What new book or product are you excited about taking a look at if you go to a conference or curriculum fair this year?

This is our second year to homeschool. Next year I will have a third grader and two in kindergarten. I am looking at switched-on school house for my oldest. I think it will give me more time with the twins. I don't know much about it though. Does anyone have any insights?
Thanks Julie

this is our second year homeschooling as well. i have a kinder/first grader and a prek.

i've never used switched on schoolhouse, but i've heard alot about it... alot of the mothers in my homeschool group use it.

curriculum is a tough subject for me, i like the Sonlight material.. but eek!- $$$$$


julie, have you found a homeschool co-op to be a part of? what are you using for your kindergarteners?

I suppose I'm a vetran at homeschooling. I have been doing this for 10 years. My son is in the 9th grade and my daughter is in the 6th grade. I use Switched on schoolhouse for both, but not all their subjects. I began using SOS about three years ago. Both of my children loves it. SOS has a section to read and then questions to answer. If one uses their Science, there are experiments to do. I know of several companies that sell the items needed to do the experiments. SOS does a demostration of the experiments on video for you that is part of the lesson. I like to do them myself. It is nice to know how they are suppose to turn out before doing the experiment.

At first I didn't think SOS was teacher friendly, but after taking the time to read the directions, it is. They havve a great support system to call too. I was able to set my own grading scale, decided how many tries they may have for homework, does my students get immediate feed back or do they have to wait until I see the work first, and I get to set the scales as to how much homework is worth compared to quizzes and test. It is a neat little system. Here is a link that people post their opinions about different curriculum. Homeschool review

Here is another website if you don't know about this one. Veg Source Homeschool site and Well Trained Mind Swap Board This is a place where one is able to buy and sell used curriculum. Be careful, some people think they are sitting on gold. Make sure you know retail prices. Hopefully all of you have the opportunity to attend a curriculum fair. I usually order all my "stuff" there and have it shipped to me. Because I purchased all my "stuff" there, there is no shipping cost.

I hope this helps some.

Terrie

That's a great idea to take a look at it at a curriculum fair. Don't they also have samples that they will send out? I seem to remember seeing a sample disk that you could take your time looking at at home. That's a good way to get a feel for it. Anybody know?

gracematters, i am glad that you're here, i was thinking of starting a thread titled 'gracematters' just to get your attention.

i have a question for you or for anyone else that could help.... i know that every child learns differently and that each home kinda runs on their own schedule- but i would like to know how a veteran homeschooler runs their day. i needs some ideas on how to get my children motivated about doing their 'homeschool'. what did you do when your children were younger- as far as curriculum, did you use any or just kinda taught them through their play. i have a 5yr old son who is simple math and reading and i think he is capable of doing more as far as school goes. But when it comes to curriculum ---- i just don't know what to get, what to choose, and even what to do... i've been at this for two years now, but they're getting older. any advice?

thanks for any help you all can give, have a blessed day!! -farland

I too need that kind of help. My oldest gets frustrated so easily, it makes me not want to homeschool anymore!
I use Abeka, mainly because I need the structure of what to do each day and how to present each new concept, and because I am familiar with it. I'm not real imaginative when it comes to extra fun things to do to make school exciting.
He doesn't want to read, or study for his spelling tests except during "school time". Today we started at 8:45 and he got thru at 10:15. That just isn't much time devoted to school, I think he needs to have more "school time". Any suggestions?
He and I clash so bad. He gets so frustrated and even mad. I can't stand his attitude. Anyone else ever go thru this?

oh julie, i struggle with some of the same issues, our school finishes early as well- but it was explained to me once that homeschoolers will because it's one on one and we don't have to give bathroom breaks, settle kids down, have 5 minute breaks inbetween each subject, etc. but i'm like you, i think my child needs more "school time" as well, also i struggle with the imaginative part of homeschooling. a friend of our that homeschools says i don't need curriculm because my children are so young, i just need to teach them when they're playing- we do that but, he's past sorting colors and counting cars.....???

i hope some veteran homeschoolers look at this part of the forum!!!

I'm going to see how to move this discussion to another thread. There are some great questions here about motivation and time.

What do y'all say?

Hi Julie and Farland!

Great news, all homeschool moms experience what both of you are experiencing now. For me, it comes and goes in cyles.

