CHEWV

Category: Quarantine

  • Homeschooling Doubles in WV

    Homeschooling Doubles in WV

    Homeschooling in West Virginia has more than doubled this past year according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, West Virginia is one of nine states with double digit growth!

    Last spring, 5.4% of West Virginian households with school-aged children reported homeschooling. By October, that number had risen to 16.6% – an 11.2 point increase!

    Nationwide increase is an impressive 5.6% overall, with only two states showing negative growth. The report also clarified that these were households reporting “true homeschooling rather than virtual learning through a public or private school.”

    To better serve this influx of new homeschoolers, CHEWV has worked diligently to create new resources. Check out our new virtual course, curriculum ebook, and planning materials.

  • Is Homeschooling Right For Us?

    Is Homeschooling Right For Us?

    Why do so many parents continue to homeschool when it captures all their time?  And how did they know what to do when they first started? 

    Most of us started homeschooling on a “trial” basis, but before too long, the advantages won us over!  We began to see what it was like to educate without “school.”  To learn.  To know one another.  And to thrive. 

    We left the bullying and age-segregation behind in favor of better influences, values, and family traditions. Rather than limiting our choices, homeschooling expanded them! Homeschoolers can enjoy the same types of social activities, school subjects, and even classroom learning that other students have – but only because we choose to, not because we have to. 

    While the biggest strength of homeschooling might be the tailoring of education to each child’s needs, the ability to put all things – including education and worldview – under God’s Lordship is definitely the most important aspect that won most of us over.  For those of us who believe that He created everything, that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” and that “eternity” extends beyond this world, homeschooling made us realize that those things should be recognized first and foremost when preparing our children for the “real world.”  We came to embrace the reality that the real world is the one where He is recognized.

    But when we first started, we had a lot of learning to do, and choices to make.  While the WV law was the entry point, curriculum styles soon took precedence as we chose exactly how we would teach reading, language, math, science and social studies – the five subjects we pledge to teach our children in WV.  If you, too, are thinking about plunging into the waters of home education and are looking for more places to check out curriculum options/styles, we suggest:

    You can also see a homeschool curriculum catalog at christianbook.com or rainbowresources.com.  Regardless of whether you actually order there, they are good places to see the variety of resources available.

    But if you are unfamiliar with the WV homeschooling law, you’ll want to go here first. 

    Homeschooling opens up a whole, new beautiful world.  Relax, learn, and enjoy!

  • I Am Concerned About My Child’s Education

    I Am Concerned About My Child’s Education

    Many parents, who have suddenly found themselves as their child’s new schoolteacher, have reached out to CHEWV with concerns.  While homeschooling parents made a thought-out decision to take on the full responsibility of their child’s education, these parents have been thrown into the midst of a very confusing situation!

    During the past week a video was released showing how schools might operate this fall.  Far from comforting, the video showed a school with no gym, no playground, and no cafeteria.  Further, on May 12th, ABC News shared a video of Dr. Anthony Fauci warning a Senate subcommittee that opening schools was a bridge too far.

    This possible future leaves parents confused, scared, and wondering what to do. You want your child to receive a solid education.  You want your child healthy and happy.  YOU may now be the only solution to these issues.  And we understand…you didn’t plan on this.

    It’s important to remember that what you have been doing the past few months is nothing like homeschooling.  

    You have been given public-school-at-home schedules, check-off lists, timeframes, and more that left you feeling understandably overwhelmed.  Meeting someone else’s pace is never easy!  Instead, homeschooling uses methods which promote a love of learning, tailored to each student’s individual speed.

    So, we encourage you to relax for a bit.  We want to assure you that there are many, many resources available to provide your child with a solid education – with a good mix of sanity! You have a few months to look at the world of homeschooling and even try it out over the summer. For example, you might grab some books about birds, get a feeder or two, and spend some time watching and learning. Soon, you will be amazed at how one small beginning can keep branching out, growing into a world of learning where each child progresses differently.  Your student may fly through literature books and struggle with math – not everyone can master quantum theory!  But as you take small learning steps, knowledge will build and confidence will be gained.          

