Homeschool Chat

[PA Princess]

I'm wondering if anyone has attempted, considered, failed miserably etc at teaching elementary (2nd grade) without buying a lot of cirriculum materials? We are in PA and there are some pretty strict guidelines on what needs to be taught (subject-wise). I'm wondering if I could find enough material online to get through the year without purchasing books on each subject? Thanks in advance.

I am a homeschooling mom also in PA. I am finishing second grade with my daughter currently. How old is your child? I ask, because in PA if your child is not 8 you do not have to officially register to homeschool. My daughter is not registered - her older two brothers are, but not her for this year.

I am not saying that the intended list to be covered in second grade is not a good goal, but there is less pressure and more freedom if you do not need to register your child. Oh, but if your child has already been in public school for earlier grades, than you would need to register. Sorry if I am talking in circles - just thinking as I type.

There are so many resources at reasonable costs that you should be able to create a second grade curriculum on a limited budget. Look for used book sales - this can be an awesome source of bargains. Another option is the library. Our local library has a special section for teachers and many great resource books.

Finally, if you want books for free, in PA the public schools are required by law to provide you with those books if you request them. Some schools are more cooperative than others, but they must eventually comply with the request.

I hope some of that is helpful.

 

[Neesy228]

Thanks to everyone who's responded to my original question about no cirriculum for 2nd grade. My son has been in the public schools for K and 1st so we would have to "notify" the district.

We're in central PA, near Penn State Univ. (Go Lions!) Anyone nearby?

I'm not 100% sure I'm going to do this yet, but it's more because of my doubts about my own abilities , not that I don't think it would be great for my son.

Thanks again for the feedback - it at least makes me feel like I'm not completely off base.

Denise

 

[disneymom3]

I know a lot of you have said you used Sonlight. I am strongly considering it for next year. Needing to know if you add on stuff to do or is it included? I know my boys love to be read to, but just wondering if there is any hands on stuff or if I am getting right impression that it is really just a LOT of reading. Seems like I must be missing something.

 

[DawnM]

We are heading back to SL for next year (well, starting in a couple of weeks).

the kids want to study US History, so we are getting Core 3 and then Core 4.

I use Abeka for Language
Singapore for Math
Spell to Write and Read for Spelling

and those cover our core subjects.

Dawn

 

[Ellester]

I know a lot of you have said you used Sonlight. I am strongly considering it for next year. Needing to know if you add on stuff to do or is it included? I know my boys love to be read to, but just wondering if there is any hands on stuff or if I am getting right impression that it is really just a LOT of reading. Seems like I must be missing something.

It is basically just lots and lots of reading, both aloud and on their own. There are no real "crafty" things in there, although the Usborne books usually have little projects interspersed. There are map and timeline activities included. We add in art, use Apologia for science, and MUS for math. We also do our own bible, since we're Catholic. We did Core K two years ago, skipped a year, and are now half way through Core1+2. We've been very happy with it, it fits me and my kids well. I enjoy the read alouds just as much as they do!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I can't believe our school year is almost at an end. We have to test in NC, so this week we are doing the IOWA's. They look really easy, so hopefully we can get it done early everyday and have free time!

We are already looking into buying next year's curriculum. We are thinking about SL for our older dd. I am not 100% sure yet. We are most likely going to do Rosetta Stone, but it is so darn expensive. Up until last month she was using it for free through the public library. But they recently cancelled it! So, now we need to shell out at least $200 for Spanish 1. I know buying 1 and 2 together is a deal, but I don't have over $300 for one course!

We are doing Saxon for Algebra and 1st grade. Worldy Wise, Easy Grammar for high school. Apologia for both girls. Most likely sonlight for reading and SS for high school. Little one is still going through Sing, spell read write and when we finish 1st grade I will just order the 2nd grade one.

Not sure what else I need. DD will be 9th grade and I need to be sure to get all her credits in for college. I am not worried about what the high school graduation requirements are, just the requirmenets for college admissions!

 

[Praise2Him]

My DD will be a senior next year. There are no requirements for college, as far as credits go, except for the ones she would normally take for high school graduation. Colleges go by their high school transcript, but mostly by their SAT/ACT scores. I'd recommend your DD take whichever test this next year for you to get an idea of her score. Then do some SAT/ACT prep classes and take it again every year to raise her scores up to the best level she can do. I've known several homeschoolers who were able to get scholarships based on their ACT scores.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Julie, I've got one of the sonlight courses here that we aren't going to use. I'd be happy to send it your way, if you like. Then you could check it out. If you aren't interested, you could just pass it on. It was given to me.

