Course of Study for 6-16 Year Olds

Course of Study Samples for Vermont Homeschoolers

The following samples have been used by Vermont homeschoolers in the past and have met with approval from the Vermont Department of Education. Feel free to copy and use at will. Change or add your own activities, unit studies, book titles, etc.

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Course of Study
(6-8 year old)

1. Basic Communication Skills: critical thinking skills, listening skills, comprehension, recreational reading, spelling, oral reading, language arts, letter writing skills, story writing skills, use of dictionary, library skills, heavy emphasis on phonics skills, vocabulary, penmanship, grammar, addition, subtraction, use of a calendar, fractions, symmetry, reading and writing numbers through 5,000, count by 2's, 5's and 10's, percent, reasoning skills, measurements, sequencing, patterns, money, estimating, comparisons, sorting, decimals, place value, weights, shapes and logic.

2. Citizenship, History and Government: strong emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, critical thinking skills, Vermont history, family history in relation to U.S. History, the American presidency, American & local government, current events, personal responsibility, law, geography, American Revolutionary War, map skills, current events and regional travel.

3. Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education: swimming, hiking, bicycling, sledding, skating, proper care and use of equipment, use of protective gear, human biology including digestive, nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems, food pyramid, the 5 senses, critical thinking skills, cooking and food preparation, abuse and effects of alcohol, tobacco and related drugs, such as Ritalin and Prozac, effects of consumer advertisements on the subliminal consciousness, survival skills.

4. English, American, and other Literature: improve critical thinking skills, frequent trips to town, city and regional libraries, continue to read silently and aloud, story telling, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, mythology, legends and folklore, biographies. Will include but not be limited to the following books and magazines: Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, Oliver Twist, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Little House on the Prairie Series, Frankenstein, Kidnapped, Tom Sawyer, Gulliver's Travels, Highlights, Cobblestone, New Moon, Ranger Rick.

5. The Natural Sciences: human and animal biology, basic human needs (physical and emotional), care and feeding of pets, immediate environment, investigative science, archeology, geographic skills, nature walks, gardening, camping, recycling, basic human needs, types of shelters, climate, food sources, diseases, deserts, insects, weather, astronomy, pollution.

6. The Fine Arts: painting, drawing, clay, crafts, collage making, papier mache, attend galleries, museums, art shows, attend theater and dance performances, creative dramatics, basic musicianship to acquire skills in hearing and differentiating musical instruments, listening to all types of music from country to classic.

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Course of Study
(8-9 year old)

1. Basic Communication Skills: continue with spelling skills, critical thinking skills, comprehension skills, recreational reading, oral reading, language arts, letter writing skills, story writing, use of dictionary, library skills, strong emphasis on phonics, listening skills, kinds of sentences, plurals and possessives, homonyms, synonyms, vocabulary, penmanship, addition, subtraction, fractions, symmetry, decimals, reading and writing numbers through 100,000, long division, geometric concepts,percent, reasoning skills, and probability and estimation.

2. Citizenship, History and Government: continue strong emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, critical thinking skills, Vermont history, family history in relation to U.S. History, the American presidency, current events, personal responsibility, law, geography, American Revolutionary War, American Civil War, map skills, current events and regional travel.

3. Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education: continue swimming, hiking, bicycling, sledding, skating, proper care and use of equipment, use of protective gear, human biology including digestive, nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems, food pyramid, the 5 senses, critical thinking skills, cooking and food preparation, abuse and effects of alcohol, tobacco and related drugs, such as Ritalin and Prozac, effects of consumer advertisements on the subliminal consciousness, survival skills, and psychology.

4. English, American, and other Literature: improve critical thinking skills, frequent trips to town, city and regional libraries, continue to read silently and aloud, create own written works, story telling, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, creative writing, biographies. Will include but not be limited to the following books and magazines: Oliver Twist, Sarah, Plain and Tall, The Diary of Anne Frank, Little House on the Prairie Series, Frankenstein, Kidnapped, Tom Sawyer, Gulliver's Travels, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew Mysteries, Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes, Highlights, Cobblestone, New Moon, Ranger Rick.

5. The Natural Sciences: continue with human and animal biology, care and feeding of pets, immediate environment, investigative science, archeology, geographic skills, nature walks, gardening, camping, recycling, basic human needs, types of shelters, climate, food sources, diseases, deserts, insects, weather, astronomy, pollution.

6. The Fine Arts: continue painting, drawing, clay, crafts, collage making, papier mache, attend galleries, museums, art shows, attend theater and dance performances, creative dramatics, basic musicianship to acquire skills in hearing and differentiating musical instruments, listening to all types of music from country to classic.

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Course of Study
(9-10 year old)

1. Basic Communication Skills: continue spelling skills, critical thinking skills, comprehension, recreational reading, oral reading, language arts, letter writing, story writing, use of dictionary, library skills, strong emphasis on phonics, listening skills, kinds of sentences, plurals and possessives, homonyms, synonyms, vocabulary, penmanship, addition, subtraction, use of a calculator, computer skills, fractions, symmetry, decimals, reading and writing numbers through millions, Roman numerals, metric measurement, long division, geometric concepts, percent, reasoning skills, and probability and estimation.

