Homeschool Chat Part III

[chris31997]

My dd 12, is having a bad year. I don't know if one is reason enough to pull her out and have a go at it myself. She has done well up to now, and even likes it. Her father and I are confused.
What are some good articles for us to read? Anything current you know of? Appreciate the help.

Now off to read through thread 1...

Sit down and talk with dd. You need to find out what is going on. Issues with teachers, other students, or whatever that can be an issue at school could be a valid reason to pull. Some issues can be worked out and you don't need to pull dd from school, however some issues can't be worked out. Maybe dd is having issues seeing the front of the classroom or she is running with the wrong crowd and it needs to be stopped before it is an issue.

But talking with dd is important, an open and frank conversation. This is a big step and a huge change.

Now that I put a goo scare on you It can also be the best thing that you do for you, your dd and your family. But everyone has to be on board with it. You, hubby and dd. There will be good days and there will be days But mostly good days.

 

[OHmomof2]

Hello everyone! I'm new here to the DIS boards, but not new to hsing. Just wanted to give some encouragement to those who are new to/struggling with hsing. We've hs both our dds from the beginning. One has graduated and is a sophomore at CSU working on her English degree, the other is a sophomore in high school, still at home. I hope to come and check this thread out every once in awhile!
Pam

 

[newtexan]

dh is on board with it if we decide to go for it.
dd really isn't being open about what is going on at school, so we have set up a meeting with the teacher and with the counselor to talk about it.
thanks for the advice so far, we appreciate it!

 

[dizzymomx4]

Hello everyone! I'm new here to the DIS boards, but not new to hsing. Just wanted to give some encouragement to those who are new to/struggling with hsing. We've hs both our dds from the beginning. One has graduated and is a sophomore at CSU working on her English degree, the other is a sophomore in high school, still at home. I hope to come and check this thread out every once in awhile!
Pam

Hi there~

I just sent you a PM

 

[dizzymomx4]

I have been a lurker for a while and love to read all the posts from everyone. We are in our 5th year of HSing, we have DS 14 (8th grade) and DS10 (4th grade) . This has been the most amazing journey for our family and the BEST decision that we have ever made. As this year ends, I am beginning to feel stress about the choice for High School for our DS. He will be a freshman next year and is insistant that he does not want to go to PS. I am looking for ideas, plans that have worked for others at this stage.
I am sure that we will be fine continuing our journey. I am struggling with what curriculum to choose. We currently use Math U See and love it. As a matter of fact, my son has said he does not want to change that.
As for high school, we have thought about Switched on Schoolhouse. Has anyone used that for High School levels and what are your thoughts? Will it be accepted for College?

I would love ANY and ALL comments on this....My stomach aches just writing this....

 

[pigletto]

Good Evening everyone
It's my sincerest hope that I am not intruding on your thread and that my very rudimentary questions aren't annoying.

I am in a very early investigative phase with the idea of homeschooling.
I was wondering if anyone could point me to useful websites or links to continue my search for answers and information?
I am in Canada, and have found a few useful sites, but I have also come across many dead links, and outdated or closed groups.

What was your starting point for gathering information on whether homeschooling would be a fit for your family?
I have long considered it. I often thought "Oh I wish ..." and lately I am finding myself thinking .."You know, I just might be able to do this..."
There's no one major issue that has me thinking that I would like to homeschool. Rather, it's many small seemingly insignificant things adding together that has me just tired of our current school experience.

So if anyone could point me to where to start reading, or books, or articles.. anything that can be a jumping off point for this decision I would really appreciate it!

 

[jacksmomma]

I have been a lurker for a while and love to read all the posts from everyone. We are in our 5th year of HSing, we have DS 14 (8th grade) and DS10 (4th grade) . This has been the most amazing journey for our family and the BEST decision that we have ever made. As this year ends, I am beginning to feel stress about the choice for High School for our DS. He will be a freshman next year and is insistant that he does not want to go to PS. I am looking for ideas, plans that have worked for others at this stage.
I am sure that we will be fine continuing our journey. I am struggling with what curriculum to choose. We currently use Math U See and love it. As a matter of fact, my son has said he does not want to change that.
As for high school, we have thought about Switched on Schoolhouse. Has anyone used that for High School levels and what are your thoughts? Will it be accepted for College?

