K12 users

[Just Robyn]

What do you think? Specifically, I am wondering about their music and Spanish courses, but if their other courses are good that would make me slightly less nervous about dropping a couple hundred on it.

[newbie]

Not impressed w/Music. Spanish, did not do til High School and it was Powerglide, not imressed.

 

Their forte, IMO, is LA and History.

[EKS]

Did not like Spanish (high school level). And I didn't like the music courses I reviewed with a demo account.

 

I really like K12's science and history for the lower grades. The literature is good too, but with the literature you have to get the rest of the language arts, which is less than inspiring.

[corbie]

K12 is a great curriculum, but music and Spanish are not their shining jewels. Literature, History, Science, math are all worth it. We did Spanish and were really disappointed. Luckily, we did not have to pay for it. I have heard the music is not good either. Their core subjects are awesome. I'd find another resource for electives.

[Just Robyn]

Thank you. That's a little depressing because it leaves me back at not knowing what to do for music or Spanish, but at least I haven't spent a few hundred on more things we don't like. Now back to the search engines I guess.:tongue_smilie:

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

My ds attends a K12 school. I do not like the music since it is difficult for those who are musically challenged such as myself;)

 

How about Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts DVDs which is fantastic. Your library may carry it and Netflix does carry it. Also, Music Ace Deluxe is supposed to be good and there have been threads on it here:)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bernstein-Peoples-Concerts-Philharmonic/dp/B0002S641O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1265569725&sr=8-1-catcorr

 

http://www.amazon.com/Harmonic-Vision-41108-Music-Deluxe/dp/B00018AUBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1265569660&sr=8-1

 

These web sites are great as well:

 

http://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml?

 

 

http://www.sfskids.org/templates/home.asp?pageid=1

 

http://www.classicsforkids.com/

 

 

As for K12 PowerSpeak, we are using it for German, It is the first year elementary level. It is immersion style and at first I was not too keen on it. However, I now like it so much that I may even buy the Spanish version since my son likes it and is actually learning to understand and speak German. It uses a fun adventure story with a boy and a girl that is first introduced in English. Then they introduce some german words and then gradually start adding in more and more german words. The story is a continuing adventure and there are 180 lessons/year. They have activities to re-enforce German as well as mini-quizzes. It does not have grammar or a textbook. I have heard that the high school levels have grammar. There might be a free trial offered.

 

An alternative to K12 Powerspeak which I do recommend at least for elementary level is Elementary Spanish on Discovery Education United Streaming which also has thousands of other fantastic videos:) I bought mine from Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. They may even have a free trial as well.

 

http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-foreign-languages-curriculum/

Edited February 7, 2010 by priscilla

[Halcyon]

As a person who really disliked k12 music, i appreciate the link to ALL of these things--wonderful!

 

My ds attends a K12 school. I do not like the music since it is difficult for those who are musically challenged such as myself;)

 

How about Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts DVDs which is fantastic. Your library may carry it and Netflix does carry it. Also, Music Ace Deluxe is supposed to be good and there have been threads on it here:)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bernstein-Peoples-Concerts-Philharmonic/dp/B0002S641O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1265569725&sr=8-1-catcorr

 

http://www.amazon.com/Harmonic-Vision-41108-Music-Deluxe/dp/B00018AUBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1265569660&sr=8-1

 

These web sites are great as well:

 

http://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml?

 

 

http://www.sfskids.org/templates/home.asp?pageid=1

 

http://www.classicsforkids.com/

 

 

As for K12 PowerSpeak, we are using it for German, It is the first year elementary level. It is immersion style and at first I was not too keen on it. However, I now like it so much that I may even buy the Spanish version since my son likes it and is actually learning to understand and speak German. It uses a fun adventure story with a boy and a girl that is first introduced in English. Then they introduce some german words and then gradually start adding in more and more german words. The story is a continuing adventure and there are 180 lessons/year. They have activities to re-enforce German as well as mini-quizzes. It does not have grammar or a textbook. I have heard that the high school levels have grammar. There might be a free trial offered.

 

An alternative to K12 Powerspeak which I do recommend at least for elementary level is Elementary Spanish on Discovery Education United Streaming which also has thousands of other fantastic videos:) I bought mine from Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. They may even have a free trial as well.

 

http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-foreign-languages-curriculum/

[Halcyon]

we are easing our way out of k12. we will probably keep art and science next year (not 100% sure on that though). We had ALL the courses for almost 3 years.

 

History is good, but it's all online, which I am gettnig tired of. We've switched to SOTW.

 

LA is good, but too much! Worksheets galore. We've switched to the curriculums listed in my siggie.

