Homeschool Chat

[PurpleTurtle]

Hi there - I HS four - ages 10, 8, 5, and 5. We're going back to WDW next Feb. for my 40th b-day. WooHoo! We'll be staying at SSR, probably, and may spend a few nights at BLT. I'm excited and we still have 9 1/2 months to go.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hi there - I HS four - ages 10, 8, 5, and 5. We're going back to WDW next Feb. for my 40th b-day. WooHoo! We'll be staying at SSR, probably, and may spend a few nights at BLT. I'm excited and we still have 9 1/2 months to go.

Welcome purpleturtle, we're going on our First Disney World trip in 27 days, I am so excited!!!! We've been wanting to take the kids for the past few YEARS!!!

Your kids ages are similar to mine. My youngest is 5 and my 9 and 7 yr olds will be 10 and 8 in June!!!!

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Welcome purpleturtle, we're going on our First Disney World trip in 27 days, I am so excited!!!! We've been wanting to take the kids for the past few YEARS!!!

Your kids ages are similar to mine. My youngest is 5 and my 9 and 7 yr olds will be 10 and 8 in June!!!!

3princesses+aprince - You won't believe how dingy I am, but I even put the wrong age for my 2nd dd. She's actually 7, not 8! I've been so excited about planning our trip for next year, when she will be 8, that I practically forgot that she is still 7! That's really bad. I think there is a good chance I am actually losing my mind. Have a great trip. We were at Disney last May/June, and had a wonderful trip. I know that you all will have the absolute best time. Swimming is GREAT this time of year. Our kids loved the pool and Blizzard Beach better than the theme parks.

Have fun!

 

[disneymom3]

Thank you for your story and advice, I will definitely have her talk to someone. I figured we'll get all of the school stuff out of the way and then deal with the rest. My dd is the same way at night, she does not go to sleep until a few hours after she lays down Thinking about stuff like that all of the time must be so stressful!

talk to your pediatrician of course, but what has helped both of my kids--and myself some nights--is melatonin. It's a chemical or whatever that is naturally released by your body when you go to sleep but by taking the pill you cue your brain to release it. You can get it in the vitamin section at any store.

PurpleTurtle that is too funny about your child's age! I can totally see myself doing that!

I will get back to you all with more math game ideas. I am in the midst of making dinner right now so this is more of a flyby.

 

[wvdislover]

Any suggestions for a math program for a child that hates math? We use Abeka now, simply because it was was she was "used" to. But it is a struggle each day. She will be in 3rd grade next year and I really want her to atleast understand math. (and maybe not hate it so much LOL)

Not sure if it'll help for next year, but we are using Teaching Textbooks and LOVE it! My DD11 has learned so much this year and is finally understanding concepts she hasn't ever been able to figure out. I just got an e-mail from TT that they are taking pre-sell orders for their new Math 4 program (can be used for 4th grade or advanced 3rd graders). Since your DD has been using Abeka, she may be further along than your typical 2nd grader (you didn't say clearly whether she was getting the math concepts at this time). TT is on a CD-Rom and also comes with an optional workbook, and they use lots of fun pictures with some of the math problems, and you can choose a "buddy" who encourages you as you work (little animals or kids who each have their own persona). Also, you get instant grading with your work, and if you don't understand a problem that you've missed, there is a tutorial for each problem. It's definitely worth checking into. Good luck! I know how hard it is to have a child who HATES math

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Purpleturtle, that is too funny about your dd's age. I would definitely do that. We are so obsessed with planning our Disney trips that we have blinders on to the real world. Ahh, that is what is so wonderful about Disney though!!! It's like a wonderful dream! I cannot wait! And it's after midnight, so 26 more days. WOW

And disneymom3, thanks again!!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

So earlier today I printed out a few different maps showing where all of the World Showcase countries were located.(In the real world) We're going to take a few days to learn about different things for each country. I found a neat website that lists the population and a whole bunch of interesting facts. We'll go over them and dd can write down what she finds interesting. So when we are in Disney in a few weeks she will know what these countries really are about. And she is such a picky eater, but maybe learning about what they eat she will be brave enough to sample something other than chicken fingers at Epcot.
So that is what we are going to be working on before our trip. And of course she'll be reading and writing everyday.
I'm also going to have her study her multiplication table, she needs to be a little quicker with that. And we're just going to do a lot of work with multiplying until the end of this school year. She knows how, she just has to get a better handle on it. She is not very comfortable with it yet. Over the summer we will work on division! She was starting with fractions this year and is so lost with them Abeka's math has them ready and waiting for her in the fall

 

[NHWX]

And she is such a picky eater, but maybe learning about what they eat she will be brave enough to sample something other than chicken fingers at Epcot.

