Using ALEKS Math with Reade has been a new experience for me. Since beginning homeschooling I've never relied on a computer for teaching or assessment. This was a leap for me!

Reade, my nine-year old "fourth" grader savors every moment he's given to utilize a piece of technology. The computer is no exception. So I was grateful to have been provided the opportunity to use the ALEKS Math Assessment and Learning. Reade enjoys the computer and he enjoys math - perfect combo!

The program begins with an assessment. The child works through many, many math questions to determine what he does and does not know. At the end of the assessment, the parent and child are provided a pie chart from which the child will work to gain mastery of unmastered topics (or review of mastered topics). This is a GREAT tool! It was easy for me and for Reade to understand what we needed to do to get him in line with state standards in specific topic areas.

Which brings us to the next step of lesson work. By selecting a piece of the pie, Reade could practice what he wanted to practice. And based on his answers, he was guided to the next appropriate question and assessed at regular intervals. On days when I wanted to limit the computer use (which were many, as we are not a tech-heavy family), I could print a worksheet for him to complete at the table. The worksheet option was actually my favorite option of the program beyond the assessment.

The reports provided are nice as well. But as I believe I would feel with any computer-based program, I felt a little too out of the loop. Since ALEKS is a subscription-based program, I could choose to subscribe during down times such as breaks or when we're going to be busier than usual. Reade really enjoyed it. I just missed doing the teaching!

I would easily and strongly recommend ALEKS to any new homeschooler as a great way to ease into teaching. Subscriptions to ALEKS  can be purchased here and begin at $19.95 per student, per month with discounts offered for longer subscriptions paid in advance. There are also discounts available to families who would have several children in grades 3 - 12 using ALEKS at one time.

(three out of three)

Patty

Since becoming a member of the TOS Review Crew, I've had a lot of unexpected opportunities. Time4Learning is by far my favorite online site thus far. In no way do I need ever ask the children more than once if they wanted time on this site.

This is a fully multi-media site with interactive exercises and printable worksheets. I appreciate, also, that I can get instant assessments on the children's work.

Beyond the fundamental facets of state-approved education, Time4Learning is very eye- and ear-catching. There is a lot to really hold the children's attentions. While the timer at the top of the screen is fabulous- fifteen minutes is just not long enough to explore and complete the activities.

There are SO many different activities within Time4Learning covering language arts, history, and math. There are some science activities as well. The history and science activities are of special interest to my children.

The somewhat customized (by parent-input) instruction is helpful when knowing the child at the computer can tackle the tasks presented. And even if the child struggles a bit, there is positive reinforcement at every attempt. Every child needs to know he is progressing even when not yet mastering a concept.

While this is certainly an enrichment activity for my children, I can easily see how a new mom or a recuperating parent could use Time4Learning as a primary curricula by using the lessons covered as a springboard for more intimate learning. Computer time is a rarity for our family so I had a hard time getting myself to allow the children the opportunity. But once they were on, they were ON GO! While this input doesn't exactly match up with my Waldorf-style teaching, I am strongly considering extending my membership to the site. It was excellent for busy days!


Time 4 Learning costs $19.95 for one child The rate is discounted to $14.95 for additional students within the same family. The buyer can also take advantage of additional discounts by paying for multiple months, including a year, at one time. The 14 day money-back guarantee, helps a family take the lunge to determine if online-centered learning is really right for them. A very neat option available for a fee, is progress report storage should a family choose to take a long break from the program.

(two thumbs up out of three)

Patty

I LOVE SPEARS ART STUDIO!

(Above are our first Christian Art Curriculum art projects!)

Yes, love. And that is not a word I use lightly with homeschool curricula.

Spears Art Studio's Christian Art Curriculum  is only one of a few art curricula I have tried. This is one I can easily use with all of my children. ALL of my children. Arriving on a CD, the program is geared for K-8 with different age and skill appropriate activities sometimes for each grade and other times for age groupings. The art lessons focus around a biblical perspective relating to a general theme for the month.

The Christian Art Curriculum lessons may often be completed with regular art supplies kept in the homeschool home. I appreciate this more than anything. As someone who did not grow up with the opportunity to create a lot of art (on paper), I am easily overwhelmed when I enter an art supply store or section. If I did not have a supply on hand, I could easily replace it with something else.

The devotions that are a part of each lesson fit so neatly into our lessonwork. They art lesson becomes a part of the natural rhythm of our day. Thank you, Spears Art Studio for the Christian Art Curriculum. Your time in making sure the program fit it's name is obvious and very well appreciated!

Visit here to purchase Spears Art Studio's Christian Art Curriculum for $39.95. A teacher's manual is also available.

(three out of three and a heart for good measure!)

Patty

Rime to Read is an up and coming online resource for beginning readers. A “rime” refers to a word family and each online interactive book focuses on a single rime. The color enhanced rimes help children recognize and learn the pattern in each online book. As a part of the growth of Rime to Read, the rimed words can now be clicked on and the word is said aloud. There are still some glitches as this is a new facet to the program, but the authors are actively working to resolve the issue.

