Homeschool Chat

[disneymarie]

Hi thanks for the added information. I guess that is what I am trying to figure out. What is the K12 as opposed to calvert? The pros and cons of any and which would suit her and the family needs.

She is using the www.time4learning to supplement the 5 hours of home bound tutoring. They want to try to get her back to school by fall. I do not see that happening. I do not want the battles, as they do nothing to control bullying aggressivly, she does not feel save and perceives a day filled with teasing and torment.

She is smart, not on click personalty. She did dance class, G.S and loves reading and the library. Since she was young she experimented and created. Things like making "tookies" at 2 yrs old to homemade playdoh crafts. Paints, designs fashions from cloth for paper doll size. She is honor student and not challanged. Thinks of boys as counterparts friends equally instead of potential dates.

Loves computer and DS lite games, and reading. She does not have neighbor friends her age, no one calls to visit each other anymore.
We did go through very rough times with myself being stalked and threatened by my 50 yr old sibling over an estate issue of fraud, the the death of her sister, my older daughter last year.

She hates the therapist, he is OK...but I am waiting for a local psych in July.
I hate to rattle on, but even my work in social work field did not prepare me for when it is my own child.

I want a program that is less stuctures so at 9:00 am she does not have to be signed in. I do not want something that is unstructured that all she has are books and assingments.....
Something, she puts in 5 hrs a day if at 8 am or 11 am.
Computerized,

This week I found out in class they are not using the text anymore, they do kits and eperiments and this is not avaialble for her homebound. So I will also search online for something for her. The tutor is looking for reading things, I want her to do experiments too. to log chemical reactions, changes in structures, etc. Maybe even by a microscope kit.

So bottom line is the difference from Connections a calvert or the PA Virtual charter that is K12.
How they differ and would suit our needs.
Thanks for posting the information
dianne

 

[Temair]

K12 is just a curriculum provider for the virtual schools. They provide the curriuculum for both the AGORA cyber charter school and the pennsylvania virtual charter school. If you go on the K12 website there is more infomarion about both of them.

Connections Academy offers curriculum to the Commonewhealth Connesciton Academy in Pennsylvania. They also have a website you can check out.

I really don't know much about the calvert curriculum, but I really only have good things to say about the K12 curriculum. Both are designed to work around a students schedule. I've heard of many highschool students that work full time during the day and then school at home in the evening. You can adapt the schedule to fit your needs. The only requirements is that you get done by the end of the school year, and even that vaires from school to school. I would look at your choices and then contact them about the details. Make a list of questions to ask them all and that way you can compare the answers you get.

Hopefully some others have used the calvert curriculum and can give you some advice there.

 

[disneymarie]

Thanks for the additional information.
That is where I am at preparing information to ask at the programs. There is an informational program next week in Wilkes Barre and Scranton area for the PA Cyber schools. The onsite program for last thursday at 21st Century, I missed but they can scedule a one on one for us. I also wasnt to evaluate Connections....

I think after Tuesday I will get more information.
So there is even a PA Charter school and a PA Virtual charter school, ummm
What choices...I know the therapist and school system may not be supportive but I am not forcing my child back into a perceived hostile environment liike an abusive relationship to the point of everyday having irrritable bowel and stomach issues.

I am just glad to see her happy again...
di

 

[nuzmom]

I have been doing more and more research on Saxon math..seeing negative reviews. I know you'll get negative from every program...but now I'm not so sure. A friend recommended Math U See to me. It looks great..but kinda boring. Any experience with it? Do they get calendar, time, money from it as well or just the 'facts' type of stuff?

We use MUS through 3rd grade and then switch to Saxon (DS12 and DS7). Love them both, different reasons. MUS is fun and funny and times. We use the DVD and really get into using the blocks. Yes, the pages are "just" black and white, but that's never been an issue with my kids.

I switch them to Saxon Math in 4th grade because MUS seems VERY simplistic to me. I LOVE that for learning all the facts and introducing concepts, but Saxon is very challenging and I feel it better prepares them for higher level math.

