Any Disney Homeschoolers?

[Dancind]

Vicki, I think you've made an excellent point, don't worry about it. This is exactly what I'm thinking about now. MY DD loves to learn, or used to. Now she would rather spend all day role-playing on a web site. The first thing I will do if we homeschool is use the parental controls on the sites to lock her out until I determine that she's done with school for the day! But I also need some structure for her because I do work at home and feel like she needs an authority figure to answer to. So I've been looking at Laurel Springs and Trent, but I have no idea what these would be like for her. She's a VS learner and hates repetition. I'm thinking maybe she needs a less structured plan, even though that means more work for me! Diana

 

[house_of_princesses]

even though that means more work for me!

Well, we have to fill our hours in one way or another, don't we? May as well be for someone/thing we love! At least that's what I tell myself when I'm feeling like I should abandon ship!

 

[crazymomof4]

Thanks sha_lyn and Vicky for your replies.
This coming year he will be using the American School program. Looking at the literature, it seems as if his coarse load will be lighter than it was last year so I have more opportunity to supplement with imaginative (non-classroom type) learning. Field trips will be easier this year too. Last yr DS, 6 was in half-day kindgergarten so my day was really broken up, I could not go away for long periods of time. I'm excited about using the Discovery Channel site...that would be right up his alley. Today I dug out the Highschool Advantage CD's that I bought last year and was pleasantly surprised. They are interactive, contain video clips, crosswords, maps and even end of chapter quizes and final exams! I hope he will find them more interesting than just a textbook. Also, I've been looking on so many websites for teacher's suggested learning activities that my head is spinning! Anyway, I'm optimistic. Thanks again!

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by house_of_princesses
IMHO, the hardest thing for a new HS family to do is leave the PS way of life behind. A mistake often made by new HS families is re-creating the classroom at home. Why does he have to have a text book at all? Give him literature, good literature. A program our family enjoys is Learning Language Arts through Literature. It covers grammar, spelling, composition, handwriting and reading. Science, purchase some chem kits for the home, study the microscope or the stars, visit nature centers, national parks or the local pond. For history, well, I could go on forever. Our basic tools for history are a time line created by the student, a history outline almanac (ie. Kingfisher History Encyclopedia) and period related novels. You could build salt maps, put on a play, make a papier mache Roman helmet, serve a medieval feast... the ideas are endless. Of course, travel is always a plus. Visit some Civil War battlefields, explore the Alamo, study the Grand Canyon.

.

Um, my kids do that all in public school. (except the travel part, but lots of families do that on their own) They read novels from which they learn vocab, spelling, do a play based on the novel etc. They do experiments such as traveling to the local stream for field studies. They had to make primitive tools, had an English tea, made volcanoes. We also do a lot of this at home, like science experiments, or we'll go places to experience it.

 

[house_of_princesses]

Karel, My point is that if someone's PS system isn't working, they have to find a different system. If your wonderfully sounding system didn't work for your child/ren, then maybe textbook/workbook learning is for yours! I guess I'm trying to say we have to look outside our specific boxes at times, that's all.

 

[crazymomof4]

I have been following this thread and enjoying the interchange of ideas and encouragement. As I have previously posted, I currently HS only one of my 3 school aged kids and that only after 7 yrs. of PS. So no one could accuse me of being “anti-public school”. Because I have a seat “in both camps” so to speak, I feel I have an objective viewpoint. Here is what I’m seeing on this thread……HS parents seem to be becoming almost paranoid as to how they word their replies. Now I am totally opposed to the “HS is always OH SO MUCH BETTER than PS (IMHO, it’s not) attitude. I cringe when those of the vocal minority (to quote Kathy) bash a PS parent’s decision. But should all HS’ers posting here have to give a detailed explanation as to how everything in their post is to be taken? When a HS parent makes a statement regarding the PS system it is based on their own experiences and should be taken as such, not as an across-the-board generalization of all PS everywhere. After all, there are great PS and terrible ones. There are great teachers and ones that, well, make your life and that of your child a nightmare. On top of that, all children are different. My experience with 2 DS’s in the same school system yielded 2 completely different results. So who can say what is best for any one else? No one here is attempting to do so.