2. Citizenship, History and Government: strong emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, continue critical thinking skills, Vermont history, family history in relation to U.S. History, the American presidency, volunteerism, current events, personal responsibility, law, geography, American Revolutionary War, American Civil War, World War I & II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, map skills, current events and regional travel.

3. Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education: continue swimming, hiking, bicycling, sledding, skating, proper care and use of equipment, use of protective gear, human biology including digestive, nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems, food pyramid, the 5 senses, critical thinking skills, cooking and food preparation, abuse and effects of alcohol, tobacco and related drugs, such as Ritalin and Prozac, effects of consumer advertisements on the subliminal consciousness, survival skills, moral & values, AIDS and psychology.

4. English, American, and other Literature: continue to improve critical thinking skills, frequent trips to town, city and regional libraries, continue to read silently and aloud, create own written works, story telling, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, creative writing, journal, biographies. Will include but not be limited to the following books and magazines: Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Diary of Anne Frank, Frankenstein, Kidnapped, Tom Sawyer, Gulliver's Travels, Anne of Green Gables, Mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, Highlights, Cobblestone, New Moon, Ranger Rick.

5. The Natural Sciences: human and animal biology, care and feeding of pets, immediate environment, investigative science, archeology, geographic skills, nature walks, gardening, camping, recycling, basic human needs, types of shelters, climate, food sources, diseases, deserts, insects, weather, astronomy, pollution.

6. The Fine Arts: continue painting, drawing, clay, crafts, collage making, papier mache, attend galleries, museums, art shows, attend theater and dance performances, creative dramatics, basic musicianship to acquire skills in hearing and differentiating musical instruments, listening to all types of music from country to classic.

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Course of Study
(11-12 Year Old)

1. Basic Communication Skills: continue spelling skills, critical thinking skills, comprehension skills, recreational reading, oral reading, language arts, letter writing, story writing, use of dictionary, library skills, phonics, listening skills, kinds of sentences, plurals and possessives, homonyms, synonyms, vocabulary, penmanship, addition, subtraction, use of a calculator, computer skills, fractions, symmetry, decimals, reading and writing numbers through millions, Roman numerals, metric measurement, long division, geometric concepts, percent, reasoning skills, and probability and estimation.

2. Citizenship, History and Government: stronger emphasis on U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, critical thinking skills, Vermont history, Vermont constitution, family history in relation to U.S. History, the American presidency and the political arena, Congress & Senate, election process, court systems, volunteerism, current events, personal
responsibility, law, geography, World War I & II, American Civil War, map skills, current events and regional travel.

3. Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education: continue swimming, hiking, bicycling, sledding, skating, proper care and use of equipment, use of protective gear, human biology including digestive, nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems, food pyramid, the 5 senses, critical thinking skills, cooking and food preparation, abuse and effects of alcohol, tobacco and related drugs, such as Ritalin and Prozac, effects of consumer advertisements on the subliminal consciousness, survival skills, AIDS and psychology.

4. English, American, and other Literature: improve critical thinking skills, frequent trips to town, city and regional libraries, continue to read silently and aloud, create own written works, story telling, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, creative writing, journal, biographies. Will include but not be limited to the following books and magazines: Frankenstein, The Call of the Wild, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Indian in the Cupboard, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Watership Down, Kidnapped, Tom Sawyer, Gulliver's Travels, The Hardy Boys, Highligts, Cobblestone, Ranger Rick.

5. The Natural Sciences: human and animal biology, care and feeding of pets, immediate environment, investigative science, archeology, geographic skills, nature walks, gardening, camping, recycling, basic human needs, types of shelters, climate, food sources, diseases, deserts, insects, weather, astronomy, pollution.

6. The Fine Arts: continue painting, drawing, clay, crafts, collage making, papier mache, attend galleries, museums, art shows, attend theater and dance performances, creative dramatics, basic musicianship to acquire skills in hearing and differentiating musical instruments, listening to all types of music from country to classic.

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Course of Study
(12-13 Year Old)

1. Basic Communication Skills: continue spelling, critical thinking, comprehension, recreational reading, oral reading, use of dictionary, personal & business letter writing skills, library skills, phonics, listening skills, types of sentences, plurals and possessives, homonyms, synonyms, vocabulary, strong emphasis on penmanship, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, pre-algebra, use of a calculator, computer skills including the internet, banking skills, fractions, weights & measures, symmetry, decimals, reading and writing numbers through millions, Roman numerals, metric measurement, long division, geometric concepts, percent,
reasoning skills, and probability and estimation.

