*** Homeschool List ***

[stamper]

Hi all! I posted yesterday to this same thread on the CB and someone was nice enough to point me in this direction!

DS8 and I will begin our first yr. of HS in just a few weeks. We will begin when DD15 heads back to her Christian High School. We will be using Sonlight with advanced readers and Horizons Math. I have already tested his spelling (Spelling Power) because I knew he was waaaaay ahead of his class last yr. He test at almost a 6th gr. level....no wonder he's been so frustrated!

I'll read more of the posts when I have more time and look forward to getting to know you. We have a dog show this weekend, so lots to do today.

Any other Mainers here?

 

[sweet maxine]

Do I need a certain curriculum to teach by, or is it possible to use the "eclectic method" I read about last night? I stayed up reading until late last night, and I had all kinds of ideas for things that we can do or work on. I'm getting excited to try this, but I really hope I don't fall on my face!

I've planned a trip for us in Oct. to WDW, so I know there's many teaching opportunities there. Is there a list of certain things I might want to check out during our trip that are of educational value? I thought I read in an earlier post somewhere about a "homeschool day" at Epcot.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Do I need a certain curriculum to teach by, or is it possible to use the "eclectic method" I read about last night? I stayed up reading until late last night, and I had all kinds of ideas for things that we can do or work on. I'm getting excited to try this, but I really hope I don't fall on my face!

I've planned a trip for us in Oct. to WDW, so I know there's many teaching opportunities there. Is there a list of certain things I might want to check out during our trip that are of educational value? I thought I read in an earlier post somewhere about a "homeschool day" at Epcot.

Sometimes it takes a bit to figure out your style of teaching. Some of my friends love having step-by-step curriculum. I like using a bit of different things! That is one of the best things about HSing...using what you see working best.

FWIW, i think someone (other than me!) needs to write a WDW unit study. I'd buy it!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Homeschooling mom to four!

 

[sweet maxine]

Thank you for your help, meantheguys2. I will be able to go the a bookstore tomorrow to find some of the references for homeschooling that have been mentioned. My local library had a grand total of three books about homeschooling!

 

[westjones]

Do I need a certain curriculum to teach by, or is it possible to use the "eclectic method" I read about last night? I stayed up reading until late last night, and I had all kinds of ideas for things that we can do or work on. I'm getting excited to try this, but I really hope I don't fall on my face!

I've planned a trip for us in Oct. to WDW, so I know there's many teaching opportunities there. Is there a list of certain things I might want to check out during our trip that are of educational value? I thought I read in an earlier post somewhere about a "homeschool day" at Epcot.

You can decide what you want to do. For K-1, I used Five in a Row:

http://www.fiveinarow.com/

And I added to it with whatever interested us or whatever opportunites we encountered (like a trip).

There are SO many options, and it can be overwhelming. Sonlight is one of the more popular programs (be aware it involves a LOT of reading):

http://www.sonlight.com/

For the School at Home approach, A Beka is one of the popular programs.

And for unschooling, well you just go with the flow and find whatever you want (although some unschoolers I have know do buy a Math program).

Only you can find the program that works for your family. The ones I mentioned above have been used by many homeschoolers with success, but there are so many out there that you may find something you like even better. There is new stuff coming out all the time.

Good Luck!
DJ

 

[meandtheguys2]

Thank you for your help, meantheguys2. I will be able to go the a bookstore tomorrow to find some of the references for homeschooling that have been mentioned. My local library had a grand total of three books about homeschooling!

Before you buy too many, check and see if your library will ILL (Inerlibrary Loan) you some! I am a compulsive book buyer, and I have to say most have no been too impressive.

If you like the idea of Unit Studies, though I would suggest Diana Waring's books or tapes. She is a hoot! They are Christian based, however, if that is a problem for you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Do I need a certain curriculum to teach by, or is it possible to use the "eclectic method" I read about last night? I stayed up reading until late last night, and I had all kinds of ideas for things that we can do or work on. I'm getting excited to try this, but I really hope I don't fall on my face!

I've planned a trip for us in Oct. to WDW, so I know there's many teaching opportunities there. Is there a list of certain things I might want to check out during our trip that are of educational value? I thought I read in an earlier post somewhere about a "homeschool day" at Epcot.

I use Laura Berquist's book "designing your own classical curriculum". It is catholic focused as 1st and 2nd grade religion will focus on readying for first communion.

She offers suggestions for all 12 years of school. Mother of Diving Grace School has the syllabi using her program. I use that as a skeleton----drawing actually lesson plans for some of the classes (Religion, Poetry, Drawing). I sub in my own phonics (Scaredy Cat Phonics) and Math (Math U See).

