What computer based curriculums do you love or hate and Why??

Time4Learning has Math, Language Arts, LA Extension (still not sure why they split it up) Science, and Social Studies. The 4-5th grade Lang Arts covers grammar, some vocab, spelling, and reading. You can check out the scope and seq on the website.

 

Us, too, but at least you have the option of correcting it for them. What I don't like is that some of the questions are just about things they want you to know about their program... like the symbols used for each type of exercise. They quizzed on that and he mixed up 2 of them... I just skipped that problem. :roll:

I wish they taught each subject like they teach the Spanish - he absolutely loves it!

 

Math U See is what we use and it's good for hands on for my younger ones. Been using this for about three months.
Time4Learning has been pretty good. Been using it off and on for the past five years now.
Starfall.com has been fun and it's free
Timzed Attack has helped the oldest with her multiplication facts and we use the free version.
Prima Latina I went and bought the DVDs for this and will for the next level. It's going much better with a video teacher.

 

We ditto TT! We love it! I did SOS last year for LA and we did not like it. It took way too much time and it was confusing and not thorough enough. I did like the advanced teacher functions on SOS though!

 

Timzed attack looks very exciting to me. I just looked it up and post marked it. I hope my kids find it as exciting. Thank you

 

My son was excited about Timzed Attack, but got bored with it very quickly.

 

Jackie

That is what I am afraid of with Timzed Attack and with Time4Kids. I need to find the best fit for us. I am discouraged because I gave my first test and the kids bombed it.

 

We only had the free version of Timzed Attack. He said "it was just repeating the same thing, but only with different numbers. There were no new levels." Well, yeah, of course it was repeating until he got them right, lol!!! And maybe if we had bought the "complete" version, it would have had new levels. But he got bored with it before he finished the free version.

 

Okay between Time4Learning and Switched on schoolhouse I think that my husband is leaning towards switched on school house. We have decided that we need to do something.

I know that some people said the they think the SOS is clunky but other than that is there anything else?

Pros and cons please!

 

One thing to be aware of is that SOS is very particular in how the answers are given. You will probably need to warn the kids about that and possibly go in and recorrect things.

I know that you are pretty much decided on SOS but I would keep Easy Grammar in mind for LA if not this year in the future. It is so easy and quick but so effective. I know a ton of families who use it and it only takes about 10 mins a day max for them to do the page of work.

 

easy grammar isn't out of the questions at all but I need easy everything LOL. In order for this to work for our family I have to have something that I don't need to spend some much time teaching. I want to be able to enjoy my family as well and I want to the kids to learn but I have such limited time because I work.

 

You spend maybe ten minutes a day with EG! VERY simple!!!

 

This is the deal, I have researching Time4Learning and Switched on Schoolhouse. This is what I have found:

Time4Learning: Seems that most people use it for a supplement to a charter school which in their state they can use on line. So, my questions is Does it cover enough material for it be the sole curriculium?

SOS: I have found that a lot of people say this is a "clunky" computer programs. Not so much user friendly with grading.

What I am looking for is a system that will hold a ADD and a ADHD kids attention long enough to learn. Because I have limited time to teach and i am finding with the pricey program we bought it to long and we are overwhelmed and i am loosing my kids attention. It is really hard once you lost it to get it back.

Any feed back we can get would be great. Because I plan on purchasing something today. I just want this homeschool thing to work. I DON'T want my husband to just say put them back into ps. ugh.....

 

Cherry, you might want to researach first on how computers and electronics in general effects ADD/ADHD children. My back ground is special ed, but this is definately NOT my area of expertise and it's been over ten years since I've been involved. But in the back of my memory are reports that extended time on TV/Computers/Video Games make ADD/ADHD children worse. Again, I'm not saying that is the case, but it's something you might want to check out first. That way you can make a more informed decision as far as exactly what and how much time you want to use computers for learning.

 

Jackie,

That is a fantastic thought. I will check into that I didn't even think about that!

 

You know I forgot about this one and just remembered.... now I forget your grade levels off the top of my head, but I'm thinking you said 5th? If so they don't have that level yet, but it's coming... but anyway, what about www.theheadoftheclass.com? It's FREE and covers EVERYTHING. I don't know why I'm not using it lol.

 

Okay, I did it! Yikes..... I just ordered SOS grade 4 and 5 complete along with the health elective. I sure hope this works out. I hope it isn't another disaster! But, I told the kids regardless they had to complete this.

I sure hope this takes the stress out of our family life regarding homeschooling. I think it will be a lot better for my dd who was trying to do 5th grade work and she is in 4th grade. I asked her if she thought she could do it. She said, that she would rather be in her own grade. Shame on me. To be new to all of this it sure has been a learning experience on my part as well as the kids.

They did a sample of time4learning and watched the video on you tube about SOS. They very much enjoyed time for learning. They were arguing over who was going to answer the questions. But, my 9 year old said, Ma- as much fun as time4learning is I think I am better off with SOS because I can hi-light what it is I need to learn and I can go back to it. Instead, of answering the questions. Even though I may get it right, I have nothing to reference. So, that was our deciding factor. I think it was very well spoken by a 9 year old.

Thank you all for your advise. It sure did help. I hope next time I am on here is to tell everyone how great it is going and not to be in panic mode.

Oh, I do have one more question. Do I need to contact my school and let them know that we are changing curriculums?

 

Cherry, my gut reaction is no, you don't need to let them know you're changing. But New York is one of the strictest states, so that may not be right. I know in Ohio you don't; I even add a disclaimer at the bottom of my forms saying that "This is a working outline only, and is subject to change".

 

You can send in a modified IHIP to just cover your basis. Just attach a note to say that you are modifying your curriculum and changing to SOS. If I am just changing one or two small things I do not bother to tell the district but since you are totally wiping it out and starting with an entire new curriculum it is probably better to cover yourself.

 

yea, I think I will send in something. I am a member of the HSDLA (or however that goes ) I will call them on Monday and do what ever they tell me to do. My principal at our ps in NY has not been so very friendly. Yay us!

Thanks again all!