Homeschool Chat

[saremca]

Disneymom3304, I had quite a time figuring out if I really wanted to homeschool too. Well I knew I wanted to, but it was a tough decision to make. Sometimes I still sit here and think, "what am I doing"'

We're finishing up our 11th year of homeschooling and my oldest is graduating this year. I *still* have days where I think "What am I doing?" It never ends!

 

[Disneymom3304]

Thank you all for such nice comments. It's nice to finally hear positive responses to HS. I am more than capabale of HS my daughter and think I could provide her with a more detailed curriculm than any of the schools around us. I don't think my friends/family are intentionally trying to put me down, but it is just such a tough decision to make and one that my DH and I need to make on our own. We do try to take in some of their concerns but it is nice to hear the other side that has no voice. I want to be able to defend our decision and help my husband get over other's comments too. He is slowly warming up to my HS idea and seeing the real advantages in it. However when a family member steps in and throws in one of their comments it always throws him another step away. He too seems to think "socializing" is such a big thing! I remind him all the time of the negative affects of the wrong types of socializing and that she is on a soccer team, takes gymnastics and swim, all good socializing. Nobody said this parenting thing was easy! Thank you so much for all the positive posts and helpful comebacks!

 

[WeDisney4]

How Blessed we all are to be Homeschooling Disney Families!!!

Thanks again for the Apologia excitement! Our books should arrive any day & we can’t wait!! We also received their catalog today & it’s beautiful! I noticed they are adding an Astronomy Notebooking Journal, and just wondered what you thought?? I know they’ll still offer the free notebook pages on the website, but I thought I might try them.

BTW ~ Christianbook.com is having an Apologia sale Apr. 15 – 30 which puts the Journals to only $16.99 each, and 32% off textbooks!

On another site I also saw Apologia Astronomy Lesson Plans, I would also welcome any advice on these/do you think we need them?

Lastly I also wondered if we could mix it up a bit. The books are K-6 & we’ll have Astronomy, Botany, Zoology 1, 2 & 3. Now what if we didn’t want to do Astronomy all yr & only did a 1/3 of it followed by 1/3 of Botany & 1/3 of Zoology 1, & repeat until we’re finished? Then we could mix Zoology 2 & 3.

In my head it would be OK as my 1st & 3rd grader would just be building on what they’ve already learned, & each time we went back to a book they'd be just a little older. However I wasn’t sure of the logistics & just wondered if anyone had tried it? This will by my first subject officially teaching both girls at once.

Happy Saturday ~ Christine

 

[tenoraddict]

I am really happy to have found this site, but have spent a lot of time just reading the posts from the day the thread was started! I hope I'm not breaking forum etiquette by asking a question that's already been answered, but here goes: Has anyone done lesson plans around a trip to WDW? We will begin to homeschool our sons next year (6th, 4th, and 1st), and have planned a trip to WDW at the beginning of October (free food! yeah!). I had originally thought to call it our "fall break," since we're going to start schooling in August, but then realized the enormous learning potential that Disney offers. The boys will be reading bios of Walt Disney (and Neil Armstrong, since we'll take a trip to Kennedy while we're in FL), which we'll incorporate into our language arts program.

We took a trip to WDW in 12/07, pulling the boys out of school for a week. Since they had to return to school "caught up," we had to do work (math worksheets, spelling and history tests, etc) while on vacation. My goal with this trip and homeschooling is for them to be learning without really even knowing it because it will be so much fun. I would love to glean from anyone else's experiences. Also, I'd like to try to figure out how to plan "backstage educational experiences" that are only available to groups, so if anyone else will be in WDW from 10/3-10/7 and is interested, please let me know.

For what it's worth, here's my planned response to the socialization question: The only time that children should "socialize" in school is during lunch and recess. My children have spent long days at school, only to come home and do hours of homework. School has ruled our lives to the point that we have been unable to allow them to participate in extra-curricular activities. My children's opportunity to "socialize" will explode once we take them out of school.

For the newer members of this thread I bought a couple of books a few months ago. They are Vacation Education books. One is about Epcot and the other is about the MK. They are so cool. You can even get a little deck of cards with interesting facts for when you are standing in line. I will have to find the website.

Denine, I found the website. I tried to add it as a link, but I'm still a newbie, so the forum won't let me. The website is vacationeducationbooks.net It's fantastic! Thank you so much! Between their AK book and the soon-to-be-released Epcot book (hopefully released by August!), I think I've found my science curriculum for our first term...and from a Christian perspective, too? It almost seems too good to be true!

Thanks!

 

[wvdislover]

Hey tenoraddict, the Epcot book is already out there. MK and Epcot have both been available for quite a while (I bought both of those last August). The AK book has just recently come out, and they're coming out with a SeaWorld book soon. There is good information in there...you can use it for some short stuff before you go and while you're there (the "scavenger hunt" cards are great--really kept my DD's occupied while we waited in line!), or you can spend a great deal of time on them prior to/after your trip, using them as a unit study of sorts. You can go really deep, or just brush the surface, especially with the Epcot book, where you can do some real in-depth studies of each of the countries.