2. Citizenship, History and Government: strong emphasis on U.S. Constitution, critical thinking skills, Vermont history, the Vermont legislature, U.S. and State Constitutions, history of labor unions, institutions (medical, educational & welfare), volunteerism, current events, personal responsibility, Vermont and U.S. law, geography, continue with American Civil War, Korean War, Vietnam War, World War I & II, map skills.

3. Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education: continue swimming, hiking, bicycling, sledding, skating, proper care and use of equipment, use of protective gear, human biology including digestive, nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems, the 5 senses, critical thinking skills, cooking and food preparation, abuse and effects of alcohol, tobacco
and related drugs, such as Ritalin and Prozac, effects of consumer advertisements on the subliminal consciousness, survival skills, AIDS and psychology.

4. English, American, and other Literature: continue improving critical thinking skills, frequent trips to town, city and regional libraries, continue to read silently and aloud, create own written works, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, creative writing, journal, autobiographies. Will include but not be limited to the following books and magazines: The Swiss Family Robinson; Robin Hood; The Time Machine; Around the World in 80 Days; The Red Badge of Courage; works of Charles Dickens; Kidnapped; The Three Musketeers; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Time; Newsweek, local and national newspapers & publications.

5. The Natural Sciences: continue with human and animal biology, care and feeding of pets, immediate environment, investigative science, archeology, geographic skills, nature walks, gardening, camping, recycling, basic human needs, food sources, diseases, outer space, rain forest insects, weather, river pollution.

6. The Fine Arts: continue painting, drawing, architecture, art in the White House, crafts, collage making, attend galleries, museums, art shows, Renaissance, Impressionists, attend theater and dance performances, creative dramatics, musicianship with possible concentration on learning another instrument, music appreciation.

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Course of Study
(14-15 Year Old)

1. Basic Communication Skills: continue spelling skills; critical thinking skills; comprehension skills; strong emphasis on recreational reading; public speaking; voice & diction; personal & business letter writing skills; library & research skills; strong emphasis on grammar; vocabulary; strong emphasis on penmanship; stronger emphasis on computer skills including email address and use of the internet for business and research skills; banking skills; publishing skills; metric measurement; geometric concepts; percent; reasoning skills; and probability and
estimation.

2. Citizenship, History and Government: critical thinking skills; the Vermont legislature; Vermont & American history; strong emphasis on state and local elections; strong emphasis on U.S. and State Constitutions; history of labor unions; institutions (medical, educational & welfare) and their effects; volunteerism; current events; personal responsibility; Vermont and U.S. Law; geography; American Revolution; American Civil War; Korean War; Vietnam War; World War I & II; state and global map skills.

3. Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education: swimming, hiking, bicycling, sledding, skating, proper care and use of equipment; use of protective gear; human biology including digestive, nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems; the 5 senses; critical thinking skills; cooking and food preparation; abuse and effects of alcohol, tobacco and related drugs, such as Ritalin and Prozac; effects of being institutionalized (i.e. public schooling, prisons, etc). Effects of consumer advertisements on the subliminal consciousness; homemaking skills (i.e. sewing, cleaning, cooking, gardening, etc.); care and nurturing of children; preparation for
homeschooling own children; survival skills; AIDS and psychology.

4. English, American, and other Literature: continue improving critical thinking skills; frequent trips to town and city libraries; read silently and aloud; strong emphasis on creating own written works, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, creative writing; autobiographies; biographies. Will include but not be limited to the following books, magazines and news publications: complete works of John Holt; Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.; Charles J. Sykes; Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle; Animal Farm & 1984 by George Orwell; Greek Tragedies; all state and local newspapers; "Winning The Cultural War" speech by Charlton Heston (1999); George Washington's inaugural and farewell speeches; Thomas Jefferson's inaugural and farewell speeches; Abraham Lincoln's inaugural speeches; Henry Hyde's speeches from the floor of the house and senate during the 1998/1999 impeachment trial.

5. The Natural Sciences: human and animal biology; self-sufficiency; herbal medicine; homeopathic medicine; care and feeding of pets and livestock; birthing skills; immediate environment; investigative science; archeology; geographic skills; gardening; camping; recycling; basic human needs; food sources; diseases; outer space; plants and animals of the world; weather; natural disasters; river and ocean pollution.

6. The Fine Arts: painting; drawing; sketching; sculpture; architecture; fine arts; commercial art; attend galleries, museums, art shows; all forms and history of art; attend theater and dance performances; dramatics; continue concentration on playing musical instrument; music
appreciation of all kinds including country, classical, pop, etc.

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Course of Study
(15-16 Year Old)

1. Basic Communication Skills: continue spelling skills; critical thinking skills; comprehension skills; strong emphasis on recreational reading; public speaking & speech writing; voice & diction; journal; personal & business letter writing skills; library & research skills; strong emphasis on grammar; vocabulary; strong emphasis on penmanship; computer
skills including email address and use of the internet for business and research skills; banking skills; publishing & editorial skills; concentration on creating and maintaining a home-based business; management skills; statistics; advertising, pricing and distribution; reasoning skills.