 

Math is good, but I tried Singapore with my math-y kid and he prefers it. So do I.

 

Anyways, I hated the music. It was the only subject I could never bring myself to do, and we've never actually completed the courses, althogh we've tried.

 

I can't wait to try Music Ace Deluxe.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

we are easing our way out of k12. we will probably keep art and science next year (not 100% sure on that though). We had ALL the courses for almost 3 years.

 

History is good, but it's all online, which I am gettnig tired of. We've switched to SOTW.

 

LA is good, but too much! Worksheets galore. We've switched to the curriculums listed in my siggie.

 

Math is good, but I tried Singapore with my math-y kid and he prefers it. So do I.

 

Anyways, I hated the music. It was the only subject I could never bring myself to do, and we've never actually completed the courses, althogh we've tried.

 

I can't wait to try Music Ace Deluxe.

 

I like K12 for the most part since we use it free through a cyber school. It is classical and rigorous which I like. However, I am toying with traditional homeschooling in a year or so instead of public school at home:)

 

I agree that Singapore math is better and we do play with it. However, I also feel compelled to do the sadlier-oxford since it is assigned. I find Sadlier to be fairly good, but I would rather just to Singapore with its extra books. As far as history and science I also would rather do it offline coupled with a little more meatiness since my son reads his Kingfisher science and history encyclopedias in his spare time;) As far as K12 LA, it is good, but again I would rather spend more time on FLL and WWE as well as MCT:)

Edited February 7, 2010 by priscilla

[iammommy]

We used K12 for 3rd and 4th grade. I liked the Power SPeak language very much. In fact we're using it as homeschoolers now in fifth grade. Be aware, though, my nephew is a German major in college and he shuddered at some of the German pronounciations in Power SPeak Elementary German 1. We're using Spanish now and it seems fine.

 

I sort of liked K12 music. It's based on the solfege approach and music teachers rave about it.

 

History, Science and Language Arts are very good. Although, I did think there was too much composition work in too great detail. It turned my ds off of writing at all.

 

The Art is also excellent.

 

HTH!

 

Nan

[Halcyon]

I like K12 for the most part since we use it free through a cyber school. It is classical and rigorous which I like. However, I am toying with traditional homeschooling in a year or so instead of public school at home:)

 

I agree that Singapore math is better and we do play with it. However, I also feel compelled to do the sadlier-oxford since it is assigned. I find Sadlier to be fairly good, but I would rather just to Singapore with its extra books. As far as history and science I also would rather do it offline coupled with a little more meatiness since my son reads his Kingfisher science and history encyclopedias in his spare time;) As far as K12 LA, it is good, but again I would rather spend more time on FLL and WWE as well as MCT:)

 

Yes, it's free here in FL too, but we just moved to this state and had already paid for it as independents. I do have a local friend using it through the public school system (ie. for free) and I think I'd rather kill myself than go through the stress of 'keeping up' to the degree that she has to. She's so stressed out!!

 

I do think parts of it are wonderful, and 6 months ago I loved it, but I think we just got tired of feeling like we needed to 'check off' things eaach day, instead of having a good general plan but going off course down the rabbit holes somedays. Also, we now set the timer for a certain amount of minutes each subject rather than working until '2 sheets are done' or whatever. Providing my son is focusing, it works well. So he does, say 30 minutes of math work (after I've taught him the material) using his timer. For some reason, it makes him happier.

 

I found the music to be very teacher intensive, and also switching around between computer work and the cd and the dvd was annoying to me. I just didn't find it very well synchronized.

[JenniferB]

I LOVE K12. These are the subjects we are using, and I love them all: History, Art, Science, Phonics, Language Arts, Math (5th grade, 1st grade, and Kindergarten). I am not familiar with Music or PowerSpeak.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

I LOVE K12. These are the subjects we are using, and I love them all: History, Art, Science, Phonics, Language Arts, Math (5th grade, 1st grade, and Kindergarten). I am not familiar with Music or PowerSpeak.

 

I have to say that I like K12 too:) However, I want to play with WWE, FLL, MCT, and Singapore as well which is why I might switch in a year or 2;)

 

The music actually does seem good. i just wish they had it all online with some video instruction as well especially for those who are musically challenged and to avoid switching back and forth from DVD and CD:tongue_smilie:.

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

Yes, it's free here in FL too, but we just moved to this state and had already paid for it as independents. I do have a local friend using it through the public school system (ie. for free) and I think I'd rather kill myself than go through the stress of 'keeping up' to the degree that she has to. She's so stressed out!!

