Manchester Area Homeschoolers
July 22, 2010
Parent Support Newsletter
WEBSITE:  http://manchnh-homeschoolers.tripod.com/ 
Editor:  Kimberly Lacerte
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" Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
-- William Butler Yeats 
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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
1.  Overview of our July meeting
2.  Lowell Summer Music Series
3.  We have a facilitator! Newsletter Editor and Webmaster (Mistress) Still Needed
4.  Political Update

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1.  Overview of our July meeting

We had a fantastic turn out this month for our July meeting!  We covered the basics of homeschooling for the new homeschooling parents who joined us (welcome!). We also discussed the wide variety of homeschooling options that all still count as homeschooling.  Our individual approaches to homeschooling vary from “school at home” types of learning with schedules, plan books, and daily lessons to “unschooling” types of learning, which is a child-directed approach to learning based on their interests.  While our goals are the same even if the methods are different.  Since each of our children is unique, why can’t their education be unique, too?

We also learned about “A Thomas Jefferson Education” method where tweens take a couple of years in their curriculum to learn life skills such as cooking, home finance management, and basic car maintenance.  A link to the Thomas Jefferson Education method was sent around to the group from our new member Ann.

In August we’ll be meeting in a special area in the Café.  Barnes & Nobles has set up a special area for groups to meet in the corner.  There’s even a table, so we won’t have to balance our snacks on our laps anymore!  Look forward to seeing everyone there.

Our support group meets at Barnes and Nobles on South Willow St. Manchester on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 6:30 - 8:30pm.  Our next meeting is August 15, 2010.  The discussion topic will be getting ready for your first teaching day.  Come to the meeting ready to share your experiences with actually sitting down and getting the work going.

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2.  Lowell Summer Music Series

This site (www.lowellsummermusic.org) has a list of the series of summer concerts in Lowell.  Best of all, children under 12 years old attend free.  

June through September, 2010 
The Lowell Summer Music Series presents summer concerts at Boarding House Park at French and John Streets in Downtown Lowell! 
Ticket Information: Boarding House Park is a general admission venue. Bring a blanket, low sand chair or lawn chair. Children age 12 and under are admitted free.

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3.  We have a facilitator! Newsletter Editor and Webmaster (Mistress) Still Needed

I will be retiring from homeschooling in 2011 when my youngest goes to West High School in Manchester.  It's his choice to attend West and I'm actually looking forward to the next phase of my education journey.  This also means that our group will need someone or ones to handle the things I usually handle for the group.

We have a volunteer to facilitate the monthly homeschooling meetings.  Anyone out there who would be interested in learning how to maintain the website or write the monthly newsletter, please let me know!  

Specifically, I do the following:  (1) facilitate the monthly meeting at Barnes & Noble (volunteer found!), (2) edit this newsletter, (3) maintain the MA Homeschoolers website, (4) moderate the Yahoo Group, and (5) manage the Email.  All told, I spend about 3 hours a month plus the 2 hour meeting at Barnes & Noble on all of these tasks.  

Please contact me if you are interested.  I'd like to start transitioning these tasks over sooner rather than later so I know you are comfortable with the tasks before I retire.

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4.  Political Update

For those of you who have been closely following the homeschooling laws and politics in Concord, there are updates to the situation.

Maureen Doyle brought us the news that Roberta Tierney has been appointed to a state-wide position overseeing Charter School and Homeschooling Quality (I think that’s her new title – correct me if I’m wrong).  

As many of you are aware, Roberta was not helpful in the recent legislative issues.  Her appointment to this position is a warning sign to all of us to stay tuned in to the activities in Concord because the issue of homeschooling rights isn’t going to go away any time soon.

Esther Diamondstone reminded us that in the 20 years since the passage of the homeschooling laws in New Hampshire, there have been 15 bills presented and voted upon that had some desire to impact or restrict homeschoolers.

The New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition maintains good information on current legislative issues.  If you are interested in becoming involved in political matters, you can find them online here:  http://nhhomeschooling.org/