Comments on: WFMW: Homeschooling Schedule–oxymoron or reality? http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/ An American family serving as missionaries in Thailand Tue, 6 Jan 2009 22:34:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Sarah http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-166 Sarah Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:40:28 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-166 While I'm a homeschool mom (to little ones), I also teach at a homeschool association (hs'ers come to take classes a-la-carte a couple of hours each week; they and their parents do the study and work at home). Here are a few things that the veteran hs parents have mentioned as being helpful for their kids: 1. Saxon math (and you can usually pick it up reasonably at ebay or half.com) 2. Alpha-Omega (it's like school in a box) 3. Abeka's DVD curriculum 4. http://www.livingbookscurriculum.com/ If you like Charlotte Mason, this is a great resource b/c it's the simplicity of ordering the books and the plans (and it's a less expensive literature-rich alternative to Sonlight) I'm a *huge* fan of AmblesideOnline.org -- it's a CM curriculum that's FREE (You read that right!). I use it and from the comments and blogs of other users I've read, it's great from K through High School. I think you'd really like it (especially b/c so many of the books are available online). Ok, hope this helps! And thanks SO much for popping over to help me solve my gravy dilemma! I pray God will continue to bless your ministry and the community around you -- "through you all nations will be blessed"! While I’m a homeschool mom (to little ones), I also teach at a homeschool association (hs’ers come to take classes a-la-carte a couple of hours each week; they and their parents do the study and work at home). Here are a few things that the veteran hs parents have mentioned as being helpful for their kids:

1. Saxon math (and you can usually pick it up reasonably at ebay or half.com)
2. Alpha-Omega (it’s like school in a box)
3. Abeka’s DVD curriculum
4. http://www.livingbookscurriculum.com/ If you like Charlotte Mason, this is a great resource b/c it’s the simplicity of ordering the books and the plans (and it’s a less expensive literature-rich alternative to Sonlight)

I’m a *huge* fan of AmblesideOnline.org — it’s a CM curriculum that’s FREE (You read that right!). I use it and from the comments and blogs of other users I’ve read, it’s great from K through High School. I think you’d really like it (especially b/c so many of the books are available online).

Ok, hope this helps! And thanks SO much for popping over to help me solve my gravy dilemma! I pray God will continue to bless your ministry and the community around you — “through you all nations will be blessed”!

]]> By: Tina http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-161 Tina Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:31:08 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-161 I so appreciate all the input, thank you ladies. I have never heard of Winter Promise, I will be checking that one out, and thanks for all the tips about the heartofthematter website. I have some surfing to do! I so appreciate all the input, thank you ladies.
I have never heard of Winter Promise, I will be checking that one out, and thanks for all the tips about the heartofthematter website.
I have some surfing to do!

]]> By: Amy W http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-160 Amy W Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:06:44 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-160 Sonlight is good. Check out Winter Promise too. I just started using WP this year and I love it. It is a lot like Sonlight- a bit cheaper and much more hands on. The hands on projects are incorporated into the curriculum and it includes an easy guide as to the difficulty of the projects giving you multiple choices each week. I just can't recommend the curriculum enough! We get up at 8 am- get dressed, make beds and pick up rooms (we try to maintain rooms that are never far from a 15 min. clean up) and have breakfast and devotions. We start school around 9 am with our together or dependent work first- my girls do their independent work after that- so that they can work at their own pace and I can go and get other things done around the house. The bulk of our work is done by lunch time- with some reading and independent work finishing up during afternoon quiet time. Kids chores can be done in 20 min. or less and are usually done right after quiet time. We school at the dining room table and normally do one thing at a time until it is done unless it is frustrating- at which time we will set it aside for awhile, coming back to it later. God bless you as you join us in the journey again! Sonlight is good. Check out Winter Promise too. I just started using WP this year and I love it. It is a lot like Sonlight- a bit cheaper and much more hands on. The hands on projects are incorporated into the curriculum and it includes an easy guide as to the difficulty of the projects giving you multiple choices each week. I just can’t recommend the curriculum enough!
We get up at 8 am- get dressed, make beds and pick up rooms (we try to maintain rooms that are never far from a 15 min. clean up) and have breakfast and devotions. We start school around 9 am with our together or dependent work first- my girls do their independent work after that- so that they can work at their own pace and I can go and get other things done around the house. The bulk of our work is done by lunch time- with some reading and independent work finishing up during afternoon quiet time. Kids chores can be done in 20 min. or less and are usually done right after quiet time.
We school at the dining room table and normally do one thing at a time until it is done unless it is frustrating- at which time we will set it aside for awhile, coming back to it later.
God bless you as you join us in the journey again!

]]> By: Dana http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-159 Dana Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:23:43 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-159 Take a look at ww.simplycharlottemason.com. There are sample schedules and timelines, along with recommended resources. Take a look at ww.simplycharlottemason.com. There are sample schedules and timelines, along with recommended resources.