Since the title of this thread is “Any Disney Homeschoolers?”, I would hope that PS parents who choose to read it do so out of a sincere interest in HS’ing and not merely to pick apart and read negativity into every other word in the posts. Please, take no offense bc., in most cases, none is meant…really! No one wants a debate here. We want to keep this thread alive so we can continue to share with and support one another.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by crazymomof4
Since the title of this thread is “Any Disney Homeschoolers?”, I would hope that PS parents who choose to read it do so out of a sincere interest in HS’ing and not merely to pick apart and read negativity into every other word in the posts. Please, take no offense bc., in most cases, none is meant…really! No one wants a debate here. We want to keep this thread alive so we can continue to share with and support one another.

Since I posted this thread, that is and remains my intention - to locate and have discussion with other homeschoolers or anyone interested in learning about it. I am not a debator and am glad that you have posted this so politely -

I am one to get "off topic" very easily whether it be in threads or in general, so the idea of having a homeschooling thread does appeal to me.

None of us are perfect, we all just want to do what we do - teach our children ourselves.

So with that in mind - how do you, the parents, stay on track during your homeschooling sessions?

Rae

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by rae519
So with that in mind - how do you, the parents, stay on track during your homeschooling sessions?

Rae

Well, with our curriculum, K12, our lesson plans, schedules, attendance record and all that jazz are online.

So how do I stay on track??? By not pulling up a separate window to DIS while the kids are doing their work!

Of course, that's always the PLAN!

 

[Steve H.]

Honestly, I've seen nothing but honest dialogue and sincere questions (with well-stated answers) from all people on the thread. I don't understand why each question being asked has been met with this apparent "Oh no, here we go again" reaction?

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by crazymomof4
Now I am totally opposed to the “HS is always OH SO MUCH BETTER than PS (IMHO, it’s not) attitude. I cringe when those of the vocal minority (to quote Kathy) bash a PS parent’s decision. But should all HS’ers posting here have to give a detailed explanation as to how everything in their post is to be taken? When a HS parent makes a statement regarding the PS system it is based on their own experiences and should be taken as such, not as an across-the-board generalization of all PS everywhere. After all, there are great PS and terrible ones. There are great teachers and ones that, well, make your life and that of your child a nightmare. On top of that, all children are different. My experience with 2 DS’s in the same school system yielded 2 completely different results. So who can say what is best for any one else? No one here is attempting to do so.

I did not take offense to anything that has been said. On the contrary, I find the thread interesting and educational. I often play the what if game but luckily we have a great public school - two classes of each grade, 13 kids in my daughter's third grade class. Do I wish they would do things differently sometimes, yeah, but that's the way life is. I There are plenty of people who homeschool in my town but I don't know WHY. I'm using some of your links. I liked the Discovery one. I just wanted to make sure people know that public schools do things as you do at home - hands on, experiments etc. I think it was the line about being a mistake to re- create a classroom at home. Yes, my children have textbooks but they have a lot of other things to in their classroom. I think of textbooks as a jumping off point - like doing drills to warm up before the scrimmage.

 

[house_of_princesses]

How fortunate for you, Karel, that your dd has only 13 in her class! With small numbers like that flexibility is made easier for our hard working teachers.

In our hometown, we have 8 kindergarten teachers. That's 15 classes. Our high school had a graduating class of upper 800's. The numbers are staggering! And when one adult averages a classroom of 27, it makes it more difficult (not impossible) to do spontaneous leaps into a particular subject. I like having the flexibility of leaving horsemanship behind when we discover astronomy, for example. I like travelling with the girls (we go for extended periods. Yes, it's a blessing.). Ask any HS'ers reasons for leaving the PS for HS, and their answers are as varied as they are. Mine have very little to do with the PS. I think I came out ok!

Perhaps I'm more sensitive to everything at this point in my life, but I don't like tension between people for choices they have made (barring destructive choices). Not saying anyone here is. Just feel like crying right now. ******* bothers me today, I 'spose.

Sorry, Rae, gettin' off track again....I feel another Crazy Griever Update coming on.

