*** Homeschool List ***

[mykidsintow]

Our neighbor uses Abeka. My son can't sit through the worksheets. I can read books to him all day long and h soaks them up like an empty sponge. However, if you sit him down and put a worksheet infront of him, forget-it.

Lets not stress on being behind together? It will do no good and our kids are learning many things at home they never would in school!

 

[mommyof3grlz]

I am a certified teacher with a master's degree in elementary education. I taught school for 10 years (5 public and 5 private). I absolutely love homeschooling! I never want to go back into the classroom. It is so much better at home with my own children.

 

[lori1043]

My boys are in 4th and 5th grade. I am using all Abeka, and I am really, really stressing about how far behind we are. It took me a long time to decide to homeschool. When I did it was already September 1. Then I ordered the books. It took them 2 weeks to come in so we started towards the end of the third week in September.

In order to finish we have to do school work until August. I know it is my fault, but I still worry about it.

First and foremost-DON'T stress about it. My first year the same thing happened and I stressed-then one of my HS friends, who has been HS'ing for 7 years-4 kids, -used Abeka since day 1. She made me feel oh so much better so i will pass on some hugs that she gave me: Abeka has WAY more weeks planned than ANYONE can get done in a year.She confided that she has never "finished" a year of Abeka in all her years of HS'ing. She told me to remember that the 1st and last 6 weeks of the Abeka year is review-so that literally shaves off 3 months worth-12 weeks. The great thing about Abeka is that you really don't need review b/c they beleive in DRILLING regularly! Our first year, we got to Lesson 120 and I did every bit of our states required 180 days-but inbetween we added KONOS, when we need a break or change from all but math and language/phonics. Plus, I wanted it to be FUN. KONOS provided that for us and my kids still love KONOS even though we haven't done it as in depth since then. WE do unit studies aside from our 'regularly scheduled' curriculum! Otheriwse, wwe use Abeka for DD8 and a mix for DD10.

Our second year, we got to lesson 135-and I have to admit our second year was horrid, the honeymoon of homeschooling was done but still trying to have fun with field trips and unit studies. I felt like we dragged ourselves through the mud. Uggh. This year , our 3rd year, we are finally a bit better paced. I was not going to ahve another 2nd year. So I am tempted to tell you that getting to 120 is GREAT!!!
My oldest has tested 2 x w/ Stanford and has done very well, even though I was concerned in some areas. DD8 will test for the first time this year-I am nervous about it, but whatever happens will be a guide for our schooling.

Lori

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Did any of you homeschooling families get to homeschool days in Jan at WDw? My dd children are home schooled and I am wondering about it for next winter. Dgd will be 9 and dgs 5. Any info and opinions would be greatly appreciated. TIA Grammy

 

[earthfaries]

Did any of you homeschooling families get to homeschool days in Jan at WDw? My dd children are home schooled and I am wondering about it for next winter. Dgd will be 9 and dgs 5. Any info and opinions would be greatly appreciated. TIA Grammy

We went!

It was great! We bought a 5 day ticket for $117.00 and went to Epcot two days~for the homeschool days, MK 2 days and DHS.

We also did two of the Y.E.S. programs they offer. They were $24.00 a child and the adult can come too but you have to purchase another ticket. I went along to both and thought they were great.

If you want more details, here is a link to the homeschool days in my trip report. I went into detail about the Ocean Discoveries program here :


http://http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=22941079&postcount=274"

It was a really wonderful experience

The speaker series that is included with your basic park ticket purchase was also neat and they gave us a huge workbook to use throughout the Worlds and at home.

I highly recommend it and will definately go back. They are supposed to have one in Sept. and next Jan.

Let me know if you have any specific questions

Amy


​

 

[DawnM]

Yes! We did it.

If you go in September and stay on-site, you may also be able to get the free dining plan.

We went in January and got the 5 park hopper days and 4 vouchers for the water park and/or DisneyQuest for $142/pp.

