Homeschool Chat

[graygables]

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!

Yep! I'll be there, but don't know my schedule yet. I'll let you know when I get it and would love to meet you!

 

[Praise2Him]

We are also going to be at Sports - Oct. 1 - 5, although my DD graduated this year, so we aren't really homeschooling anymore (I just still like to read and keep up with everyone!)

DD is coming to Orlando for college and also wants to work at Disney, so maybe you can give her some advice

 

[Denine]

Today was our first day of school and I can't believe the start of our 4th year!

We will be in WDW Sept 24 thru Oct 5. We are going for DD's 7th birthday.

We went out to dinner tonight to celebrate school starting and of course we took our annual picture by the front door.

 

[Denine]

I used Calvert 4th & 5th with my two younger sons. I wish I would have stayed with it for them but we moved on to other things. I'm going to use it with my dd and I think it will be easier for me since she is the only one who will be homeschooling. Our pre-K box arrived on Monday and I can't wait to start next week.

Have fun!

 

[Denine]

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.

I know there weren't any tests for ss or science in 1st grade. Our state is happy if you are teaching the subject, but not testing on it yet. That being said, DD did do well on those portions on the CAT even though she wasn't tested on those portions druing school.

We just started today, 2nd grade.

 

[pixiemagic30]

Hi everyone! This is my first post here, but I have read many of the posts. I have 2 children, DS 12 and DD 10, almost 11. We just started our 8th year of homeschooling and love it, but I have a challenging DD. She struggles with her reading. She knows how to read, but lacks confident in her reading. Have any of you dealt with this? How did you handle it? We already have had tears today over reading...and that's not good on day one!

My son absolutely loves to read as do I. My DH likes to read, but not like our son and myself so I am in new territory with my girl! Again, any help you can offer would be great.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

One thought is to find out what she "likes" and "wants" to read -- for example, does she like comic books or maybe American Girl books or the Kingdom Keepers series (by Ridley Pearson and they're all about Disney World)? Have her read those books or others -- even if they are considered "below grade level" to help her build confidence.

Another thought -- A good friend of mine "persuaded" her son to read by getting him an iPod nano and downloading books on to it from Audible -- the "catch" was that she bought unabriged titles only AND he had to follow the recording along with the actual book. He "read" all the Narnia titles that way and slowly began to understand that you can "hear" the voices of characters in your head if you just dive into the book and imagine the scene and character. Now he truly enjoys reading and is known for reading late at night with a flashlight WAAAYYYY past his bedtime!

Another thought is have you had her tested to see if she's has dyslexia or another challenge?

Finally, and this may sound odd...but show her how much she reads during the day without even knowing it. A friend of mine did this with her son -- she posted the "spanish" version of stop signs, etc... in her house and set the TV up to only allow the foreign language stations for about 3 days. Her son then began to understand how much he really was reading and then decided that maybe books weren't as big of a challenge after all!

Good luck!

K

 

[kalc12345]

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 6th year of home schooling too We will be at Disney Sept 26-Oct 3. We can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chicagoshannon]

I'm curious to know how long everyone's school day lasts? (not including field trips or unplanned learning). We're just doing pre-school but we're "done" in like 45 minutes.

I'm hoping that sounds about right for a pre-schooler.

 

[pixiemagic30]

Hi Pixie!

Thanks for the ideas. Some of those, I'm already doing so it looks like I'm probably on the right track. I actually done some research on dyslexia and from what I've read, that's not it but I will keep in mind.

Thanks again!

 

[chefgirl96]

Hey ChicagoShannon!

I'm a Northern IL homeschooler. Just wanted to mention that I've once read that about 1 hour per grade level is a good estimate for amount of schooling time, particularly in the elementary grades. I have a 3rd grader and a preK. Our preK, so far, takes only about 30 minutes, but I do plan on having her join in for any activities that she's interested in that big sister is doing. I think the more you homeschool, the more you are on the look-out for how to build an educational environment, so that learning can happen all through-out the day.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm curious to know how long everyone's school day lasts? (not including field trips or unplanned learning). We're just doing pre-school but we're "done" in like 45 minutes.

I'm hoping that sounds about right for a pre-schooler.

Our curriculum has only 1 hour of school (maybe 1h15m tops) for K and 1.

2nd was mabye 1h 30 minutes...3rd about 2 hours...4th is pushing 3 hours.


45 minutes is PLENTY!!!!! (in fact--JHMO--it may be a bit much for "formal" schooling.)

Now I will say we are adjusting to our new year. 1st grader is finishing within her allotted hour. 4th grader is taking a bit longer. Finding that she is a bit of a procrastinator. (We are still shaking out some ADHD tendancies).

So our school day for her is running ALLLLL day. Though I'm not sure what the formal time is since we have activities that break it up.


With the stated times--my 4th grader has done quite well on standardized tests since she was in Kindergarten--so clearly our "short" "formal" school time is not a disadvantage to her.

My 1st grader was not tested last year as it wasn't offered by our group for K and 1 this past year. But she does very well though.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hi Pixie!

Thanks for the ideas. Some of those, I'm already doing so it looks like I'm probably on the right track. I actually done some research on dyslexia and from what I've read, that's not it but I will keep in mind.

Thanks again!

You might want to look at a book on Vision Therapy called:

Developing Ocular Motor and Visual Pereptual Skills by Kenneth A Lane, OD, FCOVD.

I had a homeschooling friend swear by this for some---reluctant readers and ADHD diagnosed people. In fact she worked with a college student who was having trouble and it turned out he had vision issues and after a year working on them with the exercises in this book--he finally was able to enjoy reading.

