Homeschool Chat Part III

[momimouse27]

mom2boys77, I get where your coming from. My oldest daughter, before we pulled her from school(mind you, this was 10 years ago) was behind in math. She had straight A's in everything else, but math she was failing. When she asked for extra help, the teacher would tell her she didn't have the time to help her, and send home worksheets for me to help her with...Hello?! If I'm already teaching it to her at home then what is she in school for?

Anyway, when we brought her home in 3rd grade, my main goal was multiplication and division. She was behind in that and I knew she would never even have a chance of catching up if we didn't get those down. So I spent that entire year on multiplication and division. Yes, we interpersed those with other small new concepts, but we used flashcards, games and worksheets. She came out of that year knowing all of her facts, and I'm glad we did it that way. She still struggles with math(she is in remedial math in college) but I think she always will. Hope that helps a little!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Last year the PE coach hit DS so hard in his face with a ball that he fell back and hit his head, then needed 7 stitches.

Guess what happen today? The same coach hit my DS in the eye with ball...again. I called the superintendent of the school district who said he would speak to the principal and said principal would call me. Of course no call as of yet. What was weird was that the super said he had just signed the papers for DS to be homeschooled. Well, I never submitted any papers, just inquired as to what is the policy should we want to hs. The super then called my DH and said he was sorry for any miscommunication. I called the secretary and asked if she started paperwork because I didn't. She said no, but she wrote a note to tell the super that I had called upset about DS being bullied and had asked about home school.

I am trying hard to wait for the school to complete the 3 year evaluation which is geared toward academics and will give a good complete "picture" of where DS is on the spectrum. They are also doing a sensory test.

Our appt is set for a month away, but I am just praying we can make it. Today really has sent me over the edge but I want to think with my head not my emotions.

For now I will keep trying to wait it out for our eval and follow up. I feel this teacher needs to be fired because it is obvious he didn't do the ordered training on SN children ordered last year.

I do have teaching textbook Math 3 ordered and now looking for good social studies and LA programs.

 

[bumbershoot]

MVMom, oh your poor son!

Sounds like you're not going to have to make any decision; sounds like it's being made for you...

**********

Finally started 2nd grade today! Since we had such a big vacation in September I didn't want to start then, and then we took our trip to visit my brother, that's becoming a bit of a starting-schoolwork tradition. Finally ordered it and today unpacked it and got started!

We do Oak Meadow, and although last year was a HUGE learning process for me, today it felt like "home" to me. I'm understanding why they do what they do (and when they do it) more and more!

 

[mariezp]

mom2boys77, I get where your coming from. My oldest daughter, before we pulled her from school(mind you, this was 10 years ago) was behind in math. She had straight A's in everything else, but math she was failing. When she asked for extra help, the teacher would tell her she didn't have the time to help her, and send home worksheets for me to help her with...Hello?! If I'm already teaching it to her at home then what is she in school for?

Anyway, when we brought her home in 3rd grade, my main goal was multiplication and division. She was behind in that and I knew she would never even have a chance of catching up if we didn't get those down. So I spent that entire year on multiplication and division. Yes, we interpersed those with other small new concepts, but we used flashcards, games and worksheets. She came out of that year knowing all of her facts, and I'm glad we did it that way. She still struggles with math(she is in remedial math in college) but I think she always will. Hope that helps a little!

Thanks for sharing your experience. We started homeschooling my son from the very beginning way back when. He graduated last year. You would think that I would be pretty good at this homeschooling thing by now.... but then along came my DD. She is totally different from him in every way! She is now in 4th grade... except for math. It just doesn't click for her. It had gotten to the point that everyday had turned into a battle and we often both ended up in tears.

Finally one day it dawned on me that grade levels are just a sort of guideline and not the absolute necessity. After all this time, it apparently had still been hard, even for me, to completely put aside typical mainstream educational expectations. Thankfully, I'm much better now.

We have now backed off on the math. We went back to third grade to keep going over and over the basics until it finally kicks in for her. Some days I think we may be adding and subtracting until she graduates! Then there are the days that I notice what huge strides she has made in spelling, which also has not always come easy to her, but I am then reassured that there is no harm in taking things slow. Lucky for us we really don't have a deadline we have to meet. Sure, we are going to try to catch back up to "grade level" but if for some reason she can't we will accept her capabilities and be proud of the things she HAS accomplished.

Sometimes it bolsters the spirit to hear the struggles of others, not because one wishes anyone to have struggles, but just to know that you are not the only one. Guess that is just one of the benefits of having this thread in the forums. Thanks again, momimouse27.

