Homeschool Chat Part III

[momimouse27]

Monkeybug, when we started hs-ing 11 years ago, that was huge for me. My husband has always traveled and we've been lots of places riding with him and being flexible. Big perk....going to WDW during off-season

 

[chicagoshannon]

Those looking for online learning check out time4learning. I haven't used it but know a lot of people that have and they love it.

We use Singapore math and are 1 lesson away from completing 2b. We enjoy it but it is a stretch for me to teach sometimes because its not how I was taught.

I have a 5 yr old and 2 year old. Our days vary depending on what we are doing that day.
Generally we start our day around 8am, sometimes earlier. We always start with math.
Our order is:
Math
Handwriting
Spelling
Grammar
Science
History
Bible
Read a loud
She reads to me last

We are usually done by about 10. We don't do science every day so we usually go longer n science days.

On Monday she takes a geography class at 10:30. Tuesday is coop day, starts at 10:30. Wednesday is gymnastics starting at 10 and ballet at 4:30. Thursday/Friday we don't have anything extra.

During school my2 yr old usually makes a huge mess and/or colors at the table.

 

[Aunt Stepody]

Those looking for online learning check out time4learning. I haven't used it but know a lot of people that have and they love it.

We use Singapore math and are 1 lesson away from completing 2b. We enjoy it but it is a stretch for me to teach sometimes because its not how I was taught.

I have a 5 yr old and 2 year old. Our days vary depending on what we are doing that day.
Generally we start our day around 8am, sometimes earlier. We always start with math.
Our order is:
Math
Handwriting
Spelling
Grammar
Science
History
Bible
Read a loud
She reads to me last

We are usually done by about 10. We don't do science every day so we usually go longer n science days.

On Monday she takes a geography class at 10:30. Tuesday is coop day, starts at 10:30. Wednesday is gymnastics starting at 10 and ballet at 4:30. Thursday/Friday we don't have anything extra.

During school my2 yr old usually makes a huge mess and/or colors at the table.

Thank you for that info... Do you know if Time4learning is offered to high schoolers?

Also, momimouse27 I sent you a PM.

 

[penel3]

Thank you for that info... Do you know if Time4learning is offered to high schoolers?

Also, momimouse27 I sent you a PM.

We use Time4learning... DS is "7th" grade. T4L beyond 7th is pushing it...they have minimal social studies and no science at eighth grade. They have language arts and math through eighth but that is it...I see no high school on the site.

too many WDW trips to mention, 2007 Wonder Concierge, January 2013 Wonder Concierge, March 2014 Walter E. Disney Suite (finally!!!!)

 

[Arkum]

I think we will be taking the leap this next school year to homeschool. My son will be starting 1st grade. My daughter misses the cut off by 6 days to start kindergarten so I figure I will be working with her as well. I taught elementary school for 6 years before my daughter was born so I have confidence in knowing what I'm doing. I'm just worried that my son may choose some days to not cooperate. He's pretty stubborn! I'm excited to start planning out curriculum and I think I've found a co-op that meets once a week that we would be interested in. What other pointers cold you help me out with?

 

[DisHmsklMom]

I looked into a few distance learning and online academies (k-12, Calvert, and Bridgeway) but they all seem very similar to public school. Has anyone used these and tweaked the lessons or projects a bit to be more open ended? Is there flexibility within their programs to do that?

We used Calvert for years and then they changed it! They changed it so they could meet the Maryland standards, and now the Common Core, so I really can't recommend it at all. If you can find the really old Calvert Teacher's Manuals, snatch them up, they work great as a spine.
Now we use:
Math-U-See
Beast Academy
Art of Problem Solving
Write Source (always buy used) tailor it to fit what ever you are covering, they have great rubrics
Calvert On-Line spelling
Story of the World
Story of Science
Historical Connections in Mathematics
Chronological Study Bible
Real Science 4 Kids
Minimus the Mouse for Latin
Critical Thinking (Steck Vaughn)
Fallacy Detective
Maps Globes and Graphs (Steck Vaughn)
What Ever Happened to Penny Candy Series
The Teaching Company Courses
Our Constitution Rocks!
Loads of Classic Novels
There are even more, but these will get you started. There is so much good stuff out there, you just need to find what you feel comfortable with and go with it. It is the time of year for homeschool conventions and used book sales so find out what is happening in your area. Try and always buy used and save yourself a ton of money.

As far as our schedule goes, with my younger one there is much more one on one time. By the time they hit middle school age they are working so much more independently, with me reading what they are reading so we can have discussions. We read a lot of books at the same time and watch videos, lectures and television shows together - really makes for great dinner discussions. We also homeschool year round, learning really has become just a part of our lives.

 

[chris31997]

I think we will be taking the leap this next school year to homeschool. My son will be starting 1st grade. My daughter misses the cut off by 6 days to start kindergarten so I figure I will be working with her as well. I taught elementary school for 6 years before my daughter was born so I have confidence in knowing what I'm doing. I'm just worried that my son may choose some days to not cooperate. He's pretty stubborn! I'm excited to start planning out curriculum and I think I've found a co-op that meets once a week that we would be interested in. What other pointers cold you help me out with?

