Any Disney Homeschoolers?

[Steve H.]

Is this the book?

 

[*Robin*]

That's a great start!

Now if the discussion continues, don't think I'm ignoring you, I have to take DH to get an MRI.

Jenzebelle, you'll just have to stay confused for a while if you really don't know where that came from...sorry.

 

[Jenzebelle]

Jenzebelle, you'll just have to stay confused for a while if you really don't know where that came from...sorry.

Now don't be petulant. I know perfectly well the debates involved with homeschooling here. Steve asked a question. I don't see why you couldn't answer.
When people act namby pamby about a question, it leads me to believe they don't know the answer

 

[Kermit]

I'm going to be homeschooling this fall. I've always intended to homeschool my children, but since I only have one and he's 6 months old, I thought it would be a while. However, DH's 17-year-old brother has recently moved in with us, and I'm giong to homeschool him. He's been doing high school by correspondence since he got kicked out of public school a few years ago, and the program he was doing is simply horrible. I only have two years, but I'm hoping that I can teach him how to write, how to "get" math, and how to *like* learning. That's not too lofty for two years, is it?

I'll take on the unschooling question, but I also won't debate it if it comes to that. Unschooling is based on the premise that children, and people for that matter, are curious and want to learn. If they're unhindered by rules, curriculum goals, schedules, etc., they'll still learn all they need to know to succeed in life, and then some, because of their desire to learn. It's an interesting concept, and I fully intend to incorporate some of its principles when I get to the point where I'm ready to homeschool Jacob. John Holt is another person who writes about unschooling. I'm reading Instead of Education right now, and it's very interesting.

 

[meandtheguys]

We homeschool and we adore Disney. I love being able to plan our trips for the "school year"! I have 3 DS's 9, 6, and 4. Do you work education into your visit or just enjoy yourself? I know...we learn all the time...just wondering if you do anything more structured?

Just curious, do you participate in a support group? Do you enjoy your group. We have a decent one but the current leadership is focussing primarily on legalities rather than planning fun things to do.

Michelle

Okay, I panicked! I want to hear from more homeschoolers without getting into a debate.

I also like looking at my countdown!

 

[crazymomof4]

Oh no! Not another DIS-debate. I just finished reading the 6 pg. beer drinking debate over on the theme parks board. Ugh! (sorry I wasted my time, but, like a bad movie, I couldn't stop w/o seeing how it ended.)
Anyway, I came here for some thought stimulating and encouraging talk about homeschooling. So here goes........
I have choosen to homeschool our kids after the 6th grade. The reasons we waited until then are too many to get into here. I'll just say, this way works for us. I now have one full year of h.s. under my belt. So, I am far from being a veteran and will eagerly follow this thread for some ideas.
I know of unschooling. My MIL did it. (For all of you who get flack from their MIL for homeschooling, mine fully supports me. I get flack from others, though. ) Because my DS 14 (the one I homeschool) spent 7 yrs in public school we felt he needed to be weaned off of the structure of p.s. slowly, so we went with a purchased curriculum. After much research, we chose Pearblossom Private School. They have a physical location in California. We rec'd all textbooks through them along w/ software that allowed DS to take the tests and e-mail them to the school. We enjoyed the school year and Pearblossom was a good program but for highschool (this coming yr) we will switch to American School. Cost was the deciding factor here.

I hope this thread remains civil and flame-free.

 

[chb]

Originally posted by crazymomof4
Oh no! Not another DIS-debate. I just finished reading the 6 pg. beer drinking debate over on the theme parks board. Ugh! (sorry I wasted my time, but, like a bad movie, I couldn't stop w/o seeing how it ended.)
Anyway, I came here for some thought stimulating and encouraging talk about homeschooling.

I was just thinking the same thing.

I'm planning on homeschooling my 4 year old. Can't stand the thought of throwing her "out to the wolves" all day long.

