Homeschool Chat Part III

[jacksmomma]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I think we are just falling into too much of a routine. We did some more active lessons yesterday and it was great. I still am concerned about DS's reading, he really has trouble saying the letter sounds and then putting those sounds together. He generally will catch the middle and last sounds of a word and say them together, but he leaves off the first. I am not sure if this is just a beginning reader thing or if there could be a problem. DH has lots of trouble reading and I know that can be genetic.

Just learned yesterday that I will have to have surgery in the next week or so. Has anyone ever dealt with that? Did you just take time off or did DH teach the children? Part of me says let DH do what he can so that DS is not just vegging with the TV, but I am not sure if that would be more difficult.

 

[Nicolepa]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I think we are just falling into too much of a routine. We did some more active lessons yesterday and it was great. I still am concerned about DS's reading, he really has trouble saying the letter sounds and then putting those sounds together. He generally will catch the middle and last sounds of a word and say them together, but he leaves off the first. I am not sure if this is just a beginning reader thing or if there could be a problem. DH has lots of trouble reading and I know that can be genetic.

Just learned yesterday that I will have to have surgery in the next week or so. Has anyone ever dealt with that? Did you just take time off or did DH teach the children? Part of me says let DH do what he can so that DS is not just vegging with the TV, but I am not sure if that would be more difficult.

At his age I would just let him have the time off while you recover. The time it will take your husband to get into the swing of things, and then the time it will take you to figure out what they did won't be worth it. If you feel he must do something pick up or think up some educational games for him to do with Dad while you recuperate. Math games are always easy to do.

As for the reading, give it more time. Most kids struggle for a bit and then once it clicks they are off. I know that the schools force kids to learn to read in early K, but a lot of kids just aren't ready that early. If you force it, they will hate to read. Studies have shown (and my teacher friend confirm) that some kids aren't able to connect the dots until as late as 8 years old. If he's starting to sound out the words he's doing just fine. My son was forced in K to learn to read, was in a remedial class in 1st grade because he was "behind". By the end of 1st grade he had caught up. When I had him tested in April of 2nd grade (our 1st year homeschooling) he was reading at a 5th grade level. Now, in 4th grade he is at least high school.

 

[chris31997]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I think we are just falling into too much of a routine. We did some more active lessons yesterday and it was great. I still am concerned about DS's reading, he really has trouble saying the letter sounds and then putting those sounds together. He generally will catch the middle and last sounds of a word and say them together, but he leaves off the first. I am not sure if this is just a beginning reader thing or if there could be a problem. DH has lots of trouble reading and I know that can be genetic.

Just learned yesterday that I will have to have surgery in the next week or so. Has anyone ever dealt with that? Did you just take time off or did DH teach the children? Part of me says let DH do what he can so that DS is not just vegging with the TV, but I am not sure if that would be more difficult.

Take time off. He will be learning while helping Dad to take care of you. He can help Dad cook, clean and whatever around the house And there is always educational games/dvds and good old reading stories.

Like the PP said, the reading will come. It may take sometime but it will come.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

We've been home schooling now for a long time, almost 20 years, and I could give you hundreds of reasons to do it, but I had a bit of a revelation the other day I thought I'd share here:

I went upstairs the other day and heard my DS (18) and my DD (20) (both home schooled all the way) in her room playing a video game. Nothing odd there, but they were laughing and having such a good time, and I realized for the first time, my kids are each others best friends, even at the age when siblings usually drift apart. That may sound odd, but family are the only ones likely to stick by you in life, and to be best friends as well is, I think, is a major advantage. They of course have many other friends as well, but for me this was just one more affirmation that it was all worth it.

Thank you for sharing. I feel the same way. My two are DD(13) and DS(9). I pray it stays that way.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

I'm graduating my last home schooler this year We have used a variety of curriculum through the HS years: Starting Points literature, my own curriculum for literature and writing, BJU Math/History, Apologia Science (excellent IMHO), PACE economics, and various other things. I tried to gear the HS studies to my "children's" interests and gave them a lot of self-study time (with discussion). With DS (now graduated) we did everything from Shakespeare to Chemistry, but with DD(17) we are doing geometry to herbal studies. I have ordered from CBD with quite a bit of success and their prices are very reasonable. Home schooling High School can be challenging, but so much fun!!

Are you doing your own thing for herbal studies or do you have a curriculum? Sounds awesome!

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I think we are just falling into too much of a routine. We did some more active lessons yesterday and it was great. I still am concerned about DS's reading, he really has trouble saying the letter sounds and then putting those sounds together. He generally will catch the middle and last sounds of a word and say them together, but he leaves off the first. I am not sure if this is just a beginning reader thing or if there could be a problem. DH has lots of trouble reading and I know that can be genetic.

Just learned yesterday that I will have to have surgery in the next week or so. Has anyone ever dealt with that? Did you just take time off or did DH teach the children? Part of me says let DH do what he can so that DS is not just vegging with the TV, but I am not sure if that would be more difficult.

Another vote for life learning. You might even observe something new during this time about how he learns. With my DS(9), I have to keep changing my path as I see how he learns. I think I have done a lot of unschooling with him. I stopped doing traditional reading curriculum. We used teachable moments. He needed to read for video games. He likes game guides and comics from the library. At first he just looked at pictures. I was concerned about my approach but just did a reading assessment with him yesterday and he is on level which actually surprised me.

He has lofty goals writing, directing, and acting. Creating robots, owning a restaurant , building a mansion for us all to live in but he will build a seperate house on the estate for his sister to do her writing. So I explained that he needed to be able to read what the magazines and Internet articles were saying about him. He still has not picked up a 200 page book to read but he does read when he needs information and occasionally just for entertainment .

