| Author | |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 3:05pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
... have you signed up your kids? The Young Writers Program sounds like such a fun, painless way of getting your kids writing their own "Great American Novel" or at least writing everyday  .
Here's my blog post for more links ... adults can do it too but I just can't see me writing 50K words in a month ... unless I could just copy-paste all my posts for a month  !
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Red Cardigan
Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 470
|
| Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 7:15pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I do it myself! Guess what suffers more, my blog or my housework... This will be my third year participating, so thank you for the reminder! Guess I'd better start plotting... 
__________________
http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 7:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Did you see these lines in the Terms and Conditions:
We reserve the right to conduct a fact-check to verify the information you provide to us. This may include contacting your school. We do this to protect children who use our site and discourage non-teachers from using our site for their own nefarious purposes, such as trying to get free stuff in the mail. We hope you understand.
We regret we will not be able to send Classroom Kits to homeschoolers this year. We welcome your participation on the YWP site and hope you will take advantage of our free online resources.
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10 , 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 7:40pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I did see that Charlotte, but figure if they send me one (I have a school name but always mention I homeschool) and then at least they'll see how many folks participate and still homeschool ...
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Red Cardigan
Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 470
|
| Posted: Oct 13 2008 at 10:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Charlotte, can you link to that? I'm curious.
AFAIK, though, that only applies if you're trying to do NaNoWriMo as a school-based group, right? Individual kids can sign up and have access to the website's materials just like "school group" kids, I think.
__________________
http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 4:17am | IP Logged
|
|
|
What they're referring to, I think, is the free teacher's manual which has ideas for teaching the kids through the writing process. Otherwise, we still do have access to the "teacher's lounge" as the rules say specifically "adults helping at home".
Kids don't have to put a school affiliation at'all. They just sign up.
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 9:40am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Red,
I don't think I can link to it because it was in the User Agreement that you had to accept when signing up for an account in the Young Writer's Program. I don't know if it is in the regular NaNoWrMo's sign up. In the YWP they offer field that says "Educator". Public school teachers can sign up for a packet of fun stuff like charts and stickers to be sent to them and their statement indicates that they used to include homeschoolers, but not this year. I don't have a big problem with that since they are still offering some resources online for free.
The only thing that really bugged me is that they mentioned the reason for verifying information was to keep "discourage non-teachers from using our site for their own nefarious purposes, such as trying to get free stuff in the mail." and then, immediately after, addressed homeschoolers. I am probably a little hypersensitive right now since I have been reading about 3 local city councils enacting daytime curfew laws which seem to be do nothing but making trouble for homeschoolers. We still are going to try to participate in NaNoWrMo in some way, I think.
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Red Cardigan
Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 470
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 11:36am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I see; that makes sense, since the seem to encourage any child to take part regardless of schooling type. If the stuff they sent teachers included, maybe, thirty stickers or whatever, too, then maybe they just need to design a "homeschool kit" for the future so they wouldn't be sending a mom with a few children a packet designed to have enough material for thirty children.
I doubt they meant to sound that insensitive!
__________________
http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 11:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well, they do offer a kit for only ten people for sale in their store so they obviously aren't opposed to creating kits of smaller sizes for a fee.
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 11:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I didn't mean that to sound as snippy as it did when I reread it. I just meant that if they aren't opposed to making smaller sized kits and they used to send kits to homeschoolers in the past, perhaps they would consider making a smaller "homeschool" kit in the future. 
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Red Cardigan
Forum Pro
Joined: June 16 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 470
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2008 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I wrote to them and expressed the concerns here; got a great response, as follows:
Thanks for pointing this out, and we are so sorry if anyone has taken offense. The reference in the Terms and Conditions is not directed at homeschool parents. It is primarily directed at young writers who sign up to get the kit because they want to get free stuff in the mail.
Due to a small staff, and very tight budget, and a huge project, we are only able to do so much each year. This year we focused most of our staff time and budget on improving the website, the workbooks, and the lesson plans. Our program is totally free for everyone who wants to participate. The event is free, as well as the workbooks and lesson plans.
We will work towards creating a homeschool classroom kit for next year, but in the mean time, if you would like us to send you buttons for your kids, we can do that.
Again, we are very sorry that the language on our site has been offensive to you and other homeschool parents.
Warm regards,
Tavia Stewart
Managing Editor and
Young Writers Program Director
The Office of Letters and Light
__________________
http://www.redcardigan.blogspot.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: Nov 03 2009 at 1:44pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
bumping this.... we just signed up. this is going to be an exciting month!!
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
KackyK
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1811
|
| Posted: Nov 03 2009 at 9:33pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I didn't see this thread the first time around. My dd has signed up and started already. I didn't even know there are teacher stuffs on the site. I'm clueless. I need to get on there myself I guess (I sound like a awful mother!)
Dd has made her own "thermometer" of her goal words and has posted it on her door. This has encouraged her younger brother who is usually a big "no way" when it comes to writing!
__________________
KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erin
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
|
| Posted: Nov 03 2009 at 10:23pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm clueless too, we just signed up along with several friends. As we didn't include mailing addresses I'm assuming we won't be getting any kits.
Anyhow the kids are pretty excited. All the kids from our writers club are participating
__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Nov 03 2009 at 10:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Erin wrote:
As we didn't include mailing addresses I'm assuming we won't be getting any kits.
|
|
|
Last year, they were pretty stingy to homeschoolers (why? I don't know  ) but the overall project is fun and the kids had a great time trying to do the writing (but mine last year were about 2-3 years too young for such structure!  !)
Please post how your kids do ... (yes, even you Kacky who really does need to be more up on what her kids are doing ...)
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
KackyK
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1811
|
| Posted: Nov 04 2009 at 6:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Okay Ms. Mary  according to dd's "word thermometer" she's up to a little over 6,000 words. Now I know! (for now!)
__________________
KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: Nov 04 2009 at 6:47am | IP Logged
|
|
|
what was/is in the kits? i just downloaded the workbooks. don't even know if the kids will be doing them (126 pages!) but i'll show it to them and see what they think.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: NaNoWriMo starts soon ...
