Homeschool Chat

[LittleBlue22]

The flow of tears started this afternoon. Oldest dd begging me, why mom? why? She wants to go back to school. She's doing just fine, but struggles with History /Geography the most. Help ya'll, keep me focused!

The other two are getting along just fine...for today that is.

I hope everyone else is having a smooth day.

T

 

[Temair]

Its only been 3 weeks since I last felt discouraged, but I'm back to feeling that I'm just not doing a good enough job at homeschooling. I thought that maybe getting my DD into a virtual school would help, but so no luck in finding any schools still taking students in AR. I'm seriously starting to consider a local charter school, that is if they have any openings. With my current luck that wont happen. I thought my luck had turned around when 2 weeks ago one of the virtual schools called me and thought they might be able to get my daughter into their program. They said they would try to get things arranged, and I've never heard back. I called last Thursday after waiting a week and left a message, and no call. Maybe they can't get my DD transferred out of district. Anyway I'm at my limit and ready to throw in the towel. I started home school to provide the best education possible for my DD, and I feel like I can no longer do that. I regret leaving the Virtual School just over a year ago. I'm at the end of my rope and ready to jump. So that's where I'm at.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

The flow of tears started this afternoon. Oldest dd begging me, why mom? why? She wants to go back to school. She's doing just fine, but struggles with History /Geography the most. Help ya'll, keep me focused!

The other two are getting along just fine...for today that is.

I hope everyone else is having a smooth day.

T

Hopefully you will have a better day tomorrow!!! You just gotta take it day by day!!.As far as struggling with those subjects..is her curriculum boring,or is she having trouble understanding? We have a different Hist and Geog this year it is not just plain and fact memorization. If you are interested let me know...if she just hates it, maybe mix it up a bit with some biographies or stories about people from that time period. I know my oldest has days where he just isn't in the groove...the younger two NEVER complain!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Its only been 3 weeks since I last felt discouraged, but I'm back to feeling that I'm just not doing a good enough job at homeschooling. I thought that maybe getting my DD into a virtual school would help, but so no luck in finding any schools still taking students in AR. I'm seriously starting to consider a local charter school, that is if they have any openings. With my current luck that wont happen. I thought my luck had turned around when 2 weeks ago one of the virtual schools called me and thought they might be able to get my daughter into their program. They said they would try to get things arranged, and I've never heard back. I called last Thursday after waiting a week and left a message, and no call. Maybe they can't get my DD transferred out of district. Anyway I'm at my limit and ready to throw in the towel. I started home school to provide the best education possible for my DD, and I feel like I can no longer do that. I regret leaving the Virtual School just over a year ago. I'm at the end of my rope and ready to jump. So that's where I'm at.

OH...I am sorry you feel so discouraged!! I don't know exactly what you are feeling so down about...I have been on and off this thread lately and haven't been able to keep up.....so sorry if I am totally missing it. I hate that you feel this way and want to encourage you to keep at it!!! From this post it just sounds like you think YOU arent schooling her enough-remember that at home it doesn't need to take all day to do what she would be doing in ps. I know I feel like that some days...certain subjects come easy for my kids and they are getting through it very quickly....so, we are just going through this stuff they have to do until they hit a point where it's a challenge and then we slow it down to make sure they are understanding.
I also like to keep lots of reading material handy!!! Turn her onto a good reading series and she will learn a lot just from that!! Something good...like Anne of Green Gables, or Little House series...stuff that will take them a bit to read through but will give them a perspective of a different time and lots of new vocabulary! I know personally I have learned so much just through good books. Ok...I may not even be close to what's troubling you, but just thought I would throw that out there for you!!!! Keep us posted and let me know if I can encourage you in some way!!!!!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I saw the thread too and almost responded...HOW do people say they know all about how hard homeschooling is and how bad it is when they DON'T HOMESCHOOL?!?!?!