Even our very picky eater is happy to snack around the world! How can you go wrong with what is basically Mom saying "OK, go ahead and have three or four sweets today!" Of course, when I eat the same sweets, I come home with a couple extra pounds.

NHWX

 

[NHWX]

Ok. Hubby and I are leaning towards homeschooling. We are looking into the Keystone Middle School. Does anyone use this program and how is it working out for you?

The only comment that I've heard about them is that their AP courses are less than PA Homeschoolers AP courses. Sorry I can't help there! If anyone on this board has used their AP courses, I'd like to hear about that!

I can help with K12's middle school school work for independent users, assorted math courses from Johns Hopkins and one essay course from their and two courses from Brigham Young University's online high school. Oh, and Oklahoma State's German 3 course.

NHWX

 

[NHWX]

I was wondering about how much work you guys give your kids per day. I feel like I may be giving too much. My kids are in 1st and 4th grades. The 4th grader is a GT student so his is mostly 5th grade work.

My oldest gets about 4-6 worksheets per day in Math and Lang Arts each. In SS or Science we do about one chapter per day. Is this too much?

I don't know how long that takes. You can also add in music, art, recess, morning news, etc. into your school day and modify the core academics, if you think they're not getting enough balance in their day.

8-12 worksheets in just two subjects could be a serious amount of work or it could be just busywork. Ask yourself; is it kill and drill? Or are they teaching valuable information? The right amount of reinforcement? It's the joy and difficulty of homeschooling!

Remember in brick and mortar school, you've got all kinds of learning that isn't about seat work too. There's practicing for the history play, nature walks, math games and field trips to the fire department. Don't feel like you have to give up all of that fun!

NHWX

 

[DawnM]

Maybe you can take a picture of her in front of each country and have her make a scrapbook with her info about each country.

Dawn

So earlier today I printed out a few different maps showing where all of the World Showcase countries were located.(In the real world) We're going to take a few days to learn about different things for each country. I found a neat website that lists the population and a whole bunch of interesting facts. We'll go over them and dd can write down what she finds interesting. So when we are in Disney in a few weeks she will know what these countries really are about. And she is such a picky eater, but maybe learning about what they eat she will be brave enough to sample something other than chicken fingers at Epcot.
So that is what we are going to be working on before our trip. And of course she'll be reading and writing everyday.
I'm also going to have her study her multiplication table, she needs to be a little quicker with that. And we're just going to do a lot of work with multiplying until the end of this school year. She knows how, she just has to get a better handle on it. She is not very comfortable with it yet. Over the summer we will work on division! She was starting with fractions this year and is so lost with them Abeka's math has them ready and waiting for her in the fall

 

[wvdislover]

Maybe you can take a picture of her in front of each country and have her make a scrapbook with her info about each country.

Dawn

Ooh! Cool idea, Dawn!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh, great idea Dawn, we'll definitely be doing that!!! We can start putting a "book" together now with all of the information we find and then we'll just have to add the pictures.
Thanks for that idea, that's great!!!!!

 

[saremca]

Not sure if it'll help for next year, but we are using Teaching Textbooks and LOVE it!

I was just going to say that. All three of mine are using TT this year and they all absolutely love it. One liked Saxon well enough but the other two hated it. Singapore was good until the oldest got into 7th grade and then it was torture. My oldest DD, and resident math hater has not complained about math ONCE this whole year, and that my friends is some kind of record. She is QUEEN of the math haters.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Good Morning Everyone~~
Just wanted to chime in about the math. We used Teaching Textbooks this year and it was phenomenal!! I plug it on here all the time. We used Pre-Al. and 5th grade. My kids are a little advanced in math from ABeka, so it worked. My older son actually was supposed to do Alg. I, but I wanted him to be rock solid in the concepts, so we did it again this year with the TT program. It was definitely a wise move. He is very sure of what's going on and actually told me the other day that he is really enjoying math now. It did kill him to admit it, but it was good to hear!!Yes!!!!!

