Homeschool Chat

[Disney Mommy 3]

I just replied to a thread about this on the CB, but I thought it would be especially great to share here. I am sure that some of you, like me, have these days where we feel invisible.
Take a moment to watch this, and let it be an encouragment to you. I have it saved in my favorites so I can rewatch it when I need it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

Checked out the youtube---EXCELLENT!! I had read an excerpt from that before, but never watched it 'live'. Thanks----I needed that!!! God is so good!!-Is He not?!!!

 

[kinntj]

Are you specifically looking for Catholic religious education? If so you can look at Seton (setonhome.org), Mother of Divine Grace (motherofdivinegrace.org), Kolbe (kolbe.org) or CHC (chcweb.com). These are whole curriculum providers, but you can usually just buy the religious education curriculum separately. If you are looking for Protestant education, I know there are plenty of posters who can also help you there.

Sorry for taking awhile to get back on here. You guys move along pretty good here.

We're Lutheran, but was looking into Catholic schools in the area. I looked for Lutheran, but they aren't very good in this area. My neighbor said the Catholic schools around here are wonderful and you can stay in through High School. We can go either way on teaching.

Thank you!

I will look in the local Christian bookstores or SOS as someone else posted.
Thanks for the websites for Catholic instruction. I'll look into them.

 

[DawnM]

Hey, we are here for another week and a half.....are you there everyday?

I will stop in and say hi!

Dawn

Mini Homeschool Days report...

10 & 12yo DDs went to Homeschool Days last week at DHS. I had to work (I'm a CM at Dinoland in AK right now), so my 20yo DD took them. The speaker was at 930am and everyone said she was awesome. They got her autograph on her CD and a photo with her. At 1230, my girls did the YES program, Disney's Productions Arts and Sciences, which was a 3 hour tour including ToT (ride and backstage) and learning about facade, flats, and forced perspective. They were assigned various roles in a "production", took some photos, and did some editing. DDs enjoyed that part, too, but there were a couple of kids that were not very well behaved that kind of impacted their enjoyment.

I met up with them after the YES program and we hopped to Epcot for the evening where I listened to them in "magpie-stereo" tell me all about their day. All in all, it was a good experience and we'd do it again.

 

[wvdislover]

TLHB70, thanks. I really needed that. I, myself, have been feeling quite "invisible" for some time now. Thank you.

 

[dvcbnd]

I just replied to a thread about this on the CB, but I thought it would be especially great to share here. I am sure that some of you, like me, have these days where we feel invisible.
Take a moment to watch this, and let it be an encouragment to you. I have it saved in my favorites so I can rewatch it when I need it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

Thanks so much for sharing that!! I really needed it, as I too have been feeling "invisible" lately.

 

[dvcbnd]

Hi all,
I'm so excited because I just faxed over my Home Educator's Ticket Order form for Colonial Williamsburg in Feb. We only have time for one day, but we thought that it would be a good start. We'll be there on Sunday, Feb 22nd. This will be our first ever Home Educators Program and we're so looking forward to it!!

 

[TLHB70]

Thanks so much for sharing that!! I really needed it, as I too have been feeling "invisible" lately.

TLHB70, thanks. I really needed that. I, myself, have been feeling quite "invisible" for some time now. Thank you.

Checked out the youtube---EXCELLENT!! I had read an excerpt from that before, but never watched it 'live'. Thanks----I needed that!!! God is so good!!-Is He not?!!!

I am so glad that you were able to be encouraged by it!

 

[desparatelydisney]

Calvert is structured, but that is what DD needs, so it works great for us.

The only problem now is the reading program. DD is reading at a 3-4 grade level, but we are still doing 1st grade reading. Right now, I just use it to get the basics for comprehension. She still needs the spelling program. We do use the phonics, but she doesn't need that much anymore.

We use Horizon's for math because the Calvert math was too easy for her. THis program is supposed to be more advanced and she will finish 1st grade math on Friday.

I love that DD can go at her own pace and not be stuck behind with kids that don't understand math. (Like me at her age.)

