NHN Celebration

Here in NV we're very blessed to have been able to pass homeschooling laws that are least restrictive. Our governor has also signed a proclamation 2 years in a row, declaring the first week of April Home Education Awareness Week.

This last year Nevada Homeschool Network hosted a city-wide event with various speakers and things for the kids.

Here was (at the time) North Las Vegas Mayor, Mike Montandon, talking with a teenager.

Here's Senator Joe Heck (now running for US Congress), talking about his stance on education and homeschooling in particular.

We had the Fire Dept bring out their Smoke House and the Fire Safety Program...Stop, Drop and Roll, as Elias is demonstrating

The kids are learning about what Firemen sound like when they come to save you.

Here's the smokehouse!

The Las Vegas Mounted Police came

And here are Amy Carder and Laura Siegel, helping represent NHN & Las Vegas homeschooling!


It was a great day! Hope to do another one this year. Thank you to the Governor for recognizing this important time, and homeschooling in general.

Who is teaching your kids

 This is a really great article from the Thoughts on Parenting Blog
 called "Who is Teaching Your Kids?"

Sometimes I'm a little impatient when I play sports with my kids. They're 5 and 3, so they can't really do anything yet. Selfishly, it's not much fun to play soccer, baseball, or Frisbee when there are that many drops, misses, and wild throws. I actually caught myself yesterday wishing that someone ELSE could teach my daughter how to play Frisbee so I wouldn't have to.

Then she caught one.

And there it was. After a few more tries, a perfect throw. Then another catch. We were playing Frisbee, and she was thrilled to be mastering a new skill. I was proud and happy for her, and that's why I really, truly, want to be the one to teach her so many things.

So I started thinking, "what else do we ask others to teach our kids?" Would I be willing to let someone else (for free or a fee) teach my kids...
...to hit a tennis ball?
...to ski?
...to play soccer?
...to ride a bike?
...to tie their shoes?
...to tell time?
...to cook?

Of course, we often pay others to teach them some things that we can't do ourselves. For example, I would have to pay someone else to teach my kids...
...to play piano.
...to play violin.
...to draw.
...to dance.

Then there is the academic side of things. Do I really need someone else to teach them...
...to read?
...to write?
...to count?
...to add and subtract?
...to read a map?
...to understand the natural world?

Then I realized that most children who attend school are learning from someone other than their parent(s) how to...
...resolve conflict.
...communicate effectively.
...solve problems.
...make decisions.
...relate to others (adults and children).
...show empathy and compassion (or not).
...be kind and generous (or not).
Not to mention developing their entire world-view under someone else's watch.

Of course, we don't live in an ideal world, and many parents have to work full-time to make ends meet, so their kids have to go somewhere (like school). I also know that there will be times when I need others to teach my kids complex subjects I know nothing about (like calculus). I just wonder how many of us actually think about what we're trading when we send our 6-year-old children to someone else for 6, 7, or even 8 hours a day.

Raising children (or, as some would call it, raising adults) is the most important job I have ever had, but nobody pays me for it. I put in my time, energy, sweat, blood, and tears, and no one will see any results until my kids are grown. I don't know about you, but if they make it -- that is, if they become successful, well-adjusted, intelligent leaders in the world -- I want some credit for their success, even though it means risking the blame for their failures. Besides, I have a hunch that teaching my kids to read will be even more fulfilling than teaching them to catch a frisbee!

Food for thought huh? Pass it on!

Pics with the Governor

Today Nevada Homeschool Network hosted a Photo Op with the Governor, celebrating his declaration of Home Education Awareness Week (March 30-April 6). As the organizer of the event my family was one of 6 homeschool families in Las Vegas that attended.

The Governor's office was fabulous! They not only took a big group photo, but also individual family photos.


The Governor actually joked around with the kids and seemed very congenial. When it was our turn I mentioned to him that Elias had asked me this morning if he could get his own picture with the Governor. He made it happen! (Of course, if I had planned to ask it, I woulda chickened out or overthought it, but it worked out wonderfully well)Elias was so shocked that he couldn't even smile! He knows a Governor runs the state, so he must be pretty big stuff!


We're very thankful for all of our homeschooling freedoms here in NV and all the legislators and policy makers who listen to us as we lobby for our continued Parental Rights.

Celebrate Home Education Awareness Week

Well, I couldn't be happier! The Governor, at Nevada Homeschool Network's prompting, has declared March 30-April 5, Home Education Awareness Week. You can see the proclamation here: http://www.nevadahomeschoolnetwork.com/alerts.php

Because of this proclamation:

NEVADA HOMESCHOOL NETWORK WILL HOST A CELEBRATION OF HOME EDUCATION AWARENESS WEEK, April 2.
The public is invited to this fun filled day at the park to celebrate the Governor's proclamation that March 30-April 5 is Home Education Awareness Week.

Nevada Homeschool Network is hosting a celebration of Home Education Awareness Week, April 2nd, from 11am-3pm. Homeschoolers throughout the valley are urged to attend, and the event is also open to the public The celebration will be held at Lone Mountain Park, 4445 N. Jensen (Craig/Jensen). Many great community resources will be on hand showcasing their educational value and various community agencies will also be there with their specialized vehicles, allowing the children a sneak peek inside.

Some of the excitement will include: Cap'n Dave Eisenstein featuring his array of fossils, The Las Vegas Mounted Police and the Nellis Amateur Radio Club. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue will also be on site with their Safety House, showing children how to exit a burning building safely.. Look for a surprise guest around noon....hint, he's put in his gubernatorial bid!

There is no fee to attend this event. Everyone is welcome.

Nevada Homeschool Network representatives will also be available to talk about homeschooling; laws, resources, support groups and more. This would be a great event to come to and check out the resources available locally to homeschoolers.

For more information: http://www.nevadahomeschoolnetwork.com

The Nevada Homeschool Network (NHN) was formed in 2002 to advocate for homeschooling and to educate families, educators, elected officials and the public on the laws and merits of home based education.

Georgia Homeschool Petition

This is something easy and fast everyone can do....in GA they are trying to get a policy changed that restricts homeschool students to using an accredited program, if they want to duel enroll in college. We do not have any such policy here in NV. They are getting a great response. The more signatures the better, especially out of state, out of nation. Please take 2 seconds to help make a difference in GA homeschooling laws! This is truly a grassroots organization at its best!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/GA-BOR-Policy-JE/index.html