Comments
Survey
7:54 PM, Feb. 18, 2006, posted by
GogoMama
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
All year, really. But August is probably the biggest month.
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Various.
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
Online.
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
Usually by word of mouth. There's so much out there that it's hard to know how good a product REALLY is without a recommendation.
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
Oh yeah. I'm working on it ;-). lol
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
Price is important, reputation is probably more so, customer service has to be great.
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
I think most are doing a pretyt good job at this.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
Consumables, hands-on materials, extras.
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or separated so that you can pick and choose?
I prefer to pick and choose.
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
It's most important that they'll actually get USED. And it's nice when they span a wide range of ages/levels.
Untitled Comment
9:28 PM, Feb. 18, 2006, posted by
eyecorn
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
August and January
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Various times. Usually, by January I"m ready to abandon a lot of what I bought in August.
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
Conventions and online.
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
Conventions, magazines, online
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
I'd love to see more literature helps, espeically for high school. I really want my DS to be well read, but there are times when I'd like to do more than just have him read the book. I want him to be able to analyze people, events, conversations.
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
Recommendations from others who haved used the product. Then, being able to "see it in person".
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
Have a sample lesson from their product that we can print or download., especially if I'm buying without seeing it in person first.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
MATH....my goodness, I've purchased more math programs!!!
A close second is history.
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
pick and choose.
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
educational quality
Survey
Find my survey here.... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ccpeterson/86588/
The Survey Says!
Hi! I completed the survey on my blog..
Untitled Comment
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
All year
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Various times thoughout the year
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
Mostly online from online stores
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
magazines, websites, message boards
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
all subjects for middle and high school students, home economics, economics
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
online sample lessons, unlimited access with subscription, continued updating of materials by vendor, price, quality of product, customer service
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
By providing products for high school students
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
History
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
separate
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
hands on, age appropriate for high school
Survey
I couldn't get the trackback to work so check out my blog
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/askkorndorff
Untitled Comment
7:33 AM, Feb. 20, 2006, posted by
kleo30
I answered the survey on my blog..... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kleo30/ I'm looking forward to reading others' answers.
My answers
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
Usually in Feb/March (after we get our tax refund.)
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Mostly at once but buy a few things throughout the year.
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
all of the above.
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
online usually.
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
not yet.
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
Mostly things and companies I know and are familiar with also things that work for me.
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
I think some curriculums are way over priced. It would be nice if they would offer discount days or discounts to regular customers.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
Phonics
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
It depends on the curriculum.
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
both fun and educational. It would also help if it were easy to use.
Untitled Comment
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
Year around. More so around June(planning for new year), October (getting items that will pass a birthday and Christmas items) and March (extra money from Income tax).
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Throughout the year
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
Catalogs mostly some at a local Bilbe Bookstore
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
Friends, magazines and catolgs
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
Material for Logic and thinking skills
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
Definitely seeing a sample of a few pages (not just the table of contents)
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
Have samples of pages on their site. I would rather this than recommendations from people I don't know.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
Logic and thinking skills
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
Separate. I won't even consider anything in a bundle.
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
Fun. Teaches something without looking "schoolish"
Drum roll please.... haha
10:06 PM, Feb. 20, 2006, posted by
JeninNB
My answers can be found here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeninNB/87560/
Answers
11:04 PM, Feb. 20, 2006, posted by
Sweetie
If I knew how to put a link in my blog to your site, I'd answer there, but I haven't figured it out yet, so here are my answers... lol!
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
Usually April and August
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
I do my main shopping all at once, but then pick up *little things* throughout the rest of the year.
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
conventions, local stores, and through a christian acadamy that I have *linked* with
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
Friends and online mostly
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
more CANADIAN based Christian curriculums
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
customer service, discounts, prices, previously positive experience
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
sample materials to take home and look through
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
right now, phonics/reading
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
bundled, but I haven't found one bundled program that fits us perfectly, so it's nice that there are other options ;)
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
quality (advanced), visual (son is a visual learner), straightforward instructions for parents, worksheets (my son loves worksheets!)
my survey
10:22 PM, Feb. 21, 2006, posted by
telmar
I posted my survey on my blog http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/telmar/
Poll Answers
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
Between April and August-depends on sales!
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Various times
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
Mostly online! (usually can find better prices)
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
Magazines or catalogs
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
More earlier readers for boys!
