Homeschool Chat

[Disney8704]

Oh they have Thomas?! My newphew LOVES Thomas. Now, if they have Disney he would be set!

They have quite a variety of games. dora,bat man, 2 with the princesses,a puzzle game, pet games,thomas....Check out their website.I think TRU has most of them--Wal-Mart and Target have a bunch as well.

 

[mickeyvixie]

I have a question please.

For those of you using K12, how involved are your remote teachers? My DD is starting K thru them this week and the teacher is new to cyber teaching this year and I dont know if it is me or not but she seems to be a little overzealous. Very nice lady and a Disney person I didnt realize that the teachers would be calling 2-3 times a week and planning all kinds of chat room type things at this grade level thru that PITA Elluminate (it hates me ok )

I understand she is new and learning but I wasnt sure how common this was with the K12. It is nice and all that my DD would get to know the other kids but she is not a talk on the phone type of girl( I cant even get her to talk to relatives), I so cannot picture her using a microphone to talk on the puter. LOL...should have seen the "get aquainted" call with her teacher--the lady was lucky to get DD to respond for all of 2 minutes.

I have some other questions but will leave those for later...one at a time

 

[Temair]

Wow your teacher is on the ball. When my DD was with ARVA (1st and 2nd grade) we hardly ever heard from the teacher. We had monthly phone calls, not required to attend chat sessions, and not much input from her. But my daughter was doing curriculum a grade level ahead of where she was so they basically ignored her and focused on the kids needing help. There was a strong push on students behind grade level to make up the work and be on grade level. Things also vary from school to school depending on state rules and regulations.

 

[TNKBELL]

We also use K-12 and each of my Dks' teachers schedule phone conferences twice per month. I have been very impressed with them, I feel comfortable contacting them via email, that seems to be very effective for us.

It sounds like she is excited. My Dks would be a little intimidated as well, and they are outgoing for the most part.

We really like the flexibility of the program.

 

[Disney_Angel]

Here is what we covered for Japan....we will be leaving for the world next week we will be looking for all the elements we learned about in our travels thru the WS Japan Pavilion. MY dd is in second grade.
Have I missed anything? Or does anyone have anything to add?

Not sure how to do the quote thing, however.....

I love all of this! Is it ok with you to copy and save it in one of my files?

Kristine

Ofcourse!!! I made the outline from the information contained in DD's Japan unit---6 lessons. Please help yourself to anything I may post in the future too.

 

[Disney_Angel]

I never knew you could get an education from WAlmart. Do they let you into college with a high school education from WAlmart?

Yup!

And they $4.00 Rx too
Aisle 7 has ponies, woodland elves and ogres.

I think you misunderstood she meant the supplies for schooling at home.

 

[Disney_Angel]

We have conferences one to two times a month. In the mean time if I ever have a problem I e-mail the teacher (the rule is she is suppose to answer within 24hrs) I usually hear back within the day.

Work Samples sent every month.

Elluminates vary usually once a week but could be up to 2x a week. My dd LOVES elluminate. The first time she was hesitent but after the next few sessions you would have thought she was a pro.

All the k12/cyberschool teachers are enthusiastic. I think k12 grows them in a super secret labortory somewhere.
I honestly have never meet one grumpy teacher or administrator. I adore my dd's principle. She has been integral in the fight to keep cyber education an option here in PA. Oh heck, I could go on and on...


k12 is not for everybody but we are thrilled with it...

 

[disneymom3]

Where does everyone get their books, workbooks and phonics materials? Can you find everything you need like at walmart and toysrus or is there a website online where you can find everything you need?

If you are teaching a preschooler or even Kindergartener some workbooks from Walmart would be okay. Just to introduce concepts or for "extras." Otherwise you are really going to want to research some actual curriculums. My third grader does use a math workbook from Walmart when we are going on a long drive somewhere so he can still do math as his actual textbook is too cumbersome.

 

[disneymom3]

Call me crazy but we love Calvert. This is our 3rd year (PK, K and now 1st). DD loves the worksheets and everything else about it. NOw we did start with Horizons for math because DD would have been bored with Calvert math. She is doing very well so far.

DD is reading at and end of 1st grade beginning of 2nd grade level. I believe that will continue to advance as she gets older. She will be 6 in 1 month.

We chose not to do an on-line program like k12, connections or even Calvert even though they were free because we did not want the oversight.

I do like a packaged curriculum though since I still work 1 day per week and have commitments related to that. I am an RN. I like everything laid out for me and then I can modify that to our needs.

Denine--I wanted to say I am so glad that you are really happy with Calvert! I remember back when you were trying to decide what to use and you really were a bit nervous about it. That is great that it has worked out so well and you found a good fit.

