*** Homeschool List ***

[disneydreamin-gang]

Count us in this year! I homeschooled our son for 3 years and put him back in the system in 4th grade mainly for reading. He is now in 7th and we have decided to start up agian! I am so excited. We are just now looking at what to use....
He has PDD with Autistic tendencies. He is a great kid but needs help with writing. He just learned to read well last year. We used McgrawHill and alot of reading workbooks and social studies and Science help books before but he was in his own world then and now he has woke up so to speak...

But now I am unsure what to use. He is reading now on his own and needs much less dictation. I have read all 100+ pages on this post for ideas and am thinking of using Hooked on schoolhouse but have never seen it up close.Do you like it?Can you print off daily work for records? He loves the computer so I was thinking it may be a good fit. I am also looking at a Time for Learning?But I would like to see what the lessions look like and how many there are in each subject.
And if we do not go with the computer..Key to Math or Math You See.. What for a kid learning to write? I mean he can write but he hates it and has never done much without help.(he was non verbal untill 4-5yo but now everything is clicking into place!)I need help picking what to do this year and fast... We need to cover the 5 basic subjects in Mo and then we can pick and choose the rest. Any input or advice would be great. Thanks Bobbie

Good morning
I too have a DS8 with PDD and also homeschool. I can tell you that SOS would be to frustrating for him. The lessons are pretty intense and the answers to some of the questions are hard to find. I used it for DD11 for a few years. She is ADHD and ODD. It became a chore to get her to the computer and I spent alot of time redoing lessons over and over.
Of course you know your son. He may do fine in the program.
This year I am switching to a Charlotte Mason method of teaching for both. There are some wonderful books out there to support the program. I bought from Sandy Queen who writes companions to books, Lang arts, dictation and so on. www.queenhomeschool.com
The Math-U-See is wonderful. I have also used it in the past. Depending on where he is in his math skills will depend on which book to start him in. I would start lower and work up vs. starting at his level and chance getting frustrated.

If you can keep him interested and learning something new everyday you have the battle won.
I hope this info helps.

 

[adoptionmomma4]

We loved Story of the World! If you get the activity guide there are lots of hands on things to do.

Do you think it is hands on enough to keep a 6, 7 and 9 year old interested? I only looked at a few pages of the old book. I had planned on getting the updated version and the activity guide.

 

[Tink561]

Do you think it is hands on enough to keep a 6, 7 and 9 year old interested? I only looked at a few pages of the old book. I had planned on getting the updated version and the activity guide.

I think it is. Between the coloring pages, extra reading and activities. We made Joseph's coat of many colors, a Greek sailing ship out of ice cream, sugar cube pyramids and lots of other things. You can also pull in movies and stuff.

 

[TNKBELL]

I think it is. Between the coloring pages, extra reading and activities. We made Joseph's coat of many colors, a Greek sailing ship out of ice cream, sugar cube pyramids and lots of other things. You can also pull in movies and stuff.

We loved using this series and it kept both parents and kids interested in history!!

 

[Tink561]

We loved using this series and it kept both parents and kids interested in history!!

I agree! I learned more with that series than the whole time I was in school myself. I'm looking forward to reusing it with my daughter when the time comes.


BTW, we loved having Egyptian feasts and other themed history dinners. All of those ideas are in the activity guide.

 

[sha_lyn]

Do you think it is hands on enough to keep a 6, 7 and 9 year old interested? I only looked at a few pages of the old book. I had planned on getting the updated version and the activity guide.

I think so. It's used as a core book, then you supplement as needed depending on age, interest etc. The activity guide has a lot of ideas and a suggested reading list. There are also several lists, ideas etc online. I just posted a yahoo group last night. I also have a couple of other links. I'll post them tonight. We are on our way out the door right now.

 

[TNKBELL]

I agree! I learned more with that series than the whole time I was in school myself. I'm looking forward to reusing it with my daughter when the time comes.


BTW, we loved having Egyptian feasts and other themed history dinners. All of those ideas are in the activity guide.

I feel that way about Homeschooling in general, I have NEVER learned soooo much!!! We are never to old to learn!!!

 

[adoptionmomma4]

Thank you all for the advice. I think I will give it a try. I think I needed to see the activity book as well to make a good decision. I am excited to try it now.

Tink- The activities you have done with your kids sound great.