I want to address the length of your days. I have always wondered who dicatates how long my homeschool day should be? Growing up in a typical school enviroment, I felt my kids should be doing "school work" from at least 8-2. After homeschooling for so long, I realized I have to rely on God to dictate the schedule. It is ok if your homeschool does not go by a rigid 8-2 school day. What you are doing is investing in your children's well being. You are also investing in their future and the kingdom's future. My neighbor came over a few hours ago on a soap box. She is a public school teacher and a great friend of mine. She was going on how our country no longer values education and parents are not parenting any longer. Just maybe if parents invested some time in their children, their children would be better students. By the way, she is the gifted and talented teacher at her school. All this being said, you may not be sitting at a desk or a table teaching 6-8 hours a day with your children, but you are doing what God called all his children to do in Deut. 6:7--"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit down at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up"

Right now we are the only family at my church that homeschools. So many adults have said that my childen at so different from the rest. My son, 14 yrs old., runs the power point on Sunday morning. Both of my children are able to carry on conversations with adults and their peers. Is it anyting that I have done, no not really other than being obedient when I so wanted to throw in the towel of homeschooling. There are days I just want to say, forget it, the yellow school bus will be here in a few minutes and one or both can get on it. I know I can't do that, because it was the Lord who has called me to do this. When I begin to try to homeschool in my own strenth, I fail. I hate to admit to this, but there are times weeks will go by and I wonder what is going on. Then I know, I have been trying to do it on my own strenth. I will address the other concerns later. I have to take my son to church. Hang in there...rely on the Lord. You are doing a GREAT job!

Blessings,
Terrie

grace, i so needed to hear that.

i thought this was kinda funny in a weird kinda sad way (is that possible?). anyways, in a nearby town the school district is offerring a class for the parents of public school children, the subject: "Teaching Parents How To Teach Their Children".

christine, are you a homeschooling mom as well? making this into a new thread wouldn't be a problem with me ! Thanks for adding this to the forum, i really haven't found a place on the net you can go to talk with other homeschooling moms. blessings to all, -farland

Grace,
That was just what I needed to hear! I have been struggling with the idea of homeschooling next year. I have even asked my husband to start looking for churches in other towns, so maybe we could send the boys to a public school we could trust (if there are any). But now, after reading what you wrote, I feel renewed, I may be doing this right after all!
Thanks so much, you have been such a help!!!!!
Julie

Hi All,
Some great discussion here! You are all so wonderful to share so openly!
Homeschooling is tough stuff. It's not the roses and flowers some of us thought it would be - aren't most of us incredibly idealistic? We have this picture of homeschooling and are constantly checking our experience against the picture.
My reality rarely matches the picture I had in my head. Yes, I'm a homeschooling mom. We have four - two are teens, one has a learning disability and one is a super-busy, impulsive boy. There are plenty of days that I wonder what I got myself into! But God is faithful, isn't he?
When methods or curriculum are troubling, I fall back on the library. We check out armloads of books and go home and read our brains out. We've also been experimenting with notebooking, lap booking, and thing like that. It adds a lot to an ordinary day!
Christine

I am a homeschool mom and new to this groupee community. Thanks so much, gracematters, for your godly wisdom in response to another mom's posting. I have been encouraged by it.

I do at times struggle with homeschooling my 6th grade son. But I know, also, that the Lord has called me to do this task by confirming it in His Word. I call my son, My Moses, and know that I need to consecrate him from some things of the world. Yet I still want him to understand it (world) and to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.(Just as Jesus did)

Yes, at times, I start the day out in my flesh and recognize it when I start to get flustered. That's when I step away in another room and pray for God's strength. Phil. 4:13 He adequately supplies. I pick the reigns back up and say "giddy up", it's on... to another horizon!

Again, Thanks so much for this community where we can be encouraged as believers to "press on" with our calling as homeshcooling people.

quote:

Originally posted by gracematters:
Hi Julie and Farland!

Great news, all homeschool moms experience what both of you are experiencing now. For me, it comes and goes in cyles.

I want to address the length of your days. I have always wondered who dicatates how long my homeschool day should be? Growing up in a typical school enviroment, I felt my kids should be doing "school work" from at least 8-2. After homeschooling for so long, I realized I have to rely on God to dictate the schedule. It is ok if your homeschool does not go by a rigid 8-2 school day. What you are doing is investing in your children's well being. You are also investing in their future and the kingdom's future. My neighbor came over a few hours ago on a soap box. She is a public school teacher and a great friend of mine. She was going on how our country no longer values education and parents are not parenting any longer. Just maybe if parents invested some time in their children, their children would be better students. By the way, she is the gifted and talented teacher at her school. All this being said, you may not be sitting at a desk or a table teaching 6-8 hours a day with your children, but you are doing what God called all his children to do in Deut. 6:7--"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit down at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up"

Right now we are the only family at my church that homeschools. So many adults have said that my childen at so different from the rest. My son, 14 yrs old., runs the power point on Sunday morning. Both of my children are able to carry on conversations with adults and their peers. Is it anyting that I have done, no not really other than being obedient when I so wanted to throw in the towel of homeschooling. There are days I just want to say, forget it, the yellow school bus will be here in a few minutes and one or both can get on it. I know I can't do that, because it was the Lord who has called me to do this. When I begin to try to homeschool in my own strenth, I fail. I hate to admit to this, but there are times weeks will go by and I wonder what is going on. Then I know, I have been trying to do it on my own strenth. I will address the other concerns later. I have to take my son to church. Hang in there...rely on the Lord. You are doing a GREAT job!