So would you say that neither the math nor the reading are particularly challenging? Not sure if that sounds too good

 

[NiniMorris]

OK, I'll jump in here....(I started reading, but after about 5 pages, jumped ahead to the end!!)

I have been homeschooling for a little over two years now. My older dd was in 2nd grade, reading on a 6th grade level, maxed all the standardized tests (even won an award from the school board for having the highest test scores in the county for first grade!) but they would not consider testing her for advanced classes. She was bored out of her mind! Then another little boy in her class threatened her because she was of mixed race heritage, and the school did NOTHING about it!

My ds was 6 and in Kinder. He had suffered a severe brain injury and has severe learning disabilities as well as emotional problems (the doctors did not even think he would LIVE, much less anything else...we are very bl,essed!) In Pre-K he was in Special Ed classes, but they insisted on mainstreaming him for Kinder. Then they cut out the para pro...I ended up having to go to school at least once a day to handle behavioral problems...they didn't know what to do with him. He had an IEP that said he needed his own para-pro but they said that wasn't in the school budget! To make a very long story as short as I can, after a call from my lawyer they put him in a special ed class...with 5th graders! Did not work!

We pulled them both out in October. We advanced the older one to the third grade (Switched On Schoolhouse)and used the hooked on phonics and Handwriting without Tears for the younger one. Was the BEST decision we ever made!

It was so nice last January when we made an impromptu trip to Disney and did not have to get anyone's permission to go!

We are going again next January and I am making plans to include some learning experiences prior to the trip as well as during and after. My older daughter is looking forward to helping with the planning, and my younger is excited that he will be tall enough to ride almost all the rides this time! (yes, he is the one that pulled out his leash and said he was ready to go!)

Sorry for the long post, but I tend to be very long winded!


...now if I could just figure out how to keep my quilting business going while babysitting my one year old granddaughter and homeschooling everything would be fine!

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Hi all,
I'm so excited because I just faxed over my Home Educator's Ticket Order form for Colonial Williamsburg in Feb. We only have time for one day, but we thought that it would be a good start. We'll be there on Sunday, Feb 22nd. This will be our first ever Home Educators Program and we're so looking forward to it!!

We are going March 3 and 4th. And then to jamestown on the 5 and 6. We are excited. Well, dh just got a call about a job opportunity in Wisconsin...so we will see what happens....Itsn't it cold up there?

 

[Denine]

Hi all,
I'm so excited because I just faxed over my Home Educator's Ticket Order form for Colonial Williamsburg in Feb. We only have time for one day, but we thought that it would be a good start. We'll be there on Sunday, Feb 22nd. This will be our first ever Home Educators Program and we're so looking forward to it!!

Good for you. We haven't done ours yet.

 

[Denine]

So would you say that neither the math nor the reading are particularly challenging? Not sure if that sounds too good

Math: It depends on where your child is in the math department. Some people love the math. DD is good at math and even finds the more challenging progam easy.

Reading: Again, it depends on where your child is. There are people that would do Calvert just for the reading and phonics program. However, I think that is why DD is reading above her grade level. KWIM?

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I got my confirmation in the mail yesterday for Colonial Williamsburg! Yah!! And I am about halfway through making my youngest a colonial dress to wear! I haven't received anything from Jamestown yet....hopefully soon!

 

[KibbyCat]

I've been "invisible" for about 15 years...but whenever I start throwing myself a pity party, I remember that it's not about me.

I just wanted to mention to anyone on here looking for curriculum:
I am done with my Alpha Omega Switched On Schoolhouse Grade 3 and would like to offer it for trade. This is a 5-subject program with installation disc. I am open to just about any offer.

 

[tnmomof4]

I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice? I need it very, very badly.

I just started homeschooling my 4 kids. They are in grades 6th, 5th, and twins in kindergarten.

I decided to use all ABeka. I love ABeka for the most part.

It is just very overwhelming trying to teach two history classes and two science classes. I think ABeka history and science are great, but it is just getting to be too much for us.

I was thinking that it would be so much easier if I could teach my 5th and
6th grader the same history and the same science.

I also was thinking about how much I want them to learn the basics of history and science.

