*** Homeschool List ***

[TNKBELL]

Hi everyone!! Back in the groove now, on to work on the mistakes from the first semester!! I just wondered what is a typical day like at your HOMEschool?

 

[disneymom3]

Uh, I stink at the typical day question....I have a desperate need to get more structure into our lives but I am beginning to believe I am lazy.......

What I want to know is what are your mistakes you are trying to fix?

 

[tmli]

I have decided that the original curriculum I was going to use from our Ministry of Education was not good enough so I am looking again.

I was wondering because he is half way through 4 should I be ordering grade 4 or 5? Also do I order them seperately so he could be a 4 in English and a 5 in math and other stuff.

Or....should I just order grade 5 and supplement what he needs from grade 4 with just work books and other resources that I can find.

I wasn't sure if my post got lost in all the others or if nobody had an answer for me, so i thought i would repost!!

 

[disneymom3]

Tracey--I am not fond of packaged curriculums for this reason. If I were to get an actual curriculum the only kind I like are ones that have a unit study emphasis and then you get whatever math and language arts fits your child's level.

Right now, DD is working on the series of math books called Key to....then they are on fractions, geometry, etc. We also use Singapore and books from McGraw Hill. The Key to books are not age level graded, but in Singapore, she is doing 4th grade and in McGraw Hill she is doing third. In her spelling program, she is on the 8th grade level list and is using a writing book that is aimed at a wide variety of ages. One of the things I like about homeschooling is that a child is not tied to any specific grade level and can work ahead or behind of what their typical grade level might be.

Are there some specific things you are considering? Maybe you could list the ones you are thinking about and see if others have feedback. I don't think there is a "best" out there as all families have different needs. Heck, I am constantly reevaluating my choices from year to year and kid to kid. For instance, I am thinking Math U See might be good for DS because it is very hands on. We were watching the demo video last night and DD turns and says, "Please don't make me do that." No, I won't be having her do that. There is tons of manipulative work and she just HATES using manipulatives. She is the least kinesthetic learner I have ever seen. So, my point is that even from child to child, what works best is going to differ. Sometimes you just have to get in there and see how it goes with one curriculum or another.

You can always sell it on ebay if it's not working for you!

 

[barlowbugg]

Okay...been over a month since I have been on, but we had to survive Hurricane Rita and house damage, then it was the holidays, and to be truthful, we haven't really had school since early November. Has any one else had such a long 'break' and recovered? Are my kids doomed to not finish this years curriculum? I need an honest answer here....no nicey nice...

Thanks guys, I know I can count on you!

Christian

Going to Disney February 26th!!!!

 

[barlowbugg]

oh yeah, and for the lady who was asking...I am one of hte moms who pulled all three of my kids out of public school and homeschooled. TWICE. I was a single mom the first time and ended up having to re-enroll the following year. I took them out in January both times.....and they have done just fine! We love homeschooling...and they truly are doing better than ever!

Christian

 

[MommytoMJM]

We're planning on homeschooling our special needs daughter. I am basing most of her curriculum around WDW (we are moving to right behind the MK on Jan 22) She'll be 5 on Feb 6th.

 

[TNKBELL]

Uh, I stink at the typical day question....I have a desperate need to get more structure into our lives but I am beginning to believe I am lazy.......

What I want to know is what are your mistakes you are trying to fix?

