*** Homeschool List ***

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa Loves Pooh --

That list was hysterical! Thanks for sharing! I'm going to make my children practice how to stand in line right now...

Kristen

Hey--if you've been to Disney...you can mark it down already

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Everybody---

Rainbow Resource Catologue--it has tons and tons and tons of curricula and materials...from pre-school set to high school seniors. http://www.rainbowresource.com/index.php They just came out with their 2005/06 catalogue. Order it--it is free...you will be captivated for hours with all the stuff out their.

Those wondering about pre-school...I too was in your shoes and wanted to do something "formal"--but it just wasn't in the cards. No need to do something structured if you don't have the time or if you just don't want to.

I can understand the excitement to get started. We are excited to finally do it for real this year

 

[Lora]

All you Sonlight users that post on their forum -- do you have the same screen name?

What can I say? I'm boring when it comes to usernames. It will be easy to find me on the SL forums.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Re: Sonlight Forums - look for my first name and location.
(Though I'm spending so much time here right now, I haven't been there much.)

 

[mom2rb]

I'll up your standing in line practice. When my boys get up, I'm going to take them to the park and tell them to beat each other up. That will be our school for the day.

We have now been homeschooling for two years. We only formally do math, reading, and Spanish. But when you home school anything can turn into a learning experience. I put them in a lot of different summer camps this year. They like them, but we are all done with having a set schedule. The " go where the world takes you " is my favorite part of homeschooling.

 

[laceemouse]

Kristen, yes, I am laceemouse on the Sonlight forums too! I love SL and their forums, but the DIS is my first love on the net! I really had zero interest in getting on the computer and gabbing with strangers until I learned about this site while reading an article about planning a WDW trip in a Family Fun magazine at the dentist's office...LOL!!! I love talking, IRL and on-line! We live in an area where homeschooling is not real huge but is definitely growing. The public schools in our burb are very highly rated with high test scores and almost every kid goes on to college. However, with 28 to 30 kids in the classroom they obviously have to teach to the norm and it is never going to be just right for everyone. My oldest daughter is in gifted classes and has still always said school is "stupid and boring!" In junior high she just quit doing the work and her grades took a nose dive! My son struggles with fine motor skills and was buried in the mountains of paperwork they do at school. I suspect he has some type if LD, but they tested him several times and he never fit any of their criteria to get help. He is bright and reads above grade level. I like the Charlotte Mason idea if reading to them, letting them read, doing narration, nature walks and the like. I choose Sonlight because I love the way it is all planned out for you and it is literature based. My baby girl is 7 and is struggling in reading (the older 3 got it soooo easily.) She was the social butterfly at school, but she was having a hard time keeping up academically (in the first grade) and we had LOTS of tears over homework already! Is first grade supposed to be that stressfull?? Why??? I just think I can do better with all 4 of them at home. Plus, public junior high is as awful as you have heard it is and WORSE! My 2 older girls were surrounded by boy crazy friends whose parents think it is CUTE for them to look sexy and chase boys!!! No thank you....Off soap box now....have a great DISNEY day!!! Lacee

 

[Kewz1]

Thanks SL users -- I'll keep my eyes open for you there!

Lisa loves Pooh -- we've been to DIsney many times. I guess I was hsing before I actually knew it!

Mom2rb -- your post cracked me up!

Laceemouse -- my now 11 yo struggled with reading while younger. She's also my social butterfly. Hsing has helped her academically and hasn't put a cramp in her social life. She actually has more of one now. Go figure!

Kristen

 

[blessdmommy]

Any of you Sonlight users frequent the Sonlight boards also?

Another one here too. I've been with Sonlight for almost 3 years and just found this board recently since we are planning our very 1st Disney trip ever!

I use the same name on Sonlight too!

 

[Junebugwv]

I like the idea of hs DISers sharing. Btw, those of you who have suggested that beating up a child helps with socialization skills are missing the full experience. You are supposed to steal their lunch money first. Okay, I now admit I have homeschooled for 18 years and my youngest will be starting 3rd grade. We use Abeka and have been pleased with the results.