I would love ANY and ALL comments on this....My stomach aches just writing this....

A friend of ours has a high school freshman. They do a homeschooling program through a local university. (This is not one of the pop up online universities, but a well known established school that is over 200 years old.) She can get dual credit for some of the classes she takes and she will be able to go right to the university when she finishes her program. If she decides to attend another university, the classes and credits will transfer. I would look into this option, it seems like a seamless transition. Good Luck!

 

[jacksmomma]

I have been a lurker for a while and love to read all the posts from everyone. We are in our 5th year of HSing, we have DS 14 (8th grade) and DS10 (4th grade) . This has been the most amazing journey for our family and the BEST decision that we have ever made. As this year ends, I am beginning to feel stress about the choice for High School for our DS. He will be a freshman next year and is insistant that he does not want to go to PS. I am looking for ideas, plans that have worked for others at this stage.
I am sure that we will be fine continuing our journey. I am struggling with what curriculum to choose. We currently use Math U See and love it. As a matter of fact, my son has said he does not want to change that.
As for high school, we have thought about Switched on Schoolhouse. Has anyone used that for High School levels and what are your thoughts? Will it be accepted for College?

I would love ANY and ALL comments on this....My stomach aches just writing this....

A friend of ours has a high school freshman. They do a homeschooling program through a local university. (This is not one of the pop up online universities, but a well known established school that is over 200 years old.) She can get dual credit for some of the classes she takes and she will be able to go right to the university when she finishes her program. If she decides to attend another university, the classes and credits will transfer. I would look into this option, it seems like a seamless transition. Good Luck!

 

[OHmomof2]

dizzymomx4, I just sent you a PM!

 

[dillydilly]

Dizzymomx4-

We tried SoS a few years back for our older 2 children. While I thought the curriculum was great, I found the software frustrating for my girls. It required exact word answers to questions and leaves no room for personal interpretation, imho. I wish I had a specific scenario that I could give you directly from the program, but I can't. I will give you a vague, disney-fied made up question:

Lesson question: What famous mouse is the star of the black and white cartoon 'Steamboat Willie'?
My dd's answer: Mickey
Program: Wrong. Correct answer: Mickey Mouse

My daugthers would think that because the word "mouse" was in the question, the program was looking for the name of the mouse only.

Sorry for the poor example, but I hope you get the gist of it. Just wanted to offer my opinion. That being said, for some the math program may be a good choice because there's little interpretation with numbers

I frequently visit a homeschooling message board that has a specific place for hsing during the high school years. Feel free to pm me and I'd be glad to give you the info. Personally, I just searched the web for the graduation requirements for your local school district (how many credits of what study area etc). I use that as a guide and keep a transcript for my dd. I have known several homeschool graduates and not one has been denied college admission based on the fact that they are a homeschooler.

You may also want to check into CLEP (also known as clepping). You can earn dual credit for high school and college courses. You study at home and then take a CLEP test at a local testing center. If the student passes, they earn college credits. I know of a fabulous website/ info/ support group for this and would be very happy to give you that info as well. My dd has chosen not to CLEP at this point in time.

Here's some core programs that my dd 15 is doing this year:

Math: Teaching Textbooks
English: Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings
Science: Apologia Chemistry
History: Beautiful Feet US and World History

 

[dillydilly]

Dizzymomx4-

We tried SoS a few years back for our older 2 children. While I thought the curriculum was great, I found the software frustrating for my girls. It required exact word answers to questions and leaves no room for personal interpretation, imho. I wish I had a specific scenario that I could give you directly from the program, but I can't. I will give you a vague, disney-fied made up question:

Lesson question: What famous mouse is the star of the black and white cartoon 'Steamboat Willie'?
My dd's answer: Mickey
Program: Wrong. Correct answer: Mickey Mouse

My daugthers would think that because the word "mouse" was in the question, the program was looking for the name of the mouse only.