 

[jacksmomma]

Just checking in and saying Hello! I want to share a little about our school year so far. DS started KG in September, and has never been to preschool though we have worked on those skills (without a structured routine). I was really beginning to worry because his concentration was not there and he just did not seem to care about school. He just wanted to rush through things to get done. I know that some parents say, "Just wait, they will get it." However I am very type A when it comes to school and I have a hard time "waiting". A few weeks ago DS had his tonsils out and last week was our return to school. It is a night and day difference! DS is enjoying school, no complaints or huffing, and is requesting extra activities! I am so excited! Homeschooling is now finally what I heard it could be with fun for Mom and the kiddos. I never thought the tonsils would make this difference, but I really think they were disrupting his sleep and that was causing concentration problems. Just wanted to share what a great time we are having!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I had a thought. After reading the entire forum I found the same question being asked a few times. What program do you use and what is it? I wondered if it would be a good idea if we as a group could list what program works for us, a bit about the program and then have the mod put them all together as a sticky so there would be a quick place to look at the different HS programs and why we like them.

I have ordered teaching textbook Math Grade 3 but it has not arrived as of yet. I also signed up for time4teaching. We are going to start to read Sarah plain and tall and follow up with online worksheets.

Right now I am of no help but will be soon.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Hi everyone! We had a nice Disney trip in Sept and I'm finally back in the swing of things.

Madeline is doing so well in Kindergarten! She is going through curriculum so fast. So fast in fact that I'm going to have to choose a new science soon. I'm torn between Apologia and the Sonlight science. I love how deep Apologia goes but love the books Sonlight has. I just can't decide.

 

[bumbershoot]

I love how deep Apologia goes but love the books Sonlight has. I just can't decide.

Remember that you can buy "a la carte" from Sonlight...

We have now backed off on the math. We went back to third grade to keep going over and over the basics until it finally kicks in for her. Some days I think we may be adding and subtracting until she graduates!

Hi Marie!

One of the things I like about Oak Meadow, which is an offshoot of sorts of Waldorf, is how SLOWLY they take things, especially math and reading, in the "primary grade" years. What they call the 4 processes of math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) are the foundation of mathematics, and they want to go slow and make SURE that the foundation is solid. Waldorf/Oak Meadow uses lots of stories to illustrate those foundations (especially involving gnomes, LOL), and with my son I find them to be very helpful! Now, I'm such a worksheet person that it's hard for me to come up with those stories (just a short bit ago, to come up with stories of two squirrels sharing nuts, to talk about the processes was so so hard for me!), but it helps him SO much. (and, to be honest, I would have gotten math a lot better if I'd had those gnome stories as well, instead of the worksheets)

So if you've never seen those gnome stories, I highly recommend a quick internet search to see if you can find them. They might help!

 

[dis-happy]

Hi everyone! We had a nice Disney trip in Sept and I'm finally back in the swing of things.

Madeline is doing so well in Kindergarten! She is going through curriculum so fast. So fast in fact that I'm going to have to choose a new science soon. I'm torn between Apologia and the Sonlight science. I love how deep Apologia goes but love the books Sonlight has. I just can't decide.

I'm very partial to the Sonlight K science in general, and after weighing some choices, we decided to do the SL 5 this year with my ds-11. That said, I really like Apologia, especially in the older grades.

 

[southern_redhead]

I wondered if it would be a good idea if we as a group could list what program works for us, a bit about the program and then have the mod put them all together as a sticky so there would be a quick place to look at the different HS programs and why we like them.

I like that idea! I've read through this whole thread, too, as well as the previous one, and that question is asked quite a bit. Another thing I'd like to see along with which program works/description of the program, would be a bit about the student using it (like: works well independently, or is above/below grade level in subject, or has fine motor skills delays....etc..)

We are just "playing" at HS a bit on our week off. Today the kids pitched in together and bought the Minotaurus board game. We built the board this afternoon so we could play with DH after supper tonight. Watching them gave me some ideas about quirks in their learning/operating style. For instance, YDS didn't notice if he didn't have pieces butted up against each other, this reinforces a part of his handwriting that I've always felt was a sign of dysgraphia (he will put spaces in between letters in words but not between the words themselves.) Somehow, he doesn't "see" things the way I do. Also, all three of the kids tried to rush ahead and start building. I really think this concept has been pushed on them in PS (timed drills/reading assignments - don't worry if you "know" so much as you can spit it out quickly enough for a timed test), I really had to work with them on doing things one step at a time. Also, they wanted to rip open the bags, dump it out, and start working. Again, the minute a teacher gives you a worksheet you better have that pencil moving. Heaven forbid you take a moment to scan it and collect your thoughts on what you need to be doing (I've seen teachers accuse students of "lolly-gagging" when they really might be processing the concept of what they are supposed to be doing.) I had to remind them that we had to put things in order before we could begin (sort the pieces into like groups.) Now, ODS is building his own Lego set - something we NEVER have time for in the rush, rush of a school week - and DD is making bracelets to give to her friends (lesson? thoughtfulness and generosity - two things they don't bother to teach in school )

