Hello all.  I am new to the area, and I homeschool my children.  I have been watching the websight here, but I have noticed that while surfing the sight, I will run across something that I am interested in and the notice that it is WAY out dated, sometimes a year or more.  I there someone who maintains the websight and is in charge of deleting old threads?  Or is there a need there that I could fill maybe?

Also, I am noticing that a lot of the members that chat here have young children that are not yet really the age to be "in school."  My children are 7 and almost 5 and going into 3rd and Kindergarten respectively.  I also have a 9 mo old.  I am interested in finding a group that does things that help get more scholastic activities, and things that fill a need to a wider range of carriculum than you get from just the book learning type things.  For example, maybe a science group, to do science experiments and such.  Maybe a sports group to fill a PE nitch, or a music group, or maybe a homeschool chior.  

I am looking for that group that I can be involved it with my children and in which I can serve.  Is there anyone out there with like desires and concerns?

Also I live on the WAY west side of Albuquerque, do any of you live near by, or is everyone closer to "mountain side"?

Thanks in advance for helping me out!

Jennifer, mom of Hannah, Nathaniel and Trinity

Sports are always great. My kids are going to attend the PE class for homeschoolers but that doesn't start til Oct 7th. So was looking at what classes the college was giving for the fall as a few of them work for my daughter who's going to be 7 years old in September. We have a membership to the zoo and we go there all the time to take advantage of the learning classes as well as learning about each animal...there are so many it'll take us a few years I hope   Also we are going to get a membership at Explora! to take advantage of all thier activities as well. A science group would be fun for my daughter as we do those types of thing here at our home normally to make some of the lessons more execiting. I'm open to new ideas for the kids.

Jennifer-

In response to:

"Also, I am noticing that a lot of the members that chat here have young children that are not yet really the age to be "in school."  My children are 7 and almost 5 and going into 3rd and Kindergarten respectively.  I also have a 9 mo old.  I am interested in finding a group that does things that help get more scholastic activities, and things that fill a need to a wider range of carriculum than you get from just the book learning type things.  For example, maybe a science group, to do science experiments and such.  Maybe a sports group to fill a PE nitch, or a music group, or maybe a homeschool chior."

There are some book learning type things that members in this group participate in, but mostly I think this group has much of what you are looking for.  And, there are children in the same age range as your children.

You may want to contact Amy at ahomeschoolcoop@yahoo.com to ask her more about what this group has to offer.

As for the old threads, I kind of like them.  From time to time, I recall a post I once saw, and I go look it up to get the information.  

There are plenty of opportunties to volunteer.  Just let Elizabeth know that you are interested.

-Kari  

Hi! You might want to read over the description of the homeschool co-op at http://www.ixacta.com/ahomeschoolcoop/. You'll find that we already do many of the things you're interested in, for example this fall we're going to do Spanish, possibly science (astronomy), and PE. We also do lots of fieldtrips and tours, even a mom's night out. Your idea of a choir sounds fantastic! The co-op has kids with a wide range of ages, and I can think of a several 5 year olds and a couple of 7 year olds. As Kari mentioned, you can contact Amy at ahomeschoolcoop@yahoo.com to find out more about what the co-op has to offer.

I have my children in a couple of sport classes offered through the City's Parks and Recreation. They are very good price, a good place PE activities, and a great place for the kids to play with other kids.

I also had my daughter in a music theater class offered at UNM last fall and spring. They offer classes by the semester year round. We chose not to do the summer classes because it conflicted with her dance class. They have several classes to choose from. I was very impressed with the teacher of the class we took. We'll be taking more music classes this fall semester.

Although I'd like to find a wider variety of homeschooling 'classes' I also like my children having the classes with children who aren't homeschooled. This way they are socialized with kids from every group and aren't limited to homeschoolers only. They have to find something in common rather than the basic common connection of homeschooled or public schooled.

From time to time I see mentioned, as Sarah did here, of UNM classes for kids. We do the UNM music classes on Saturdays, which I find to be excellent and a very good price ($85 for 14 classes of 45 minutes). I wonder if there's a list anywhere of all the different classes that the various UNM departments offer for kids.

I will have to look into that.  I was hopping to find something in the artys for my step daughter that is reasonably priced.  I will let you all know if I find out where/if they have these classes listed.

Sorry, seems the only online listing I could find were for the classes in Los Lunas.  For Main campus, I could only find a phone # for a summer program.  Guess maybe I should have written it down and given them a call to see if I can get any info on anything during the school year.  Sorry I was not much help here.

Hi there!  At a recent park day I met a woman who might have what you are looking for.  Her name is Judy Kramer 792-3175 of the Westenders Homeschool Group in Rio Rancho.  They have split into two groups and meet weekly.  One group teaches a science lesson and the other a Christian based lesson.
ShannonD