Homeschool Chat

[littlepeppers]

Well, you are ahead of me....I don't even know what ELA is.

English Language Arts

 

[Auggiedaugie]

Hello Everyone,

I hope you don't mind me posting here, asking a few questions. I am 85% positive that I will homeschool my DD9 starting in September, she will be in fourth grade.

I will need to work out of the home for about 11-15 hours a week. I am concerned about having the time to properly interact with any homeschool groups I may find. I am a little flexible in my scheduling but once I set it I can not change it. Right now I hope to work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Monday mornings. So, I keep running scenarios through my mind, what if I work on Thursdays and that is when all the groups meet? Or they meet on Friday? I think you get the idea.

Would you recommend contacting groups/co-ops now to get an idea about what they are doing and when they are doing it, etc.? Would that seem too intrusive?

I have no academic concerns about my DD, but she is a bit on the shy side and I was hoping that I can get her involved with some groups where she may find some friends.

I only know of one homeschooling family, did not know them well and have not spoken in almost three years but I will be digging out their phone number and calling them for advice/guidance but hoped I could get some here in the meantime.

Thank You all for taking the time to read this.

 

[disneymom3]

You definitely want to start contacting groups soon. I am on the board of our group and people generally start contacting us and coming to visit by the end of Feb. Make sure you can go visit and be sure you are comfortable with the way things are run and that it feels welcoming to you.

I think you will be fine with your work schedule. If your area is anything like ours there are groups that meet on lots of different days, But if you can find one you like and then plan your schedule around that, that's even better.

Our group starts taking new registrations after a certain date which is the deadline for when our current families get priority. They are accepted by whatever is post marked first and we always end up with a waiting list but that is almost ALWAYS because the people have babies or preschoolers and those groups in our co-op fill up very quickly. This year we were full in 6th and up and infants-preschool but all the other grades had openings.

 

[disneymom3]

English Language Arts

OH! In that case, have you looked at Learing Language Arts Through Literature? I really like that program. I would have been using it this year, however I must say that with three kids at different levels it was really overwhelming to try and do all three of them. So, somewhat it will depend on how many kids you hvae and what your ages are. Sonlight has very nice LA curriculums too.

What grade will you be teaching and how many kids?

 

[Ellester]

Hello Everyone,

I hope you don't mind me posting here, asking a few questions. I am 85% positive that I will homeschool my DD9 starting in September, she will be in fourth grade.

I will need to work out of the home for about 11-15 hours a week. I am concerned about having the time to properly interact with any homeschool groups I may find. I am a little flexible in my scheduling but once I set it I can not change it. Right now I hope to work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Monday mornings. So, I keep running scenarios through my mind, what if I work on Thursdays and that is when all the groups meet? Or they meet on Friday? I think you get the idea.

Would you recommend contacting groups/co-ops now to get an idea about what they are doing and when they are doing it, etc.? Would that seem too intrusive?

I have no academic concerns about my DD, but she is a bit on the shy side and I was hoping that I can get her involved with some groups where she may find some friends.

I only know of one homeschooling family, did not know them well and have not spoken in almost three years but I will be digging out their phone number and calling them for advice/guidance but hoped I could get some here in the meantime.

Thank You all for taking the time to read this.

I don't think any group would mind you asking questions now. If they did, I don't think I would want to be affiliated with them anyway! We have several groups in our area, some more structured than others. All of them are happy to talk with prospective homeschoolers. It makes perfect sense to see what is out there and what you and your dd may be interested in doing/joining and work your schedule around that. Good luck! It is a wonderful journey you are thinking of undertaking (although, like any journey, not without it's bumps!).

 

[littlepeppers]

OH! In that case, have you looked at Learing Language Arts Through Literature? I really like that program. I would have been using it this year, however I must say that with three kids at different levels it was really overwhelming to try and do all three of them. So, somewhat it will depend on how many kids you hvae and what your ages are. Sonlight has very nice LA curriculums too.

What grade will you be teaching and how many kids?

DS is 7 (3rd gd next yr) but typical boy writing lazy
DD is 2 1/2 but she likes learning (just like girls)
Had to get tubes tied (med. reasons), so that will be the end of our school enrollment.

 

[DawnM]

I would look into a social homeschool group rather than an academic group.

We have found that we prefer to do the academics at home and interact socially with a group.

We have a local Rec center that meets Fridays from 11-2 and has various clubs but also has free time play too.

We also have a group that goes on field trips almost every Tuesday. I rarely make it to those as I really need to get the academics completed M-Th so we can enjoy the Rec center.

Dawn

Hello Everyone,

I hope you don't mind me posting here, asking a few questions. I am 85% positive that I will homeschool my DD9 starting in September, she will be in fourth grade.

