I have a 5yr old DS and a 3yr old DD. We love Magic School Bus DVDs, Leap Frog DVDs and Reading Eggs (Brillant Online Reading Program!). I have tried my son on other workbook based programs but he gets very frustrated, bored and then we battle to even get him to do it. The only workbook based program that I still have him doing is Handwriting without tears, as we do a lot of playdoe based activities. I looked for more computer based programs and got a few of the Reader Rabbit discs but I'm quite disappointed as they are just games with rewards at the end and doesn't 'teach' the children the foundations of the topics and doesn't lead the children through a curriculum based learning system. We are also thinking of getting the children a wii or something similar for Xmas but only if there are educational based games available. I definately don't want shooting or violent based games in our home! Does anyone have any experience or advice in regard to these type of computer games????? Also, are there any other curriculum based computer programs that you have used or can recommend?? Thanks in advance
Well, I'm looking into Ultimate Phonics for in the Fall. Its not "edutainment" its educational software, plain and simple, but I think it teaches a good deal of mastery. Also, try KhanAcademy for Math. Its not pretty and cutesy but it starts from counting and goes all the way up to advanced maths like Calculus. EVERY lesson has a video to accompany it. It is FREE and there is an online curriculum/online math program that you can sign up for and it tracks your progress. You may have to supplement in the beginning stages by stoping and explaining or demonstrating place value with 100's, 10's and 1's or using fraction bars to be sure they are getting the concept, but they can do all their math on the computer. Also, just a peeve and worry of mine, be-careful not to get kids hooked on point and click type media. If you let him use the computer most of the time then OF COURSE books will be boring but...what does he expect to read most of his life?
Hi Gizzy, Thanks for your reply! I don't want my kids to be hooked on the point and click type media but it is what keeps them modivated and interested at the moment - I'm just happy that he is excited to learn and that every morning he pleads with me to do 'schoolwork'. :twisted: My kids still love books (reading and being read to) but my DS just gets extremely bored with workbook type schooling at the moment. We spent the last 6mths fighting with him and not doing any homeschooling due to his hatred of the workbooks that I had got for him - I thought they were pretty cool but obviously not! It is quite likely an age related thing and I hope that in the years to come he will only use the computer for an aid towards his learning and not a reliance.
IMO, online learning comes into its own when students reach the middle school years. Until then, it has to be entertaining as well as educational. Once students begin to get serious, then the full power of online learning can be used. The problem is that too many online schools (especially the public ones) are abysmal about creating content. They mostly create self-studies or instructor-led studies, and these are not much more than correspondence courses implemented online. To really make learning enjoyable online, there must be interaction - and a lot of it. For example, you look forward to visiting these forums because there may be interesting messages to read and others may have responded to a question you raised. Whyever don't most online courses do this? Interaction makes all the difference.
My kids really liked the Jumpstart CDs when they were younger. There is a way to try a bunch without breaking the bank! I have used this site quite a few times - if you order from PlanetCDrom.com, most of their CDs are FREE, the others at very low cost. The catch is, they charge you extra for shipping, but on a sliding scale. Here are their current shipping prices: 1 item $6.49 per item 2-5 items $5.99 per item 6 or more $5.49 per item LOTS of good educational software there! Karyn
I have never used it but have you looked at time4learning? My kids have an EasyLink that lets them play safely at places like pbskids.com, playhousedisney's site, fisherprice.com... so even without the link system you could use those sites. There is starfall.com which is AWESOME. I see my kids learn sooo much from TV, I have NO problem leaving on like NickJR channel all day or PBS kids all day. They learn way more from playing and tv than they could ever learn from a book. Even my oldest learns best by watching things on like History Channel and the Science Channel.
We use the computer a lot for my 6 year old he just learns better and I don't have to fight him so it's worth it! We're using reading eggs right now too, come Aug we'll be switching to clicknkids.com for phonics and spelling and of course we'll use http://www.spellingcity.com/ too. Here is a list of some things we will try this year...if we have time-it's all free resources, there a a few online educational games listed http://gapeachhomeschool.yolasite.com/primary-k-2.php
With a child who is a visual learner and special needs on top of that, I use computer based learning quite a bit. I include videos, youtube shorts and tutorials as part of computer based learning since some of these things aren't available through non-computer means. Point and click media may give the impression that there is no learning value involved. I would disagree. It's a great way to introduce computer use and function. And can be used to develop restraint and trustworthiness. (Some sites are ok and some sites aren't. Obey mom & dad. Don't go to the wrong ones.) Especially if mom & dad sit there with the child to explain why or why not. Just my opinion. Marty
I don't let my 5 yr old on the computer until after we have done all our other work. Then she is allow to "play" on the computer at ClickNkids. I signed her up for ClickNkids and she loves it. I dont know if the promo is still running but you can get 40% off by putting in the promo code SAVINGS.
We use Time4Learning and my son really likes it. He's 9 doing the 4th grade but it got us by for our first year homeschooling. It meets state standards and is only 20.00 month with no contract and you get a 2 week free trail. Also, you can set a timer so when he works for so long he's allowed to go to the "playground" to play games. My 4 yr old is so excited to start this program because she's watched him on it for so long.