Of course, we can't "play" all day, every day. It was nice, though, to have some time to do so and to be able to pinpoint areas where they need some work. It has also been nice (and would be a nice side benefit of HSing) that they have been able to get enough sleep and operate on their own, personal, clock. None of us are early morning people, I can go to bed at 6 pm and STILL be a groggy mess when I get up at five.... Also, they need some lag time upon waking. DD has timed math first thing each day, she would do so much better doing an activity like quiet reading, or creative writing.

We also took a walk yesterday and collected fall leaves and some interesting seed pods. We are going to try to identify them tonight and talk about the plantlife in the area. Now to keep quietly reminding DH why this is a good idea. He has backslid a bit (talking to his family, I think) and is questioning the idea a bit more now. I guess I'll just keep pointing out benefits and countering the doubts he has with reasons why that isn't really a big concern. I'm sure us being in pjs when he gets home won't further that but it has been cold and rainy all day, and I'm achey from having YDS sleep in our bed last night. We got dressed to run to the store and then hopped back in jammies when we got home so we could lay around the den floor and play.

 

[southern_redhead]

Remember that you can buy "a la carte" from Sonlight...




Hi Marie!

One of the things I like about Oak Meadow, which is an offshoot of sorts of Waldorf, is how SLOWLY they take things, especially math and reading, in the "primary grade" years. What they call the 4 processes of math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) are the foundation of mathematics, and they want to go slow and make SURE that the foundation is solid. Waldorf/Oak Meadow uses lots of stories to illustrate those foundations (especially involving gnomes, LOL), and with my son I find them to be very helpful! Now, I'm such a worksheet person that it's hard for me to come up with those stories (just a short bit ago, to come up with stories of two squirrels sharing nuts, to talk about the processes was so so hard for me!), but it helps him SO much. (and, to be honest, I would have gotten math a lot better if I'd had those gnome stories as well, instead of the worksheets)

So if you've never seen those gnome stories, I highly recommend a quick internet search to see if you can find them. They might help!

After seeing your earlier post, I went and checked out the Oak Meadow website. It looks good. What you've described above makes it sound even better. Can you buy only the math portion or is it a boxed set? I didn't spend a lot of time on the site, so I didn't see the set broken down for buying by the subject.

 

[bumbershoot]

I had to remind them that we had to put things in order before we could begin (sort the pieces into like groups.)

I tried for months to get DS and DH to do that with Legos. Drove them up a wall. Now I let 'em just dump things out and GO. Makes them happier. And for the infrequent times that I do a Lego set, I count everything and make sure it's all there, and take an hour to prep...and I'm happy but they've had to leave the room, LOL.

After seeing your earlier post, I went and checked out the Oak Meadow website. It looks good. What you've described above makes it sound even better. Can you buy only the math portion or is it a boxed set? I didn't spend a lot of time on the site, so I didn't see the set broken down for buying by the subject.

you can check the Bookstore for what costs what...it's a link from the main site.

The math is inside of the main syllabus book; the big stories of the gnomes (they mine for jewels, and each has a personality...one gets over the quota and will give his jewels to the one who gets under the quota and to the one that loses his jewels...and you can find the math inside of those stories) are in the 1st Grade syllabus as far as I have noticed. You CAN buy just the syllabus. You can also look for used copies; the lady at OM when I was going to order 2nd grade really pushed the idea of keeping things pristine so I can sell them at the end of the year!

But you can search online for the ideas of the stories, and Waldorf as well. At my local homeschool convention last June I met some people who used to run a Waldorf school, and are now making cute little gnomes with jewels and sacks for sale...I wish I could find their card again! I meant to go back but the western WA convention is just so HUGE that we didn't have time (and didn't see everything) in the one day we had.

I really enjoy OM (DS too, which is the most important bit), but I know that not everyone would (I had months of debate about it myself!). It's also a challenge to me, as it's not a "do exactly this at this moment, do exactly that at the next moment" sort of curriculum...I have to do "homework" before each lesson! It's "floaty", to use a word that hopefully expresses what I'm trying to say. It was between OM and Calvert for us, because they aren't religious, and both appealed to me even though they are somewhat opposite from each other!