 

[nuzmom]

Thanks for these links!
This will be for the start of next year. In PA we need to cover (although, I'm not sure we need to cover each subject every year?):
English (to include spelling, reading, writing)
arithmetic
U.S. and Pennsylvania history
civics
health and physiology
physical education
music
art
geography
science
safety and fire prevention

Some things are obviously easy to do (like fire prevention). My son is taking piano lessons, so I guess that covers music. It seems like I should be able to put together a good cirriculum for him between the library and online resources, but I don't want to short change him. This will be my first experience homeschooling....

Here's a nice link for homeschooling in PA - http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/index.html
You do NOT need to teach all those subjects each year!!!! This website has through explainations of PA law. Enjoy.

 

[nuzmom]

My 15 yr old is really struggling in Indy public school. Too much drama and today she came upset because a teacher argured with her that there was no heaven and that she along with everyone else came from a monkey. She stated that he did not want to discuss his beliefs but that he was right and everyone else was wrong. A heated discussion with another student was there is only a hell and that is where everyone was going. She has had trouble with other students and threats. Is it too late to switch her to homeschooling now. She is failing most of her subjects (she has problems taking tests but does great with hands on projects). I want to move her from the public system but am not sure I can afford private schools and there is a waiting list for charter schools. I would like to hear from other parents who have switched their children to HS during their high school years.

It's only too late when you give up!!!!
A boy in our homeschooling co-op was pulled out of PS in the beginning of his 7th grade (mid-year). He was failing everything and COULD NOT READ!!!! He was getting also into trouble and heading down a dangerous path. Well, 1 1/2 years later - he's doing AWESOME!!! He reads almost at grade level, does average with is studies, and is a well mannered, caring, helpful young man. His mom has decided to keep him 1 year "behind" - he's 8th grade, but would have been 9th grade by age. His mom was just telling us that she believes that homeschooling saved his life!!!!!

 

[Momvic5]

We use MUS through 3rd grade and then switch to Saxon (DS12 and DS7). Love them both, different reasons. MUS is fun and funny and times. We use the DVD and really get into using the blocks. Yes, the pages are "just" black and white, but that's never been an issue with my kids.

I switch them to Saxon Math in 4th grade because MUS seems VERY simplistic to me. I LOVE that for learning all the facts and introducing concepts, but Saxon is very challenging and I feel it better prepares them for higher level math.

I agree with you about Saxon. I think it is an excellent curriculum for encouraging the student to think beyond just math processes. We have used it in the upper elementary grades 5th and 6th, and I like the fact that the student has to interprete a problem before forming its equaton, transfer equation/problem from worktext to paper, and then from paper back to worktext. I think that my son's critical thinking, reasoning, and organization has been enhanced from using Saxon. My only negative is that it can be boring for those students who need more visual stimulation and overwhelming for those students who tend to work at a slow pace.

 

[nuzmom]

I've posted on the other board and lurked quite a bit, too. I'll introduce myself:
I HS my DS12 and DS7. We participate in a HS co-op once a week. We've used MUS, Saxon Math, Apologia sciences (ALL of them - I lead physics and chemistry at co-op), Easy Grammar, Writing Strands, Spelling Power, Wordly Wise, MCP Plaid Phonics, Story of the World (1 to 3), and I'm probably forgetting some. I have an engineering degree and we "lean" towards sciences and math in my home.

Questions:
1) would like to start foreign language for my 7th grader. Don't really want to do spanish. Am considering sign language (will that "count" as a foreign language?) or Italian, Chinese, Greek, Latin. How do you choose????? What curriculum do you use?????
We've used Rosetta stone (Italian) some when it was free from the library. Liked it, but $$$$$$

2) I have really didn't like our history that we've participated in through our co-op. We've done Story of the World for 3 years and the Light and the glory series of 3 books another year. I'm just not convinced that my kids remember anything they learned (and DS12 was always top in class).
What do you use for History???? For those that use any of the above history curriculum, how do you feel it worked for you?

Thanks for your time.

 

[nuzmom]

My only negative is that it can be boring for those students who need more visual stimulation and overwhelming for those students who tend to work at a slow pace.

