Time 4 Learning Review--Homeschool Resource

Hi all,
  Well I had almost 4 weeks for my daughter to try out the Time 4 Learning online curriculum.  I have to say that I am impressed.  Even better than that....my daughter is impressed.  That's the key to happy homeschooling!

   Just a little background, we have been homeschooling from preschool through 4th grade.  She is now in the 5th grade.  In the past we have always used Abeka books.  They worked just fine for us, but things were becoming stagnant.  So, this year I thought we would look into some different curriculums and/or methods of homeschooling in hopes of bringing the fun and excitement of learning back into our day.

  Time 4 Learning   has definitely fulfilled our goal in bringing back the fun of learning.  The lessons are easy for my daughter to independently work on her own, then take quizzes afterwards.  She has never been so happy about being quizzed on information.  Some of them are set up as interactive game shows.  She thinks this is fantastic!  She is really enjoying doing her learning on a computer rather than just reading textbooks.  She just clicks on Language Arts, Language Extensions, Math, Science, or Social Studies, then just follow the arrow to the lesson plan.

  I would have to say that the cartoon characters/graphics within some of the lesson plans are a little hokey to me, but my daughter gets the humor and laughs out loud sometimes.  Ahhh!  Did you hear that?  She's laughing....WHILE LEARNING!  Jackpot!  

  After her daily lesson, I can go online to the parent login to check her progress.  I can see what she has completed and I can see her grades on quizzes and tests.  If she doesn't do so well on a quiz, no problem.  We can go back over the lesson together, clear up any questions, then take the quiz again.  

  Feeling a little lost, or overwhelmed?  They have that covered too!  There is a great "Getting Started" page on the website to cover most of the initial questions of how this works and how to use it.  There is also a fantastic "Parent Forum" that you can join to get to know others who are using the curriculum.  There are plenty of parents there who are more than willing to share their knowledge or help you with any questions/concerns, or to just make friends with others who are taking this homeschooling journey right along with you.

  Still have questions or need help?  You can email or call Time 4 Learning for fast responses to all your needs.  I myself had a question, so I emailed and got a response within a couple of hours.  Impressive!  

  

  Here's what they have to offer for one low monthly fee. 

Time4Learning includes the following:

• Online curriculum for grades Pre-K through 8th
• More than 1,000 interactive animated lessons
• Self paced lessons that kids will enjoy working on
• Math & algebra tutorials & printable worksheets
• Language arts, phonics & grammar lessons
• Interactive, project-based reading activities
• Science (grades 1st - 6th) & social studies (grades 2nd - 7th)
• Detailed reporting for easy record keeping
• Extensive lesson plans & teaching tools for parents
• and much more...

Time4Learning is web based, so there is no software to download, no CDs and nothing additional to purchase. Members can access the program 24/7 from anywhere with a computer and an internet connection.

  Go check it out.  I know I am very happy with what I found!  I hope you all are having a wonderful school year.  I know things are looking brighter here. :)  Yipee!

Happy Homeschooling!

Jennifer

Disclosure:  I was given a free trial for my review.  All the opinions are my own.

Note:  I would love it if you would email me for questions and my referral information if you choose to give it a try! I do get compensated for referrals. ;)  

Time4Learning--Homeschool or School Tutorial Resource Preview

  Hi all,

  We are going into our 6th year of homeschooling, and while we have always used Abeka Books with great success, we felt it was time for a change.   My daughter and I both needed to freshen things up and get excited again about homeschooling.  Things were just becoming to predictable and somewhat stale.  

  I've been invited to try Time4Learning for a month in exchange for a candid review.  Their online program can be used for homeschool, as an after school tutorial and for summer learning. My opinion will be my own, so come back and read about my experience. You can write your own curriculum review, too!

  I look forward to writing a post on my thoughts and experience with this curriculum in three weeks.  I hope you'll stop back in to see what we've discovered!