Keep it light and fun. When DS is being stubborn, try doing school somewhere else under the table, outside, on the floor. DD and DS can learn so much through play and taking walks. Get them into the kitchen cooking, helping you with chores, have fun making things for Christmas presents(crafts: Grandparents will love it).

 

[Happiest mommy]

Hi all!!! New here and gathering up all my info before hopefully making the leap next September. Would Time4learning be a good core curriculum for a soon to be 3rd grader?, she has a hard time with math but is doing good with the other subjects thanks! looking forward to learning more from this group

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Hi all!!! New here and gathering up all my info before hopefully making the leap next September. Would Time4learning be a good core curriculum for a soon to be 3rd grader?, she has a hard time with math but is doing good with the other subjects thanks! looking forward to learning more from this group

My 3rd grader is doing Time4Learning right now. I am reviewing it for them, so I am getting it free. It is pretty easy for her but it is very eye catching with their graphics and they really do get you to remember the information. You also have access to one year higher and one year lower than the grade you get just in case. She flies through everything, I would find it to be a better supplement than a core curriculum. My Kindergarten and 1st grade boys also find it simple but engaging.

 

[jdcthree]

Hi all!!! New here and gathering up all my info before hopefully making the leap next September. Would Time4learning be a good core curriculum for a soon to be 3rd grader?, she has a hard time with math but is doing good with the other subjects thanks! looking forward to learning more from this group

If she struggles with math, look into Math U See. We don't use it, but I've heard nothing but good things about it over and over from those that do!

 

[mom2jcg]

Hi all!!! New here and gathering up all my info before hopefully making the leap next September. Would Time4learning be a good core curriculum for a soon to be 3rd grader?, she has a hard time with math but is doing good with the other subjects thanks! looking forward to learning more from this group

I love Teaching Textbooks for math. It is a computer based curriculum (CD ROM) that starts at grade 3. Each lesson has a lecture, practice questions, and exercise questions. Occasionally, they'll have bonus questions, which are fast math facts (like addition, subtraction, etc.). As you go up in grade levels, the bonuses go away and are replaced with quizzes, then tests. The computer scores and grades each lesson for you, but gives you the ability to change or delete wrong answers if you want to reteach or need to change it for some reason. Also, if the answer is not a true/false, or multiple choice, the child gets two chances to get it right. Right or wrong, each question gives the option to see it worked out. Sometimes I'll go over things with them if they don't understand the lecture, but for the most part, they get it without me. I have used almost every level through Algebra I. Hope this helps!

 

[lucigo]

Hi all!!! New here and gathering up all my info before hopefully making the leap next September. Would Time4learning be a good core curriculum for a soon to be 3rd grader?, she has a hard time with math but is doing good with the other subjects thanks! looking forward to learning more from this group

We are using Time4Learning for 3rd grade now. Actually this year he completed the entire 2nd grade math and is 1/2 way through the 3rd grade math. In language arts he is doing 3rd grade, although I do read some out loud for him. For language arts extension we just completed the 2nd grade curriculum and will start 3rd grade next week. Science and Social studies are horrible and we aren't using them, although we did go through the 4th grade planets sections. So as you can see we like the flexibility of having several grades available.

As supplements we have had to find multiplication drills for math. For science and social studies we are using BrainPopJr. which is similar in teaching style to Time4Learning.

If your child has had problems with math don't be afraid to start with 2nd grade. Start by doing end of chapter tests and then doing the lessons that aren't mastered, then when you retake the end of chapter tests and see progress its a great way to start this program successfully and gets her used to this learning style. There is plenty of time in a school year to get it all in and homeschooling is about progress, not about "real" school grade levels.

Time4Learning will teach the same concept several different ways, which is really nice. We will start a new section and I will think, oh boy this is going to be hard! (Fractions, algebra etc) and yet they do it in baby steps and make it really easy.

 

[Happiest mommy]

I'm so happy I found this group I'm having a REALLY hard time finding a HS group in NYC the majority of them are in Yahoo, and for the life of me no matter how hard I try to sign on I can't get to any of the groups so don't know what i'm going to do about that.

Another thing is and i'm pretty sure some of you may know, my state NYC requires quarterly reports which has me a bit scared, and also testing once she enters 3rd grade (another scary what to do thought) but from what I have gathered I think I can give her the tests myself, I read somewhere that I can purchase the tests thru Hewitt Homeschooling? but not sure any info on this would be also so helpful.

I have sooo many questions and am scared out of my mind, my DH has so much trust in me, its very stressful I don't want to fail my DD or DH.
Thank you all so much!!! from what I have gathered these are on my list please tell me what you think

-Time4learning (core)
-K-5 (supplement)
-Hewitt Homeschooling (for tests)

Will look into the Brainpopjr and Teaching Techbooks mentioned above for Math, Science and Social Studies.