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by meandtheguys
We homeschool and we adore Disney. I love being able to plan our trips for the "school year"! I have 3 DS's 9, 6, and 4. Do you work education into your visit or just enjoy yourself? I know...we learn all the time...just wondering if you do anything more structured?

Check out my idea here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=405279

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by Kermit

I'll take on the unschooling question, but I also won't debate it if it comes to that. Unschooling is based on the premise that children, and people for that matter, are curious and want to learn. If they're unhindered by rules, curriculum goals, schedules, etc., they'll still learn all they need to know to succeed in life, and then some, because of their desire to learn. It's an interesting concept, and I fully intend to incorporate some of its principles when I get to the point where I'm ready to homeschool Jacob. John Holt is another person who writes about unschooling. I'm reading Instead of Education right now, and it's very interesting.

Thanks Kermit -- that's similar to what I found in researching it today. I appreciate the response.

 

[meandtheguys]

Loved the idea! That sounds like a ball! We have 2 weeks in "the world", so I am hoping to be able to take the time to go through things in a bit of depth. My DS9 wants to be a doctor, but I think he is an engineer like his dad and Grandpa. I wish he could go on one of the tours that show how things work. DS6 just wants to be a pirate...don't know what I am going to do about that! I know that he is saving his money for "weapons". I worry that I am encouraging him by sending them on the Pirate's Cruise! I forgot, he is enthralled with crocodiles, etc. So we will also spend time at Gatorland.

We are intending to take this trip at a slow and comfortable pace. I want them to be able to appreciate the small details that make Disney so ultimately cool!

Thanks Again,
Michelle

Also, I read through the whole beer thing too. It was just like slowing down to watch an accident! I had to do it!

 

[debster812]

Originally posted by chb
I'm planning on homeschooling my 4 year old. Can't stand the thought of throwing her "out to the wolves" all day long.

I tried, I swear, I tried to stay out of this, mainly because I really don't care for argument and confrontation. But I find this statement highly insulting (the winking smilie notwithstanding). Last time I checked, there was not a single "wolf" at my son's day care, nor at the elementary school he will be attending in September.

I truly admire folks with the patience and ability to homeschool and teach. I can tell you, I would NEVER be able to do either. But to toss out such a statement is pretty hurtful to those of us who choose to send our kids to public school. Everyone makes choices that they feel are the best for themselves, and their families, and I think we can all at least respect that aspect of this issue.

Thanks

Debbie

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Just as a treat........some Disney Lesson Plans:



Travel Planning Skills


Disney Lesson Plans (Art, music, technology, science, math, geography, language arts)

Holes Lesson Plans

 

[crazymomof4]

debster812 ~ Hmm how do I start. I'm butting in for sure, but maybe I can help avoid a debate here. If you sum it up I have a total of 14 school-years of experience with public school and only one year of homeschooling. I guess that gives me a seat in both camps. I'm thinking maybe the sentiment expressed by chb was directed toward the adults who our children are involved with in the school systems, not the other children. I hope I don't get flamed by teachers when I say this, bc. I truly like most teachers I've come in contact with. There are some teachers my kids have had that I have grown very close to and consider my friends. I tear up when I speak of their dedication and skill in their field. Whenever I can, I request these teachers for my DS's #2 & 3. Unfortunately DS # 1 had to go through first and he got whomever he was assigned to and let me tell you, he got some "wolves"! Like his 1st grade teacher who smiled for the first time 7 months into the school year, or the one who he said had veins "popping out on her forehead when she yelled at the class" or the one who said to her kindergartener, "What are you stupid or something?". His 6th grade teacher almost made me have a nervous breakdown. What kind of a teacher puts 32 NEGATIVE comments in red ink on a student's first report for the year and NOT ONE positive comment??? My DS was a consistant A/B student until he had her. I had sleepless nights, crying over how my son was treated by this woman. Until I called some other moms in his class and found that she was treating 90% of the class the same way, and has been doing so for many years. Despite complaints by parents year after year, teachers like this never seem to change. I swear some of them lost the love of teaching years ago and are just hanging in there until retirement.
My point is that this is a valid fear for some parents. Especially with your firstborn, you never know what the teacher will be like. It's the luck of the draw. My first had 4 not-so-nice teachers and 3 really great ones. My DS #2 has had 100% REALLY GREAT teachers. It's scary to think of your little one, whom you have cherished and nurtured for 5 yrs., spending 6 hours a day for 180 days with a not-so-nice person in charge. So, while I cannot speak for chb, I know if I had made the "wolves" comment, that's what I would have meant.

