Name: Georgeanne

Email: LLLGeoanne@aol.com

Date: Sun Jan 29 20:48:09 EST 2006

Hello to all.

I have been to the site a few times and it has GROWN! Sorry I have not met you all thru meetings; my schedule hasn\'t cooperated. I have 4 kids, one is out of college, next is graduating this spring..third is in college (sophomore) and my youngest is just about done with homeschooling high school. She is the only homeschooled child, and I took her out of school before 7th grade, treated horribly by many of her teachers. We are looking at colleges, and interesting is Goddard in Vermont which this year is designing a program for homeschoolers. Sounds interesting but probably not for this year. Her talents are in writing, music, theatre and her great love is creatures of all kinds. Admittedly she is like her mom in that, and our pet collection shows it. With all the kids and many years of schools, we have a lot of books. etc., any needs, please ask.

Name: Pastor George and Tara Conrad

Neighborhood: North Scranton

Grades: Georgie- 5th grade, Jacob- 2nd grade, Kayla- 1st grade, Rebekah- pre-k

Plans after homeschooling- Gosh, we will be homeschooling for as far into the future as I can see, so at this point, there are no other plans in the works.

What and/or how you like to teach- I love to teach math, we love to use manipulatives.

Favorites and Not Favorites- If we are talking curriculum, I love Learning Language through Literature, Language is not my favorite subject, but paired with great literature, I have learned to love teaching it! My very least favorite subjust is history, I didn't like it in school and I still don't like to teach it!! LOL If you ask my children what their favorites are you will get a cross between math and art.

Why I chose to homeschool- My husband I chose to homeschool for a few different reasons. We had decided when Georgie was just a baby that this is what we were going to do, but kindergarten year, we were doubting ourselves and broke down and sent him to a private christian school in the area. It was one of the worst mistakes we made. They puched them so hard that our once bright, inquisitive little boy, shut off and didn't want to be taught. He finished kindergarten a bundle of nerves and we brought him back home after that. It was a struggle for a good three years to unlearn the fear he learned from school and learn to love learning again. He is once again thriving and learning that learning is a good thing and perfection isn't always necesarry, that everyone makes mistakes and it is okay. We have been homeschooling for 5 years now. Our reasons have changed and grown over the years. Our other son Jacob has Asperger's Syndrome, so we feel homeschooling is essential for him. We were told by the professionals that if he were to enter the school system they would place him in the Special Needs classes simply because of the diagnosis. They wouldn't take into account that the doctor who tested him said he has no learning disabilites and that he has a very high IQ. He thrives being home. He is reading beyond his grade level and doing math like he was eating cookies!! LOL We are so thankful that the Lord placed his doctors in our path because we have (in writing) from the psychologist that tested him a wonderful recommendation that homeschooling should be continued for Jacob becasue he is thriving with it and he views it as the best opportunity for Jacob to succeed! Those are our two most important reasons, some of the others are because of the education being taught in our schools today. We want our children to be grounded in faith, we want Jesus to be a part of their everyday schoolwork and that just isn't the case in our school system today. There are many other reasons, but this already got really long, so just drop me an email if you want to know more and we can chat!

Any needs or wants for our family to help homeschooling go smoother- After 5 years, we have worked out a bunch of the kincks, but I am sure that more will come up. For right now the only thing I need is maid service, my house is a mess and I have no time to clean it up with homeschooling!! LOL
What expertise or advice would we offer to other homeschoolers- The advice that I have to give is something I have learned over these past 5 years. Believe in yourself and your children. Don't listen to people around you doubting if you are your children's best teacher. The Lord entrusted these children to you and he also equipped you to do the job. You were your child's best teacher from the moment that you gave birth to him or her and you will continue to be their best teacher wether it is their abc's or calculus!! Don't get concerned if little Johnny can read first or is Suzie learned her times tables and your child didn't. Everything will come in time. Your child is a unique individual and he or she will learn everything they need to learn in their time. If you are doing your job, they will do theirs too!! Just remember to pray, pray, pray. The Lord equipped us, but he doesn't want us to forget what we need to do to stay filled up and able to do the job! Make sure that you have time with the Lord, be it 5 minutes or 5 hours, seek the Lord and He will see you through every mountain and valley of your homeschooling journey! Other info about us: My husband and I are the senior commanders of our church's Royal Ranger program. (if anyone is intersted in their girls or boys being part of the Ranger or Missionettes, please let me know I can tell you more about it) They are great programs, alternatives or suppplements to Scouts that include Jesus!!!

Name: Pastor Tom & Sheila Duggan

Neighborhood: West Side of Scranton

Grades or ages of homeschoolers, children (names if you choose) & others in your household who support you (or don't) Jolene 18 (12th gr), Christine 14 (9th gr), Rebekah & Mary 11(6th gr), My husband Tom supports us & so do our families. They see how happy the girls are & love being home.

Plans for after homeschooling: I haven't really thought about it since I still have 6 years to go, but I would love to continue to help other homeschoolers make homeschooling a way of life for their children.

What and/ or how you like to teach: We teach a bunch of different ways, I have Abeka Curriculum, the computer, the library & other books I have had given to me as well as leanring from everyday life.

Favorites and NOT favorites: My favorites are the worksheets from the computer ( no books )

Why you chose to homeschool: I felt the girls weren't learning because they weren't the same type learners as others in their class, after the first 3 months of homeschooling I learned I was right. My second daughter went from a 50 in math to an 80 in 3 months with just the one on one teaching. Any needs or wants for you and your children to help homeschooling go more smoothly: I want to do more interesting field trips, but keep the cost to a minimum for others to enjoy it without a hardship.

What expertise or advice you might offer to other homeschoolers: I am having a new to homeschooling Seminar in March for new homeschoolers who are starting out & don't know where to begin & maybe scared as many of us were. I believe I can help others in this way.

Other information and interests you'd like us to know: We love to do crafts in our house, we also love to go camping & enjoy going to Yankee Baseball games.