• History of Laws
  
  History of the Louisiana Home School Law

• A.C.E.S. 2000 Letter of Intent
  
  You can copy this letter with “cut and copy” techniques.

• Louisiana Resources for Homeschoolers
  
  Great list of resources for our home state from parentpatch.com.

• About.com
  Legal Information for Louisiana Links from About.com.

• Louisiana Home Education Network (LAHEN)

  A statewide homeschooling network consisting of families covering a diverse spectrum of homeschooling styles and philosophies. Respecting that parents who choose to educate their children at home come from diverse backgrounds, LAHEN has no official political, philosophical, or religious orientation.

• Louisiana Homeschoolers E-Mail

  Directory
  If you would like other La. homeschoolers or
  homeschooler wannabes to contact you, check out this site. You can place your
  email address on this page.

• Louisiana

  Department of Education Page

• Louisiana

  Department of Education Home Study Page

My husband, Allen, had an allergic reaction to something [undetermined] and was covered in hives. He isn’t allowed in the heat for 48 hours so he’s home and miserable.

We use Saxon math. That’s the only textbook I use after we learn to read on my Alice and Jerry basal pre-primer, “Skip Along.” [I collect these books so I use them to teach reading.]

Have you heard of Math-It? I just came across it and it sounds interesting- in fact, like the way I actually do math in my head -with tricks and gimmicks instead of memory and drill. It’s expensive so I want to find someone who has used it before saving to invest in it.

I’m thinking of doing an almanac as well as a book of centuries, which will cover science and nature studies. Basically a scrapbook with notes about weather [rain, temp] and sketches, journal entries [pears ripe, spray the apples, etc.] and maybe some dried flowers and leaves tucked into it for interest. It may include some photos of the backyard in different months.

TURTLES

1. Tortoise or Turtle Craft
2. Turtle Dot Puzzle
3. Tuna Can Turtle from Kathy Ross
   

4. Clay Saucer Turtle
5. Box Turtle Card Game to make

Creation VS Evolution

1. Agassiz, author of “Em-bry-ol-o-gy of the Turtle”, referred to on page 10 of “Minn of the Mississippi” book.
2. The Turtle:
   Evolutionary Dilemma or Creationist Shell Game?
   

3. Creation Science Evangelism
4. Evolution and the Origin of Life
   

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

1. The Mighty Mississippi
   

2. Virtual Tour of the Lower Mississippi Basin
   

3. MEMPHIS QUEEN fleet
   River Boat Rides

4. The Mississippi by any other name
5. The Mississippi: River of Song
6. The Mississippi River

Other Books

1. The Mississippi delta / Jason Cooper.

Wow. We read the first two sections of the book today. Our study has really jumped off on the right foot. I’ll admit I was concerned when I read the text that it would be pro-evolution instead of pro-creation. We have lots of exciting facts to research.

On page 10 of Minn, there are drawings of turtle eggs from the naturalist, Louis Agassiz, who is famous for his quote, ” I trust to outlive this mania” (1867: in reference to Darwinism) He toured the country disputing Darwin’s theory of evolution.

On page 14 of Minn, we read about the turtles’ ribs being different, then we found a link that says this is one of the reasons that evolution is disputed by some very famous naturalists.

In addition, the naturalist Agassiz was supported and allied with leading philanthroposts, politicians, and intellectuals such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a Louisiana poet! I actually have an “imported from London” book of Longfellow’s works and IN it is a poem called “The Fiftieth Birthday of Agassiz”. . .

“And Nature, the old nurse, took The child upon her knee,

Saying: “Here is a story-book Thy Father has written for thee.

Come, wander with me, she said, Into regions yet untrod;

and read what is still unread in the manuscripts of God. . . “

**, how right you are that one thing leads to another:

• We talked about creation vs evolution, looked up vocabulary words like: proponent; tortoise, carapace, gulf.
• We discussed classification of animals and the system that was set up for this.
• We discussed the difference between turtles, terrapins and tortoises.
• We discussed the origins of words, ie; chelonia from chelonium-Greek for shield is the order to which turtles belong while tortoise refers to their feet because Latin ‘tortus’ means twisted.
• We looked at a map of the Mississippi river starting at Minnesota and going down to the Gulf of Mexico.
• We discussed taking a trip to the Gulf of Mexico and have decided to write for information concerning this.
• We discussed crossing the M.River to get to Uncle Larry’s house at Thanksgiving.
• We used the atlas, the dictionary and the encyclopedias, not to mention books off our shelves [thank goodness I have a good library] including some poetry by Longfellow and books we’d gotten from the public library.
• Then we searched the internet for more.

I’m going to work on a web page this afternoon to link this stuff together in my mind. And lap books, too. It is so cool~!!

Well, it’s been a busy weekend. I got a great book on almanacs at the
library and another great book on the mind. I told the children we would
be creating almanacs – calendars that contained practical and helpful
information about when the sun rose and set, what to do to help animals
and hints to make plants produce better, even recipes and verses we
might like to use or read. I’ve asked the children to think of things
around our home about which we should keep records, such as our fruit
trees, lawn care, even pets. This will give me an opportunity later to
talk more with them about stewardship and the Bible’s teachings on that.