My younger son just breezed through the 5th grade program, he's actually 4th grade age, but very advanced in math---he's a math lover! Last year he was having trouble with quick recall of the xs table. He knew, it just took him a second...this year he has gotten a lot faster. I think the way we are doing math is so different now, that he isn't realizing it's still the same math. He is just having fun. I also got the pre-sale notification about the 4th grade program, but I think they need to be pretty solid in xs tables before they use this one.

Hooray for all who have a Disney trip looming before them!! I have a tentative ticker for next January, but the actual dates may change. It just looked so bare without one!! Ha!! Have a great day all~!!

 

[livndisney]

To those that recommend Teaching texts, the site I found
http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/v/vspfiles/tt/Math4.htm

shows it starts with 4th grade-is that right? I am looking for 3rd grade.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

To those that recommend Teaching texts, the site I found
http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/v/vspfiles/tt/Math4.htm

shows it starts with 4th grade-is that right? I am looking for 3rd grade.

Yes, that is right. They add a lower level each year. If they are advanced 3rd-knowing mulitplication and all that they can use it. If not, I would wait till next year.

 

[Denine]

For the newer members of this thread I bought a couple of books a few months ago. They are Vacation Education books. One is about Epcot and the other is about the MK. They are so cool. You can even get a little deck of cards with interesting facts for when you are standing in line. I will have to find the website.

We use Horizons for math and DD loves it. We have used it for K, 1st and now 2nd.

 

[cdhheidi]

Hi All, I posted last week re. kicking up our Science & am very happy to post I've gone w/ Apologia! Now, I'd just love to find the pre-made kits to go w/ each! I've scoured the public homeschool classifieds & have only found 2 posts, 1 was already sold & the 2nd never replied to both my requests, so I'm guessing also sold. Does anyone have any advice on where to find them or should I just settle down & possibly build our own?

Specifically ~ I'm looking for the Zoology 1, 2 & 3 kits. If you know of any boards I may be missing or need to become a member of please do let me know.

Finally if anyone else is looking for them (as I believe they've recently become hard to find w/ the new gov. restrictions) I found both the Apologia -Astronomy Advanced Kit & the Botany Kit for $93.55 total w/ PM shipping, about as close to $45 per kit as I could come. These were from the OnlineScienceMall w/ a 10% discount code.

Have a Magical Day

we love apologia... and have loved the following site for getting our science tools as well.

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/ca...riculum/cat_kits-for-apologia-curriculum.html

Heidi

 

[lori1043]

hey gals! It ihas been a while since I have been around. Things were getting ugly a while back and it just turned me off...

Like said, it has been a LONG time...

I also use Apologia-we weill use it through HS I think! We use their notebooks and links and just finished a year of Astronomy. We are doing Land Animals next year. The kids did Flying animals in co-op a couple years back. Now we do them at home with a couple other kids and moms. We are doing Ch1 of Flying Animals to boost thier memories about kingdon/phylum/class/family-etc,etc... I need mine refreshed too!

We also use Teaching textbooks. Mid year,My 3rd grader had done about 30 lessons of TT5 really well, then was getting stumped(long story why we are using TT5 with her). Sooo, we stopped and did a lot of refresher work, got those mult facts down right and used our old Abeka flashcards for general math facts, plus a lot of math games and worksheets. I was trying desperately not to have to buy TT4, since I already had 5 and 6. I think TT is a year behind, academically-or maybe b/c I came from using Abeka and Saxon, it is on target.I do not know. Anyway, DD9 is back on using TT5 and doing well. She just needed a little boost since she was on TT5 and that was a grade or 2 ahead of her. We'll just be on the half year schedule for math! No biggie.

Anyway- happy to be back!!

Lori