Homeschool Chat Part III

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

Thank you all so much for the recommendations. I will check out the curriculum suggested. I also appreciate the reference to the counting coconuts blog. She has so many wonderful ideas! I am so excited to begin this new journey and can't wait for school to start!

 

[Nanu57v]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if everyone would be willing to share what you use for literature for any/all grades. I am most interested in using real books for a majority of the course, but a "text" or reference book to go along is good too.

Thanks! (I will have 3 in school: 7th, 4th, K.)

We use Sonlight.

I am SOOOOOOOOO excited for school to start in the fall. I try to get DD to do 20 minutes of reading and a math review sheet most days in the summer, but I was surprised to hear a friend (whose son is in PS) tell me he does 2 hours of work each day. What about you guys?

 

[chris31997]

We use Sonlight.

I am SOOOOOOOOO excited for school to start in the fall. I try to get DD to do 20 minutes of reading and a math review sheet most days in the summer, but I was surprised to hear a friend (whose son is in PS) tell me he does 2 hours of work each day. What about you guys?

We do very little. Maybe 30-60 min of reading and field trips.

I am not surprised that your friend's son has to do 2hr, usually they have a hard time getting in all the instructional time that they need during the day/year, so they have to make it. Drives my dad, who is a teacher, crazy with the reteaching of concepts they should know, probelm students he has to deal with, and the paperwork.

With the 2 students I have, I can accomplish alomst everything in about 5hours in the typical school year.

 

[miami305]

We do very little. Maybe 30-60 min of reading and field trips.

I am not surprised that your friend's son has to do 2hr, usually they have a hard time getting in all the instructional time that they need during the day/year, so they have to make it. Drives my dad, who is a teacher, crazy with the reteaching of concepts they should know, probelm students he has to deal with, and the paperwork.

With the 2 students I have, I can accomplish alomst everything in about 5hours in the typical school year.

Trying to keep 20 or 30 preschoolers on task isn't easy. You need more time to ensure everyone understands and completes the task. Also, a structured preschool day includes story time, circle time, fingerplays, songs, dance, calendar/seasons, etc. There are a lot of short activities that fill up the day. Preschoolers have snack breaks and nap time. A day at preschool goes quickly.

I do no more than 2 separate 1/2hr blocks of "real" school work with DS. Story and craft time are whenever in our day.

 

[chicagoshannon]

We use Sonlight also.

We're actually going to start our new year on July 9th. Although DD has been begging to start so we may just start tomorrow.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

Where does everyone purchase their curriculum from? Thanks!

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Where does everyone purchase their curriculum from? Thanks!

I purchased ours from Rainbow Resource and Christianbookstore.

 

[chris31997]

Where does everyone purchase their curriculum from? Thanks!

We have bought from Abeka, Alpha&Omega, Christian Book Store, Barnes and Noble, and Books-a-Million(before they went out of buisness ). We do use the library alot.

 

[Nanu57v]

I usually (haha, this is only my 2nd year) purchase direct from Sonlight, but there is an art curriculum that is substantially cheaper at amazon so I'll be purchasing it there. I was planning on purchasing a science curriculum elsewhere this year, but instead I've decided to use Magic School Bus books as a springboard for unit studies. (2nd grade)

 

[Nanu57v]

Speaking of which, I'm am so itching to get started! I have so many ideas! I need to get a lesson plan book and get started!

 

[chris31997]

I usually (haha, this is only my 2nd year) purchase direct from Sonlight, but there is an art curriculum that is substantially cheaper at amazon so I'll be purchasing it there. I was planning on purchasing a science curriculum elsewhere this year, but instead I've decided to use Magic School Bus books as a springboard for unit studies. (2nd grade)

Magic School Bus is the best. Our oldest loved it and she would eat breakfast and start her day with the videos, and the youngest loves it also. It really engages their mind and it sticks with them. We have a set of books and the kids love to read them. Long time ago we had the computer games.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Hello everyone We started CalcuLadder math drills & handwriting today. The kids have been bored & it only took about 30 minutes. I figured it was better than beating the TX heat with iPods

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

For those that use My Father's World, do you supplement math? I am really leaning towards trying My Father's World (1st grade) this first year, and I have read some great reviews on it. However, I have seen several people say they supplement the math. If so, I'm leaning towards Horizons.

Does anyone have any pros/cons to MFW before we bite the bullet and purchase it?

 

[cinderanna]

Just wanted to say "Hi"! I am going to start homeschooling my DD this coming year. I am excited to get started.

 

[chicagoshannon]

We started last week and we're chugging along. Dd is enjoying herself. I have to fit art and piano in still. Maybe in August.

 

[Denine]

For those that use My Father's World, do you supplement math? I am really leaning towards trying My Father's World (1st grade) this first year, and I have read some great reviews on it. However, I have seen several people say they supplement the math. If so, I'm leaning towards Horizons.

Does anyone have any pros/cons to MFW before we bite the bullet and purchase it?

We use Sonlight, but we have been using Horizons for math since K. We will be doing grade 6 this coming school year. I really like it.

 

[miami305]

For those that use My Father's World, do you supplement math? I am really leaning towards trying My Father's World (1st grade) this first year, and I have read some great reviews on it. However, I have seen several people say they supplement the math. If so, I'm leaning towards Horizons.

Does anyone have any pros/cons to MFW before we bite the bullet and purchase it?

Oooh! I checked the site and am now considering the K program for DS. So many programs dummy down the preschool and K. People purchasing homeschool materials have already taught their children abc's and 123's! I appreciated that the site said that a mature 4 may be capable of the 1st grade work, but the copy work involved would probably prove too boring for a 4yr old.

Math is so easy to do at home! You can use blocks and measuring cups. We even use the cheapo army soldiers as counters. Be sure to look through any math workbook you purchase as some do not have enough drills. The books jump around all over the place. I started supplementing at home years ago when my dd's advance math class used the scatter approach. Ugh! The children learn all the concepts, but never master any math facts! Crazy! I now use ipad apps for math drills so we don't have to print off mountains of worksheets. However, there are plenty of free math worksheets available online.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

For those that use My Father's World, do you supplement math? I am really leaning towards trying My Father's World (1st grade) this first year, and I have read some great reviews on it. However, I have seen several people say they supplement the math. If so, I'm leaning towards Horizons.

Does anyone have any pros/cons to MFW before we bite the bullet and purchase it?

We used MFW (ECC) last year for my DD (5th grade) & DS (2nd/3rd gradish) We LOVED it for geography, Bible study time, and the YWAM books. I didn't *love* it for science. I said last year, that if we did MFW again, we'd opt out of their science choice, and do Apologia. Well, the kiddos are doing a "co-op type" class once a week this year, and we are following their curriculum. They are doing Abeka "Land I Love."

We took the ECC pre-test, then post-test. DD could label on 3 countries on the pre-test, and DS zero. On the post-test, DD could label 103! I think DS labeled about 87!! (This is taking a BLANK map, and WRITING IN the countries themselves.) I was highly impressed with all they learned in MFW.

Keep in mind, ECC is different than 1st grade. As far as MATH, we used Teaching Textbooks & LOVED, loved, loved it!!! It is not available until 2nd or 3rd grade. My BFF taught her boys MFW & used Bob Jones math. I wish you well with whatever you choose!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Can I join in? We aren't homeschooling yet (not officially, our son is only 4), but we are looking into it.

 

[lucigo]

I'm considering homeschooling DS 8 next year, he will be entering 3rd grade. I'm considering using Time 4 Learning and wondered if anyone had any experience with it?

I will be using Time4Learning with my 3rd grader this fall also. We should keep in touch!