I think I am always questioning myself as to "Is it enough"? I have friends whose children are in school and they ask questions like, have they done this or that yet, why not and do you plan to do that? Let me run through a typical day and please give me advice on what to add and I appreciate criticism as well, if it makes me a better Hs mom!!
Prior to breakfast, they are allowed educational games, books, activities ect.
After breakfast, 1 hour of Math which is normally a front and back worksheet and some time spent with flashcards or Magic Math or sometimes a timed math fact sheet(not very often on these however) then we have chores a break and then lunch, 1 hour spent on spelling/writing( I alternate these everyday) another break and then reading time(Ds8 reads 20 pages a day from an Illustrated Classic Novel and Ds6 reads from a reader) they are allowed to play outside at this point somewhere betweeen 2-3 pm. Free time until dinner.After dinner I read to all the kids currently "The Horse and His Boy" one of the chronicles of Narnia. At bedtime Dh reads History to them and has discussion about it. We also have daily prayers and a few times a week we do science experiments and they are involved in on a monthly basis in Children's Eucharistic Adoration, Chess Club(weekly), Blue Knights( like Catholic Boy Scouts learning about Saints and Virtues), and Kid's Group. Dh and I also take them on frequent field trips(zoos, parks, science centers ect.) One thing I know I need to do more is visit the library, I just get so discouraged when things are late or temporarily lost, I give up. I also need to devote more time to our Catholic faith!! I have just recieved two wonderful resources about Saints and will add these to our daily routine too! Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!! Thank you!!

 

[TNKBELL]

We're planning on homeschooling our special needs daughter. I am basing most of her curriculum around WDW (we are moving to right behind the MK on Jan 22) She'll be 5 on Feb 6th.

I would love to hear what you come up with!! Sounds like an exciting challenge!! The best of blessings to you!!

 

[MommytoMJM]

I would love to hear what you come up with!! Sounds like an exciting challenge!! The best of blessings to you!!

Thanks! I will keep this thread updated! My daughter is very special needs, so we'll be way below grade level, but I will let you know what we do anyway. So far I am going to make her a PECS book for the parks (Picture Exchange Communication System) We are doing an ABC book with characters, a numbers book with characters, working on tracing letters and numbers, all of her books are a combo of words and ASL (we've been signing with her since she was 13 mos)

Here is the rundown on her....

MJ will be 5 on 2-6-06, we adopted her at birth. She has autism (hypersocial and low functioning), Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy (triplegic), a feeding tube (G-tube), asthma (controlled), FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder)

Her speech and language are about the level of a 1 year old, she is not potty trained, does not eat or drink anything by mouth, does not have the self help skills that she should, she is around the level onf a 2 yo in most areas.. you can read more about her if you are interested.. http://journals.aol.com/mommytomjm/MJsBlog

 

[MommytoMJM]

I think I am always questioning myself as to "Is it enough"? I have friends whose children are in school and they ask questions like, have they done this or that yet, why not and do you plan to do that? Let me run through a typical day and please give me advice on what to add and I appreciate criticism as well, if it makes me a better Hs mom!!
Prior to breakfast, they are allowed educational games, books, activities ect.
After breakfast, 1 hour of Math which is normally a front and back worksheet and some time spent with flashcards or Magic Math or sometimes a timed math fact sheet(not very often on these however) then we have chores a break and then lunch, 1 hour spent on spelling/writing( I alternate these everyday) another break and then reading time(Ds8 reads 20 pages a day from an Illustrated Classic Novel and Ds6 reads from a reader) they are allowed to play outside at this point somewhere betweeen 2-3 pm. Free time until dinner.After dinner I read to all the kids currently "The Horse and His Boy" one of the chronicles of Narnia. At bedtime Dh reads History to them and has discussion about it. We also have daily prayers and a few times a week we do science experiments and they are involved in on a monthly basis in Children's Eucharistic Adoration, Chess Club(weekly), Blue Knights( like Catholic Boy Scouts learning about Saints and Virtues), and Kid's Group. Dh and I also take them on frequent field trips(zoos, parks, science centers ect.) One thing I know I need to do more is visit the library, I just get so discouraged when things are late or temporarily lost, I give up. I also need to devote more time to our Catholic faith!! I have just recieved two wonderful resources about Saints and will add these to our daily routine too! Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!! Thank you!!

I think your plans are terrific! I am more along the unschooling lines, but it sounds like you have stuff under control!