So true.

.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

We have finished testing! WOOPEE!

Glad that is over and not looking forward to next year when we are doing high school testing! Now, I can think about curricula for next year.

We are most likely buying the Rosetta Stone. I know it is expensive,but well worth it. And, once my dd4 gets ready to start to learn she can use it too. Maybe we will all learn a foreign language! We are doing Spanish, but I would love to learn german as I have a neighbor from germany and she teaches her kids german and english.

 

[Momvic5]

I've posted on the other board and lurked quite a bit, too. I'll introduce myself:
I HS my DS12 and DS7. We participate in a HS co-op once a week. We've used MUS, Saxon Math, Apologia sciences (ALL of them - I lead physics and chemistry at co-op), Easy Grammar, Writing Strands, Spelling Power, Wordly Wise, MCP Plaid Phonics, Story of the World (1 to 3), and I'm probably forgetting some. I have an engineering degree and we "lean" towards sciences and math in my home.

Questions:
1) would like to start foreign language for my 7th grader. Don't really want to do spanish. Am considering sign language (will that "count" as a foreign language?) or Italian, Chinese, Greek, Latin. How do you choose????? What curriculum do you use?????
We've used Rosetta stone (Italian) some when it was free from the library. Liked it, but $$$$$$

2) I have really didn't like our history that we've participated in through our co-op. We've done Story of the World for 3 years and the Light and the glory series of 3 books another year. I'm just not convinced that my kids remember anything they learned (and DS12 was always top in class).
What do you use for History???? For those that use any of the above history curriculum, how do you feel it worked for you?

Thanks for your time.

I also have a DS12 who will be entering into 7th grade, and we are kind of in the same boat.

First for a foreign language my son and I are leaning towards Latin. Mainly because my DS12 loves the study of science, and at this point, he wants to be a rocket scientist of some sort so we thought Latin would best suit his interests. I haven't looked into a specific curriclulm yet so I will be searching soon too.

Secondly, history has been a tough one for us. We have also used Story of the World. I liked it OK, but I wasn't sure we were covering enough. This year we are using Bob Jones history. I can't say I love it, but I do think it covers more, is presented well, and interesting to read. I modify the busy work a bit to make it less redundant. The hardest thing for me is that I also have a 3rd and 1st grader, and it is so time consuming to work with each child and cover 3 different time periods. It was so much easier when we all used one curriculum.

I look forward to seeing other homeschoolers' opinions too!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We just finished our first day of school/learning at home. I am rather lost but we just started at the beginning with A..for apple, ant, alligator, anteater adn for each day we have a project, learning, letters to trace. We also did addition, just 1+ and 0+ but it is a start.

I used a few websites for art projects, facts, etc. DS is 5 and great at math. His hand writing is not so good but we are tracing now. He likes art.

We also did match up word to word, only two letters and identify alphabet letters. He knew more than he didn't with the letters.

However, all that being said and spending the entire day yesterday get just this week ready. School today only took two hours to complete.

We did art, songs, and all the above.

What else should I be doing? How long should school take? What subjects do I need to be covering?

Sorry, I a new. I also learned to have the art projects cut out and ready to go. 5 yr olds won't wait!

 

[meandtheguys2]

It doens't take long, if the child "gets" the concepts. That is one of the blessings of hsing.

Playing is a good use of time. Helping you cook, taking a walk, etc. also are lovely learning experiences. Those are the things our afternoons were filled with when my guys were young. They still get the majority of work done in the mornings, because we start early.

Congrats on your first day!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I just printed out the colour match the animal page from a link here and he walked up, turned the animals upside down, then picked them up and matched them to the color and walked away.

Colours, mastered.

I just want to know, is it really suppose to take an entire day to get 1 week of projects ready? I had apples crafts, a fact sheet on apples, apple juice. He can tell you it is a fruit and grows on trees. Now we are going to the library to read a book about apples.

I just don't know if I am doing this right or not? I used enriched learning, DTLK for kids, and just kept going from link to link for pages.