I’m going to talk to them tonight about George Washington’s journals
which he sometimes kept in the blank leaves of an almanack. I told some
of them about Bannekar, the black man who wrote an almanac and sent a
copy to Jefferson to persuade him that his race was oppressed, not
inherently stupid. He was a brilliant man who was taught to read on the
Bible and built and repaired clocks, trained himself by taking a pocket
watch apart and building one like it.

I have looked briefly at FIAR and will go back to it. I’d really like to
try a volume but don’t know how to start. I joined an internet unit
study group and have decided to do the Beatrix Potter and the Simple
Machines so far. My brother brought me a bag of books and Peter Rabbit
was among them so that has spurred an interest in the little ones. A.J.
loves inventing machines and has spatial capabilities so the other is
basically for his benefit, to show him “school” really means learning
and FUN! That’s my real goal with him this year, converting him to a
happy learning lifestyle. ( He had rotten public school experiences and
then I didn’t spend lots of time with him while I was working.) He’s
super quick, though, so I want to encourage him.

*** called and said that RR has changed policies somewhat since we
attended years ago. She said that, at any rate, the homeschool group
rents the building and has no rule about the earrings. I’ve got to find
out when the family night is going to be since I lost my newsletter.

I have to take Holly to Texas Saturday and Allen is going to a State
Rally for CMA- he’s president [of the local group]. Well, I gotta run. It’s great to have
someone to teach me this un-schooling stuff as I’m not very creative!

Acorn Academy

here’s that unit study group I told you about. Do you have a pdf
viewer? I can show you a copy of the complete Potter unit study.

[I joined this group by paying online with a credit card. Money well spent, I assure you!]

I really enjoyed our visit. You are doing so many of the things I want
to do but never get around to. . . . I’m going to start our school
Monday and we’re going to start with some of the things you and I talked
about today. Almanacs, Book of Centuries and Lap Books.

Tell me more about thje videos you use for MathUSee. Are they very
expensive? Also, what are the names of those un-school authors you are
reading? I’d like to look for some of those to read myself.

The Zike video is checked in right now. Would you like me to put your
name on it and bring it out to you the next time we’re in town for long
enough? If not, we’ll see each other at the next event we both go to.

I did remember why we don’t go to the Family Fun night * and it’s because
it is held at RR family center. Unfortunately, they do have a rule about
males wearing ear-rings and as you see, well, I have a biker bunch here
so it kinda clashes… But I love Mom’s night Out and I will try to
attend all the skating things this year as I have the library.
Gotta run for now. But we gotta get together again. You are FABULOUS! !

*[We are corrected about this subject on the next page so be sure to read it. . .]

I’m new to CM this year. We had Andreola’s Companion in the homeschool
library and I was the librarian this year. I was fascinated enough to
try to get a set of CM’s volumes. I only got 3 of them so far but it was
enough to intrigue me with her methods. We are putting it into practice
as much as we can every day.

Allen and I have been married since January 1, 1980 and we have nine
living children. They are 20, 18, 13, 11, 9 -10 tomorrow, 7, just turned
6, 3 and 8 months. [We had a birthday Friday and one tomorrow.] Five
girls and four boys.

We have been using Robinson Self-Teaching Curriculum modified to fit our
lifestyle. This is also a literature based program but very rigid. I
liked the methods for teaching children to be autodidactic and they
correlate well with CM. I agree heartily with her views on allowing
children to play and have free time to express themselves and use their
imaginations. I also believe CM hit the nail on the head in wishing to
create life-time lovers of learning.

I hope to create this joy of learning in my children by demonstrating it
in my own life. I have discovered that they find many things fascinating
not the least of which is whatever I myself am exploring, whether that
is great paintings by Monet or gardening in my own backyard. I
especially like to try to encourage my children in whatever talents or
interests they display, which has included inventing, cartooning,
drawing, cooking, acting and paper curling.

We are going to create a Book of Centuries for history and social
studies this year and a Household Almanac for science and nature
studies. I’m trying to create a list of books to read but we are
starting with all the books on our own shelves. I look forward to
forming closer and encouraging relationships with the members of this
list.

[Written to my email group.]

P.S. To learn more about the CMforMomsofMany group, please visit
CMforMomsofMany@yahoogroups.com

CMforMomsofMany@yahoogroups.com
* To contact the moderator of this group, send email to CMforMomsofMany-owner@yahoogroups.com

I have practiced providential homeschooling for years and have decided it is time to pass it on. God can help you with your homeschooling and will provide you with the things you need and want. I don’t believe in “prosperity preaching” but I do believe in providential living. The Lord said to be content so I have learned that happiness does not come with having more but wanting less. And I can look back and see that He has always taken care of me, providing me with all I need.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

I am assuming you are attempting to give your child a Christian education and are relying on God to supply all your needs. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

May God bless you and keep you.