Homeschool Chat Part III

[reneaterry]

HI! I am new here. I just really started homeschooling my almost 5 year old. I'm using workbook pages and activities to reinforce learning. I taught for 10 years so I'm in a very school state of mind so I'm having to break out of that. I really enjoy working with her and I think this is going to be best for our family.

 

[chicagoshannon]

HI! I am new here. I just really started homeschooling my almost 5 year old. I'm using workbook pages and activities to reinforce learning. I taught for 10 years so I'm in a very school state of mind so I'm having to break out of that. I really enjoy working with her and I think this is going to be best for our family.

Welcome! My oldest is almost 5 too.

 

[Mouseketeer67]

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

http://www.homeschoolspot.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Just ask on the homeschooling board. I'm sure that some will be able to give curriculum recommendations to you.

 

[staley7580]

Hello all!! My name is Megan and I have 4 kiddos.. my oldest is 10, then my dd is 6-almost 7, and 3yo boy/girl twins. My husband and I have decided to start homeschooling our kids next year. Our schools suck, and my oldest is really, really smart. Even his teacher pulled me aside and recommended we pull him out of public school, because its just going to hold him back. Anyways. Here we are. Researching, researching, researching.

I dont know where to start. We are taking a class at the end of april on homeschooling. Something the state requires. Soooo... Help? Ill have a 5th grader, a 2nd grader.. and the twins. Which we will probably just be starting preschool stuff with. And my oldest is doing 7th grade math, and his reading levels are high school.

 

[MissNurse]

We are coming near the end of our first year of homeschooling! DD is finishing 5th grade and DS is finishing up 1st grade. We pulled them out of ps in October. Anyway, we used the curriculum from Timberdoodle recommended for their grades this year. It was okay, but I am hopeful that we can do better next year. This was mostly a mish-mash of workbooks. We did Teaching Textbooks for DD's math, and we loved it! I am going to go ahead and start DS on the 3rd grade in that next year (he tested on that level on their website). We are leaning toward My Father's World for our main curriculum. Any thoughts on this? Anybody here used this one? I am still wondering what to use for language. I really hated what we had this year. It had tons of copy work. My kiddos don't get much out of that. I am open to any suggestions! TIA!

 

[Rockislander]

Oh yay! I'm so happy to have found some fellow homeschooling Disney goers! I've been homeschooling my soon to be 5 year old for a couple of years now. I keep a blog called Counting Coconuts, if anyone cares to see what kinds of things we do. I made a Mickey Mouse mini unit last fall: http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2011/06/mini-units.html

Also, I too would love to see some educational print outs - hope someone's able to find that elusive link!!

 

[chicagoshannon]

We are coming near the end of our first year of homeschooling! DD is finishing 5th grade and DS is finishing up 1st grade. We pulled them out of ps in October. Anyway, we used the curriculum from Timberdoodle recommended for their grades this year. It was okay, but I am hopeful that we can do better next year. This was mostly a mish-mash of workbooks. We did Teaching Textbooks for DD's math, and we loved it! I am going to go ahead and start DS on the 3rd grade in that next year (he tested on that level on their website). We are leaning toward My Father's World for our main curriculum. Any thoughts on this? Anybody here used this one? I am still wondering what to use for language. I really hated what we had this year. It had tons of copy work. My kiddos don't get much out of that. I am open to any suggestions! TIA!

I haven't used My Fathers World but have heard good thins about it. It has a lot of projects if you like that sort of thing.

 

[Daisy'sMama]

Hi
My DD10 has been in a good, very small private school for K-5th, but I have seen a lot of negatives to the middle school program, so we are considering other options. Between the limited educational options they offer (spanish only, not the greatest teachers, etc) and the catty little girls in her class, I know I can do better. I think we are going to do a trial period in June to see if we can get along. DH and I are self-employed and work full time, but we are just across the driveway from our house, so we can be somewhat flexible. Here is my gameplan, please feel free to critique or offer ideas.

Math - Saxon (that is what they use at the private school and I would like to stay with it)
Science - ??? any suggestions?
History - Tapestry of Grace - has anyone experienced this? it looks amazing to me and combines several subjects? I really am hoping for feedback on this...
continue piano lessons
tumbling class - social time
small engine repair (Daddy's idea and I love it)
coed baseball in the summer
4-H - loads of social time, plus she and Daddy have a cow, are getting chickens, and have a huge garden


Any thoughts? I still need to work 6 or more hours a day, so she will need to do a lot of independent work.

Thanks
Stephanie

 

[jacksmomma]

We are coming near the end of our first year of homeschooling! DD is finishing 5th grade and DS is finishing up 1st grade. We pulled them out of ps in October. Anyway, we used the curriculum from Timberdoodle recommended for their grades this year. It was okay, but I am hopeful that we can do better next year. This was mostly a mish-mash of workbooks. We did Teaching Textbooks for DD's math, and we loved it! I am going to go ahead and start DS on the 3rd grade in that next year (he tested on that level on their website). We are leaning toward My Father's World for our main curriculum. Any thoughts on this? Anybody here used this one? I am still wondering what to use for language. I really hated what we had this year. It had tons of copy work. My kiddos don't get much out of that. I am open to any suggestions! TIA!

