This website is a resource for families, parents & teachers, and everyone who loves New York City

Not just for homeschoolers, all families can benefit from the resources offered here! Books and resources are recommended that can assist with homework problems or help a motivated child excel beyond the limits of school. Fun, free family activities are listed, organized by subject and location. All questions on education and parenting are freely answered - see Ask Laurie.

Homeschool Empowerment Webring new

Events — Upcoming events that will appeal to homeschoolers new

Available Now!

Only on this website

Education Uncensored

by Laurie Block Spigel

A Guide for the Aspiring, the Foolhardy, and the Disillusioned

See more information, including an excerpt, what people are saying about the book, the Table of Contents, and details of buying the book via Paypal. $12.95 plus shipping & handling

Events

June 24th – 27th, 2010: Laurie Spigel will be a presenter at the 7th Annual AERO conference, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Albany, NY. AERO stands for Alternative Education Revolution Organization and their focus is democratic schools.
2010 Homeschool conferences and conventions
Unschooling Conferences 2009 and 2010
Upcoming Unschooling Conferences 2009-2010

Laurie Block Spigel is a home educator who has lectured and written articles on education, parenting, and raising a family in New York City. The daughter of university professors, she has had the good fortune to meet many educators in her life, including award-winning professors and Disney Teachers-of-the-Year, whom she has relentlessly questioned.

As a long-standing member of NYCHEA and a veteran homeschooler, Laurie has been interviewed on public radio, public television, by the New York Times, and by Le Point Magazine. Laurie also teaches poetry and creative writing to children. She created this website in honor of the children and this beautiful city we call New York.

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"If you want to change the future, reach out and touch the life of a child."

"Education is more than the filling of a pail, it is also the lighting of a fire"

— William Butler Yeats

"If you plan for a year, plant rice. If your plan is for a hundred years, educate your children."

— Confucius

One of the most Frequently Asked Questions is about standards - making sure your homeschooled child is on track with local and national standards. See our page of Grade Levels, Standards and Benchmarks

Ten Steps to Successful Homeschooling (including links to the NYS Homeschool regulations, correspondence schools with parent reviews, college information, and more)

What's Free or Cheap in NYC? As the official Resource person for NYCHEA, this is the question I was asked most often. Here is a list of great deals, literally hundreds of educational offerings in NYC, for preK - 12, all free or a bargain. Look here for classes, family activites and teen internships. If you know of any other educational activities to recommend that are free or cheap in NYC, please send us the infoand we'll add it to this amazing list (regularly updated).

Ask Laurie (Advice Bulletin board). Send in any question on education, parenting, or homeschooling, and I will do my best to post a response. Anyone else is also welcome to send a response to the question.

Travels with Laurie In and beyond NYC, find suggestions for field trips (link to travel articles) and a-typical summercamps and camps for homeschoolers and families. If you have a field trip suggestion or a camp review to post on this page, send an email.

KIDS: Every day is better if you read a poem! Read poems written by other kids. If you want to read some of Laurie's poems, click here.

Free Stuff:
- Homeschool Freebie of the Day
- The Wildlife Conservation Society and the Audubon Society have put out a free Seafood Wallet Card to help you buy seafood that's not on the endangered list.
- Homeschool Free Stuff - a mega-list of giveaways, including a free newsletter.
- Dover Publications offers a weekly email with links to free content from their books.
- The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) offers a selection of brochures on Fire Safety and Health Safety for adults and kids
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What people are saying about this site:

"We are doing homeschooling this year (our first year), and the information you provide on your web is wonderful, and has been extremely helpful. Thanks."

— Guy Farber, homeschooling parent

"Thanks for your great site. I have found a lot of important info there."

— Nadezhda, homeschooling parent

"I just wanted to thank you for such a thorough site. Without your site I would have been at a loss as to how to begin my homeschooling journey! Thank you for all the samples you provide and the loads of information. I went to the Homeschooling office and hand delivered my LOI, within five days I received my IHIP forms. We're homeschooling for a week now, and all is going very well. My entire family thanks you!!"

— New homeschooling parent

"You should win an award for the most comprehensive home school website... there is so much to explore on there and I'm thoroughly enjoying it... getting lots of new ideas. A great service to the homeschooling community. Many thanks!!! "

— Homeschooling parent

"You are a lifesaver! This is an awesome site. Everything is easy. You have the right questions with the correct answers. I have looked at many sites for help but your site wins hands down! I have been looking for a sample of the IHIP but was unable to find one until now. Thank you very much. It is so appreciated!

— Grateful parent

"I think your website is great. I shall definitely add it to my favorites!"

— Donny Sahusilawani, homeschooling parent

"Full of information for those who are homeschooling or considering taking their child from school."

— Valerie Fitzenreiter, author of The Unprocessed Child: Living without School

"What a great resource for all families."

— Holly Nedelka, Director, Child's Play

"What a great resource!"

— Isaac Graves, Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO)

"Such a treasure and gift to the homeschooling community."

— Jennifer Dees, homeschooling parent, on chialist. Read the complete posting