Any other Canadians here ? - Page 2

[spudisle]

Homeschooling in PEI!

I agree with atypicalandrea: www.homeschoolandmore.ca is a great resource, especially for Canadians. Gertrude is fabulous to work with and has a lot of experience. She is a terrific person and friend.

[MrsMoe]

Canadian here - I use http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/curriculum.html then I purchase books geared twords Canadian children at Chapters (they say Canadian cirrciulum - as well all know American cirriculum is at last a year behind Canada so if I get American books I purchase a grade level above.) As well I create my own worksheets and projects.

[Astrid]

Originally Posted by Brisen

I have found it frustrating to find a book or curriculum or whatever that I like, but it is American-based. For a lot of things, I suppose it wouldn't matter, but for history..... just seems like a waste of money if I can't use 1/4 of the curriculum. Or if I need to buy something in addition.

I've been very frustrated by this too. All my curriculum is bought at Canadian home school stores and all I have been able to find is American books (unless the workbooks or stories are about Canada) This year, I enrolled at a public distance learning school and they will send me a full Canadian curriculum that I can pick and choose from, and supplement with whatever other books I like. They provide $1000 for additional books, fieldtrips and other activities, and basically anything I may need for homeschooling (I know people who have been reimbursed for printers or digital cameras) I have to report in once a month what we are doing, but I figure it will be worth it for the Canadian curriculum and the money. Of course, I will have to see how I feel about the reporting at the end of the year

Oh, and I'm in BC.

[m&m]

We're in BC. This will be our first year of official HS, so no experience with curriculums. But I don't expect to get much anyway because most that I have seen are pretty redundant. If anything I may purchase a textbook, or find a few worksheets, but so far we've made our own or looked at the library or online for free stuff. I might need to look into this when dd is older though. (we will be doing grade 2/3 stuff this year I think).

It is hard to find good Canadian content though. I remember my own schooling to be very lacking in world and Canadian history. We only did French Canadian history.

[LizaBear]

How do you find out about public distance schools ?
Are there any in Ontario ?

[MizLiz]

"How do you find out about public distance schools ?
Are there any in Ontario ?"

I think this type of program is only available in BC... the regulations around homeschooling seem to vary quite a bit between the provinces.

[sandrajoon]

Subscribing...

[LizaBear]

Originally Posted by MizLiz

"How do you find out about public distance schools ?
Are there any in Ontario ?"

I think this type of program is only available in BC... the regulations around homeschooling seem to vary quite a bit between the provinces.

Well darn !

Ah well - just keep looking' just keep looking'

[Astrid]

Originally Posted by MizLiz

"How do you find out about public distance schools ?
Are there any in Ontario ?"

I think this type of program is only available in BC... the regulations around homeschooling seem to vary quite a bit between the provinces.

: There are lots of public and private distance ed schools here to choose from, depending on what you are looking for. I'm not sure what is offered in other provinces though.

[Astrid]

I forgot to say, I found the school I'm trying this year through a local homeschool fair so if one comes near where you live, you may want to check it out. Another way is talking to other homeschoolers in your area about where they are registered and what their experiences are with their program. I learned a lot that way.

Good luck

[atypicalandrea]

the regulations around homeschooling seem to vary quite a bit between the provinces.

Yes they do, just like it's different between the States. I've found the further East or north you go, the less there is. That's part of the reason, methinks. I *think* Alberta is the only other province that does this.

A good spot (in fact, the only one I know of) to go for national information is the site I listed before:

http://www.flora.org/homeschool-ca/

They have antioanl info as well as info on each province.

Personally, I wouldn't use any publicly funded program, burt that's just me.

[JenniferC]

Hmm, I am unschooling too, well, we only have a toddler, but still! We're in Alberta with a waldorf influence.

[Brisen]

Thanks very much Karen! The fair might actually be doable for us, now that dh isn't working evenings. It is also the evening of the peak of the Perseids meteor shower.... Maybe we'll sleep in Fri and make a night of it.

[LizaBear]

I found a start - a friend locally is using Oak Meadows and is willing ot lend me one of the books to look through.

It's hard to make a decision when you can't actually see the items before purchasing them.

[LizaBear]

bump

[JERENAUD]

Unschooling in Alberta

JenniferC and Mandi;

If this should be a separate post, please feel free to take it there or to PM. I'd love to hear more about unschooling in Alberta - my limited knowledge had me thinking that Alberta's requirements were fairly stringent. If I'm wrong, or if there's something I should know about ways to work within the system, please tell!

Erica

[LizaBear]

Just a bump up, I don't want to totally lose this thread.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by JERENAUD

JenniferC and Mandi;

If this should be a separate post, please feel free to take it there or to PM. I'd love to hear more about unschooling in Alberta - my limited knowledge had me thinking that Alberta's requirements were fairly stringent. If I'm wrong, or if there's something I should know about ways to work within the system, please tell!

Erica

I'm not in Alberta, but I have a number of unschooling friends and acquaintances who are. Unschooling is certainly more than possible in Alberta. You need to choose the right non-resident board to register with (Wisdom and School of Hope are often recommended, I believe) and the right funding option (basic rather than blended, I think). And if you're not happy with the perspective of your liaison teacher, you request a change until you get someone who 'gets it'.

Mandatory testing every three years for all Alberta students is often not an issue because many homeschoolers get really bad colds on testing day.

Miranda

[JERENAUD]

Thank you for the insight, Miranda. I thought that there must be a way, because I do see unschoolers online here (who are from Alberta) but the way that the information is presented by the government it seems very stringent. And, I'm a self confessed rule follower, so it wouldn't necessarily have occurred to me to just not take the tests. It did, however, occur to me to simply not register my kids, once they become school age. I'll have to look into the non resident boards... fortunately, I have 3-5 years (my daughter will be 6, the legal age, on September 17th... the board counts from September 1st, technically giving her an extra year).

If anyone else would like to add their experiences, I'd love to hear more!

Erica

[~Kindred Spirit~]

I am!!

I am near London, ON and Windsor, ON!

I mainly order from TheHomeWorks...however, this site looks interesting as well and I will be ordering from them soon...

http://www.tlceducational.com./

~Charlene~