 

[jacksmomma]

Thank you again to everyone for all of the advice! We have just taken a break from school and so far life is good, and not that chaos I expected. DS and I have been laying in my bed and playing board games so that has been great fun!

Now if you could send some P and PD my way for a speedy recovery that would be great!

 

[danjoealexis3006]

Sending pixie dust and prayers your way for a speedy recovery!

 

[sleeperclan]

Are you doing your own thing for herbal studies or do you have a curriculum? Sounds awesome!

We are using several great books we found at our local library used book sale! There are a few good online sites friends have used, but we are going at our own pace and using herbs DD thinks she would need for her future family. We started small, growing a few of our own herbs and drying them. She had to sample and use culinary herbs, tea herbs, and now is on medicinal herbs. She put together a "cookbook" of medicinal herbal remedies. Now we will finish out the year making decoctions, infusions, and some creams.
We already did the basic sciences, biology, and marine biology and wanted something she could practically use...that's why we chose herbal studies.

 

[dizzymomx4]

I'm graduating my last home schooler this year We have used a variety of curriculum through the HS years: Starting Points literature, my own curriculum for literature and writing, BJU Math/History, Apologia Science (excellent IMHO), PACE economics, and various other things. I tried to gear the HS studies to my "children's" interests and gave them a lot of self-study time (with discussion). With DS (now graduated) we did everything from Shakespeare to Chemistry, but with DD(17) we are doing geometry to herbal studies. I have ordered from CBD with quite a bit of success and their prices are very reasonable. Home schooling High School can be challenging, but so much fun!!

Hi there again!
Just wanted to ask you about what you did for literature and writing for your High School years. You said that you had your own curriculum...care to share what you did? I have a mish mash of my own curriculum for alot of things too

Please PM me if you would rather share that way. Also did you give your kids diplomas and how about transcripts ? Care to share on what you did there?
I am so full of questions!! I know that in a year I will be looking back and saying "This is the best thing we have decided" and all my fears will be gone...its just getting to that point is driving me insane!!

Thank you for anything that you are willing to share...I appreciate it soooo much!

 

[sleeperclan]

Hi there again!
Just wanted to ask you about what you did for literature and writing for your High School years. You said that you had your own curriculum...care to share what you did? I have a mish mash of my own curriculum for alot of things too

Please PM me if you would rather share that way. Also did you give your kids diplomas and how about transcripts ? Care to share on what you did there?
I am so full of questions!! I know that in a year I will be looking back and saying "This is the best thing we have decided" and all my fears will be gone...its just getting to that point is driving me insane!!

Thank you for anything that you are willing to share...I appreciate it soooo much!

I did PM you...I'm not sure it went through...let me know if it didn't.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

We are using several great books we found at our local library used book sale! There are a few good online sites friends have used, but we are going at our own pace and using herbs DD thinks she would need for her future family. We started small, growing a few of our own herbs and drying them. She had to sample and use culinary herbs, tea herbs, and now is on medicinal herbs. She put together a "cookbook" of medicinal herbal remedies. Now we will finish out the year making decoctions, infusions, and some creams.
We already did the basic sciences, biology, and marine biology and wanted something she could practically use...that's why we chose herbal studies.

Wow! Sounds amazing. Sounds like she could create a curriculum on herbal studies. If she does, let me know!

 

[sleeperclan]

Wow! Sounds amazing. Sounds like she could create a curriculum on herbal studies. If she does, let me know!

gerberdaisy1234, you've given me a great idea I may suggest that to her...that might be something she'd like to do!!

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

gerberdaisy1234, you've given me a great idea I may suggest that to her...that might be something she'd like to do!!

She already has her first order

 

[momimouse27]

Hi I posted here a while back, and here I am again!

I'm wondering if any of you here homeschool a child with autism or Aspbergers? I am seriously considering keeping him home next year and I'm starting to look at curriculum, and wanting to know what works. Since I have a college freshman and a 9th grader its been a while since I've looked at curriculum for elementary age.

Math is specifically what I'm interested in, and science. We used to use Eagles Wings Considering God's Creation and loved that. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Mouseketeer67]

Hi I posted here a while back, and here I am again!

I'm wondering if any of you here homeschool a child with autism or Aspbergers? I am seriously considering keeping him home next year and I'm starting to look at curriculum, and wanting to know what works. Since I have a college freshman and a 9th grader its been a while since I've looked at curriculum for elementary age.

Math is specifically what I'm interested in, and science. We used to use Eagles Wings Considering God's Creation and loved that. Any info would be appreciated.

You might want to try asking on the homeschool spot forum. There are a few moms there with children that have aspbergers.
Goodluck

 

[momimouse27]

Thanks a bunch. How do I get to that? What heading is it under?

 

[JAM3]

I thought I remember someone posting a link to a bunch of Disney related pages that they have had their Homeschool children do while on the way to and at Disney. I can not seem to find it anymore. I am guessing it was over a year ago I saw it. Does anyone know remember this and have a link to it? I saw the coloring and activity links but I was looking for a little bit more academic thrown in. I will just make my own if I can not find it but I thought I would post here first and see if anyone remembers seeing them or has some of their own to share. I am looking for a first or second grade level or up to fourth or fifth in reading. Thank you!

 

[antree]

I would be interested in that too. I also remember a link about books from the different parks that were being used for home schooling too. I have been looking for that but I can't find it. My PC has been reformatted so many times I lost everything.

Thank You.

 

[mamato3girls]

I would be interested in that too. I also remember a link about books from the different parks that were being used for home schooling too. I have been looking for that but I can't find it. My PC has been reformatted so many times I lost everything.

Thank You.

I would love to know this as well.