I will need to work out of the home for about 11-15 hours a week. I am concerned about having the time to properly interact with any homeschool groups I may find. I am a little flexible in my scheduling but once I set it I can not change it. Right now I hope to work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Monday mornings. So, I keep running scenarios through my mind, what if I work on Thursdays and that is when all the groups meet? Or they meet on Friday? I think you get the idea.

Would you recommend contacting groups/co-ops now to get an idea about what they are doing and when they are doing it, etc.? Would that seem too intrusive?

I have no academic concerns about my DD, but she is a bit on the shy side and I was hoping that I can get her involved with some groups where she may find some friends.

I only know of one homeschooling family, did not know them well and have not spoken in almost three years but I will be digging out their phone number and calling them for advice/guidance but hoped I could get some here in the meantime.

Thank You all for taking the time to read this.

 

[DawnM]

There are SO MANY out there!

I am a former English teacher and this was imp. to me as well. I have been using Sonlight for Literature, but I found it weak in LA. I have tried several different programs and have found one that works well for us.....it may or may not work well for you though. We use Christian Light Education materials for LA. It is in workbook form and very clearly and easily laid out. It is also Christian based, so if you are not Christian you may not like it.

http://www.clp.org/


Now, the other thing to know is that I have BOYS! My Lit and LA dreams are far from being met.....I had envisioned having to tear my kids away from books.....yeah, not even CLOSE to happening here!

Dawn

I need ELA for dummies. Anyone know a good 3rd gd. curr. for ELA?

I am clueless when it comes to ELA. I may want to go the route of putting my own curr. together for next year, but I will need a strong ELA curr. that is layed out step by step for me. I would need the lesson plans already done for me. I know I can handle the other subjects, but that ELA...........

 

[disneymom3]

LOL Dawn, I know what you mean about the reality of boys and books. My 9 yo is now getting into books at almost ten but my visions of everyone cudled up on the couch reading by the fire for hours on end have gone by the wayside.

Have you used Sonlight in the last couple of years? I was just wondering because I know that all of their LA have been redone fairly recently.

 

[Auggiedaugie]

Thank you for the information/advice on contacting groups. I have contacted two, still waiting on a response from one. The group I am in contact with seems very open and helpful....but it will be a hike to get to many of the meet ups as they are about 30-40 minutes away. On the bright side, I am looking to change barns for DD's riding lessons so if I can combine the activities I will only be about 15 minutes away!

 

[MiniGirl]

Thank you for the information/advice on contacting groups. I have contacted two, still waiting on a response from one. The group I am in contact with seems very open and helpful....but it will be a hike to get to many of the meet ups as they are about 30-40 minutes away. On the bright side, I am looking to change barns for DD's riding lessons so if I can combine the activities I will only be about 15 minutes away!

Sounds like you're on the right track. If you haven't looked yet, see if there is a local Yahoo group for your area. That is THE best place to find out what is going on in your area.

 

[littlepeppers]

LOL Dawn, I know what you mean about the reality of boys and books. My 9 yo is now getting into books at almost ten but my visions of everyone cudled up on the couch reading by the fire for hours on end have gone by the wayside.

Have you used Sonlight in the last couple of years? I was just wondering because I know that all of their LA have been redone fairly recently.

Going to keep looking & trying w/ the English Language Arts (ELA). Keeping the hope alive for the kids reading.......

I want them to like to read. I don't, but would love to.

 

[bumbershoot]

If any of you homeschool experts can help, I would greatly appreciate it. My DS(10) goes to public school-grade 4. I am not happy at all with his math class. Math is challenging for him as it is and he just cannot get pretty much everything they are doing this year. The "Math Book" consists of worksheet pages-no instruction pages at all.

I don't have knowledge in this, but wanted to give you cyberhugs for helping him. 4th grade math (long division, bleah) is what turned me away from math. Even while I was loving the other subjects (tested at "13th grade" for reading that year!) and loving one of the very few good teachers I ever had, math just boggled me.

My mom felt she couldn't help me...they'd gone to "the new math" by then and she was mystified...just as mystified as I am when I look at some of the ways math is being done now (but I'm not working 60 hours per week just to keep a roof over our heads like she was).

I'm just so happy YOU are working to help him.


*********
Homeschooling groups...DS is enrolled this session (month long) for Homeschool PE at our local YMCA! We don't mesh with most of the families b/c of religion (I just keep my mouth shut), and I'm the only one with only ONE kid, but WOW is it fun for DS! We're in early days with homeschooling (kindergarten work), but DS has been yearning to know other homeschooled kids, and this is fitting the bill.

So be sure to look into your local YMCA, see if they have such a program! Last week they had a basketball unit, this week is gymnastics, they started off with swimming...

 

[Nicolepa]

Have you used Sonlight in the last couple of years? I was just wondering because I know that all of their LA have been redone fairly recently.

I have a friend who uses Sonlight pretty much exclusivly. Her one complaint is that their very week in writing. Her kids are K, 2nd & 5th and she has used them from the begining.

