*** Homeschool List ***

[tigertam]

mslil65, it sounds as though you are doing an awesome job with your son. There is no solid data that says a kid reading at 5 will do any better than a kid reading at 6 or 7. Most kids even out before they go ino the abstact thinking stage. Enjoy your little guy and keep spending time with him encouraging the natural curiosity that every kiddo has.

Michelle

Ruth Beechick talks about a test that was done on children from K- 3rd grade. Half the kids were taught to read starting in K and the regular school thing. The other half learned through doing things they enjoyed. At the end of 3rd grade they found that there were def. readers in the group that were taught to read from K on, but there were more readers out of the group that learned through interest and things children enjoy doing at those ages. They also had the benefit of having fun and learning things they wanted to!

Another story I have heard is this: I believe it was the Japenese who said
"Why do you make your young to be so studios and your high schoolers sluff off?" "We are just the opposite, we let our young explore and require much studious study of our older students." I believe the point was let your children be children and explore and learn and when they get older make them be more "studious". Instead we burn them out before they get to the age of accountability for their studies and being a productive citizen.

Foster natural learning of interests. You remember school. Do you remember stuff you didn't want to learn? You remember some that was drilled year in year out. How much do you learn of something you are interested in?

 

[OceanAnnie]

mslil65, you are welcome for the links. I hope you find them helpful.

I have a book I really like too. "Preschool Games and Activities", a Fearon Teacher-Aid book. It has 88 activities and games.

Most of the activities use items easily found around the house. There are some things that can be purchased inexpensively. Like the Lima Bean Project that shows how roots grow.

There are walking games, table games. It's an old book I found from 1974 (!) (when kindergarten wasn't first grade). Anyway, when I've used it, it doesn't feel like, "Ok, time to teach."

I hope I can find more resources like this one. I like it because it encourages exploration and curiosity.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We saw March of the Penguins today--a whole summer of free movies practicing movie decorum down the drain. They behaved so well for those and today just would not be quiet. I thought I would lose my mind. Luckily--they were talkative about the movie...but hard to answer their questions when they don't let Morgan Freeman tell me the answer.

But I now know the reproductive cycle of the Penguin--Wahoo!!! And my daughter is fascinated about the predator/prey relationship--though she hasn't mastered the labels. Told her to tell daddy about the movie--and my 5yo wants to talk about the various penguins and penguin babies that died. What is up with that???

One of our homeschool groups secured a field trip for homeschool day at EPCOT. Anybody hear of this. We were going to go as it is only $37 and includes a tour. However, I'm not sure with a 5yo and 2yo that would be wise to go on. The girls LOVE Disney. And they'd probably be cool with the field trip. I just know that several older children are going from our group and maybe I should just skip it.

I've decided that I am a homeschool money pit in July and August--between curriculum, ordering play tickets--and pricey field trips.....I'm about to explode.

The penguins was a nice, cool, refreshing, albeit chatty break from all of that .

 

[disneymom3]

I've decided that I am a homeschool money pit in July and August--between curriculum, ordering play tickets--and pricey field trips.....I'm about to explode.

Well, heck, girl, you are doing better than I am! I am a homeschool money pit year round!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well, heck, girl, you are doing better than I am! I am a homeschool money pit year round!!

I guess I am too--but I thought when we homeschool--we don't have this back to school nonsense. But alas...that is a homeschool mom's tale!! There is no such immunity.

 

[nuzmom]

Ok homeschooling friends, I need HELP!!!!

I was just offered to go back to work parttime, but I'm not sure I want to. The same thing happened last year at this time and I ended up working until Christmas and it really put major stress on me. I'm really interested in hearing what you think.

Some background. I am a Mechanical Engineer. I worked in a VERY high stress world of consulting engineering with our clients being in the semiconductor field (IBM, Intel, etc). They lose hundreds of thousands of dollars every DAY that a project isn't completed. They make their money by being the first to market the absolute newest technology. Therefore, the work I did always needed to be done yesterday and it was all new technology and very challenging. That's what I'd be going back to.

I left that in March of 2002 and began homeschooling in November that same year. I absolutely LOVE homeschooling!!!!

I belong to a co-op where I taught Physics to the 10th and 11th graders last year and am being asked to teach Chemistry to the 9th graders this year. We met once per week, starting in Sept.

Our family lives in a rural area (DH, DS9, DS4, and I) next to my DM76!!! She owns 100 arces and I help take care of her place (mowing, doing her mulching, weeding, etc.)

When I quit work, my husband increased his work schedule and does not turn down any overtime. He's a heavy equipment mechanic for a large road construction company. He usually works about 75 hours a week including atleast one day per weekend. That causes most of our "outside" work (garden, mowing, pool care, etc) to fall on me. (I don't mind at all)

"Everything" is at least a 1/2 hour drive from our home, one way. I take my kids to the library once a week. I play softball and my son plays baseball. Even just to run in and get groceries takes 1 hour in drive time plus shopping time. I try to only "run" once or twice per week.

