Home schooling questions

**rduell** · 11-19-2006, 01:34 PM

Re: Home schooling questions

I don't homeschool now, but did for 10 years. My favorite materials were A Beka for history and science and Saxon math. I tried to use a "straight" curriculum from one provider, but over the years got brave enough to pick and choose what I liked best.

I liked Saxon math because of the way each chapter reviewed concepts from the previous chapters. You didn't just learn it and then not use it again for ages. For the younger grades (before 4th) I used Miquon Math and Cuisenaire Rods. That gave them a good concept of math and how it works, rather than just memorizing numbers.

Another resource that was great was Konos timeline. It covers from B.C. to A.D. We had this on the wall of our dining room for years and would add historical figures as we studied them. The kids could then see how everyone fit into the timeline. They still talk about that!

**mom-from-missouri** · 11-19-2006, 01:38 PM

Re: Home schooling questions

Thanks, I will check these out!

**shengmei** · 11-19-2006, 10:44 PM

Re: Home schooling questions

Both hubby and I were homeschooled. We are sorta shy, but we had both been extremely academically successful. Hubby has a 4.0 GPR and I am finishing up my masters degree in genetics.

I say go for that, but do it in a conservative town. It is almost impossible to pull off this kind of feat in a liberal town. Both Clintons were extremely against homeschooling. A lot of my liberal acquanitances believe that homeschooling in the Christian way of life is a life of repression. That is not true at all.

I wish you luck.

P.S. The best FREE resource for me was www.wikipedia.org

I teach freshman biology, and I often use this website to teach students.

**zakity** · 11-20-2006, 01:50 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

We unschool. We do use Singapore Math though. One of my boys wanted to go to MIT for robotics until about a year ago. I figured he would need the background in math if he wanted to do that.

**miclason** · 11-20-2006, 08:50 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

Where's Princess Perky?

**PrincessPerky** · 11-21-2006, 06:11 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

Sorry it took me soo long

I was homeschooled until highschool. Mom used a miscelaneous collection of whatever book happened to cover the 'next step' that we needed to learn. I follow the same idea now, but a bit more relaxed.

Pros to me are the customization and the ability to learn so much so fast, there is no need to wait for others, but then there is no need to rush thru when you need help. There is no time spent learning to stand in line, no need to remember to ask to use the bathroom or get a drink of water, and a wonderful chance for the younger kids to actually choose what they want to learn. God porgramed children to learn, we just have to help break things down and point them to a few 'must know topics' (like potty training!)

for a healthy family homeschooling is safer, easier, and better. I could go on for hours about why, but I am sure you are busy!

cons...ummm....ummmm Ill let you know when I find one.....oh wait, I am here with them all day, most days...so I, well, I could use a break from them..no offense to small fry...but I would like an adult conversation once in awhile...with a real person..not a computer? Eh..that is more because I don't drive! NM no cons...

Actually there can be issues, but you wont have any of the problems (kids never getting out, or only getting limited science due to religion, ect.)

**mom-from-missouri** · 11-21-2006, 06:29 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

I been waiting for you.............
Have you ever belonged to a home school coop???
Last night we went to the home school coop open house and program. It was pretty neat. It is the one that most of the families at our church belong too. The choir and band were fun--the parents who can sing or play are in the choir and band along with the kids. I thought that was a great way to encourage your kid to practice! Practice along with them!
The local coop meets for 4 hours on Fridays and offers specility classes--such as choir, band, sign language, video production and sewing. Those were the offered classes for this semester. The semester ended yesterday and the new one starts Jan 12 and will have different classes offered. The classes are $10 each and some have a $2 or $3 supply list. If you want to take a class you can, if you don't want to, you don't have to. Different parents teach the classes based on their specilities. One mom owns a local bakery (did my wedding cake) and they said last year she taught a baking class. They also do field trips together as they can rent a bus for about $2 a student and many places around here give huge discounts to school group kids (zoo charges 50 cents ahead for school groups-for a family its $7.50 per child)
The coop also has a swap for parents to sell or trade materials, but the don't promote any particular one.
I was impressed with the talent these kids had.

**PrincessPerky** · 11-21-2006, 06:40 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

I have not joined any group or co-op YET....but I plan to later, as my son gets older, this year is the first where I find the homeschooling group options are things he can participate in (just because he has the interest doesn't mean he can do everything!)

That group you talk about sounds wonderful!

IMO The more you hang around homeschooling done well, the more you will want to homeschool

having the chance to focus on your interest, weather music or art, or math or science or history provides a wonderful chance to excell.

I think working with the kids is a wonderful idea! I find things I will learn with my children tend to stick in the daily conversation while things they read on there own will only stick around if they can share them with me....children might be programed to learn, but no reason they have to do it alone!

discounts is the biggest reason I like groups, I hope to be able to take bigger advatange of them in the future.

**justbee** · 11-21-2006, 10:31 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

I have been homeschooling since my children started school, I have a 7th grader, 6th grader and grade K. I have used many different types of curriculums because the kids interests change, they get tired of doing say a workbook type format vs. a textbook type, etc. Two catalogs/websites I can recommend for materials are the Elijah Co. and Timberdoodle. They give very accurate descriptions of what the material covers.

Some years I have spent a very reasonable amount on materials, say under 20.00 per child. This past year I spent way more, like 160.00 so far and probably will order more midyear. Some of my more expensive purchases have been well worth it, phonics programs which I have used with all my children because they work so well and some of the math books my 7th grader is using. But I have also used thrift store and castoff public school textbooks (some of the textbooks I actually remember from my public school days) after all math and your state's history haven't changed since you went to school, just the way they teach it.

I think joining a co-op would be great too and utilizing private school classes for subjects you can't teach. Also, I can't really say anything about Bob Jones but I have used some thrift store Abeka books, they seem really high quality. My older children like to help pick the materials they will be using . Best wishes in your decision.

**nanamom** · 11-24-2006, 11:33 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

Most of your questions were answered rather well but let me put my 2 cents in please. i homeschooled kids before it was in vogue and am once again homeschooling. The first time around I couldn't afford specific curriculum but this time I can if I choose to use it. My sister did it later and was able to enjoy the resources of a coop. I ran a Christian school in between kids and had some home schoolers take advantage of our policy on using specific classes or extra curricular activities. Pro's, you know what influences your children have, you can build a realization in them that God is in everything, much less (if any) wasted time such as lining up, wiating for bells, etc., you don't have to wait for the others to catch up, if you want to go on you can. You also don't have to wait until certain years to learn stuff you are interested in, family vacations can be taken at non peak times (cheaper and less crowded) th esocialization is more realistic, (after all you don't hang out with only people within a year of your age do you?)less peer pressure, not to mention less embaressing moments (I don't want to raise my hand in a group of 25 peers and announce I need the use the bathroom)
cons, You end up explaining lot I remember one day in line at the bank a probably well meaning man turned ot my DS and said "Why aren't you in school today?" and was answered with "Why aren't you at work today?" He said it politely and if it was OK fo rthe man to say it to him why wasn't it ok for him to say it to the man? respect for elders and all that was explained but I have to admit I didnt' punish him at all.

**PrincessPerky** · 11-28-2006, 10:09 AM

Re: Home schooling questions

Originally posted by nanamom

cons, You end up explaining lot I remember one day in line at the bank a probably well meaning man turned ot my DS and said "Why aren't you in school today?" and was answered with "Why aren't you at work today?" He said it politely and if it was OK fo rthe man to say it to him why wasn't it ok for him to say it to the man? respect for elders and all that was explained but I have to admit I didnt' punish him at all.

ROLF

Home schooling questions