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TracyR

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Everything posted by TracyR

  1. Yep just an answer book. At the high school level they should be working independently. As for scoring work. I've had our evaluator tell me to pass the buck to my daughter. You'll know how they are doing when they do their tests. Its a matter of putting some trust on the student and expecting them to do what is right for themselves. I always tell my daughter I'll know how she is doing by her tests and if she wants to cheat herself , well that's her prerogative , and she won't be hurting anyone but herself. Again this is up to you how you want to have it done though. Most days I end up scoring her work because she forgets though.
  2. I use a K12 in PA. All cybers do their own thing in different states so I can't answer if they will want him to submit anything to them or not. But the new K12 math is , well, yuck sadly. I'm not thrilled with it at all and that's just with the K level mind you. They used to use Sadlier and Oxford and even that was better than what they have now. He possibly may like it though, so its hard to say. She could do her own thing , that is possible. I've dropped the K12 math and am using CLE with my 5yr old and am just clicking off the assignments online. They can try it and see if he likes it. If he does he can do the weekly assessments and test out and get to the level he can work with. Our teacher had said that she has several students working one or two grade levels ahead in some subjects. Its really up to her how she goes about it. She can figure out how its all set up with her K12 cyber and go from there.
  3. SOS isn't all 100% everything on the computer. They do give them projects to do outside of the computer. You can also print out lessons should you need to do that as well. I'm not familiar with the full curriculum of SOS but we have the State History and that's for 7th-12 and in each unit ( there are 5) they are doing one to two projects outside of the computer. There maybe more for the other subjects. I don't know. You are still involved in the learning process even with using the computer. But honestly there isn't anything online except for Time 4 Learning for a 7yr old. Your 9yr old maybe able to do SOS. You can just not use the Bible. There is nothing wrong with it if that's what you need. I have read many stories from families from the AO Facebook page that have had great success with using SOS with their children and it has even prepared them even enough for college. As long as you know what they are learning ( which, well with this 2012 version it would be impossible to not know) and supplement with some good books and videos they will be fine. Not to mention the 2012 already has small videos and tutorials on the SOS as well. I plan on trying the SOS science and History with my upcoming third grader this year.
  4. Julie, what version of the Biology do you have? Just curious.
  5. Just wanted to update: We got the State History today and , wow! I am very happy with it as well as my daughter. So much so she said she wants a few more courses in SOS. She likes to switch things up a little and not have it all just book work. I will say that from what I notice that lots of the negative feedback comes from those who used SOS quite some time ago and not their updated 2012 version. From what I have read the other year editions had technical glitches. I know there was a lady on their facebook page that asked this question that had a 2005 version. They said earlier versions did have glitches that not even the 2012 could replace if they updated it that they would have to buy the 2012 version. I will say I have had no glitches and I've been working on it today going through everything. The set up was easy. It did take a while for one of the steps but they have a book that literally takes you step by step. They have tutorials to get you through learning how to use it. In no time I had everything set up and my daughter did her first lesson today. They have games, small tutorials, little youtube like videos to explain the concepts even further. Its not just reading and doing the questions with SOS. I'm not sure if SOS was set up like this in the past. But I really do like this 2012 version. I like the teacher board, it has everything under the sun. It can even keep track of their credits for transcripts. Its grades immediately , you can print out grades , there is A LOT to it. It not only keeps track of SOS grades but you can also enter in grades from other subjects from other curriculums you are using too. I like worktext format too. But this is one exception I'll have to give. I'm impressed.
  6. Just went through this lesson with my oldest today. Two negatives always equal a positive :>)
  7. I'll probably be the first to admit that I do like Alpha Omega. I remember coming across it when I first started homeschooling. To me it was exactly what I wanted. Then I used it with my oldest , and we used their 1st grade level at the time and she was more than ready for it. She HATED it with a capital H. She would cry and run the other way. So I got rid of it and never looked back thinking it was the curriculum. Fast forward 9 yrs later and my oldest loves it. I had to finally cave in and order Horizons math for her. She loves it. I just recently bought the SOS State History course. It came today and I set it all up and my daughter is really enjoying it. She even said to me, "Mom, why didn't I like this curriculum? Was I nuts?" So really the Lifepac isn't bad at all. You will get tons of seething reviews on how people hated it, it was awful, etc. But in the end you need to at least give it a try to see if YOU like it or not. Because after all those years reading those reviews. I passed up on a curriculum that really is now working for my daughter. So maybe buy a few Lifepacs and try it out for yourself. It sounds like he may like that after all.
