Hello. Dinger Here. I Know I'm Not One Of Your Favorites

[Dinger]

But I have added you to "My Forums." I'll mostly be a lurker, but I'm sure I'll learn something and gain a wider perspective.
I am a public school teacher in Wisconsin. I currently teach a 3/4 split classroom. We do have some homeschoolers who take classes here. SOme are on our sports teams, and some of the elementary students are in phy ed, music, and a reading class. One of them used to be a full time student here, then was homeschooled with some classes here, and now is back being a full-time student here. Not sure what the story was, but things seemed to have worked out.

[Maat]

1. Hello, Dinger.

I home-study, as opposed to home-school, working with an educational facilitator (otherwise known as a normal, fully-credentialed public school teacher), meeting with her at least monthly, and using a state-approved curriculum.

I suspect there's not a lot of postings here because we're busy instructing our kids. It's a tough job (I'm sure you appreciate that).

[noamnety]

2. Hey Dinger,

I couldn't respond here before but someone kind of recently gave me a star.

I'm glad to see you here. Sounds like you are in a unique position to be a public school teacher serving some home schooled students, and I appreciate you taking the time to read some perspectives from the home schooling group here.

I've had a few students who went back and forth between homeschooling and our school. I found them more challenging to teach, in a good way, because they weren't always satisfied to stick with the curriculum as I had it planned. They tended to be more curious and prone to jumping off in their own directions.

[DollyM]

3. I like Wisconsin's laws on home schooling

We lived in Wisconsin for one year and appreciated the fact that our son could take a couple of classes in his interest at the local high school. The guidance counselor was very good to work with us to select some classes as our son had some special needs. I wish Illinois had the same laws. When we tried to enroll him in Drivers Ed in Illinois it was like pulling teeth at the local school and the guidance counselor treated me like I had three heads because we homeschooled. (PS. We live in southern Illinois, no where near Chicago! The thing I most disliked about Wisconsin is that they apparently teach children that nothing but Chicago exists in Illinois and quite a few "FIB" jokes that I did not find amusing.)