Homeschool Chat Part III

[natashag76]

Anyone have any thoughts on Time4Learning?

 

[DeeSanDisneyFan]

Subscribing...I will start homeschooling my 4 yr old this August.

 

[DisneyDizzy]

Hi everyone! I'm just wondering if anyone is in North Carolina. We homeschool our 10-year-old son and will homeschool our 2-year-old daughter in the future. My husband is possibly being transferred to North Carolina. We're very excited! However, we are currently in Indiana which basically has no reporting, testing, or curriculum requirements so I'm concerned about how things work in North Carolina.

I've read up on the rules and laws but just wondered if someone lives there and homeschools wouldn't mind chiming in with how things work (with testing) and the general atmosphere of homeschooling there.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[jdcthree]

I'd like to ask all the veterans out there -
How did you choose your curriculum? Did you use several different things rolled into one?

I highly recommend the book 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. It's by Cathy Duffy and it was really helpful to me! Much of the book is about how to choose curriculum (or not), learning styles, discovering your philosophy on education, etc. She even has a chart/quiz so you can figure out what "style" may work best for you.

 

[Corjack]

Anyone have any thoughts on Time4Learning?

My DD8 used it in 1st and 2nd grade but we purchased more comprehensive curriculum for next year so we will no longer be using it. I liked it for supplimenting. WE may decide to use it again after we see how things are going next year!

 

[dis-happy]

Hi everyone! I'm just wondering if anyone is in North Carolina. We homeschool our 10-year-old son and will homeschool our 2-year-old daughter in the future. My husband is possibly being transferred to North Carolina. We're very excited! However, we are currently in Indiana which basically has no reporting, testing, or curriculum requirements so I'm concerned about how things work in North Carolina.

I've read up on the rules and laws but just wondered if someone lives there and homeschools wouldn't mind chiming in with how things work (with testing) and the general atmosphere of homeschooling there.

Thanks!!!!!

I've been hs'ing in nc for 17 yrs and it's very easy. Sign up your HS with the state (DNPE) when you move here. Once a year you send in an attendance form ( check off 180 days on a calendar, very easy) and do a standardized test ( I administer the CAT at home, $25. from Seton by mail). That's it!

Also, hs'ing in NC is very popular, so there are lots of good support groups and activities and scholastic opportunities.

 

[DisneyDizzy]

I've been hs'ing in nc for 17 yrs and it's very easy. Sign up your HS with the state (DNPE) when you move here. Once a year you send in an attendance form ( check off 180 days on a calendar, very easy) and do a standardized test ( I administer the CAT at home, $25. from Seton by mail). That's it!

Also, hs'ing in NC is very popular, so there are lots of good support groups and activities and scholastic opportunities.

Thank you! We're pretty excited. It's very popular here in Indiana as well but we aren't involved in much right now because we just needed some "down" time this year. Hopefully we'll be able to time getting to NC in time to get involved as things start back up in the fall.

One question...I hope I don't seem like a dunce. I can't seem to find anywhere what I DO with the standardized test. Do I mail it with the attendance records? Or do I just hang on to it in case I'm asked for it. We've never had to test before so sorry if I seem confused!

 

[Nicolepa]

Just a small vent.

If my mom tells me one more time that I should put him in school so he can learn to function in the "real" world I'm going to lose it. I kind of did today.

Now she is pro homeschooling (to a point). She sees how much my son has progressed since we came home 3 years ago. My son is just, well, quirky. He is totally black and white. No grey, never. His idea of black and white do not always agree with the rest of the world.

For some reason she thinks that he will learn to be more adapatable in a school setting. Today, like I said, I kind of lost it with her. I asked her, other than a school setting, where are you with people, only your own age with one authority figure? I also pointed out (for the zillionth time) that the only thing sending him to school would acomplish is having to battle 3 hours of homework with 3 tired, cranky, kids at home. At least now we can battle when we are all fresh and not stressed out. Just sending him to school will not make him do his work, it will just make him stressed out (with migraines and vomiting along with it. BTDT)

OK, vent over. Thanks.

 

[Nicolepa]

On another note. What are some good phonics programs? I have a 4 yo (5 in Feb.) who is wanting to read so bad. Problem is he isn't patient enough to learn. I am looking for something fun/interactive that might keep his interest.

We are doing a letter game I found on Pinterest. He is also doing Ooka Island and really likes that, when I can get him to do it. We tried Study Dog and he got bored. We do Letter Factory and he knows the sounds. He might not know what the letter is, but he knows what sound it makes.

Just looking for something fun for us to do.

 

[jacksmomma]

Just a small vent.

If my mom tells me one more time that I should put him in school so he can learn to function in the "real" world I'm going to lose it. I kind of did today.

Now she is pro homeschooling (to a point). She sees how much my son has progressed since we came home 3 years ago. My son is just, well, quirky. He is totally black and white. No grey, never. His idea of black and white do not always agree with the rest of the world.

For some reason she thinks that he will learn to be more adapatable in a school setting. Today, like I said, I kind of lost it with her. I asked her, other than a school setting, where are you with people, only your own age with one authority figure? I also pointed out (for the zillionth time) that the only thing sending him to school would acomplish is having to battle 3 hours of homework with 3 tired, cranky, kids at home. At least now we can battle when we are all fresh and not stressed out. Just sending him to school will not make him do his work, it will just make him stressed out (with migraines and vomiting along with it. BTDT)

OK, vent over. Thanks.

I just want to say amen sister! I am getting the comments more and more right now...we are finishing up Kindergarten and everyone thinks my "experiement" is over and it is time for DS to "really learn in real school".

