Looking for other homeschoolers in the columbia area

[amygabrielle]

Hi all-

We currently live in NYC and it looks like my husband is going to be transferred to MD come November.  The good thing is that both my husband and I grew up in MD and all our family is there.  But we know close to no one with kids my daughters' ages that homeschool. My girls are 7yrs, 3.5yrs and 4 months.

So some questions- what's the homeschool scene like in MD? Are there any listservs to join? After reading the hsing regulations, I'm still a bit confused. So I would have to meet an 'official' twice a year to show my daughter's work? In NYC the regulations are really lax- I just have to file a quarterly report saying she's progressing well.

Because we're in MD a lot anyways, are there any groups that meet regularly? We'll be down over Labor Day weekend and the following week. It would be nice to meet and play with some of you.

:)

Thank you!

[amygabrielle]

Are there any homeschoolers out there?

[KatyLinda]

Amy, are you Lisa's friend?  If so, I gave your info to a few Columbia moms I know who aren't on MDC.  Did any of them get in touch with you? 

[mizzoh]

We're not in the Columbia area, but I wanted to suggest The Baltimore-Washington Home Educators yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWHE/ 

[raelize]

we hs, and we are in the columbia area. i think that there are a ton of groups for hs'ers in this area. besides all the museums (between baltimore and d.c) there are also a number of groups. there is a really fantastic group called the baltimore homeschool community center. they are in pikesville. it is actually a physical place- a converted office space- run by an all volunteer group- all hs'ers. they offer classes,meet-ups, etc. google it for more info. they are also on FB.  there are other groups out there, some you need to be a little wary of, others are really great. lots of co-ops. there are so many hs'ers out here. 

i'd love to get together when you are settled, i have an almost 6 year old girl, and a 3 (on labor day!) girl.

[amygabrielle]

Katy- no one has gotten in touch with me.

I'll look into the groups mentioned. Thanks!

Raelize- Thanks! And happy Birthday to your little one! My oldest turns 7 this weekend too!

[NourishCreate]

We are in the Columbia area.  I don't homeschool (yet)  but I'm trying to learn more about it and resources, etc.    My daughter is 3.75 yrs old. It seems that in Howard County you have to do a yearly review with someone who "oversees" homeschooling in the district.  I haven't looked into it more than that.  There seem to be a lot of resources pooling from baltimore though.  There is a facebook group- Maryland Homeschoolers.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/105881212831760/

best of luck!  I'd love to learn more about homeschooling in the area as well!

[raelize]

in MD, you have 2 choices, you can either join an umbrella group or have the county review a portfolio of your child's work and curriculum you use. you need to show that you are offering regular and thorough instruction in 8 areas: math, language arts, science, social studies, health, PE, music and art. however you want to do this is up to you. meaning that however you want to teach math is your choice, but you need to be teaching it regularly and thoroughly. 

many people, especially those who lean towards waldorf, unschooling, or are using a religious curriculum, join an umbrella group. the group is basically your liason and does the reviews and sends in proof to the county that shows that you are providing regular and thorough instruction in the 8 areas. usually the umbrella group is a church affiliated group and you need to sign a statement of faith. there are 2 umbrellas which are not religious - Maryland Homeschool Reviews and Many Paths of Learning. they conduct 2 reviews per year and they handle all the paperwork with the state. we have not done reviews yet as this year is our "kindy" year, but we are doing the portfolio with the county. if it doesn't work out, i will join Maryland Homeschool Reviews. 

you don't need to test your kids or even show that they are making progress, you just need to show that you are providing "regular and thorough instruction"(their words) and you do that by bringing in samples of your kids work and curriculum or books that you are using. most people i know who live in howard county do the portfolio reviews, i have heard the county is pretty good (not necessarily easy, but that they are fair - especially if you are schooly). but some of the other counties are pretty flakey and make it hard for parents to pass when they really should pass. 

these reviews take place twice a year until you get 2 years in a row with all reviews passing. again, if you don't pass, you can always change your registration to be with an umbrella group because you get 2 tries, so if you fail the first try you can change registration before they give you trouble. 

after you have had 2 years of positive reviews that you only have to do it 1x a year. this however is per kid, so with each subsequent kid, you need to do 2 years of 2x/year reviews.

[NourishCreate]

SO helpful. Thank you!