Homeschool Chat Part III

[cerberus]

Hello everyone :. I am a lurker and a rare poster, but was hoping some of you could offer me some help.

I do not homeschool because of my job, DD does attends a catholic full day kindergarten.
DD just turned 5 end of August, so she is the youngest in her class. She is doing well in school so far, but I just really want to help her "keep up". She has not learned to read yet and she gets upset becuse other kids in her class can read.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can help her? We read books together every night and knows her alphabet, we talk about the sounds letters make, and what simple words start with......but I do not know what else to do
She also has her own computer if anyone knows of any computer educational programs.

:

 

[CobraBubbles]

Hi Cobrabubbles, I just wanted to say that I love that Dr.Seuss qoute in your signature!

I'm not from Texas, but from what i've read, you would have it pretty easy there with homeschooling.

Thanks, good to know

If you haven't already, check out the HSLDA's list. They've got info on each state's requirements.

Thank you for the link, I will check it out.

 

[momo3hods]

I highly recommend Explode the Code for your DD, cerberus. I used it with my DD6 last year and she is reading as good as my DS8 now! She also really enjoyed it

 

[cerberus]

I highly recommend Explode the Code for your DD, cerberus. I used it with my DD6 last year and she is reading as good as my DS8 now! She also really enjoyed it

Thanks momo3hods, would you recommend doing it online or using the workbooks?

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Cerbersus, For reading games on the computer, my dd6 has been playing on starfall.com

We're going to be doing many other things too, but if your dd is in school all day, you don't want to burn her out, so maybe just some little games to give her a boost would be perfect.

I have 3 dds. My dd11 didn't read well until the end of 2nd grade, my dd9 could read very well by the end of 1st. My dd6 is just starting to read. I know the schools expect so much of the kids and the ones that arent' ready to read think they're "behind" Your dd will read just fine when she's ready!

 

[cerberus]

Cerbersus, For reading games on the computer, my dd6 has been playing on starfall.com

We're going to be doing many other things too, but if your dd is in school all day, you don't want to burn her out, so maybe just some little games to give her a boost would be perfect.

I have 3 dds. My dd11 didn't read well until the end of 2nd grade, my dd9 could read very well by the end of 1st. My dd6 is just starting to read. I know the schools expect so much of the kids and the ones that arent' ready to read think they're "behind" Your dd will read just fine when she's ready!

Thanks, I had forgotten about starfall...I have seen it recommended n here before. Our main hard drive crashed awhile back and I lost all th educational bookmarks I had for DD. We are going on the computer right now to try it....she will love that

 

[momo3hods]

Starfall is great too! I used the Explode the Code workbooks which my DD loved! It's just like the phonics books I used in school way back when

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

I was checking for some resources on ebay when I came across this video about the seller of an item.

Too cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc&feature=player_embedded

 

[disneymom3]

I love Tim Hawkins. He is so funny!
Our year is going well so far. DD is liking high school but the lack of family freedom is getting to me already. I am trying not to have an attitude about some things..I think the play picked for fall is totally inappropriate, the way the Algebra teacher makes them do some problems makes no sense (and even if you get the right answer, it's wrong if you don't do it her way) and finally, I think teaching Spanish with Spain pronunciations instead of Mexico ones is stupid. How many spanish speaking immigrants from Spain have you run into lately?

We might not make it past one year of public school.

 

[disneymom3]

Thank you! I am going to have to research this a bit more. I think my son would enjoy this, but it seems like so much work on my end. I'm also having issues with the question "How do I know we're covering the right things?" My biggest fear is creating gaps in his learning, which is why I went with K12 in the first place.

ONe thing I have come to realize in my years of homeschooling, is, the "right thing" according to whom? Decide what you think your child should learn about or is drawn to learn about and go for it. Really, think of what you learned in elementary school. Do you remember ANY of it other than basic math and how to read? I think as homeschooling moms we often place way too much pressure on ourselves. Your child is going to learn. You care way more about him than anyone else on this earth possibly could. Of course you are going to make the choices you feel are best for him.

We had a mom at our co-op saying her child was "behind." I said "Behind what? The public schools? Who cares what they think in the long run. You chose to homeschool your child because you didn't like public school. So why try to be like them?" I think I stumped her.

Now I am certainly not saying just leave it all to chance, but what order you cover what stuff doesn't really matter. Get a math curriculum, teach them to read and get some fun books with history and do science projects. Make sure they get outside as much as possible. Ta da...you're done.