Michelle

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Colleges do require, however, that certain courses be taken. For example, one college we are looking at requires that 4 math courses be taken in high school and they consisit of Algebra, Algebra 2, Trig and one higher course. Also, since she wants to major in Marine biology, she needs to have biology, chemistry, (can't remember the other 2). Also, american history is required by most colleges we looked at. I just want to make sure she has learned what she needs to go to the college she wants, hopefully with some scholarships!

 

[mykidsintow]

I know a lot of you have said you used Sonlight. I am strongly considering it for next year. Needing to know if you add on stuff to do or is it included? I know my boys love to be read to, but just wondering if there is any hands on stuff or if I am getting right impression that it is really just a LOT of reading. Seems like I must be missing something.

There actually are a lot of crafty things, IF you opt to do them. We are using Core C. You can do a LOT of crafts to go along with history they are suggested right in the book with pictures an instructions. We have made hats, carved soaps, etc etc. Its all right there.

Also Science has experiements. There is a DVD you can watch and just see the experiment, but we love to do them.... thats usually once a week. I often have the kids coloring pics to go along with the books we are reading. We have done lapbooks to go along with a few of the books.

Its *not* just sitting and reading, unless thats all you want it to be. Sure, you can do that, but we prefer doing the suggested crafty things and having lots of activities. Makes it take longer, but its sure much more enjoyable.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I can't believe our school year is almost at an end. We have to test in NC, so this week we are doing the IOWA's. They look really easy, so hopefully we can get it done early everyday and have free time!

We are already looking into buying next year's curriculum. We are thinking about SL for our older dd. I am not 100% sure yet. We are most likely going to do Rosetta Stone, but it is so darn expensive. Up until last month she was using it for free through the public library. But they recently cancelled it! So, now we need to shell out at least $200 for Spanish 1. I know buying 1 and 2 together is a deal, but I don't have over $300 for one course!

We are doing Saxon for Algebra and 1st grade. Worldy Wise, Easy Grammar for high school. Apologia for both girls. Most likely sonlight for reading and SS for high school. Little one is still going through Sing, spell read write and when we finish 1st grade I will just order the 2nd grade one.

Not sure what else I need. DD will be 9th grade and I need to be sure to get all her credits in for college. I am not worried about what the high school graduation requirements are, just the requirmenets for college admissions!

You can get Rosetta Stone courses (1 and 2) from ioffer.com for about $50.

 

[TNKBELL]

Hi everyone!! So glad to see a new thread!! Thank you Julie for starting it!

It's been sooo long since I have posted or even cruised the dis'!

We have had a crazy 2008. We lost a baby due to miscarriage in Feb, in March the whole family came down with Influenza, and most recently, we are expecting baby #6 in November, this seems to be a healthy pregnancy, we had a sonogram last week and all is well!!

I have decided to bite the bullet so to speak and enroll the dks in a virtual charter school that uses the K-12 curriculum! I just feel like I need the accountibility. Does anyone do this? If so, will they let ds 4 start K? He is ready, I even did the placement testing online to make sure.

Sorry it's been so long since I posted, I have missed you all!!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

You can get Rosetta Stone courses (1 and 2) from ioffer.com for about $50.

Is this the homeschool version? The homeschool one offers workbooks, tests, study guides and a teachers login to check progress.

 

[graygables]

I have decided to bite the bullet so to speak and enroll the dks in a virtual charter school that uses the K-12 curriculum! I just feel like I need the accountibility. Does anyone do this? If so, will they let ds 4 start K? He is ready, I even did the placement testing online to make sure.

We did K12 through OHVA. It was a bit too much for my DDs (code of Hammurabi in the 2nd grade...) and we're more of an unschooling personality with all of the travelling we do for my business, so we didn't mesh well.

As far as the K goes, in Ohio, the charter school was NOT permitted to enroll my DD in the K program at 4yo, so I was advised to BUY the K12 program for her which forced her into the 1st grade when she was finally old enough to start "public" school. It worked and she is now finishing 4th grade (will be 10 in October)

 

[meandtheguys2]

Is this the homeschool version? The homeschool one offers workbooks, tests, study guides and a teachers login to check progress.

No, but you can buy the workbook and study guide on rainbowresource for about $10 a piece. Mine is set up so that I can check on each child's computer work.

 

[disneymom3]

Hi everyone. I hope ya'll are doing well.

It has been awhile since I posted. I have been looking at the links and other resources many of you suggested. There are just so many curriculum choices out there. It really is quite overwhelming.

