Homeschool Chat

[polkadotsuitcase]

Anybody homeschooling middle schoolers?

Here, as in my local groups, it seems like there is a very large pre-3rd(ish) h/s population, but then the kids go to a traditional school when they're older.

My guys are 10 and 12, and we're fortunate to have a good group of local families, but it's a very small group!

 

[danjoealexis3006]

Anybody homeschooling middle schoolers?

Here, as in my local groups, it seems like there is a very large pre-3rd(ish) h/s population, but then the kids go to a traditional school when they're older.

My guys are 10 and 12, and we're fortunate to have a good group of local families, but it's a very small group!

We are! I have a 9 and almost 12 year old. We have found that our homeschool group has mostly young ones too. It makes it hard for my almost 12 year old. He's a great sport though, he trys to help out with the young ones. I felt kinda of bad for him until last night at his baseball game and some of the other mothers were talking about how they're ps guy were getting calls from girls and how much of an attitiude thier guys have (one mom says her guy is starting puberty but he's only just turned 11). Wow! I'm glad we don't have girls calling yet! You can see the difference between the ps boys and my guy. Moms were commenting how when they say "hi" that he says "hi" right back and talks with them. It's a wonder what one year of homeschooling has done!

 

[DawnM]

Did you all get this?

I am really excited about this one. My oldest will be thrilled to do it.

http://www.wdwinv.com/files/Youth/2010/wdw/Homeschool/may/index.html

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

I am going to call the YES number and ask these questions:

1. Can we get APs and still do the homeschool days
2. Can we buy the YES days and apply it to our APs
3. Can we use our GAD passes towards our homeschool days

I need to figure out our best/least expensive option here. DS will want to do the Art days but we also would like to get APs.

Dawn

 

[graygables]

I am going to call the YES number and ask these questions:

1. Can we get APs and still do the homeschool days
2. Can we buy the YES days and apply it to our APs
3. Can we use our GAD passes towards our homeschool days

I need to figure out our best/least expensive option here. DS will want to do the Art days but we also would like to get APs.

Dawn

It says on the ticketing page that it is a "hard ticket" event. That means that you cannot use APs or apply the YES days to an AP. I'm also fairly sure they won't allow the GAD passes to be used. It really does tie one's hands, doesn't it? It REALLY stinks for Cast Members...

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

We are! I have a 9 and almost 12 year old. We have found that our homeschool group has mostly young ones too. It makes it hard for my almost 12 year old. He's a great sport though, he trys to help out with the young ones. I felt kinda of bad for him until last night at his baseball game and some of the other mothers were talking about how they're ps guy were getting calls from girls and how much of an attitiude thier guys have (one mom says her guy is starting puberty but he's only just turned 11). Wow! I'm glad we don't have girls calling yet! You can see the difference between the ps boys and my guy. Moms were commenting how when they say "hi" that he says "hi" right back and talks with them. It's a wonder what one year of homeschooling has done!

Homeschooling elementary years was the fun stuff -- it definitely gets harder as they get older, not just with the teaching but with the socializing, too (although we still manage to have fun as well). The h/s population pool kinda shrinks!

Sounds like your kiddos are doing great, though!

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Anybody homeschooling middle schoolers?

Here, as in my local groups, it seems like there is a very large pre-3rd(ish) h/s population, but then the kids go to a traditional school when they're older.

My guys are 10 and 12, and we're fortunate to have a good group of local families, but it's a very small group!

My children are 8 and 11. Our ice skating homeschool classes has ages 4-16. It is a great group that we do many other activities, field trips, parties with. I did pray and ask for specifics of what I was looking for in a group. God answered. The parents and the children are all a perfect combination. We are all from a variety of backgrounds. Different races, different ways of home-schooling, different economic status, different religious beliefs, different sizes, what can I say we are just different. But we all get along great! I feel very blessed to be a part of this group.

Sometimes you will find what you are looking for where you least expect it.

I am going to call the YES number and ask these questions:

1. Can we get APs and still do the homeschool days
2. Can we buy the YES days and apply it to our APs
3. Can we use our GAD passes towards our homeschool days

I need to figure out our best/least expensive option here. DS will want to do the Art days but we also would like to get APs.

Dawn

They are very helpful with any questions when you call. From past Homeschool Days the information has been- APs can pay a fee of around $26 for classes. YES tickets can not be changed in anyway. They are different from regular tickets so can not be upgraded. But they are such an awesome deal. We got 10 day park hoppers with the homeschool class for $179 this past January. The GAD passes can be used to get fast passes. That is a pretty nice option. Or the special pins.

Or seeing you want to get APs use the GAD towards the APs and pay the $26 dollars a class for the art classes.