No kidding. We've been h/sing long enough to have encountered plenty of people who are adamantly against h/sing...who don't know zip about it. On the flip side, I've encountered plenty of h/sers who are adamantly against public school...whose only reasoning is that they hated ps when they were a kid. I'm kinda of the "Meh. To each his/her own" mindset. My job isn't to convince the world that h/sing is a viable education alternative. My job is to educate my kiddos!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Its only been 3 weeks since I last felt discouraged, but I'm back to feeling that I'm just not doing a good enough job at homeschooling. I thought that maybe getting my DD into a virtual school would help, but so no luck in finding any schools still taking students in AR. I'm seriously starting to consider a local charter school, that is if they have any openings. With my current luck that wont happen. I thought my luck had turned around when 2 weeks ago one of the virtual schools called me and thought they might be able to get my daughter into their program. They said they would try to get things arranged, and I've never heard back. I called last Thursday after waiting a week and left a message, and no call. Maybe they can't get my DD transferred out of district. Anyway I'm at my limit and ready to throw in the towel. I started home school to provide the best education possible for my DD, and I feel like I can no longer do that. I regret leaving the Virtual School just over a year ago. I'm at the end of my rope and ready to jump. So that's where I'm at.

I'm really sorry you're having a rough time. I'd bet we all have times like that! (I know I've had 'em!)

I'm not familiar with your specific situation, but could you shake things up a little -- take a break from whatever curriculum you're using, do a little unschooling-type activities? Museums, historical sites, history channel flicks from Netflix, reading some great literature aloud, playing some cool math games like Equate or even Monopoly (depending on child's age)?

I have three books out I've written in Nomad Press's "Build it Yourself" series -- on the environment, the human body, and energy. They've all got fun (if I do say so myself, LOL) projects you could do together to learn and have a blast.

Depending on your state, you could look up the state educational goals for your child's grade and tailor some activities around those, if you need to feel some kind of structure.

Good luck and hang in there -- it's one heck of a journey!

 

[Rental01]

Hmm - new to forums, but I just found the home school thread. Must email link to wife...

 

[Rental01]

Its only been 3 weeks since I last felt discouraged, but I'm back to feeling that I'm just not doing a good enough job at homeschooling. I thought that maybe getting my DD into a virtual school would help, but so no luck in finding any schools still taking students in AR. I'm seriously starting to consider a local charter school, that is if they have any openings. With my current luck that wont happen. I thought my luck had turned around when 2 weeks ago one of the virtual schools called me and thought they might be able to get my daughter into their program. They said they would try to get things arranged, and I've never heard back. I called last Thursday after waiting a week and left a message, and no call. Maybe they can't get my DD transferred out of district. Anyway I'm at my limit and ready to throw in the towel. I started home school to provide the best education possible for my DD, and I feel like I can no longer do that. I regret leaving the Virtual School just over a year ago. I'm at the end of my rope and ready to jump. So that's where I'm at.

My wife and I have been h/sing for three years now. We've tried a number of programs and have finally settled on the same system that the Duggars use - Switched On Schoolhouse. My wife has sytemic lupus and due to a number of strokes she has lost some of her long term memory which makes it hard for her to concentrate for long periods of time. That would, in most scenarios, make it very hard for us as homeschoolers to make it work. The Switched On Schoolhouse program is totally computer based and has enabled us to continue h/sing when my wife is unable to do the help out during the day. My kids can leave notes on problems they have issues with, and it does 95% of the grading for you automatically (and you can override when it messes up). You can even set it to grade down for spelling mistakes as well. When I get home, I just check their work for the day, help them with the areas that they've had issues with and see what's coming up for them.

This has been a great tool for us and it has kept us h/sing. Another great point is that it's inexpensive for what you get ($350/yr/grade) and if you have more than one child, just keep the program and use it for the next child when they're of age. No need to buy a new workbooks. They are also available much cheaper at the beginning of the year (in March or April) - up to 30% off. We bought ours for this year at $280/grade through Christianbook.com

My daughter had trouble with her 7th grade year. She, for reasons unknown to us, opted not to do her work. We're strong believers in personal responsibility so we allowed her to bail on the year by her own hand. She took the Woodcock Johnson test and passed for the 7th grade with flying colors (well above her age and grade level) but she was just not being responsible with her work. In SoS I was able to build a custom calendar for her that allowed her to retake her year during the summer and now she's doing very well with it.

Honestly, if you're having trouble with teaching, this could be a great help for you.

Link: aophomeschooling.com/switched-on-schoolhouse/overview.php

 

[Rental01]

In other news:

I'm looking for a good (metal, not plastic), cheap microscope for HS experiments - can anyone offer good place to look?

Thanks!

 

[Tink561]

In other news:

I'm looking for a good (metal, not plastic), cheap microscope for HS experiments - can anyone offer good place to look?

Thanks!