Anyway.... a recap and a question (or 2). We have decided to hs our oldest dd next year. She'll be in 3rd grade. I'm am fairly certain we will keep our youngest (currently in K) in public school for at least one more year and perhaps bring her home starting in 2nd grade. My oldest is a voracious reader. I often have to tell her to watch where she's going because she will walk around with her nose in a book, but I'm not complaining. Okay..... so, since we are new to homeschooling, I want a program that has lesson plans and everything pretty much laid out for us, and I like the idea of My Father's World. I like that we can do the Adventure's curriculum next year and then start the following year with both girls. I do have some concerns though, and would like some opinions. I have heard MFW referred to as "homeschooling light" because some say it isn't as challenging as others and that it can leave the children somewhat behind. Is this true? If we use MFW for this first year, is it difficult to change curriculums for the year's following? What about after 2 or 3 years -- since it is a 5 year program? Do you use the Language Arts programs (and math) they recommend? It doesn't seem like a lot compared to some other curriculums I looked at. Is it enough or do you find you have to supplement? Are there other books/supplies I'd need to buy? Is this Adventure year challenging enough for my "advanced" reader? (I ask this because it is recommended for both 2nd and 3rd graders who are the oldest in the family.)

I've looked at countless programs and I keep coming back to this one and Sonlight. Sonlight just seems so expensive though, and I do like that MFW lesson plans seems to ease people into homeschooling.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any and all imput and insight you can give. I told my dh that once we (read: I) have decided on curriculum I think things will come more into focus because we'll have a game plan in place. I also know that I can spend tons of time "researching" things and never make a decision.

Thanks again for all your help.

I have a friend who has used MFW almost exclusively since her son was in third grade. She is very happy with it and I know there is a lot of room within each subject for levels of ability. With the Adventures I am pretty sure there are also ideas in the booklist for more difficult readers. I have also heard a lot about having kids continue to read at a couple of levels below what htey are really capable of. She will still get information out of it and from what I know of the books they offer, they are interesting for many ages. This is one of the curriculums we are considering. I am trying to decide between MFW and Sonlight. To me either one brings the history time period to life so much better than in a textbook. I personally could not use Abeka because it feels too much like school-at-home. (that is me though, lots and lots of homeschoolers really like it.)

Keep in mind that your child will be doing math, spelling and writing at whatever pace and level fits her best so there wouldn't be any lag there. Also MFW recommends Singapore Math which generally runs at least half a year ahead of American based programs like Horizons or Saxon. DD was able to move very easily from Singapore Math 5 right into Teaching Textbooks Math 7 and my friend's son is starting Teaching Textbooks Pre Algebra after completing Singapore level 6.

Colleges do require, however, that certain courses be taken. For example, one college we are looking at requires that 4 math courses be taken in high school and they consisit of Algebra, Algebra 2, Trig and one higher course. Also, since she wants to major in Marine biology, she needs to have biology, chemistry, (can't remember the other 2). Also, american history is required by most colleges we looked at. I just want to make sure she has learned what she needs to go to the college she wants, hopefully with some scholarships!

Yes, my sitter has been homeschooled since she was 8 and is now 20. Her mom has done highschool for all 4 of her kids and found the exact same thing. Another friend of mine was worried because the colleges her son was looking at also required world history and she was feeling like they hadn't done that. I pointed out that her Ancient Civilizations WAS world history.

There actually are a lot of crafty things, IF you opt to do them. We are using Core C. You can do a LOT of crafts to go along with history they are suggested right in the book with pictures an instructions. We have made hats, carved soaps, etc etc. Its all right there.

Also Science has experiements. There is a DVD you can watch and just see the experiment, but we love to do them.... thats usually once a week. I often have the kids coloring pics to go along with the books we are reading. We have done lapbooks to go along with a few of the books.

Its *not* just sitting and reading, unless thats all you want it to be. Sure, you can do that, but we prefer doing the suggested crafty things and having lots of activities. Makes it take longer, but its sure much more enjoyable.

It is basically just lots and lots of reading, both aloud and on their own. There are no real "crafty" things in there, although the Usborne books usually have little projects interspersed. There are map and timeline activities included. We add in art, use Apologia for science, and MUS for math. We also do our own bible, since we're Catholic. We did Core K two years ago, skipped a year, and are now half way through Core1+2. We've been very happy with it, it fits me and my kids well. I enjoy the read alouds just as much as they do!

Hey you two--you just totally contradicted each other here! This is not helping!