I agree about the oversight of an online school. It would make me crazy. I am glad the option is there but I don't feel the need or desire to send my kids work to someone else to have it verified etc. I am glad the option exists for those who want it and glad the options I chose exist as well.

 

[mickeyvixie]

We have conferences one to two times a month. In the mean time if I ever have a problem I e-mail the teacher (the rule is she is suppose to answer within 24hrs) I usually hear back within the day.

Work Samples sent every month.

Elluminates vary usually once a week but could be up to 2x a week. My dd LOVES elluminate. The first time she was hesitent but after the next few sessions you would have thought she was a pro.

All the k12/cyberschool teachers are enthusiastic. I think k12 grows them in a super secret labortory somewhere.
I honestly have never meet one grumpy teacher or administrator. I adore my dd's principle. She has been integral in the fight to keep cyber education an option here in PA. Oh heck, I could go on and on...


k12 is not for everybody but we are thrilled with it...

We are working with Agora. The Elluminate isn't mandatory is it? I would prefer she not participate in chat rooms at the kindergarten level. They have time to do that kind of stuff when they get older. I am more of a- give me the cirriculum and lesson plans and if I have a question I will call you type person. I dont want to insult the teacher ( I do like her) but I may have to tell her to please limit her calls as it interupts the actual time my DD is learning. I have been shutting the phone off

Thanks for the help

 

[Disney8704]

Just wondering, those who do not do an online school, how do you go about getting their HS diploma and transcripts for like college?

 

[disneymom3]

We are working with Agora. The Elluminate isn't mandatory is it? I would prefer she not participate in chat rooms at the kindergarten level. They have time to do that kind of stuff when they get older. I am more of a- give me the cirriculum and lesson plans and if I have a question I will call you type person. I dont want to insult the teacher ( I do like her) but I may have to tell her to please limit her calls as it interupts the actual time my DD is learning. I have been shutting the phone off

Thanks for the help

Are you able to do that? Limit the calls I mean? I would feel really...I don't know...invaded is the only word that comes to mind, but it's a little strong....if someone were calling and checking up on me all the time.

At any rate, we are starting the geography portion of our curriculum tomorrow and I am so excited about it. We started science on Friday and it was GREAT. I am using the Prelevel 1 Biology from Real Science 4 Kids this year and I seriously could not be more pleased. My third grader was ready to read the whole book on Friday.

 

[TNKBELL]

Are you able to do that? Limit the calls I mean? I would feel really...I don't know...invaded is the only word that comes to mind, but it's a little strong....if someone were calling and checking up on me all the time.

At any rate, we are starting the geography portion of our curriculum tomorrow and I am so excited about it. We started science on Friday and it was GREAT. I am using the Prelevel 1 Biology from Real Science 4 Kids this year and I seriously could not be more pleased. My third grader was ready to read the whole book on Friday.

I just wanted to respond and assure those who may be interested in a virtual school like K-12, that my experience so far has been wonderful!

I don't consider it "checking up on me" when the teachers call for the conference, it's just to see if we need help or suggestions with any of the subjects, and most of the teachers are homeschool moms themselves(at least in our area) and are EXTREMELY UNDERSTANDING. I was very hesitant to enroll and was worried about being "watched", but my fears have been alleviated completely.

This is a great option for those who want their child to be in an accredited school and also for affordablility as well as support, these are the reasons we decided to go with K-12. They also allow the child to develope at their own pace, ahead or behind(encouraging them to catch up and offering resources to help with this).

Please don't "knock it" unless you have tried it.

 

[disneymom3]

TNKBelle--I so glad to hear that! I know you were hesitant about it. Thanks for posting your experience with it. That gives a very different feel from what I was supposing. As my boys get older I may end up going that road myself but those fears were definitely holding me back.

Also wanted to say that I was not at all knocking it and I am so sorry to those who use an online school if that was the way it came across. It was my own concerns and how I would feel that I was talking about. As I said, I am thankful for all of the choices we have educationally.

 

[TNKBELL]

disneymom3, I'm sorry if I misunderstood.
When I posted about using a virtual academy on my local Homeschool yahoo group, I received many negative responses, all sent by moms who had never used a VA before. I guess I'm just used to defending it.

The way I see it, is that the school system is now validating and acknowledging that homeschooling is effective and a great way for students to learn. Another thing they are learning is the fact that financially this is more advantageous with the eliminated expenses of buildings, maintenance, teachers(except for the few that work from home to be available to parents), school nurses, buses, bus drivers, inspections, etc...
I feel like our family is part of a representation of the effectiveness and success of homeschooling. In our area the local virtual school LVS, has been overwhelmed by the growing response and they are quickly trying to provide books and computers to all the families as well as educational support personel. I could go on and on, but many of you would fall asleep!!