 

[NHWX]

Going to keep looking & trying w/ the English Language Arts (ELA). Keeping the hope alive for the kids reading.......

I want them to like to read. I don't, but would love to.

Is there anything that you do like to read? Cookbooks? Newspapers? You don't have to model reading great literature and your kids don't have to read the same for pleasure. My younger son loves most things that are humorous. So Captain Underpants was a hit. Germonimo Stilton was a good read also. Now he reads the Signspotting books and every comic book he can. Sometimes we get him more just so we don't keep hearing the same comics again and again. Mind you, he reads novels for fun too (he's 14) but getting him to read his assigned lit (Moby Dick now) means threatening him with not going out with friends over the weekend if it's not done by then.

I think I'd find Moby Dick to be a drag too but it is part of our literary culture/history and it's a big chunk of this part of their lit course. And when they talk to their friends in ps who are also doing American Lit, they're reading the same books. They all groan together. OTOH, I'd much rather them complain about boring than reading some of the sketchy books that non-conservative districts are having their kids read.

I can't help with early grade LA because mine were in public or private school at that age. I do know that by middle school I was happy with K12's literature courses.

NHWX

 

[Sweetpeamd]

I am new to homeschooling and am planning to teach my 4 yr old for preschool starting in the fall. Has anyone used the Sonlight P4/5 curriculum? I reviewed the Alpha Omega Horizons program and wasn't impressed. Are there others that you have liked? Any feedback would be MUCH appreciated!!

 

[npmommie]

what do you guys use for science curriculum for elementary grades?
I have been piecing together curriculum, and want to try something different for science.
we have been using a book i bought at barnes and noble for earth science, and i also have the science workbooks from Singapore for my 1st grader.
I have some books from usborne i use also, but I don't have a set science "curriculum" and would like one, so any suggestions?

 

[heatherplus3]

I am new to homeschooling and am planning to teach my 4 yr old for preschool starting in the fall. Has anyone used the Sonlight P4/5 curriculum? I reviewed the Alpha Omega Horizons program and wasn't impressed. Are there others that you have liked? Any feedback would be MUCH appreciated!!

Yes, we are using sonlight p4/5. Honestly, I wouldn't buy it again. We have used sonlight for 2 years (for my DS8 for 1st and 2nd) and DD4 for p4/5. The first year we homeschooled, I did like the sonlight. I loved having everything planned out and a set curriculum to follow. I was so worried about not doing everything right. LOL! It was really a safety net, so it was good in that respect. It let me get my "feet wet" in the homeschooling world. But now I see subjects that I would like to explore more and find myself supplementing and changing things quite a bit. Sonlight is pretty expensive also. Next year we are using SOS for DS and a mix of stuff for DD.

FWIW, my DD4 loves the hooked on phonics programs. We are working on hooked on handwriting, hooked on numbers and hooked on phonics preschool. (there was a great deal on the hop website and I ended up with all these sets for around $30) I am just adding in stories from the sonlight stuff, art and crafts and Bible.

I never thought I would put together my own curriculum from many different sources, but it works for us! Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[Darcy03231]

Hi everyone. I live in NH and am starting to explore my options in homeschooling my high school sophomore. Can anyone point me in the direction of a good website/curriculum. Public school just doesn't seem to be working for him and private school is out of the question cost wise. Both DH and I work full time, but I only work a mile from our house and go home for lunch every day (12-1). Is it unrealistic to try to do this?

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

 

[NHWX]

Hi everyone. I live in NH and am starting to explore my options in homeschooling my high school sophomore. Can anyone point me in the direction of a good website/curriculum. Public school just doesn't seem to be working for him and private school is out of the question cost wise. Both DH and I work full time, but I only work a mile from our house and go home for lunch every day (12-1). Is it unrealistic to try to do this?

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Hello there!

I'm in NH too! For starters, there's the state's virtual charter school, www.vlacs.org I've chosen classes from there that I didn't want to deal with creating or wanted someone else to be the source of all the work. I think the courses are fine overall.

I've used online high school courses from several universities also: Johns Hopkins, Oklahoma State and Brigham Young.

As far as realistic or unrealistic, it depends on how independent a student can be. My two boys struggle with getting things done. They'd much rather listen to music, hang out with friends and play video games than do world history, classical literature or music history. Somehow I persist and make them do nearly all of their classwork every day. I think that coming home at noon will make a great opportunity to connect with your son and provide for a check on what he's getting done.

It's probably a good time to think about other learning opportunities. If he's a kid who might have taken industrial arts in a brick and mortar school, can you set up something where he has a hands-on learning experience one or two afternoons a week? If he's into the arts, maybe he could work in an artist's studio one day a week? There are all kinds of cool things homeschool kids can do that are difficult for ps kids. How about making his own nature documentaries? School in the summer and snowboard for two months in the winter?

Have fun thinking about all the choices out there!

NHWX