 

[meandtheguys]

I think that one of the reasons HSer's sound a bit paranoid is because of the way people have reacted in the past to our decisions. I know that when my DB and SIL said they were going to HS 16 years ago, I was horrible! I chewed them out over academics and socialization over and over again, taking YEARS to see their point. I have had to eat alot of crow since then!

My MIL has just stopped saying "You ARE going to send him to school next year, aren't you?"

What comes around goes around...

Anyway, HSing has been a huge blessing in our lives. We love doing things, and my boys have progressed at their own pace. They are math whizzes but can't spell worth a darn! We enjoy traveling together and learning about the world. We have a decent support group although the current leadership is a little hung up on legal stuff. I say read a good book and work well with your district and get on with the fun stuff!

I have appreciated the lesson ideas on the thread thus far, and hope it continues to move in a positive direction.

Michelle

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by house_of_princesses
Perhaps I'm more sensitive to everything at this point in my life, but I don't like tension between people for choices they have made (barring destructive choices). Not saying anyone here is. Just feel like crying right now. ******* bothers me today, I 'spose.

Sorry, Rae, gettin' off track again....I feel another Crazy Griever Update coming on.

You are going to be okay, dear friend. There is nothing that anyone can do to prepare a person for loss - child, spouse, parent, friend.....it hurts and it will continue to hurt. All you can do is know that there are other people who have gone through it and who are very willing and able to assist you.

Don't feel like you are crazy - everything in your life has taken an abrupt turn and you are lost - there is no shame in expressing your confusion or anguish.

Just know that we are here or you, on the boards and privately.

Much love and hugs,
Rae

 

[crazymomof4]

Yesterday I stumbled upon a discussion forum for HS'ers on the abcteach.com website. A poster who goes by "rae" was nice enough to e-mail me an 83 page list of helpful websites for HS'ers.
Was that you??

 

[rae519]

No, it wasn't me!!!
But that's for that web address!!


Rae

 

[Bwalker]

Well, I tried and tried to resist throwing my two cents in, but I just have to

My daughter is being graduated from college this December. She was mostly homeschooled but finished her last two years of high school in the public school in our area. Her teachers were a little suspect at first, thinking she would not be prepared to be in a traditional setting, but not only did she do fine, but proved to be a really likeable kid with lots of good friends.

My son has been totally homeschooled and was never in a traditional classroom. He has just finished his first year of college. Both my kids attend the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. He took a lot of hard courses (he's an Athletic Training major) and so he felt very good when finishing the year with a 3.8 GPA. He worked really hard and it paid off.

I've never heard the expression "unschooling" before but after reading the links to it, I think that's what we did! LOL We just had loads of fun learning - all the time.

Does that mean they didn't have to write term papers on Shakespeare or World War II fighter jets? Of course not! Did they have a chemistry with lab class? Of course they did! It's just a different type of learning. My goal was to instill a love of learning into my kids so that they just had a desire to research and learn. None of us are geniuses in my house. We all have to study to learn - it doesn't just happen. So my goal was to prepare them to be able to study, research and learn ON THEIR OWN. I worked at home part-time while they attended school at home It was my own business so I pulled the kids into helping me run it so they have lots of business-smarts.

Well, I don't want this to go on and on, but I just want to encourage all of you homeschoolers out there to hang in there! Most of all, keep your child's interest at heart, which it certainly sounds like you do

I'd also like to say that I know lots of kids who attended the public and private school sectors who are great kids. The homeschooled kids I know are great kids. I've been fortunate never to have met anyone who homeschooled who did not do a great job with their kids. I should refer to these kids as adults - LOL, but to me, they're still kids

It doesn't sound like anyone here has kids as old as mine so I probably have the most homeschooling experience. I've been through countless curriculums and hair colors to hide the premature greying!!!!! LOL LOL But if anyone ever needs a little encouragement, please feel free to email me

Aloha,
Bwalker

 

[Beechparty]

It's always good to hear homeschool college success stories
Thanks for sharing!

 

[rae519]

Bwalker - thanks so much for that post! It is definitely encouraging and if that's what unschooling is about then you got my vote!!!!!!

Rae

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by Beechparty
It's always good to hear homeschool college success stories
Thanks for sharing!

DITTO

 

[Bwalker]

Thanks

Aloha,
Bwalker