When my old job called last year at this time, we were planning a Sept WDW vacation and the money was VERY short. I agreed to work some and it ended up being 2 afternoons a week, plus time at home to get the work done, from August to December. I know that doesn't seem like much, but library was Monday afternoons, Work Tuesday afternoons, co-op on Wed, Thursday afternoon was groceries and errands, and Friday afternoon was work. I ended up doing my job's work or work around the house while DS (8 at the time) did his school work. I really feel like I "shorted" him during this time. I was "grouchy" and always rushing. Oh, I also do some ebay stuff in my "spare" time.

Well, of course money is still tight. We owe about $2000 on a credit card, but other than that we get by. We have trips planned for WDW in Sept and Dec (my mom is DVC and pretty much pays for the trips) and "extra" money would be nice.

It's hard for me to say "no" to my old job. One thing, I don't want to burn any bridges and also I really like the 2 guys I work most closely with. I have a hard time saying "no" to a "friend" when they NEED me and that's what's going on. Also, can I really turn my back to the extra money???? It sickens me that MONEY has that much power!!!

Please, I realize that many of you would LOVE to have a "little" extra job. This really isn't like that - it's all consuming. Yeah, go into the office twice a week (whether school is done or not), but my job is "get the work done no matter what" - that means take it home and get it done. They don't care how, as long as it gets done.

Ok, enough venting - please give me some opinions. I have to call my boss back either today or tomorrow. Thanks!!!!

 

[JMSMommy]

I have a question about my 6.5 year old (going into 1st grade according to "laws" but doing anything from K-3rd grade work).

Anyway, he is reading books (devouring them is a more appropriate term), and I am trying to figure out what level he is for records. He reads all kinds of books, and when Dh and I ask what is going on in the story he can tell us. If we use the Book Adventure quizes, he can typically get 9-10 of the 10 questions correct. However, I know he didn't learn phonics very well (he took off with reading before I realized he was reading).

My question is how do I figure out which kind of books to get him to read (or tell grandparents to get him)? I don't mind him reading too easy of books, but it's frustrating when a Magic Treehouse book lasts less than an hour. We have to empty his bed everyday of all the picture books.

We've also bought non-fiction books on his interests thinking I'll read those to him and he reads them before I get a chance to do our "unit" on them. Usborne books he is reading alone. I end up using them for the unit and making him re-read them along with me.

So, we bought him Charlie and the Chocolate Facotory for me to read aloud to him before Dh takes him to the movie (compare and contrast movie and book). Well, yesterday he read 10 chapters. He can tell us exactly what happened, but I feel like it really is harder than he needs. I doubt he's pronouncing the most difficult words like "Wonkalicious" (going to do the 5 finger test with him on it soon).

and is it any wonder he dislikes doing the language arts portion of our curriculum that is teaching phonics and beginning reading?

 

[westjones]

Ok, enough venting - please give me some opinions. I have to call my boss back either today or tomorrow. Thanks!!!!

I think you need to talk with your DH. Homeschooling IS a full time job, and it is very hard to take on another job. If money is tight, try to find other ways to save. If there is no other way and you really do need the money, then you need to take the job.

Another consideration, if you want to keep up your skills so you can return to your career once you are done homeschooling, then it may be good to step into these jobs from time to time to keep yourself up to date.

I no longer homeschool, but I am on 'stand by' if public school doesn't work out. Since I have free time now, I am hoping to take computer classes this year to get my skills back up (being out of the workplace for 7 years can be hard when it is time to return).

So I think you have to make a list of the good points and the bad points of taking the job, and then go through them with you DH and make the decision together.

Maybe when you see all the points (good and bad) laid out on paper, your decision will seem a lot clearer.

Good Luck!
DJ

 

[laceemouse]

Well DANG, is this thing still not long enough to get our own forum???

 

[meandtheguys2]

Well DANG, is this thing still not long enough to get our own forum???

I know! It would be nice to have seperate conversations as opposed to mushing them all in together.

 

[disneymom3]

My question is how do I figure out which kind of books to get him to read (or tell grandparents to get him)? I don't mind him reading too easy of books, but it's frustrating when a Magic Treehouse book lasts less than an hour. We have to empty his bed everyday of all the picture books.?

Okay, first off, ditch the language arts program that is "teaching" him stuff he already knows. For me, one of the points of hsing is that my kids don't have to study things they already know. For instance, we use Spelling Power for spelling and in that program you never study words you get right on the prestest. What would be the point. Your son may not have learned phonics in a formal manner but he obviously got it because he is reading. Many kids especially those who are immersed in language and reading rich homes, do actually learn by the much misaligned "whole language" method which is what it sounds like your son did. He doesn't know HOW he knows how to read, he just does it.

From what you have said, it sounds like your son is reading at about a fourth grade level. Check out this website for a couple of reading charts http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/060899.htm If those don't work well for you, just do a search for online reading assesment and there are several out there. In order to firmly establish that love of reading, you do want to let him read books that are below his technical reading ability. Have you checked out the A to Z Mysteries? They are about on the same level as Magic Treehouse, but a bit higher and in my opinion, much much better when it comes to actual quality of writing. Personally it drives me insane that Mary Pope Osborne doesn't use complete sentences more than half the time!! Great way to teach children how to write well! (Anyway, I could really go on about that!!)