One thing I do know I gave DD the sample from Time4learning and she LOVED it! did not want to get off the computer lol!, but I also want her doing worksheets too. Again Thank you, Thank you!!!

 

[Nicolepa]

Talk to me about History. I can't decide what to do for 6th grade. He is in year 4 of the Classical Cycle (1850-). I've been using Learning Adventures, which he loves, but the next level isn't done so I've got to switch. This is probably his last year at home :-( So I really want to finish the cycle out.

I'm debating doing STOW 4 (Already own spine but not AG) or Sonlight 4/E. I've looked at Biblioplan and it is intriguing but it seems pricy considering I still have to get all the books. I'm open to other suggestions as well. He's an oral learner. Loves to be read to, doesn't like a ton of hands on (unless its a science experiment).

Oh and I will also have a kinder that I have to edubcate. ;-)

 

[Aunt Stepody]

Talk to me about History. I can't decide what to do for 6th grade. He is in year 4 of the Classical Cycle (1850-). I've been using Learning Adventures, which he loves, but the next level isn't done so I've got to switch. This is probably his last year at home :-( So I really want to finish the cycle out.

I'm debating doing STOW 4 (Already own spine but not AG) or Sonlight 4/E. I've looked at Biblioplan and it is intriguing but it seems pricy considering I still have to get all the books. I'm open to other suggestions as well. He's an oral learner. Loves to be read to, doesn't like a ton of hands on (unless its a science experiment).

Oh and I will also have a kinder that I have to edubcate. ;-)

Hello! We have used Veritas Press for History the last several years, and we love it! They have a sale right now until April 6th for $50 off their self-paced class. If you go to their website you can look at a sample lesson. My 2 boys like it because it is interactive with games and a fun song for memorization of important historical dates. I like it because it is Bible-based. They will be taking the "Explorers to 1815" class next year. But they do have a "1815 to present day" class available. PM me if you need the code to get the $50 off.

 

[BlazeandSkylersMom]

I have a 1st grader and I am wondering if anyone can recommend a history curriculum that is not Bible based.

 

[Jennybump]

I love the four books that make up The Story of the World, which is a classical education publication. The books are really well-written and begin with nomadic societies about 5000 BC, I believe. They are not a "curriculum, per se, bc in the Classical plan you just read one book aloud each year for 1st through 4th grades, then they read them and start to learn facts and patterns over the next four years, then they read them again over the final four years and start to think critically about those patterns of behavior and thought and which values lead to what outcomes and what political models work, etc. But the books are so great that Im okay with all that! LOL

 

[BlazeandSkylersMom]

I'm definitely going to check those out. Thanks!

 

[lucigo]

I'm so happy I found this group I'm having a REALLY hard time finding a HS group in NYC the majority of them are in Yahoo, and for the life of me no matter how hard I try to sign on I can't get to any of the groups so don't know what i'm going to do about that.

Another thing is and i'm pretty sure some of you may know, my state NYC requires quarterly reports which has me a bit scared, and also testing once she enters 3rd grade (another scary what to do thought) but from what I have gathered I think I can give her the tests myself, I read somewhere that I can purchase the tests thru Hewitt Homeschooling? but not sure any info on this would be also so helpful.

I have sooo many questions and am scared out of my mind, my DH has so much trust in me, its very stressful I don't want to fail my DD or DH.
Thank you all so much!!! from what I have gathered these are on my list please tell me what you think

-Time4learning (core)
-K-5 (supplement)
-Hewitt Homeschooling (for tests)

Will look into the Brainpopjr and Teaching Techbooks mentioned above for Math, Science and Social Studies.

One thing I do know I gave DD the sample from Time4learning and she LOVED it! did not want to get off the computer lol!, but I also want her doing worksheets too. Again Thank you, Thank you!!!

Time4Learning does have some worksheets you can print out. We also purchased a couple of workbooks you might like:

http://www.amazon.com/Mead-Math-Builders-Grade-48052/dp/B006MGWR84/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364220463&sr=8-2&keywords=mead+builders+3
http://www.amazon.com/Mead-Reading-Comprehension-Grades-48092/dp/B006MGWPWM/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1364220507&sr=1-1&keywords=mead+reading+3
http://www.amazon.com/Mead-Problem-Workbook-8-Inches-48032/dp/B004EWN91M/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1364220546&sr=1-2&keywords=mead+logic

 

[Readerbug]

I have a 1st grader and I am wondering if anyone can recommend a history curriculum that is not Bible based.

Really second Jennybumps Story of the World. We love it, and the activity guides that are made to go with, are thick, full of games, hands on, and side library reading, as much as you want to build.

Only things con may be, 1. it jumps around, countrywise, so sometimes kids need a visual timeline as a continuum of how it all fits together, and 2. is so world centered, you don't get the focus on your own country's history and outlook, and I want that, too, so I supplement, with the themes most 1st graders are getting, especially around national holidays.

Makes for a well rounded, well grounded head, I think. World concious. By themselves, the books are interesting. 5stars.