2014-15 New Member Packet

CHB Basic Information

Our official name: Christian Home-Educators of the Bluegrass, Inc.

IRS recognized 501 (c) 3, non-profit, educational organization

Our website:

General e-mail inquiries:

Our Post Office Box: (Use only for official correspondence)

CHB

PO Box 25072

Lexington, KY 40524-5072

Our Membership Application Address: (Use only for Memberships)

CHB Membership

4009 Brookwater Ct

Lexington, KY 40515

Christian Home-educators of the Bluegrass

2014-15 Leadership

Leadership Team:

Name / E-Mail / Office
Elizabeth Lin / / President
Gladie Green / / Vice President
Cindy Crissman / / Treasurer
Michelle Lavin / / Learning Zone

Committee Chairs:

Committee / Chair / E-Mail
Fellowship / Sarah Russell /
Field Trips / Cindy Crissman /

Reminder: Use of addresses of CHB members in mass e-mailing for non-CHB business is not allowed. CHB related messages may be sent to for distribution to the whole organization. Messages of general interest to homeschoolers may be posted to the CHB Yahoo Group.

CHB Note to Members

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Who is the Christian Home-educators of the Bluegrass?

We are un-apologetically the Christian Home-educators of the Bluegrass. As homeschooling parents we desire to come together with like-minded believers to support each other in homeschooling. We ask each family at the very least to honor the Judeo-Christian values to which this group ascribes; and to maintain a regular relationship with a local church body. We are non-sectarian, accepting self-identifying Christians of many diverse backgrounds. Officers are required to acknowledge their agreement with the basic tenets of the faith as described in the Apostles’ Creed.

What membership means: we all work; and work together

One of the unique qualities and an important reason for the success of CHB is our requirement that all members be active workers in the group. We plan at length to have meaningful activities and events that are both encouraging and informative. A few people shouldering all of the work could accomplish these goals. But it is our design that each family shares a part in the operation of the organization. We ask each member family to choose a place to volunteer and annually complete a self-evaluation of their participation and their satisfaction with CHB.

Parents are required to volunteer on at least one committee and be responsible for a set of defined tasks within an event or to serve as co-leader of a major activity. Some CHB activities (Learning Zone, Testing, Field Day, etc.) have mandatory work requirements and may not be counted as fulfilling volunteer requirements unless a significant leadership position is accepted. Families should choose one primary committee or select the Wherever option; but are encouraged to work with other Committees as they are willing. New families or members who aren’t sure where they may best plug-in may choose the “Wherever” committee for their assignment; however it is expected that these families actively seek out areas in which to server during the year. Upon renewing, members will be asked to specifically describe how they have contributed their time and talents to CHB in the previous year. Not being asked to work does not excuse a family for this responsibility. When in doubt, contact a committee chair or check in the weekly newsletter.

A paperless organization? Well, almost

One of the ways that CHB keeps our annual fee as low as possible is the use of e-mail, Yahoo discussion group, and the web site for all communication. While having an e-mail address is not an absolute requirement, it is not possible for the leadership to make special accommodations for members without one. PLEASE send any changes in your home address, phone number, or e-mail address to or the current communications/membership chairperson. All of these people work closely together to keep the membership directory accurate and up to date.

Use the CHB web site

Because CHB strives to be a paperless organization, we are asking you to review the documents listed below at your leisure. They are found on our website, under the Documents side-tab. Most questions about policy, procedure, and expectations are found in those documents.

Are you legal?

CHB has an obligation to make sure that our member families understand the requirements for home-schooling in the Commonwealth. We query each member family about their understanding of Kentucky laws in order to offer continuing training to our members who may need it. Mentoring is formally encouraged among our members. Please contact any member of leadership to assist you in working with a veteran homeschooler if you need assistance. CHB leadership has developed positive working relationships with both Fayette County Public Schools and the Kentucky Department of Education. We screen our membership to avoid situations that may jeopardize our reputation or not be bona fide home schools.

