/dp/0609805851/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354550149&sr=8-1&keywords=home+learning+year+by+year 

 This resource is a wonderful overview from Kindergarten through 12^th grade.  What I like most about this is that it covers all those years and yet isn’t some huge, thick book, the author is very clear that this is just a curriculum *guide*, and it has a plethora of resources listed.

When Punky was in the middle of 2^nd grade, a friend introduced to me this series:

 http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Home-Grade-Language-Spelling/dp/1561895105/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354550269&sr=1-4&keywords=learn+at+home 

This series starts at Kindergarten and goes through 6^th grade.  I could only find them at Amazon and you have to stay on the look-out for the Grade you need because they are no longer published.  However, over a bit of time I was able to find all the grades I needed.  This series was used a lot by military families home schooling overseas and I still find it to be the best resource for us.  Each week (there are 36 weeks in total) is broken down by an overview for Language Skills, Spelling, Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  Each day of the week has a lesson plan for each subject.  There are also worksheets for various lessons as well as teacher instruction and suggestions for doing more with the lesson.  Other materials need to be acquired for some lessons, but I haven’t had trouble locating what was needed.  This is just a wonderful general guide, with lesson plans broken down week by week and day by day that we rely on more than any other resource.

I don’t use the Reading lesson section of the Learn at Home series all that much.  The book selections are fine, for the most part, but all are much older selections and Punky just doesn’t seem to connect with most of the stories.  Instead I have a copy of this:

  http://www.amazon.com/Using-Picture-Books-Comprehension-Strategies/dp/0545053994/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354550837&sr=1-1&keywords=teaching+reading+comprehension+through+picture+books

I came across an article about a year and a half ago that concerned using picture books to teach older children reading comprehension strategies and writing skills.  I checked the reading comprehension book out of the library and loved it!  I now have this book and for future use I also have:

http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Literary-Elements-Picture-Books/dp/0439027993/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y 

and

http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Writing-Scholastic-Teaching-Strategies/dp/0439556872/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354550997&sr=1-1&keywords=using+picture+books+to+teach+writing 

 Punky seems to truly enjoy the fact that I still read her picture books and as a child who enjoys visual learning this works great for us!

I also acquired the books:

http://www.amazon.com/Games-Reading-Playful-Ways-Child/dp/0394721497/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354551096&sr=1-1&keywords=peggy+kaye 

http://www.amazon.com/Games-Writing-Playful-Child-Learn/dp/0374524270/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354551096&sr=1-3&keywords=peggy+kaye 

http://www.amazon.com/Games-Math-Peggy-Kaye/dp/0394755103/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354551096&sr=1-4&keywords=peggy+kaye 

 

These books list the grade range as being K-3, and I did start using them when Punky was in the 3^rd grade.  However, I find them to still be useful.  They are a wonderful resource of ideas for games we play for reading skills, writing skills, and math skills.  Punky enjoys writing, almost exclusively, when we do so via the games from the writing book.  When give a choice in math activities, she always chooses to play math games to practice her skills (she despises drills).  I’ve learned that even when a resource lists the appropriate age range or grade range it is very possible to still use that resource for older children (if it’s a good resource) and just adapt the ideas toward the older child’s skill level.  A wise homeschooling friend (whose children are now in college on full scholarships and well on their way to being a Chemical Engineer, Dentist, and Medical Doctor respectively) once told me, use resources that are a grade or two below their supposed ‘skill level’ because they become more confident in their own abilities and feel secure in branching out and through self-discovery, investigating deeper.  That piece of advice has proven very true for us.

As to an actual math curriculum, we started with Math-U-See, which in the end we didn’t care for all that much.  We next moved on to Teaching Textbooks, which takes a big bite out of the schooling budget.  We are still using it, but considering changing because Punky has decided she likes learning math better when I am instructing her rather than a computer program.  Why that is is a mystery to me as I am horrible at math and even at the 5^th grade level have to refresh myself at times with how to do certain mathematical operations.  I am thinking of purchasing a membership to AHA Math since it is so cheap and so many have praised it.

As far as online resources go, I’m the epitome of ‘cheap homeschooling’.  I dig and dig until I find all sorts of free or very cheap resources.  We have a few staples in our home that Punky comes back to time and time again and here they are:

http://readingeggs.com/students/2749183/dashboard

Reading Eggspress isn't free and is a bit expensive, but I was able to get in an a ‘co-op’ buy for $20 for a year.  I’m not sure I’d use it again when the year expires because of the price and the fact that Punky doesn’t need to learn to read but just enjoys the upper level they have called ‘comprehension gym’.  She likes it though and is willing to read and play the games without complaint!