You are not obligated to educate using any set curriculum. You can develop your own----or model after someone else's.

I'm the type of person that doesn't like to get all my stuff in just one place. So the classical approach works for me. It is a non-catholic approach. Laura Berquist has just taken that approach and added in the catholic "stuff".

 

[sweet maxine]

I looked into the Five in a Row program, and it sounds very interesting and fun! I remember quite a few of those books from my childhood. So in order to get started with it, do I understand that I just need to order the volume #1 book, then look for the corresponding books at the library? I could read on the message boards there for hours, but I've got to get busy today!

Sorry, I don't want to hijack this thread, since I know it was originally intended as a list of homeschoolers. I'm just trying to find out as much info as I can. I wish we could have a homeschool-only board.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think the term "hijack" should be thrown out the window--we're here to support one another--the bigger our thread.....then "one dayyyy, our boooarrd will come"



Hey--who wants to post when they are starting--and what their day will be like--as well as grade!

I'll go first

July 18th--4-day week
Kindergarten--we just finished our 3rd week (though 2nd week was a fluff week b/c of gymnastics camp--but leave it to my child we are still on target!).

Our day....still refining a routine--just posted our morning, after school, and evening routines (they respond to lists ):

Morning routine (get up, dressed, clean up a bit)

School
Poetry
Religion (Bible Stories, and Illustrate/retell in artist sketch book)
Phonics (Scaredy Cat Phonics)

Breaktime/Snack

Spanish (The Learnables)
Math (Math-U-See)
Drawing (called that--but really at this point it is Art Appreciation--we look at pretty art cards).

After school routine--put everything away--clean up classroom and have lunch

Actualy "working time"--60-90 minutes depending on the day and how long she wishes to work on a topic.

 

[estherhead]

We got our K-12 books for kindergarten yesterday and HAD to do the first day immediately. It took about an hour to do Phonics, Math, and Language Arts. We won't officially start until the end of August, but it can't hurt to get a little ahead, eh? So we did another day today. Very enjoyable curriculum. I'm already in love with it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

that's why we started estherhead--the boxes came and it was like Christmas for the girls! yikes!

 

[JMSMommy]

Well, our school year officially started June 1st (goes through May 31) and I have to record 180 days of learning.

We've done 21 days so far (laid back summer). Officially starting the 5 day a week schedule on August 8 (ACK! that's next week!!!!) when schools officially start here.

Schedule? Ugh...gotta get a schedule going. Summer has been one of those "when we feel like it" schedules. My kids sleep until 8:30, I'm up by 9 (I'm awake by 8:30...just not "UP" as in the coherent thought processes not going but can respond to emergencies). From 9-10 we eat breakfast, clean up messes (those first 30 minutes wreck the house), and this is where I am planning on putting in a workout routine for us.
10-11 we'll do "workbooks" and written stuff (gives me more time to get kitchen ready for science or to check emails).
11-12 Lunch, Bible, science experiments
12-1 "rest" and reading time. Read alouds and Read Alones.
1-2 Finish up anything DS6 refused to do the first time, clean up school mess
2-5 Play/TV/Computer/Outside/Errands - gotta love having a child who prefers Discovery Channel and NASA channels to Disney toons.

EVenings are family time - dinner, sports games, family fun time.

Then, every 2nd Wednesday we'll have 9:30-10:30 science classes at a museum, every 3rd Wednesday we'll be volunteering at our church (shelving books/movies at our library), one Friday a month we'll do service projects at the church (sharpen pencils in the sanctuary, scrub steps, weed flowerbeds, etc.), one Friday a month we'll do a field trip with another family or do one by ourselves around town, once a month we'll do a BIG field trip with our "team" (like drive 2 hours to go to the Aquarium, or 2 hours to go to the planetarium, etc.), once a month we'll have science club with our cover school, AND every Monday we'll have co-op class. We'll also do choir at church every Wednesday, and this one hits on his sensory issues big time. Plus, he's signed up for Soccer with AYSO this fall.

If I can work the fees into our budget, we'll pick up a Karate class (during the day!!!), drama lessons from the Childrens Theatre nearby, and art lessons from the Art Museum in town. (Those are all designed for homeschoolers so during the day.) After we're DTC in April 2006, we'll sign the kids up for Mandarin Chinese lessons (along with us). Well, unless I get antsy and sign them up earlier.

 

[westjones]

I looked into the Five in a Row program, and it sounds very interesting and fun! I remember quite a few of those books from my childhood. So in order to get started with it, do I understand that I just need to order the volume #1 book, then look for the corresponding books at the library? I could read on the message boards there for hours, but I've got to get busy today!