 

[Nanu57v]

On another note. What are some good phonics programs? I have a 4 yo (5 in Feb.) who is wanting to read so bad. Problem is he isn't patient enough to learn. I am looking for something fun/interactive that might keep his interest.

We are doing a letter game I found on Pinterest. He is also doing Ooka Island and really likes that, when I can get him to do it. We tried Study Dog and he got bored. We do Letter Factory and he knows the sounds. He might not know what the letter is, but he knows what sound it makes.

Just looking for something fun for us to do.

Have you been on Starfall?

 

[Nicolepa]

Have you been on Starfall?

I have, but to be honest I feel I was missing something. He clicked on the letters a few times and was done and wouldn't have anything to do with it again. Everyone raves about it, so I might have to see if I was missing something.

In all honesty I might just have to be more patient. He is making progress, but my husband is "eager" for him to read. He loves to be read to and will sit all day reading stories. He just won't sit still long enough to learn what needs to be learned. ;-)

 

[chris31997]

On another note. What are some good phonics programs? I have a 4 yo (5 in Feb.) who is wanting to read so bad. Problem is he isn't patient enough to learn. I am looking for something fun/interactive that might keep his interest.

We are doing a letter game I found on Pinterest. He is also doing Ooka Island and really likes that, when I can get him to do it. We tried Study Dog and he got bored. We do Letter Factory and he knows the sounds. He might not know what the letter is, but he knows what sound it makes.

Just looking for something fun for us to do.

You still got a young one. Sometimes it takes time for it to click. Little boys sometimes find it difficult to sit still. Give him some time

 

[chris31997]

Thank you! We're pretty excited. It's very popular here in Indiana as well but we aren't involved in much right now because we just needed some "down" time this year. Hopefully we'll be able to time getting to NC in time to get involved as things start back up in the fall.

One question...I hope I don't seem like a dunce. I can't seem to find anywhere what I DO with the standardized test. Do I mail it with the attendance records? Or do I just hang on to it in case I'm asked for it. We've never had to test before so sorry if I seem confused!

We did it for 8 yrs. Actually started in NC. We never had to send in a form, but it all depends on if they send you the form or not. You can go to Christian Liberty Press and request testing. You can do online, love it, and get the results with in minutes, or do it on paper. You keep the results the entire time you are homeschooling and you would mail it in with the attendance form if they ask for the form. I would not volunteer info unless they ask you for it. Tell them that you are homeschooling and the kids and that info and if they send you the pink post card than send in the attendance record with the testing results. You will need to test or have them evaluated every year. We tested.

 

[MommyBell08]

On another note. What are some good phonics programs? I have a 4 yo (5 in Feb.) who is wanting to read so bad. Problem is he isn't patient enough to learn. I am looking for something fun/interactive that might keep his interest.

We are doing a letter game I found on Pinterest. He is also doing Ooka Island and really likes that, when I can get him to do it. We tried Study Dog and he got bored. We do Letter Factory and he knows the sounds. He might not know what the letter is, but he knows what sound it makes.

Just looking for something fun for us to do.

nmd. Was going to suggest letter factory but didnt read enought of your post! Do you have Word factory?

 

[Nicolepa]

You still got a young one. Sometimes it takes time for it to click. Little boys sometimes find it difficult to sit still. Give him some time

I know. He asks me every day to teach him to read. He just wants me to wave my magic wand. I've never had to teach one to read. My youngest taught herself at 3, my middle went to school for K & 1. He's the first I've had to work with.

 

[MommyBell08]

I am a young Mom, and our family is eager and excited to begin our HS journey. This was a great read!

http://www.magicalchildhood.com/articles/4yo.htm

 

[chicagoshannon]

On another note. What are some good phonics programs? I have a 4 yo (5 in Feb.) who is wanting to read so bad. Problem is he isn't patient enough to learn. I am looking for something fun/interactive that might keep his interest.

We are doing a letter game I found on Pinterest. He is also doing Ooka Island and really likes that, when I can get him to do it. We tried Study Dog and he got bored. We do Letter Factory and he knows the sounds. He might not know what the letter is, but he knows what sound it makes.

Just looking for something fun for us to do.

You could try Reading Eggs. They usually have a free trial. It has fun phonics games.

We used the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading. It worked really well but it's not really fun. I was glad when we finished it.

 

[Nicolepa]

I am a young Mom, and our family is eager and excited to begin our HS journey. This was a great read!

http://www.magicalchildhood.com/articles/4yo.htm

Loved this! I know it probably doesn't sound like it from my earlier post, but I've really learned this with my 3rd. We have so much fun together. And I don't feel bad if we sit on the floor and play cars instead of doing dishes.

You could try Reading Eggs. They usually have a free trial. It has fun phonics games.

We used the Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading. It worked really well but it's not really fun. I was glad when we finished it.

I just downloaded the reading eggs app for my ipad. So far he is enjoying it. He was crying the other night because I took it from him so we could go to bed. He kept crying "I want to learn, I want to learn, I don't need storytime." Of course when we get upstairs he says "did I miss storytime?"

 

[Nanu57v]

I have, but to be honest I feel I was missing something. He clicked on the letters a few times and was done and wouldn't have anything to do with it again. Everyone raves about it, so I might have to see if I was missing something.

In all honesty I might just have to be more patient. He is making progress, but my husband is "eager" for him to read. He loves to be read to and will sit all day reading stories. He just won't sit still long enough to learn what needs to be learned. ;-)

Try the next part of starfall...the "learn to read" part. That's what my DD LOVED.