Homeschool Chat

[Temair]

Today was our first official school day as homeschoolers. We had a great time, my daughter is again enthusiastic about learning. We did a lot of fun educational stuff in the afternoon such as playing monopoly and baked cookies. The morning we covered the 3 R's in a way that my daughter enjoyed. I truely I know I made the right decision to homeschool rather than virtual school this year. I'm seeing my bright happy eager learner again. Now if only the rest of the year goes as well as today.

Joanne

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Today was our first official school day as homeschoolers. We had a great time, my daughter is again enthusiastic about learning. We did a lot of fun educational stuff in the afternoon such as playing monopoly and baked cookies. The morning we covered the 3 R's in a way that my daughter enjoyed. I truely I know I made the right decision to homeschool rather than virtual school this year. I'm seeing my bright happy eager learner again. Now if only the rest of the year goes as well as today.

Joanne

Yah! Glad you enjoyed your first day! Today is Day 2. I am looking forward to science with dd4.

 

[LegoMom3]

I'm in a bit of disbelief at all you people who either school year-round or have already started.... Then I started to notice locations and it seems most of you are in warm climates. Ahh!...that would explain it.

As a kid, I always looked forward to summer vacation. That's when it actually was, indeed, summer vacation. Nowadays the schools go so late and start so early that it's more like summer-few-weeks-off.

But, even in homeschooling, we like our summers to be free and without much of a "schedule" of any kind. That's because winter is sooooo long in NH, that when it actually does get warm and green outside, who wants to "do school?!!" Not this teacher!

So, we won't "officially" start until mid-September, after Disney. The week before, though, we will be studying Epcot a bit, as each child has chosen a country to learn more about. I'm toying with buying that Epcot unit study and making that our first topic this year.


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[sha_lyn]

Aug is usually so hot here, that we don't want to go outside. I would rather take Dec off when we can go outside without burning up.
"winter" weather here is usually mid feb to the first day of spring Yes the biggest winter storms have actually happen within the last couple of day of winter or the first day of spring

 

[mommyof2princesses]

It is so hot here right now that staying in is really the only option. When it gets to be 100 and very humid, no one goes out to play. Around here, kids play outsite in mid-late fall and winter and early to mid spring. Even schools here start next week.

 

[skoi]

Anyone know of a good, complete secular/non Creationist based biology program for high school? We need one with a lab component. I've been hearing rumblings about colleges looking at what programs/books kids are using and then not accepting them if they're seen as too religious.

We tried Alpha Omega Switched on Schoolhouse briefly, but dd does not like any of the subjects, doesn't like the interface, etc, and I'm not happy with it, either for a variety of reasons- mainly not enough reading.

We've also used Sonlight-- dd felt it wasn't rigorous enough in terms of source material, and wasn't thrilled with the American history or core books for high school.

Also looked into cybercharter with K12 (who has a great curriculum), but they're very inflexible about missing days during school, and we have two huge vacations planned in the next two years- cruise this year as a break for me while Dad is deployed, and cruise next year (surprise for kids) when Dad gets back. I love the curriculum, can't afford to buy it, especially not for high school.

Thanks for any advice.

Julie

 

[sha_lyn]

Anyone know of a good, complete secular/non Creationist based biology program for high school? We need one with a lab component. I've been hearing rumblings about colleges looking at what programs/books kids are using and then not accepting them if they're seen as too religious.

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_epp_offer&Itemid=323

The high school level courses are the biology and the chemistry

 

[skoi]

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_epp_offer&Itemid=323

The high school level courses are the biology and the chemistry

Thanks, I'll take a look at it.

Julie

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Anyone know of a good, complete secular/non Creationist based biology program for high school? We need one with a lab component. I've been hearing rumblings about colleges looking at what programs/books kids are using and then not accepting them if they're seen as too religious.



Julie

We use Apologia. It is christian based, but I have never heard of a college not accepting it. I feel it is very thorough and has great lab components. DD is just finishing up biology and has really enjoyed it. She has complained about some of the chrisitan aspects of it, but it really is good. She will start Marine Biology in a month.

 

[TNKBELL]

I hadn't thought to look on ebay. If it's cheap enough, I might be interested in taking just a look at it.

NHWX

We start tomorrow!!! (this is our third year) What ages are your kiddos. We have a seven year old and start language arts reading or history reading the night before the lesson.
It makes the day run smoother. KWIM?

While in Disney we will be covering the history 2 Units on China and Japan!
We may even complete the corresponding art units on China and Japan.
I am so excited. I haven't decided what unit to complete in Science.
It seems like Epcot was tailored for use with K12.

All Hail the k12 Curriculum Development Team and the mighty Bror Saxberg

Dr. Saxberg is the head of k12 curriculum development...I belive (don't quote me) that he worked for the Core Knowledge Foundation before coming to k12. We have meet him on several ocassions...what a facinating and down to Earth guy. When DD started Math 1 in kindergarten she seemed to struggle. I posted this on the k12 forums and Bror personally responded and emailed me. He actually suggested I was moving to slow . I picked the pace and he was RIGHT....she was bored. That to me is the k12 difference. She is a year ahead in math but now slowing down the pace. The dreaded times tables. By next year the gap will have closed more. I am just thankful we can move at her pace.

Did you know k12 went public? It is now a publically traded stock on the NYSE.