I really wish we could go again in September. I know my DD would love the art classes as well but it looks like we will have to wait until September 2011.

Have a great time!

 

[DreadpiratK]

It says on the ticketing page that it is a "hard ticket" event. That means that you cannot use APs or apply the YES days to an AP. I'm also fairly sure they won't allow the GAD passes to be used. It really does tie one's hands, doesn't it? It REALLY stinks for Cast Members...

What do you mean by they 'won't allow the GAD passes to be used?" Just curious. We are planning on getting the 5 day plus passes or maybe more since people here have mentioned that they are available, and we have GAD vouchers to use as well. I just figured we'd show up one day and use the GAD vouchers, and use the YES passes the rest of the time. Is this not possible? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I just don't see how they would know you have a YES ticket if you just use you voucher.

OK, re-reading it maybe you mean you cannot use the GAD vouchers to enter the park on the day of the actual HS days classes? That makes sense. See, I'm slow, but I do eventually get there.

 

[graygables]

What do you mean by they 'won't allow the GAD passes to be used?" Just curious. We are planning on getting the 5 day plus passes or maybe more since people here have mentioned that they are available, and we have GAD vouchers to use as well. I just figured we'd show up one day and use the GAD vouchers, and use the YES passes the rest of the time. Is this not possible? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I just don't see how they would know you have a YES ticket if you just use you voucher.

OK, re-reading it maybe you mean you cannot use the GAD vouchers to enter the park on the day of the actual HS days classes? That makes sense. See, I'm slow, but I do eventually get there.

I need to clarify, but here's how I understand it: the event itself is hard-ticketed, meaning you have to buy at least the one day admission. It is much like the parties are hard-ticketed, there are no discounts and you can't apply a complimentary admission (i.e. GAD) to the purchase. You also cannot apply the hard ticket for the event to a different media, such as an AP.

I just tried to walk through the purchase process and you cannot get to the YES programs without purchasing at least 1 of the event tickets. It also says that a parent must accompany children under 13, so that could add an additional YES admission to the bottom line. In the past, I've signed the kids in and have not accompanied them; part of the experience is to give them a break from me. I have emailed asking for clarification b/c if I do have to spend the extra $$$ for myself, in addition to the unneeded park ticket, I'm not sure we'll be participating this year.

 

[DawnM]

THanks.

I figured I couldn't use the GAD for the HS days, but I thought it was worth a shot.

Most likely we will get the lowest price FL APs this year to try to cut costs. I know we can use the GAD towards those purchases. We have some property in FL so we have a FL ID. DH will probably get the higher priced one to get parking and golfing included.

That will mean paying for the HS activity. Drat......ds is 12 and won't turn 13 until Feb. 2, so even if we do the Jan one he will be 2 weeks away from turning 13.

As for using our GAD for fast passes.....we once won a FP thing for the day, it was January, and we NEVER needed them for anything! There were never any waits for anything. I would hate to waste them for FP when it isn't needed.

Dawn

 

[jetprincess]

I have talked about homeschooling off and on throughout the years. I finally let it go after my 3rd grader told me she didn't want to. However, after a school year full of "girl drama" (she was on both sides of this) she told me she wants to homeschool next year. This was out of the blue!

Because of her reasoning, I'm on the fence now. I don't want her to run from her problems. Also, now that she has learned that she doesn't want to be involved in the drama, she needs to learn how to keep herself out of it. Am I doing her any favors by solving this problem for her? At the same time, I don't think I can take another year of that girl stuff...

I digress... I also want her to understand what it is going to mean to homeschool. Sure, I've told her that we will have a classroom, the work might even be more difficult and I might expect more than her other teachers have BUT I don't know if she hears me.

Are there any books recs on a 3rd/4th grade level that could help with this?

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I have talked about homeschooling off and on throughout the years. I finally let it go after my 3rd grader told me she didn't want to. However, after a school year full of "girl drama" (she was on both sides of this) she told me she wants to homeschool next year. This was out of the blue!

Because of her reasoning, I'm on the fence now. I don't want her to run from her problems. Also, now that she has learned that she doesn't want to be involved in the drama, she needs to learn how to keep herself out of it. Am I doing her any favors by solving this problem for her? At the same time, I don't think I can take another year of that girl stuff...

I digress... I also want her to understand what it is going to mean to homeschool. Sure, I've told her that we will have a classroom, the work might even be more difficult and I might expect more than her other teachers have BUT I don't know if she hears me.

Are there any books recs on a 3rd/4th grade level that could help with this?