A HUGE favorite for Punky is this:

 https://fraboom.com/# 

She will spend HOURS on this site and loves the ‘live web’ classes with a passion. 

She also uses this site for Math, Reading, Word Skills, Punctuation, and Grammar games.

http://www.zoowhiz.com/

For typing skills we use:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/ 

 

and for current events/news that is kid friendly and safe we use:

http://www.dogonews.com/ 

 

A few others that are a fun hodgepodge of various activities that we dip into here and there include:

http://wonderopolis.org/ 

http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/ 

http://www.brainpop.com/ 

http://www.funbrain.com/ 

 http://www.spellingcity.com/ 

There you have it, our resource ‘staples’ here at Eclectic Home School Academy.  I hope you discovered something new and helpful from my list.

Next week, I’ll provide ideas and resources for something we started last year that we call ‘Fun School’!

Until next Monday’s Roll Call of Home School Resources………

Happy Schooling!

~Mari B.

10 Things Said to Me as a Homeschooling Parent...

That I’d Rather Not Hear…..

All homeschoolers, everywhere, have experienced the person who makes a comment or asks a question that we find annoying.  I can only imagine what the real pioneers of homeschooling had to put up with!  This is my list of ten things, said in the form of a question or in the form of a statement, that are meant to demean or insult.  Of course, my list may be a little different because I’m The Inappropriate Homeschooler! 

Either way, I’d rather not have to deal with it, but such is life.  If someone is asking with sincere interest (not concern, but interest), I provide honest, straight answers – no matter how ridiculous I think the question is.  But, yes, I do give smart ass answers, when the person asking is clearly doing so just for the sake of being rude, demeaning, or putting me (or worse, Punky) on the spot.  The way I see it, an inappropriate question deserves an inappropriate answer!  So here’s the list along with my ‘common’ responses.

The first is the most obvious….

1)  What about socialization?

I’m not going to go into this again too deeply…..I already blogged about it.  I’ll just say my standard answer is:

“She’s very social, which is one thing and she is being socialized, which is something entirely different, by us, her parents, because we’ve seen the village and we don’t want it raising our child.”

2)  Don’t you worry that she is too isolated, being an only child? 

“Since we let her out of her cage twice a day to roam the streets, we don’t worry too much about that.”

(Usually followed by):

3)  Does she have friends?

“Not at all.  No one.  But, she has me, what more does she need?”

4)  Is she gifted (or) special needs?

“No, she’s average; the first of her kind, actually, to be homeschooled.  We are pioneers.”

5)  Do you worry about her being on grade level?

“Nope, the way I see it, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.  Hope to see your kids at the finish line!”

6)   You homeschool?  But you’re not religious!

“I know!  It’s weird, right?  But that’s what the voices told me to do.”

7)  I’m surprised you would homeschool; I know how much you value education.

“You clearly misunderstood me.  I value learning.  That is why we homeschool, so learning will actually happen.”

8)  I don’t know how you can be with your child all day long, all the time.  That would drive me nuts!

This one is where I just stare at them with a partial hopeful, partial sad look waiting for them to hear what they just said to me.  If the light never comes on I merely shrug and walk away.

9) So what do you do all day?

“Oh, it’s so easy.  It’s just like being a housewife.  You sit around in your PJs, eating Bon-Bons, and watching Oprah – except, well you know, my kid does it with me now.”

10)  The piece de la resistance is when they TURN TO PUNKY and begin to question her as if she’s entered a game show contest.

 Have you studied the Civil War yet?

Have you learned division?

Do you know the Presidents?

Can you name elements from the Periodic Table?

Can you recite your Multiplication Facts?

Can you spell Mississippi?

Etc…

I step in before Punky has the chance to form an answer!

My statement to the person that does this to her is this:

“Sorry, Punky only performs on the last Friday of the month when there’s a blue moon and tickets are usually $20 per person”.

So, there you have it!  My list of 10.  I’m sure every homeschooling parent has their list.  Some of our items might be the same, some would certainly be different.

If you like any of my responses, and you feel like being inappropriate, feel free to use them as your own!

~Mari B.