Yes, that is about it. You can add extra work as you think is needed (like you may want to add some extra math and penmanship work). But for Five In A Row, you use the lessons in the book as you read the book. If your library doesn't have some of them you may want to see if they can get it for you from another library.

Enjoy! We have wonderful memories from our Five In A Row times together!
DJ

 

[disneymom3]

Hi all! I posted yesterday to this same thread on the CB and someone was nice enough to point me in this direction!

DS8 and I will begin our first yr. of HS in just a few weeks. We will begin when DD15 heads back to her Christian High School. We will be using Sonlight with advanced readers and Horizons Math. I have already tested his spelling (Spelling Power) because I knew he was waaaaay ahead of his class last yr. He test at almost a 6th gr. level....no wonder he's been so frustrated!

I'll read more of the posts when I have more time and look forward to getting to know you. We have a dog show this weekend, so lots to do today.

Any other Mainers here?

Welcome to the thread stamper! We use Spelling Power too and I just love it, as does DD9. We just started using it last year and she is thrilled that she only has to study the words she doesn't know. I also got the Activity Cards for more choices and I feel they are a good choice. I love that I will never have to buy another spelling program in my educational life and that all three of my kids can use it at the same time at different levels.

Our day and what we use are as follows.

first off, Weds we do co-op and this year are on the second year of Story of the World and are doing Chemistry by Real Science for Kids which was written by a homeschooling mom who is also a chemist. If you haven't heard of it, and want excellent early to mid elementary science check out their website http://www.arn.org/realscience/realscience.html . We are also doing a unit on media/communications this year, but honestly, I teach the preschool class and we are doing calendar, songs and story time during the session that the olders are doing communications.

Our other four days we try to balance all three kids. The boys (5 and 3) don't spend a whole lot of time at the table but we do as much of the hands on stuff as we can. This year we are using My Father's World Rome to the Reformation year. Included in that are biology and astronomy at different times of the year as well as of course history and also some Bible study. The boys will also be doing some of the MFW Kindergarten activities.

We use Singapore Math. DD is in 3B and DS5 is in the second year of K/preK
DD also does Intermediate Language lessons and Dandelion Logic
All together we are studying art and art appreciation with a combo of books about artists (there is this really cool series of real life stories of children who meet artists) and the Mommy It's a Renoir series.

Generally, I start DD with Spelling. Once her testing is done and she is working on review, I do phonics with the 5 yo and some kind of table play or worksheets with the 3 yo. Basically, the 3yo can do whatever he wants at this point, but I give him matching activities, circle all the shapes you see or whatever types of pictures because he wants them. By the time the 5 yo does not want to be working anymore and needs a break, it is time to review the lesson for math with DD. After math, we generally move to the living room to read aloud the books for history for the day and then work on whatever the hands on project is for the day. Then we have snack and play for awhile. We try to do science before lunch but it often happens in the afternoon. Two to three days a week, DD does an assignment from Logic or the Language arts book. We spend a ton of time reading books and I really focus our library selections to correspond with what we are learning and the interests the kids are really strong in at the time. (Like last year, DS was obsessed with Pompeii and volcanoes adn DD really was interested in rocks.)

Once a week we write a letter to grandma. DD writes her own and is expected to write neatly and use correct spelling and grammar. DSs dictate a letter to me and draw or paint a picture.

We do art activities at least twice a week and several afternoons will spend time reading our art books and discussing the art work postcards from our curriculum.

Overall, I just focus on having a learning environment in our home, not so much on the formal stuff other than spelling and math.

So, hopefully I answered the question.

 

[nuzmom]

SweetMaxine:

Here are two links you may want to check out. I HIGHLY recommend having Rainbow Resource send you their catalog. It's AWESOME - there's so much stuff in there. Don't put it down too early either, there are some really good prices on paper, clay, puppets, etc. towards the back. Until you get their catalog, here's their webpage....

http://www.rainbowresource.com/index.php

Another good resource is Christian Book Distributers. They carry some secular stuff also but it's considered "christian friendly". Here's their link...

http://www.christianbook.com/html/specialty/1016.html

Also, I had mentioned checking out your local library. I agree with seeing if they do loans from other library. Also, we have two libraries within 30 minutes from our house, but we don't visit them very often. But, we found a GREAT library about 40 minutes away and we are there weekly. They have internet access to their card catalog and accounts which makes it really nice. I can do searches at home at night for books, print out what I want to look for, and then check them out when we go. That saves me a lot of time. I also can renew items on-line, another big plus. Well, I'm just mentioning this in case you haven't thought to check out libraries that aren't "local". Hopefully, you have more than one option.

