Hi everyone, Thanks for the other ideas, I will look into them. What is AOP? I don't know what that stands for!
Good morning, Dh and I looked at AOP's SOS (got it now!) Dh doesn't want an entire computerized program. 9yo ds seems not to be a visual learner either. I want the structure of SOS but the depth of unit studies. I do want someone telling me what to do when. I'm a little worried about ABeka because it's all workbook and I don't know if that would be what he needs. I do not know of any schools in our area that work with you. The ones I'm familiar with do not.
Okay, then probably Konos would be your best way to go. It is a unit study that is completely laid out and planned for you. The only thing (if I remember correctly) that you have to add is a math and you can pick a curriculum that has that laid out for you as well (Such as Saxon, Math-u-see, Singapore math, etc). Have you checked into Konos?
Hi Autumnleavz, Thanks again for the advice. I looked at KONOS before and I thought a lot of people had said it was a lot of planning? Another one I was looking into this morning was Heart of Dakota. Have you heard of that one?
I haven't heard of that one, but I'm sure it's fine. I know of a few people who used My Father's World and said it was wonderful. As far as Konos, when they talk about planning,they might mean having to read the lessons ahead, get books from the library to go along with it, that type of stuff. Maybe someone on here has used Konos that could tell you (You could put up a new post asking people who use konos more details)
Konos in a box would be good. It provides everything you need. All you need to do is review the evening before the lesson.
Someone here is using Heart of Dakota too... I heard it is really good! Check out Hands of a Child too because they do have all ready set up lessons as well.. and remath, you could do SOS math even, it is click and type numbers in, ds liked that up to the point he had to do a LOT of work in one day. He did SOS for 4th.
May I make a few suggestions? I dont want to start a debate but I do not recommend SOS for math or for any other subject. We got SOS this year for Language Arts and ended up quitting it during the second week of school. My son hated it, and so did I, and they wont take it back either because its software. LifePacs are easy to do (hardly any planning) but are not my favorites either. I recommend Saxon for math. We are using it this year and my son likes it. It also seems much more advanced than the Life Pacs we did last year. Also If your son is an auditory learner IEW has a spelling curriculum thats made of that. Let me see if I can find a link. http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/index.php?q=catalog/spelling I have heard him talk about this program and people say its good, but we dont use it. We use whats recommended by the WTM, Spelling Workout. We are doing a loose Classical type curriculum this year and I really like it. I dont know if this will help or not but maybe if you could read a few books like The Well Trained Mind or some others, you might have more of an idea which direction you want to go with your homeschooling.
I also love Saxon. It's very inclusive and I love that. We just started it this year and I am giving it rave reviews!
I'm new to homeschooling too and I definately get the "overwhelmed/what am I doing?" feeling. I just try to remind myself that the public school system did not meet my daughter's needs. I know I'm focused only on her (well mostly on her - my toddler is a huge distraction) and that's far more than the school could do. I don't really know what I'm doing yet but I know I have her best interest in mind and I know her better than anyone else does. That means, even with mistakes, I will probably do better than the school and I think you probably will too.
You just mentioned the two most important things....1) EVERY new homeschooler feels that exact same way! Every hs'er that I've ever talked to has said that they had no clue what they were doing at first. It's just like learning a new skill...it takes time to figure out your rhythms, what works for your child/ren and what works for you. There are so many new choices and decisions to make with homeschooling, but the important thing is that they aren't written in stone. If you make a mistake or pick the wrong curriculum, or feel like you want to add more to their day (or less!) then you can! 2) you have your child's best interest at heart and that's the most important thing. That's what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. Just keep that motivation and determination in your heart and you can't go wrong.
amccleary5, Thanks for your perspective. Over the summer, I totally agreed with what you said...ps wasn't giving him what he needed, no one would fight for him as much as I would, etc. Now I envy your ability to keep that in mind. I have replaced it with a knot in my stomach and can't get back to good. Every day I feel more behind. 9yo ds and I have a 5K on Saturday morning...should be running! I'm lucky to shower and let my hair air dry!!! What exactly I'm doing all day I have no idea. It isn't fabulous dinners either. And wait, not cleaning either! I do so much look forward to connecting with everyone's posts. Thank you for continuing to support me during this very overwhelming time!
I sometimes secretly fear that I will make things worse. I feel pretty optimistic now for two reasons: 1) I suddenly have this great support system here, and 2) I can already see changes in her confidence and her critical thinking. Hang in there.
newbie... after all the years I have been teaching mine, I still have an occasional moment, ( week?) when I wonder if I am doing the right thing. This too shall pass! Try this, write down on construction paper, what you know are your good reasons for home schooling... put them on the wall someplace where you will see them. so you can remind yourself daily! btw, My first home schooled child was tough, he didnt want to learn wasnt gonna do what I said but he gave in an did it cause I was mom.. (I often wonder how many trips to the school I would have made Lol) He tested at college level English/reading comp etc, in 9th grade so I know I did the right thing. My second child chose to home school again this year after being able to go out now for two years according to our plans... we planned to send them out to private schools for high school ... And my third one is my fun loving kid who will do what I say, is learning three times casue he learned a bit from what I taught the other two, then is really clear on h is answers where the other two seemed to be shaky then a little strong, he is all strong, so I am doing something right! Another thing_- pray and ask God to give you peace.
Yes, when they graduate!!! LOL Just kidding! Or maybe I am not!:| I never question whether it is right to homeschool Ems. I am positive we are doing the right thing. However, I occasionally wonder if I taught something correctly; math for example! Not my strong point. But I must be doing something correctly because after checking her work, she gets them correct.
