Can a volunteer be paid?

Should a worker be treated as an employee or independent contractor?

Do you know the difference?

Homeschool leader and CPA, Carol Topp, has the answers to your questions in her ebook

Paying Workers in a Homeschool Organization

Read a sample here

This 20 page ebook covers paying workers as employees or independent contractors.  It includes sample forms, tips and advice to help you pay workers in accordance with the IRS laws to help your organization pay their workers correctly. Written specifically for homeschool organizations.

Price: $7.00

Available for immediate download as a pdf file

Click Here to Purchase

I only post to this blog on an occasional basis. So instead, you might want to visit my other two website/blogs:

I don't get preachy or make speeches on controversial issues here, but I wanted to share something about sending your children to college.

My daughter, Emily, graduated in May and will be going to Grove City College (GCC) in PA in the fall.  I've been reading the GCC's student newspaper for several months (BTW, reading the student newspaper is an excellent way to learn more about a college.)

GCG recently held a conference on Faith, Freedom and Higher Education. I wished I could have attended when I read some of my favorite speakers were there including Michael Medved and Walter Williams. I thought homeschool parents might be interested in reading part of the report on the conference. I found this paragraph beginning on page 2:

In his welcoming remarks Dr Paul Kengor, professor of political science...noted: "If parents only knew the true intentions of many educators to whom they turn over their money and their children. The late Richard Rorty, philospher and devout atheist, argued that secular professors like himself need to 'arrange things' so that incoming students who enter college ' as bigoted, homophobic religious fundamentalists' will 'leave college with views more like our own.' Rorty was bracingly candid in his message to parents: 'We are going to go right on trying to discredit you in the eyes of your children, trying to strip your fundamentalist religious community of dignity, trying to make your views seem silly rather than discussable.'..."In short, the American university is nothing like it once was; it has arguably lost its soul."

To read the entire story titled "Center Hosts Education Conference", go to: http://www.gcc.edu/UserFiles/File/news/collegian/042409Collegian.pdf

This story confirms why I am so grateful for homeschooling and grateful that colleges like Grove City still exist! (and that Emily was accepted! :-) )

If you care to, scroll down the link  http://www.gcc.edu/UserFiles/File/news/collegian/042409Collegian.pdf to page 13 where a student writes an editorial titled

"Who will raise your children? A brief defense of homeschooling."

There is hope!

My first born, Emily, graduated from high school.  This is quite a milestone in her life and mine.  12 years of homeschooling! It’s been a privilege and an honor.  I’ve learned so much by homeschooling her, and of course she has learned a lot, too!

I won’t say it’s been pure joy, bit it comes close. 3rd grade was pretty rough with lots of phone calls to the “principal” (my husband at work) about her stubbornness.  Put two type A, opinionated people together and you’ll have some conflict.  But in the end we are so much closer for working it out instead of giving up. High school has been great. It is fun and exciting to see her grow and develop.

Congratulations Emily! Your dad and I are very proud of you.

Homeschool Graduation Class of 2009

Providence Extension Program

Cincinnati, OH

This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is up and filled with great blog posts about homeschooling.

Carnival of Homeschooling: The Adventure Edition.  A wide array of posts to educate, inspire, challenge, and entertain you!  http://www.tiffanyblitz.com/blog/archives/651

 

I included a post on dealing with conflict in a homeschool group (or any group including your family).
Resolve Conflict. Take a PAUSE.

Happy blog reading!
Carol

I read a great story from Lebanon, PA on homeschooling and the use of homeschool co-ops. This statement sums it up:

Both Olsen and Panyard said one of the biggest misconceptions of homeschooling is that the kids don’t socialize. In fact, both said their kids are far from shut-ins.

“It’s such a misnomer to think that homeschool kids are at home at the kitchen table with mom. Most homeschool kids are part of some sort of homeschool co-op,” said Debra Bell, founder of Debra Bell’s Home School Resource Center at http://www.debrabell.com and author of The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling.

Bell, a resident of Palmyra, said she has been involved in a number of co-ops in the area over the past 20 years. They are a very valuable resource to parents who homeschool their children, she said.

