We've been looking for something the children can use independently during our "new baby break" next Spring, so I was really excited when asked to do a review of Tme 4 Learning. After using the on-line educational website for almost a month for my three older children, I have mixed feelings about the product but we will not be using it long term. I definitely think this program will work for some families, and highly recommend you watch for the one month trial before you pay. You can also read more and varied reviews at the TOS Crew Blog.
What's Included: A high tech learning environment via website, Time 4 Learning has Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies lessons with sound, animation, and text. Time 4 Learning offers material for PreK through 12 grade. Cost is $19.95 per month for the first child, and $14.95 per month for each additional child. You can receive a discount when you pay for a whole year at once.
What I like: I found lots of things to like about Time 4 Learning. The animation is superior to most online educational websites. The lessons are engaging. My children beg for time on the website each day. The lessons cover extra little miscellaneous material not presented in our curriculum, such as pattern recognition for older children. A huge amount of content is available. Older children can work and learn independently. The material is presented thoroughly. The customer service is amazing and fast. Your child can work one level below or above the grade level placement, and if you start your child at the wrong grade level, T4L will happily change his level for you. Lower grade materials (through 2nd grade) are well written and do not conflict with my worldview. I have heard from several Crew members who mention that this website works really well for special needs children needing indpendent work time.
What I don't like: Time 4 Learning is a completely secular company. As such, I was fully aware that some evolutionary content was included. I'm not terribly worried about that aspect, since my children are well grounded in this area. What frustrates me more is the irreverent humor and the questioning of parental authority in the upper grades. This program is something I would like my children to work on independently, I am not interested in exposing them to "public school humor" and comments that downgrade the value of family -- all without my knowledge. I should mention that Time 4 Learning has excellent forums, and Christian homeschoolers using Time 4 Learning have discussed these issues and how they handle this in their home. Here are few other things I disliked. First, I didn't like was the fact that my five year old cannot work indpendently because she is expected to be able to use a mouse. That might not be an issue in some households. Second, I'm not a big fan of having my children spend tons of time on the computer, nor do I believe in video or computer based learning as a main focus. Thirty minutes per day is our maximum per child. I will probably increase that to one hour during our "new baby break". If we used Time 4 Learning, the entirety of their screen time would be used with this website, which does not leave time for fun gaming or personal e-mail. Finally, I think the price is cost prohibitive for most families who homeschool on one income. We personally could never afford so much for even one child, let alone four children. Some people consider this to be an all inclusive curriculum and if you use it as such you could justify the cost. I would not use it as my only curriculum.
What's My Bottom Line? I really, really wanted to love this curriculum. I think parts of it are extremely well done. Using this website does not fit with my worldview at all. I can see how secular homeschools and certain families might be able to use this program to gread advantage. Find a free one month trial before you pay, or at least pay for one month first; and participate with your children for the first while to make sure you are comfortable with the material presentation before you pay for a full year.
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