Homeschooling in High School

The small section in this packet on High Schooling is only a tiny portion of what is available. Please visit the KHEA website (found on our links page) to discover what a WONDERFUL and EXCELLENT resource KHEA has put together for you! There are other documents as well on the KHEA website that would be of general information to ANY home-educator.

Membership Directory

CHB will email a "Quick Reference" Directory in mid-September. The Quick Reference Directory is to enable you to contact current members. However, some new and renewing members chose to wait and join CHB at the back-to-school event or later. Therefore, to make our directory as complete and useful as possible, we will hold off printing it until after the first week of September.

Membership Cards

You will be (or already have) received an e-mail with your personalized CHB member card. This link is your private link to your membership info and is not available to anyone but you. Please print out your card as proof of your membership and for use at various businesses for discounts on merchandise and services. You may choose to laminate it.

Comments and Questions

You may contact any member of leadership with questions and concerns or special needs concerning you, your family, or any event offered by CHB.

Thank you for being a member,

CHB Membership/Communication Committee

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If We Could Tell You Anything

Advice from veteran home-educators to those just setting out

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For those of you beginning home schooling this year, welcome to a new adventure. For those of you starting your second or third year this year, welcome back. If you belong to CHB, you’ve already made some big decisions in your life. You’ve weighed pros and cons of teaching your children at home. Likely you’ve considered curriculum and social opportunities and dealt with family and friends who didn’t understand your decision. So, the decisions are made, the first days of school arrive, and suddenly you wonder what ever made you think you could do this. In theory, you know how to educate your kids at home, but when faced with the daily problems and concerns, the whole thing can seem a little overwhelming. To make things easier on you, we asked the people in our own group what advice they might offer to those just starting out. Here’s what your peers have to say.

Let’s start with some Home School Proverbs, if you will, some little nuggets of wisdom to get your mind in the right place:

  • Especially when starting, I found myself wanting to give my first grader the all-comprehensive college version of every subject; then I realized he would cover this material again.
  • We often teach the way we learn best, but be willing to vary your style to meet the needs of your kids.
  • Give yourself room to make mistakes; no teacher ever does everything right.
  • The best teachers are always seeing what others are doing and gleaning from those things.
  • It may take you a few years to find a system that works for you. Don't give up until you work it out.
  • Measure you success by your own achievements; sometimes the little things are what really matter.
  • Don't set the expectations for yourself and your children so highthat neither of you can ever achieve them. Find that place of balance (it's not always easy).
  • I admit that I am guilty of being a "no fun homeschool mom". I am too rigid and I often sacrifice fun learning activities (although we did make a Playdoh volcano and a solar powered car). I am obsessive about completing all 170 lessons in our curriculum and my kids would never dream of saying, "Let's not do school today, Mom."If I could start over, I wouldworry less about making messes, spend more timedoing "fun" projects, and listen more to my kids' ideas, while still remembering thatI have taken on a full time job that requires much planning, organizing, and hard work.Ultimately, myefforts will determine whether my children are well educated or not, and I do not take that responsibility lightly.
  • This is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable experience (although not every day can be). Tailor your curriculum to give you the best shot at living that way.
  • I wish someone had impressed upon me the value of throwing away the traditional "grade". The beauty of homeschooling is that it truly doesn't matter if your child is in 1st grade reading, 4th grade math, and 3rd grade science. Each child should be allowed to climb the ladder at his own rate instead of feeling like he's in a race to the finish.
  • Some kids just don't really like school; do the best you can to make learning fun and achievable.
  • There is no shame in realizing, after trying your best, that this isn't for you. Give yourself the grace to continue or quit.
  • I received very good advice recommending that I pray every year about homeschooling, instead of making a big jump to say I'm homeschooling through high school. That has been a real blessing.

Or, on the flip side:

  • Once I decided to home school, I decided to continue through high school unless God changed our family situation in some major way. For me, it has helped me to focus and to hang in there not to have to make this decision every year.