If you visit, and just think....."I like it! I don't need to wait for the review."  Then please be sure to say I sent you. ;)  I do get compensated if you use me as a referral, so thank you in advance!  You can email me for my referral code. :)

Happy Schooling! 

Jennifer

  

GPB/Discovery Education Homeschool Resource

Hi all,

  I have found an excellent homeschool resource.  How would you like to be able to view THOUSANDS of educational videos right on your computer...........FOR FREE?  Yep, I thought you might like that. :)

 Georgia Public Broadcasting has teamed up with Discovery Education to bring Georgia resident teachers a K-12 digital library chock full of videos that can supplement your studies.  (don't worry if your not a Ga. resident, I have information for you as well, at the end of the post)

All you have to do is:


1. Fax a copy of your 'intent to Home School' declaration to GPB Education at 404-685-2557OR scan and email it to education@gpb.org.
2. Include a cover letter that features your email address, mailing address and telephone number.
3. Once we have received your 'Intent to Home school' letter, we will create a unique username and password for you and send it to you via email.
4. After you receive your username and password, go to www.gpb.org/education
5. Scroll down and look for the GPB Digital Education login area on the left hand side of the page.
6. Log in with the username and password, sent to you.
7. Search for videos, images, animations, audio files and more.


Once you receive your username and password, log in to Discovery Education, then click on "streaming" for access to an array of videos.  


You can search by grade: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12  


Search by subject: English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Health, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, World Languages, Research Study Skills, Teaching Practices, Careers/Work Place Skills 


Search by Media Type: Full Video,Video Segment, Exploration, "Fun"-damentals, Reading Passage, Game, Skill Builder, Math Review, and more


  With all the videos to choose from, I can't imagine not finding the perfect supplement to use  with your current studies.


Go check it out!  I wasn't compensated in any way for this post.  I just think it is a superb resource and I wanted to share it with all you homeschooling Moms.  


  Now, I haven't forgotten about all of you non-Georgia residents!  I asked if other states had this option and for links for you all as well.  The contact person told me that you can call Discovery directly at 800-323-9084 or email Georgia Public Television at education@gpb.org and they will  get you in touch with the proper people to help you get set up.  


I hope you all have a wonderful upcoming school year!  


Happy Learning,
Jennifer


Disclaimer:  Again, I was in no way compensated for this post, it's just that good.  I had to share! :)
                                               
                                               
                                               

Practice makes Progress!!

  Hi all,
  I, like most of you I'm sure, have heard most of my life that "Practice makes Perfect."  I have used this expression many times to my daughter during school, or when she's working on her crochet.  Then one day my daughter asked me, while working on her penmanship, "But, is it perfect?"  I got to thinking that it's a lot of pressure to expect perfection.  Who am I to ask for perfection?

  Like this crepe mrytle in my yard, it's not perfect.  It has this lone pink bloom amongst all the red, yet it is still beautiful!  God knows that we are not perfect.

In Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"


  Rather than put the pressure of perfection on my daughter, I'm going to encourage just doing her best.  That's all I can ask.  


Like it says here in Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"  


  My daughter was watching an episode of "19 Kids and Counting," and I heard Michelle Duggar say something that left an impression on me.  She said, "Practice makes Progress."  I LOVE this!  In striving for and achieving progress, isn't that always doing our best?  


So the new motto in our home and in the classroom is, "Practice makes Progress!"  


Hope you all have a wonderful day!
Jennifer

Summertime Boredom?!

Hi all,
  Are your kids already saying....."I'm bored!"?   Do you wonder what to do to entertain them on those rainy summer days?  Here are some things I have come up with that my DD and I love to do:

-Let them pick out a coloring book for you and one for them to color or just draw on plain paper

-Get out that old tablecloth and cover your table to paint (or even better, back the cars out of the garage and lay the tablecloth out there to paint)


-Do a puzzle.  DD and I like to start those really big ones.  So, we bought one of those puzzle keepers (don't remember the exact name), that you can find in the puzzle section.  You can work on your puzzle, then it rolls up for safe keeping and storage until your ready to tackle it again.

