Homeschool Chat

[wvdislover]

Teaching Textbooks math...any thoughts? Math is a four letter word that starts with an "M" at my house, I am sorry to say. I feel like I've tried so many different curricula with the same result. Confused, frustrated, math-hating children. Most recently, we used Math U See, which I thought would be very good, but wound up not being so swell for my 2.

My time has been VERY limited, which has a lot to do with it. That's why I'm looking into a curriculum that does the teaching bit for me and leaves me just as a back-up or advisor.

Thoughts? Is the workbook necessary? Can the same program be used on 2 computers?

I LOVE TT! DD12 has learned SO much in math that she wasn't able to pick up when she was in PS. Math still isn't her favorite subject, but she is learning and has fun with it sometimes. It is very self-directed and your DD's would be able to do the lessons on their own, with very little help (really no help, unless they have questions). Again, you really don't NEED the workbook until you get to Pre-Algebra, if you don't want to purchase it. They can just work out the problems on an extra sheet of paper. Each lesson has the same number of problems, so you know from day-to-day exactly how many math problems need to be done. Go to their website, and you can look at sample lessons from each level book, as well as take "placement tests," so you know where to start your kids. I actually didn't give my DD the tests...I looked through the test and figured out which things I knew she could/couldn't do, and then placed her from there. TT also does a lot of repetition, so the kids don't forget things they've learned in past lessons. Good luck!

 

[dillydilly]

I am considering using Switched On Schoolhouse for my dd who is doing 6th-7th grade. So far, I have made my own curriculum but I am finding it to be way to time consuming these days as I am now homeschooling my son as well. She has a very good computer with Vista on it, does this program work well with vista? Also, do you need internet to use this program? We do have internet but lately its been on the fritz and though she loves Aleks, cant do it with no internet. Does anyone know how it compares to Aleks? Also, how time consuming is it to set up and maintain? Does it show her exactly what she needs to do for the week so that she can become more responsible for her assignments? I know I have tons of questions but I want to make sure it is what I want before I make the purchase.
Thanks
Lora

We used SOS for our 2 older daughters last year. I liked how it made a daily list of assignments for them based on my calendar for the school year. It tracked everything for me, and I liked how independent they were, asking any questions as they went along. They did use the internet for external links at my discretion. There were fun games. I would check their work weekly(Friday afternoons for me) and send them back any assignments that they needed to do over again.

That being said, there are some things I did not care for when we used SOS.

My girls did not like being on the computer for all of their school work. They really yearned for some pen and paper mixed in with the computer stuff. I would not mind doing a few subjects on the computer, but not all of it. I liked that they have improved keyboarding skills, but feel they are lacking in handwriting now.

I had to install patches when I loaded the software on the computer. Over and over again I did them and they would not work. This was very frustrating, I spent hours on the phone with SOS (they are just wonderful!). I do not know if this was just my computer or if this is an experience others have.

I had one older computer and one new one. Neither were Vista. Both would freeze up on occasion. This was frustrating for my kids. If they were in the middle of a test or something, they would get an F, and I would have to re send it to them, and they would have to start all over again.

If the kids were doing a work assignment and they did not fill in the blank with the exact verbage SOS wanted, they got the answer wrong. One in particular I remember was trying to interpret a limerick. I spent hours on that thing, called several friends and family who agreed with dh and I in regards to the answer. We just ended up skipping or blocking that question. Frustrating. Same thing with math. The math was very very very very frustrating for my already math challenged kids. I was very apprehensive this year to use Teaching Textbooks because of SOS. TT is a totally different and positive thing for our family! I wish you the best!

 

[dillydilly]

I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Life of Fred Math. My dd would like to read the Algebra book over the summer during one of our breaks. I am wondering if the workbooks are worth the extra cost. Thanks!

 

[SCHBR'smom]

OK, Disney homeschoolers, where can I find things to do school wise at Disney? Journal pages, etc? I seem to recall a link to the disign boards where I could find things for the World Showcase in Epcot. Help me know what else to do, please, please, please. This will be our first trip while homeschooling.

 

[graygables]

OK, Disney homeschoolers, where can I find things to do school wise at Disney? Journal pages, etc? I seem to recall a link to the disign boards where I could find things for the World Showcase in Epcot. Help me know what else to do, please, please, please. This will be our first trip while homeschooling.

We find learning is innate when visiting the parks, especially at AK and Epcot. Do not miss Rafiki's Planet Watch at AK, LOTS of fun, interactive, and educational exhibits there. The area on feeding the animals is particularly interesting, especially if they are working from their "cookbook".

Epcot, of course, what's NOT to learn??? Innoventions is full of fun things that teach. We also come up with a simple word or phrase like "thank you" and ask a CM from each country to teach it to us in their native tongue. You can also come up with a question such as, "What is the climate like where you live?". We do try not to monopolize their time and tend to do this while they are coloring their (free!) masks at the Kidcot stations around the WS.

