Homeschool Perceptions -- Or Misconceptions

I was in the grocery store last week (at 9:30 am on a weekday) and had my 14 year old daughter with me. Since we didn't take Labor Day off, we took a day last week instead. While checking out, the cashier (a very nice young man) began exchanging "pleasantries" with me. He then looked at my daughter and said, "She looks like she should be in school." I told him that she was homeschooled. I steeled myself for the impending comments. He then began talking about how "ripped" public school was. He then said something like, "I always thought it would be cool to be homeschooled so you could school whenever you wanted to - if you wanted to." I just smiled to myself and thought, "Yet another wrong homeschool perception."

But isn't that what a lot of people think about homeschool? That we homeschoolers have no need of a schedule. That all we do is a few "subjects" a day and the rest is just playtime. I know this young man didn't mean anything by his comment. He just represents the majority of the public who has no knowledge of what homeschool is. They don't see the mounds of organizers and schedulers. They don't see the attendance forms (YES, I DO TAKE ATTENDANCE). They don't see the file in the Department of Non-Public Instruction. They don't see the transcripts. They don't see the end of the year testing. They don't see the countless hours of planning and pouring over curriculum catalogs. I don't blame them. I used to get offended by such comments. Not anymore. I just see them as uninformed - or misinformed.

As we walked out of the store that day, I put my arm around my daughter as she was pushing the cart to our car. I thought to myself, "Yeah, there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschooling. That's o.k. I wouldn't trade this moment for the world."

Time 4 Learning Review

I know I said I was going to wait to give a review on this program, but when something works why wait? My son is 5 and in kindergarten this year. I tried a few curriculums with him that just didn't work for us. Some he downright hated! I didn't want his first experience with learning to be a chore.

I had seen Time 4 Learning in the past and thought I would try it out. They have a 2 week trial period so I knew I could give it a try and see how he responded. He is a typical 5 year old boy who has trouble sitting still for seat work. But he loves the computer. That's what this program uses to teach - your computer. So far it is working very well for us. He loves all the animation and "games" - but they aren't games at all. It is geared so that learning is fun and at this age that is VERY important. He is learning alphabet recognition and sounds, rhyming, numbers and counting. He is learning and that is the bottom line. And his motor skills are progressing because he is learning how to use the mouse to point and click. Of course we still do some seat work, but the bulk of his learning is done on the computer and he can finish in about 15 minutes per day. He usually asks to do more! I sit with him to make sure he understands the instructions and he is grasping them very well.

It costs about $20 per month and I find that reasonable. So far, we are loving it. I'll review more as we go along. So Time 4 Learning gets a big thumbs up from me!

Going Classical

Not only have I ordered another history/literature curriculum for my daughter (see previous post), I have also ordered another english curriculum as well. This years curriculum is NOT working for us. Just more of the same. So I decided to start over and go classical in her education. I've always wanted to. I ordered Analytical Grammar. I am so excited about trying this one. I'll post all my findings about Analytical Grammar as well as Exploring American History when I've given it enough time to make a complete review.

My son is doing Time 4 Learning on the computer. He is kindergarten. I will also give this some more time and then do a review.

Still loving All About Spelling (see previous post). We are on Level 2. I really recommend this program.

Homeschool Perfection

Here is my chance to vent. Do you ever get tired of the standard of perfection that we homeschoolers seem to be held up to? Here is what I'm talking about. Homeschool how-to books, curriculum magazines, conference speakers sometimes tend to paint a very rosy picture of how the homeschool life is lived. Sure we all have our days when things are very good - all seems to be clicking along just fine and we are so glad of our decision. But what about those days when we seriously question this decision? I've had so many days like that! Days when nothing goes well -- my children try my patience to the end, the so-called perfect curriculum ceases to be perfect (or even so-called), schedules just go out the window, my children are in tears because they just can't "get it" - and I'm in tears because I don't know how to help them. I told you I want to be honest and transparent. We go to homeschool support groups and it seems that everyone (including me) paints on a smile and when asked how it's going with them you hear the same answer - "Just fine" - and someone launches into a dissertation of how wonderful homeschooling is. It IS wonderful, don't get me wrong. I just wish we all could be honest and when things aren't that wonderful, we are not afraid to say so. Ladies -- let's be transparent! It's OK to say that we are struggling, that we can't live up to that standard that is placed upon us by friends, family, media, and society. We are just normal, everyday parents trying to provide the best education for our children in the manner we have chosen.