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
best price
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
n/a
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
Science
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
Separate so I can pick and choose
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
I need items that can fit all three of my kids (7 to 4) which is usually easy, but occasionally I have trouble finding something that fits all of us.
survey
10:03 AM, Feb. 22, 2006, posted by
millydog
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping? January-March, some in Oct-Nov
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year? Various times
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores? Online, catalogs are the main sources. Convention is in summer (too late for me to order) and no local stores offer any homeschool
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..) online, magazine, friends, catalogs, convention shows
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...) reading programs that do NOT include writing at earliest levels (have a child with fine motor problems so the writing portions are a waste) because we like to chose our own writing program
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...) Price, free samples, web group I can ask questions to (you know, *real* users*), but most of all, great customer service.
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you? let me see samples, allow product to be sold in traditional stores or schools supply stores as well so I can see them and buy as needed, have better descriptions in catalogs or have scope and sequence posted somewhere so I can see what is REALLY offered in the product. Involve parents in revisions more.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on? Right now, reading/phonics. Next will be history and science since I want a literature approach and my public library has few desired books availble.
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose? Separated by subjects first, but available as a full bundle if I want more.
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..) most important is that they actually teach something or reinforcea skill. Easy to use and fun follow closely behind.
Mine is on my website
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Momof5littlewomen/88492/
Untitled Comment
9:11 PM, Feb. 22, 2006, posted by
Kristi67
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
I do quite a bit of my shopping in April or early May to avoid backorders.
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
I usually place one large order with Rainbow Resource, because I can get most of the items in one place and qualify for free shipping. Items that I would like to look at, I wait to buy at the homeschool convention, which is in June in our state.
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
Mostly online, but some from conventions as noted above
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
I learn about new homeschool products from friends, homeschool magazines and many from recommendations on my email lists.
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
I think that most areas have a wide variety of resources of available. Perhaps curriculums that are specifically geared to certain learning styles would be helpful. I think there are many out there, but they don't necessarily promote that the curriculum works well for kinesthetic, or whatever type of learner.
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
What typically convinces me to purchase from a particular company is great price, getting most everything at one place and qualifying for free shipping.
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
I would love it if they would run periodic sales. Some publishers do, but not many.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
Probably history, because we use a spine text and then read living books. So we read a lot of books.
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
I like to buy them separate, because we are fairly eclectic in our choices
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
I like simple hands on products that draw the kids' interest and they don't realize they are learning while using them. They must be of good quality, or they aren't worth buying.
My answers
I posted my answers on my blog. Do I need to post them here to enter the contest?
Pam
survey
8:48 PM, Feb. 24, 2006, posted by
Honeybee
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
All year
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Various
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
All but local stores.
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
friends, blogs, magazines & catalogs
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
living books
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
price + shipping
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
back their products
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
all about the same
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
pick and choose
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
educational quality
Hi Pam
As long as you let me know in the comments here that you posted the survey at your blog, it will count as an entry.
Thanks for playing!
Nancy
Untitled Comment
4:04 AM, Feb. 25, 2006, posted by
sagerats
Hi! I chose to post my answers on my blog. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sagerats/90135/
I tried to do a trackback, but it kept getting refused. My trackbacks are enabled, and I right clicked and did a copy shortcut, and everything Amy Beth said a blogger should do. Oh well.
Abiding in the Vine!
My answers:
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
All year long, but I guess I really start planning for the next "school year" over the summer. We homeschool year round.
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
Various times throughout the year. We school year round.
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
All of the above J Wherever I can find what I want and get the best deal J
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, friends, family, homeschool groups.
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
Christian science for early elementary grades. Bible studies directed at the younger ages also.
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
Low or no shipping costs. Informative website. Great customer service. Samples that are easy to obtain and free.
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
Realize that most homeschool families are single income and price their products accordingly. Allow us to resell the product when we are finished with them.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
Probably Bible or Math or Science ;) You know, I think I spend about the same on all subjects. I like to buy the kids workbooks and hand on things that they will use and not really consider schoolwork J
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
Depends on the product. Science and Bible would be great together! Science and math. Grammar and Bible.