I would NOT, however, never in a million years, do any kind of formal homeschooling while at WDW. IMO, it should be a fun, magical place to visit without the specter of worksheets or journaling hanging over heads.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

We find learning is innate when visiting the parks, especially at AK and Epcot. Do not miss Rafiki's Planet Watch at AK, LOTS of fun, interactive, and educational exhibits there. The area on feeding the animals is particularly interesting, especially if they are working from their "cookbook".

Epcot, of course, what's NOT to learn??? Innoventions is full of fun things that teach. We also come up with a simple word or phrase like "thank you" and ask a CM from each country to teach it to us in their native tongue. You can also come up with a question such as, "What is the climate like where you live?". We do try not to monopolize their time and tend to do this while they are coloring their (free!) masks at the Kidcot stations around the WS.

I would NOT, however, never in a million years, do any kind of formal homeschooling while at WDW. IMO, it should be a fun, magical place to visit without the specter of worksheets or journaling hanging over heads.

No formal schooling, don't worry. I don't think I would want to either. But I thought someone had a list of all the animals at AK. It would be fun to see how many we could find. For Epcot, I remember seeing someone had found on the disign board things for World Showcase and you could write down how to say, hello, good-bye, please and thank you, maybe draw the flag. I thought those would be great to do before hand and take with us to remember how to say them. For journaling, I wanted to have them write (or draw a picture) about what they wanted to see at Disney World, then at home again write what was their favorite part of the trip. I just thought someone might know of cute things to use.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Also I printed out some passport pages from http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r132/donatalie/Passports/Passport 3/

I don't see the ones we are using but I like this set even better. I think they are going to have to rewrite the ones we have done. I have the children write how to say hello, goodbye, thanks, yes and no in each language. Then on another I have them write a couple interesting facts they learned.

I wanted to post you samples from the passport pages that Natalie (a fellow diser) has for free (along with MANY other AMAZING things) I posted the link in the above post.

I am having my children write hello, goodbye, thanks, yes, and no in each language and then one fact on the page with lines. They can get this stamped when we go to Epcot. Then the are filling in the blanks (people called, language spoken, capital) and coloring the flag on the other page. I am printing them two to a page.

No formal schooling, don't worry. I don't think I would want to either. But I thought someone had a list of all the animals at AK. It would be fun to see how many we could find. For Epcot, I remember seeing someone had found on the disign board things for World Showcase and you could write down how to say, hello, good-bye, please and thank you, maybe draw the flag. I thought those would be great to do before hand and take with us to remember how to say them. For journaling, I wanted to have them write (or draw a picture) about what they wanted to see at Disney World, then at home again write what was their favorite part of the trip. I just thought someone might know of cute things to use.

My only suggestion is make sure you have ink before you visit her site...she has awesome journal pages as well. You might get print happy!

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r132/donatalie/2010 Journal/

The journal pages are great!

 

[SCHBR'smom]

gerberdaisy, you are the best! I'm sure I will get print happy, but if there is too much, that's ok. I'll be ready for the next trip!

By the way, I hope you have a wonderful trip. Just a few more days!!!

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Thank you. I very excited!!

I was just talking to DD and what we decided would work to save on ink... I am going to download journal pages onto laptop. We will using Adobe elements to add textboxes for them to type their answers. We will save and then create journal CDs. (We might even save a tree doing it that way)

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Thank you. I very excited!!

I was just talking to DD and what we decided would work to save on ink... I am going to download journal pages onto laptop. We will using Adobe elements to add textboxes for them to type their answers. We will save and then create journal CDs. (We might even save a tree doing it that way)

Excellent idea! My inlaws (who are going with us) just got us a netbook for Christmas so we could take it with us. I don't know how much they will be able to do, but I could keep notes and they could do it when we get back or on the 18 hour drive back.

 

[amy in ks]

Disney homeschool day experts????

The days are Jan 24th-Jan 26th. The website says tickets are good for 7 days prior to arrival and 7 days after departure?????? This makes NO SENSE!

So can you go anytime from January 17th-January 30th? or are you limited to using the tickets within seven days? And what should you put as your arrival date when purchasing (the homeschool days or your actual day -- which would seem like it would limit it to a seven day ticket)?

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Disney homeschool day experts????

The days are Jan 24th-Jan 26th. The website says tickets are good for 7 days prior to arrival and 7 days after departure?????? This makes NO SENSE!

So can you go anytime from January 17th-January 30th? or are you limited to using the tickets within seven days? And what should you put as your arrival date when purchasing (the homeschool days or your actual day -- which would seem like it would limit it to a seven day ticket)?

