I Know We Have Had This Thread Before, but There Are so Many New

[lockhartkitchen]

portable air conditionerGotta tell a joke. We've been about 80 degrees the last few days. Half our building is no-air conditioner and the other (newer construction) is. Those of us not with air get hot.

Today a teacher told us he emailed the secretary to send down the two portable airconditioners for his room. (joke). Later that day, he found a note on his desk with a paper cup full of ice. The note: Directions for use of a portable air conditioner:
1. Have a student hold cup close to you.
2. Have student blow real hard.
3. Repeat as needed.

Thought you would get a kick out of this.

 

[Joyful]

This is my first year NOT homeschooling. We started in Kindergarten, planned on going through high school. We have always said that we were homeschooling her because we believed it was best for her -- from the biblical perspective as well as the one-on-one opportunity and being able to learn at her own pace.

However, this summer I came to the realization that it was no longer best for her. She is very bright, but somehow "her own pace" was slowing down in some subjects! She is very competitive by nature (is also a competitive gymnast -- Level 6/7) and really needs the "competitive" nature of the classroom environment, i.e. being able to see how she is doing compared with everyone else (and realizing that she needs to step it up a bit).

So, we discovered that we could (barely) afford to send her to a private Christian school affiliated with an excellent Bible-teaching church, and that with my "extra" time I can have more time to pursue PC (to help pay for school & gymnastics).

We're now in the second week of school and she is loving it. She also seems to be more responsible about her schoolwork. So I'm convinced we've made the right decision. We had 6 good years together at home and I think she is ready to be more independent.

 

[blessed4life]

There is a lot of great curriculum (sp) out there, but I use Calvert (www.calvert.org). It is a little pricey, but you get pretty much every thing you need. You may have to buy a few things for the crafts if you choose to do those. Plus, every lesson plan is planned out for you. My son loves it! He thinks it is so much fun. He bugs me to death wanting to know when we are going to do school. Right now they offer preschool through 8th grade.

Hi, we're using Calvert too! We just changed curriculums...we were using Abeka and decided to see how Calvert would work.

I'm waiting on the Placement test to come back, but we have already started schooling...we are basically doing review of all subjects.

My hubby really likes Calvert...at first I wondered if he liked it becuase he works in "Calvert" County, but that's not the reason . Anyway, he really like it and we can't wait to actually get everyting...hopefully within the next week !

I plan to have her visit the school sometime this year...it's in Baltimore, MD(we live in District Heights, MD)...about 45 minutes to an hour from us...great little field trip, plus we can visit the Harbor while we're there !

 

[tx_deputyswife]

Hey, what do you use for your 3 year old? What curriculum or books?

I use a combination of things with her. She learns sign language with her big sis, she has some computer software she uses, etc. If I had to name what we do, it would fall under unschooling (Priscilla's post was an excellent description). The actually bookwork we do is from workbooks that you can find at in bookstores, or even Walmart. And we read. A LOT!!! I have a Sonlight curriculum catalog that I use for book lists, as well as book lists from other sources.

Oh, and LeapFrog stuff. We bought her the DVD called "The Letter Factory" when she was 2 and within a month, she knew the alphabet, could recognize the letters and tell you what sound each letter made.

 

[MomToEli]

This is our 5th year homeschooling ds, who is in 3rd grade (we started with Pre-K). We LOVE homeschooling! We use Sonlight Curriculum for most things. We are doing a Kay Arthur study together for Bible which has really been a blessing to both of us.

I am so appreciative that my dh works so hard so I can be home and do teach my son. We started school 3 weeks ago, which is the major reason I haven't been on here that much lately. PC will take a backseat now that school has started.

 

[pamperedmom24]

You are the first Calvert user I have found! It is great and worth the money. I'm surprised more people don't use it. We went exploring with binoculars today. It was fun.

I see you are from Maryland. That is where the actual Calvert school is isn't it?

Yes, the actual Calvert School is about 45 min. from my house, funny thing is that I learned about it from a good friend of mine who lives in Florida . Many of my childhood friends are choosing to homeschool so that makes it easier. When we were growing up nobody ever would have thought we'd end up homeschooling. My friend started and had such good success it's become contagious. The program is so well structured and the amount of money I save on all new school clothes, backpacks, lunches, pictures, etc...pays for the program.

 

[pamperedmom24]

Hi, we're using Calvert too! We just changed curriculums...we were using Abeka and decided to see how Calvert would work.

I'm waiting on the Placement test to come back, but we have already started schooling...we are basically doing review of all subjects.

My hubby really likes Calvert...at first I wondered if he liked it becuase he works in "Calvert" County, but that's not the reason . Anyway, he really like it and we can't wait to actually get everyting...hopefully within the next week !

I plan to have her visit the school sometime this year...it's in Baltimore, MD(we live in District Heights, MD)...about 45 minutes to an hour from us...great little field trip, plus we can visit the Harbor while we're there !