  8. I'll probably be the first to admit that I do like Alpha Omega. I remember coming across it when I first started homeschooling. To me it was exactly what I wanted. Then I used it with my oldest , and we used their 1st grade level at the time and she was more than ready for it. She HATED it with a capital H. She would cry and run the other way. So I got rid of it and never looked back thinking it was the curriculum. Fast forward 9 yrs later and my oldest loves it. I had to finally cave in and order Horizons math for her. She loves it. I just recently bought the SOS State History course. It came today and I set it all up and my daughter is really enjoying it. She even said to me, "Mom, why didn't I like this curriculum? Was I nuts?" So really the Lifepac isn't bad at all. You will get tons of seething reviews on how people hated it, it was awful, etc. But in the end you need to at least give it a try to see if YOU like it or not. Because after all those years reading those reviews. I passed up on a curriculum that really is now working for my daughter. So maybe buy a few Lifepacs and try it out for yourself. It sounds like he may like that after all.
  9. This is our one year anniversary becoming Catholic. You know there isn't all that very independent curriculum out there for Catholics like there is for Protestants. This year I needed my oldest to work as independently as she possibly could. So I have a little bit of ACE ( which we may be switching out to Alpha Omega for a few subjects). I just bought the Switched on School House State History for my daughter and honestly we were pleasantly surprised with it. I have read so much about how people hate it but I'm not sure if they used earlier versions but their 2012 is VERY good. The only thing I've had to substitute is religion. My daughters get it through Religious Ed class , but to me it seems our RE class is out of class then in. So I have to get something to supplement that. We came from having Sunday School every Sunday to there are vacations in between. LOL Anyways I have not had any problems , yet, knock on wood with Alpha Omega for the other subjects. Ace I've had to skim through a little because I know my daughter it coming up to the Reformation period so I'll have to look through the materials and see how its presented. Other then that I'm still not finding it to difficult to use being Catholic ourselves. You could even round out the religion with the Faith and Life online classes too. You even get a short trial period to try it out too. http://www.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/Home.aspx?pagename=FaithAndLife I haven't found an independent Catholic school curriculum yet. They all depend on some teacher involvement, even Seton. I hope someday someone will come out with an independent curriculum like SOS , or Christian light or Ace. Until then I'm willing to give and take a little bit to use what works for us to keep the sanity in our home. LOL
  10. This is our one year anniversary becoming Catholic. You know there isn't all that very independent curriculum out there for Catholics like there is for Protestants. This year I needed my oldest to work as independently as she possibly could. So I have a little bit of ACE ( which we may be switching out to Alpha Omega for a few subjects). I just bought the Switched on School House State History for my daughter and honestly we were pleasantly surprised with it. I have read so much about how people hate it but I'm not sure if they used earlier versions but their 2012 is VERY good. The only thing I've had to substitute is religion. My daughters get it through Religious Ed class , but to me it seems our RE class is out of class then in. So I have to get something to supplement that. We came from having Sunday School every Sunday to there are vacations in between. LOL Anyways I have not had any problems , yet, knock on wood with Alpha Omega for the other subjects. Ace I've had to skim through a little because I know my daughter it coming up to the Reformation period so I'll have to look through the materials and see how its presented. Other then that I'm still not finding it to difficult to use being Catholic ourselves. You could even round out the religion with the Faith and Life online classes too. You even get a short trial period to try it out too. http://www.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com/Home.aspx?pagename=FaithAndLife I haven't found an independent Catholic school curriculum yet. They all depend on some teacher involvement, even Seton. I hope someday someone will come out with an independent curriculum like SOS , or Christian light or Ace. Until then I'm willing to give and take a little bit to use what works for us to keep the sanity in our home. LOL
  11. Yes, we've done that as well. We bought an oil pan for $10 and some of those command strips and it was the best thing I have ever done this year. My daughters love it. I use it more than for just our spelling lessons. The only thing I don't like about it though is that it has a stamp from the company on it but we still have enough room to write stuff on.
