Homeschool Chat

[mykidsintow]

nuzmom, yes, I posted the where do I start question yesterday. I went to the hslda website to check on my state laws, and saw that my state has 2 support groups going.

Today I started looking into what I would be interested in using, I was just on Sonlight.com, but also looked at a few others.

My main question right now is how many of you teach multiple kids with 1 program, and how do you make it work. I was reading on sonlights website that many people do that. My daughters are all 2 years apart, My youngest will be 5 in March, and my other two are 7 and 9.

I have Ds 7, DD 5. My 7 yr old is gifted in reading (he tested 4th grade reading comprehension), but he is behind in math. My 5 yr old is ahead across the board. Her one struggle is handwriting, but she has physical challenges and its not a big deal.

We do seperate reading/phonics. I have my son read to DD and myself and then when he is working on something else I do her phonics/reading. They each do handwriting, but seperately (their own level). Both are working on the same history... We are using Story of the world. However, they may have slightly different activities (at their level) or questions after a lesson. Same with science we combine and activities related are at their level or they answer questions together.

Math is seperate.... I don't even have them on the same programs. My son is struggling with math and I don't want him to realize his sister is ahead of him

We started our first yr with a boxed set (sonlight). There were aspects I loved and other things I didn't care for at all. This left me researching and throwing together things myself.

It all comes together. It can be overwhelming... you research and jump in head first. If somethign doesn't work, tweek it for your family and off you go. The next yr you have learned and know better what your family/children need differently. Of course as they grow needs change and you continue.... it can be frustrating, but its all completely worth it in the end .

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Disneymommy 3--I am curious. Do your kids do totally different subjects as far as say, history or the same time period just at different levels? I would have a hard time keeping track of all of what each person needed to do I think. I am VERY organizationally challenged.

They do the same thing, just different levels. For ex.-History we did Mystery of History last year, this year we switched to TruthQuest-oldest is in Ren and Ref, middle is in Am. Hist 1. For Science we use Apologia, 7th grade and one of the elem levels for the 4th grader-Lang arts--LLATL, green book and orange book(color by grade level), and so on. It's not as hard as it looks!! But, I do keep them in the same curriculum--just diff grade levels. this will help you to become organized---cause if you don't IT'LL KILL YOU!!!
It really does help to have some level of organization just for your own sake!!

 

[TNKBELL]

Hey fellow homeschoolers, just a reminder that you can still sign up for the book it program online, each participating child will receive coupons for 1 free personal pan pizza each month of the program(October-March).
Here's the link:

http://www.bookitprogram.com/

 

[happypooh]

Hey fellow homeschoolers, just a reminder that you can still sign up for the book it program online, each participating child will receive coupons for 1 free personal pan pizza each month of the program(October-March).
Here's the link:

http://www.bookitprogram.com/

I have a 3y old and looked at the bookit beginners program but it says you have to be a licensed child care center or preschool to participate and cannot join as an individual - so not sure that this would work for homeschoolers unless you are registered with at least 4 kids.....

 

[TNKBELL]

I have a 3y old and looked at the bookit beginners program but it says you have to be a licensed child care center or preschool to participate and cannot join as an individual - so not sure that this would work for homeschoolers unless you are registered with at least 4 kids.....

There is a homeschool sign up form, I just registered yesterday...here's the direct link

http://www.bookitprogram.com/enrollment_online/homeschoolform.asp

I should have put this link instead of the other one!!

 

[Lilogirl]

I am new to Home Schooling and belong to a "group". But everytime someone new asks a question, someone makes them feel "stupid" for asking. Can anyone recommend some boards where asking questions is ok?

Thank you-

 

[sha_lyn]

I am new to Home Schooling and belong to a "group". But everytime someone new asks a question, someone makes them feel "stupid" for asking. Can anyone recommend some boards were asking questions is ok?