 

[hsmamato2]

Hi MJM- sounds like you've got an awesome plan for your daughter,and you are able to plan your life around her needs and growing abilities-congratulations!
We don't really call ourselves any "type" of homeschoolers, we just strongly subscribe to the belief that "Children are not a set of defecits that need to be remedied,they are whole human beings.They know what they need,all we have to do is listen,REALLY listen to them,so that we can provide what they need,as they need it."
So it's not really any "type",it's just us! My Ds1 hates workbooks, learns WAY better in other ways,DS2 really loves worksheets, so I keep them available for him...Mama doesn't like workbooks, but since ds2 does,well,you know.....
It sounds like you're a great mama...
.....and TNKBELL, I always enjoy your posts,it sounds like you're a very busy person! How do you have time to be so frugal and be an example to us all? I loved your whole budget trip thread last year...
going on our trip soon, working on being frugal and having fun...

 

[barlowbugg]

MJ sounds like a beautiful little lady! My dh and I are taking steps to qualify for foster adoption...and we are prayerfully seeking for a little one with special needs as well. My older brother is autistic/mildly ********, high functioning, epilepsy, speech impediment, unable to learn to read (he is 34 yrs. old) and I love him soooooooooooooooo much. I have three children of my own I homeschool now, one 6th grader who is way above average, a second grader who is a little slower than average (on public school learning scale),a nd a 1st grader about dead on with your average kid, but with excelled vocabulary. We just think adopting another child, perhaps two, would be a wonderful addition to our family

All the while, I, too, wonder if I am doing enough for school.....I think every HS mom does...so I must be normal?

christian

 

[MommytoMJM]

hsmamato2 and Christian, thanks for the words of enouragement, I often get discouraged... I was always way above grade leve in school, so it is hard for me to adjust to MJ's needs, but I have some wonderful support TalkingHands (on the Dis) is a special needs teacher and she is helping me a ton!

Adopting a Special Needs Kid (SNK) is by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I was diagnosed with arthritis and Fibromyalgia when she was 8.5 mos old, so it is sometimes hard balancing our needs together, but we manage! I would love to adopt another, but I don't see how we can do that right now.

I haven't managed to find a homeschool group that is able to deal with SNK's, I may have to start my own. Fortunately we do have WDW and amazing CM's they are so great to MJ!

 

[allboyz]

delete

 

[disneymom3]

Barlowbug--For finishing your curriculum, I would say it depends on what you are using. A friend of mine is going through this right now. What she did is went ahead in the calendar and set the date she wanted to be finished by. Then she looked at how many weeks she therefore had to finish the curriculum she ahd and how many weeks were planned out in the curric. Then checked to see what she could combine and what she could skip to still be done when she wanted to be. We have taken a long break before for various reasons, and it is a bit tough to get going again, but I gradually ease back up and it works out fine. When starting again after a break, I will usually start out with History and Science because they are the more fun topics for us. Then the next week I will add math and spelling. The week after that, Logic and Writing come in. That helps it not feel so overwhelming.

Tnkbelle--I will do my best to describe my day for you. Sometimes--like yesterday, I totally fall down on the organization scale and we do nothing like this, but this is my goal. I try to be done with everything except science experiments, history and art before lunch and we don't do those every day. We start the morning with the boys--4 and 5.5--playing while DD and I do Spelling. I participate with her for about 10 minutes and then she does her reviews on her own. Before we start spelling, she is given her math assignment and is to go right into that when she is done with her spelling work.

While she does spelling and math, I do circle time with the boys. We do the calendar, talk about the weather, days of the week and count up to whatever special events might be coming. DS4 counts the days and DS5 does the first, second, third, fourth etc. We then read and talk about whatever our FIAR book is that week. Sometimes we do songs for phonics, sometimes we don't. Now, in the past (prior to Christmas) we would then go to the table and do workbook work with cutting out matching letter sounds etc. and some math. I am now trying to figure out how to work in math for DS5 what with hm objecting to anything and everything I try that he thinks might make him learn something. I am really trying to focus on more hands on stuff but I am finding that there is very little math in the FIAR book. By the time he is done with math (And DS 4 has some Rod and Staff workbooks and the first Go for the Code book that he loves and will just work and work or get out play dough or games or whatever--he really is the easiest homeschooled younger sib ever!)Then DD is done with her assignments. If she is done before I am ready to help her, she either does her piano practice or she works on homework from co-op. Then she and I do either Writing Strands or Intermediate Language lessons. On Fridays she does Logic which is a DandyLion workbook that she loves. At lunchtime I try to read history to them--either fiction or Story of the World or real life stuff that is written for kids. (We just finished a book called Gallen and the History of Medicine and are starting Archimedes and the History of Science which are by the same author and really cool.) Between lessons and lunch I usually have them go outside while I get lunch ready. We then are done for the day except a couple of days a week we do an extra history project and science. We are starting astronomy soon and I am really hoping to get DH to teach it on Saturdays. We also have co-op once a week where we do 2 hours of history and 1 hour of Communications.