 

[merryweather's twin]

Thanks Disneydreamin-Gang for the advice and input. I had never heard of the Mason method and am doing some digging on it as I type. I have never seen HOS up close and the main reason I was thinking of going that way was it was computer based and he loves computers. Has anyone used a Time for Learning? I finally have seen the lesson plans and it looks like a good fit. I want to get something that keeps him excited and is not so difficult that he gets burnt out. I guess I will keep looking.
Thanks for the link. I am not sure where to place him on the ABC scale for the book groups. The same with Math -u-see. I guess I need to do more looking. Thanks Bobbie.

 

[Ellester]

Ellester--thank you for the information on Math 7. I did not know that. I do know that first off the family only used it with one child and that they made copies of all the CDs and are selling me the originals. What she told me was that she wanted to make sure the originals did not get scratched. My next one up will not reach Math 7 for several years so we will probably need a new version by then anyway. good to keep in mind if I want to resell it too though!

My pleasure, that info was an unpleasant surprise to some on the other loop I'm on when they purchased used and couldn't install it!


Public school starts here tomorrow, but my girls will be at a sleepover tonight with a bunch of their homeschool buddies. Sadly, it's a going away party for some very good friends who have gotten orders for Ft. Irwin (near Death Valley, CA). We are very sad to see them go, but I do think it's cool that they will have one last blast that couldn't have been scheduled as easily if they had to attend school tomorrow!

 

[disneymom3]

Do you think it is hands on enough to keep a 6, 7 and 9 year old interested? I only looked at a few pages of the old book. I had planned on getting the updated version and the activity guide.

Oh definitely! I am amazed at all my kids learned about ancient-modern history. We used the first three years in co-op and most of our kids were younger than her recommended ages when we started. The wealth of information there is great. Our kids have loved the various festivals and such that she gives ideas for. I think you will have fun with it. (And learn a LOT as the rest of us have! )

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

A question for those whose children went to school and then you HSed...

My daughter is a very social 4th grader. This is our first year HSing (we just completed our 2nd week - yeah). We live on Long Island and school does not start here until the Wednesday after Labor Day (I think it's Sept 5th this year).

Anyway - we're having a great old time. I just wonder how it's going to be on the first day of school when all of her friends get on the bus? Did your children express regret? We live in a neighborhood where the first day is a big deal - I actually love it myself and I will miss it as well.

Would we be better off hightailing it out of here for a field trip out of town for a couple of days to lessen the sting? Or, do you all think that's avoidance?

I'm just trying to gauge how it will turn out. She absolutely loves HSing - I wouldn't be doing it unless I she was 100% sure she wanted to do it.

Anyway - just wondering about other people's experiences. Thanks!!

 

[disneymom3]

For the first day of school we have done various things. I think the kids favorite (and it is really easy for me!!) is we sleep late, stay in our jammies and watch TV all morning! (We start school about three weeks before the public schools do around here.) Seriously--then when the school bus goes by, DD and I shout--"Oh no!! We missed the bus!" That was one of her main anxieties when she attended school--the possibility of missing the bus. We have also gone to a museum and last year we were on vacation. About half way through the day as we were driving through Yellowstone, I remembered about it and turned to DD and said, "Hey, you missed the bus!" Yeah, well, we still find it funny!

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

For the first day of school we have done various things. I think the kids favorite (and it is really easy for me!!) is we sleep late, stay in our jammies and watch TV all morning! (We start school about three weeks before the public schools do around here.) Seriously--then when the school bus goes by, DD and I shout--"Oh no!! We missed the bus!" That was one of her main anxieties when she attended school--the possibility of missing the bus. We have also gone to a museum and last year we were on vacation. About half way through the day as we were driving through Yellowstone, I remembered about it and turned to DD and said, "Hey, you missed the bus!" Yeah, well, we still find it funny!

That's awesome. Love it!! Thanks!!

 

[Tink561]

A question for those whose children went to school and then you HSed...

My daughter is a very social 4th grader. This is our first year HSing (we just completed our 2nd week - yeah). We live on Long Island and school does not start here until the Wednesday after Labor Day (I think it's Sept 5th this year).

Anyway - we're having a great old time. I just wonder how it's going to be on the first day of school when all of her friends get on the bus? Did your children express regret? We live in a neighborhood where the first day is a big deal - I actually love it myself and I will miss it as well.

Would we be better off hightailing it out of here for a field trip out of town for a couple of days to lessen the sting? Or, do you all think that's avoidance?

I'm just trying to gauge how it will turn out. She absolutely loves HSing - I wouldn't be doing it unless I she was 100% sure she wanted to do it.

Anyway - just wondering about other people's experiences. Thanks!!

