Homeschool World Forum

[lizardlaird]

I never thought I would need to homeschool my daughter until I moved to Hawaii. The schools here are so far behind that I have to get her out!!!

I have been reading about different curiculums for a week now. I am so confused and scared. Could someone please answer some questions.

I really want to use a dvd hs program... and Abeka looks appealing. I have heard that they end up doing a LOT of work, and that it is very hard. Is this true? I also heard that returning work can be a pain.

How long do you spend watching the Dvd's? How long do you spend burried in a book? How long on paperwork.... etc, etc, etc....

Do you have to submit a lot of "extra" stuff? Like book reports, projects, essays... etc, etc, etc...

If anyone uses this curiculum for a 7th grader please fill me in.

Also, if there are any other complete curiculums that offer a dvd program please let me know. I was looking for something less religious!!!


If you have any positive, or negative experiences with Abeka (or a similar program) please share it with me. I would really appreciate it.

[Aurie]

If you are on the island of Maui, you can try this program. It should be free through the school system. Though since it is the middle of the year, you may have to wait to use the free program until the start of the next school year.

http://www.k12.com/options/dlp_participating.html

There is alot of work involved. But you should have all the materials to do the grading yourself. I am done with two students (if following the course work for 4 subjects) within 4 hours. My children are advancing quickly with this program.

The Christian school in our town uses A Beka. I have heard the children are much more advanced then the local public school kids. But here, that isn't hard to do on either front

[lizardlaird]

I am on Oahu.

[Ramona]

Hi!

I feel for you because I don't see you getting answers to your questions. I don't have good answers, but I wanted to tell you something.

I've been hearing for many years that Hawaii schools are behind.

When I started HS'ing I also thought the A Beka videos looked appealing. I ended up going a different way though. I don't know how much work A Beka is or how hard it is. Personally I like hard. My kids don't usually spend a lot of time working on schoolwork, but they do have a very rigorous curriculum. I like them to start young and be about a year or two ahead of where they would be if they were in public school.

I don't know anything about returning work to A Beka.

As a homeschooling mom, I do spend quite a bit of time on prep work. This is not due to meeting requirements, but because I want to be sure my kids are getting what I want them to get.

I don't have a 7th-grader this year.

I hope someone who knows answers to one or more of your questions might speak up.

Ramona

[elliemaejune]

[elishajane]

I don't know about teaching 7th grade or Abeka videos, but I have been teaching my children for two years now using the full Abeka curriculum. While abeka is a more advanced curriculum, they make each step easy. Many people complain about two things when they complain about A beka either it reviews too much or it moves too fast. Really it moves fast because the review is so extensive.
I have found the representatives to be very helpfull at the a beka toll free number. They would know how easy it would be to transfer in at the 7th grade level and would be able to answer regarding specific abilities.

Many people where I live use the k12 curriculum and the state pays for it. k12 is almost all on the computer and it is a secular curriculum.
Bob Jones University Press also has DVDs.
School house offers DVDs and each subject is sold seperate at CBD.com.
Getting into college as a homeschooler without a high school diploma does not seem to be a problem at this point

Whatever you choose to use it doesn't have to be right the first time. As long as you're diligent your child will stay ahead of the public schools, even the better ones.
_________________
Elisha

[elliemaejune]