We used MFW for Kindergarten this year and really liked it. It has a lot of projects, but if your child is a hands on learner that will be great. I have not looked into the upper levels, so I cannot comment on them. Good luck! Sometimes I think picking curriculum is the hardest part.

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Hello, we are considering homeschooling next year and I was wondering if anyone has ever done any of the homeschool workshops/classes offered at Disney World? If so what did you think? My oldest son is 7 and I'm looking at two classes being offered while we will be on vacation in Sept. Thanks in advance for any advice on the Disney classes

 

[wvdislover]

I haven't done any of the classes offered by Disney, but I am attending The Ultimate Field Trip for Homeschoolers, that is being sponsored by 3D Travel Company from Sept 3-8 You can click here http://www.3dtravelcompany.com/homeschooling/the-ultimate-field-trip for details about this opportunity

 

[Rockislander]

I haven't done any of the classes offered by Disney, but I am attending The Ultimate Field Trip for Homeschoolers, that is being sponsored by 3D Travel Company from Sept 3-8 You can click here http://www.3dtravelcompany.com/homeschooling/the-ultimate-field-trip for details about this opportunity

Oooo! I had no idea about this group - thanks for sharing! Do they go to Disney every year?

 

[wvdislover]

Yes, they do! Message me, and I'll give you more details, if you like

 

[wondermomamy]

...but I am attending The Ultimate Field Trip for Homeschoolers, that is being sponsored by 3D Travel Company from Sept 3-8

We are doing this, too, and can't wait!

 

[wvdislover]

We are doing this, too, and can't wait!

Can't wait to meet you at the Mega Meet!!!

Missy

 

[JPFamilyMom]

What all is involved in the ultimate field trip for homeschoolers? someone referred me to the website before, but I didn't really see much detail on what it was all about. Are there any mini lessons built in our anything like that? I did see there was a scavenger hunt, which sounds like fun.

 

[wvdislover]

What all is involved in the ultimate field trip for homeschoolers? someone referred me to the website before, but I didn't really see much detail on what it was all about. Are there any mini lessons built in our anything like that? I did see there was a scavenger hunt, which sounds like fun.

There is not much involved--there are some activities planned--a Mega Meet for the first evening (where homeschoolers from all over the country come together and meet each other AND Steve Barrett, the Hidden Mickey Guy, will be there!); the Scavenger Hunt at Magic Kingdom; a Dole Whip Meet at Magic Kingdom; and an Illuminations Meet, where we all get together and watch Illuminations together. All of the activities are optional, but there are some great giveaways at the activities The rest of the time is open for your family to enjoy all the learning and fun to be had at Disney World! Oh, yes, there will be some "educational" materials given out during UFT, and there is all kinds of education to be had on your own, too, at all 4 parks It is always a lot of fun, especially when you meet up with or run into other "UFT'ers" in the parks or at your resort! If you want more info, please send me a message
Missy Smith

 

[Rockislander]

There is not much involved--there are some activities planned--a Mega Meet for the first evening (where homeschoolers from all over the country come together and meet each other AND Steve Barrett, the Hidden Mickey Guy, will be there!); the Scavenger Hunt at Magic Kingdom; a Dole Whip Meet at Magic Kingdom; and an Illuminations Meet, where we all get together and watch Illuminations together. All of the activities are optional, but there are some great giveaways at the activities The rest of the time is open for your family to enjoy all the learning and fun to be had at Disney World! Oh, yes, there will be some "educational" materials given out during UFT, and there is all kinds of education to be had on your own, too, at all 4 parks It is always a lot of fun, especially when you meet up with or run into other "UFT'ers" in the parks or at your resort! If you want more info, please send me a message
Missy Smith

Thanks so much, Missy! This was very helpful and I could definitely see us going one year! Hope you won't mind hearing from me in a year or two to pick your brain on this a bit more!

 

[miami305]

Hello, all!
I have an extremely bright 3yr old and welcome any and all advice on homeschool materials for him. He's not a genius, but he's certainly brighter than the rest of the family! My problem is the materials geared to his age are too easy for him. He needs the bright colors and friendly cartoons or animals of preschool materials, but at a 1st grade level. HELP! Any suggestions for books or learning aids that won't bore a 3yr old to death?

TIA!

 

[Rockislander]

Hello, all!
I have an extremely bright 3yr old and welcome any and all advice on homeschool materials for him. He's not a genius, but he's certainly brighter than the rest of the family! My problem is the materials geared to his age are too easy for him. He needs the bright colors and friendly cartoons or animals of preschool materials, but at a 1st grade level. HELP! Any suggestions for books or learning aids that won't bore a 3yr old to death?

TIA!

Hi there! I was in the same boat when my 3 year old (now 5) was eager to start learning. He was reading by the time he was 3.5 and was beyond all of the typical "shapes, colors, abc's" stuff geared toward that age group. I also found he was much more of a tactile learner, so I didn't bother much with workbooks and instead created lots of hands-on activities. You can see a history of what we've done (and still do) on my blog, Counting Coconuts: www.countingcoconuts.blogspot.com. Hopefully you'll find some useful ideas on there!