-Go to the library (pick out books for both of you, and pick a nice interesting chapter one that you can read together out loud--maybe a child friendly mystery, wild western days, or begin a series)  Hint:  Stop at a good cliffhanger moment to keep them interested! ;)

-If you and your child are crafty....try a new craft.  There are loads of youtube videos that give step  by step instruction on how to crochet, knit, paper mache, polymer clay, scrapbook....the possibilities are endless.
Hint:  Find something interesting and get what you need to start before that rainy day comes, so that you have it on hand.

-Try a new recipe

-Board Games!!!

  Courtney from over at "Women Living Well" blog,  shared some really great ideas in her post titled, "Summer Boredom Busters for Kids." 


I also ran across the 100 Days of Summer from "50's Housewife."


Hopefully these lists will help keep the Summertime Boredom at bay, and you'll have a lot of fun doing them!

Have a great summer!
Jennifer

Homeschooling...To summer break or not to break

Hi all you homeschoolers,
  I have homeschooled my DD now from PreK through 4th grade (finishing 4th grade up soon).  I have found that going all year round definitely works better for us.  I tried following the public school system schedule and that just did not work!

  We both ended up frustrated after a long summer break trying to get back in the groove.  Not to mention the wasted time spent having to go BACK over information that was learned before the summer break AGAIN!   DD and I both were not happy about this.

  Our school year begins on Sept. 1 and goes through Aug. 31.  We attend school Mon.-Thur. and take about 6 weeks off throughout the year.  The three day weekends are so nice, and the 6 weeks breaks sprinkled through the are just enough. If for some reason we have to cut a day short or have an unforeseen bump in the week, we just use Friday for our day to make up any material missed.

  No more forgetting what was just learned.  Staying on a good schedule is much easier to achieve.  Summer time is great because the pool makes for a GREAT incentive to get our work done, so that we can enjoy the rest of the day at the pool with friends.  ;)

Do you school year round or do you take your summer break?  Either way, I hope you all are having a wonderful summer!

Happy Homeschooling!
Jennifer

How do you homeschool?

Hi all,

  Today I thought I would discuss how we homeschool.  We have been homeschooling our DD since the beginning.  She entered the 4th grade this year.  We homeschool year 'round.  Our school year goes from 9/1 - 8/31, taking small breaks throughout the year.  I have found this works better for us, rather than one big break.
    We have been using the A Beka Book program.  For those of you who are not familiar with this curriculum, it is Christian based.  You can purchase whole grade curriculums, or just the subjects you would like.  I like this program because it has all of the lesson plans laid out for me.  I know exactly what I need to cover each day.

  It has worked well for us.  She did exceptionally well with her testing at the end of 3rd grade.  Which gave me the confidence that I was not failing in my job as her teacher. :)  (Do any of you worry about that at times?)  I do have to say, that we find it a bit monotonous, so I usually try to supplement our learning through extra books from the library, or things found on the internet to liven it up a bit.

 I have to admit that using the A Beka Book curriculum has been my safety net in this whole adventure.  I think I would be overwhelmed (more like terrified) trying to use some of the other methods out there that don't use curriculums.  I admire those with the confidence to do this!    

 Which gets to the real reason why I'm writing this post.  I'm curious to hear about some of the other great methods out there.  I would love to hear how you homeschool!  What has worked for you?  What do you and your children look forward to learning?  Do you have a great project you would like to share? How about a great book?  My DD (9) LOVES to read series type books.  Do you have some suggestions you would like to share? How about pictures of your classroom?  Or, great supplements?  What do you do to make your day run smoothly?   I would love to hear anything pertaining to homeschooling.

  Please join the linky below with your post on a homeschooling topic!  Don't forget to add a link on your blog back here so that others can join in as well.  If your not a blogger, that's ok, just jump in on the comments below.  I can't wait to hear from you!

Happy Schooling!
Jennifer