Homeschool Chat

[DawnM]

We didn't care for SS. We will be using All About Spelling this year.

We do use Apologia Science.....and so far we like it.

We haven't used MOH, we switched back to Sonlight for Cores 3 and then next year Core 4 to cover US History. Then we will most likely go back to Tapestry of Grace as I have Y1 and Y2 and haven't even finished Y1....it was a little too much for my young ones....we will will keep it and go back to it when they are a bit older.

Dawn

Do any of you use Mystery of History, Sequential Spelling and Apologia Science? I am thinking of switching over to these programs. I have been using BJU for the past three years and I'm really just looking for a change. We have been homeschooling my son since the beginning and he just started his third grade year. So any new curriculum will be for next year.

If you use these or have used them, could you provide me with some feedback?

 

[HomeschoolMama]

sorry, I knew I forgot to do something, this one

thanks I like searching photobucket. I don't have a flicker acct. so I can't capture images off it.

If you have a photobucket account, can't you just search and save pics to your album? I don't remember how I opened my account...


I would say you can have mine, but it links to my blog. I did find it and several other buttons on Photobucket, though. Good luck!

 

[Ellester]

Do any of you use Mystery of History, Sequential Spelling and Apologia Science? I am thinking of switching over to these programs. I have been using BJU for the past three years and I'm really just looking for a change. We have been homeschooling my son since the beginning and he just started his third grade year. So any new curriculum will be for next year.

If you use these or have used them, could you provide me with some feedback?

We've been using Sequential Spelling for a year or so and really like it. My dd10 actually likes spelling now, I let her do it on a dry erase board. I like that there is no memorization of lists, I think it promotes natural spelling. We've also used Apologia. We did the astronomy book and are now about 2/3 through the flying creatures book. I do like it, but we may switch to NoEo when we are done with flying creatures. I like their topics and the program intrigues me. I have enjoyed Apologia, but I think we may be ready to change it up a bit. I have friends who love MoH, but we've not used it personally.

 

[nuzmom]

Do any of you use Mystery of History, Sequential Spelling and Apologia Science? I am thinking of switching over to these programs. I have been using BJU for the past three years and I'm really just looking for a change. We have been homeschooling my son since the beginning and he just started his third grade year. So any new curriculum will be for next year.

If you use these or have used them, could you provide me with some feedback?

I can only comment on Apologia. We LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I have done Astronomy, Botany, Zoology flying and Zoology swimming with my DSs. I have led general science, Chemisty, and Physics at our co-op (multiple times). We'll be doing Zoology land creatures this year with youngest DS and I'll lead and older son will be doing Physical Science. (my background is in engineering and I think the apologia approach and coursework is very solid and challenging)

There are LOTS of hands on activities in Apologia. I recommend doing absolutely as many as you can.

FWIW - when we did flying creatures, we did the 2nd half of the book 1st. It's on insects and much better suited for fall. The 1st half is birds and that worked fine for the winter.

If you have any specific questions on Apologia, I'll try to answer them. Have fun with it!!!!

 

[Sarilas]

Have you looked into Tapestry of Grace? It's very academic, but it lays it all out in an easy to understand way for the parent. I have loved it.
Here's a link to get a free demo:
Tapestry of Grace

As for math, I plan on switching my DD to Saxon Math after she finishes her last year of Horizons this school year. It's also very academic.

Good luck! ​

I hadn't heard of Tapestry! I did give my son the Saxon placement test and it seems like it might work well for him.

My oldest is going into 7th as well-I am using Teaching Textbooks for math-we have used ABeka & Saxon in the past & needed a change.You can go to their website and see which level he would need. I am very excited about it-up until this point math has been great-but Geo. and upper levels of Algebra are not my strong point.So, this has been a Godsend for me!
For History I am using Truth Quest- a history guide that lets you pick from great lists of real books-not a textbook/workbook approach. Also, very God centered. For Language Arts we are using Learning Language Arts Through Literature. Again-using real books that can be purchased or checked out from a local library. This has spelling, voc. and all in one book-so you are not working out of 5 or 6 different subject books every day.
Hope this helps you!! Don't be worried-we all learn by trial and error. What one person swears by, may not work for you at all. I would suggest you get Cathy Duffy's book-100 Top Picks for homeschool curriculum.Lots of info about most of the top-rated stuff-also includes each ones website or contact info. Also, go to Christian book distributors.com--you can look at sample pages of all the books.Just go to the Homeschool store and you can browse by subject or grade.