 

[crazymomof4]

6_Time_Momma ~ Thanks for the links, I've saved them all and will view them when I'm less sleepy.
The wealth of information available to homeschoolers is staggering!
Best wishes on the remainder of your pregnancy and birth of your newest little darling.

 

[debster812]

Nope, no debate here. I don't know enough about homeschooling to be able to have an intelligent conversation. But by the same token, I would not ever make a sweeping generalization about it, based on a few experiences. That's all. I just felt very insulted being the daughter of a teacher, the product of public schools, and the mother of a child who will be attending public schools.

*Sorry, guess I had a little debate in me after all.

I have also bookmarked the links from 6_Time_Momma and plan to check them out over the weekend.

 

[chb]

debster812, I'm sorry if I offended you. I was not slamming anyone. Just making a simple statement. Throwing her out to the wolves...i.e..Big Bad World. No slams to parents, kids, or teachers. No holier than thou attitude. Just a statement about how I was feeling.

 

[palmtreegirl]

ohiominnie Are you using the K12 home school program or the Virtual academy? We are moving to PA next month and I have decided to home school my DD(6) this year and I'm interested in the K12 home school program. If you could give me some feedback about K12 I would really appreciate it!

 

[jimmytammy]

We are getting ready to start our 2nd year of homeschooling. We started last year with just DS (8) who was having some problems learning with the way the system was teaching things. He has some auditory processing problems so he wasn't able to hear certain sounds when they were trying to teach him phonics. At the end of 1st grade he still couldn't read. After a year of homeschooling and approaching things differently along with one-on-one time he was reading at the end of this past school year. He actually enjoys reading time now which is a big accomplishment. I used a varied assortment with him and it worked for us.

We had sent our DD(10) on back to public school last year but after about 7 weeks of homeschooling DS, I felt that I could handle bringing her home. She is one on the other end who was in the advanced classes, etc. and I wasn't sure that I could handle starting with them both. I used straight Abeka with her last year.

This year we are using Saxton math for DD and Alpha Omega math for DS. We are going to use Spelling Power for both, Five In a Row for DS for reading and using different books and units for DD's language and reading. We are going to be doing Unit Studies together as a family for History, Science and Geography.

I didn't think that Homeschooling was going to be something that I enjoyed, but after lots of prayer we knew it was what we had to do for our DS and it has lead us to some wonderful opportunities.

We enjoy getting to learn at our speed, if we need to slow it down in certain areas we can do that or speed it up when we need to. It has just been a whole change for our family and everything we do is learning now. I seem to look at things so much differently now and can draw learning out of just about anything.

Thanks for the links 6_Time_Momma, I have saved them and will take the time to explore them further when I get a chance.

I hope that you all have a blessed day.
Tammy

 

[Dancind]

JImmytammy, your DS sounds like my DD in 1st grade. Phonics just did her in. I taught her to read at home, using a whole language method. I know that method is abhorred by many parents, but it works for kids like ours. If your DD is very smart, your DS is too. A learning disability does not mean that the IQ is lower. When he gets the reading thing figured out, he will take off on you. One minute he will be struggling with primary readers, the next he will be reading Harry Potter. Just don't be surprised! Diana

 

[momof2inPA]

My son is in the K12 virtual academy in PA, and we couldn't be happier about it. We have received so many great materials for every subject, plus a computer, and we proceed at our own pace. In fairness, some homeschoolers do not like the virtual academy because of the extra hoops to jump through, but we love it.