 

[nuzmom]

Add me to the list.

WDW and homeschooling - my two favorite topics to discuss "among friends".

 

[Lora]

Anyone up for a very small HSers DIS meet? I've noticed that some of our vacations overlap. I know meeting up isn't something EVERYONE likes to do on vacation, so instead of a personal invitation that makes people feel obligated, I'll just put this out there...

We'll be at WDW from 9/18-30. If anyone wants to meet and it works out well for both of our schedules, I'd love to have a quick meal, wait for a parade, enjoy Fantasmic together, or something.

Respond here or PM me if you're interested.

 

[disneymom3]

Lora--I think that is a really fun idea but we won't be there until Feb. So, anyone going to be there Feb 4-11 let me know.

I would also love to set up a kids penpal exchange for homeschoolers. If you are interested PM me your children's ages and interests and I will see if I can get a list set up.

 

[lorli]

DD is only 4 and doing preschool. I am a special education teacher and thus do a lot of education with her at home. She is well above her peers academically. I love education and would love to have the HS resources since I added to her learning at home on a daily basis.

 

[TNKBELL]

Anyone up for a very small HSers DIS meet? I've noticed that some of our vacations overlap. I know meeting up isn't something EVERYONE likes to do on vacation, so instead of a personal invitation that makes people feel obligated, I'll just put this out there...

We'll be at WDW from 9/18-30. If anyone wants to meet and it works out well for both of our schedules, I'd love to have a quick meal, wait for a parade, enjoy Fantasmic together, or something.

Respond here or PM me if you're interested.

Lora....Count me in! We'll be there from 9-26 to 10-12. Sounds like fun!!

 

[Merriwind]

I'd be interested in such a board. I homeschooled DD7 this year for first grade. It was a fantastic year for us both! She'll be going to public school once we move to Florida, although I'm sure that we'll still do a lot at home. Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We are converting our old office/guest bedroom into a classroom...hubby had it painted (actually designed for an office and not a classroom) in sorceror blue and we have a silver drawing (floor to ceiling) of sorceror Mickey. So I'm thrilled he yielded his fantasy room to a classroom. This is for the time being--he plans on having it multi-purpose as a home theater . Gotta love those engineering types.

Anyway--what is your classroom for your kids?

We have elem. size table and chairs--a cabinet.....a carpet so I can sit on the floor and be at their level.

We have a tv and video camera set up (to do video journals).

 

[momofbuzzfan]

We are homeschooling this year for the first time too! I would love to be added to the list...it is encouraging to see so much interest! My oldest is 5 so we will be starting kindergarten! Thanks!

 

[100AcreMom]

I would love a HS thread! combined my two passions of WDW and HS! I am starting my third year of HS.

When I pulled my ds out of public school after third grade, I actually had a teacher ask me if I was doing it so we could go to WDW more often.
Absolutely! The quality of his public school education (or lack of it) had NOTHING to do with it.

 

[momof2OH]

I will be HS my DS (14) this fall again. I would love to be added to the list.

 

[disneymom3]

I would love a HS thread! combined my two passions of WDW and HS! I am starting my third year of HS.

When I pulled my ds out of public school after third grade, I actually had a teacher ask me if I was doing it so we could go to WDW more often.
Absolutely! The quality of his public school education (or lack of it) had NOTHING to do with it.

Isn't it funny the questions people ask you?

Lisa--we don't have a classroom per say. Up until this year we have just been at the kitchen table. However, I am a bit tired of having my entire home taken over by school, so this year I am going to try doing school in the basement. It is unfinished, but we have a carpetted area down there with play things for when the younger two need to wander and nice big windows as well as a kitchen table and chairs. I am hoping to "inherit" this really cool cabinet from my mom's house that she is selling for all of our supplies to go into.