Hi everyone!! So glad to see a new thread!! Thank you Julie for starting it!

It's been sooo long since I have posted or even cruised the dis'!

We have had a crazy 2008. We lost a baby due to miscarriage in Feb, in March the whole family came down with Influenza, and most recently, we are expecting baby #6 in November, this seems to be a healthy pregnancy, we had a sonogram last week and all is well!!

I have decided to bite the bullet so to speak and enroll the dks in a virtual charter school that uses the K-12 curriculum! I just feel like I need the accountibility. Does anyone do this? If so, will they let ds 4 start K? He is ready, I even did the placement testing online to make sure.

Sorry it's been so long since I posted, I have missed you all!!

Tnkbelle--good to hear from you! Sorry about the baby! But congrats on the pregnancy. Did you have a baby last year too or was that the year before? (We have obviously been around these boards way too long now! )

With the K-12, I have a friend who uses it privately and she is sooo happy with it. She didn't want the oversight piece of it with the charter schools and I know there are things she skips when she doesn't feel her girls need it. Not sure if you could do that with the charter approach though. Seems like with all of your little ones it might be a lot of time invested at the computer. Have you ever tried MFW, Winter Promise or Sonlight? Just seems like something you can teach to several kids at once might be more productive for you. Good luck though! Whatever you decide, I am sure there will be good things and not so good things, you know?

 

[disneymom3]

I have to reply to myself and say "long post!" Sorry about that guys. I kept coming back and forth to the computer in between lessons and it got longer than I realized!

 

[mykidsintow]

Hey you two--you just totally contradicted each other here! This is not helping!

When you get the sonlight boxes with everything in it. No, there aren't a ton of crafty additions in te curriculum. So, IF you order it and plan on that to be *everything* then the only activities you will actually do are science experiments. However, I know some families don't actually even do those experiments... they simply watch the enclosed DVD, thats your choice.


HOWEVER, we are currently doing History in the Usborne book of Living Long Ago. On the age for today was "Mediecal Banquets" and it explains everything out. On the right hand side of the page there is an area "How to make Mediecal fish pasties" Full directions on how to do it. None of he supplies for these activities are included, but you totally have the option to do these activities as you go along. Other examples in this book are:
A Roman Recipe (how to make Roman Bread Pudding)
Making a toy Cauldron
making bread
Build a model home
make a model teepee
pumpkin pie
potato pie
make a model coracle
etc etc. There are activities to go with the lesson at least 1-2 times a week sometimes much more often (depending on what part of the book you are in).

So thats history activities as well as science. I also print out coloring pages to go along with what we are talking about on days there are no activities at all (a butterfly, something from roman times, etc)

In addition to those, we have also done lapbooks to go along with our read alouds. My children are very hands-on learners. If I sat and read they would go bonkers. We have done lapbooks with My Grandma's Attic, The Apple and the Arrow, The Boxcar Children, one about Dolphins while we were reading the 2 dolphin books.

Again, NONE of that is "included" in the box. I have added it on, to have fun activities for my children. You can totally sit and read on days or weeks thats what you want to do.... just not very often with MY kids. The activities are there and suggested in the history, the lapooks are not hard to do, very simple and easy and it keeps busy hands while I am reading.

The science experiments are included (most of the supplies can even be ordered with the curric and what isn't included lists in the Instructor guides what you will need for the following week).

Good luck! If you would like more info please feel free to contact me!

 

[Laura.bora]

Has anyone used Before 5 in a row before, and what did you think? I want to do something with my daughter (turning 3) and I'm just not sure. We are finishing up with Hands on Homeschooling age 2, which we really loved. I'm just not sure if I want the age 3. I felt I had trouble staying on task with her activities while doing her older brothers lessons and dealing with a newborn. Also, any helpful hints on how to help her not get lost in the hubbub of daily homeschool life? I feel like she gets the short end of the stick sometimes because I'm either helping him with schoolwork, or taking care of the baby, or preparing meals/household chores! So advice on b4fiar and practical how to make this work is appreciated!!

 

[Laura.bora]

In addition to those, we have also done lapbooks to go along with our read alouds. My children are very hands-on learners. If I sat and read they would go bonkers. We have done lapbooks with My Grandma's Attic, The Apple and the Arrow, The Boxcar Children, one about Dolphins while we were reading the 2 dolphin books.

Ok, so I've just discovered lapbooking, and my son and daughter are LOVING IT ! But I'm very new at this so how do you go about making a lapbook for books you are reading? I'd love to incorporate lapbooking into our daily book time!