Homeschool Chat Part III

[jdcthree]

This does look intriguing. Which package would I get? Considering I have a 5th and a coming Kinder?

If I just wanted it for the 5th?

It's just one program for any grade, so you can use it for both of them. In the beginning, your older son would go through the program at level one just like your younger son. You can read through the package choices and decide what you really need. So far, we have not incorporated Grammar Works, which is the grammar program to compliment Reading Works.

It can be a little overwhelming at first and I don't think I could do the program justice trying to describe it briefly, but if you contact the Pattersons they will answer any questions you may have. The contact information is on their site. They offered to talk to me over the phone several times and they are really nice people. Jay Patterson taught The Writing Road to Reading for struggling kids for years, then he and his wife started doing workshops and people begged him to write a program. He shares years of research and experience in the material and it was very encouraging!

Here is a link if you need it - http://theworkspeople.com/aboutus.shtml

 

[lucigo]

Wondering if anyone here has used the dreambox math website?

 

[jennykay]

Talk to me about phonics. Here's my situation(s).

1. 5th grade boy. Can't spell worth a darn. Finally realized he has no clue about phonograms. So I want to teach him the phonograms and hopefully hel his spelling.

2. Almost 5 yo boy who is just starting to read. Knows all his letters & sounds. Can read CVC words. No in a rush, manly thinking about next year.

Honestly phonics makes my eyes glaze over. I'm more of a math & science gal. I've tried reading The Writing Road to Reading (Among others) and it all sees so complicated.

What to do?

We have been using All About Spelling. No worksheets. It works through the phonograms and teaches the spelling rules. It might be just what you're looking for. We started with book 1 with a beginning reader (she could read, but slowly) to help her get the phonics, and just worked quickly through with our 5th grader for spelling. Something else on your list of things to check into.

 

[Nanu57v]

Nicolepa--- Look at Explode the Code online. My DD loves computer games...so she enjoyed doing this online because it was more like a game. I got it through homeschoolbuyerscoop

 

[Mouseketeer67]

Bump

 

[lucigo]

Anyone have advice for homeschooling a high schooler? We are switching from Florida Virtual to just homeschooling since we moved to Virginia and I'm just starting the process of figuring out curriculum. She works best with structured computer based programs.

 

[DisHmsklMom]

Are you just starting high school?
There are so many choices of how you can do high school. There are a number of free things you can tap into:
https://www.coursera.org/, http://www.opentapestry.com/items,
http://www.learnerstv.com/index.php, http://www.courserepository.org/,
https://www.khanacademy.org/, and there are more all the time.
You can also look into accredited high school programs like:
http://keystoneschoolonline.com/, http://highschool.unl.edu/, https://www.americanschoolofcorr.com/, and this this goes on and on depending upon what you are looking for.
You can also go the non-accredited route (I admit that I am biased i this area), there again is a ton of stuff out there:
http://landryacademy.com/, http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/, http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/Courses.aspx?ps=902, and more.
You will need to look at what your state says about high school in its laws and work from there. If you also have a college or area of study in mind utilizing the college sites can be very helpful because they have what they expect your high schooler to have accomplished before attending their school.
Try not to buy anything until you can lay your hands on it, or try it out a bit first. There is so much stuff out there it can feel overwhelming, but it can be freeing to walk away from something that is not working knowing that you can find something else that can work better for you and your daughter.

 

[lucigo]

Are you just starting high school?
There are so many choices of how you can do high school. There are a number of free things you can tap into:
https://www.coursera.org/, http://www.opentapestry.com/items,
http://www.learnerstv.com/index.php, http://www.courserepository.org/,
https://www.khanacademy.org/, and there are more all the time.
You can also look into accredited high school programs like:
http://keystoneschoolonline.com/, http://highschool.unl.edu/, https://www.americanschoolofcorr.com/, and this this goes on and on depending upon what you are looking for.
You can also go the non-accredited route (I admit that I am biased i this area), there again is a ton of stuff out there:
http://landryacademy.com/, http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/, http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/Courses.aspx?ps=902, and more.
You will need to look at what your state says about high school in its laws and work from there. If you also have a college or area of study in mind utilizing the college sites can be very helpful because they have what they expect your high schooler to have accomplished before attending their school.
Try not to buy anything until you can lay your hands on it, or try it out a bit first. There is so much stuff out there it can feel overwhelming, but it can be freeing to walk away from something that is not working knowing that you can find something else that can work better for you and your daughter.

