Not Another Homeschool Blog

Jordan was having problems with the time 4 learning program, so I am taking steps to adjust the way she works by adding in more learning games and some extra introductory explanations. She really liked the way time4learning taught, and I like the way it tests, but she was frustrated that she felt tested when she was trying to learn it... therefore, I am using eduplace.com and Iknowit.com to introduce the subjects before she goes on to time4learning. Time4learning is being more that cooperative and gracious with us and is working with us to make sure that it is not so difficult for future kids to learn through the site. Actually, they have it pretty down pat for 3rd grade and under, they are just trying to expand into the upper grades and I knew that when I joined the site.... So in all, I am pretty satisfied.

It was a form letter, but it was sent to me and only regarded one child. It stated that I had rights to use public school services for special education whether or not I was homeschooling or had my kids in private school. I was moderatly ammused and moderately appalled. How did my son get on the special ed rolls... i wanted to know. My husband called to question the letter and they told him there was nothing mandatory about the letter, just letting us know services are available. We asked how he got on this list and they had no idea. We are wondering if it was because he was considered for gifted program or if it was because he was actually put in a special ed class for a short while when we asked for reading comprehension class.... (of course I did not realize it at the time) Of course I can ignore the letter... but I am pretty steamed that my kid is labeled by the public school system.. My reward however is that he is very advanced at this stage so I does not matter what they th...

The online curricullum I purchased for my daughter got it's act together. We are one month in, and now we have a ton of work to do... I spent the day organizing it and drawing a chart to make sure she got it all done and did not run into the summer. Math and English are done I now need to look at the other subjects to see what goes with the time period she is studying... I am going to pick and choose through 4th and 5th grade in Science and Social studies while keeping with the Romantic time period which she is studying in class. My son is getting the hang of his classes.. today was the first wednesday week we were not up late getting his work done (due on thursday).

I realize my question is a little questionable, but I just have to wonder based on the State of GA Govenor Perdue announced today that schools will be closed on Monday and Tuesday to conserve gasoline. Of course to my family, that is no big deal because we homeschool anyway, but I have a sinking feeling that I will get alot of phone calls this weekend from people who want to go to work, but don't have alternate plans for thier kids. I won't be available though because my kids do have homeschool classes on Monday, infact, it is picture day. But what if natural disasters and Terrorism got so bad that people public school had to be shut down, either permanently or temporarily. With so many people having internet access , schools could easily supply a program like k12 to everyone who doesn't want to come up with thier own curriculum... the state of Florida and some others provide this program plus a laptop. How would families survive? Would nannies become popular so parents ...

If you are in GA, check out the following site: http://www.unitedstreaming.com/logins/login_www.cfm?unique=810DC726-BCDE-F2E8-7F5BEE2B81D248FD it is a website dedicated to educational videos and is pretty much a complete curriculum within itself. Non GA residents may call and check before you pay as well.

FIGURE IT OUR YOURSELF! Well not exactly. I had the opportunity yesterday to advise a woman who was strongly considering homeschooling her son. She lives in one of my old hometowns, and my Sis n law gave her my number as she is one of her clients at the Oxford learning center sis owns. Her complaints about school mirrored the problems my son had. The child is obviously gifted or at least already knows everything they are teaching. However, the school thinks it's ok for him to settle with getting the highest grades in the class and not challenging it any further. Therefore she wants to take his education into her own hands. My exact advise was to wait a little while. Since They are one semester in, I suggested she wait until holiday break while enriching him at home using Reader rabbit at an advanced level and critical thinking books and software. Meanwhile she needs to go into learning mode. Read everything about homeschooling that she can get her hands on. Find out about ...

I just got back the results of Jordan's, age 9, standardized tests. I used the California Achievement test for grade 3 through FLO Educational Assessment & Testing Service. I gave these tests last month before we started 4th grade lessons. Her scores are all over the place.... but as far as I can see, this is a good thing. Her total battery National Percentile ranking is 91% Her total battery grade equivalent is 6 grade month 1 Her highest grading subject is Reading comprehension with a 98% and a 10th grade 9th month level. Math concepts us almost at the same level. Her lowest grading subject is Language Mechanics (nouns, verbs, etc) is 42% which is a 3rd grade 4th month level. I plan to use a workbook I already have on my shelf called The Language Mechanic by Critical thinking co. to bring her up to level. From looking at her overall scores I can see that she can read, and do math very well, however she has some trouble explaining how to do these things. I didn't real...