“I don’t think the general population realizes it’s something that’s been in place in the homeschool population for the past 20 years,” said Bell, who homeschooled her four children.

The latest Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Practical Homeschool.  Check out some great posts from all kinds of homeschool blogs, including a post from my other blog for homeschool leaders

Are you on the IRS’s naughty or nice list? Find out with Carol at HomeschoolCPA by reading The IRS and Fundraising.

My new cyber friends Kristen and Denise have big plans for their website Homeschool Group Leader and their blog Homeschool Group Leader

We wish to give you the mentoring you need to lead effectively and to bring your homeschool group success. We will help you through:

• exciting interviews with veteran homeschool leaders
• a relevant blog where we can interact through posts
• tons of helpful tips and ideas
• a free mini-course
• and a coming ebook!

Missouri Homeschool Daily Log sure knows what she is talking about.  She has some excellent advice on co-op participation.  I highlighted some of my favorite tips in blue.

In the beginning I was all for homeschool co-ops and still am now.  Over the years I have gathered experience about what works and what doesn’t in a co-op and for my schedule.  As far as your schedule is concerned I would caution you to not jump in with both feet and offer to teach more than one class.  As a matter of fact I would suggest that you attend the first year/semester to get a feel for it before volunteering.  I can not stress this enough especially if you are a new home schooling parent.  Remember you’ll be preparing all your children's material and then the material for your co-op class once a week or so.  The first year of home schooling is like riding a bike with training wheels.   One class can dominate your home school week placing a lot of strain on you.  

Teaching others is a wonderful gift for all involved if the class is well behaved. I enjoyed teaching the classes tremendously and in the process discovered that I have natural born teaching tendencies.  In a group of people, however, discipline is always an issue.  When you look for a co-op make sure that they have good policies in place.  A co-op with good policies will run smoothly and be a joy to all.  What are some good policies?  Policies that I would look for in a co-op would be a clear statement of what their goal is as a group, fair discipline issues established for students and teachers alike, a statement of faith if you are looking for one to be in agreement with your faith, and attendance requirements.  Even loose establishments that just meet for play time need to have some simple policies to prevent hurt feelings and misunderstandings.

If you are homeschooling for religious reasons one of the biggest assumptions that I made was that everyone was homeschooling for the same reasons.  Do not assume that everyone feels the same way as you.  Be a careful guardian, fully ascertaining the atmosphere of your co-op.  Attending a few times before deciding to join may be wise and most co-ops will have no problem with you doing so.

Co-op groups can certainly be a blessing to all involved, yet we need to remember that as home schoolers we are not without faults.  This article is intended to be wise advice and not at all a discouragement from finding a co-op.  When I started I wasn’t ready for issues that cropped up and it side-lined me for a while.  Now that the dust has cleared I know what to expect and also more of what I’m looking for when it comes to a homeschool co-op.

This week's theme is Labor Day and a celebration of the different types of labor we  perform as homeschoolers.

 

I really enjoyed all these posts and want to remind everyone that your labors are not in vain.  Our fellow homeschool blogger, Marsha Drews of DrewsFamilyTX blog lost her dear son, Christian, last week in a horrible accident.  Hugs your kids a little closer this week and be grateful that you have the chance to labor for them and love them a little longer.

General Education

Keeping a preschooler busy from
A Familiar Path: What's a Boy to Do?

Lapbooks, reading lists, printables and organization from
The Happy Housewife: Tackle School Planning

Computer-based homeschool curriculum worked for this family
Parenting Squad: Computer based curriculum

Tiffany struggles with unschooling or more structured curriculum
Natural Family Living Blog: The Great Homeschool Decision

Homeschooling a 12th grader looks a lot more like real life than school.
Barbara Frank: Homeschooling a 12th Grader....Again

A photo peek inside a homeschool in its first week
Learning at His Feet: Beware: Learning is Happening Here!

A book review on preparing for college from
Homeschoolbuzz.com Reviews:  College-Prep Homeschooling

Kris sets up a rice center for her kids at
Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers : Rice Center

Miss Amanda invites us to take a look at her homeschool college classes
The Daily Planet:Homeschool Memoirs: Homeschool Agendas

A homeschool curriculum review contest over at
Successful Homeschooling: Tell me about your favorite curriculum and win free books!