Right now my 5th grader is trying to learn the state bird and flower for each state. They have to also be able to identify every state bird and flower by sight. Now.... this is okay, but I just feel it's not necessary to learn this. I do think it is necessary to know the different kinds of trees, and how a leaf changes color, etc.... I also think it is good to learn the state bird and flower for your own state. Maybe I am wrong.

I just wish I could do a week of learning about trees, and a week on how a leaf changes colors, and then a week on birds, a week on the sun, etc...

Same thing with history. I just want them to learn the important things. I want to study the Declaration of Independence for a week, the Civil War for a week, etc....

Does any of this make sense?

I just feel like ABeka drags some of these subjects out. Plus if I can teach both of them the same thing, it would help me so much.

If it does, is there any curriculum out there like this. I know when I was little I went to an ACE school for a while, and we did paces. Maybe something like that, or just weekly studies.

Does anyone have any help for me? I hate feeling like I am failing my kids. Their education is my responsibility, and I want to do my best. I want them to learn the things that are important.

 

[wvdislover]

I don't know what the exact requirements are for what Tennessee says your kids have to learn, but I would say teach your kids what YOU think is important for them to learn. Just b/c you started with A Beka, doesn't mean you HAVE to finish with A Beka, does it (unless maybe you're doing the Academy)? I think since your kids are so close in age, it wouldn't be a problem at all to teach them the same stuff in social studies and science (or all the subjects, for that matter). Just go off of your kids and see what they can do together. You could do some great unit studies or lap books, if you want. Maybe use the information A Beka has given you as a springboard for what you want your kids to learn. Remember, one of the reasons you chose to homeschool, probably, was so you could teach your kids what you think they should learn. Good luck! And welcome to the Homeschooling Thread!

 

[emh1129]

I'm wondering if any of you could help me with 1st grade curriculum ideas for my ds.
He is 6, soon to be 7 and has high functioning autism. He has trouble with attention span, so we can only work in brief sessions together.
My time is really becoming more and more limited due to nursing school, so I just don't have as much time to create our own plans. I'd appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

 

[feedthebirds]

tnmomof4-

Have you looked at Tapestry of Grace? Not sure if it would be a good fit for your family, just thought I"d throw it out there. I have a friend that uses that and she loves it. I have never used it myself, but may give it a try next year.

 

[graygables]

To both emh1129 and tnmomof4:

I HIGHLY recommend using lapbooks. We get ours from http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/. They offer e-books that I can download and print what I need as I need it. We can do as many or as few of the activities as we like and adjust them to DDs' needs. They also are designed to cover an age span, which is helpful since mine are 5th & 7th grades. We can do a single lesson together and I just make it more challenging for the older one. My oldest has Asperger's and my youngest has ADHD, so the lapbooks have really helped us move forward in ways that traditional curriculum just wasn't cutting for us. The lapbooks cover science, social studies, and language arts (we are currently doing Australia and Animal Classification) and we use Math U See for our math curriculum. Some of the lapbooks include a math element, but most of the ones we've done so far have not, so we do use the MUS for that (which works well, too, as the lessons are short).

To be honest, I think of my husband and how much he hated literature classes. He knew he was never going to use it for anything and grew to detest reading because of it. Had he been encouraged to read books about stone and masonry, however, it might have been a different story altogether. Yes, I know, as a former English teacher, "critical reading" can be an important skill, but not at the loss of the love of reading altogether. Same goes for social studies or science or math. I have found that my girls are much more likely to pursue learning that interests them and their attention spans are much longer that way. Did they need to know about the Constitution in the 4th grade? No, but now that they are hearing about it and how it related to the inauguration, they've had their little Googlers going and have learned more than any textbook could have told them about it and WHY it matters.

Stepping off my soapbox now...I'm not a fan of highly structured curriculum and we {heart} lapbooks!

 

[Denine]

Math: It depends on where your child is in the math department. Some people love the math. DD is good at math and even finds the more challenging progam easy.

Reading: Again, it depends on where your child is. There are people that would do Calvert just for the reading and phonics program. However, I think that is why DD is reading above her grade level. KWIM?

I forgot to mention that you can get custom math with Calvert after K, but since we started with Horizons, we just kept using it.