It's definitely important to look all around for reviews and thoughts of different curriculae (is that right? I took Spanish and Japanese, not Latin, darnit). I have heard that kids who have been in school-school need a time to decompress, to get out of the "because you have to" rhythms, and to get into the homeschool mode. That gives you more time to find what methods/books could be really good for the kids.

 

[momimouse27]

chicagoshannon, I love Sonlight. I used it with both my girls and we had so much fun with it! They both used Apologia when they got in middle school, but Sonlight has a special place in my heart.

 

[dis-happy]

In case anyone hasn't run across it, there's another story based math curriculum out there called Life of Fred.

Here's some reviews:

http://cathyduffyreviews.com/math/life-of-fred-math2.htm


http://www.exodusbooks.com/category.aspx?id=5915

 

[bumbershoot]

I love it just for the name!

And in the review..."The Statistics course really is college level. However, it is so engagingly written that it actually makes me want to study statistics". Now THAT is impressive!


Ooh, I almost didn't read the second page you linked to. Glad I did, as I saw...

The first four books (Apples, Butterflies, Cats and Dogs) form the beginning of a planned 12-part elementary series. While these books are for young students and concentrate on basic math like addition and subtraction, telling time, money, and measurements, Schmidt manages to include basic algebraic content and problems in a way that kids will find both fun and understandable. These are new to the course, and should be used prior to Fractions and Decimals and Percents.

 

[mariezp]

Remember that you can buy "a la carte" from Sonlight...




Hi Marie!

One of the things I like about Oak Meadow, which is an offshoot of sorts of Waldorf, is how SLOWLY they take things, especially math and reading, in the "primary grade" years. What they call the 4 processes of math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) are the foundation of mathematics, and they want to go slow and make SURE that the foundation is solid. Waldorf/Oak Meadow uses lots of stories to illustrate those foundations (especially involving gnomes, LOL), and with my son I find them to be very helpful! Now, I'm such a worksheet person that it's hard for me to come up with those stories (just a short bit ago, to come up with stories of two squirrels sharing nuts, to talk about the processes was so so hard for me!), but it helps him SO much. (and, to be honest, I would have gotten math a lot better if I'd had those gnome stories as well, instead of the worksheets)

So if you've never seen those gnome stories, I highly recommend a quick internet search to see if you can find them. They might help!

Thanks for the suggestion bumbershoot. I will have to check it out when we get back from DL. We are down to 10 days and I am in vacation planning mode right now instead of curriculum mode.

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh I'm so jealous! We are just yearning to go back to Disneyland. WDW is faboo, but Disneyland & DCA...oh Disneyland & DCA.... sigh.

 

[ncbunnie]

I'm so glad I found you guys!

I have a 4 yo who will start some form of "school" next year. I am about 80-85% sure we're going with homeschool, but I'm TERRIFIED! Help! lol

We have been really impressed with the Classical Conversations communities in our area. Does anyone have experience with that program? I like the idea of my only child having a "class" and peers to interact with on a limited level, but still having the flexibility in education and learning style that homeschooling allows. Plus if I understand the program correctly it will take a lot of planning out of my hands.

Anybody else have any thoughts on hs and only children? (It doesn't seem as natural when it's just me and my daughter at home with no siblings.)

Thanks!!!

 

[DawnM]

I would love to see those if you still have them. DH is fascinated by that and would love to do some at home.

Dawn

We weren't at the Nutrition Seminar, however, I wonder if you are talking about the hydroponics there? If so, we do have a couple of handouts from doing the tour they give at the Land. LMK if that's what you are looking for.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I'm so glad I found you guys!

I have a 4 yo who will start some form of "school" next year. I am about 80-85% sure we're going with homeschool, but I'm TERRIFIED! Help! lol

We have been really impressed with the Classical Conversations communities in our area. Does anyone have experience with that program? I like the idea of my only child having a "class" and peers to interact with on a limited level, but still having the flexibility in education and learning style that homeschooling allows. Plus if I understand the program correctly it will take a lot of planning out of my hands.

Anybody else have any thoughts on hs and only children? (It doesn't seem as natural when it's just me and my daughter at home with no siblings.)

Thanks!!!

I am also scared, not terrified. From what I have read just pray about it and listen. You will know if you should HS or not. We know we will be HS our DS who is the only child at home. I wish he could have peer interaction but we will just be at home. I think we will get a lot done and quickly as it is just he and I. I plan on sticking with a daily routine as we do with regular life but just have our mornings be school. The same subjects in the same order so he will know what is expected.

I have read and know as mom of a SN child that there are days when it just falls apart. So I plan to be ready for those also and just do extra work when we can to make it up.

Yes, scared is normal for it is fear of the unknown, but it is better than DS getting beat up at the public school.