Anyone use this? I am really struggling with hsing two kids (3 years apart) - I just can't be in two seats at once and I need a change (I hs ecletically, which I find to be a lot of work for me). So, reading these boards I found out about the DVD courses from A Beka (I use some A Beka books with my dd and I really like them - well laid out). My questions about the DVD non-accredited course are: 1. Can you do this at your own pace (and take vacations when you want, etc)? 2. How long does the child sit and watch the videos and how much time is spent on actual workbook work? I'm hoping it's not more than the req'd 4 hours... 3. How much parent participation is req'd? (for example - do you do projects together, or 'homework'/classwork, science experiments)? 4. Does the parent get some kind of teacher handbook so they know what's coming and how to prepare? 5. The cost is roughly $1000 per child, right? 6. Can you skip a subject? - for example, if I want to teach the math, can I teach it, or use a different curriculum (I love Saxon and would worry that A Beka won't be as good). My BIG question - we're not even close - but when homeschooling you don't get a hs diploma, right? So, what will our kids get - a GED? I'm baffled by this. Right now my kids are 8 and 11, so I always assumed I'd send them back to school at some point, but now I'm not so sure and am starting to wonder about diplomas. Thanks!
I thought the DVD program was accredited. Now I'm confused. A friend used that with her 3 kids for a few years and it was my understanding that it was accredited and your children would get a diploma. They would keep records and transcripts. MamaBear I think uses this with her kids that are about to graduate. Maybe she will see this and shime in. I'm sure someone has an answer.
If you are having a hard time teaching both grades you can always enroll one child in the Academy and do the traditional with your other child based on their needs. In K-8 I taught the traditional program to my ds' because they are both in the same grade. Hope that answered your questions, if not please ask away. Or you can pm for more info. S Some background on me, we have used Abeka from K to present for my ds' and they will be graduating this May from Abeka Academy. We LOVE AA! Link to the dvd demo: http://www.abekaacademy.org/AcademicPrograms/DemoVideo/Default.html
They have program 1 and 2 dvd's. One is accredited and one is non-accredited. The program 1 which is accred. costs just a bit more.
I see. Thanks! I knew you would know. My friend used it when she first began homeschooling her 3 kids. I don't think they are using it anymore though. She said her kids wanted more interaction from her as a teacher. I think they are using Abeka just not the dvd program now.
When my kids were going into high school they seemed to want something different than mom teaching them. I think the AA really was wonderful for them in high school. I had it easy though, they are both the same grade. :lol: I have done all the teaching. My dh wanted to get involved momentarily but his way of teaching left my kids confused and looking like deer staring into the lights of an oncoming truck-glazed. They said he used too many confusing steps (over-explained) instead of taking the shortest route from point A to get to point B. So his involvement has been support, fan club and my cheering team.
Thanks Mamabear! I did go to their site and watched the demo videos and really liked it. Then I googled reviews and found that a lot of people didn't care for the accredited version b/c it was too stringent. The non-accredited offered more flexiblity. Thank God that cost is not a consideration with us..it's just what would work out best. So, you do get involved by correcting the papers, right? I understand that the videos are rented out - so you don't get to keep them - you have to have everything returned within 10 months. So, you can't do year-round schooling if you wanted to (too bad). How do you fill out your IHIP - do you get the materials before the deadline (or can you just get the info from their site)? Ah, the devil in the details. I'm still unclear about how homeschoolers get high-school diplomas...I see from A Beka, yes, they can if you go for the accredited program, but what about the rest of us? Maybe this question if for another thread...
Yes, I do correct the papers. I have not had a problem with the paperwork as I have always returned it on time. They supply everything to you. If you don't use an accred. program in high school you keep records of your kids work and grades in a grade book. I use a bound grade book from, you guessed it, Abeka. I have numerous bound grade books representing all the past years of home schooling. Anyway, you can type out the transcripts based on those grades in high school. Below is a link for diplomas that you can get: They are beautiful! http://www.homeschooldiploma.com/diplomas/index.php
When your kids graduate from your homeschool, they graduate. There is no need for a GED. You make up a diploma, but more than that, you make up a transcript during their high school years. I've never had an employer or college who needed a copy of my diploma, but they all ask for a copy of your transcript (or they call the school to verify graduation... so that call would come to you).
Cool, thanks! went to the HSLDA site and found it to be very informative regarding high school - transcipts & diplomas. The GED is usually for kids who haven't completed high school - so a homeschooled kid wouldn't get a GED. But the HSLDA does say that the child should take the ACTs & SATs (fun fun ::|) Okay, I'm really leaning toward doing the A Beka DVD class - but I don't think I'd go acredited at this point. Thanks for your help.
If you don't go accredited at this point you will be saving yourself some time and money because accreditation is not necessary in elem. grades. Hope we addressed your concerns. If you have any more questions or concerns please feel free to ask. One of us should know the answer. I think you will like Abeka Academy, it rocks!
Mamabear, Can you tell me using A Beka DVD: about how long a regular school day is: How long the kids watch the videos a day: How much time doing work: My kids will be going into 4th and 7th. thanks!
I can only speak from experience with the high school dvd program as we didn't start Abeka Academy until 9th grade, we used traditional Abeka before that. But, for high school, the videos are about an hour each with 6 classes per day so my kids spend on average 6-7 hours per day. They do their school work while watching the dvd's which cuts down on seat time. Our local public school goes from 8am-4pm which is 8 hours, so my kids spend less time than the public school.
Mama Bear thank you so much for that link. I looked over the transcript examples and that really helped to put things into perspective. I am a major preplanner.
You are welcome! So am I! I need my ducks in a row and don't feel in control if I don't have things planned.
I'll probably have my dd's entire high school shcedule planned out by the end of 7th grade! I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes to have everything all lined out. These transcripts are really not that difficult at all. I've been kind of worrying lately but this really puts my mind at ease.
That is the only way that I can function, I need structure. My dh is the opposite, he waits until the last minute to do anything and then it is chaos!
Isn't the diploma thing a state by state issue? In PA, unless you get an accredited diploma you cannot apply at PA state schools (I have been told, my kids are all too young to do this first hand).... We are part of a program t hat will track their credit hours, handle evaluations and testing when they reach 9th grade...they track it all and the kid earns and actual diploma. It's only $30 a year, and then Sr. year is more - like $30 plus senior fees of $45 b/c of forms and stuff they need to give to PA. A friend of mine who has a sr. says that if you don't do a diploma program in PA your child does have to get a GED to be able to apply to a PA state school?
We use A Beka DVD's. Each class is around 40 minutes. On days that a test (not quiz) is given, there is no dvd. The teacher usually give a lot of homework, but we choose not to do all the homework, unless he needs to. These ladies have given you a lot of good advice about this program. I love A Beka, too.
