*** Homeschool List ***

[pixiepower1971]

Just bumping this up with a link to a site my kids have used the last few years and LOVE!

It is called Book Adventure. After they read a book, they can find it on this site and take a short comp quiz. They earn points for correct answers. They can trade their points in for prizes. There is even a place for parents to add their own prize into the mix. I always add a night at the movies for the family with the movie being their choice. They always seem to go for that one. Mini golf has been a fun prize as well!

http://www.bookadventure.com/

 

[Lisa Hale]

Hello, all! We are a homeschooling family and love Disney! Been married for 22 years and have a 13 year old getting ready for 9th grade and a just turned 4 year old getting ready for kindergarten. I just today realized that there was a thread for homeschool families and am very pleased.

We use a combination of Abeka , Glencoe (Grammar & Lit) & Alpha Omega for our son (9th grade) and mostly Abeka for our daughter (Kindergarten). Just gearing down from school this year, we have about 5 school days left to meet the state requirements, but are going to continue a bit to thoroughly complete a couple of things. We do take Stanford tests, so that's coming up in 2 weeks, but otherwise it's going to be much more relaxed for a bit.

Next year we are starting early to enable us to break for our late August, early September vacation - love that flexibility!

Are there any other homeschoolers here from KY?

See ya in WDW!

 

[Ellester]

Boy, we must all be vegging this summer! I'm bumping to make it easier for some of the posters on other HS'ing threads to find this one. Mods - please, oh please, oh pretty please give us our own board!

We officially bumped the girls up to their next grade (now 4th and 1st) on June 1st. Totally arbitrary I guess, but I was tired of listening to dd5 asking when she was going to be in 1st grade! Hopefully she'll be reading by the time she's ready for 2nd!

 

[TNKBELL]

Hi!!! Our neighbors and I have started a Summer reading club for all the K-1st in the cudesac, so far it's going very well, DD5 is improving, I have the same hopes that she will be reading well by the end of summer!!!!

 

[sha_lyn]

We've been busy finishing up for the school yr
DD just finished the PASS test today.
We've used the CAT5 in the past.
I love the PASS
http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/test/tmain.asp

 

[WDWCPAlumni]

Can you get the material and look it over and start to use it without actually "homeschooling"
I would like to give it a trial run without taking my son out of school. Maybe over the summer or something.

 

[GreatLakes5]

We're trying a new yearly schedule this year so we're actually BACK in school right now...took 1/2 of May off after the Iowa Basics. Off again in August, then in December, then 1/2 of February. We always kept up with certain subjects in the summer but then I wondered aloud to myself (okay, I talk to myself... ) why I kept the traditional school schedule in our homeschool. My reason was habit. We're flexible anyway, so if the kids have playdates for the day, fine, but when we're home we'll at least school in the a.m. We shall see....wish us luck!

 

[GreatLakes5]

Can you get the material and look it over and start to use it without actually "homeschooling"
I would like to give it a trial run without taking my son out of school. Maybe over the summer or something.

Hi - wasn't sure if you were talking about some specific material, but if you have a child who likes school it doesn't hurt to try. IF school is definitely not his favorite thing don't be discouraged if trying it in the summer doesn't work after he's had 9 months of traditional school for the year

 

[Who'syourMickey]

We homeschool too. I knew there was probably a group and if I know anything about homeschoolers you've figured out how to extract an amazing array of educational value from within the parks. I kind of wondered which was the favorite park for homeschoolers and why? Educational must sees? My children are really looking forward to the Honey I shrunk the kids playground, because hiding out in big legos is educational (LOL). I'm not thinking I could get my crew into the hall of presidents but we might have to get all the education possible from Cinderellas castle. Like finding hidden mickey's. I am telling the children about those.

 

[TNKBELL]

We've been busy finishing up for the school yr
DD just finished the PASS test today.
We've used the CAT5 in the past.
I love the PASS
http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/test/tmain.asp

Cool Link!!! Thanks for sharing, looks like that's right up our alley!!

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

I was so glad to see these new posts. It had been awhile since I was on this site. I have been thinking a lot about what to do next year. I have been homeschooling for 16 years now and have an DS8 and DD11 that I still teach.

DS has PDD and is bipolar and has given me quite a challenge. I need to go in a new direction I have never gone before. That scares me. All this time I have done things one way and now I need to learn new ways to teach.

I will be attending the CHEO (Christian Home Educators of Ohio) convention in Columbus Ohio later this month. They seem to have some special needs sessions I think would be helpful. I am also interested in lapbooking and there are sessions on that as well.
I am encouraged by other homeschoolers on this site. I find Disney to be my escape when DS is giving me fits.
Anyway if someone out there has dealt with special needs before I would be interested in hearing what you've done to get them interested in school and how you get them to sit still long enough to read.