Put in your actual arrival date. Our tickets say "Valid 1/12/10-2/5/10" We have ten day park hoppers. We are going 1/19-1/29. If you need more information on getting tickets for longer than 5 days you can pm me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hello from another unschooler (a radical unschooler to boot .... Someone on the show mentioned the spleen. Ds has read a lot about human anatomy so he knew the term but dd did not. She came and asked me what a spleen is. I opened a new window and let her google it. The definition led us to look up diaphram and before we knew it we had a life size (traced around dd on butcher paper) model of the body complete with construction paper organs. In the past I would have just answered her question- "The spleen is an organ," and gone back to what I was doing. Now I asked her if she wanted to google it- if she'd said no I would have given her the short answer and that would have been the end of it. But she said yes and she kept asking more questions. I could have told her to wait but I knew from experience that her interest might wane if we waited so I let her lead the conversation to it's natural end which happened to be the large intestine at around 10:45.

Love that story!



I haven't been on the thread in ages either, but I keep thinking about a moment we (finally) had over the holidays. Figured I'd share it here, b/c it's such a typical comment for homeschoolers to get.

We live in a building with residents that are, for the most part, LONG-retired. Many of them have so many years in this world that they were schooled at home simply because there were not schools in their area. And if they went to school, their parents were not sent to school. So that's been pretty nice!

Every other Wednesday, they have a social hour in the main room. It's right off the elevator, so DS can always tell they are up there, b/c the elevator smells like wine! They know how to party!

So we usually go up there and he'll chat away and eat cheese with them, and have a grand old time.

They had a holiday party at someone's condo, and he and DH went (I'm a hermit and I stayed home), and he charmed a condo-ful of people. He even brought a painting he had made, as it was in the home of the daughter of our neighbor...the neighbor is a Western artist, and he figured they would appreciate seeing his art. Then a few days later they had the Wednesday social, and he was chatting away with all of these senior citizens, talking about whatever...and someone asked about his schooling. I told her that we were homeschooling...and she, and I know you know what she said, asked "well what about his socialization???"



I was kind and polite and let her know about the homeschooling PE we're starting, the gymnastics, and the swimming at the Y, etc etc, but come on! He's a 5 year old standing around in a group of varied-age people, having cheese and being teased about having wine passed to him, talking to a whole roomful of people....socialization is not a concern for me at this point!



We're still doing the costco workbooks from American Educators Publishing, and whatever unschooly type things that come up. He has put pressure on me for 1.5 years to "do school", if you can believe it! I would still be floating around in a freeform learning environment, but he wants official learning. I'm still trying to figure out how to motivate to do the things he WANTS to do, without demotivating him! He's next to me right now, working on writing the letter i, and he just confuses me with what helps and what doesn't. We have time, no worries, but he sure does baffle me sometimes!

 

[theduck619]

I have been off of the boards for awhile but found your post. I am curious to how your picture cards with the key ring work. My wife and I have struggled with the ping pong effect as well.

 

[Poohbug]

If any of you homeschool experts can help, I would greatly appreciate it. My DS(10) goes to public school-grade 4. I am not happy at all with his math class. Math is challenging for him as it is and he just cannot get pretty much everything they are doing this year. The "Math Book" consists of worksheet pages-no instruction pages at all.

I would like to help him at home since tutors are very expensive. Does anyone know of any good websites or math books that I can use at home? He just does not understand the math concepts they are studying. I think a little bit of help will make a big difference.

 

[NHWX]

I
I would like to help him at home since tutors are very expensive. Does anyone know of any good websites or math books that I can use at home? He just does not understand the math concepts they are studying. I think a little bit of help will make a big difference.

Poohbug - It's been a long time since my two were in fourth grade. Could you tell me what concepts he's having trouble with? I might be able to give some more help once I know. The first things that came to mind were sources for math practice. You might try looking at homeschoolbuyersco-op.org for a initial look at some math sources.

NHWX

 

[LegoMom3]

Poohbug - a site I can recommend from experience is Math Mammoth. You can take a look at it here: Math Mammoth

You would probably want to start by looking at the Blue Series. It lists subjects by topic (rather than grade) and the problems within the text all have detailed instruction on what is being taught.

If at some point you want practice to reinforce a concept that has been learned, you could look at the Golden or Green series (arranged by topic or grade). These are just problems to work out, no instruction.

We have used MM for reinforcement and full curriculum and it has worked well for us. They aren't terribly expensive (everything is in download format) and I really like how the lessons are presented and explained.

Good luck!

.

 

[littlepeppers]

I need ELA for dummies. Anyone know a good 3rd gd. curr. for ELA?

I am clueless when it comes to ELA. I may want to go the route of putting my own curr. together for next year, but I will need a strong ELA curr. that is layed out step by step for me. I would need the lesson plans already done for me. I know I can handle the other subjects, but that ELA...........

 

[disneymom3]

Well, you are ahead of me....I don't even know what ELA is.