The Arts

A classic art medium-play dough! from
HowToMe:  How To Make Our Favorite Play Dough

Create a family flag for your homeschool
Happy to be at Home: : Homeschool Flag 

A book review from
Adventures in Daily Living on Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson

A book review from
Melissa’s Idea Garden on Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers by Barbara Frank

Siouxsie's son tackles an essay in an unusual manner.
Siouxsie's Musings: Partly Sunny with a Chance of School Starting

A writing lesson using well-constructed persuasive arguments
Janice Campbell: Taking Time for Things That Matter: Persuasive Writing: Teach It With Models

How is poetry created? Through the senses
Works in Progress:  Writing Through The Senses

Punctuation is like breathing
The Expanding Life:  In Which an Ordinary Woman Punctuates Her Life

If you fall asleep while teaching, you may wake up on a different planet from Life Nurturing Education:  Sleep Teaching Doesn't Work

Math

Make your own play cash register
Play Activities: DIY Toy Money

Try your fractions on this proposed tax bill
The Informed Parent: Push to change IRS code for homeschoolers continues

Christine makes math a fun labor!
The Thinking Mother: Younger Son Loves Code Breakers

Who needs an expensive curriculum when there's curiosity and interest? from
Roots, Shoots & Fruits:  This Is Our Math Curriculum

Denise may not care for the title, but she liked the math book in her review on
Let's Play Math!:  Review: Math Doesn't Suck

Science

Spider hunting video from
Kid Lit Kit: Nic Bishop and Spiders

Shelley turns a mouse in the house into a unit study!
Homemade Homeschoolers: They DO Build a Better Mousetrap!

"It's Labor Day Weekend. There's not a school supply in sight. And I saw 4 shooting stars tonight."
The Life Without School Blog: 4 Shooting Stars and No School Supplies

Lance and his kids have been growing a banana plant and look at what they've learned!
Home Educate in the Sunshine State:  Going Bananas

 

Health

Two news articles on absenteeism and vaccinations are cause for concern from
Yankee CowGirl:  It's That Time of Year Again...

Keep your sense of humor about everything. Laughter helps to stay sane from
Home Spun Juggling:  Still Fighting the School Blues

Dana presents a thought provoking discussion on vaccinations on
Principled Discovery: Homeschoolers and vaccinations

Homemaking

Nominate your favorite homeschool blogger  on
Alasandra's Homeschool Blog Awards: The Homeschool Blog Awards

A family's recent quest to bring order to the chaotic books overtaking their home on
Choosy Homeschooler Blog: How We're Conquerering Chaos in Our Home Library

Henry writes about getting back into the grove at
Why Homeschool: Reentry has been a bit bumpy

Labors of Love

A homeschool mom parents teenagers from
The Eclectic Telegraph: A Dancer With Many Hats in a Thankless and Undervalued Job

Progress made on summer learning goals
No fighting, no biting!: The Start of School Approaches

Living life abundantly from
Lessons from Loon Loop: The Sacred and the Mundane

Why pick a career when you can do it all as a homeschool mom?
Homeschool Nations - Arizona: The Many Hats of a Homeschool Mom

This mom is a laborer for her family
Notes From A Homeschooling Mom: The Labors of Homeschool

Starting homeschooling with a life long, eternal  perspective
The Life Schoolers: Officially Homeschooling

Christy is thankful for the opportunity -the gift- to teach her children. 
Mercy Every Morning:  God's Grace in Our Labor of Love

Please take a moment to post a link to the carnival on your blog— help spread the word about homeschooling and the carnival, and to send some traffic to all these terrific bloggers who took the time to share their lives with us.

Don’t forget to send in your post for next week’s carnival, as well, hosted by Why Homeschool Just click on over to the easy submission form at Blog Carnival anytime before Monday at 6pm Pacific time.

Carol Topp

Thanks to www.designedtoat.com Free Original Clipart at Designed to a T