Could you borrow some materials from someone/the library and "test drive" h/sing over the summer break? Even just for a week or two -- then you'd both get a taste of what you'll be doing. Granted, it won't really give you a full idea -- that initial period will always be different than when you find your groove -- but at least she'll/you'll have an idea of what your days would be like, what would be expected of her, etc.

Good luck!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

dawn, what if you used them for the pins and put them on ebay or something. I know I wanted a set. there must be others out there like me! then you could just add the cash to your disney trip. we won fp once for DHS, and used none in January, also!

 

[MyDisneyTrio]

Hi everyone .... I have a 3 yo DS (will be 4 in Sept.), and I am very seriously considering homeschool him. I wanted to perhaps start with some preschool type material in the fall. I am just beginning to research all of this, and would appreciate any information that I can get. I live in the Houston area, so I have access to a lot of homeschool groups, and also a very large Homeschool supply store. What curriculum have you all used for elementary? I have looked at K12, Calvert, and just requested information from Sonlight. I also have a 2 yo DS and a 10 month old DD. Can you all provide me some insight on how to homeschool multiple children that are different ages? Thanks so much!

 

[dis-happy]

Hi everyone .... I have a 3 yo DS (will be 4 in Sept.), and I am very seriously considering homeschool him. I wanted to perhaps start with some preschool type material in the fall. I am just beginning to research all of this, and would appreciate any information that I can get. I live in the Houston area, so I have access to a lot of homeschool groups, and also a very large Homeschool supply store. What curriculum have you all used for elementary? I have looked at K12, Calvert, and just requested information from Sonlight. I also have a 2 yo DS and a 10 month old DD. Can you all provide me some insight on how to homeschool multiple children that are different ages? Thanks so much!

I'd keep and light and easy your first year---you sound like a busy mom! Look into Five In A Row for pre-k. If she is so inclined, you could pick up some simple workbooks at Wal-Mart...ones that teach alphabet letters, sounds, and letter formation; perhaps another one for basic number awareness. Do an art project a couple of times a week (or as much as you can handle). But most of all, keep it fun and keep it simple to start.

Another recommendation: join a homeschool support group in your area and join in some of the activities.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

five in a row has a great message board. one of my friends is a mod.

 

[robinsegg]

Hi everyone .... I have a 3 yo DS (will be 4 in Sept.), and I am very seriously considering homeschool him. I wanted to perhaps start with some preschool type material in the fall. I am just beginning to research all of this, and would appreciate any information that I can get. I live in the Houston area, so I have access to a lot of homeschool groups, and also a very large Homeschool supply store. What curriculum have you all used for elementary? I have looked at K12, Calvert, and just requested information from Sonlight. I also have a 2 yo DS and a 10 month old DD. Can you all provide me some insight on how to homeschool multiple children that are different ages? Thanks so much!

We used Sonlight for preK, and now use My Father's World.
letteroftheweek.com has free online preK suggestions, stuff to choose from for one letter sound per week.
There's also a book you can get on preK Montessori ideas.

This last year, I had a 4th grader, 1st grader and an infant (turns 1 today ) We used curriculum for the oldest for science, history and such, letting the younger learn at his own level. We separated them for math and writing.

 

[disneymom3]

Did you all get this?

I am really excited about this one. My oldest will be thrilled to do it.

http://www.wdwinv.com/files/Youth/2010/wdw/Homeschool/may/index.html

Dawn

That sounds amazing! I so wish we could afford to do WDW this fall!

 

[DawnM]

Maybe. We will have to see.

The AP option may be better for us as we very well may go back within the year.

Dawn

dawn, what if you used them for the pins and put them on ebay or something. I know I wanted a set. there must be others out there like me! then you could just add the cash to your disney trip. we won fp once for DHS, and used none in January, also!

 

[Momof2princess']

We used Sonlight for preK, and now use My Father's World.
letteroftheweek.com has free online preK suggestions, stuff to choose from for one letter sound per week.
There's also a book you can get on preK Montessori ideas.

We love the letteroftheweek.com over at our house!
My DD is 3.5 and I am still undecided as to if we will homeschool her. She is in two co-op preschools(one I stay with her and teach a subject every other week and the other I drop her off and teach both days every 6 weeks) right now and is just starting to sound out words. She knows all of her letters/sounds and is getting the concept of addition and subtraction. I am worried that if I send her to public school that she will be bored and lose her creativity. She learns best by sounds so we sing a lot and role play a lot and I know thats harder to do in public school. The reason I am still questioning as to whether or not to homeschool is because she can't wait to go to school. We just did a preschool project for A entiled "All about me" where she traced her body and answered questions about herself. Her answer to when I grow up was, "I will go to school."
Any advice for me? I am not the smartest person around and am afraid that as she gets older I wont be able to teach her. Thanks for the input.