For language arts, you may want to focus on having your son narrate some stories to you, describe in sentences some works of art, write a story, write a letter, etc. Things that he will be doing in real life. Also check into the book Primary Language Lessons. It is really cool--originally pubished in 1914 so it has some really classic poems etc for the kids to learn.

Good luck.

 

[disneymom3]

JMSMommy--you are in a hard spot--one I have been in for the last year or so too. I got my real estate license when DH went through a period of unemployment and continued to sell last year once he was back at work full time. Last year the job he had was really flexible, but I still felt that I was not doing all I could be to work with my kids. Now, he just got a new job a few months ago that is NOT flexible at all and I have been trying to balance this career with school and fun for my kids. It's not working! Real estate is the same way it sounds like your job is--you are on when people want you on adn there is very little control of your hours--when or how many. (Case in point, last Thursday, I had a closing that should have taken an hour max, take 7.5 hours!! Thankfully the kids were with Grandma and Grandpa cause my regular sitter never could have covered that!)

Anyway, I am struggling too. The money is a huge issue, but I have decided to inactivate my license in Oct (My dues are up again then) and if I feel the money is short, I will work at Target or something to fill in a bit on the weekends. I would look at your budget and decide what your absolute must have expenses are and what you can do without. I also came across a website on this board awhile back that had genuine work at home opportunities. Several of them were phone work type things and many paid $9 an hour or more. Maybe that would work. You could do a search on work at home on here and the thread should come up. Homeschooling does take a lot of time and commitment and I know we have determined that for the time being, other things have to take a back seat.

 

[TNKBELL]

I'll try contacting the moderators again, they never responded, I just don't understand that. Has anyone contacted them before? Did they respond, maybe if enough of us contact them they might respond, one lonely little single email requesting a board may not be enough of a request.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Did you try a Webmaster, or just the mods...nothing personal mods!

I have contacted Alex, before and he answered promptly. BethR is always sweet when I have asked her abou stuff too.

 

[jennz]

JMSMommy - DD reads a few grades ahead of "where she should" and we've searched for books that are okay topic-wise and have print big enough so she won't strain her eyes. She's just over 7 now.

I don't know if you've tried these, but she enjoyed the Bailey School Kids series, aound the same level as Magic Treehouse, maybe a little easier. She also read Secrets of Droon, the first one, and kind of likes it. A step above Magic Treehouse - Puppy Patrol and the Animal Ark series. She also likes the Nancy Drew Notebooks, which are easier than the actual Nancy Drew books. I've heard the Boxcar Children is a great series too. And I can't leave out the Junie B. Jones books! Junie pretty much annoys me but DD can't get enough - maybe your son would like her too.

We haven't read this one but it's been highly recommended, we got it to read to her...Guardians of Ga'hool.

Another book she's really into right now is NASA for Dummies and some non-fiction space books.

Good luck!

 

[JMSMommy]

I'll look for some of those books. I tried Junie B Jones, but he doesn't like them. He's liking the Magic Schoolbus Chapter books (and I'm sooo happy I no longer have to read any Magic Schoolbus books to him). I've found a few Clue chapter books, and he's enjoyed those. I am running into problems finding books he doesn't get bored with without finding topics I don't want him reading about yet. The ones we "count" for school I make sure are the harder ones (so I'm not constantly writing out 10 picture books in our records).

I've had to pull his nose out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to get him to do his Math, spelling, adn other "boring" subjects today. LOL He's tyipcally one to LOVE math. But I guess it doesn't compete with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

It's just amazing to me that he loves reading so much but can't stand writing. He was talking about making his own picture book today (ONLY pictures) and I had to tell him that almost all books had to have some words. I'm hoping he will write a word or two to describe his pictures in his book now.

 

[mslil65]

Nuzmom..it sounds that you really don't want to return to work...but at the same time there are definite benefits. Is there a way for you to work one full day instead of two part-time days? That way, you might be able to get more work done (more undivided time to work on a project) and you'd have less travel time. With all the travel time and your busy schedule, it seems that it would work out better for you if you could have one "free" day to unwind and use for whatever needs to be done. You would still earn extra money and would be able to homeschool, and perhaps you wouldn't feel as rushed or stressed. I'd go with your gut feelings...you know what's best for your family.

 

[TNKBELL]

Hi Debi:

My apologies for not getting back to you. I've forwarded this off to the
admins on the boards for us to discuss. We are making some changes to the
boards in the coming months, and we might be able to do something with this.
I'll let you know what we decide.

Thanks,
Pete
The above was an email from Pete Werner, so hopefully we'll be hearing something soon!!

 

[zaid]

i am interested, too.

 

[mist_e_rose2002]

If I had to homeschool my DS, he'd be a dead DS and I'd be in Jail. I have all the respect in the world for you homeschooling moms...you should be knighted.