I think that the thing my kids learn the most from is that we go to the library a ton. The kids are constantly in the nonfiction section--which has developed from much prompting from me--and like to get books about things they are interested in. We also try to get into projects that have to do with each of their own interests whenever I can find the motivation and time which is not nearly as often as I would like to. I often feel like I don't do nearly enough, but I am not sure what I am missing.

In looking at your schedule, the only thing I would say is that it seems like you spend a really long time on math and language arts. I bet though that your kids are learning more than you have formally structured. I know my kids get tons out of stuff like listening to stories of value--the whole Charlotte Mason concept. Maybe you should think about what one extra topic you would like to teach them and work on developing that. One of the things I have read a lot is that in the school system kids spend so much time learning a little of this and a little of that and how much do they really remember? Maybe you could choose one thing and get really immersed in it. I bet then you would feel better about the whole thing and your kids would really have fun with it.

 

[TNKBELL]

Julie...Great advice!! I think we kind of do this with science.. the kids love science sooo much that when we go to the library they only get books that relate to science and we do lots of experiments at home and I do keep lots of books stocked in our "library" at home, they love to watch science and nature programs and Ds 8 knows more about bugs than anyone I've ever met!! we also use Story of the World and writing strands, have you ever used Draw Write Now? This has been fun also. Dh also started to teach all of us to draw using the book " Drawing For Children" but it has been since before the holidays since our last lesson, but I have noticed vast improvements in thier drawing and a closer attention to detail. I totally agree that it's best to immerse yourself into something and really learn about that subject. Dh has been reading "The Sea Singer" it's a fictional story based on Leif Erikson's explorations, to the Dks with history. It really helps them understand how life was for them in that erra as well as viking facts. I think I need to focus on our religion now, I know I have lacked in that area especially this year!! Thanks for all the input!! I'm always learning and trying to do better, it's a challenge somedays!!

 

[MommyPoppins]

I started homeschooling DS5 this year and I was homeschooled my whole life so I've always dealt with peoples comments and questions. Well yesterday we had a home inspecter come(we sold our house) in the morning and later that evening he called and talked to DH(who isn't "IN" with what to tell people who ask things that aren't their business.) The first thing he asked DH was,"Are all of your kids under 6?" WHAT????????????? What does THAT have to do with a home inspection! I was sooooooooooooooooooooooo mad! Who does he think he is? It's none of his business how old my kids are or if they are in school or not.I wish I had taken the call instead of DH, I would have given him a piece of my mind!DH is too nice. Just another reason we should join Homeschool Legel Deffense.

Okay, that's it, thanks for letting me vent.

 

[TNKBELL]

I agree that people are sometimes so nosey, but sometimes people are just geniunly interested, a lady walked by our house the other day while the kids and I were outside and she asked why they weren't in school and I told her they were Hs and she asked a lot of questions and I found out she is a teacher and I think people are sometimes just fascinated by it. I know I was before I started Hs. But I know it's got to be upsetting when you feel attacked. I'm sorry about that,someday the rewards will be too many to count!!! BTW... CUTE kiddos!!

 

[bear74]

Okay I need to vent.
I was looking at the boards trying to decide which one to visit first and Instead of finding a homeschool thread I found a gay and lesbian thread. UGH.
When will we get ours. I have questions regarding curriculums and books to read about homeschooling. Maybe I will psot all my questions individually so that maybe we will get our own board.