My five and one-half year old really liked the idea of “playing” on the computer like her older siblings. But she couldn’t stick with it. We are not a tech-heavy family and therefore I think the combination of inexperience on the computer and fairly bland pages left her frustrated and unable to progress very far. I chose not to push it as we typically do not use formal reading lessons until the children are older.

However, since I did learn more about rimes from Rime to Read, I did decide to try their method out using some of our own bound readers that contain sets of rimes. The five and one-half year old really caught on and really enjoyed the technique. I appreciate knowing that Rime to Read’s concept is valid and can be used across media. The online books can be printed, but I chose not to do so.

You can try the first Rime to Read online book for free here to decide if it is a good method for your family’s reading lessons or enrichment. If you decide to purchase the program, it is sold in whole at $44.95 for all twenty books. Or, you may choose to purchase the books in sets of four with rimes surrounding a single vowel for $9.95 per set.

(one out of three)

Patty

I have just read The Old Schoolhouse's e-book What About Socialization? Dispelling the Myths by Stephanie Ruby, et al.

I am by no means a veteran homeschooler. I am not a newbie, either. Perhaps most importantly, I was homeschooled for a few too short years. I  believe I understand this question from all sides of the fence.

We have been learning our lessons at home from the beginning. As a mother, I know no other way. I do not know about dressing in a hurry to meet the school bus, running to the school to drop off a forgotten permission slip, or wondering if I sent a lunch or at least some money. I know nothing about that other than what I observe in my friends.

As a student in the past, I do know the difference. I know about racing to school - no bus, had to walk, probably uphill both ways in a foot of snow - in order to avoid a tardy. I know about my mother forgetting to sign permission slips, so I mastered her signature. I know about forgotten lunch money, so I saved found coins and kept them in a baggie in my backpack.

I also know the joy of waking with a purpose. Waking up to the same new days I had as a public schooler but instead of dreading the standard routine I could do my lessons on my own schedule and get on with my chores and personal persuits. I think those middle school years as a homeschooler were my favorite years as a student. And homeschooling was *not* legal in NC. Which only greatly begged the question, "Who do you hang out with?"

Yes, the socialization question. Did I have friends? Was I bored? Would I be OK if I had to re-enter a conventional school? No. No. Yes.

Now, as a mother who chooses to learn lessons at home with her children rather than handing off this critical responsibility to strangers, I, too, am asked the question: "What about socialization?" Interestingly, however, to my knowledge my children have never been asked if they have any friends. Is it because they've never met strangers? Is it because they know how to properly greet and introduce themselves to known and unknown people of all ages? Is it because they carry themselves with a confidence not always seen in young children? Maybe it's just because learning at home is now more common. But I do receive that question, often.

I have a new arsenal in my replies: In TOS's new e-book What About Socialization, I was introduced to many new responses from over twelve different parents and a homeschool graduate (!). I have a newer set of "defenses" when asked that dreaded, and honestly, ridiculous question.

I now have confidence in avoiding the question altogether with a somewhat flippant but not disrespectful reply. I have strong logical material for discussion from a former public school teacher turned home educator. I have the deep convicting words of a father who is not the primary lesson instructor in his home but no less is deeply involved with his children's lessons. And I have the sage wisdom of a young woman who is learning her bearings among her less aware peers. All of these answers I can now use as I encounter less enlightened family members and friends.

From Stephanie Ruby in her Prologue: "How do you answer these questions? I think by doing that we sometimes, inadvertantly, confirm to the person asking that we aren't doing the right thing by homeschooling."

Erin Lasky has one of my favorite suggestions, "...properly..."  I want you to read what else she shares with us! But before I leave her I must share this thought of hers. "My goal is to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, renewed minds, and living sacrifices. You don't find that in most classes or scope and sequence charts." LOVE it!

The book progresses from Amy Pak's description of others' "morbid curiosity" as to why we homeschool to J. Lyn Jones' many examples of how socialization occurs in any famliy learning at home. I was brought to more awareness of some of my own actions by her highlighting those actions. Thank you, Mrs. Jones!

I appreciated greatly the Biblical references by W.K., Erin Lasky, Phylicia Duran, and others. It is not without foundation in God's Word that I can do what I do.  I appreciate every point of scripture anyone offers. It may have been one I've overlooked. Most significantly, I appreciated two of the authors' discussions about Mark 12:30-31. Perhaps it is indeed this single point that is our goal as parents keeping our children at home.

When I read a father's perspective from Mr. Greg Day, I was giddy and anxious to share this particular chapter with my husband. "I consider schools to be unsupervised social laboratories where children are traversing a minefield of danger." Take moment to read his further development of this statement. Surely other readers will be as wowed as I was!

What About Socialization? Dispelling the Myths is an e-book I will recommend to many of my homeschool friends. I undoubtedly will encourage my new homeschooling friends to read this book as well. I would have certainly appreciated the wisdom and perspectives shared in the fifty pages. The Additional Resources at the end will prove especially helpful to the new homeschooler also. While some authors' writing styles were more pleasing to my reader's eye than others, they all offered experienced and unique ideas and instrospection much of which I had not considered in my time with my children at home.

To read more or to purchase What About Socialization? Dispelling the Myths from The Old Schoolhouse store, click HERE.

(three out of three)

Patty