Time To Jump In

I have always used textbooks for my oldest daughter. Bob Jones University Press has been our choice. We use HomeSat. She has always done well with this method. She is an independent learner and very much an over-achiever. Actually, that is the way she was born - by the book, a "textbook" delivery. New she is in high school - 9th grade. That is scary enough for any homeschool mom. Transcripts scare me. I started the year with all her textbooks, just like years past. But something happened this year to make me take another look. I can't put my finger on it, but it was something almost wild. I took a look at the textbooks and thought that I've always wanted to do what some other homeschool moms do and pack up those textbooks and use something different. Something like "living books." Something like other publishers. BJU Press has been wonderful and I wouldn't take anything for the past 10 years using them. She has learned so much - and not just academically but spiritually as well. When you've used one kind of curriculum for 10 years, there is safety and predictability in that. But I think we are ready for something else. And the exhilerating part is I have begun the process. I've packed up the science and ordered Apologia. I packed up the math and ordered Teaching Textbooks. Now I'm on to English and History. That's where I would like the "living books" to come into play. She is an avid reader and a literature/history lover. I'm considering Exploring American History published by Notgrass. I'm excited and scared at the same time. But I think it's definately time to jump in and shake things up a bit. We need more freedom, more enjoyment in our homeschool day. I may regret it and come running back but even if I do, I can honestly say that I gave into the wild side. Time to get out the packing tape!

All About Spelling Review

Well, before I get into all the curriculum that I've used that DIDN'T work for us, let me give a glowing review of one that has and is - All About Spelling. Here is why. My 11 year old daughter has a terrible time spelling. When she was 8, she was diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) as well as a mild language learning disability. I'll post more on CAPD later. So needless to say spelling isn't her strong point. I've tried A LOT of different spelling programs, some were quite expensive. They all just frustrated her or she didn't make any strides with them. I promised to be honest, so here is a list of spelling curriculum that I used that didn't work for her: Spelling Workout, Spelling Power, A Reason For Spelling (good program that I liked a lot and she liked it as well, but she just didn't remember the words she learned), BJU Spelling, SPIRE from EPS (great program, a lot like All About Spelling but much more expensive).

I found All About Spelling during a search on the internet and I am so glad I did. When I learned about her CAPD and LLD, I was told by a professional therapist that she needed training using the Orton-Gillingham method, a very multi-sensory program that teaches phonemic awareness. They had a program using this approach but we just couldn't afford it. All About Spelling uses this method. When I read that I ordered it immediately!

I was pleasantly surprised with the price of the program as well - just under $30 per level.

There is little parent preparation as the lessons are all written out and scripted for you. Love that! The only prep you need to do is cut apart the cards used for the lessons. I did that all ahead of time. You will need an index card file to keep them in. The tabs are provided for you.
The hands-on process is very easy. Your child will use the spelling tiles (individual letters of the alphabet) on a white board (you can put magnetized strips on the tiles - these strips can be ordered from the company) and the child will "build" words. The process of moving around letters to spell words is something that really helps to sink the words in their brain. My daughter loves to do this part!

Now to tell you about her progress. As I said, she is a struggling speller. If you've ever had a child who struggled in spelling - you know how frustrating it can be FOR YOU and the child. There were times I would almost be in tears. And I felt like a failure. But she is improving so much! We started out using Level 1. It was mostly review for her, words she already knew how to spell, but I wanted to really get the most benefit out of this program and start at the beginning. It helped to build her confidence as well. We did several "steps" a day. Now we are on to Level 2 and only do one step per day. One other thing I really like is the constant review built into the program. I am noticing that she is applying the things she has learned into her daily writing -- a process I thought would never happen. To say that I am estatic would be an understatement! I plan on continuing this program all the way through to the last level. Hopefully when I move on to a "traditional" spelling program, she will have all she needs to know solidified in her brain. She may always be a struggling speller, but she will have the tools to help her.

I like this program so much that I became an affiliate with the company. You can visit their site either by clicking on the link in the margin or following this link:

www.allaboutspelling.com/dres3

I'm that impressed by this program. I know what it is like to teach a child with learning disabilities and if I can help a parent through some part of their struggle, well, I feel that is the only decent thing to do.

Sheila

Welcome to Homeschool Sanity - A Place Where Sanity is Definately Optional

Welcome to Homeschool Sanity! The purpose for this blog is to be a safe place to share your frustrations and victories of the homeschool life. Let me tell you a bit about myself. My husband and I have been married for 18 years. We have 3 children - ages 14, 11, and 5. I've been a stay at home mom since the birth of our oldest child. I've homeschooled for 10 years. We are a "typical" family who has struggles and victories, too many bills, not enough time, debts, pets, and dreams. We are a Christian family who seeks to serve the Lord and really does try to get to church on time each Sunday!

This is my chronicle of my homeschooling experience. I promise to share the good, bad, and the ugly. I have used A LOT of curriculum over the years and I will give my honest opinion of them and how they worked (and in most cases why they did not) for my 3 very different children.

Please leave replys -- it helps so much to hear other moms who are struggling with some of the same issues you are. Let's encourage each other! Share your reviews, what works for you and why. Share your frustrations. I promise to share mine. I want to be transparent and help to dispell the myth that everything is "just fine" when you are struggling just to keep your head above the piles of textbooks, laundry, diapers, emails, daily schedules, doctor appointments, grocery lists and the quest for the perfect curriculum. This isn't a place to gripe and complain but a safe place to admit that we are struggling and need encouragement and/or help.

So to all the homeschool moms out there - welcome to Homeschool Sanity -- A Place Where Sanity is Definately Optional!