    WV homeschoolers are diverse: single income families, two income families, single moms, special needs families.  Some families spend thousands on education, while some spend very little.  Do we see a different learning result?  NO.  The main factor in learning success is the involvement of the family.  

    Ultimately, while some may find it easier to continue a real homeschool program with the parent directing the learning, others may choose to stay with programs/solutions the public school offers.  Know that if you do decide to give homeschooling a try, CHEWV is here to help! 

  • Mom to Mom: Our Time

    Mom to Mom: Our Time

    Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.

    Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.

    What to do with the time that is given to us?  Many are asking that simple question lately.  There are “other forces” at work in the world…besides the will of evil. Our trust is not in this world, but in the God who created it – the same One who said, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly!”  (John 10:10) Are we showing our children a fearful life during this uncertain time, or an abundant one?

    While the older homeschoolers remember life before electronics and bulging schedules, most of us have the opportunity to relive that time and to experience a “simpler” home experience.  So, let’s begin a month of abundant living! Each day we can set aside time to really enjoy this month of fewer outside responsibilities. Here are some simple ideas to help.

    1. Do an activity YOU enjoy.  Individual choice, group choice, your choice!
    2. Put the phone down and have fun with each other.
    3. Smile!  See how many times you can respond with a smile when catching eyes with someone.
    4. Breathe.  Have you ever practiced deep, relaxed breathing?
    5. Send a note to someone.
    6. Journal.  Whether through writing, art, or photography, express thanks or chronicle the events of the day.
    7. Walk outside and look for something intriguing!  You may be surprised at what you find.
    8. Read a child’s book aloud.  So many simple lessons to absorb.
    9. Sing. Dance.  Let music float through the house.
    10. Memorize some comforting Scriptures – together as a whole family.  Make it fun!
    11. Spend more time outdoors.  Weed the flower garden, sketch the early spring blossoms, play tag.
    12. Pray.  Make blessings and thankfulness your number one focus.

    We wish none of this had happened in our time, but here we are.  Now, what will we do with the time that is given to us? We can begin to put those “other forces” to work in making our own little world full of life – and life more abundant!

  • Help! I Need a Portfolio Review This Year

    Help! I Need a Portfolio Review This Year

    But I’ve Never Done One Before!

    With all the changes COVID-19 has brought to our lives, you may be wondering how to get your annual homeschool assessments done. If you usually test your students, this year you may find yourself considering a portfolio review instead. Here are some points to help you traverse this new territory.

    First, several portfolio reviewers around the state are not only comfortable doing remote reviews but are willing to help parents who have never prepared an “official portfolio.”  You can find a list of reviewers at this link.

    Second, since a portfolio is simply a gathering of samples, ithttps://new.chewv.org/assessments/wv-portfolio-reviewers/ can be done with less fanfare than you might think. This year most reviewers will not be able to review physical portfolios as they might have done in years past – so you’re not alone!  Therefore, portfolios needn’t necessarily be worksheet or paper-based entirely. Creative solutions might include having your child read over FaceTime or Facebook Messenger Video in order to demonstrate their grade-appropriate reading ability. Pictures of science projects or field trips can help substantiate active learning. And if you do need to show workbook pages or math problems, you can easily take a picture of various samples and text them to the reviewer. Everything must be a bit more creative this year. “Samples” of work can also be uploaded to Pinterest, Facebook, Dropbox, Google Drive, and many other options.

    Last, think of your reviewer as a fellow homeschool mom! Most portfolio reviewers are (or have been) homeschool moms themselves. They have experienced the differences in individualized teaching at home versus classroom teaching. For example, this encouraging article is a classroom teacher’s comparison of her teaching in school versus her teaching at home. Don’t envision the reviewer as a teacher who is ready to find fault. Instead, view this as an opportunity to chat with another mom who has studied education and may have helpful pointers – or much-needed encouragement.

    If you are leaning toward a portfolio review this year in lieu of testing, we encourage you to contact reviewers and chat with them about how they’d like to see your work. That first conversation could allay all your concerns. 

    Finally, remember that the June 30th deadline applies only to students in 3rd, 5th, 8th and 11th grades. While ALL students must still be assessed this year, you have much more time for students in other grades. 

    For more details about this year’s requirements, click here.

    I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I’ve been. 

    – Winnie the Pooh