??? for homeschooling parents

[Margies3]

I am soooooooo tired of getting the run-around from our local school district regarding Keith. Our doctor said 4 years ago that she wanted him tested for learning disabilities. But no one will do it. They have "procedure they have to follow". Please!! Give me a break!! Enough already! At this point, he is failing almost all of his freshman classes. Last year, at the end of 8th grade, I begged them to hold him back because I did not feel that he was ready to move on to high school. But they wouldn't even hear of it.

So here's where I'm at. I'm ready to pull him out of school and homeschool him. I've heard about homeschooling programs that are done on the computer completely and that have teachers who then grade the child's work after they complete it. I've even heard of a program where they provide a computer just for the homeschooling and that computer cannot be used for any other thing.

Do any of you use something like this? What DO you use? How do you feel about whatever you are using? Is it any good? How expense is it?

As far as expenses go, I just talked to Keith's counselor at school. He has to take at least 3 or 4 of his classes again through the mail. At a cost of $150 EACH! So by the time I pay for that, I might as well pay for the cost of homeschooling him. That's my feeling anyway.

Advice, folks! I need advice, please!!

[Digging4Truth]

I have no idea what this is about... I just found it when searching... free tuition... totally online.

Dunno

http://www.k-12freehomeschool.org/?a...FQEoGgodBjXbDg

But.. we used School Of Tomorrow. You can order curriculum at http://www.schooloftomorrow.com.

There are online tests that Keith can take and they will tell him where he is in each subject. He might order 9th grade curriculum in one subject... 10th in another... and 8th in another...

It finds out where he is and starts hmi where he needs to be. Not too far advanced... and not far behind his current proficiency.

We had 3 kids and it cost us $900 or so... So I am assuming between $300-$400 dollars.

We don't homeschool now... but when we did we used SOT and liked it.

[Tina]

I use the Abeka curriculum with Kara, who is in 10th grade. She moves at her own pace, and I grade the work using the answer keys that come with the program.

With Michael, I use a variety of things because he's classified in 4th grade, but does 5th or 6th grade work in some subject areas. Some subjects I use Switched on Schoolhouse because he just does better with the interactive science and math programs.

There is a screening process available for most curriculum programs to see where you need to start the child, and it's always good to do those first.

Pricing varies, but on average most programs run between $300-$450 if you purchase all new software or books. However, you can always look at the retail places to find what you want then check ebay and save a ton of money on the actual purchases. I often find what I need for the kids on ebay for around $200 for each child.

If you're going to homeschool-- make sure and register with HSLDA and whatever agency is local to your area to provide an umbrella protection program. We use Gateway Christian Schools in Memphis. There is another one that is nationwide and you can register with them online. I can't remember the name of it at the moment. These places will keep a transcript of grades that you turn in to them, and provide those transcripts to colleges or potential employers that request them upon graduation. They will also answer any questions you have about choosing curriculum, provide info on curriculum fairs in your local area, etc.

I'll email the family in our homeschool co-op that uses the nationwide one and get the info to post here.

[Margies3]

Thanks, guys! I appreciate your answers.

Any other thoughts from anyone else?

Keith is REALLY objecting to this. What would you do in that case?

This is all pretty overwhelming right now. I appreciate your help!

[Tina]

Find the local homeschool co-op and go check it out before making a decision--and take him along. Group support is important. They have activities, field trips, etc for homeschooled kids. There are all kinds of opportunities for homeschooled kids to do apprentice work for school credit. Your local homeschool co-op can help you find those things. It's really not as bad as he thinks it sounds.

As far as the problem goes with the school system not doing the promised testing- Call the local school board office and find out who the advocate for children with learning disabilities is. That person will fight for the rights of the child-- and should get the testing done instead of giving you excuses.

[RandyWayne]

I used Christian Liberty Academy out of Chicago for 11th and 12 grade. However, it was more of a program where you as a parent would be grading. It sounds like you want someone (with an education background) to be more involved.
This being the case, my younger sisters used the Beka course out of Pensacola FL. They actually watched videotaped teachers teaching full classrooms.

[MissBrattified]

Homeschooling is a great idea, Margie! Just to address a couple of points:

1. Definitely take Tina's advice, look into your local support groups, and make sure you know what your state's requirements are. Oklahoma is a VERY easy state to homeschool in, but some states are a little more tightfisted about it.

2. My middle daughter, Sarah, wasn't too thrilled with the idea of homeschooling this year, so we made some compromises to make her happy--ultimately it's our decision, but I also want her to enjoy the experience--we enrolled her in the NOAH basketball program so she could continue her sport, Jeff allowed her to still pick out new clothes for the school year just as if she was going to public school (this was one of my little fashionista's main concerns, LOL!!!!), and we have helped her maintain contact with her two best friends, and they still spend the night with each other, talk on the phone, etc., on a regular basis.

3. Curriculum--I recommend finding a local store that sells curriculum so you can actually pick it up and look at it before you buy it and bring it home. I chose Bob Jones this year and I LOVE it, BUT it is very time-consuming preparing the lessons. It's a lot more challenging, IMO, and my kids really have done GREAT with the BJU Press Math and Science. Hannah was almost failing math and science last year, and she's now making (mostly) A's--and it's definitely not because the curriculum is easy. The one on one attention makes a big difference, and a test isn't just a test--it's an evaluation tool. If Hannah flunks a math test, I go back and cover all the material again until she understands it before we move on--an advantage they don't normally have in public school. (In our house, anything less than a B, and I go back and recover the missed material--only knowing 75% of the material isn't acceptable to me. ) Normally, though, if you go at a reasonable pace and make sure they're understanding as they go, retaking a test is rarity.

I'm not familiar with Abeka, but I will say that I do NOT recommend School of Tomorrow/ACE, especially for high school students. (Although their Pre-K/K reading program is good) Not only does the material teach bad study habits with the testing/checkup format, but IMO the upper grade math/science is academically inferior.

That said, I used ACE when I was in high school, so it isn't like I didn't learn anything--and plenty of other students have done well with it, but in general, there are much better courses out there. (Again, JMO, so no one get offended plz--I know a lot of Christian schools have used ACE.)

Also, if he's high school age, you need to check into the requirements for record keeping, but I will also add that accreditation is unnecessary. Many colleges will ignore the accreditation of private/christian/home schools anyway and still require a GED in addition to college entrance exams. So make sure you keep really good records, keep a list of his credits, and make sure he has enough. Most home schoolers have MORE than enough credits, and excel on college entrance exams. Just don't get trapped into the idea that you have to be affiliated with an accredited school in order for him to attend college. I attended a non-accredited christian school, was required to take my GED, and I still was able to apply for and receive both a music scholarship and an academic scholarship.

IF his objections have to do with his friends, make sure he maintains contact, and look into a co-op. If he's into sports, find the local homeschooling sports league, and sign him up.

Some kids struggle in school because they're bored out of their skulls.

[Tina]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Some kids struggle in school because they're bored out of their skulls.

That was what the first grade teacher who taught my son told me. She said he was an exceptionally bright child who was extremely bored with the classroom setting. She suggested that I try homeschooling him for the first semester of second grade-- and if I felt that I couldn't handle it, I could always enroll him back in public school beginning the second semester. I took her advice, and have never looked back. I think it's the best decision I ever made regarding his education. In fact after seeing his accomplishments in the early elementary years, I wish I had taken the girls out of public school much earlier than I did.

Now if I could just get Michael to love practicing his cursive handwriting skills more. He can do it if he tries, he's just such a messy writer it's easier to let him print so I can read his answers.

[Margies3]

Again, I thank you for the great advice. All of you!

I called my SIL who moved to Washington (state) so that she could homeschool her grandchildren this year. Their DIL had homeschooled the grandkids the year before and it did not go well at all. Pam says that things have gone much better this year. hooray!

Anyhow, she also had some really good advice. I need to discuss this with Walt before we make any firm decision. I'll be completely honest and tell you that the idea of me homeschooling Keith is terrifying. I'm not sure that I am up to the task at all. But I also don't really see any other alternative. I am so disgusted with the whole school system here.

It doesn't make sense to me to "try" something, then have a meeting, then "try" something else and have a meeting about that, and then.............. and on and on it goes until FINALLY you've exhausted all the ideas. And then at that point, they will decide to test Keith to see where he is at.
Wouldn't it make much more sense to test him NOW and then begin his education from that point? If they are requiring him to do 9th grade work when he is only capable of 7th grade work at this point, he is doomed to fail. So start with the 7th grade material and move him forward from there. Don't start with the 9th grade stuff and hope something clicks for him! Do you agree? The other thing that concerns me is the possibility that, while he might be capable of 9th grade work, maybe he has a reading disability (like dyslexia or something). In that case, let's address THAT issue. You see what I am saying?

I have been to the Superintendent of Schools. In fact, that is the reason why we had the first meeting we ever had. Before that, even when I asked for a meeting or something - anything! - I was told that he had "high F's" so he didn't qualify for assistance! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for letting me vent, guys. I wish I knew an answer. I'm open if you have any better ideas.

[Sherri]

Ashley homeschooled 3rd through 6th, and then 11th & 12th grades. Zac was homeschooled from 6th through 9th. I am a big advocate of homeschooling, but it does take discipline and lots of time. My kids always did A Beka - Ashley with videos and Zac with CD's. It cost about $1000 per year when they were doing it, and that included the books. You have to send the videos'/DVD's back by certain dates - they're pretty strict on that stuff.

With Ashley, I graded everything and recorded the grades with A Beka, as well as with our covering umbrella school here in TN, which was required. By the time Zac came along, I let A Beka do all the grading, since I was more pressed for time. It cost a little more, but it was worth it to me. They issued the grades on his report card.

There are things in A Beka that we didn't agree with, since they are a Baptist school and are totally against Spiritual gifts, tongues, etc. But my kids just knew to ignore that kind of stuff. They learned a lot from A Beka; I think it's a great course.