2. Citizenship, History and Government: critical thinking skills; the Vermont and U.S. legislatures; strong emphasis on local, state and national elections; strong emphasis on U.S. and State Constitutions; history of labor unions; institutions (medical, educational & welfare) and their effects; volunteerism; current events; personal responsibility; Vermont, U.S. and National Law; geography; American Revolution; American Civil War; Korean War; Vietnam War; World War I & II; state and global map skills; possible future candidacy.

3. Physical Education and Comprehensive Health Education: swimming, hiking, bicycling, proper care and use of equipment; use of protective gear; human biology including digestive, nervous, skeletal and circulatory systems; critical thinking skills; cooking and food preparation; abuse and effects of alcohol, tobacco and related drugs, such as Ritalin; effects of
being institutionalized (i.e. public schooling, prisons, etc). Effects of consumer advertisements on the subliminal consciousness; strong emphasis on homemaking skills (i.e. sewing, cleaning, cooking, gardening, etc.); care and nurturing of children; preparation for homeschooling own children; survival skills; AIDS and psychology.

4. English, American, and other Literature: improving critical thinking skills; frequent trips to town and city libraries; read silently; strong emphasis on creating own written works, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, creative writing; autobiographies; biographies. Will include but not be limited to the following books, magazines and news publications: any and all books on homeschooling; complete works of John Holt; Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.; Charles J. Sykes; Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle; Animal Farm & 1984 by George Orwell; Greek Tragedies; Newsweek; all local, state and national newspapers; "Winning The Cultural War" speech by Charlton Heston (1999); George Washington's inaugural and farewell speeches; Thomas Jefferson's inaugural and farewell speeches; Abraham Lincoln's inaugural speeches; Henry Hyde's speeches from the floor of the house and senate during the 1998/1999 impeachment trial.

5. The Natural Sciences: human and animal biology; herbal, homeopathic and chiropractic medicines; care and feeding of pets and livestock; birthing skills; immediate environment; investigative science; archeology; geographic skills; gardening; camping; recycling; basic human needs; food sources; diseases; outer space; plants and animals of the world; weather; natural disasters; river and ocean pollution.

6. The Fine Arts: painting; drawing; sketching; sculpture; fine arts; commercial art; attend galleries, museums, art shows; all forms and history of art; attend and participate in theatre and dance performances; continue concentration on playing musical instrument; music appreciation of all kinds including country, classical, etc.

Homeschooling in Vermont...easy as 1-2-3!

If you live in Vermont and have been thinking about homeschooling your child, now is the time. The public schools have lost their collective minds and our country is about to embark on a massive financial and political sea change. Keep in mind there is a difference between law and guidelines.

Here in Vermont the statutes are straight forward and clear about enrolling your child in 'a' home study program. Remember, it's an ENROLLMENT NOTIFICATION, NOT A REGISTRATION! It requires 'a' home study program, NOT the state's home study program!

With just 3 pieces of paper you're enrolled. Those 3 forms include the enrollment notification with your basic information (never give the state more personal information than is necessary), proof your child was previously enrolled in a public school program if they were, such as a copy of a recent report card, and a course of study consisting of the 6 subject areas.

If your child has never attended a public school the enrollment notification process is a snap. However, if your child is presently in public school and you want them out, you may encounter some resistance and more paperwork. You'll need to get creative and develop a backbone. Our children never attended public schooling, nor did we enroll in the state's home study program. We began homeschooling our children the moment they were born.

The public schools are running a racket and con game. They are never honest about their purpose, methods or regulations. They've manipulated millions of parents out of their rights and, nowadays, the public schools are outright dangerous. If you are reading this I don't need to tell you what sort of antics the public schools have been up to for the past 100 years. They've created more obstacles for parents and taxpayers than a marine training camp could ever muster.

A major hurtle you may encounter is the special education farce. By easily labeling as many children as possible and enrolling them into the school's money making special education programs, it makes it far more difficult for parents to walk away. Once your child is labeled, placed on an IEP or legally drugged into submission, your battle for your child will take on gargantuan proportions. Are you ready for such a fight to save the life of your child and his or her future? The key is to NEVER allow your child to be labeled and stay clear of so-called special education programs.

As long as you remain in the clutches of today's public school system you will never know the freedom of educating your child as you see fit. You'll never experience the outcome of raising a free thinking, independent and self-reliable child. You don't need me to tell you the public schools have created generations of uneducated, illiterate and government dependent people, many on drugs just to get through their day.

Here are the links to the Vermont State home study statutes and information:

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/025/01121

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/003/00166b

At first read this information may seem daunting but broken down it's very simple. Once you send in your enrollment notification, the state will let you know if more information is needed. Surprisingly, they will actually walk you through the process. Remember, less is more. They don't need or want your life story or your reasons for homeschooling. All they want is enough information and your signature so they can cover their butts, since your school district will no longer be receiving the bounty money your child provides to their coffers.