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
“Extra” products that we use are workbooks, toys, games, video games, movies, silly science kits, etc. Qualities that I look for when purchasing them are: That my kids will enjoy them. The product will last a long time. Does not take a ton of time or work on my part to set it up. That they will learn the values and lessons that I think are important for them. That I can incorporate it into their daily lessons.
Untitled Comment
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping? Any time - all the time - my husband would tell you 365 days a year......
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year? Various times and often spontaneously with new interests and ideas that "combust" during brainstorming sessions with the boys or from side bar tangent that spins off something we're doing...
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores? On-line and catalogs
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..) Catalogs, advertising included w/other homeschool products and magazines and Internet searching
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...) More boy themed literature units, more high school oriented unit studies
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...) On-line sample lessons and the table of contents listed are a great tool for me to see if this is what I'm looking for. Obviously the lowest possible price for a product is what everyone wants, but sometimes you have to pay what you have to pay. There have been times when I had questions about a product and would email customer service - if they don't respond w/in 24 hours, I take my business elsewhere. Because we live remote from any physical shopping for homeschool materials, I am dependent upon email (and phone, too) - so online customer service is a biggee for me.
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you? Have as much possible information on content of a product on their web site - I don't have money to waste on curriculum and when I do spend our educational dollars, I need to know up front what I'm buying to ensure it fits our goals. Also - a BIGGEE: if companies would focus on identifying age appropriateness for their materials. I spend more time emailing customer service depts online to ask about age/grades an item is appropriately targeted for.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on? History and Science unit studies
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose? Separate - I prefer to pick and choose and combine
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..) Age appropriateness, educational quality and then fun.
Thanks for the opportunity to participate,
Harriette Jacobs
My Survey
You can find my answers here:
www.homeschoolblogger.com/thewestiecrew
Tell the kids that I can bribe as well, if they draw my name. ;)
Gayle :)
Homeschool Shopping Survey
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping?
August
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year?
All at once for the most part
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores?
Mostly online
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..)
Friends/magazines/homeschool online support groups
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...)
There is quite a lot out there.
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...)
Online samples, price
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you?
Show more of what the books look like, samples
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on?
Upper level math and science curricula
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose?
I like to pick and choose, but if I find a bundle that I like, it can save money
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..)
FUN! Then ease of use and of course it has to be good quality.
Survey
10:07 PM, Feb. 27, 2006, posted by
1. What time of year do you do most of your homeschool shopping? We homeschool year-round so the past two years we bought our "main" curriclum in May and this year in February.
2. Do you typically do most of your homeschool shopping all at once or at various times throughout the year? We use Calvert so we do most of our homeschool shopping at one time.
3. Do you mostly shop online, from catalogs, at conventions or at local stores? We shop online and at the local teacher supply store.
4. How do you learn about new homeschool products? (friend, magazine, see them in catalogs, etc..) We learn about homeschool products from your magazine, friends who homeschool, and catalogs.
5. Are there any areas where you'd like to see more products? (algebra, weather, grammar for boys, etc...) no not at this time
6. What will typically sway you to purchase from a particular company? (online sample lessons, helpful website, customer service, price, able to get most things there, free shipping, etc...) I reserched a lot of curriclums before I picked Calvert and what made me pick Calvert was they gave me a lot of samples of there curriclum. I felt like other curriclum companies were hiding what they taught and they just wanted you to buy it. Calvert in my opinion had the greatest information about there products then any of the others out there.
7. How could homeschool companies better serve you? I am happy. If I was not with Calvert I would say show us what you really have give us examples from all your courses. Make your websites friendly and make me feel like your not trying to hide something.
8. What subject would you say that you spend the most money on? Early reader books and math manipulatives.
9. Do you prefer things to be bundled together for convenience or seperated so that you can pick and choose? bundled together
10. When you are looking for the extra products (games, learning kits, etc..) what is most important about them? (fun, hands on, simple, educational quality, easy to use, etc..) hands on, good eductional quality and fun
Edited by peainapod1 on Feb. 27, 2006 at 7:08 PM
Survey Answers on my Blog
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HeartnSoul/91733/
HeartnSoul
»»--(¯`v´¯)=> *\o/* *\o/* *\o/* »»--(¯`v´¯)=>
survery answers
I have answered the survery questions on my blog. I sure hope I win! *wink wink*
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/EvlHmSchlMom/
Curious about The Old Schoolhouse