 

I do think parts of it are wonderful, and 6 months ago I loved it, but I think we just got tired of feeling like we needed to 'check off' things eaach day, instead of having a good general plan but going off course down the rabbit holes somedays. Also, we now set the timer for a certain amount of minutes each subject rather than working until '2 sheets are done' or whatever. Providing my son is focusing, it works well. So he does, say 30 minutes of math work (after I've taught him the material) using his timer. For some reason, it makes him happier.

 

I found the music to be very teacher intensive, and also switching around between computer work and the cd and the dvd was annoying to me. I just didn't find it very well synchronized.

 

There is a little stress in keeping up. I have found that I have gotten used to it and am less stressed about it now:) I find there is a good 6 month to a year learning curve so to speak with a cyber school. I am glad we stuck it out though, but I still will probably change to traditional homeschooling to better meet my son's needs. I still think though that the K12 curriculum is outstanding overall.

[JenniferB]

I have to say that I like K12 too:) However, I want to play with WWE, FLL, MCT, and Singapore as well which is why I might switch in a year or 2;)

 

The music actually does seem good. i just wish they had it all online with some video instruction as well especially for those who are musically challenged and to avoid switching back and forth from DVD and CD:tongue_smilie:.

 

I've decided to use summers for the other curriculum I wish I could use. I'm going to do the American Girl books with my oldest (which will reinforce A History of US), and SOTW V1 CD w/ Activity Guide with my younger ones, which will reinforce History 1. I'll probably add a few other things in too, and do workboxes. :lol:

[Just Robyn]

My ds attends a K12 school. I do not like the music since it is difficult for those who are musically challenged such as myself;)

 

How about Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts DVDs which is fantastic. Your library may carry it and Netflix does carry it. Also, Music Ace Deluxe is supposed to be good and there have been threads on it here:)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bernstein-Peoples-Concerts-Philharmonic/dp/B0002S641O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1265569725&sr=8-1-catcorr

 

http://www.amazon.com/Harmonic-Vision-41108-Music-Deluxe/dp/B00018AUBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1265569660&sr=8-1

 

These web sites are great as well:

 

http://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml?

 

 

http://www.sfskids.org/templates/home.asp?pageid=1

 

http://www.classicsforkids.com/

 

Thanks! Music Ace Deluxe is now on my wishlist.

 

As for K12 PowerSpeak, we are using it for German, It is the first year elementary level. It is immersion style and at first I was not too keen on it. However, I now like it so much that I may even buy the Spanish version since my son likes it and is actually learning to understand and speak German. It uses a fun adventure story with a boy and a girl that is first introduced in English. Then they introduce some german words and then gradually start adding in more and more german words. The story is a continuing adventure and there are 180 lessons/year. They have activities to re-enforce German as well as mini-quizzes. It does not have grammar or a textbook. I have heard that the high school levels have grammar. There might be a free trial offered.

 

Hmm.. good to know there is no grammar. :glare: If it's entertaining enough it still might be worth it, but I'm glad to know that in advance.

 

An alternative to K12 Powerspeak which I do recommend at least for elementary level is Elementary Spanish on Discovery Education United Streaming which also has thousands of other fantastic videos:) I bought mine from Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. They may even have a free trial as well.

 

http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/homeschool-foreign-languages-curriculum/

 

We watched the first lesson of Elementary Spanish on discovery education streaming and have the book for it. I am so-so on it. I think it's great, but couldn't stand alone. Unfortunately that is how I feel about every children's Spanish "program" I've looked at.

 

We used K12 for 3rd and 4th grade. I liked the Power SPeak language very much. In fact we're using it as homeschoolers now in fifth grade. Be aware, though, my nephew is a German major in college and he shuddered at some of the German pronounciations in Power SPeak Elementary German 1. We're using Spanish now and it seems fine.

Thanks for the heads up on the pronunciation. I will consider that.

 

I sort of liked K12 music. It's based on the solfege approach and music teachers rave about it.

 

Good to hear a dissenting view. It forces me to do more research before I reject K12 music.

 

History, Science and Language Arts are very good. Although, I did think there was too much composition work in too great detail. It turned my ds off of writing at all.

 

The Art is also excellent.

 

HTH!

 

Nan

 

I have to say that I like K12 too:) However, I want to play with WWE, FLL, MCT, and Singapore as well which is why I might switch in a year or 2;)

 

The music actually does seem good. i just wish they had it all online with some video instruction as well especially for those who are musically challenged and to avoid switching back and forth from DVD and CD:tongue_smilie:.

 

Again, the dissenting view is helpful. I have printed out their scope and sequence and requested a demo to try to make up my own mind since there are people on both sides.