]]> By: stacey http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-158 stacey Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:56:06 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-158 Hi there! I wanted to let you know that there will be a carnival of homeschoolers chiming in on this subject on Friday over at www.heartofthematteronline.com We are doing a "Day in the Life at your Homeschool" meme where anyone can join in and link up! It will give us all a glimpse into each other's routines! I am looking forward to it so I can glean some tips from many different moms! Come join us on friday!! Hi there!
I wanted to let you know that there will be a carnival of homeschoolers chiming in on this subject on Friday over at http://www.heartofthematteronline.com
We are doing a “Day in the Life at your Homeschool” meme where anyone can join in and link up! It will give us all a glimpse into each other’s routines! I am looking forward to it so I can glean some tips from many different moms!

Come join us on friday!!

]]> By: Mandy http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-156 Mandy Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:42:37 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-156 My child is probably much younger than yours, but I wanted to tell you about a homeschooling website that just launched where you can find a ton of information and support for the things you mentioned: http://heartofthematteronline.com/ Good luck! My child is probably much younger than yours, but I wanted to tell you about a homeschooling website that just launched where you can find a ton of information and support for the things you mentioned:

http://heartofthematteronline.com/

Good luck!

]]> By: Cari http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-155 Cari Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:36:32 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-155 Check out Ambleside online! It's a free online charlotte mason curriculum. There are lots of great books and most of them have been put online for download if you can't buy them or borrow them. Just know that you don't have to do every single thing on the schedule or you will feel a little overwhelmed! amblesideonline.org is the website Check out Ambleside online! It’s a free online charlotte mason curriculum. There are lots of great books and most of them have been put online for download if you can’t buy them or borrow them. Just know that you don’t have to do every single thing on the schedule or you will feel a little overwhelmed!
amblesideonline.org is the website

]]> By: Edi http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-154 Edi Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:52:26 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-154 We are all early risers - so we begin school at 8:00 am. I have 2 kids (5&8) and this is our first year teaching the 5 yr old - so it's taken some getting used to having 2 different "classes". I kind of use the morning from about 8-10:30 for me to be involved with the lessons/tests etc. We spend however much time our schedule that day dictates. The afternoon is spent on worksheets/assignments. We are very flexible and sometimes lean towards "unschooling". There is always certain things we do - but I also encourage some "hands off" so the kids can do some learning on their own. For instance out of the blue yesterday my dd showed me a diorama she had been working on for probably an hour -based on a book she was reading. We've never done dioramas - she remembered one her cousin did a year ago. Kids need TIME on their own to be creative and to educate themselves. We are all early risers - so we begin school at 8:00 am.

I have 2 kids (5&8) and this is our first year teaching the 5 yr old - so it’s taken some getting used to having 2 different “classes”.

I kind of use the morning from about 8-10:30 for me to be involved with the lessons/tests etc. We spend however much time our schedule that day dictates. The afternoon is spent on worksheets/assignments.

We are very flexible and sometimes lean towards “unschooling”. There is always certain things we do - but I also encourage some “hands off” so the kids can do some learning on their own. For instance out of the blue yesterday my dd showed me a diorama she had been working on for probably an hour -based on a book she was reading.

We’ve never done dioramas - she remembered one her cousin did a year ago. Kids need TIME on their own to be creative and to educate themselves.

]]> By: Tina http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-153 Tina Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:30:43 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-153 Thank you Christine for your suggestions. I have looked at Sonlight, but not sure I can cover all three of my kids with the same core. There is too much a span between the oldest and youngest, both in ages and ablilities. I am looking at some of their books and other offerings though. Thank you Christine for your suggestions.
I have looked at Sonlight, but not sure I can cover all three of my kids with the same core. There is too much a span between the oldest and youngest, both in ages and ablilities. I am looking at some of their books and other offerings though.

]]> By: christine http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-152 christine Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:11:29 +0000 http://www.bunchofburts.org/wordpress/2008/01/09/wfmw-homeschooling-schedule-oxymoron-or-reality/#comment-152 Most of my friends on the mission field have their children's education paid for by the IMB, etc. So, they use Sonlight curriculum (which can be very pricey if you buy it all straight from the company). So, if that is your situation, I would say - look heavily at Sonlight. You can teach several of your children on the same "core." It uses living books instead of textbooks. It lays out the schedule for you, if you want that much help. We do our own thing. We start about 8:30 in the morning. The kids take a 30 minute break at 10:00 am. We usually finish around noon. Chores and any extra school is done after lunch. Most of my friends on the mission field have their children’s education paid for by the IMB, etc. So, they use Sonlight curriculum (which can be very pricey if you buy it all straight from the company). So, if that is your situation, I would say - look heavily at Sonlight.

You can teach several of your children on the same “core.” It uses living books instead of textbooks. It lays out the schedule for you, if you want that much help. We do our own thing.

We start about 8:30 in the morning. The kids take a 30 minute break at 10:00 am. We usually finish around noon. Chores and any extra school is done after lunch.

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