  12. Thanks for sharing. I bought level 3 for my 14 yr old. I'm hoping it will help with the writing. I think she really needs to start there. I'd rather it be a little easy right now to give her some confidence in her writing. I'm figuring we can go through it at a steady pace, go into 4 and hopefully finish up the new school year with 5. At least that's our plan at the moment.
  13. The Switched on School House (SOS ) is the same content as the Lifepacs but for computer use. I can't comment quite yet on the SOS but I just bought their State History one for my 14 yr old because we have to have it for state requirements. Its tricky to try to find something every year for state history, but anyways I don't think Alpha Omega's curriculum is a waste of time. It just depends on what you are looking for, what works for your child. I always say is to try it and find out for yourself. Right now they are having a 20% discount on items and free shipping I think for orders over $35. I ordered the state history because it totalled to something like $23. So I figure we would at least try the SOS for one subject just for something different to do. I too much rather thumb through a book than have my daughters do computer work all day. I'll admit I'm impressed with their Horizons Pre Algebra math right now. Your best bet is to go to their Facebook page. There are lots of families there that use it and seem to be very happy with it. I've found though that this a great group sometimes people have a bad experience with something then it leaves a sour taste in your mouth before you've even tried it. There's been several times we're I've seen lots of people rave about a curriculum on here and I'd jump in , get it then be completely , and totally disappointed. Then there's time where people have told me they've not liked a particular curriculum, then I wouldn't use it, come around to again later, then finally try it and find out that I wished I would have used it a long time ago. I know there are plenty of people here that use Singapore math, rave about it and everything. You would think its the greatest thing since sliced bread. When I ordered it , not only did it make my 2nd daughter hate math, I began to hate it too. Then I bought Saxon , even though I had read everyone's seething reviews only for it to work beautifully for my daughter. So unless you try it yourself. You won't know if it works for you and your child.
  14. Thanks for the positive review. I'm hoping we like it just as much, and won't feel like we'd rather would have spent our money on a roll of Charmin. :lol:
  15. Yes, we have one coming up in the city but I won't be here on May 29th (when they plan on having it)because we have to take our youngest to Cincinnati for surgery. I'll have to check the used boards then. Thanks everyone.
  16. I don't know if you've thought about this. But Alpha Omega's Horizons is coming out with their Algebra 1 in the fall. I just bought their Horizons Pre Algebra and am very impressed with it. My daughter is enjoying it and it gives her plenty of practice. Their pre algebra ends with starting into Algebra 1 and also includes some Trig as well. I also like that they include college prep questions in it to prepare them for testing. Just thought I'd throw that out there for you to check out too.
  17. Have you tried All About Spelling? Its not just for young children, its also for children who have difficulty spelling and adults as well. It uses the Orton Gillingham method which is used for dyslexic students. This is my new approach with my 14 yr old that is a not so very good speller herself. I wished it had been around when we first started homeschooling for her. But I'm using it with her little sister so am including her in at least listening and watching because it teaches the rules too. Its very hands on, visual, and auditory all at the same time.
  18. Has anyone here used the program Writing strands, I'm talking about more than one level with success??? I bought this and am looking through it and am praying that it will help my daughter's writing skills. She likes to write but doesn't write well. I'd love to get IEW again, but can't afford it right now. So for those of you who have used more than one or two levels. Can you tell me how the program works as a whole? Have your children become good writers? Or ones that can at least write well? Has it prepared them for college writing? I sure hope so because I really needed to get something that is step by step to get writing instruction done. __________________
  19. Just wondering if there is any company that sells AAS for just a little bit less? I love the program. I just don't like the price. Our funds are really limited but I want to continue on with the program. Or is that is the asking price for anyone who sells it?
