Homeschool Chat

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm going to have to go back to the beginning of this thread and absorb everything!

We commence school on Monday.

I have spent the week boxing up what we don't need to use this year and getting room on the shelves for 4th and 1st.

We use the Mother of Divine Grace Curriculum (for those curious--the syllabi for that can be viewed at Emmannuel (sp?) books).

It was written by Laura Berquist who wrote the book Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum. Based on the Trivuum--with a Catholic spin.

I sub out the Math with Math U See and I use Calculadder for speed drills.

I use Scaredy Cat Phonics for teaching my 1st grader to read (she's started--but we don't have all of our 'scared' short sounds just yet). Our curriculum had Teach your child to read in 100 Easy Lessons but it drove my kids crazy and wasn't working.

I will also be adding in Writing Strands with my 4th grader this year. She has begun writing creatively and I needed the "help" to further develop what she likes to do.

My girls dance, 4th grader plays piano and guitar, 1st grader adores her violin, they do gymnastics.

In the past we have bowled on a homeschool bowling league and play tennis. I am unsure if we will pick these things back up.

My 4th grader will be doing a Public Speaking introductory class with a homeschool group we are part of.

And this year--she is also studying the state of Florida and hopefully we will have the time and funds to do some field trips around the state. I'm hoping for the Flagler Museum--a treasure museum--the Circus Museum and maybe 1 or 2 camping trips somewhere in the Fall/early spring when it isn't hot!

I'm very excited as dd's school content is starting to get more and more interesting.


And my favorite all time resource shout out---

If you do not have a Rainbow Resource Catalogue, get to their website and order one. It is free on request and I refer to it as a mecca of homeschool supplies, materials and curriculum. I love perusing that catalogue! Plus--often times even though most of our school things are available through Emmannuel books, I can save money by checking wants available there. The company is run by a homeschooling family. The write ups are fantastic as if they write a review, they have tested it on someone within the family.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Got my Rainbow Resource catalog today!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Does anyone here use Saxon math? How about Singapore math? I have a 6th grade son and his math skills seem sub-par to me and I'm wondering what your opinions are on these two different curricula?

Thanks!

Karen

The way I've heard it explained is that Saxon is very good for standard repetitive math, and tests VERY well on Standardized tests.

Singapore is more "out of the box" math/problem solving and real life applications.

I chose Singapore because the students overseas that used it were scoring so high, and because Saxon was way too hands on and time consuming for me. We've liked it very well.

That said, after Singapore 6A/6B we are now switching to Teaching Textbooks [Pre-algebra]. I really like it. I'd probably switch before then, but the cost of starting over with a curriculum stops me.

 

[wvdislover]

Got my Rainbow Resource catalog today!

I wish I'd get mine...I ordered it probably a month ago!

 

[littlepeppers]

Calvert:
THis will be our 4th year using Calvert and we love it. You don't need to do the ATS, we haven't yet. I don't think it is necessary at such young ages. DD will be in 2nd grade. It is a bit pricey, but sooo worth it to me to have it all laid out. They include everything you need in the box. DD loves it when the box comes and she wants to open it right away.

DD took the CAT this past spring and scored in the 98th percentile.

We may start school next week or we may wait until the following week.

DD has been sick all summer. She went to the ENT on Monday and had a CAT scan on Tuesday. Now, we are waiting for results.

We are on Calvert 2nd gd Lesson 20 (1st big test) today. Why aren't there any Social Studues test sections? I made one for DS. I know that state will want a social studies grade too.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

I wish I'd get mine...I ordered it probably a month ago!

I waited a pretty long time, too. Hopefully, yours will come in the next day or two.

 

[graygables]

Oak Meadow? Anyone using it? Is it something that can be self-directed for an 8th and 6th grader? We are finishing up with Time 4 Learning and my girls didn't really care for it. I don't want to go the K12 route again and lean more toward unschooling anyway. I'm working 50 hours/week and need to focus my attention on math with them, not so much the social studies/language arts/science. They write a research paper every week as it is (part of the unschooling aspect), so they are already laying strong foundations in those areas. I just don't want all of my time off to be spent catching up on lessons, that's no fun for anybody.

 

[Incredimom3]

Hi, This is my first time posting on this thread. We started our 6th year homeschooling yesterday! We're headed back to WDW next month (Sept. 17-27) at POR. I was wondering whether any other homeschooling families will be there. We do have some precious friends who are traveling with us and staying at POP. If you'll be there, we'd love to know so we may look for you.

Stephanie

 

[fabumouse]

I'm not sure how many brand new homeschoolers are on here, but no where in the world spreads a cold/flu like a public school does.

My DD8 was out of school during 1st grade for more than 16 days total due to the flu and horrible colds (which of course, we got nasty notices about).

Last year - homeschooling - "out sick" 1 day - and I was being pretty lenient - she really wasn't that sick.

She interacts with tons of kids in the neighborhood and in after-school sports & art - but there is just something about those closed-in spaces that spreads those germs.

 

[imjoyful2]

Hi, This is my first time posting on this thread. We started our 6th year homeschooling yesterday! We're headed back to WDW next month (Sept. 17-27) at POR. I was wondering whether any other homeschooling families will be there. We do have some precious friends who are traveling with us and staying at POP. If you'll be there, we'd love to know so we may look for you.