With these big thoughts in our heads, let’s move on to some more practical advice. After making the commitment to home school, the next big question is usually what to teach and how to teach it. Our group has a lot of ideas for choosing and using resources:

  • I've enjoyed 3 years of homeschooling our son, and I enjoyed reading many books for advice on how to homeschool. Debra Bell's book Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling was invaluable as I considered and weighed the options and figured out what God was ultimately leading me to do.
  • If you are a FayetteCounty resident (we still pay school taxes), call FayetteCounty schools (381-4000) andask to speak with Doug Townsend. He is the manager of thetextbook warehouse. The books are used and FREE! You can have one per subject per child. Often times you can find teacher guides. They are great for supplements or to use as yourcurriculum. Mr. Townsend is very helpful; just tell him what you are looking for and he'll direct you.
  • Use the Public Library for books, DVDs, videos. Log onto their web page ( to reserve materials. You can have them routed to any branch of the library.
  • For reading comprehension questions I use Book Adventure on the Internet. Children (grades K-8) can read over 6000 books (found in libraries or book stores) and take on-line comprehension quizzes. They are scored online, and children receive points. You can use these points to"buy" free things (like bookmarks, balloons, candy, cards and more). Best of all, it's FREE. It has a parent page, too, where you can keep track of scores and prizes. (
  • I like School Express for 1000s of FREE worksheets and units (more appropriate for the under 9 age group). Log on at
  • The Stanford test we give at CHB is a great tool to measure our growth and teaching, but go easy on the younger test takers. Mentally toss the first year’s score out the window; consider it practice in sitting in a classroom setting and learning to take directions and fill in bubbles. Don’t make it a stressful event.
  • It took me some time to realize that outside activities for my children were just as important as bookwork.
  • If you go to conventions, realize that not only will you meet distributors there selling books, but used book sellers will also be there selling things cheap.
  • Once you have your curriculum in place for the year, stop looking! There is ALWAYS better curriculum out there than what you chose, so close your eyes once you’ve made your decisions and trust that you did fine. Also, if you’re very new, avoid the 900+ page Rainbow Resource catalog. It’s lovely and has everything at great prices, but there are just too many choices. Use with caution!
  • What if you aren’t finished with the book at the end of the year? Continue next year. Who sets the guidelines of what is 2nd grade and what is 6th grade, anyway? Simply keep progressing at a rate appropriate for each child in each individual subject.

This lesson is so important it needs to be said several times…

  • Don't be afraid to stop using parts of or even you entire current curriculum if it is not working for you or your child. It is sometimes very difficult to part with the finances, but using curriculum that is agony to get through (especially in primary grades) isn't really benefiting the child much and could be setting him/her up for a very negative experience in that subject or even in learning all together.
  • About a month after school starts, I decide what’s working and what isn’t, and I get rid of all curriculum that isn’t working for my children. Almost every year something just doesn’t fit right, and usually I can sell or hold it for another student for whom it may work out fine.
  • I bought a math curriculum once that my daughter hated. I made her continue it for the entire year simply because that's what I had chosen for the year. I turned her from loving math to hating it. It has taken 2 full school years for her even to begin to think positively about it again. The valuable lesson I learned is to change course in midstream if it's not working. It's not worth the strife---a love of learning is more important than the exact textbook used.

And on the flip side again:

  • A speaker once told me that any curriculum can work for any student. With a little work, any curriculum can be tailored to the learning style and needs of your student. (Ed. Note: I’ve done this, but the key words here are Work and Time. If you’re new and you hate your curriculum and you can afford to ditch it, go ahead and ditch it.)

My favorite section is next, the nitty gritty practical side, or How on earth do I run a family, school, and home all in one place at one time?