  20. Has anyone here used the program Writing strands, I'm talking about more than one level with success??? I bought this and am looking through it and am praying that it will help my daughter's writing skills. She likes to write but doesn't write well. I'd love to get IEW again, but can't afford it right now. So for those of you who have used more than one or two levels. Can you tell me how the program works as a whole? Have your children become good writers? Or ones that can at least write well? Has it prepared them for college writing? I sure hope so because I really needed to get something that is step by step to get writing instruction done.
  21. we've been with a K12 and Calvert charter. I know Connections uses some of Calvert in the beginning. I prefer K12. "I guess my main reason for doing virtual would be to have actual feedback from a teacher and have a teacher actually evaluating my children's work. I am not sure K12 will do that compared to what I have heard about Connections." No, I have not encountered this at all with cyberschooling. We even belonged to a cyber that did virtual classes and it was up to me to teach my daughter's the writing process, though their materials were not helpful at all. They would write their assignments and get their grades. There was no feedback, no evaluating and tips given. If you actually ever really encounter this please let me know. I know with Pacyber they got grades, but no one ever evaluated their work. Depending on your K12 and what they do they may do this a little bit. They did a few years ago but they've stopped doing that in our state. Does K12 take them through the writing process and evaluate rough drafts and give helpful edits and corrections and then they do a final draft on written work? In the 4th and 5th grade it takes them through the process, maybe even a little earlier than that. I only have experience with K, 1,4 6th grades so far. You have to do this together. Teachers are not involved with this process. You are the learning coach so therefore you do the work. " I am really speaking specifically about my middle school age children benefiting from specific writing guidance and instruction from someone besides myself. " Again , no. By middle school they expect them to be writing on their own. If they are given an assignment it is up to the learning coach to guide them through it and get the assignment done. They may have some classes here and there. But the ones we've ever encountered really weren't much help to my girls. Sorry for the negativity but if your looking for cyberschool to be your writing evaluator you'll be very disappointed.
  22. Saxon works great if your child needs the review. The difference between spiral and incremental and spiral is this: Spiral, a new topic is introduced while other topics are reintroduced and reviewed throughout the book. Horizons is this. Spiral and incremental is a new topic is introduced but in steps. Your child may start with learning how to add fractions with like denominators. Then your child will review other concepts in the meantime and learn new concepts a little at a time. Then it will come back around and next your child will now know how to add fractions but they will learn how to add but this time will have to find a common denominator. Its good for children who need to learn steps in small steps. If you have a child that needs to focus on a concept one at a time Saxon will about kill them. My oldest is like this. She needs to focus on one thing at a time. Spiral works for her, such as Horizons. But spiral and incremental she could not wrap her brain around. To many things being thrown at her at one time. All children are different. If your looking for a secular math program. Saxon is good. It really does prepare them and I don't agree it moves slowly. It does review though because its set up for schools and not homeschools. So the first 25 to 30 lessons are review but can easily be skipped. But once you reach new material it goes rather quickly into concepts.
  23. Wow ., there's lots available. I do like Time 4 Learning. My daughters have enjoyed it. I use it as a supplement though and not a full curriculum. There is also : Alpha Omega's Switched on School House Alpha Omega's Monarch ( an online version of Switched on School House , SOS) BJU has their Homesat program now on computer Abeka has a computer program K12 has a computer program Calvert has an online program For reading we've used Headsprout Reading Eggs Starfall There is quite a bit available out there.
  24. Wow ., there's lots available. I do like Time 4 Learning. My daughters have enjoyed it. I use it as a supplement though and not a full curriculum. There is also : Alpha Omega's Switched on School House Alpha Omega's Monarch ( an online version of Switched on School House , SOS) BJU has their Homesat program now on computer Abeka has a computer program K12 has a computer program Calvert has an online program For reading we've used Headsprout Reading Eggs Starfall There is quite a bit available out there.
  25. The only secular spiral math program would be Saxon math. None of the others that people have mentioned are spiral. Spiral programs : Horizons Spiral Incremental programs : Saxon Christian Light ( and believe me there are atheists here that use the math program its that good.) Rod and Staff is mastery with some review.
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