 

[lori1043]

Hey Dis HS friends!

This year has been crazy. We are commited to homeschooling, and thankfully, the WE is my hubby and I. he was laid off in January and is still unemployed. We are blessed with a great severance, but I ahve been all but begged at my PRN job to come in more often. I have fought it, kicking and screaming, till I realized how DUMB I have been. DH is willing to homeschool till a job happens(has a VERY probable prospect for next month!), and I just don;t wanna be back out there in the job world in any more capacity than i have been(1x per week)-BUT I have stopped fighting the inevitable, and I am (cringing) going to take work up on thier offer.

I am just thankful he is bored and aggravated enough to WANT to go back-being home is killing him, but I feel homeschooling HAS occupied his mind. Plus he is getting some good quality time with the kids. Some hubby's woulldn't do it. So I should feel blessed right?!

Just, for those of you who do pray, keep us in there-me for acceptance and him for a job!

Lori

 

[disneymom3]

Lori--keeping you in mind for your upcoming job changes all around! My DH also took over the homeschooling for a period of time during job loss. He was working nights at Target and I worked days somewhere else. (Thankfully he was home in time to get sleep before I left.) So, he did much of the schooling during that time. It worked out really well as the kids got to have a different type of instruction and he got see how things worked while he was usually gone.

On another site I also saw Apologia Astronomy Lesson Plans, I would also welcome any advice on these/do you think we need them?

I didn't. I just stopped at the point of the book where it had you answer some questions about what you had learned so far and then picked up there and finished the chapter the next time. We did science on Weds and Fridays and that worked well. I did buy the General Science lesson plans for DD this year, but as it turns out we are not using them. She is doing better at pacing herself.

IFor what it's worth, here's my planned response to the socialization question: The only time that children should "socialize" in school is during lunch and recess. My children have spent long days at school, only to come home and do hours of homework. School has ruled our lives to the point that we have been unable to allow them to participate in extra-curricular activities. My children's opportunity to "socialize" will explode once we take them out of school.

As a homeschooler for 7 years, I have noticed that this question comes up less and less as homeschooling becomes more popular and well known. However, I would encourage you to not have such a long response. Really, people aren't going to listen. And do you care what they think? Not to be rude to them, but it's not like you are going to go "Oh, my! I hadn't thought of that! I don't know what we'll do." when they ask. (I often wonder if people do expect us to have never considered all the aspects of it.) At any rate, when people ask me if I am worried about socialization I simply say "No. We are involved in plenty of groups and they have a lot of friends." They aren't really thinking about the amount of time or anything else. I think people just don't know how kids have friends if they don't go to school.

 

[tenoraddict]

Hey tenoraddict, the Epcot book is already out there.

I was on the website last night, and it said, "Coming soon..." so I assumed that it wasn't published yet. I'll check Amazon. Thanks!

To Disneymom3: Thanks for the advice. In what I wrote, I realize that I combined my response with an explanation to all of you. My response will be more along the lines of, "My children have much more opportunity to socialize now that they're not in traditional school." Truly, most of the negative comments will come from family members. While what they think won't affect our decision or confidence, it's going to be good to have a planned response. We live in a state with A LOT of homeschoolers, so we don't expect many questions from the "general public."

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Ooo, I'm going to go check out that website for the Epcot and AK books, those sound like a lot of FUN for our upcoming Disney Trip!!!!!

And Lori, I'll keep you in mind also and hope that your job situations get settled soon

 

[lori1043]

Lori--keeping you in mind for your upcoming job changes all around! My DH also took over the homeschooling for a period of time during job loss. He was working nights at Target and I worked days somewhere else. (Thankfully he was home in time to get sleep before I left.) So, he did much of the schooling during that time. It worked out really well as the kids got to have a different type of instruction and he got see how things worked while he was usually gone.
.

Thank you for the encouragement. He was going to get a PT job, but I am blessed with a really great hourly income(as an cardiac ultrasound tech) and so I was working there more, but not as much as they needed someone. I am giving in and hoping he gets something soon. We should find out this week about a job he may get hired for.

Ooo, I'm going to go check out that website for the Epcot and AK books, those sound like a lot of FUN for our upcoming Disney Trip!!!!!

And Lori, I'll keep you in mind also and hope that your job situations get settled soon

Hey, we did an EPCOT WS unit study the month before our 2/08 trip. I took each country, about 2-3 days a week (11countries) and looked up a craft, dinner, game and how to say "thank you" and "hello" in whatever language was spoken there. The Kidcot station employees form that country were pretty impressed with them talking to them in thier language-esp China and Japan-they were the most impressed. I counted our EPCOT WS day as a school day. I have written some of it, but never finished. My kids looked forward to it every week-I think the further we got along with it , the sooner they knew the trip would be!