Thank you-

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://thehomeschoollibrary.com/
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/alternative-learning/

 

[Ellester]

I am new to Home Schooling and belong to a "group". But everytime someone new asks a question, someone makes them feel "stupid" for asking. Can anyone recommend some boards were asking questions is ok?

Thank you-

We're pretty friendly on this board too! Ask away!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Does anyone use A beka Academy? Program 1, where they keep records and issue a diploma?

Thank you all for being patient with me, I know i've been asking alot of questions.

 

[TLHB70]

Does anyone use A beka Academy? Program 1, where they keep records and issue a diploma?

Thank you all for being patient with me, I know i've been asking alot of questions.

We just started it this year (We are now in week 5.) with my oldest DD. She is in 8th grade. We wanted the records, transcripts, etc. for high school and then college.
I love it! My youngest DD (now in 5th grade) has asked to do it next year. I am still teaching her this year with A Beka material, but I am doing the teaching.

 

[lori1043]

Welcome, 3princesses+aprince!!!

Lori​

 

[3princesses+aprince]

TLHB70, that's good to hear. It really does sound good to me that records are kept! I like that feeling.

Lori1043, thanks for the welcome.


Does anyone have children who they homeschool and children that also go to Public school. Homeschooling sounds like the PERFECT option for my dd9 in every way possible, but when it comes to my dd7, i'm just not sure. She loves the school environment and loves to go everyday. I think she would be asking me "ok, but when am I going back to school" If we did homeschooling with her. So, I was thinking about maybe starting with my dd9, and if my dd7 feels that she would like to do it as well, great, but I don't feel comfortable making that decision without her really understanding that she wouldn't be going to school, she would be learning at home. This is tough

I know I have plenty of time as well, we just started the new school year at Public School of course, and I don't think I would want to start this half way through the year, this is probably something I would start next fall. Unless dd9 ends up having too much of a hard time, and I feel I should do it sooner for her.

 

[wvdislover]

I have a DD11 that I homeschool, and a DD7 who is still in public school. My DD11 has several special needs that the school was not able to meet, so we brought her home at the end of 3rd quarter last year. DD7 LOVES school, and does very well, so we are leaving her there for now, and will just take it one year at a time. We are thinking of probably hs her during middle school, but we'll see--that's a long way away! Right now, DD11 needs to be home alone to get her work done, anyways. Good luck in your decision! Just remember, it can be done!

 

[bumbershoot]

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

I know this post was from a week ago, but I just ran into it.

I have no idea if this will help, since I got no feedback on it, LOL, but this sort of thing helps me. Since you're looking so far ahead, you might as well really dig into it. I did a little bit of looking around, and posted this about colleges and homeschooling.

For me, from there I can see that the good colleges are really very open about their requirements.


And also, with your state, there will be different requirements. As far as I know, I have to keep good records for WA state, so once we start proper homeschooling (DS is only 4) records will be kept.

There's a state homeschooling group here that hosts a graduation, with caps and gowns and everything! Not sure about the diploma bit; diplomas have never been anything but a piece of paper that no one has ever asked to see in my own life. It's the transcript that's everything, and we as parents create those.

 

[Mommy2three]

I am really starting to consider to pull my DS7 out of public school and start homeschooling him. He is in the 1st grade and he is special needs. He has AdHD, bipolar, auditory processing disorder, sensory integration disorder, just to name a few, oh and only has an IQ of 78 which is borderline from what I understand. He is in a regular first grade class, as our school district no longer pulls out for special education classes, they have been integrated into the regular classroom now. Well last year in Kindergarten there was this boy in his class that bullied him, even punched his two bottom front teeth out last year, they eventually had to move the other boy to another room. Well guess what? they put my DS and this boy in the same class again this year. and we have had nothing but problems from the other boy. There was an incident the first day of school, then again two days later where he was pushing my DS down at recess time, and then yesterday at lunch recess punched my DS in the mouth. The school isn't wanting to do anything about it. The teachers said if they move him to another classroom then he won't get the special help that he needs. He fears going to school and I had to fight with him to get him to go this morning because he is afraid of this boy. He wouldn't even tell the principle today or his teacher that it was this boy that did it, he said it was someone else. but when he came home and i asked him again about it, he said he didn't tell the principle or the teacher about it because he is afraid of the boy.

