It’s here, September 8th, a much anticipated (sometimes dreaded in this odd year) first day of school in Dorchester 2. Back to school has taken on different meanings for students, teachers and parents alike as we all struggle to find safe common ground in the midst of a pandemic. But no matter what combination of virtual and in-school education you or your young ones are learning in, there are resources and books (of course!) to make the journey easier and more fun for all!
As we mentioned Sunday – here are a few more details about easier learning at home, gleaned from our wonderful discussion last week with local author and homeschooling mom, Jewel Sweeney. Thank you, Jewel, for giving us your time and expertise!
Three Homeschooling Options
Where to begin? Jewel explained that you can choose from three different options for homeschooling; fees and finer rules will vary with each:
- Virtual Academy SC: There is not an additional cost for students who enroll in the DDTwo Virtual Academy. The only cost to families is the regular registration cost of $20 and the new technology fee of $20. Learn more at https://www.ddtwo.org/domain/8721
- South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS): Fees are costlier ($350 first child and $50 for each additional child. Learn more about this option at https://schomeschooling.com/
- South Carolina Accountability Associations: There are various independent groups that also qualify and prices vary. An excellent resource list of them is here: https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschooling-in-south-carolina/homeschool-organizations-support-groups/
Basic Guidelines
Once you’ve made the decision to move forward (a decision, Jewel emphasizes, that should not be taken lightly!) there are four basic guidelines to be aware of:
- Parents or guardians must handle the majority of the guidance for the curriculum instruction
- Parents or guardians must have a minimum of a GED as educational credentials
- Core curriculum should include math, science, history and reading (in 1st-6th grade) or literature (for grades 7-12) and writing (grades 1-6) or composition (grades 7-12)
- Homeschool instruction should occur at least 180 days of the year.
More info on Options and Guidelines for SC is available here: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/south-carolina/laws-requirements.html
Plenty of Free Resources:
Welcome to the wild, wild west! The internet has practically limitless options of free downloadable resources. We began with recommendations from Jewel and were soon going down the rabbit hole for more! (If the internet had been around when I was a kid I might not have ever left my room.)
Besides our “Education Station” here at Main Street Reads loaded with selections from Scholastic, Melissa and Doug and more, you may want to visit these sites to find some free and interesting options:
- Education.com’s Free Resources: Includes free worksheets and printables sorted by grade level, subject matter and interest: https://www.education.com/worksheets/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI69m80sfS6wIV1kvBCh36Tw-aEAEYASAAEgLQY_D_BwE
- Evan Moor: Another recommended source for educational materials. (Again, we’re working on getting in an order of their options in-store). Check out their free stuff here: https://www.evan-moor.com/freestuff
- Teacher Created Resources: A huge online store of items – subscribe to their free newsletter and you’ll get “free stuff” in the form of downloads and other materials: https://www.teachercreated.com/ We’re looking at carrying some of their products at a discount to parents but the initial order requirement is steep, so stay tuned!
If you have a resource to share with us, please email mainstreetreads@gmail.com. And to all of you, our very best wishes for a successful 2020-21 school year!
Faith and (Book) Love!
Speaking of school, we had to share these amazing photos of local high school student Faith Davis-Taylor, a Cane Bay High School student, class of 2021! We were touched that Faith wanted to use Main Street Reads as a backdrop for her senior pictures. We were even more touched that the family shared some with us! We’re wishing Faith and her family a phenomenal senior year – Congratulations, Faith!
Mega Week of Book Events Begins Today
Thrill in the ‘Ville Book Club: Throwback Thriller with Silence of the Lambs!
September 8 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
For Summerville lovers of mystery and thrillers, our Thrill in the ‘Ville Book Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month, September 8th this month! All are welcome… Next up is a throwback thriller choice to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the nearly legendary The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris, featuring the extraordinary Hannibal Lecter. The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the #1 New York Times bestselling classic, now with a note by author Thomas Harris revealing his…Find out more »
Wednesday Stories on the Square
September 9 @ 9:30 am – 10:00 am
Main Street Reads, 115 S. Main St.