Here are a few more links to help you maneuver your way through the homeschooling experience:

http://guerrillahomeschooling.blogspot.com/2017/12/its-that-time-of-year-again-when.html

http://guerrillahomeschooling.blogspot.com/2016/01/knowing-this-1-thing-about.html

http://guerrillahomeschooling.blogspot.com/2013/01/can-homeschooling-save-america.html

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The pledge of allegiance and the Bellamy salute

In the late 1800's children in school would pledge allegiance to the United States of America with the Bellamy salute. The salute was performed with a straight arm and palm up. This continued for many years. However, during World War II the straight arm salute became controversial so Congress ended it in December 1942. It was replaced with the hand over the heart.

The following photo is a glimpse into America's past. The date on the back of this photo is April 1942 but no location is given. It may have been taken in Vermont because it was found with other photographs from a local estate. The photograph is a rare find but a valuable window into American history.

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Nature is the best toy box

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Burdock balls, leaf jumping and pumpkin carving

What do burdock balls, leaf jumping and pumpkin carving all have in common? As unschoolers they all signified the last remnants of summer and the beginning of our 'official' unschool year.

We didn't use the local school calendar to determine our schedule for learning. The way we saw education was that it happens 365 days a year. It didn't make sense to lock ourselves into a meaningless 180 day schedule, nor did we consider classroom learning our only option. In fact, we thought of the world as our school.

If we followed any sort of calendar at all it was based on nature. We settled into a routine of structured learning from the time when the leaves fell from the trees until the pussy willows appeared in the spring. That was our unschool year. Any time before or after that was playtime! Time to play, time to travel, time to relax, kick back and let life unfold. There were adventures to live, people to meet and places to explore. We learned lots from our play and travels.

One fall our son actually introduced me to burdock as an art medium. Growing up burdock was simply a nuisance, especially when it gets entangled in long hair, either your own or in your horse's tail. I remember long hours combing it out of both. My children were always so creative with what nature provided. They could turn the simplest thing, such as a pile of leaves, into hours of fun and learning.

Relax. Kick back and enjoy those early fall days. Don't be in a rush to crack open those workbooks or start with the drudgery of lesson plans. There will be time for all that once winter sets in. Go outside, lift your face to the sun and create something exciting from nature's own palette. You'll be creating some wonderful memories as well.

Burdock can be used to sculpt shapes such as balls...

...or a burdock dog!

Some of the best playthings fall free from above

Pumpkins serve a dual purpose...food and fun

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Win a Guerrilla Homeschooling hat!

Hats by Vistaprint

Here's how:
During the month of October readers can tell Guerrilla Homeschooling 'why they love unschooling' in 50 words or less. Leave your comments here and the winner will be drawn at random from the best 50 responses on October 31st. Must be 18 or older to qualify and must live in the United States, Canada or UK.

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The bungee jumping chicken of Huntington

The beauty of homeschooling is that it allows you the time and freedom to disengage from the public school rat race and consider other points of view or conclusions.

While living in Huntington, Vermont during the mid 1990's we raised our own chickens. If you've ever raised meat birds you'd know they are specifically bred for rapid growth. Unfortunately, a drawback for some chickens to that accelerated development is the inability to walk after several weeks.

We had one such bird whom we named Harriet. Being unable to walk made it impossible for Harriet to free range with the remainder of the flock. This was a problem, not only for poor Harriet but for us as well. She was too young for butchering and too disabled to forage on her own. We needed to find a solution to Harriet's dilemma.

After much thought we decided to outfit Harriet for mobility. We fashioned a harness for her using our young son's old pajama top. Harriet's legs fit neatly into the small sleeves and the shirt had several snaps in the back for fastening. The back of the pajama top was then attached to a bungee cord which hung from the barn ceiling. Harriet was lifted up, using this make-shift harness, relieving the weight from her legs and she was able to walk or jump a few steps in any direction. She was then able to peck at her food and water as she normally would have. With this contraption Harriet was able to maintain her growth and her dignity as a chicken.

Without the artificially hurried pace of a school-centered life, we have always had the time and freedom to find our own solutions or solve problems that arise in our day-to-day existence. Sometimes those problems have been minor (not to Harriet) and at times they have been monumental. With homeschooling we've always managed to overcome those many obstacles with our family and sanity intact.  Outside forces sometimes caused those problems but we own our decisions and actions in dealing with them. It made us stronger, wiser and closer as a homeschooling family.

As for Harriet, later that summer she served us well and joined her flock at our dinner table. Well nourished children, both physically and academically, was our happy ending to this tale of the bungee jumping chicken of Huntington.

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The newest addition to our little homestead

I love spring! It brings forth a rebirth and new life. Our Rhode Island Red chicks arrived today and are fun to watch.