Hi!! I have DS11 in 6th, DS9 in 4th, DD7 in 1st for Math and Language arts and 2nd for the rest of the curc. I also have a DS4 who is starting to read and write, so he participates with DD. It's funny, when DD7 took the enrollment assesment placement tests, she did horrible! She was only reading BOB books and very EASY readers, yet over the summer(thanks to our library reading program!) she progressed to chapter books, like Junie B. Jones and Magic Treehouse. So we are breezing through the second semester of Language arts and hopefully, we will be done by Christmas, so she can start 2nd grade LA. We are "assessing the way" through Math 1 also with the same goal!!

I would love to be able to go to Disney and combine EPCOT with science and history!!! We just live too far, and our budget is soooo tiny this year!!

Nice to meet you!!

 

[Momvic5]

We use Apologia. It is christian based, but I have never heard of a college not accepting it. I feel it is very thorough and has great lab components. DD is just finishing up biology and has really enjoyed it. She has complained about some of the chrisitan aspects of it, but it really is good. She will start Marine Biology in a month.

I love Apologia too! I have several friends with college-aged children who were taught with Apologia science, and all of them highly recommend it. They all have entered into universities with ease. Not oly did they enter with ease, but they felt prepared as well.

 

[sl_underwood]

We also used apologia with our college bound dd. She was able to clep out of biology and chemistry after using those texts. They are creation based but we just discussed the different beliefs. She chose not to do disections and used the NAVS kits with models and pc programs instead for er bio labs.

 

[Disney_Angel]

Hi!! I have DS11 in 6th, DS9 in 4th, DD7 in 1st for Math and Language arts and 2nd for the rest of the curc. I also have a DS4 who is starting to read and write, so he participates with DD. It's funny, when DD7 took the enrollment assesment placement tests, she did horrible! She was only reading BOB books and very EASY readers, yet over the summer(thanks to our library reading program!) she progressed to chapter books, like Junie B. Jones and Magic Treehouse. So we are breezing through the second semester of Language arts and hopefully, we will be done by Christmas, so she can start 2nd grade LA. We are "assessing the way" through Math 1 also with the same goal!!

I would love to be able to go to Disney and combine EPCOT with science and history!!! We just live too far, and our budget is soooo tiny this year!!

Nice to meet you!!

Isn't it amazing how thigs can change dramatically over the summer? We love the Magic Tree House books. We picked up the Spiderwick Chronicles a few months ago and started those too. I an not ashamed to admit that I am enjoying the SWC myself. LOL "Vacation Under the Volcano" has been our favorite of the MTH series so far.

First grade and second grand math had so much repition that is why DD moved fast. It sounds like your DD has a good grasp of addition and subtraction so assessing is the way to go. Best of Luck and nice to meet you!

 

[NHWX]

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_epp_offer&Itemid=323

The high school level courses are the biology and the chemistry

We supplemented with our own labs, half virtual and half live.

We're going to be using the Spectrum Chemistry this year. I hope it's good!
http://www.beginningspublishing.com/version2/spectrum.htm

NHWX

 

[wvdislover]

I have gotten all of my HS books now and am SO excited about starting next week! The Teaching Textbooks looks pretty straigtforward as to how we can time it--one lesson a day will get us through the year with some days leftover for "whatever." The Vacation Education books look like they can either be a lot or a little bit of work, depending on how we do it. I could probably actually spend a whole year on the MK and Epcot books if I wanted to. I'm most excited, though, about our American Girls unit study. There's just so much we can do! Even better, I can save it and do it again when I start hs my DD7 when she gets older (we're probably going to wait until middle school to hs her, unless something changes). I'm planning on starting school Tuesday (the same day her DS goes back to school).

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

wvdislover-where did you get your American Girl unit study? I think I would like this for my dd.She's only in K, but looking ahead!!!!

 

[HomeschoolMama]

wvdislover-where did you get your American Girl unit study? I think I would like this for my dd.She's only in K, but looking ahead!!!!

I got mine used on eBay. It's called Portraits of American Girlhood.

 

[wvdislover]

wvdislover-where did you get your American Girl unit study? I think I would like this for my dd.She's only in K, but looking ahead!!!!

I got it at this website: http://www.gatewaytoknowledge.com/us7.html

It actually covers most of the elementary grades, so you may be able to use it sooner than you think.

Homeschool Mama, I'm jealous. I looked many times on eBay for all of my hs stuff, as well as a number of other websites, and couldn't find ANY of it used.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

I got it at this website: http://www.gatewaytoknowledge.com/us7.html

It actually covers most of the elementary grades, so you may be able to use it sooner than you think.

Homeschool Mama, I'm jealous. I looked many times on eBay for all of my hs stuff, as well as a number of other websites, and couldn't find ANY of it used.

I'm having the opposite problem. I'm annoyed that I tried to sell some of my stuff and eBay pulls all teacher guides and ends the auction.

So, if anyone needs younger grade Horizon Math or Saxon Math, I'm your girl!

I got lucky on the American Girl thing. Someone mentioned it and I went right to eBay and there was one for sale. After I use it, I'll see if anyone here needs it.

 

[LegoMom3]

I'm having the opposite problem. I'm annoyed that I tried to sell some of my stuff and eBay pulls all teacher guides and ends the auction.

So, if anyone needs younger grade Horizon Math or Saxon Math, I'm your girl!

I got lucky on the American Girl thing. Someone mentioned it and I went right to eBay and there was one for sale. After I use it, I'll see if anyone here needs it.

Yeah, what is the deal with eBay and teacher editions??? Can someone explain, cuz I just don't get it! Seems pointless to me, to be able to sell student stuff but not TEs.

There are other auction sites for homeschool stuff where you CAN sell TE's; I'll try to find some links and post them!


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