Join us every WEDNESDAY morning at 9:30 a.m. for “Stories on the Square, our outdoor storytime adventures with reading by Colleen Rackleff – kids of all ages welcome! Treats served and student discounts to ALL attendees! Colleen’s Story Time at Main Street Reads has become one of our featured events and we’re so excited to be back, doing the events outside to ensure proper social distancing. We have lots of chairs for younger listeners and plenty of juice boxes and…Find out more »
“Wine and Words” Author Carol Van Den Hende in Conversation with Main Street Reads (Virtual Event)
September 9 @ 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm
So here’s an uber-cool event! Author and friend of Main Street Reads’ Carol Van Den Hende’s new book releases on October 1st and as an early winner of the American Fiction award, Goodbye Orchid is already predicted to be a bestseller. So, on Wednesday, September 9th we’re going to pour a glass of wine and toast this important work LIVE on Zoom (simulcast on Facebook Live) with Carol, in conversation with fellow author and screenwriter Meredith Stack, whose current project…Find out more »
Young Adult Book Club
September 10 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Main Street Reads, 115 S. Main St.
Our next YA Book Club meeting is happening on the 2nd Thursday, September 10th, 2020, at 6 p.m. Leading the discussion will be Hannah Rose Summers when we’ll talk about The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, the first book in a trilogy that we’re loving here at Main Street Reads! “Narrated with crack dramatic and comic timing. . . . The cliffhanger ending is as effective as a shot to the gut.” — Booklist (starred review) Todd…Find out more »
Reader Meet Writer: Liar’s Circus with Carl Hoffman (Virtual Event)
September 10 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join us Thu Sep 10th from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm for an engaging chat with Carl Hoffman about Liar’s Circus! Don’t forget to email us at mainstreetreads@gmail.com for your event link and password to attend: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail meets Strangers in Their Own Land in this work of daring and immersive contemporary anthropology: Carl Hoffman, who has written about the most dangerous and remote corners of the world, journeys deep inside Donald Trump’s rallies, seeking…Find out more »
Book Signing: God’s Little Bird: A War Orphan’s Story with Laura Knotts
September 12 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Main Street Reads, 115 S. Main St.
We’re thrilled to welcome local author Laura Knotts on Saturday, September 12, 2020, discussing her book God’s Little Bird: A War Orphan’s Story. 75 years ago, hundreds of thousands of Baltic citizens were caught in the bloody crossfire of the Soviets and Nazis and forced to flee their homelands. Lithuanian citizens had suffered brutal persecution during earlier Soviet and German occupations, and by the end of the second Soviet Occupation, only 1 million Lithuanians remained out of a population of…Find out more »
Lowcountry Book Club Convention (Free Virtual Event!)
September 12 @ 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Technical College of the Lowcountry (partial) The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host the 4th annual Lowcountry Book Club Convention as a live-streamed event on Saturday, September 12—featuring New York Times best-selling novelists Grady Hendrix (The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires) and Wiley Cash (The Last Ballad); actress, counselor, and author Ruthie Landis (Beyond the Book Club); and a trio of authors selected by Wiley Cash’s Open Canon Book Club: Lori Horvitz (The Girls of Unusually), Silas…Find out more »
This Month’s Hot Picks!
Don’t forget to get a look at our September picks. We have them front and center in the store, too. Click on any of the books in our interactive slide to learn more!
Using our interactive slide below, you can click on any of the titles to learn more about September’s Indie Next picks. Click on any of the September Reader Meet Writer or Book Club choices to be brought to each of those event pages.
You can also view the full list of Indie Next Picks and “Now in Paperback” picks at our online shop HERE. Enjoy browsing online, and feel free to call us at 843-875-5171 if you’d prefer to pick up your choice(s) at the store!