Does anyone here use this program? http://www.eagleswingsed.com/products/ai1.html I had a better link then this which showed the program in more detail. But wouldn't you know it I can't find it anymore. If anyone does can you tell me what you like or don't like about it? Thanks
www.quirkles.com This phonic program ends each letter with a science experiment. I haven't used either.
Hi Angie, yes we do a book evey now and then, inbetween other things. Where about to do 'How to make an apple pie and see the world' at the end of our letter A and apple theme.
FUN! We've taken the summer off from "official" schooling but will start up again in the fall with Volume 1. (Did Volume 2 first). Have fun!
Totally off subject, but what is winter like in Australia? What kind of temperature is average in winter and what kind of precip to you get there as well? Just curious, lol!!
lol this is an old thread, it's summer now! :lol: It depends where you live. We are sub tropical. A frost early in the morning would be conciderd a cold morning. probably no less then -2C. Most days warm up nicly, I think the kids only needed there coats twice. As for rain it's a very dry country. Drought and water restrictions is the norm. I'm not sure what the anual rainfall is here. P.s We orderd the programme about 2 weeks ago. eagles Wings told us 6-8 weeks to get here though!
Hi Jo! I don't think I've seen anyone ask you this before, but now I'm curious. What are the homeschooling "laws" like over there? Is it fairly easy? Is homeschooling very common?
easy? I wish. Every state here has it's own set of laws, just like the States. Queensland probably has the worst set ugg. There are 3 ways to get legal 'dispensation' 1. be a regesterd teacher 2.use a Gvt approved programe. At the moment that is distence ed (ps at home) ACE or BJU. I'm surprised Abeka hasn't been included unless its been added since I last looked. 3. make your own programe to be overlooked and signed off every 6 months by a regesterd teacher. however it is widly known then around 20,000 do so without getting this dispensation paper. While we have serously considerd joining the ranks of mass civel disobedience, basicaly we are too chicken! So we are looking to join an American umbrella school. As to how common it is, it is growing, but we are probably about 10-15 years behind the States. We live in a country town and there is nothing for homeschoolers here at all, not even a hs group.
I found out about homeschooling about 15 years ago. I knew 3 families that hs and was impressed by it. That taken together with my own bad ps and privet school experiences made me decided to hs any kids I might have in the future. Nothing I have reserched since about hs or ps schools has changed my mind. :lol: Sure send me the money. This is the American Umbrella school we are looking at signing up with- http://www.homelifeacademy.com/index.php Don't supose anyone here belongs to it?
If I had it I would! Glad you made that decision to homeschool! I haven't tried any umbrella schools, so I'm not able to answer that one.
I am under this umbrella. It is based about 45 min from us. David Parkerson (the administrator) is a great guy! I like it because it gives you the protection of a private school, but allows you the freedom to choose all your own curriculum. I think the acceptance application is worded something like this: You have now been hired as a teacher for HomeLife Acadamy. You are instructed to stay home and teach your students. I can't remember the exact wording, but it's something to that effect. All of their paperwork (attendance, grades, application) can be done online, which makes it very convenient. I use an umbrella simply because when my dd8 was tested through the school system, I refused to sign the IEP (which stated that "the mother underestimates the abilities of the child" and recommended that I place her in school for resource classes) and I wanted to make sure I was protected because of that. Let me know if I can answer anything else about HomeLife for you. I had no idea they covered Australia, too!
Wow you actually use them, great. I emailed them and they told me they do take internationals so we are really hoping we can use them, and so avoid our draconian hs laws. Do you find them as user friendly as there site is? I'm just waiting back on another email with a couple of questions I had. I would feel so much better if I could just say to people 'we go through a privet school' The stress of being under radar without a cover school just seems like too much worry to me, especially if we can avoid that for $100 a year. There site really explains things better then any other one I've seen and there prices are excellent too. The only cover school here wants $300 per year per child :shock: and dosnt seem as nearly user friendly. You can tell they want you to use ACE (there an ACE school) Lol if I wanted to use ACE Ide just get a dispensation. I have no idea if they have anyone from Australia enrolled, I'll have to ask! or does that break confidentiality laws...? Do you find reporting back difficult at all?
Reporting is not difficult at all. Really the records are for you only. You can update/change them at any time. The records are not so that someone can keep watch over you, but so that if you need them, they are available. The Parkerson's hs their children and wanted an easier option in an umbrella school. HomeLife was truly created for homeschoolers. The reporting is very easy. You will submit grades twice a year. The target dates are January and May/June, but there is a lot of leeway here. As long as grades are in within 6 months of the semesters end, you are still considered active. You set your own grading scale and assign grades as you see fit. The school uses Homeschool Reporting Online to keep records and the cost is included in tuition. Here it is only $30 per child/per year ($90 for me)--much cheaper than others. They will work with you if the money for tution is a problem, too. I can't say anything bad about teh school. I have had nothing but a good experience with them.
Oh, I would think that they could tell you if they have other Australians enrolled, but they may not be able to give out names. I actually think I may have marked on the application that my name could be shared with others in my area.