You are going to be so glad you chose this journey!!!

Thank you for the curriculum site advice! I've got a bajillion links saved and it's hard to know what works, and where to start.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

I hadn't heard of Tapestry! I did give my son the Saxon placement test and it seems like it might work well for him.

Hopefully, it will be a good fit for your family. It's nice that it has a sample. I also went on-line and looked at the first few weeks sample.

 

[DisneyWalle]

We've been using Sequential Spelling for a year or so and really like it. My dd10 actually likes spelling now, I let her do it on a dry erase board. I like that there is no memorization of lists, I think it promotes natural spelling. We've also used Apologia. We did the astronomy book and are now about 2/3 through the flying creatures book. I do like it, but we may switch to NoEo when we are done with flying creatures. I like their topics and the program intrigues me. I have enjoyed Apologia, but I think we may be ready to change it up a bit. I have friends who love MoH, but we've not used it personally.

What is the NoEo program?
I have been using BJU for the past three years. I did use Abeka for Kindergarten and hated it. So, I am not very familiar with all of the different curriculums and programs out there.

Thank you for all of the feedback I have been receiveing. If anyone has other suggestions on programs that work best for visual and hands-on learners, I'm willing to listen.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

I did use Abeka for Kindergarten and hated it.

I agree that the Abeka Science K & 1 program is just a waste of money. I'm not sure about 2 because I haven't seen it, but 3 is good as are 4, 5, & 6.

 

[teacups]

Does anyone belong to a co-op?
I am tossing the idea around and could use some advice.

My kids (4th and 1st) are not lacking in academics, but I would like to start a co-op simply for the bonding that I hope could take place. We hit various classes, but you never see the same kids! (Ok, I know that can be a good thing!)
I'd love to start something where the same group of kids meets once a month for a project or two and some free reading and playing time.

I am an art teacher (or, was an art teacher) so I do have something legitimate to offer. I do not want to end up paying for everything though!

Any ideas or suggestions?
How do I do this?
I'd like to "somehow" attract kids of similar ages, not just a herd of preschoolers. (Sorry PK group!)

What makes this kind of thing either work or fail?

 

[Ellester]

What is the NoEo program?
I have been using BJU for the past three years. I did use Abeka for Kindergarten and hated it. So, I am not very familiar with all of the different curriculums and programs out there.

http://www.noeoscience.com/

Friends of ours have been very happy with it and several families on a loop I am on use it as well.

 

[teacups]

Dear DIS Team,

The Home School group is in desperate need of a place to discuss issues important to educating our children. HSing is growing in popularity as people all across the USA realize the benefits to children and to families. With one thread we can not exchange ideas, provide advice or direct new HSers to information in a reliable fashion. Many messages get skipped as they are all jumbled together and easily missed/lost.

Wont you please reconsider providing that place to your users?

What is more important than education ?

Thank you for your consideration,
Teacups

 

[teacups]

Dear DIS Team,

The Home School group is in desperate need of a place to discuss issues important to educating our children. HSing is growing in popularity as people all across the USA realize the benefits to children and to families. With one thread we can not exchange ideas, provide advice or direct new HSers to information in a reliable fashion. Many messages get skipped as they are all jumbled together and easily missed/lost.

Wont you please reconsider providing that place to your users?

What is more important than education ?

Thank you for your consideration,
Teacups

Dear HS parents,

I ask that each of you create such a message.

Teacups

 

[TLHB70]

I just received all of our books. We are going to be doing A Beka again next year. My oldest DD will be in 8th grade. I enrolled her in the video school, program 1. This will be our first time to use the videos. My youngest DD will be in 5th grade. I will do the normal curriculum with her.
Videos should arrive next week. Our first day of school is August 11 since I plan to take two weeks off in October for WDW.

 

[TLHB70]

Dear DIS Team,

The Home School group is in desperate need of a place to discuss issues important to educating our children. HSing is growing in popularity as people all across the USA realize the benefits to children and to families. With one thread we can not exchange ideas, provide advice or direct new HSers to information in a reliable fashion. Many messages get skipped as they are all jumbled together and easily missed/lost.

Wont you please reconsider providing that place to your users?

What is more important than education ?

Thank you for your consideration,
Teacups

DIS Team,
I would also love a special homeschooling space here.
I love the DIS. I always recommend it to friends. I personally visit it at least once a day. A special homeschool place would be like icing on the cake!