Posing for the camera

So fluffy and cute but built for pest control

So much fun to watch them pecking and scratching

All tucked in for the first night in their new home

Looking forward to some fresh free range eggs and less bugs! Chicks are great for teaching a child how to care for livestock and learning where certain foods come from. Children seem to bond with baby animals. That is good because they'll be more apt to take better care of their critters. Not only are chickens beneficial to your garden, they feed you with nutritious eggs. They are a terrific investment.

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Getting your panties out of a twist: Why the compulsory attendance law is laughable

Our Vermont state legislature is presently considering revising the compulsory attendance law for public and home schooling. It will raise the age of required attendance from 16 to 18. These ninnyhammers lowered the age from 7 to 6 back in 2000 when they sneaked that bill through during the Civil Union brouhaha and no one was watching.

Some people have been asking me why I don't get my panties in a twist over these legislative shenanigans and why I don't campaign to stop them. It's because our legislators are going to do whatever they want. They're controlled by the teacher's union and big business lobbyists, not by the voters. Why waste my time with them when I can best use it to make a difference where the real power lies: with the parents!

Arming parents with information and tactics empowers them to stand up for their rights. It lets them experience a freedom they've never known. Once they get a taste of that freedom there is no returning to the oppression of the public school monopoly. Besides, what 16 to 18 year old in their right mind is going to stand for two more years of mandatory servitude in a failed and antiquated school system?

It isn't difficult to understand why these political hooligans push for laws like this. It's all about the money that follows the children. Here in Vermont, the bounty on each child's head is a whopping $16,000.00 and our public school test scores are abysmal. These insane laws are NOT about education. Parents have caught on to the lies of the legislators, the teachers and the mainstream presstitutes. It's nothing more than extorting as much money as possible from the taxpayers to propagate their thuggish existence.

So, next time our corrupt legislature tries to pull a fast one on us, just remember they are powerless to enforce such a law that is trumped by our Constitution and by our unalienable right to raise our children as we see fit. Now, untwist those bloomers and go about your business of providing your child with a real and unfettered education.

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State: Older students struggle in math and science: Rutland Herald Online

State: Older students struggle in math and science: Rutland Herald Online

No surprise here. I've actually sat in on homeschool hearings conducted by the DOE (Department of Education) and listened to these ninnyhammers tell parents their (the parents) standards are too high for their children. HUH?! Yup! The state's Department of Education doesn't want parents setting their standards too high for their children. And they wonder why parents are flocking to homeschooling here in this state by the droves without enrolling in the state's home study program.

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Welcome To The Neighborhood: Are Homeschoolers Flocking To Vermont?

While our children were growing up and I became a home-education advocate, I saw a pattern to the phone calls, emails and contacts I received from parents seeking information or help. The month of August, just prior to the opening of public school, usually included the largest spate of frantic parents. That was followed by another grouping of contacts in late December to early January from parents desperate to not send their children back to school after the holidays. The parents included doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, teachers and even a school principal. Once I began publishing information and my blog the direct contacts subsided somewhat.

Seeing a need for information that parents could access easily without my assistance, and so I didn't have to repeat myself over and over, I began to compile and publish my newsletter Right At Home along with several booklets. Once weblogs arrived on the scene, it was difficult to contain my euphoria. What better way to disseminate information without constantly parroting to others my discoveries and experience.

Our children are grown now and there was a time when I thought I could just relax, forget about homeschooling, and putter around in my garden until the arrival of grandchildren. That didn't happen. I thought I had passed the torch to the very capable hands of a few other homeschooling moms. What I learned over the few years since our children aged-out of homeschooling were two things:

1. Your children never truly age-out of learning from you.

2. There is a need--no, a demand--and an obligation for those of us seasoned, battle trained homeschooling veterans to share our expertise and maintain our position at the front.

The army of homeschoolers in this country and the world, has grown so large and so determined, there is no stopping it from accomplishing its mission. They want freedom and a safe haven for their families. When I made the decision to jump back into the fray with Guerrilla Homeschooling, the phone calls, emails and contacts began again and in full force. Still, they come in waves but, with the internet it's much easier to direct parents to information. Parents are now able to access volumes of material on their own. Twenty-five years ago we didn't have homeschool websites and there were barely 10 decent books written about the subject.

Lately, I'm noticing another pattern. The majority (and there have been many) of parents contacting me and inquiring about homeschooling, do not live in my state (Vermont). However, they are considering moving here or have recently moved here. There seems to be an influx of homeschoolers into Vermont from as close as New Hampshire, to as far away as Alaska, and beyond.

Vermont is a beautiful state. Most here have a 'live and let live' attitude. It's a popular destination for 'trust fund baby-boomers' and a playground for nearby New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Vermont is one of the most expensive states to live in. So, what is the draw to homeschoolers?

Vermont is independent. For many years it had what we call lapel politics because you could hold the lapel of the politician while giving him a piece of your mind. Vermonters vote for some whacky legislation at times and we have the most lenient gun laws in the nation. Vermonters love their guns and rightfully so.