I don't think District Heights is far from me. I live in Waldorf, which is in Southern Maryland. How old are your children? Maybe we can take a field trip together sometime.

 

[tpchefrebecca]

When my son was approaching pre-school age I really wanted him to go to private catholic school. We sent him and we discovered it was the least expensive at the time. It was a great school but then when kindergarten came around we really debated homeschooling. I didn't think I had the disciplin to do it. We didn't have the money but made sure it worked becaused the pub. schools were not that great (so we were told. Didn't have the resources to do the research ourselves at the time). Anyway, We ended up spending $3,500 a year and when DD started last year it went up to $7,000 a year. No wonder we couldn't get anywhere. The sacrafice was worth it. When we decided to move I did a lot of research and found a great district where my son is doing even better than he did in private school. He started mid year and this is his first full year. My DD is starting Lutheran Pre-school (our church doesn't have a pre-school yet) and it seems to be the one of the best. I am really excited for her and it is going to cost $1,400 this year. Again, can't afford it but we are making it work.

So my point is I give all you Homeschool moms a BIG HAND! I couldn't do it but my kids education and home always came first so the $ sacrifice is always worth it and it shows. The move was a good move.

I do have a question though. Could you homeschool in language? Are there programs out there where you could teach your children foreign languages without having to do all the other subjects? Just a thought since my kids want to learn spanish and korean since our new neighbors came from Korea and some family members speak spanish.

 

[priscilla]

I do have a question though. Could you homeschool in language? Are there programs out there where you could teach your children foreign languages without having to do all the other subjects? Just a thought since my kids want to learn spanish and korean since our new neighbors came from Korea and some family members speak spanish.

There are programs, but why not have your neighbors and family teach them the languages, food, culture, etc?

Robin

 

[love2cook05]

Ok, suddenly $3000 per year doesn't sound so bad. I think that is about what it is at our nearest Christian Academy.

No, $3000/year is a great price. On average out here the schools run about $4000/year. We are fortunate that our kids are able to go to private school. For three kids it costs us about $10,000/year. It's a huge chunk of money but the education is phenomenal...and to hear my 4 year old come home singing songs she learned in school about Jesus and the Bible is awesome! I believe that homeschooling can accomplish the same thing...I just know that my anxiety would not handle me homeschooling my four kids under age 6!! More power to you homeschooling moms!!

 

[tpchefrebecca]

There are programs, but why not have your neighbors and family teach them the languages, food, culture, etc?

Robin

My family is out of town but my neighbors I am sure wouldn't mind. I did do a search on the web and found some free starter programs so I might do that too.

 

[janetupnorth]

There is a lot of great curriculum (sp) out there, but I use Calvert (www.calvert.org). It is a little pricey, but you get pretty much every thing you need. You may have to buy a few things for the crafts if you choose to do those. Plus, every lesson plan is planned out for you. My son loves it! He thinks it is so much fun. He bugs me to death wanting to know when we are going to do school. Right now they offer preschool through 8th grade.

Thanks Jennifer - I will have to check them out!

 

[janetupnorth]

I use a combination of things with her. She learns sign language with her big sis, she has some computer software she uses, etc. If I had to name what we do, it would fall under unschooling (Priscilla's post was an excellent description). The actually bookwork we do is from workbooks that you can find at in bookstores, or even Walmart. And we read. A LOT!!! I have a Sonlight curriculum catalog that I use for book lists, as well as book lists from other sources.

Oh, and LeapFrog stuff. We bought her the DVD called "The Letter Factory" when she was 2 and within a month, she knew the alphabet, could recognize the letters and tell you what sound each letter made.

Leapfrog - I am STILL trying to get my videos back! I lent them to a mom of a 1st grader at my daughter's school who was having problems with basic sounds/reading. I lent them at the end of last year and don't have them back yet... We miss them...

 

[janetupnorth]

Love2Cook05 - like your signature - my kids like that worship song...


Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down...

...my kids have a worship tape that they LOVE that has that one it...

 

[janetupnorth]

There is a lot of great curriculum (sp) out there, but I use Calvert (www.calvert.org). It is a little pricey, but you get pretty much every thing you need. You may have to buy a few things for the crafts if you choose to do those. Plus, every lesson plan is planned out for you. My son loves it! He thinks it is so much fun. He bugs me to death wanting to know when we are going to do school. Right now they offer preschool through 8th grade.

For some reason that link isn't working right...


Edited to add: Forget that - found it! Calvertschool.org

 

[micocina]

I've been homeschooling our two girls and one boy since kindergarten. They are 12, 10 and 8 years old, doing 7th, 5th and 3rd grades.

We've always used the Abeka Academy DVD program and they love it. My kids are not socially deprived, they are very active, healthy children that have tons of neighborhood friends. They play piano, they participate in Ju-Jitzu, they are part of the childrens groups at church and they learned Sign Language just because. They definetly do not want to go to school. Ironically, the school bus stop is right in front of our house and they get to see their friends come and go.

Homeschooling has really been a blessing for us.