She is a junior, and has taken most of her classes through FLVS, although we have done some one our own through Khan, and done our own thing with cooking, art, and photography. Thanks for sites I will definitely be checking them out. I'm a little nervous as she is turning 18 in Feb, and would like to continue to receive social security survivors benefits for her, so want to make sure that I have whatever they want. We were all set for her to continue on through the local jr college in Pensacola, but now we have had to make a move to Virginia and are starting all over again.

 

[NHWX]

Are you just starting high school?
There are so many choices of how you can do high school. There are a number of free things you can tap into:
https://www.coursera.org/, http://www.opentapestry.com/items,
http://www.learnerstv.com/index.php, http://www.courserepository.org/,
https://www.khanacademy.org/, and there are more all the time.

Thanks for all the resources!

 

[worm761]

I am a bit late to the game. Didn't even realize there was a homeschool thread! Love it.

My name is Angela. My DS is 16 and does school at home via a virtual school through the public school. I love this option for high school. DD is only 3 and I am looking at starting a preschool program with her. We plan for her to do the virtual school here too. Though I am not sure at what age we will start that.

My purpose for searching this out.... when looking up preschool curriculum I noticed that there is a lot of writing. It seems to me that DD is lacking in fine motor skills. Do you guys have any suggestions for games or activities to do with her to increase them? Thanks for any advice!

 

[quandrea]

We love Disney Y.E.S. Programs. We have done homeschool days as well as Individual Enrollment. It is great they now offer so many Individual Enrollment classes. This past trip we had 8 day park hoppers plus 8 visits to the waterparks or Disney quest ( these can be used same day as parks or additional days) I believe our tickets (including class) were @$204 each!!!

Then we stayed in a three bedroom condo at Windsor Hills (5 minutes from Animal Kingdom) for $299 a week for two weeks. Rented a full-size car for 10 days for total of $154.

Thank you Disney Youth Education Series for providing an awesome program with amazing savings.

We have loved classes offered. As with many things in life it is what you make of it. If you have any questions pm me. My goal each trip is stay longer, spend less, and do something we have never done before. Y.E.S. has provided the means for this to happen.

(I will have to proofread this later- typing on my phone

Is there anyone registered for the Synergy in Science Individual Enrollment program scheduled for February 6 in the morning at EPCOT. It would be nice to make contact with someone else in the group. My daughter is 8.

 

[Gitts2008]

Hello Everyone

I am considering homeschooling my 11 yo DD but I am not sure if I am doing it for the right reasons. DD was being bullied in the beginning of the school year and I came to find out that detrimental lies were told about her. Once a lie is said, it can not be taken back and DD could have been expelled from the school district. I went to private school my whole life, so this whole situation is new and upsetting to me, DD and DH.

The school was not helpful. They issued a "stay away from each other" order. DD has lost three friends bc of this ordeal. How can she remain friends when the parents are being told that my child is a "psycopath." DD is not perfect and I do not act as though she is absent of faults, but I can not compete with gossip and lies. It scares me what effect this whole situation could have on DD. So, I am considering pulling her from school, so that she and our family does not need to concern ourselves with this stress.

Right or wrong? Any advice?

 

[jdcthree]

Hello Everyone

I am considering homeschooling my 11 yo DD but I am not sure if I am doing it for the right reasons. DD was being bullied in the beginning of the school year and I came to find out that detrimental lies were told about her. Once a lie is said, it can not be taken back and DD could have been expelled from the school district. I went to private school my whole life, so this whole situation is new and upsetting to me, DD and DH.

The school was not helpful. They issued a "stay away from each other" order. DD has lost three friends bc of this ordeal. How can she remain friends when the parents are being told that my child is a "psycopath." DD is not perfect and I do not act as though she is absent of faults, but I can not compete with gossip and lies. It scares me what effect this whole situation could have on DD. So, I am considering pulling her from school, so that she and our family does not need to concern ourselves with this stress.

Right or wrong? Any advice?

There are many reasons why families choose to homeschool and your situation is certainly a good reason. Your child's mental and emotional health is very important and you are right to try to protect her from all of the drama and stress she is going through at school. You have your child's best interest at heart, so be confident that you can make the best decision for her. Whatever you decide to do, blessings to you on your journey!

 

[Gitts2008]

Thank you jdcthree. After 4 months of this I've had enough but the message that I do not want to send to DD is "run away" but her well being is first and foremost my priority. Thanks again for the support.