 

[graygables]

the way the Algebra teacher makes them do some problems makes no sense (and even if you get the right answer, it's wrong if you don't do it her way)

Oh, my gosh! 25yo DD and I were just talking about this very thing. Her first year back in PS was the 8th grade, the only way to get on the advanced math track in our district, and hubby would try to help explain math problems to her. They butted heads every day because he wasn't doing it the way the TEACHER did it. I finally had a conference and found that the teacher was the same way...her way or a zero! I was and hubby had to quit trying to help. It was a horrible year.

 

[cerberus]

Starfall is great too! I used the Explode the Code workbooks which my DD loved! It's just like the phonics books I used in school way back when

Thanks I will order the workbooks then

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh, my gosh! 25yo DD and I were just talking about this very thing. Her first year back in PS was the 8th grade, the only way to get on the advanced math track in our district, and hubby would try to help explain math problems to her. They butted heads every day because he wasn't doing it the way the TEACHER did it. I finally had a conference and found that the teacher was the same way...her way or a zero! I was and hubby had to quit trying to help. It was a horrible year.

This is what I am so excited to get away from. My dd struggles as it is, so when we can find a way to make her understand something it is great. BUT... then she goes to school the next day and has to sit there and do her math worksheet all over again during recess because it wasn't the "right" way to do it

 

[3princesses+aprince]

So do you guys feel you have a problem......buying things...... Every store I walk into now there is something I see that I could use for teaching. My Mom just called me a little while ago and was at the store. She bought a white board that has a monthly calendar on it and another white board that has the weekly calendar.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

So do you guys feel you have a problem......buying things...... Every store I walk into now there is something I see that I could use for teaching. My Mom just called me a little while ago and was at the store. She bought a white board that has a monthly calendar on it and another white board that has the weekly calendar.

Oh...if I could have back the money on all the items that I thought were so wonderful but then never used ... we could probably book another Disney trip

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh, I'm sure. I'm trying to not buy things that could just collect dust in a month. We'll see how that goes Right now on my shopping list is another whiteboard But a plain one. Alphabet letters, a clock to play with with, and just a few other little things. I want a globe for Christmas

 

[robinsegg]

the way the Algebra teacher makes them do some problems makes no sense (and even if you get the right answer, it's wrong if you don't do it her way)

My friend used to teach math at high school/college level and was *amazed* that there were teachers in Jr high and high school who didn't understand math well enough to accept work done more than one way, let alone *teach* it more than one way! Oh, she told me she really hated that "teachers" in specified fields like that *really* needed to know their subjects better. She had at least 3 ways to teach any concept and accepted it as long as the student did the work and got it right.

I think teaching Spanish with Spain pronunciations instead of Mexico ones is stupid. How many spanish speaking immigrants from Spain have you run into lately?

Well, it's been awhile since I've heard the public schools (and much less the government) accused of common sense.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Oh...if I could have back the money on all the items that I thought were so wonderful but then never used ... we could probably book another Disney trip

Here, too. But I think I've definitely gotten better each year. We get the basics and resist any shiny stuff unless I think it's absolutely going to be used!

Someone mentioned white boards -- that's another story. We've gone through about three plain ones since my oldest started K (he's in 7th now). That's a purchase we where definitely got our money's worth.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

polkadotsuitcase, I just checked out your website! It looks great!

 

[MomofSixinSC]

ONe thing I have come to realize in my years of homeschooling, is, the "right thing" according to whom? Decide what you think your child should learn about or is drawn to learn about and go for it. Really, think of what you learned in elementary school. Do you remember ANY of it other than basic math and how to read? I think as homeschooling moms we often place way too much pressure on ourselves. Your child is going to learn. You care way more about him than anyone else on this earth possibly could. Of course you are going to make the choices you feel are best for him.

We had a mom at our co-op saying her child was "behind." I said "Behind what? The public schools? Who cares what they think in the long run. You chose to homeschool your child because you didn't like public school. So why try to be like them?" I think I stumped her.

Now I am certainly not saying just leave it all to chance, but what order you cover what stuff doesn't really matter. Get a math curriculum, teach them to read and get some fun books with history and do science projects. Make sure they get outside as much as possible. Ta da...you're done.

I feel my most important goals as a homeschooler are to instill in my children a love for God and His Word, the ability to read well and express themselves well, a good solid foundation in math, and the ability to research things they wish to learn about. i do teach history, science, etc., but if there are "gaps", they will have the tools to fill them themselves.