We've done things like go to the movies and out for ice cream. Celebrating the fact that things are less crowded because everyone is back in school.

 

[mousehouselover]

Can I be counted in? We've homeschooled since Dec 99 and DS has never been instructed in a classroom. We are eclectic and somewhat unschooling although since the kids are getting older, we are finding we need to do more formal schooling.

I have 3 readers; 1 serious student the other 2 are more relaxed about their studies and DS hates to write anything. We started school a few weeks ago, about the 23rd of July.

We live in an area where there are year round schools so not every one is in class at the same time but we too generally enjoy being able to follow our own schedule and take part in things during 'the off season.' I'm just peaved that our pools and the nearby amusement parks all close as soon as school starts for the fall. We'd go and have a ball with smaller crowds.

 

[lori1043]

My 4th grader went to Kindergarten and 1st grade in public school. She was a pretty social gal too! The thing for her going to school back then was that she was bustin' at the seams to go b/c she had just finished 2.5 years of chemo and we had cabin fever badly!! We were home bound so often but when her labs were good, that was a day out and about-having fun. Talk about taking advantage of time!
I was worried taking her out but it ate at me for so long. Here was this precious kid and her equally precious sister who have had some rough years together. I used to give her a "free" day each year when she was in school. Meaning that I would take her out for no reason(on a day nothing big was planned at school) and we'd do what she wanted to do. The 2 "free" days we had together for K and 1st were spent at a park, looking over the lake and talking about life and what was happening to her at school. NOW we can have these when we want too as long as school work gets done!

At first she had a bit of a hard time missing certain friends, but quickly realized that new ones could be made(at PE and field trips and co-op, AWANA and choir and gymnastics) and now she would not trade HS'ing for going back to school. They are spoiled with freedom from all the headaches of homework AFTER school, getting to a bus/school on time, etc.

She still misses one friend in particular, but they wouldn't be at the same school any longer anyway. They get together every so often, but less often as time goes on ,b/c she is finding that her homeschooled friends really cherish friendship more than the norm. Maybe b/c it is not daily that they see each other, who knows. They do see each other about 2x per week, sometimes more.

She will do fine- enjoy your year!

Lori

 

[BellaBuggy]

We are about to begin homeschooling in a few weeks. My oldest is going to start K and I am using the A Beka program.

 

[lexeka]

Count us in this year! I homeschooled our son for 3 years and put him back in the system in 4th grade mainly for reading. He is now in 7th and we have decided to start up agian! I am so excited. We are just now looking at what to use....
He has PDD with Autistic tendencies. He is a great kid but needs help with writing. He just learned to read well last year. We used McgrawHill and alot of reading workbooks and social studies and Science help books before but he was in his own world then and now he has woke up so to speak...

But now I am unsure what to use. He is reading now on his own and needs much less dictation. I have read all 100+ pages on this post for ideas and am thinking of using Hooked on schoolhouse but have never seen it up close.Do you like it?Can you print off daily work for records? He loves the computer so I was thinking it may be a good fit. I am also looking at a Time for Learning?But I would like to see what the lessions look like and how many there are in each subject.
And if we do not go with the computer..Key to Math or Math You See.. What for a kid learning to write? I mean he can write but he hates it and has never done much without help.(he was non verbal untill 4-5yo but now everything is clicking into place!)I need help picking what to do this year and fast... We need to cover the 5 basic subjects in Mo and then we can pick and choose the rest. Any input or advice would be great. Thanks Bobbie

Hey Guys,
Sorry I have been out camping and came back. Started reading; what are we all joining?

 

[Princess_Michelle]

Add me to the list!! My son is only 3, but we have decided to try homeschooling. My BIGGEST reason for wanting to homeschool is b/c I think schools are forcing way too much on kids and way too early. I don't see any reason why an elementary school student should spend 6 to 8 hours a day stuck in a classroom, and then have to come home and spend another 1 to 2 hours on homework. We had an awesome private Christian school picked out, but I just couldn't stop thinking that I could do a better job, in less time, without having to sacrifice his childhood. Not to mention the fact that the 10K a year tuition could be used to SHOW him the world, not just read about it. My second reason is that both my husband and I are/were linguists. I want my son to learn both Spanish and Chinese, and even our awesome private school didn't start Spanish until 6th grade and didn't even have Chinese; so there you go
I think I like the sonlight curriculum the best, but I don't plan on actually getting curriculum until next year, so I still have a year to think about it. Have homeschoolers got their own "area" yet????