If anyone is the state of NY, specifically Suffolk County has any tips for me on how to proceed with home school, I would love to chat.

 

[jdcthree]

Thank you jdcthree. After 4 months of this I've had enough but the message that I do not want to send to DD is "run away" but her well being is first and foremost my priority. Thanks again for the support.

If anyone is the state of NY, specifically Suffolk County has any tips for me on how to proceed with home school, I would love to chat.

You are welcome! I don't live in NY, but if you check out the HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) site, they will have all of the information you need for homeschooling in NY.

 

[GusGus77]

Don't think of pulling her from school as "running away." You are simply removing her from the drama. Life is too short and fragile to deal with the pettiness. You are teaching her that there are always options and that you don't have to put up with other people bullying you. Also, you are showing her that she is too good of a person to remain in a toxic environment such as the one school as created.

 

[chris31997]

Hello Everyone

I am considering homeschooling my 11 yo DD but I am not sure if I am doing it for the right reasons. DD was being bullied in the beginning of the school year and I came to find out that detrimental lies were told about her. Once a lie is said, it can not be taken back and DD could have been expelled from the school district. I went to private school my whole life, so this whole situation is new and upsetting to me, DD and DH.

The school was not helpful. They issued a "stay away from each other" order. DD has lost three friends bc of this ordeal. How can she remain friends when the parents are being told that my child is a "psycopath." DD is not perfect and I do not act as though she is absent of faults, but I can not compete with gossip and lies. It scares me what effect this whole situation could have on DD. So, I am considering pulling her from school, so that she and our family does not need to concern ourselves with this stress.

Right or wrong? Any advice?

You are not teaching her to run away. You tried to fight for what was right. You tried to work with in the system and it did not work. Now for her mental health and educational well being it is time to try something new. I second looking into HSLDA. I have found their info pretty good. If you are a member, easy to contact and ask questions. Under NY you can find the laws and even groups, hopefully one in your area, you can hook up with.

 

[momto2js]

We are taking DS out of school for the last 6 weeks of school to travel abroad with my DH leading up to the summer. I am looking for resources to develop an educational plan to submit to our "powers that be" to allow me to homeschool him for the last 6 weeks of the school year and then continue over the summer.

Do you have any ideas where to find a well laid out program that I can use. I am thinking that I will buy a 1st grade program and then develop some activities that will address any areas he needs to be able to do it. I was looking at several pearson homeschool products, envison math and words their way seem like a good place to start.

Any suggestions for short term homeschooling would be appreciated!!

 

[dis-happy]

We are taking DS out of school for the last 6 weeks of school to travel abroad with my DH leading up to the summer. I am looking for resources to develop an educational plan to submit to our "powers that be" to allow me to homeschool him for the last 6 weeks of the school year and then continue over the summer.

Do you have any ideas where to find a well laid out program that I can use. I am thinking that I will buy a 1st grade program and then develop some activities that will address any areas he needs to be able to do it. I was looking at several pearson homeschool products, envison math and words their way seem like a good place to start.

Any suggestions for short term homeschooling would be appreciated!!

Honestly, several weeks abroad is educational enough imo. Is the school requiring this? Do you have a pressing need personally to do schoolwork with your child over the summer? If not, I'd sit back and enjoy the trip. If the school gives you a hard time, un-enroll him, then re-enroll in the fall. I wouldn't even worry about missing the last 6 weeks of math....it will all be reviewed again in the fall.

 

[jahber]

We are taking DS out of school for the last 6 weeks of school to travel abroad with my DH leading up to the summer. I am looking for resources to develop an educational plan to submit to our "powers that be" to allow me to homeschool him for the last 6 weeks of the school year and then continue over the summer.

Do you have any ideas where to find a well laid out program that I can use. I am thinking that I will buy a 1st grade program and then develop some activities that will address any areas he needs to be able to do it. I was looking at several pearson homeschool products, envison math and words their way seem like a good place to start.

Any suggestions for short term homeschooling would be appreciated!!

What state do you live in? In Florida, you don't need permission to homeschool your child. You just unenroll him and send a letter to the school board within 30 days indicating when you started. That keeps the truancy officers away. Then you are free to re-enroll in the fall. We have to submit an eval or portfolio in Fl, but it's not a big deal. I homeschooled my nephew for the second half of 3rd grade because he wasn't predicted to pass the FCAT. Now he's in 6th grade in advanced classes, so you can imagine how I feel about the FCAT's predictive abilities

Have a great time overseas!