One of the best microscopes available to homeschoolers is sold by Sonlight.com.

 

[Rental01]

Sweet! Thank you!

 

[NHWX]

I've also had good luck ordering from homesciencetools.com. If you want a microscope-lite, you might want to consider a digital microscope. My two would never willing dissect anything nor would want to support a business that would kill creatures for a business, so we never really needed an expensive microscope. We could have used one with a slightly better magnification but there's only so much money in this world.

NHWX

 

[LittleBlue22]

Today's going to be a great day b/c its Friday!

DD is doing much better. There's so much reading involved in her units and it doesn't help that she's behind in the subject.

Rental01, I think Switched on Schoolhouse is fantastic! I hope you have a fantastic school year with it and to the thread.

Temair, I hope things are going smoother for you these past couple days.

 

[wvdislover]

wvdislover, I know you weren't looking for advice, but I thought this might help. We use Chester comix for history. It's great. My son loves it. http://www.chestercomix.com/
I made tests for all of them. I could give you the website that I have them filed on if you decided to use them. They at least make history fun. Don't give up, you can do it!!
Shelly

Hey Shelly, thanks so much for the encouragement! We have been able to get at least a little bit of schooling in every day this week, I think. Not how I'd like things to be, but sometimes it just works out that way The Chester Comix looks really cool! DD12 loves graphic novels, and so this would be right up her alley! We're studying ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome in history this year, and they have books that cover both Thanks for the great idea!!! Don't worry, I'm not giving up homeschooling, just giving up the idea of conventional schedules Fortunately, WV is a pretty easy place to homeschool, and we don't have any strict rules on how much time is taught, as some places do. Well, off to do some more "unconventional" homeschooling! Have a great weekend!
Missy

 

[LegoMom3]

Ok, we all know that the ps's up north have to plan for "snow days," and some schools in the south build in a few "hurricane days" to their calendar.

Just when you think you're immune to that by hs'ing.....


TA-DA! Here in our house, we've discovered we are prone to "rain days" that interfere with our satellite Internet and therefore render our on-line curriculum inaccessible!!

My kids think it's great!


.

 

[DawnM]

Leaving for Disney on Friday! I can't wait. I need a break. Unfortunately, we have to leave the following Friday, so only 6 actually days in Orlando, but I am not complaining.

Our APs expire in January and I am trying to see if I can fit one more trip in during Dec. or Jan. even if DH can't get off of work.

We will not be renewing for at least one full year, so I want to enjoy these last few times.

Dawn

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Leaving for Disney on Friday! I can't wait. I need a break. Unfortunately, we have to leave the following Friday, so only 6 actually days in Orlando, but I am not complaining.

Our APs expire in January and I am trying to see if I can fit one more trip in during Dec. or Jan. even if DH can't get off of work.

We will not be renewing for at least one full year, so I want to enjoy these last few times.

Dawn

Hope you have a Wonderful trip!!!


I know many of you have been homeschooling for awhile and may know this, but I just found out and wanted to pass it along to other homeschoolers. Barnes and Noble will give homeschoolers and educators card which gives you a 20% discount. I was very excited to learn this and got mine today. With all the books we purchase, its nice to have a discount!

 

[chicagoshannon]

Leaving for Disney on Friday! I can't wait. I need a break. Unfortunately, we have to leave the following Friday, so only 6 actually days in Orlando, but I am not complaining.

Our APs expire in January and I am trying to see if I can fit one more trip in during Dec. or Jan. even if DH can't get off of work.

We will not be renewing for at least one full year, so I want to enjoy these last few times.

Dawn

We're leaving for Florida on Sat and will arrive on Sunday. Maybe we'll see you there. Are you doing the Halloween party at all?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Have a great trip! We leave next Sunday and arrive Monday (19th!!!)

We're going to MNSSHP on the 25th!

We'll wave if we see you (us homeschoolers can spot each other a mile away, right?!?!)

 

[LegoMom3]

Hope you have a Wonderful trip!!!


I know many of you have been homeschooling for awhile and may know this, but I just found out and wanted to pass it along to other homeschoolers. Barnes and Noble will give homeschoolers and educators card which gives you a 20% discount. I was very excited to learn this and got mine today. With all the books we purchase, its nice to have a discount!

Oooh! That's neat to know! We moved recently and now have a large B&N not too far away. What do you have to do to get one?

.