I cannot continue to let my DS go to school in fear of this boy, and have to worry everyday and have anxiety attacks everyday, or fight with him everyday to go to school. Any advice?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I am sending you a private message.

 

[disneymom3]

We're pretty friendly on this board too! Ask away!

That was my thought as well!

 

[wvdislover]

I am really starting to consider to pull my DS7 out of public school and start homeschooling him. He is in the 1st grade and he is special needs. He has AdHD, bipolar, auditory processing disorder, sensory integration disorder, just to name a few, oh and only has an IQ of 78 which is borderline from what I understand. He is in a regular first grade class, as our school district no longer pulls out for special education classes, they have been integrated into the regular classroom now. Well last year in Kindergarten there was this boy in his class that bullied him, even punched his two bottom front teeth out last year, they eventually had to move the other boy to another room. Well guess what? they put my DS and this boy in the same class again this year. and we have had nothing but problems from the other boy. There was an incident the first day of school, then again two days later where he was pushing my DS down at recess time, and then yesterday at lunch recess punched my DS in the mouth. The school isn't wanting to do anything about it. The teachers said if they move him to another classroom then he won't get the special help that he needs. He fears going to school and I had to fight with him to get him to go this morning because he is afraid of this boy. He wouldn't even tell the principle today or his teacher that it was this boy that did it, he said it was someone else. but when he came home and i asked him again about it, he said he didn't tell the principle or the teacher about it because he is afraid of the boy.

I cannot continue to let my DS go to school in fear of this boy, and have to worry everyday and have anxiety attacks everyday, or fight with him everyday to go to school. Any advice?

I am SO SORRY that this is happening to your son. My DD11 has the same issues as your DS and we did pull her out last year b/c of kids picking on her, making fun of her, saying mean things to her, etc. While we still have some issues at home, she is a much happier person. She says she never wants to go back to school. I would be pulling him out in a heartbeat. Who wants to send their child to school fearful and anxious. Your little one has enough on his plate as it is. Why add to it? Bring him home and give him some time to de-stress from the situation. I found it helpful to "de-school" my DD (still working on it, actually). I wish you lots of luck and send lots of hugs and prayers Let us know what happens!

 

[Mommy2three]

My husband and I got into an argument last night because he is totally against it. He feels that our DS needs to face the bully, because in life you can't run from your problems. I disagree with him and told him our son has enough on his plate to deal with. Just let me homeschool him the rest of this school year and when open enrollment comes around then I will get him into another school district in our area. I feel like i'm stuck in between a rock and a hard spot, the school won't do anything, my husband doesnt want me to pull him out, I want to pull him out and homeschool him, I don't know what to do.

 

[Lilogirl]

I am SO SORRY that this is happening to your son. My DD11 has the same issues as your DS and we did pull her out last year b/c of kids picking on her, making fun of her, saying mean things to her, etc. While we still have some issues at home, she is a much happier person. She says she never wants to go back to school. I would be pulling him out in a heartbeat. Who wants to send their child to school fearful and anxious. Your little one has enough on his plate as it is. Why add to it? Bring him home and give him some time to de-stress from the situation. I found it helpful to "de-school" my DD (still working on it, actually). I wish you lots of luck and send lots of hugs and prayers Let us know what happens!

I completely agree with this. My DD was the victim of a bully. The school refused to deal with the problem. I brought her home for the end of last year. She is doing SO much better with her lessons now. She is happy again and WANTS to learn. She does not want to go back to school. I don't think of it as avoiding the bully. (She is well socialized outside the home and we have had no further issues with bullies). I am providing a safe place for my child to learn. (Something the school failed to do)

Hugs to you and your son.