IS there an easier way? We don't have a bunch of extra money for supplies. But I do have a fast computer and printer.

What else should I be covering? We have science, math, words, art and songs, english with letters and two letter words.

Did anyone else just feel lost at first?

Things I have learned so far. Have the work laid out and all art projects ready to go. School goes by fast.

 

[Ellester]

I just printed out the colour match the animal page from a link here and he walked up, turned the animals upside down, then picked them up and matched them to the color and walked away.

Colours, mastered.

I just want to know, is it really suppose to take an entire day to get 1 week of projects ready? I had apples crafts, a fact sheet on apples, apple juice. He can tell you it is a fruit and grows on trees. Now we are going to the library to read a book about apples.

I just don't know if I am doing this right or not? I used enriched learning, DTLK for kids, and just kept going from link to link for pages.

IS there an easier way? We don't have a bunch of extra money for supplies. But I do have a fast computer and printer.

What else should I be covering? We have science, math, words, art and songs, english with letters and two letter words.

Did anyone else just feel lost at first?

Things I have learned so far. Have the work laid out and all art projects ready to go. School goes by fast.

At 5, I would think 2 hours is more than enough. I think you have your bases covered. You can always get one of those "What My Kindergartener Needs to Know" type books if you think you might be missing something. There is no "right" way to homeschool. You have to determine what works best for your child and (very importantly) for you. We use Sonlight, so I have very little preparation. I make my dd10 a "to do" sheet listing the things she needs to accomplish for the week. That usually takes me 5 minutes on Sunday evening. My dd6 just does what I give her each day. If I had to spend a day each week preparing, it would drive me crazy. If you don't mind or enjoy it, then that is perfectly fine. If it makes you crazy, just try something else. We try to start by 9 or 9:30 each day and are usually done by lunch. We have additional activities thrown in here and there (gymnastics, trips to the library, park day, pottery, etc.). One of the many beauties of homeschooling is that it is much more efficient than group schooling. You can work with your one (or several) child and get everything done in a fraction of the time it takes one teacher to instruct 20+ kids of different abilities in a classroom.

 

[Ellester]

First for a foreign language my son and I are leaning towards Latin. Mainly because my DS12 loves the study of science, and at this point, he wants to be a rocket scientist of some sort so we thought Latin would best suit his interests. I haven't looked into a specific curriclulm yet so I will be searching soon too.

I think we're going to start Latin this summer. I'm leaning towards Latina Christiana by Memoria Press. http://www.memoriapress.com/descriptions/index_latin.htm

We may do Rosetta Stone as well at some point. My dd10 wants to learn Hebrew!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Thanks so much for the reply. I didn't enjoy being on the computer and not outside but I was willing to do it for the little one.

I am going to look at a few programs, but cost may just keep us away for now. I am going to get some sheets about money and add that in since it is of interest right now.

We did go to the library and got a few books. I guess 2 hours is enough. He just goes through it so quick.

 

[Praise2Him]

I think most of y'all have younger kids than mine (not hard, since she's in 11th grade! ), but I'll try this anyway...

Has anyone used "Learning Language Arts Through Literature"? I'm looking for a new English program for next year (12th grade) and this one looks good, but I don't know anything about it. I'd appreciate any input - good and bad - from anyone who has used it before. I'd also love suggestions for other great high school English curricula. We currently use Alpha Omega LifePac, but want to try something different.

Thanks!

 

[meandtheguys2]

My son, 9th grade, is using one of Smarr's courses. He is doing intro to Lit, and it is a thorough lit program.

http://rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1210018370-730632&subject=6&category=960

 

[tnmomof4]

They are trying to pass a law here in Tennessee which would require all homeschooling parents and teachers in church-related schools to have a baccalaureate degree in order to teach grades 9-12."

This is the second time in the past few months that they are trying to hinder homeschooling in some way.

The first time they wanted all homeschoolers and students in church-related schools to take a certain state mandated test. That was not approved.

Now they are trying to pass this law. I e-mailed every representative who is for this law today urging them to vote no on this law. Now we just have to wait and see what happens.