Vermont has the best of both worlds. It is small, rural and laid back. Travel some of the back roads here and you may think you're in the Appalachians. It also has a teaming community of organic farmers, artists, writers and craftsmen. It has some well known industries such as maple syrup, snowboards, skiing and some darn good salsa. For such a small state there is a boat load of colleges here and, although the primary and secondary schools are truly deficient, the homeschool population is thriving! Many homeschoolers begin college at ages 15 or 16, thus skipping ahead of their public school counterparts who are dragging out their pre-graduation years.

Vermont also has some of the most lenient homeschool laws in New England. New York, Maine and Massachusetts have nightmarish homeschool laws. Connecticut is a darling in comparison with basically a shout out to the local authorities. Vermont homeschoolers tend to go their merry way too, providing the state follows it's own laws.

For the parents who are considering a move to Vermont and want to know about the homeschooling community, here is a run down for you:

* the home-study law and requirements can be found at
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?title=16&chapter=003&section=00166b 

* enrollment forms are at
http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_homestudy.html

* Vermont law:  
Title 16 V.S.A. Section 1121 Attendance by Children of School Age Required
A person having the control of a child between the ages of six and 16 years shall cause the child to
attend a public school, an approved or recognized independent school or a home study program
for the full number of days for which that school is held, unless the child:
(1) is mentally or physically unable so to attend; or
(2) has completed the tenth grade; or
(3) is excused by the superintendent or a majority of the school directors as provided in this
chapter; or
(4) is enrolled in and attending a postsecondary schools, as defined in Subdivision 176(b)(1) of
this title, which is approved or accredited in Vermont or another state.

Notice the law reads: or a home study program... A home study program...not the state's, not Oak Meadow, not Clonlara, etc. Some at the VT Department of Education may argue this but this is the law!


* some Vermont (there aren't too many) homeschool groups, forums or websites include:
- guerrillahomeschooling@yahoogroups.com
- VT-homeschooling@yahoogroups.com
- http://guerrillahomeschooling.blogspot.com/

* If your child is presently enrolled in public school and you want them out it is recommended you download the home-study application and enroll in the state's program. If you previously enrolled in public schooling the state owns you...for life! That also goes for welfare and food stamp assistance...the state owns you! At least they think and act like they do.

* Your signature on the state's home-study enrollment notification (it is NOT a registration--there is a difference) gives the state YOUR permission to hound you, harass you, make you jump through their hoops, and stick their nose into your personal business.

* If you enroll be wary of the assessment process. Of the choices, the portfolio is the least invasive and you will have more control over the assessment.

* Sometimes parents who homeschool choose to do nothing when considering enrollment in a program. The state of Vermont is unable to enforce truancy laws. That is done on the local level by the individual schools. Get to know your local school at arms length. They are a rat's nest of certified strangers controlled by a thuggish union. Your local school is not quaint nor is it immune from outside controls. It is a small kingdom run by tyrants. Your local school is required to follow state and federal mandates decided by the money changers in Montpelier and Washington, DC. Your child has a $16,000.00 bounty on their head. Public schools are not about educating your child. They exist for the money changers, and for the job comfort and the job security of the teacher's union members.

* Clean up your act if you plan to homeschool. Learn to read beyond a college level, write as though you're capable of penning the great American novel, and for heaven's sake, LEARN TO SPELL! Maybe you can't do these things but at least strive to.

Keep your hovel clean. Clutter is fine but no child should live in filth! I've been in homeschooling homes where there was lots of half finished projects, mounds of clutter, dirty dishes and laundry piled 3 feet high. That's fine and understandable. The perfection is in the child's knowledge, abilities, attitude and abundant love of life.

However, if you have 18 jobless, lazy people, all over the age of 21, living together in a 3 bedroom house, with 100 flea infested pets running around and a yard full of broken down vehicles so there is no room to play, don't expect your community or state to turn a blind eye to your child and your homeschooling. Children deserve better! All the constitutional rights in the world won't protect you from your pathetic dereliction of duty to your child, especially if you expect taxpayers to pay for your selfishly chosen uncouth lifestyle. Soap, water and a little self-improvement can go a long way.

A young homeschooler enjoying the laid back life in Vermont

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How your children will learn after the collapse

Imagine for a moment there was no electricity, no fuel oil, or the trucking industry came to a screeching halt for some known or unknown reason. A zombie attack if you will. Zombies aside, are you prepared? In my hometown here in Vermont when a winter blizzard hits, the public schools shut down. The local children celebrate and everyone gets a day off. Off from what? Homeschoolers, however, continue about their business of learning that goes on 365 days a year. Even when the public schools do shut down homeschoolers don't miss a beat because to them it's all part of the learning process and education never takes a holiday.

Now, imagine something far more sinister happening that would cause your entire state, region or this country to shut down indefinitely. Would you be able to continue on with the education of your children? What if the economy did collapse as it's being predicted? What if a major natural disaster occurred and all communication and transportation ended? Do you have enough gumption and educational materials in your home to satisfy a young child's curiosity and creativity? Could you provide an environment for learning on a long term basis? Could you homeschool if you suddenly found you needed to?

