"To do" list for moving...Step 1- education

OCD? Yeah, I tend to function a little better when things are lined up, in order, and prepared.

First on my list of priorities is researching the laws for the state of Washington regarding home-schooling. Oregon is a low restrictive state, meaning one must notify the school of your intent to homeschool, and take standardized acheivement tests on required years (3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade). No number of days required or hours per day required.

Washington appears to be of medium restriction (border line high, imho). This could cause a normal person stress, lol, but I tend to find several things amusing.

Requirements:

notify w/ intent to homeschool
180 days minimal
5 hours per day
mandatory 11 subjects
AND (4 options here)
*Teaching parent must have 45 college credits
*Student to report 1 hour weekly to a certified teacher
*Parent must take a course in home-based instruction at a vocation/technical school
*Parent deemed qualified by super-intendent of school district

I will look into the third choice, although I'd like to think I would be 'deemed' qualified after so many years home-schooling, running a successful daycare (of many ages), years of working my own preschool program, having taught many levels of Sunday School, being a successful mentor to teenagers, and 20+ years of parenting. :^P

What I find so amusing is the wording they use in the "by-laws"...
"The state hereby recognizes that parents who are causing their children to receive home-based instruction..." Is it me? or do they make home-schooling sound like a disease? I think it more fitting to use the word choose, and do believe I will write in to the state officials about that.

Another thing that amuses me is the daily/hourly requirements. Home-schooling is not an institution but rather a life style. To minimize life into 5 hours seems absurd to me. It is not about "schooling", but rather "learning". My dear friend Tonya explains it well here :
The Road Less Traveled

Just today, Fred, Joe, & TJ went fishing. They caught a Large Mouth Bass. We turned it into a "lesson" without them really knowing at first, lol. We looked up the anatomy (external/internal) of the fish, watched dad disect it, named all the parts, Nick took photos, TJ will journal about the experience of Joe and him crossing fishing lines and catching the same fish, they will observe how to fillet it, cook it, and is the classic lesson on "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime"... all in a fun-filled Saturday morning!

Nature Studies:
Choose any living creature or thing.

Last week...
Bees...
they are quite fascinating to learn about, and is adaptable for all age groups.

Keyboards Guitars, toy drums, maracas, and a tamborine!
This would be considered 'music appreciation' in our home.
I wonder if classical music at bedtime counts?

Art
class...

endless
creativity
... stenciling, painting, card making, wall murals, draw an illustration for a report. We also study a famous masterpiece per week (Mona Lisa, etc..)

Ofcourse you cannot have a well rounded education without Physical Education! Sports are the biggest hit, as is field trips out (such as bowling) or games played at home (such as 4-square or wall ball). Physical activity is a must in this house!

These are just a small sample of our daily living, along with the usual "book" work such as math, history, and English. Then include Bible readings, scriptures memorized, and the weekly study of character traits.

My favorite is Social Science... isn't living in a home with so many of us, with different temperments, talents, and time schedules considered the Art of Socialization?? ;^D