Sorry for the poor example, but I hope you get the gist of it. Just wanted to offer my opinion. That being said, for some the math program may be a good choice because there's little interpretation with numbers

I frequently visit a homeschooling message board that has a specific place for hsing during the high school years. Feel free to pm me and I'd be glad to give you the info. Personally, I just searched the web for the graduation requirements for your local school district (how many credits of what study area etc). I use that as a guide and keep a transcript for my dd. I have known several homeschool graduates and not one has been denied college admission based on the fact that they are a homeschooler.

You may also want to check into CLEP (also known as clepping). You can earn dual credit for high school and college courses. You study at home and then take a CLEP test at a local testing center. If the student passes, they earn college credits. I know of a fabulous website/ info/ support group for this and would be very happy to give you that info as well. My dd has chosen not to CLEP at this point in time.

Here's some core programs that my dd 15 is doing this year:

Math: Teaching Textbooks
English: Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings
Science: Apologia Chemistry
History: Beautiful Feet US and World History

 

[chris31997]

dh is on board with it if we decide to go for it.
dd really isn't being open about what is going on at school, so we have set up a meeting with the teacher and with the counselor to talk about it.
thanks for the advice so far, we appreciate it!

I think that is a good plan of attack I wish you good luck in finding out whatever the issue might be. Hopefully, she is just bored with the teaching

 

[ncbunnie]

I'm curious if anyone else has had this happen.

My dd and I do school at our local library one day a week. It's a nice change of scenery from our house, we pick up some books (and a movie if she's good) and she gets to play on their computers for a while while I read. It's a nice change of pace. I take in her books and supplies and we stake out a table in the children's section so not to bother anyone while we're talking and work from there.

Today we were there just after lunch so it seemed a bit more crowded than usual. My daughter was on a computer playing a reading game and another child just kind of came over and obnoxiously said very loudly, "I wanna play!" so I kind of rescued my daughter (who's almost 5) and said, "she's playing right now- if you'll let her finish her game you can have a turn." The other kid kind of stood right over my daughter while she finished her game, then I suggested that we return to the table and finish school so the other kid could have the computer. As soon as we sat down at the table with her books and art supplies (I take a briefcase-like art kit with markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.) the other child comes over and sits at a chair at the table with us and proceeds to grab markers from my child's art kit! I was so shocked I kind of didn't know what to do. I mean, this is a VERY small child's table. It wasn't like a conference table. I just kind of slid the art kit to the floor by my chair and waited for the parent to come over... and no parent ever came! So I started my daughter on her activity and by that point the other child lost interest and left the markers on the table and ran to get some blocks... which he then brought over and started banging on the table in front of my dd. Finally a parent came over and just kind of said, "do you want to color? Okay, well let's go put the blocks back first..." and while they were gone putting the blocks away I packed up the art things and hid them from view and we very shortly left the library thereafter.

My question is: if you do school at the library, are you expected to entertain other people's children? This was a first in the very physically-involved kid area, but we have had quite a few experiences where people send their kids over kind of expectantly wanting to participate in whatever activity we're doing. If I'm reading a book of whatever I love to have other kids come and sit with us while we read a story. But if we're doing a craft or a work sheet, I usually don't print extras to have for the other kids who just happen to be hanging out in the library.

I just thought it was kind of an odd situation and I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? I'm not sure what proper library etiquette is in this situation!

 

[chicagoshannon]

I haven't had that happen but I have a feeling other parents have. There are numerous signs all over the children's area stating that children are to be accompanied at all times.

We don't school at the library because we wouldn't get anything done with me chasing after our toddler.

 

[mks18412]

This is my first year HSing my dd9/3rd grade. If you would of asked my this time last year I would of said "No way". I decided to take my dd out of ps for a number of reasons. 1. No books 2. No report cards 3. dd would have to come and be retaught everything that they supposedly did during the day. 4. My child being bullied and telling the teacher only for her response was "Dont act like a kindergardener. , REALLY!?! And many more reasons.

