RootAnn Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Since I'm still waiting for WHA to open their schedule for this fall, I've had a chance to look around for alternative online classes. Kolbe caught my eye since they use Foerster for Algebra II. (WHA uses Dolciani.) Before looking into online classes for this kid, I was planning on using Foerster, although Dolciani is obviously a perfectly acceptable alternative. Their 9th grade English class focuses on "intensive composition." "The goal of this course is to help students write well-formed expository, persuasive and compare/contrast essays." The whole first paragraph of the Course Description sounds wonderful for my writing-phobic-but-needs-to-get-over-it dd#1. (Not so thrilled with the vocab study, but I'm okay with it.) Has anyone taken either of these classes? Do you have a review you can share? Any teacher you feel strongly about (pro or con)? I see where some have taken Biology with Kolbe, but not so much the other online classes. I'm seriously pondering doing one (or both) of these since (over WHA) for a variety of reasons. But, I'd like to hear from someone who has used them first. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 I'm curious as well. Feel free to PM if that is preferable. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_l_e_0..Q_c Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 My youngest took both of these classes. As a parent I loved the math class! (come to think of it she didn't take the algebra 1 class. She started with Geometry and is now doing Algebra 2) I've been very very happy with those math classes! My kid used to cry during math classes with mom and now she's actually getting math! The English writing class, I can't talk about too much. I was very hands off and didn't pay much attention to it. (I was working at the time) It was okay at the very least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_l_e_0..Q_c Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 (edited) Be aware that those classes are distinctly Catholic. Not a big deal in math class, just an opening prayer but there were some assignments in writing class that were religious in nature. One or two, not a huge quantity but you may or may not feel okay with that Edited January 26, 2016 by C_l_e_0..Q_c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted January 26, 2016 Author Share Posted January 26, 2016 That's important to know. Thanks. So, for the Algebra 2 class, just an opening prayer & nothing else majorly religious? Do you know how they handled homework? How often were quizzes & tests? Were they in class or outside of class time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 Bump. :lurk5: Anyone else? I'm having a really tough time finding anyone (other than PP) who has taken online non-science courses from Kolbe. (I asked on the local Big City Catholic online forum & got absolutely no replies other than the founder of a Catholic charter school who wanted to recruit my kid.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 We're a Kolbe family but have only taken one online course - Physical Science. It was plenty rigorous. My main problem with Kolbe (online) is the price, but that may or may not be a problem for you. If you opt for the home course study plans, be advised that the online teachers do not assign every last thing listed. The enormous workload had me rattled for a while but I have learned to omit some items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 Thanks for the reply. We've used their home course study plans for science in the past, so I learned that lesson already. Kolbe (online) is roughly the same price as some of the other online courses I'm considering. However, the other courses have some online reviews even though some of them are just as new as Kolbe's online offerings. My poor oldest is my guinea pig and I like to have some sort of idea what I'm getting into. I guess I'll email Kolbe and see if they can put me in contact with some families who can give me some in depth answers to my questions. They have multiple teachers for some classes, including math, and they already told me that the teacher(s) could change for next year as they haven't nailed down the schedule yet. I'll probably end up emailing teachers as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarynB Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 RootAnn, I know this isn't what you asked about in your OP, but have you ever looked into Homeschool Connections? They are also a Catholic provider of online homeschool classes. http://homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 RootAnn, I know this isn't what you asked about in your OP, but have you ever looked into Homeschool Connections? They are also a Catholic provider of online homeschool classes. http://homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/ Yep. Several of my IRL friends use the recorded classes. Not what I'm looking for, but thanks. :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Homeschool Connections also offers a good selection of live classes. I've never used them, but they exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachermom2834 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 My ds took Kolbe Alg 1 online last year and is in Alg 2 this year. I am afraid I cannot give much in the way of a review because I am embarrassingly hands off with this child. We have to use online classes for him because he really does not take well to much oversight or input on his work at all. He started alg 1 as a math hating 9th grader with no confidence in math. He is doing much better now. It seems the classes are not too hard (he is not in the honors section) but cover the basics. Homework is not overwhelming. There is actually much less than I would have expected. I have only contacted the teacher a couple times and she was helpful and quick to respond. I wish I could give more details but I pretty much stay out of it as long as ds has a 90 or above in the class. I would be comfortable remaining in Kolbe classes but they are just too expensive for my family. Not sure how it will work out next year but for this year WTM Academy classes with an early registration and multiple class discount were a much better deal for a similar product. Given the same pricing structure next year, we will be moving to WTM Academy for our online classes. I generally have found anything coming from Kolbe to be high quality. I would take a class from there if I couldn't find it less expensively. About the English class- I have not looked at the English class but I believe I own the traditional homeschool plans for that class and it is not really what I would consider an intensive English class. The entire Kolbe curriculum is reading and writing intensive so this class is to go along with the full literature, history, and theology classes which are writing heavy. I am not sure how that course would be as s stand alone English course. It may be designed that way but it feels like the online academy, while it works to take only one class, intends to function best for students enrolled in the full slate of classes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_l_e_0..Q_c Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Not sure what your question is? There's plenty of work and reading and assignments and quizzes in every course. Kolbe is run like a school and not a homeschool extension , and that's my major pet peeve with them. You can't slow down. If your child misses too much they can kick your kid out of the class. I totally hate that aspect as my last child is often sick. But the classes are rigorous and most teachers are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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