 

[disneymom3]

We're trying a new yearly schedule this year so we're actually BACK in school right now...took 1/2 of May off after the Iowa Basics. Off again in August, then in December, then 1/2 of February. We always kept up with certain subjects in the summer but then I wondered aloud to myself (okay, I talk to myself... ) why I kept the traditional school schedule in our homeschool. My reason was habit. We're flexible anyway, so if the kids have playdates for the day, fine, but when we're home we'll at least school in the a.m. We shall see....wish us luck!

This is acceptable! As a good friend of mine says, "I used to talk to myself. Now I have parent/teacher conferences." I love that and use it frequently. We also claim teacher conferences when us moms from our co-op get together. Okay so the conference is at Applebees. That counts doesn't it???

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

This is acceptable! As a good friend of mine says, "I used to talk to myself. Now I have parent/teacher conferences." I love that and use it frequently. We also claim teacher conferences when us moms from our co-op get together. Okay so the conference is at Applebees. That counts doesn't it???

I always say you know I've had a bad day at homeschool when I call for a parent teacher conference and the principal finds me talking to myself.

 

[catalexander]

Has anyone attended the Disney Homeschool days previously? It's scheduled for Sept. 17-19th this year.
Also, I've heard that there are "self-guided" books that can be purchased to use for HS'ers at WDW... anyone have any more info about this?

THANKS!

 

[GreatLakes5]

Has anyone attended the Disney Homeschool days previously? It's scheduled for Sept. 17-19th this year.
Also, I've heard that there are "self-guided" books that can be purchased to use for HS'ers at WDW... anyone have any more info about this?

THANKS!

We never have (yet) but it does sound fun at least for the kids...anytime we can go somewhere and have a congregation of homeschooled kids my own students are in their glory

Our favorite Disney educational place is (quite obviously) Epcot. In fact, during his "break" my DS11 is looking at his coin collection which includes a card of international coins that can be purchased at Epcot. (I'm trying my best to raise a geek ) My other DS8 is currently reading the original Mary Poppins to prepare for their (SURPRISE) trip this August - it's his assigned reading & where we are getting his copy work from.

We enjoy taking holidays for famous people that don't get their own day. We don't take MLK,Jr. but we may take Mark Twain's birthday off....something interesting like that

I LOVE the parent-teacher conference thing....I will now use that frequently.

 

[sha_lyn]

Can you get the material and look it over and start to use it without actually "homeschooling"
I would like to give it a trial run without taking my son out of school. Maybe over the summer or something.

Could you please clarify?

You can purchase just about anything homeschool related.
However if you are referring to receiving materials or funding privided by your state(if your state is one of the few that has such programs) I doubt it.

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

Can you get the material and look it over and start to use it without actually "homeschooling"
I would like to give it a trial run without taking my son out of school. Maybe over the summer or something.

Yes you can buy any material and use it over the summer without actually homeschooling.

If you are interested in possibly homeshcooling and not sure what to buy or how to do it, you should check out your states homeschool convention. I know ours is very helpful.

Also do a search online. you will find all kinds of info and even some free curriculum.

 

[mamaloya]

Wow, great topic! I have not been able to wade through everything yet, but give me time. I have been hsing for almost 6 yrs now. We should start a topic discussing our favorite curriculum and why. I love hearing about other curriculums, especially math and LA.

All these stories too. I once had someone ask me "Why would you homeschool your children when you can get rid of them for 6-8 hrs a day?" My response was "because I really like my kids." WOW!! I would not change it for a million dollars.

 

[TNKBELL]

Wow, great topic! I have not been able to wade through everything yet, but give me time. I have been hsing for almost 6 yrs now. We should start a topic discussing our favorite curriculum and why. I love hearing about other curriculums, especially math and LA.

All these stories too. I once had someone ask me "Why would you homeschool your children when you can get rid of them for 6-8 hrs a day?" My response was "because I really like my kids." WOW!! I would not change it for a million dollars.

Or how about " I can't stand to be around my kids!!" I have been hearing that alot this summer.

I admit that they drive me crazy sometimes but I wouldn't miss it for the world and I would not take back a single day!

 

[redkelley]

Another Homeschool family checking in!

I'm Joi & my DH is Pat - we are homeschooling our 2 daughters (DD11 & DD8). DD8 has never been to public school and DD11 has been homeschooled since 1st grade. We LOVE it!