Oh, almost forgot. A lot of library have preschool reading "hours" during the school year during the day.

Can you tell that I love our library?

 

[nuzmom]

We officially started our school year on August 2nd. This year I am working with my DS4 and DS9. We start our day around 8:30 AM with the Pledge of Allegiance so that DS4 will learn it. Then we have devotions or hands on bible study depending on the day, then close with prayer.

While DS4 gets his "stuff", I review the Easy Grammar lesson with DS9. This and phonics has always been easy for him, so it just takes a minute or two. Oh, I use a spreadsheet/guide to list DS9s assignments per day for the week, so he know exactly what he needs to be doing. He's allowed to work ahead and when he has the weeks work done, he's done for the week. He REALLY likes this.

I then get DS4 going on his MCP plaid Kindergarten Phonics sheets. I let him do a few if he wants to. Then he can 3 hole punch it and put it in his folder - he loves this part Then he can get his colored paper, glue, and scissors and "make something".
While DS4 is busy cutting, I have plenty of time to do Spelling Power with DS9. Yes, we LOVE this program, too!!! I also let DS4 try to figure out what letter each word starts with if he's not into "cutting".

Then I have DS4 do some math worksheets while DS9 does the review and/or gets his next subject. If we do some "hands on" math, DS9 starts reading his math. When we're done, DS4 can paint, playdoh, color, play on gym set, play with toys, etc.

DS9 and I NEED our QUIET math time together and DS4 knows this from last year. It's the only MUST BE QUIET time he has. DS9 does Saxon Math 54.
After math, we do History together (as long as DS4 wants to, he can play instead or during). We're doing the Story of the World and an American History with our co-op.
After history, then it's Creative Writing or Science for DS9. We're using Writing Strands for Writing and are just starting into it. Science is Apologia Botany (did Astromony last year - loved it) and is also done at co-op.
Oh, I should mention, our co-op is on Wednesday and the work done there is supplemented at home just 2 additional days a week.

That takes us up to lunch time which I enlist their "help" with.
The goal this year is to use alternating afternoons to do either animal unit studies (for DS4) or science "experiments" (DS9's desire). If it's "animal day", DS9 can either read to DS4 and I and do the "projects" or go to his room and read - his choice. DS9 also reads "his own books" later in the afternoon and/or evenings.
I supplement art, music, health, with extra activities and unit studies in the afternoons and evenings.

Anyway, all totalled DS9 is done with structured learning around 1:00 PM. DS4 has about 1 1/2 hours of "instruction" time between worksheets and reading (although, I think puzzles, legos, playdoh, etc are also "educational" for a 4 year old).

Btw - we have had school on the front porch all week. It's been AWESOME. The weather is beautiful, it's not hot yet, and we all really enjoy it. There's something about swinging on the front porch swing and teaching your children in beautiful weather and fresh air.

Well, it's time for dinner!!! I don't have time to re-read this or preview it, hope it's ok.

 

[sweet maxine]

Thanks so much for all of your help!

I think this can be fun and hopefully I'll do a good job with it. I just need to make a plan for our curriculum, and go from there. At first, since school is starting here next week, I'll just use a kind of "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants" kind of approach. Then, as I get the things together I'll need to work with, we'll hopefully have a more organized system of working each day. I know there will be days when he will want to explore something that's not necessarily on the agenda for that day, and I would like to be able to do just that. He has a very active imagination and curiosity about everything, and I want to be able to encourage that. I feel that may be something that might be destroyed by attending public school for him right now.

I'll keep reading up on this thread so that I can keep up with what's going on with everybody. I've got to also go to the superintendent's office next week for the paperwork I need to fill out. Wish me luck!

 

[DreadpiratK]

Thanks so much for all of your help!

I think this can be fun and hopefully I'll do a good job with it. I just need to make a plan for our curriculum, and go from there. At first, since school is starting here next week, I'll just use a kind of "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants" kind of approach. Then, as I get the things together I'll need to work with, we'll hopefully have a more organized system of working each day. I know there will be days when he will want to explore something that's not necessarily on the agenda for that day, and I would like to be able to do just that. He has a very active imagination and curiosity about everything, and I want to be able to encourage that. I feel that may be something that might be destroyed by attending public school for him right now.

I'll keep reading up on this thread so that I can keep up with what's going on with everybody. I've got to also go to the superintendent's office next week for the paperwork I need to fill out. Wish me luck!

Fair warning, we started with the 'seat of the pants' method 12 years ago, and never really got away from it! But it works for us. Good luck!

 

[meandtheguys2]

DPK, nice job with the socialization question. I have a really hard time not becoming snarky when it comes up, anymore.