 

[lori1043]

Dear DIS Team,

The Home School group is in desperate need of a place to discuss issues important to educating our children. HSing is growing in popularity as people all across the USA realize the benefits to children and to families. With one thread we can not exchange ideas, provide advice or direct new HSers to information in a reliable fashion. Many messages get skipped as they are all jumbled together and easily missed/lost.

Wont you please reconsider providing that place to your users?

What is more important than education ?

Thank you for your consideration,
Teacups

Can we all sign this in agreement? Can we send it on to anybody?
1. teacups
2.TLHB70
3. Lori1043

 

[karynnix]

Hello all! My family is looking to move this year, and I plan to homeschool my kids when we get to Mississippi instead of sending them to public school. My son has Asperger's, and I feel that a home environment will be better for him. I have NO idea where to start. Does each state have certain requirements? I have checked into Abeka and Sonrise. My question is, we do not know WHEN we will be moving (the Army likes to keep you in the dark as long as possible). Can I start them in the middle of a year? How do I work that out? Would I have to pay for curriculum for the whole year? I don't mind doing that, I just need to know what is possible. Where do I start looking for information?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[sha_lyn]

ETA: dont' know where I got AL from

herre is MS info

support groups: http://www.nhen.org/support/groups/2searchall.asp

http://www.nhen.org/leginfo/detail.asp?StateCode=Mississippi

Looks like MS is a very easy state to HS in.

 

[LegoMom3]

Hello all! My family is looking to move this year, and I plan to homeschool my kids when we get to Mississippi instead of sending them to public school. My son has Asperger's, and I feel that a home environment will be better for him. I have NO idea where to start. Does each state have certain requirements? I have checked into Abeka and Sonrise. My question is, we do not know WHEN we will be moving (the Army likes to keep you in the dark as long as possible). Can I start them in the middle of a year? How do I work that out? Would I have to pay for curriculum for the whole year? I don't mind doing that, I just need to know what is possible. Where do I start looking for information?

Thanks for your help!!

I would start here for info on your state's HSing laws:

www.hslda.org

Roll over "About Homeschooling" at the top of the page and you'll get a drop-down menu, where you'll see Homeschooling Laws.

They can also point you to a local support group (once you get settled somewhere!).

And yes, you can start mid-year!

.

 

[NHWX]

Hello all! My family is looking to move this year, and I plan to homeschool my kids when we get to Mississippi instead of sending them to public school. My son has Asperger's, and I feel that a home environment will be better for him. I have NO idea where to start. Does each state have certain requirements? I have checked into Abeka and Sonrise. My question is, we do not know WHEN we will be moving (the Army likes to keep you in the dark as long as possible). Can I start them in the middle of a year? How do I work that out? Would I have to pay for curriculum for the whole year? I don't mind doing that, I just need to know what is possible. Where do I start looking for information?

Thanks for your help!!

If you buy the curriculum - textbooks, workbooks, dvds or whatever, you'll just take that with you. If you sign up for something like K12 or Calvert with an online school situation, you should be able to move, connect up your computer and start back up again. If you're only going to homeschool once you move, you might want to order early so you can look at everything before you have to deal with unpacking, etc. along with starting to home school.

You can surely start up in the middle of the year! And you can switch curriculum in the middle too. We started out with Oak Meadow and figured out after a while that it wasn't going to work for our younger child. He liked all the projects but hated all the writing. So we switched. It turns out that he's pretty much on track with his peers for most subjects despite being behind in the curriculum's path.

Have fun!

NHWX

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I agree-you can start in the middle! If you are sure that ABeka or whatever is what you are definitely doing, just go ahead and get started then take off the time you need for your move & pick up where you left off. I would check online for the state's requirements-they may want you to keep up with hours, or whatever.

If you aren't sure what you want for curriculum yet, you can always do a LOT of reading!The Caldecott and Newberry Award books are great! You can get spelling/vocab. work out of it, read chapters and have them narrate it back to you, or write a short narration if they are old enough. Then you can get the math workbooks from local bookstores-this is great to get you in the swing of schooling by your schedule. I have been soooo surprised how much my kids learn just by reading about what they are interested in. My middle son is a tractor/dinosaur/lego boy! We get lots of books at the library and bookstore, and he has lego sets--this really helps them with reading and comprehension because THEY are interested in what they are reading. Just jump in there and enjoy this! You are gonna be surprised how naturally it'll come to you!!