She does suggest seeing an opthomologist (sp?) to check for vision problems. And not just the color blindness and can you read a chart/nearsighted/farsighted business.


The skills covered are:
Ocular Motor
Gross Motor
Visual Motor Perception
Visual Memory
Laterality


Chapter Two is a complex chapter (I had difficulty reading it--and from the exercises I suspect I have some weaknesses as I had my vision checked a couple times in my life--but the opthomologist was only looking for standard stuff!) In any case--it is on the Complexity of Reading.

A quick blurb (it's in the first paragraph and was as much as I comprehended on the section ):

"Reading is the most complex and intriguing skill that has evolved in the human race. It involves serial and parallel stages of visual processing, sensorimotor coordination, and cognitive and linguistic processing."

Then it goes on to explain reading difficulties and that is where I...get lost.


The synopsis though is--Dyslexia is not the only reading disorder out there.

And sometimes--children who CAN read, but have difficulty processing the data--will just give up on reading all together.

I detested ALL of mandatory reading in school!

I hated pop quizzes. I would read the assigned work and if they would accept a sworn statement that I read my work, I would have done it in a heartbeat.

I sucked at those tests. I always felt the questions were tantamount to asking me to quote from memory what the 5th word in the 4th paragraph of page 73 was.

HATED THAT!

Thankfully--my daughter is a great reader! I've not really discouraged reading in anyway and we've always had books available. I Do think we need to work on the comprehension a little bit. (she actually tests well, but when we discuss a book or a passage--she can't remember what she read if you ask something that is so glaringly obvious. "What is the Cat in the Hat" about? would be her expression. She's getting better--but she reads so much that she is learning to pick up details.


Anyway--I thought I'd pass along those comments as you never know if it will be the "aha" moment for someone.

An example activity that both my daughter and I have EXTREME difficulty with is a tracking exercise. (it is physically exhuasting/straining for us!).


Fixation Activities
Purpose: Ocular Motor

Hold both thumbs apart in front of you--cover one eye (we tape it closed with skin friendly tape). With the other eye--look at one thumb, then switch and look at the other thumb--go back and forth.

Eventually you do this to a metronome.

 

[graygables]

You might want to look at a book on Vision Therapy called:

Developing Ocular Motor and Visual Pereptual Skills by Kenneth A Lane, OD, FCOVD.

Just FYI, my now 13yo went through vision therapy. Her eye doc explained that she wasn't tracking correctly which was why she was unable to read in the 3rd grade. After an 8 week course, she was able to read ON LEVEL. She still doesn't love it, but at least she CAN.

Some of her "homework" included Where's Waldo type books as well as maze books (some of which were drawn in perspective). She had to do those activities using her eyes only, no fingers/pencils.

 

[littlepeppers]

Hey ChicagoShannon!

I'm a Northern IL homeschooler. Just wanted to mention that I've once read that about 1 hour per grade level is a good estimate for amount of schooling time, particularly in the elementary grades. I have a 3rd grader and a preK. Our preK, so far, takes only about 30 minutes, but I do plan on having her join in for any activities that she's interested in that big sister is doing. I think the more you homeschool, the more you are on the look-out for how to build an educational environment, so that learning can happen all through-out the day.

OMG. My DS is taking about 4+ hrs for 2nd gd work. This is why Catholic school wasn't working for us.

He is a slow one. Real smart, but snail like. Lots of stretching, noises, singing, & complaining in there. I find myself getting bored while he drags on. 20min for one reading worksheet w/ 8 things on it isn't cutting it for me. I was a honor student & I just don't understand the time wasting thing. I multitask all day & I can't even get him to do a decent single task.

I'm trying to go do chores & have him find me when he is done, but he is losing focus & calling me 2+ times for help. TLis is after I read the directions, point out changes, & actually teach the lesson.

Glad I got that out. I'm ok now.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I'm curious to know how long everyone's school day lasts? (not including field trips or unplanned learning). We're just doing pre-school but we're "done" in like 45 minutes.

I'm hoping that sounds about right for a pre-schooler.

Sounds good to me!!! i am surprised she is lasting that long

OMG.

He is a slow one. Real smart, but snail like. Lots of stretching, noises, singing, & complaining in there.

Glad I got that out. I'm ok now.

Are you sure you don't have my kid? I got one just like that!! He can finish quickly when he reallllly wants to, but some days are torture for me!!! I like to do everything quick and be finished....not him...he reallllllly thinks it through. he even does the stretching and sniffing thing some days!!!! AAARRRRGGGHHHHH
Isn't it nice to vent!!! makes life so much smoother!

 

[Tink561]

I'm curious to know how long everyone's school day lasts? (not including field trips or unplanned learning). We're just doing pre-school but we're "done" in like 45 minutes.

I'm hoping that sounds about right for a pre-schooler.

What are you using for Pre-K? We're using Calvert and started today too. We were done in about 40 minutes. My dd seemed to enjoy it.

 

[bellebud]

I want to recommend a really wonderful math game to everyone... "wonder number" (just google it). it's made for little kids up to adults. it's a great learning tool. My kids love playing it.

 

[Denine]

DD is also a fidgeter and is difficult at times to keep on track. I have to constantly remind her to do her work. She is also in 2nd grade, but it takes a long time some days.

 

[worm761]

For those of you that use Switched on Schoolhouse....can you tell me why you love it so much? Can it be used without the religion aspect?