However we choose to do it, homeschooling is WONDERFUL!!!

 

[Disney8704]

For those who are doing online programs, is it sorta like work at your own pace. Like my college gave me 2 yrs to complete my course. And it was at my own pace. So I could do a lesson a week or a lesson once a month, or even a lesson every 2 months if I chose to do. So do they give you like a certain time the schooling needs to be done by for each grade and let them go at their own pace or are they strict on what needs to be done by a certain point? Also if it is set for things to be done by a certain point, do you find it hard to take a vacation during the year besides summer time or are they very flexible?

 

[TNKBELL]

For those who are doing online programs, is it sorta like work at your own pace. Like my college gave me 2 yrs to complete my course. And it was at my own pace. So I could do a lesson a week or a lesson once a month, or even a lesson every 2 months if I chose to do. So do they give you like a certain time the schooling needs to be done by for each grade and let them go at their own pace or are they strict on what needs to be done by a certain point? Also if it is set for things to be done by a certain point, do you find it hard to take a vacation during the year besides summer time or are they very flexible?

We can pretty much work at our own pace, they recommend completing 10% per subject per month. They give you an online calendar to fill out to project your ending date. I have taken several vacation days off and our projected ending date will be early June. This doesn't take into account for working ahead. One way we work ahead ,if I feel like my Dks have mastered a subject, is to take the Unit Assessment and if they do well, we move on to the next unit. This eliminates having to do lessons on subjects they already understand. The idea is to finish subjects prior to the start of the next school year, this year it is Sept. 2nd. We have been working since mid August. If they complete a subject before summer, they can start the next level to be ahead for the next semester. Only certain subjects are "required" and this varies by the State requirements, we are only required to finish Math and Language Arts for the younger students, the other subjects are not
considered "core subjects". We will finish all subjects, though. If you finish the elective course by the end of the first semester, you can move on to the next elective up to 3 per year. Currently we are on art, I would like to move on to Spanish if we can finish up sooner.

 

[Denine]

Denine--I wanted to say I am so glad that you are really happy with Calvert! I remember back when you were trying to decide what to use and you really were a bit nervous about it. That is great that it has worked out so well and you found a good fit.

I agree about the oversight of an online school. It would make me crazy. I am glad the option is there but I don't feel the need or desire to send my kids work to someone else to have it verified etc. I am glad the option exists for those who want it and glad the options I chose exist as well.

Good memory!

It is always nerve wracking doing something the first time. You are afraid of making a mistake. I really wanted to use Sonlight, but I realized it just wouldn't be a good fit for DD.

 

[disneymom3]

LOL--yes I do have a good memory. Drives DH insane!

I really like the idea of Sonlight too, but I know my boys need way more hands on. If money were no object I probably would have used Sonlight for DD and MFW for my boys. However she got stuck with MFW and we just added more books for her to read. My claim is that once my kids are old enough to be independent I am going to do Sonlight for myself! You adn I could have a book group!

 

[Disney_Angel]

We are working with Agora. The Elluminate isn't mandatory is it? I would prefer she not participate in chat rooms at the kindergarten level. They have time to do that kind of stuff when they get older. I am more of a- give me the cirriculum and lesson plans and if I have a question I will call you type person. I dont want to insult the teacher ( I do like her) but I may have to tell her to please limit her calls as it interupts the actual time my DD is learning. I have been shutting the phone off

Thanks for the help

OMGosh....we are with Agora too! This is our third year. The Elluminate chatrooms are only available white the session is live and the teacher see EVERYTHING the students type. And at the kindergarten,
first and second grade levels you have nothing to worry about.

In the kindergarten the elluminate was more like circle time. The teacher will put up an activity on the while board and ask each child a question this will give them the opportunity to circle the answer with their mouse. Later on your teacher may ask the children to read one by one from their phonics readers or the teacher may do a one on one with your child. As always you are welcome to sit next to your child and watch.

In first grade the elluminates consist of reading or discussing a book they read in language arts, answering math questions, fire safety, the teacher may also check for fluency of sight words. I can't remember if they were mandatory in K but in first grade DD was required to attend...they will take attendance.

Much of your correspondance will be through k-mail but you and your child will be required to conference at least once a month. Agora teachers are excellent with communication. I assure you she will let you know, in advance, she will be calling on this day between the time of this and that. She will not be calling you three or for times a week. last year I knew that dd's teacher would be calling every third Friday. It only changed during the holidays/days off and I always knew the month prior.