  • Little multicolored bookmark clips (I get mine at Office Depot for around $1.) Iuse them in every textbook, workbook, and teacher's manual to turn right to the page we are on. A great time saver!!!
  • More Time Moms Calendar ($17.95 plus shipping at Flylady.net). A 16-month calendar with lots of room to write and stickers tobrighten things up. I useCrayola makers with mine andassign each family member his or her own color. I keep my daily planner in synch with the MTM calendar so that I can carry up-to-date information with me.
  • Spiral-bound index cards (about $1 at Wal-mart.) You mighthave trouble keeping a journal, but these are great for writing down verses, insights from sermons, and other ways God speaks to you as an individual. It will end up being a treasure. Also, if you don't think you can do an in-depth Bible study, you might try Breakfast with Jesus by GregLaurie. This wonderful Billy Graham Library Selection has 84 devotionals, each about three pages. (Around $10 on Amazon.)The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Parent prayer cards or daily calendar (around $10 each on Amazon or the Bellarive Shopping Center Hallmark.) They have really helped my daily prayer time for my family and also have given me areas to pray about I would never considered, until I was in the middle of a crisis. As they say, an ounce of prevention...
  • Flylady.net is a great resource to help you get organized. Free. (Ed. Note: This is especially great for those of you who, like me, were not organized before we became homeschoolers and consider ourselves hopeless now. She uses “baby steps” to get us moving in the right direction.)
  • Edu-track is possibly the best computer software for organizing lesson plans, field trips, chores, just about anything having to do with school. Customer service is impeccable, and they update their software often to improve it. (
  • Menu planning. It might seem impossible to plan and shop for a week of meals at a time, but it is a real blessing. Saves time, money and reduces stress.One tip: pick one of the meals you are cookingin a week and double it. Freeze the extra dish. Not as intimidating as cooking once a month, but it can come in very handy. Also, instead of waiting until an item is almost gone to add it to your grocery list, add it whenever you OPEN it. This has saved me so many last minute trips to the store! Obviously, I do this with grocery and household items we use frequently, not with things like celery seed.) If you want a free sample of weekly menus, try or the Healthy Living section of
  • Untapped Natural Resources. They are all around you, maybe playing Nintendo as you read this. I listed the jobs that could be done to give the house a basic (not deep) cleaning and divided them up. (I took my share, too.) I assign them by ability and allow no trading, or elsethe youngest ends up with the jobs that are too hard. Everyone knows what to do and when they are done. I expect a reasonable, not perfect job. We do them once a week. It is amazing how good it makes things look and how it relieves stress.If I have to be away for aweekend,my husband can simply remind them to do their weekly jobs. How nice to come home to a clean house!
  • Other Resources. God provides each of us with unique situations and unique helps. Keep your eyes gratefully open for whatever He has provided to help. This might sound insignificant, but I was surprised to find out that a rural mail carrier can sell stamps and postcards. Because we are on a rural route, that has come in handy. I could share many other blessings; we can see many examples of His provision when we take the time to look.
  • A very important resource ... YOU! The June 28th USA Today reports on their editorial page that college graduates with non-teaching degrees placed ininner-city public schools got GREAT results from their students.While part of their success was attributed to their rigorous college education,ENTHUSIASM and IDEALISM were BIG factors.Find materials you and your family enjoy.Let them know thatyou think learning isexciting and will open many wonderful doors in their lives.If you lack expertise in an area, read up on it, join a co-op, or look around for whator who is available to help -- your husband might, if he likes the subject and you are nice, flexible, and appreciative about it. If you are enthused,your children will pick up on it!Really and truly, you are better off picking material that doesn't stress you out than going with "the best" material that makes you feel overwhelmedandends up not being used. So enjoy this time and remember why you are doing this.
  • There are few things I consider myself skilled at, but one thing I do well is keeping my school room and my lesson plans in order.In my school room there areneatly organized bookshelves, carefully filed portfolios of my children's work, and current lesson plans that are followed daily.If I expect my children to be orderly and disciplined with their work, then I should expect no less from myself. (For those without school rooms, even an organized shelf in the kitchen will do.)

And on the side of reality: