On Friday, Michaela decided to try to take the unit test on decimals and see if she could pass it so she could be spared having to do all the work. She desperately wanted to return to Time 4 Learning. She passed with flying colors and so began her day today with Math once again.

She definitely prefers Time4Learning over the DVDs from Bob Jones HomeSat program. (Not that I blame her, as the pre-algebra tapes are *not* the best! Too bad Mrs. Vick doesn't teach Pre-Algebra!)

Our Educational Specialist with Horizon Charter School arranged for Daniel to be involved in a math online program called "Aleks." Daniel tried that today instead of the Math from Abeka. I don't like not having any control over what he is doing, though. I have to find out if there is a way to log on as a parent or something.

So, the upshot is, we are still adjusting to exactly what we will be doing. Aleks claims to adjust according to the student's ability. It will be interesting to see if it does. Daniel seemed content enough. I have asked him to return to do another 20 minutes with it after he finishes lunch. That should give us a guage as to how happy he will be with this approach. It would be nice to find something he enjoys, but it isn't necessary!

On Monday, my attempt to have Daniel work online to do review of operations with decimals proved not to be so spectacular. So, both kids, for now, are doing the BJ grade 8 pre-algebra chapter 3 to review decimals. Since working with decimals needs to be really solid and since we haven't done much with them in a while, I figure now is a good time to take a month and work with both kids together. We aren't doing much together for homeschool this year--the kids are in completely different curriculums (except for Bible).

So, this meets my need to feel a bit more in control of this vital subject area and to fill in this HUGE gap for both of them. We may move more quickly through it than the lessons are designed since it *is* a good review. Further, we may use the online program, Time4Learning, for enrichment, review and homework. I have to figure out how to make the most of all of it.

Today was our first lesson together using the BJ DVDs for math. This isn't their best teacher--that much is certain! Last year, with Abeka, I ended up turning off the math teacher. He was killing any interest my kids had in Math. I ended up preparing and teaching a lot of the lessons myself just like I did back when I was a classroom teacher. Frankly, I liked it and the kids seemed to as well. We may have to do that for decimals. A part of me hates wasting so much money. We have dumped a fortune into the BJ HomeSat DVDs this year and are really not using what we bought. It is frustrating.

Oh well. Daniel is still enrolled in a charter school and I sort of hope to pull him out and do what I feel is best with him. He loves having a stack of text books and workbooks and then just being set loose to do it all on his own. He is amazingly self-directed. He is hyper-focused, if anything. I hate to ruin that. If I could find something that would work as well for him that I could afford, I would pull him out of the charter. The relief I have felt since pulling Michaela out is wonderful!!!

All for now.

Today I have found that my 14 year old son, who is doing Algebra, has run into a hole in his understanding. So next week, we will be doing a review of dividing with decimals. Daniel has Asperger's Syndrome. Some place AS on the autism spectrum. He is intelligent but has some quirks in his personality and also some things that make learning challenging. One thing that has been difficult over the years is his memory is spotty. One day, he may show a mastery of something. The next, he will look at a review of the same material, *KNOW* that he knew it the day before, but all his understanding is gone. It is as if he never learned it. It has been so hard on him when this happens. It makes him angry and frustrated and he feels stupid--which he is NOT!

On Monday, we will use Time4Learning to review division with decimals. I don't think that this is one of those "spotty memory" moments. Instead, I think he needs, simply, to review something he was never that strong in. So this should help a lot. The question is...will DANIEL like it? He is very computer and "video screen" oriented. He will be a tough customer.

My desire, to be honest, is to be able to use Time4Learning for Daniel on a regular basis--like once or twice a week. I would love for it to be his idea.

So...we will see what happens on Monday!

Just heard from Time4Learning. Their software will be updated to reflect all the "missing lessons" within the next few weeks. In the meantime, Michaela has access to the 7th grade material and can either do those as refresher lessons and/or she can skip some of the lessons and go on to unrelated lessons. For instance, she doesn't have any lessons showing up in Plane Geometry. She doesn't want to go on to 3-dimensional Geometry until the Plane Geometry is mastered. Good idea. So, we have skipped to the fractions.  Most of that should be review at this level (I hope!).

I am pleased to have heard that things will be right as rain before too long. In the meantime, Michaela can keep on.

Also, I just thought about the fact that since Michaela is working on Life Science with the Bob Jones DVDs, she can, perhaps supplement it with the Time4Learning lessons, too. All of the subjects are included which is great.

Again, I guess we are still in process, finding our way!

Once again Michaela wanted to start her day with Math by logging on to Time4Learning.com. Wonders will never cease!

However, *this* time, she ran into a snag. Some of her lesson folders online are empty and she became concerned about this as it means she doesn't have assignments waiting for her. So we put a call in to Time4Learning. We are optimistic!

In the meantime, I guess we will acquaint ourselves with the new materials for all the subjects that arrived from Bob Jones. Right now, here is what Michaela, my 12 year old,  is doing:

* Language Arts Grade 9 from Bob Jones - the HomeSat DVD

* World Studies Grade 7 from Bob Jones - the HomeSat DVD

* Life Science Grade 7 from Bob Jones, again, the HomeSat DVD - She switched from Physical Science (the 9th grade) program to this because she loves the teacher she has for Language Arts who also does the Life Science. Further, my kids and I have done a LOT of Physical Science over the years, but not as much Life Science, oddly enough. (My major in college for a while was Biology!) This should be a great opportunity.

* Math has been Time4Learning and we also purchased the 8th grade HomeSat DVD program from Bob Jones.

* Today we will get the Rosetta Stone Spanish 1 for both kids to try out as well. I am eager to see how that goes.

* Both kids and I are doing the 9th grade HomeSat DVD "That I May Know Him" bible class from Bob Jones. Of the three units that came this year with HomeSat, we like this one the best. It is a study of the gospel of Mark and has stimulated some good discussion.

Michaela just signed up for a music co-op to be a part of. Every other Friday, she will get to learn the flute, learn how to play in an orchestra, be in a choir and even use handbells! She is excited. I am, too, as she works so hard at academics, it will be fun for her to be able to plunge into music for much of two Fridays of the month.

All for now!

Ok...this is just TOO weird. My daughter, TOTALLY unsolicited, just said, "I like problems with orders of operations...In fact...I LIKE math now."

If that isn't worth $19.95 a month, I don't know what is. VERY cool.

Ok, if that doesn't tell me something HUGE, I don't know what would.

We planned on starting the day with our Bob Jones DVD Bible lesson. However, the DVD player is on the fritz. Upon seeing my consternation, Michaela eagerly said, "Should I start with Math?"

If Time4Learning can actually turn my non-Math appreciating daughter into a student so eager to do Math, then I am hooked as well. WOW!

Now to convince my husband that it is worth $20 a month to continue it, even if we *have* just paid out the wazoo for Bob Jones DVDs and curriculum!

All for now!

It amuses me that just a few days ago I said we were beginning to coast a bit!  That was optimism!

Truthfully, we are still in transition. Or transition again.

After ordering new materials for my daughter two weeks ago, we were concerned about what we would do in the interim while we waited for her new materials from Bob Jones to arrive. I did a search on the internet for "online lessons homeschool pre-algebra" hoping to find something that could challenge her but not defeat her. She is very bright and can be very critical as well. I don't mean to say she is not a great kid, because she is, but she evaluates teaching methods and philosophies that are integrated into the presentation of material and a host of other things. She can be a VERY tough audience!

Our biggest concern was math, thus the reason for my search. I wanted to be sure she continued progressing in some way, filling in the holes in her understanding. In fact, this was *her* request as well. She skipped two grades last year and got A's in Pre-Algebra, but somehow, we felt that she had missed some things...or hadn't become confident enough in some aspects of the math curriculum that she needs to master. Math is her least favorite subject.

Anyhow, back to our search and the results. I clicked on the first link that was posted and it was a site called Time4Learning. At first, I had the impression that it was mostly for younger children. Browsing around a bit I realized a pre-algebra and even algebra option was offered.

Michaela and I tried out a sample lesson and I asked her what she thought. It passed her scrutiny! I evaluated the requirements to sign up and noticed that while it costs $19.95, there was a no risk guarantee. I could unsubscribe any time I wanted, too. That worked for me.

We signed up for what I assumed would be only a month--until her new curriculum arrived.

The thing that amazed me immediately was my daughter went from putting off Math to do until after all her other subjects to flipping on the computer and doing math first thing. Suddenly, my student who didn't like math, was starting her day with it by choice! Not only that, but she was building on concepts that she had a basic understanding of...and was challenged at the same time. It was a perfect combination...but how long would it last?

Today is Monday. She has done Time4Learning pre-algebra lessons for about 2 weeks now. Last week, the lessons *really* challenged her. So today, I will be watching to see what she starts her day with...if it is still Time4Learning or if she decides once again that Math isn't worth starting off with.

Add to that...we received her new curriculum two weeks early. It is here. Frankly, I think the new material looks *too* easy. This week will be interesting as we evaluate what we really will do next.

Big question for today...will she or won't she...start with Math and Time4Learning? I will post here what happens! Personally, I can't wait to see.

Continued from previously...

My kids diligently worked through AGS (Daniel) and Michaela, though only 12, did all of the ninth grade work from Bob Jones HomeSat DVD program.

However, I noticed that Michaela was emotionally a wreck. The quantity of work, combined with the quality that she demands of herself, added to the fact that I wasn't there to provide any sort of support...it all added together to overwhelm her. I stepped back and evaluated what we were really asking my little 12 year old to do. It was a HUGE burden. My husband and I prayed, evaluated, prayed some more and that is when we decided to step things way back.

It took us about a week to really know what that would look like and to [gulp] deal with the financial ramifications of having to purchase different materials after the first batch cost so much! Bob Jones DVDs and curriculum isn't cheap!

Two weeks ago, I got on the phone and ordered 8th grade math (in California, pre-algebra is only 7th grade math, so it would match my daughter chronologically since she is "supposed" to be in 7th grade). We ordered World Studies (another 7th grade program), and Life Science (7th grade). I wasn't sure where we would end up once all the materials arrived. I only knew that something had to give for Michaela. She is incredibly motivated, but also a perfectionist. For a 12 year old to have skipped two grades AND to demand of herself that she pulls a 4.0...no way. That can't be good. I want her to just be a kid!

We eagerly looked forward to a little bit lighter load so that hopefully she could pursue some interests and not just have school consume every minute of every day. She loves playing her piano and, at times, wants to play with her horse or do other fun things.

Time is gone. All for now!

I am Heidi. Welcome to my homeschooling web journal.

My two children and I are at a very intriguing place in our homeschooling lives. Never has a year begun with so much turmoil. Never have I held so many doubts and been required to do so much searching for answers!

And as challenging as the journey this year has been so far, so is it now rewarding as I think we are beginning to coast a bit, settling into our routine (for now!). I am so thankful!

A bit about us...

I always knew I would homeschool, as I moved from being a sixth grade classroom teacher to a full-time Mom when my children were born. I knew that I wouldn't want to leave home each day to teach other peoples' kids as long as I could possibly stay home with them and teach them instead!

We live in California and began homeschooling ten years ago when my oldest, Daniel, was only four. My youngest was a very precocious two year old and wanted to learn everything big brother did! We began with Five in a Row, "Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons," and graduated to Sonlight's Kindergarten. We had so much fun!

By the time Daniel was six, he was reading at a third grade level. But we were in a position of having to put the kids in a public school. We did and it ended up being a great year! Daniel was in second grade and Michaela in Kindergarten. We were fortunate and the year was wonderful with two wonderful classroom teachers who understood the strengths of my children and was patient with their weaknesses.

By that time, however, we had received a diagnosis on Daniel. Among other things he was on the autism spectrum--officially Asperger's Syndrome. At that age, however, it wasn't as obvious as it has become since then. What were only mild differences between he and his peers when he was seven or even eight, have become glaring social abnormalities (as far as his peers are concerned) at his current age, 14.

After the year in public school, we returned home for our schooling. I had missed it and both kids asked to be homeschooled again! As long as my kids are asking me if they can be home with me, I will probably *not* turn them down! Talk about precious!

We coasted along. I generated a lot of our own curriculum for a while or pulled from different places for a more "ecclectic" approach than we had used previously. We all loved the Pirates! unit that we did together and later, we used KONOS to help us with a unit that integrated Medieval Life with all aspects of our curriculum. What a blast! We finished that particular year with a wonderful Medieval Feast with relatives and friends all attending in costume. We presented poems and plays, ate "authentic" medieval food (well, much more sanitary, perhaps! LOL!), and generally had a wonderful time.

Last year we made a HUGE transition to Abeka's DVD Academy. Instead of my haphazard, "What shall we play with today?!" approach, we had things we were responsible for. The lessons were laid out, assignments made, tests designed. It left me with very little to do but to supervise and use a teacher key to grade their work! Both kids were ready for 8th grade. It was a tremendous change to go from hands-on, kinesthetic experiences to more of a "book learnin'" style of education. The material was very challenging, but we presevered. All in all, we had a year of learning so very much! It was intense, but well worth it!

Both kids began the 2006-2007 school year planning on working through 9th grade material. Michaela wanted to switch to Bob Jones HomeSat on DVDs and material for 9th grade. After evaluating a demo version of the material, I was all for it. Daniel, however, was at a place of needing short blocks of material to work through. He is using text books and work books (which he loves...don't ask me how!) by a company that goes by AGS.

But when it was time for the school year to begin, some family challenges (settling my Mom's estate, cleaning out and selling her house, etc., etc.,) caused my kids to be basically on their own with their work for the first three weeks! Yikes!

I have to say, I have amazing kids! For three weeks, I was home very little. My work for my Mom required that I travel and hour each way to her home and spend hours away from home. While I was gone, the kids faithfully worked through their lessons. When I finally got home each day, I spent time looking over what they had done...all without my supervision. (I can't believe I am admitting this!)

My kids are AMAZING! Have I said that already? They really impressed me with all they accomplished.

But when we stood back and evaluated, I could see that our plan for this year needed tweaking. Some SERIOUS tweaking.

More on that tomorrow, in my next blog entry!