Dawn

Did any of you homeschooling families get to homeschool days in Jan at WDw? My dd children are home schooled and I am wondering about it for next winter. Dgd will be 9 and dgs 5. Any info and opinions would be greatly appreciated. TIA Grammy

 

[teacups]

I was a bit shocked this morning... a friend of mine who HS her kids lent me her Abeka books to look thru. (I am HSing starting this summer) My daughter, age 8 3rd grade is considered advanced. She reads at 7th grade level etc etc. WELL... the HS books (3rd grade) go into things I dont think she's ever been taught AT ALL at public school! Some things they've "touched on"... but really, "touched on" means they heard it but wont recall it. I taught her to read (because she was VERY ready) when she was 3 and 4. I honestly dont think she's gotten much from school, but instead she gets a lot from me after school. I AM SO HAPPY we finally decided to home school! (Not to even mention all the negative social garbage that goes on in her class...)

 

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

Hello all. I haven't posted in some time. I need to vent alittle. I decided to hs about 4 years ago and we are now doing wonderful. My dd is finally on the right track and she is really excited to be homeschooled. Well she went to play at a gf house the other day and that mother pulled her aside and tried to have a talk about way she needs to be put back in school where normal children go. Normal Childrem come on. Needless to say she was very upset when she came home. She asked me if she was normal. I was so mad. Of course your normal I told her. So then we had a discussion on what is normal. I have decided not to send her back to play over there. Why are people so closed minded? On a lighter note Natalie went to girls scouts later in the week and it was the first time the girls there got to ask her about being homeschooled and she had a blast telling them all about it. Some of the girls thought she was very lucky and some of the girls thought I was mean and gave to much work. Overall she is still beaming about that meeting today. She even has made 2 to 3 friends from girl scouts and its only been 4 meeting since we joined.

And for all of us who feel like we are falling behind. Remember we are teaching our children way more than they will ever learn in school. It will all even out in time.

Thanks for letting me vent..

 

[teacups]

You have much more control than I do if you didnt call that mom...
Sorry that happened to your daughter. People are ignorant, and not just about HSing.

 

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

You have much more control than I do if you didnt call that mom...
Sorry that happened to your daughter. People are ignorant, and not just about HSing.

Oh I called that mom and she still refuses to answer my calls. I did give her Hubby a good ear full though. poor guy

 

[teacups]

He's guilty by association!

 

[graygables]

I'm having to bite my tongue. Someone in my homeschool group just asked for alternatives for her 4th grader to (among other stories) Snow White b/c it has "witches and dwarves...and they cast spells." She doesn't want her DD reading "Brothers Grimm...ungodly tales". I understand where shes coming from to a certain extent, I really do. I was brought up in a conservative Christian home. BUT my parents used Grimm's fairy tales to teach us things, about good and evil, how we can be tricked into doing foolish things, how we sometimes have to use our own wits to get us out of bad situations (how not to wear red shoes to church...I was 19 the first time I worked up enough courage!!! ). Why is it that literature cannot be viewed as simply that??? Do I have to remind her that Narnia also has dwarves and witches who cast spells and they are simply metaphors for parts of a Christian walk? What service do they think they are doing their kids??? There is something to be said for being culturally informed and it would be SO easy to use it as a belief system teaching tool. I can't respond to this person, she's an uppity up in the group and I don't want DDs ostracized.

I wonder what she'll say when I tell them I want to do the College Program at WDW and be a Fairy Godmother in Training to make magic happen and sprinkle pixie dust on princesses???

 

[sha_lyn]

I really don't know how to deal with people like that. I remember my BIL was furious that we let DS play the various mario brothers games on nintendo because they had magic in them. Of course he was nothign wrong with his sons playing violent fighting games, because fighting isn't "against the laws of God". I just don't get it and never did, even when I was still a southern Baptist.