Stephanie

This is our 5th yr homeschooling. Normally we stayed at POR also, but with having a larger family this time, we had to get 2 rooms at all stars sports. We will be down Sept 17-26.

 

[wvdislover]

I waited a pretty long time, too. Hopefully, yours will come in the next day or two.

I hope it does...there's so much cool stuff in it. Maybe it's better it hasn't come...we're broke (just paid for our Disney vacation and down payment on a new car...on the SAME DAY!)

Hi, This is my first time posting on this thread. We started our 6th year homeschooling yesterday! We're headed back to WDW next month (Sept. 17-27) at POR. I was wondering whether any other homeschooling families will be there. We do have some precious friends who are traveling with us and staying at POP. If you'll be there, we'd love to know so we may look for you.

Stephanie

Hey Stephanie...we'll be there Sept 15-26, staying at the Beach Club! Maybe we'll see each other there, or can meet somewhere!
Missy

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Oak Meadow? Anyone using it? Is it something that can be self-directed for an 8th and 6th grader? We are finishing up with Time 4 Learning and my girls didn't really care for it. I don't want to go the K12 route again and lean more toward unschooling anyway. I'm working 50 hours/week and need to focus my attention on math with them, not so much the social studies/language arts/science. They write a research paper every week as it is (part of the unschooling aspect), so they are already laying strong foundations in those areas. I just don't want all of my time off to be spent catching up on lessons, that's no fun for anybody.

Oak Meadow is a GREAT curriculum! My boys are doing 8th grade and 9th this year. My youngest doesn't care for their curriculum much b/c she says it's too babyish (k-3 is like this) but if your kids are in the older grades and are used to writing (it is writing intensive, imo) they will enjoy it and it is very self-directed. We unschooled when they were little and then gradually moved into curriculum and found that Oak Meadow was the best for our *free thinkers*

 

[Lora]

Hi, This is my first time posting on this thread. We started our 6th year homeschooling yesterday! We're headed back to WDW next month (Sept. 17-27) at POR. I was wondering whether any other homeschooling families will be there. We do have some precious friends who are traveling with us and staying at POP. If you'll be there, we'd love to know so we may look for you.

Stephanie

We'll be there for most of your stay. I have 2 girls (almost 14 and almost 12). I'm hoping my sister (also a homeschooler) will be with us for part of the time. After that, I'd be up for trying to meet up. We'll be at the BWV. Feel free to PM me.

 

[anabelle]

Hi, This is my first time posting on this thread. We started our 6th year homeschooling yesterday! We're headed back to WDW next month (Sept. 17-27) at POR. I was wondering whether any other homeschooling families will be there. We do have some precious friends who are traveling with us and staying at POP. If you'll be there, we'd love to know so we may look for you.

Stephanie

We will be there that week. My two boys are 14 and 15 and my daughter is 12.. We will be at POR

 

[graygables]

Hi, This is my first time posting on this thread. We started our 6th year homeschooling yesterday! We're headed back to WDW next month (Sept. 17-27) at POR. I was wondering whether any other homeschooling families will be there. We do have some precious friends who are traveling with us and staying at POP. If you'll be there, we'd love to know so we may look for you.

Stephanie

I'm a Guest Service Manager at Disney's All Stars resorts in the gift shops...I'll be around if anyone wants put together a mini-meet! My girls will be going to the American YES program on the 22nd.

 

[graygables]

Oak Meadow is a GREAT curriculum! My boys are doing 8th grade and 9th this year. My youngest doesn't care for their curriculum much b/c she says it's too babyish (k-3 is like this) but if your kids are in the older grades and are used to writing (it is writing intensive, imo) they will enjoy it and it is very self-directed. We unschooled when they were little and then gradually moved into curriculum and found that Oak Meadow was the best for our *free thinkers*

THANK YOU for your review! I'm liking that it seems to be interconnected among the subjects. Mine are arguing over whether they want online or off, so I'm thinking I may order one semester online for each and see how it goes (I understand we can always print for the one who wants offline?). We are sticking with Math U See for their math, since one is behind and one is advanced, they are on the same level, so there wouldn't be any $$ savings by purchasing the whole shebang.

When I read about the founder being a Waldorfian, though, I had giggles thinking of Auntie Mame when she sent Patrick to school...

 

[Mommy2three]

Hi, This is my first time posting on this thread. We started our 6th year homeschooling yesterday! We're headed back to WDW next month (Sept. 17-27) at POR. I was wondering whether any other homeschooling families will be there. We do have some precious friends who are traveling with us and staying at POP. If you'll be there, we'd love to know so we may look for you.

Stephanie

Hi Stephanie! We will be going Sept 22 - 29 and staying at POP.

 

[DawnM]

We are driving down on the 3rd of September and will be there until the 11th.

Dawn

 

[disneycountrygirl]

Hey!! We are a homeschooling family too, so I just wanted to pop in and say hi.

I have a 7 yr old DS and a 5 yr old DD.

One of my fav things about HSing is that we can go to Disney while school is in session love that!

It's neat there are so many homeschooling families here!

 

[DisneyMom5]

I'm a Guest Service Manager at Disney's All Stars resorts in the gift shops...I'll be around if anyone wants put together a mini-meet! My girls will be going to the American YES program on the 22nd.

We're going to be at Sports for the first time Aug. 30-Sept. 8. Are you working then? We'll stop by and say "hi" if so. PM me if you want us to!