Back in late August of 2011 we here in Vermont experienced flooding of biblical proportions from Hurricane Irene. Whole towns could only be accessed either by foot, ATVs, air drop or horseback after the flood waters receded. What if something of this magnitude occurred smack-dab in the middle of the public school year and continued for days, weeks or months? Could you provide your child a truly educational experience while waiting for the world as you know it to return?

Our country sits on one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. Several major fault lines are located under very densely populated areas. Weather patterns as of late have been extreme. Insane political leaders and debauched rulers around the world keep tinkering with our lives and the global economy. What if the world as you know it did come to an end tonight while you slept soundly in your cozy digs? Imagine you wake up late the next morning because your electric alarm clock isn't running. The school bus never shows because there is no more fuel, or you can't drive your children to school because there are no more roads. You can't go to work yourself because there are no more jobs! Bleak? Doom and gloom? Maybe, but just think for a moment: what if?

Now, I know this seems extreme and you're thinking this blogger has finally sailed over the edge but what is it you do all summer and on weekends when public schools are not in session? My guess is you're homeschooling. You're homeschooling and you don't even know it. If you're not homeschooling during those times then your public school dependent child is that much further behind his or her homeschooled counterparts.

Wouldn't you rather your child have an edge and the opportunity to keep on learning when that collapse switch is flipped? Start preparing today for a home-based learning environment that can sustain you and your child should the public schools close their doors for a period of time or forever. It could happen. Our country is being gutted financially, physically, morally and spiritually.  Jobs have left this country and are leaving at a rapid pace.  Homes are being abandoned and foreclosed upon. Resources are drying up. The dollar is collapsing and what is left doesn't buy much anymore. Our two-party political system is controlled by a one-party of bankers. People are getting down right moody and are reaching their boiling point. Homeschooling is already necessary in some areas for safety's sake.

Pundits are making their predictions for the future. If you care to learn mine read on. If not, stop reading and go back to your sand box. My prediction is that after the initial collapse of our economy many families will turn to homeschooling out of concern for their child's safety and education, and as a natural part of being self-sufficient. Somewhere down the road when communities have had to band tighter together for survival what will emerge will be the equivalent of the one-room schoolhouse where children of all ages will come together to learn in a more home-like environment. These tiny learning centers will be within walking distance and will only provide resources and some direction. The remainder of the child's education will be done in the homeschool without federal or state involvement to muck up the process of this form of open source learning. Local communities and families will be abundant in resources, have willing mentors ready to teach and unfathomable freedom. Are you prepared?

 

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72% of Vermont schools are flunkies

According to this article in the Burlington Free Press 72% of Vermont school are flunking. Yeah, but meanwhile everyone sure is having a good time at the ball games, prom and at the free lunch table! Who cares if the graduates can't read, write, spell or calculate. They know how to put condoms on cucumbers and fund raise for charities! The saddest part is the children have no idea they are being denied a real education.

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The sweet smell of spring and Vermont's 5th season

Aaaahhhh, spring. Pussy willows, maple syrup and MUD! Here in Vermont mud season is known as our 5th season. It's the price we pay to live in the boondocks.

A messy spot just above the old farm near the night pasture gate

A closer look at the ruts that can swallow a small car

However, mud season means the sweet smell of maple syrup is not far behind. On this particular day a 1 mile trip on bike to my brother's sugar house was well worth the effort.

A springtime bike ride to the sugar house but first a stop to see the pussy willows

Hello old friends...springtime pussy willows just beginning to bud

These trees have been producing pussy willows on this same spot since we were children. We walked the 2 miles to our town's elementary school in the 1960's and would stop to pick pussy willows on the way to school and back home again in the afternoon. After a pause to take some photos it's on to the sugar house.

Sap buckets hang from the maple trees

Inside the sugar house

Entry point of the sap where it first begins to boil

The sap boils up where it enters the tank

The sugar man stays busy while the sap boils

At times you can barely see through the room

It's a full time job to maintain the fire that boils the sap

A vintage Vermont maple syrup tin can sits on a window sill

The dipper lets you know when it's just about ready

The draw off lets you know when it has turned to syrup

The finished product...sweet liquid gold

If ever you have the opportunity to visit a sugar house in season it's quite an experience and very educational for your homeschooler. There is nothing like watching this sweet product being made and seeing where it originates from. To learn more about Vermont maple syrup visit this website.

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Is America going back to the horse and buggy days?

Michael Ruppert presents an interesting scenario concerning America's future. He talks about subjects you won't read about in the mainstream media or hear about in public school. This could explain why we homeschoolers are such a threat to the status quo. We are FREE to teach our children what we want, when we want, how we want, and we can teach them the truth. Homeschoolers, are you paying attention here? Ruppert is hopeful at the end of these videos though.

Caution: some of this information may cause extreme anxiety and concern for the weak and unprepared.






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