Once upon a time there was a homeschooler who was searching for answers to her problems. What are my little ones going to do while I teach my older children?  How can I choose good books for my child’s reading level? I wonder if I could save money on food so I could buy more supplies for our homeschool? History, where to start?

She lived happily ever after because she jumped on the chance to buy this year’s Homeschool Omnibus!

The Homeschool Omnibus is the Ultimate Homeschooling Resource. A homeschoolers dream library! This year there are 83 new titles + 24 Audio MP3s both in PDF and Kindle format.

Over $545 worth of books for just $25!

We’ve included our History Book Set with 5 different history books designed to give young children a solid foundation in Biblical, World and American history.

Here are a few more books I’m really excited about:

• Help! I’m Homeschooling! by Tricia Hodges from Hodgepodge
• Simply Homeschool 2nd Edition: Have Less Fluff and Bear More Fruit by Karen DeBeus from Simply Living for Him
• Spice Up Your Homeschooling by Sara McGrath from Unschooling Lifestyle
• You Can Do It Too: 25 Homeschool Families Share Their Story by Lorilee Lippincott from Loving Simple Living
• Homeschooling 101 by Kris Bales from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
• Circle Time: Plan the Best Part of the Day by Kendra Fletcher from HomeschoolingIRL
• 101 Independent Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers by MaryEllen Bream from Imperfect Homemaker

To see a full list, click here.

Not only that, you’ll be entered to win one of 3 Kindles, plus get these additional bonus deals and freebies from 25 of your favorite companies!

If you don’t want to take up space on your computer, a DVD is available to purchase for just $8 more!

Hurry! Sale ends 8/24.

• The deadline for refunds is September 5. Positively no refunds will be given if the file host shows that you have downloaded any files.
• The ebooks will only be available until September 25, please do not delay in downloading them. See the FAQ.
• DVDs can be purchased until September 20.

The post The Ultimate Homeschooling Resource Library first appeared on True Aim.

Idaho is one of the best states to live for homeschooling families.  We enjoy more freedoms than most states, and have a long list of inexpensive homeschooling resources available.  That’s why I wanted to gather all the information in one place!

Idaho Homeschooling Laws

In Idaho, parents are allowed to be parents, deciding what, when and where our children learn.  Although attempts are constantly made to restrict Idaho homechoolers (for our own good, we are told) our freedoms and protections have actually increased in recent years.

As of this date (Aug 15, 2013), according to the Idaho Department of Education, the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators and HSLDA, Idahoans must provide an equivalent public school education beginning when our children reach 7 years of age and ending when they turn 16 (Code 33-202).  As long as Idaho parents comply with this one law we enjoy the freedom to educate our children as we see fit.

Great Freedoms

We are not required to report to anyone that we are homeschooling.  Statutes allow us to determine our own teaching schedule and curriculum.  Idaho law does not specify the number of hours, days or weeks that parents must provide formal instruction.

When it comes to taking standardized tests, home educated children in Idaho have the best of both worlds.  We are not required to take the tests but through ICHE, Idaho is the only state that has a system set up for homeschoolers to take these tests independent of the public system.

Homeschooling parents have a much better feel for how our children are performing compared to administrators, but testing may provide a valuable diagnostic tool and prepares students for college exams.  Also, scores from these tests have a powerful impact on legislation as Idaho Homeschoolers score significantly higher compared to state and national percentiles.

Dual-enrollment

Idaho law guarantees our right to dual-enrollment.  That means that we can use specific public school resources as a supplement to our homeschools.  So, as long as there are openings, our children can participate in classes, sports, band, debate or any other public school activity.

The catch is that once our children are enrolled in the public school system, we must submit to public school standards and requirements.  Our children might need to take standardized tests, health assessments and submit academic records.  So, by dual-enrolling our children we forfeit many of our homeschooling freedoms.

Threats to Our Freedom

While Idahoans enjoy many freedoms, we must remain vigilant.  Many people are very opposed to homeschooling and constantly look for ways to regulate us.  The law states that Idahoans must provide equivalent instruction in our homes.  If someone reports that a homeschool family is neglecting to educate their children, an investigation can be opened and criminal charges can be brought.

Luckily, in Idaho homeschoolers are assumed innocent until evidence of guilt is presented.  That means that accusations and assumptions alone are not enough to get us investigated.  There must be enough evidence to bring a charge against us, just like any other criminal case.

So, if a social worker or policeman shows up at our door, we have the right to ask for a court order or search warrant.  We have the right to remain silent and request a lawyer.  We also have a right to know the “cause” that initiated our investigation.

The second major threat to Idaho homeschoolers is Common Core.  The Common Core Standards were adopted in Idaho 4 years ago, but are just now being implemented.  Idaho was baited by the U.S. Department of Education during the Great Recession in 2009.

The federal government tied stimulus money through a state competition.  States were given points based on a number of factors including adopting the Common Core State Standards.

Like the rest of the country, Idaho signed on but received none of the federal dollars.  The consolation was that Idaho did not have to meet requirements of previous standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act.  This means that Idaho did not have to report any academic failures.

While Idaho Homeschoolers have been told that we will not be affected by Common Core, it is hard to believe.  Already SAT and ACT tests are being rewritten to align with Common Core.  If homeschoolers want to go to college, then they will be indirectly affected by Common Core Standards.

Also, while Idaho has been very open to homeschooling in the past, it will be interesting to see how things pan out now that the federal government is running education in Idaho.  But for now, Idaho homeschoolers are not required to conform to national Common Core Standards because we are not required to take standardized tests.

So future regulation aside, Idaho is perhaps one of the best places to homeschool in the world.  Because of the lack of government intervention, we are free to thrive.

More Posts in this Series:

Homeschooling in Idaho: Educational Field Trips

Homeschooling in Idaho: Support, Conventions, and Free Resources

Don’t live in Idaho? Starting July 1st, I’m joining homeschoolers across the nation to help bring you resources for all 50 states, plus a HUGE Homeschooling Giveaway with over $800 in prizes!

Make sure you’re subscribed or following on Facebook so you don’t miss it!

The post Homeschooling State by State: Homeschooling in Idaho first appeared on True Aim.

Welcome to Mom’s Library!

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This week’s featured posts…

Preschool Monster Book

 

 

Fourth of July Activity Pack

  Celebrate the holiday with fun themed learning activities!    

Teach Number Patterns

  Children will love making their own math book!    

Creation Activity Book

  Teach your children about God’s Amazing Creation with these free printables, a lesson, and more!    

Strawberry Themed Math Game

  Simply use clothes pins to write addition problems or numerals on and see if your children can match the clothes pins to the right answers on this free printable game board.    

Book Marks the Spot Printable Book List

  Take this list to your local library to find some amazing pond themed books, or use it as a Summer Reading Challenge and reward your children for reading all of the books on the list with you!    

Bubble Alphabet Matching Cards

  Help your preschooler distinguish between lower case and capital letters with this free printable game.    

My Curriculum Store Grand Opening

  I’m having a big sale and giveaway for my eBook store with lots of featured freebies too!    

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The post Free Preschool Printables and Mom’s Library #48 first appeared on True Aim.