If my DH is employed soon, I am hoping to be able to go to WDW in Sept-for free dining!

Thank you for the thoughts and well wishes-we certainly need and appreciate them!

Lori

 

[wvdislover]

I was on the website last night, and it said, "Coming soon..." so I assumed that it wasn't published yet. I'll check Amazon. Thanks!

Check the website again...I just checked it and it's the SeaWorld that is coming soon You can go ahead and get the Epcot book and start looking at it and deciding what you want to do with it! Have fun planning!

 

[Denine]

I didn't realize they came out with an AK book. I will have to get that too. I hadn't looked at the website in a while

I guess I am a little different when it comes to people's opinions on HS'ing. I don't care. My husband and I made the decision after careful thought and decided what was right for us. Not everyone has agreed with it and we don't care. I know how well our DD is doing which is better than she would have done in school, not to mention she would be bored out of her mind. She is in
1st grade, but 2nd grade for math. She is reading at 3-4th grade level. If we sent her to school, she would be in K. DD goes to Sunday school and plays t-ball. She took swimming lessons for a while. She has friends all over the neighborhood. She can communicate with kids older and younger than herself. She does very well with adults as well. What I am saying is do what is right for you and your family. You don't need to explain yourself to anyone.

 

[Praise2Him]

My second philosophy is "I've SEEN the village. I don't want their help, thank you."

That is GREAT - I LOVE it!

I guess I am a little different when it comes to people's opinions on HS'ing. I don't care.

I'm the same way, Denine. It doesn't really matter to me what anyone else thinks! I've actually never had anyone react negatively when I say that we homeschool, and I'm guessing it's because I'm so confident and positive about it, or maybe it's just becoming more accepted, I don't know.

 

[tenoraddict]

Check the website again...I just checked it and it's the SeaWorld that is coming soon You can go ahead and get the Epcot book and start looking at it and deciding what you want to do with it! Have fun planning!

I did, right after I got off this forum this morning, and I (obviously!) found the same thing you did. I must've seen Sea World, but thought Epcot. Must get more sleep!

 

[wvdislover]

I did, right after I got off this forum this morning, and I (obviously!) found the same thing you did. I must've seen Sea World, but thought Epcot. Must get more sleep!

Sleep?!? Does such a thing really exist? I thought I was imagining it!

Glad you found it! Now, GO TO BED!!!

 

[WeDisney4]

3princesses+aprince thanks so much, you were the first to encourage me to switch to Apologia. I posted before however I'm afraid some may have missed it. Sure would be nice if we had a thread .

Anyways, I just wanted to share w/ you & anyone else looking for Apologia, Christianbook.com is having an Apologia sale until 4/30 & I thought their prices were great!

We just started homeschooling last yr. & this yr. will be making the change to Apologia. I did find our books used however had to buy the 1st 4 in the series for $20 ea. Then I went searching for the new Notebooking Journal to go w/ Astronomy & found it at Christianbook.com for only $16.99. Plus I could have bought the text books new for just under $24 ea and just what I needed, not the $80.00 investment. Their s/h is also very reasonable. Just wanted to share hope it helps.

I am already extremely excited about the Apologia series!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

3princesses+aprince thanks so much, you were the first to encourage me to switch to Apologia. I posted before however I'm afraid some may have missed it. Sure would be nice if we had a thread .

Anyways, I just wanted to share w/ you & anyone else looking for Apologia, Christianbook.com is having an Apologia sale until 4/30 & I thought their prices were great!

We just started homeschooling last yr. & this yr. will be making the change to Apologia. I did find our books used however had to buy the 1st 4 in the series for $20 ea. Then I went searching for the new Notebooking Journal to go w/ Astronomy & found it at Christianbook.com for only $16.99. Plus I could have bought the text books new for just under $24 ea and just what I needed, not the $80.00 investment. Their s/h is also very reasonable. Just wanted to share hope it helps.

I am already extremely excited about the Apologia series!!!

Glad I could help you! Someone here just suggested Apologia to me a few weeks ago, and after I looked into it, I JUST LOVED IT!!!
Thanks for the heads up on the sale, I think i'll go check it out right now!!
Oh and you're right , our own board for this would be GREAT!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

This is a great website. I actually found out by going through the first homeschooling thread that was formed! It's superkids.com. They have great math worksheets. You actually sort of form your own and they create them and you print them out. I just printed out a bunch for multiplication. It's free, they also have games to play online.

 

[Denine]

Two days of school before we leave for WDW! Today and tomorrow. It is tough to get through for both of us.

 

[MiniGirl]

We were looking at buying a few software programs and notice that some have an "Academic" software package that schools, etc may purchase. As homeschoolers, can we purchase these, too? The price is sometimes considerably lower. If we can, is it the same basic software we'd get if we purchased the program in a store? TIA.