 

[dizzymomx4]

Hi there and Welcome to the wonderful journey of Homeschooling!

It is an amazing journey that will take you on many wonderful adventures. there will be times that are tough, I am having that now with my DS14 starting High School next year

I know that it has been wonderful for our family and wish you a Blessed Journey!

This is a wonderful Board with lots of discussions that have been helpful to me....and once again !!!

 

[bellebud]

I'm curious if anyone else has had this happen.

My dd and I do school at our local library one day a week. It's a nice change of scenery from our house, we pick up some books (and a movie if she's good) and she gets to play on their computers for a while while I read. It's a nice change of pace. I take in her books and supplies and we stake out a table in the children's section so not to bother anyone while we're talking and work from there.

Today we were there just after lunch so it seemed a bit more crowded than usual. My daughter was on a computer playing a reading game and another child just kind of came over and obnoxiously said very loudly, "I wanna play!" so I kind of rescued my daughter (who's almost 5) and said, "she's playing right now- if you'll let her finish her game you can have a turn." The other kid kind of stood right over my daughter while she finished her game, then I suggested that we return to the table and finish school so the other kid could have the computer. As soon as we sat down at the table with her books and art supplies (I take a briefcase-like art kit with markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.) the other child comes over and sits at a chair at the table with us and proceeds to grab markers from my child's art kit! I was so shocked I kind of didn't know what to do. I mean, this is a VERY small child's table. It wasn't like a conference table. I just kind of slid the art kit to the floor by my chair and waited for the parent to come over... and no parent ever came! So I started my daughter on her activity and by that point the other child lost interest and left the markers on the table and ran to get some blocks... which he then brought over and started banging on the table in front of my dd. Finally a parent came over and just kind of said, "do you want to color? Okay, well let's go put the blocks back first..." and while they were gone putting the blocks away I packed up the art things and hid them from view and we very shortly left the library thereafter.

My question is: if you do school at the library, are you expected to entertain other people's children? This was a first in the very physically-involved kid area, but we have had quite a few experiences where people send their kids over kind of expectantly wanting to participate in whatever activity we're doing. If I'm reading a book of whatever I love to have other kids come and sit with us while we read a story. But if we're doing a craft or a work sheet, I usually don't print extras to have for the other kids who just happen to be hanging out in the library.

I just thought it was kind of an odd situation and I wonder if anyone else has experienced this? I'm not sure what proper library etiquette is in this situation!

No, you're certainly not expected to entertain anyone else's child. I can see where possibly a parent or child would think you were using library supplies instead of your own, thinking it's public property and that you're sort of sitting at "the" coloring table, instead of sitting at a table using your own supplies.

If the table were big enough for him to squeeze himself in there and bang his blocks, I'd try to situate myself more privately, where no one else could join you. It's a shame you have to do something like this, but the children's section is probably almost more like a playground, in the sense that everything is everyone's property, and children don't have boundries to realize they're invading someone's space. And I can see where parents may let their kids go anywhere in the children's area without close supervision.

Is there a space in the adult area that you could go, without disturbing other adults? I know even in our teeny-tiny library, there are large tables that sit many, where you'd never sit and talk w/ your child, but there are also a couple of spaces that there are 2 chairs in a corner, etc. I'd try to locate a place like that, away from the children's area. Ask if there's a 'tutoring' area in your library. Most libraries are used at some point by tutors, so most should have something.

btw, I love your idea of schooling one day a week at the library. We did library time a bit more a couple of years ago when we first started homeschooling... I think I have to get us back to that. Thanks!

 

[Disney4us2]

Right now my DD is with CAVA in the K12 system. While we really like it, we want to change out of it.

DD will be in grade 7 next year. Was wondering what curriculum is good. What books, courses etc. I want to be more independant with the homeschooling.

Thanks for any advice for a 7th grader

oops.... just noticed a typo in my header.

 

[danjoealexis3006]

 

[mks18412]

Can anyone give me thoughts on Time4Learning?