 

[meandtheguys2]

There is no talking to people in that mode. I just slip into the agree to disagree mode. I figure I've got my quirks too!

 

[Mermaid02]

Okay guys- I REALLY want to do this for my son next year. I think he will be so much happier...I HAVE to sit down and figure out HOW we can make this work (the loss of my part time income). I've already figured what I could save in gas and child care... what are some other hidden costs that come from working??

 

[meandtheguys2]

I find I save money by cooking differently when i am home. I start from scratch, thus we eat better meals for less. I also make DH lunches which saves a ton. We started this, though when he was diagnosed diabetic, so that he had better meals.

Maybe that won't work for you guys, but it is one place we save.

 

[DawnM]

I really can't handle being around people like that. They are SO NOT me! One group literally didn't let their children use magic markers because the name magic was in it!

There is only so much craziness I can take and that isn't one of them!

Dawn

I'm having to bite my tongue. Someone in my homeschool group just asked for alternatives for her 4th grader to (among other stories) Snow White b/c it has "witches and dwarves...and they cast spells." She doesn't want her DD reading "Brothers Grimm...ungodly tales". I understand where shes coming from to a certain extent, I really do. I was brought up in a conservative Christian home. BUT my parents used Grimm's fairy tales to teach us things, about good and evil, how we can be tricked into doing foolish things, how we sometimes have to use our own wits to get us out of bad situations (how not to wear red shoes to church...I was 19 the first time I worked up enough courage!!! ). Why is it that literature cannot be viewed as simply that??? Do I have to remind her that Narnia also has dwarves and witches who cast spells and they are simply metaphors for parts of a Christian walk? What service do they think they are doing their kids??? There is something to be said for being culturally informed and it would be SO easy to use it as a belief system teaching tool. I can't respond to this person, she's an uppity up in the group and I don't want DDs ostracized.

I wonder what she'll say when I tell them I want to do the College Program at WDW and be a Fairy Godmother in Training to make magic happen and sprinkle pixie dust on princesses???

 

[DawnM]

I bought more convenience foods
I did have to have a half way decent wardrobe and very comfortable shoes (I was a teacher.)
I often didn't take the time to garage sale shop or thrift store shop, or comparasin shop. I just didn't have the time, so I spent more on things overall.

Dawn

Okay guys- I REALLY want to do this for my son next year. I think he will be so much happier...I HAVE to sit down and figure out HOW we can make this work (the loss of my part time income). I've already figured what I could save in gas and child care... what are some other hidden costs that come from working??

 

[earthfaries]

Okay guys- I REALLY want to do this for my son next year. I think he will be so much happier...I HAVE to sit down and figure out HOW we can make this work (the loss of my part time income). I've already figured what I could save in gas and child care... what are some other hidden costs that come from working??

You can make a part time income and stay at home by babysitting. That's what I do

I started out with just one child , full time, but now I will be watching 2 full time children, brother and sister. Add a regular drop in and I'm making about $350.00 a week!

On top of that, I don't have to pay for gas to go to work and I get to be with my kids all day and unschool them

​

 

[Mermaid02]

I find I save money by cooking differently when i am home. I start from scratch, thus we eat better meals for less. I also make DH lunches which saves a ton. We started this, though when he was diagnosed diabetic, so that he had better meals.

Maybe that won't work for you guys, but it is one place we save.

That's a really good point. I've been known to get one of those rotisserie chickens for $7 when raw that chicken would cost $3 but I get out of work at 4pm and have no time to cook the chicken by 5pm (we like to eat early).

I bought more convenience foods
I did have to have a half way decent wardrobe and very comfortable shoes (I was a teacher.)
I often didn't take the time to garage sale shop or thrift store shop, or comparasin shop. I just didn't have the time, so I spent more on things overall.

Dawn

I do the same thing- I go to the nearest grocery store (it's also the most expensive) because it's close and I just don't have time to mess with bargain hunting during the week and on the weekend I don't WANT to.