Blessings,
Terrie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Stayinprayedup,

What do you all do to give yourself a break?

Christine

go to the bathroom and lock the door... haha

one of the things i love about my husband is that he can tell when i have 'one of those days', he will usually call his parents and the boys will stay with them for a few hours while we go out and have some quiet time. (and then we don't talk about anything but them! -just kidding) it's almost where i look forward to the days when i feel ovewhelmed!

You get to go to the bathroom and lock the door? I think I'm envious. I haven't gotten to do that in 8 years!!!!
For a break, I send my son to his room to read for 45 and put my daughter down for a nap. Then I read!
Julie

quote:

i know that every child learns differently and that each home kinda runs on their own schedule- but i would like to know how a veteran homeschooler runs their day. i needs some ideas on how to get my children motivated about doing their 'homeschool'. what did you do when your children were younger- as far as curriculum, did you use any or just kinda taught them through their play.

..............
I too need that kind of help. My oldest gets frustrated so easily, it makes me not want to homeschool anymore!
.............
He doesn't want to read, or study for his spelling tests except during "school time". Today we started at 8:45 and he got thru at 10:15. That just isn't much time devoted to school, I think he needs to have more "school time". Any suggestions?

I hadn't read this thread until today. We've homeschooled for 13 years now and our oldest will graduate this May. My daughters are now in grades 9, 7 & 6. All of that to say we've been thru all of what you're struggling with now.

First of all, I think you're right that every homeschool does run on its own schedule. What works for one doesn't work for another. That's one of the advantages of homeschooling! If the same thing worked for everyone, then every school could be run that way and we'd all be happy! (not gonna happen!) As to having "enough" school time, I think that varies greatly, too, even within one family. Our "official" school hours this year are 9 AM-3 PM, with 11:30-1:00 off for a lunch break. But that is deceiving. My 6th grader is almost always finished before lunch, and sometimes by 10:30 in the morning. My 9th grader is sometimes still working at 5 PM. With my 7th grader it's like pulling teeth to get her to do any school work at all some days! My senior sets his own hours and might do his school work at midnight or on the weekend. I don't care, as long as it gets done. But what I'm saying is, even with regular "school hours", learning takes place all the time, and every child is different and works in their own way. Plus for us, a lot of "school" takes place outside of those hours. AWANA and youth group are part of their Bible "curriculum", karate and dance classes are P.E., handbells, piano lessons and choir are fine arts. All of those things take place after our regular school hours. Really, I only set "school hours" so I could tell other people what our regular school times are when they ask (some people seem to need to know that) and to give us a basis for a routine. But we are not locked into those hours at all.

As for when mine were younger, we were very flexible, and I sometimes wish I had been even more so. The more kids I had, and the longer we homeschooled, the less I relied on curriculum or other school-type things. The more I learned to trust that they could and would learn the things they needed to learn. Another thing I learned was that most of the time, when I had those doubts, it was more that I was trying to measure up to other people's expectations (the school system, family members, friends who didn't homeschool) instead of focusing on doing what God called me to do. When I learned to let go of all of those expectations, most of my doubts and struggles went away.

Also, when I had struggles with one child or another, especially if they were not just school-related (which they usually weren't) I learned that if I took the focus off of "school" and instead focused on "being Mom" we got thru it more quickly and then could go back to school. In other words, someone once told me that if there was ever a conflict between being the teacher and being Mom, just "be Mom" and the school part would take care of itself. That was so true for me, especially when dealing with my more challenging children.

I think I kind of rambled there, but I hope some of it made sense. We had times when I really struggled with whether we should continue to homeschool or not, and times when I I thought I just couldn't do it anymore. But God got me thru it, and looking back I wouldn't want to have done it any other way. Also, I really believe that when these struggles come, putting a child in school is not going to make it better. It might remove you from having to deal with it for a few hours a day, but the underlying problem will still be there. Having them at home allows you to deal with it head-on and put it behind you. At least that's how it's been for us.
Lori